A Watery Grave (Karen Cady Book 1), Penny Kline [book recommendations for young adults txt] 📗

he starts school he’ll be ashamed of me. All his friends’ll have mothers in their twenties or early thirties and–’

‘Oh, I’m sure he won’t see it that way.’ Karen felt genuinely sorry for her. ‘These days lots of people wait until they’re older before they have children.’

‘More fool them.’

‘Well, yes, I suppose it is better if you have them when you’re young but if you’ve got a job and everything . . .’ She broke off. ‘Sorry, I don’t know much about it.’

Mrs Pearce was looking through the window. The sun had come out. ‘I had a job,’ she said, ‘before the baby came along. That electronics place down Riverdale Road. They employ all women ’cos they’re better fitting the fiddly pieces together – and they don’t complain so much about the money being a rip-off. Still, I enjoyed the company.’ She stared at Karen. ‘You sure you didn’t know Natalie?’

‘No, no I didn’t.’

‘Know her sister perhaps.’

Karen swallowed. ‘Not really. She works in the same place as my step-father.’

Mrs Pearce nodded. ‘Everyone’s divorced these days. I’ll say that for Les, he never went with other women. Well, if he did he took good care not to be found out.’ She smiled to herself, remembering something from the past. ‘Well, I’d better start getting the tea.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Karen stood up, still with a toy bus in her hand. She offered it to the baby but he took no notice. ‘Thanks for letting me shelter,’ she said, ‘and showing me the photos.’

Mrs Pearce shrugged. ‘You’re welcome. See you around I expect, working on your project.’

‘Sorry? Oh, my project. Yes, I expect so.’

*

It was only when she was half way home that something occurred to Karen. When Olive Pearce told the police Liam had been with her all evening on the night of the murder, it was just possible that she was the one who had needed an alibi, not the other way round. In spite of her grumbles it was clear she adored the baby.

What if Mrs Stevens had been right and Natalie had been planning to move out and take Justin with her? Would a grandmother be prepared to kill if it was the only way to hang onto the child she had looked after ever since he was born? She could have slipped out of the house for an hour, then persuaded Liam it would be easier all round if the police thought the two of them had been home all evening. But how would she have lured Natalie to the reservoir?

Karen liked Olive Pearce. It was hard to say why. Something to do with the way she spoke her mind instead of saying all the things you’re supposed to say to keep other people happy. Even so, as Karen’s father would certainly have pointed out, it was essential to forget how you felt about people. Just think about the circumstances of the murder. Opportunity and motive to kill.

Olive Pearce was a big woman. Strong, in both senses of the word, and very determined. From what Karen had observed she was not the kind of person who would have allowed someone like Natalie Stevens to stand in her way.

 

 

Chapter Ten

 

Her mother had persuaded Karen that it would be nice if the two of them went for a walk by the river. That only meant one thing. She wanted to talk.

Some boys were kicking at the nest the swans had built earlier in the year. Laughing and showing off. Karen glanced at her mother, who put out a restraining hand.

‘Leave them, love. Swans never use the same nest again.’

‘How d’you know?’

‘I just do.’ Her voice was soft, soothing, the way she had talked to Karen when she was little. ‘Have you seen the cygnets lately? They’re enormous.’

‘I know.’ Whatever her mother wanted to say she wished she would get it over with.

The sun was reflecting in the huge glass window that made up the swimming pool side of the Sports Centre. Karen wondered if Russell was on duty, walking up and down in his green shorts, blowing his whistle when kids started fooling around on the diving boards.

‘Alex,’ said her mother. ‘You know how hard he tries. I was wondering if you were getting on any better.’

Here we go. Karen turned away from the Sports Centre and concentrated on a moorhen that was limping towards the river. ‘Look, Mum, it really doesn’t matter what I think of Alex. It’s your life and in a few years’ time I’ll be gone.’

Her mother sighed. ‘I do wish you wouldn’t talk like that.’

‘Yes, well I explained before. I don’t really feel anything about him, one way or the other.’

‘Apart from the fact that he was responsible for forcing your father out of the house. That’s what you said, Karen. Yes it is.’

Karen kicked a stone into the water. ‘Well, if I did, I didn’t mean it. Look, if you want the truth I quite like the way things are now. I mean, I can see Dad whenever I want and as long as you’re happy . . . No, don’t interrupt. The point is if it’s just me and Alex we get on perfectly well.’

‘Thanks.’

‘No, what I mean, it’s when all three of us are together. You and Alex keep trying so hard, as though you had to humour me all the time. I don’t want special treatment. I just want a normal life like anyone else.’ It was the longest speech she had ever made on that particular subject. Her mother was watching her with a puzzled expression. Then she smiled, almost like she used to in the old days – before Alex.

‘You’re right, Karen, absolutely right. I’ve been stupid, thinking about you but really thinking about myself and how–’

‘Forget it, Mum, OK?’

‘Yes, I