Page 5 of The Cut
‘The Mill Killer.’
Dani shuddered but held it together. ‘What were they saying?’
‘I don’t really know … they all clammed up when I walked into the changing room.’
Dani turned and looked over her shoulder. ‘Hey, you. You just won us the match. You’re a Lioness.’ Her smile and sparkling eyes were full of genuine pride.
Lily looked at Dani. The word ‘Mum’ had almost slipped out so many times over the years, but staring at her now, face to face, this was definitely Dani. More like a big sister, full of fun and bubbles and too much make-up. Lily suddenly welled up and turned back to the window. Dani clocked it. Something was going on with her stepdaughter.
Something was going on with all the Barton Mallet daughters that evening. And all the parents of Barton Mallet’s daughters. Parents who were new to the village and some who had grown up there. The foundations were trembling, an old rumble of collective trauma was shuddering to the surface.
‘Pad Thai and green curry it is then.’24
Dani adjusted the rear-view mirror of the Jaguar, fired up the engine and slowly pulled away. Lily stared out of the back window as the car drew slowly up the hill, away from the sports complex and back towards the village. He was standing still in the middle of the road now, arms hanging limp by his sides, a husk of a person. The man in the flat cap with the German shepherd.
Dani had seen him too, but pretended she hadn’t. She knew exactly who he was.
25
4
SEPTEMBER 2023
Exterior. Night. July 1994. ‘Pearls Before Swine.’ A siren sounds in the distance, a helicopter overhead. A manhunt was already underway.
Max opened his eyes and stared at the blank screen under the heading: final draft.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard as a long shadow lurched across the table, the candlelight flickering over the red brick of the low vaulted ceiling in the wine cellar.
She was late. The traffic on Santa Monica on a Friday evening was always hell on earth.
‘Same again?’ The cute waiter had been flirting with Max from the moment he’d arrived.
He closed his laptop and twinkled back at the wannabe actor’s white teeth, gleaming for tips. ‘Trying to get me drunk?’
His eyes looked to the wrought-iron gates framing the modest entrance to ‘Pace’. His favourite Italian, midway up Laurel Canyon buried under the shabby Country Store, was like some illicit speakeasy. He returned to the waiter. ‘Sure, why not. Make it a double.’
Moments later, two crystal highballs hit the table, ice clinking in the glass, as she slumped into their booth, out of breath.
‘Sorry I’m late, the 405 was a nightmare.’ She loosened her ponytail and tousled her white-blonde hair over her shoulders before taking a sip of her Tito’s and tonic with a dash of lime.26
‘So … Did they bite?’ Karine Mickelsen picked up the menu. ‘I am starving.’
‘Just pinning down the last few investors …’ Max slid his laptop into his bag and caught the eye of the waiter. ‘But we’re in good shape.’
‘Studio?’
‘Probably one of the big streamers.’ Max lowered his voice. ‘Nordics are obviously chomping at the bit because of you.’
‘Obviously.’ Karine popped an olive into her mouth and glanced up to the waiter, who had reappeared to take their order. ‘The rib eye please, rare.’
Max sat back and folded his arms. ‘Karine …’ He paused for a second. ‘He’s coming out, that’s the only reason your financier finally came through. We have to ride this wave … it’s now or never.’
‘Just give me the green light and I’m on that plane.’ Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinised his face. ‘I’ll need full access, and to be left alone.’
‘Of course.’ Max chewed his lip and inhaled, bracing himself. ‘There is just one condition.’ He shifted in his seat. ‘I want you to shoot on Hi8.’
Karine blew out through her lips. ‘You’re joking, right?’
