ALWAYS || RAFE CAMERON

43

i stopped in the abandoned exit of the warehouse lot.

i checked my phone while Rafe closed the doors.

three missed calls from Hector.

fuck.

i dialled his number twice, both times there was no reply.

it was midnight, but he was usually up playing video games until at least 2am.

what was wrong?

"what's wrong?" Rafe asked, getting back in.

"missed calls from Hec."

"speaking of calls, i've gotta talk to Rose."

he took his phone out and i started the engine, driving down the empty road.

"i know it's late," he said to his stepmother. "we got the cross, it's okay, we don't have to leave any more."

leave? i thought.

silence.

"fine. see what Wheezie wants, if she wants to stay then Dionne could look after her."

silence.

"i've got my own house, Rose. i'm nineteen, i can do what i want."

silence.

"shut up. we're coming home."

he hung up.

"she didn't change her mind then?" i asked.

"i didn't expect her to." he folded his arms.

i nodded and drove on.

we reached Tanny Hill at 12:17pm.

the lights were still on.

i left the lorry parked round the front of the house and we went in.

Rose rushed down the stairs to greet us.

"so you've got it?" she whispered.

Rafe nodded.

"ok." she sighed. "what now?"

"don't know. we've got... there's something i need to take care of."

"what?" Rose frowned.

"nothing. it doesn't matter. look after Juno while i'm gone."

"where are you going?" i followed him back out to the truck.

"to take care of Renfield's body."

"you won't be able to lift him by yourse-"

i was cut off by a sharp intake of breath that didn't belong to me or Rafe.

the doors of the lorry were open.

Rafe stalked forwards.

Sarah stumbled backwards into him.

"Rafe?! i-it's—there's a-a the-" she
stuttered.

Rafe picked her up easily, slinging her over his shoulder fireman style and carried her inside.

"put me down! we have to help him! Juno!" she hit and kicked at Rafe in efforts to get free.

"can't." i shrugged.

"what do you mean?!"

"we can't help him." i followed Rafe down the stairs into the basement. "it's bit too late for that now."

he dumped Sarah in the wine cellar and locked the door.

"what's going on?" Rose came down the stairs.