Silent - A Secret Revealed

Two Years Ago, Lucy

The coast was busy, the tide out.  She sat on a bench further down, away from the locals, and waited for him.  

They'd talked yesterday afternoon, although she'd been wary of him at first.  It had happened just after Arthur had discovered her and Gavin at the House. She'd waited for Arthur by the bungalow and Arthur had dropped her off in town in the car, maintaining still that the boy Pete Whittaker wasn't Dad's son but Terence's. On the way back to the Bed and Breakfast, she'd passed Jace on the street and he'd stopped her to talk about Monday afternoon when she'd taken a taxi to Katie Whittaker's.  He'd told her he might have some information for her about the boy Pete Whittaker – would she meet him today, around lunchtime?

Footsteps on the sand. He was here now, smiling, a crunched up can of coke in his hand. He had a kind face, she thought, even with the crew cut and the army clothes.

'Don't say a word to anyone,' Jace said, sitting by her. 'Or Steve will never speak to me again.'

'Okay.'

'You were right the other evening.  Pete's your half-brother. He's your dad's son.'

Of course she'd known this – Steve had given it away by not contradicting her when she'd yelled at him for shoving Pete, her brother, aside – but she'd expected to experience a strong tide of emotion at hearing the news confirmed. Instead, she felt flat. 'Thanks for telling me.  How did you find out?'

'Steve admitted it after you'd gone.  He was really angry. I had to restrain him. He has anger issues.'  Jace paused, eyes fixed on the stagnant mass of sea ahead. 'He said his mum and your dad had an affair a few weeks before the fire. Pete's nine now. His birthday's in April.'

'April,' she said, in a daze.  She tried counting off the months but got confused.

'Yeah, April.'

'And the police didn't investigate the affair?'

'No,' Jace said. 'No one knew about it until after Steve's parents divorced. It's a secret, understand?  I'm not meant to know about it, but you've seen what Steve's like. He doesn't know when to shut up.'

'Do you think his dad Terence paid someone to start the fire?'

'You don't ask questions like that round here.'

'Obviously you must believe it then.'

'I'm not saying anything, Lucy.  I don't know.  I don't want to know.  Be careful. You don't want to upset Terence or Steve. Steve's my best mate and stuff, but he's a real nutter and his dad Terence can turn nasty. Promise me you'll keep this to yourself. Steve will do something crazy if he finds out I told you. He's already threatening to put his dad's windows through.'

'Why?'

'He blames Terence for everything. Scott's the same. Pete gets on alright with Terence, but he's not Terence's son.'

No, he's Dad's, she thought bitterly. 'I won't say anything.

'Good. Pete's a great kid really, but he constantly gets picked on by Scott and Steve.  I try and look out for him.'

'Thanks. That's kind of you.  Did he say anything about me?'

'Yeah, he keeps asking about you and Scott keeps ordering him to shut up.  Pete definitely likes you. Like I said, he's a good kid.'  Jace seemed to hesitate.  'You want to stay away from Veronica.'

'Why?'

'You just do. Trust me. What are you doing this evening? About six-thirty?'

'I haven't got anything planned.'

'Cool. I'll meet you here, same spot.  I might have some more info for you.'

Jace got up from the bench and looked around before slipping away. 'Careful, Lucy,' he whispered.  'Don't upset Steve or Terence. Or Veronica,' he added.