Page 37 of The Vanishing Place
He nodded at the monitor, which lay on the carpet with a cracked screen. The offending plant pot, also smashed, had been tidied up and binned.
“I can get you another one.”
“Don’t be daft,” said June. “I never really liked it anyway.”
Effie dug her fingers into the chair. “What do you think happened to her?” She glanced at Lewis. “Out there.”
He sighed. “We just don’t know. No one’s seen anything suspicious, and there’s been nothing to—”
“No.” Effie stopped him. “What doyouthink happened?”
“I don’t—”
“Please.” She didn’t look away.
They stared at each other, neither conceding, and Lewis ran a hand through his hair.No ring. Then he lowered his arm, his eyes boring into her.
“There have been a couple of reports from climbers,” he said, “out in Moeraki Valley.”
Effie frowned. Moeraki Valley was north of the hut, over the Thomas Range and another ten kilometers through tough terrain. Very few people made it out that way, just the occasional keen climber or backcountry tramper.
“Apparently food and some bits of equipment have been going missing from Horseshoe Flat and Middle Head Hut.”
“When?”
“The last couple of months,” said Lewis. “Since the summer season opened up.”
“So no one’s out there over winter and spring?”
“It would be very unlikely.” Lewis frowned. “The creeks get too flooded to cross.”
He rubbed his face, his fingers catching on his lips, and Effie gripped the chair.
“Apparently,” he continued, “there have been sightings of a man. Nothing up close. Nothing definite.”
Lewis looked at her—seeing too much—and Effie’s chest ached.
“One climber mentioned red hair,” he said.
“Dad?” she whispered.
“It’s just speculation,” said Lewis.
“But you think he’s still alive?” She glanced back toward the bedroom. “And that Anya…that she could be his?” She struggled to swallow. “That Dad could have—”
“No.” Lewis shook his head. “I imagine Anya’s dad is some tramper who stumbled across the hut over the years. A hunter heading into the backcountry, perhaps.”
“But she’s got Dad’s red hair,” said Effie, “and his eyes. My eyes.”
“Tia could have passed on your dad’s genes too.”
“So you think Tia’s her mum?”
“It would make sense,” said Lewis. “But in all honesty, we can’t be certain.”
“Just certain enough to lie to Oranga Tamariki?”
“Come on, Effie. You know it was the right thing to do.”
