Page 108 of The Vanishing Place
“Night, little one,” she whispered.
She stepped back, cursing the hinges, and pulled the door closed. The smell of sex clung to her clothes and hair, and her body was too alive with Lewis to consider sleeping. She tiptoed to the kitchen and put the kettle on. June had left a note on the benchtop.About bloody time. And she’d signed it off with a kiss and a smiley face.
Effie pocketed the note and took her tea through to the living room. She had only just sat down when Anya appeared in the doorway.
“Anya.” She looked up. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“June said you were with Lewis.”
“I was.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“No, no.” Effie smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Anya frowned. “He’s a policeman.”
“Yes.” Effie patted the cushion next to her. “But he’s also my friend.”
Anya walked over and sat on the sofa. “So we like him?”
“Yes. We like him very much.”
Anya looked at her. Then she lay down and rested her head on Effie’s lap.
“I didn’t like the other police people.”
“No.” Effie pulled a blanket over the child. “I’m not their biggest fan either.”
“Is that why you hid Mum’s stuff from them?”
“Sorry?” Effie frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Did you not want those police people to have it?”
“Have what?”
“Mum’s things.” Anya yawned. “Her clothes and books and stuff.”
Effie stiffened. “What clothes?”
“The clothes that were in the hut.”
“Anya,” Effie tried to keep her voice steady, “what do you mean? Who hid them?”
“You did.”
Effie took a breath. “When did I hide them?”
Anya turned and pulled the blanket to her chin. “When you took me back to the hut.” She rubbed her eyes. “When you made me stay outside and draw.”
“Anya, I didn’t hide anything.”
She yawned again. “Mum was gone, remember? And all her things were gone too.” She frowned. “Unless Mum took them.” Her frown deepened. “Or he did. He hated Mum’s clothes. He said they were ugly.”
“Who?” Heat tingled in Effie’s chest and neck. “Who said that?”
“The bad man.”
