Page 65 of The Vanishing Place
2025
It was themiddle of the night by the time Effie’s fist reached Lewis’s door.
She was exhausted and hungry and cold. But she didn’t feel any of it. The guy she’d eventually hitched a lift from—just one passing ute in forty minutes—said she looked like shit.
Effie pounded on the wood, leaving a little bit of herself in each knock, until Lewis appeared in front of her, dressed, like he hadn’t even tried to sleep.
“What happened?” he asked.
He didn’t slam the door in her face, he didn’t shout at her, he didn’t tell her to piss off. He just moved to the side, letting her into his home.
“Lewis. I fucked up. I really…” Effie coughed and clutched the wall. “I’m sorry—”
“Stop.” He took her hand, stilling her. “I’m going to look forward to this apology,” he said, giving her a smile. “So I don’t want you rushing through it now.”
Effie smiled back at him, although she couldn’t make it reach her eyes.
“Come on,” he said, leading her inside.
Effie sat on Lewis’s sofa, an untouched plate of toast in front of her, and talked him through what had happened. The girl. The body. Her brother. The drawing. The face in the trees.
“The kid was distraught, Lewis, and she was hugging the floor, really hugging it, like her mother’s body was still there.” Effie rubbed her face. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think, with the drawing…” She groaned. “Shit. I know it’s mad, but I think when Anya ran away the first time, there were two bodies. That it wasn’t just Four. I think my brother and sister were both killed in that hut, and that someone has moved Tia’s body.”
Lewis reached out to comfort her, but Effie shook her head. The nearness of him was too much.
“Okay then,” he said, “say there were two bodies.” He let out a puff of air. “Who could have moved her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your dad?”
Effie sighed. “I don’t know. I saw something, someone, but I can’t be certain.” She looked at him. “There’s something out there, Lewis. Something in the trees.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She glanced at the window. “I’m not sure. For years I lived in that forest. I knew every sound of it. Every whisper in the trees. But it was a different feeling I got this time. It was like…like it frightened me.”
She ran her hands through her matted hair. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired and hungry.” She let out a long breath. “I just need to find her.”
“We will.”
Lewis took her hand this time, locking her fingers with his, and Effie let him.
“Are you ready for what’s about to happen?” he said.
She nodded.
“Cos tomorrow’s going to be a shitstorm.”
Lewis stood and handed her a blanket. “I’m going to make some calls,” he said. “And you need to sleep.”
“I can help.”
“I’m not forcing you into pajamas or even into a proper bed. But you won’t be any use to that girl if you don’t get some rest.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’ll scare the shit out of those Christchurch cops looking like that. And if I’m being honest, you kind of smell.” Lewis smiled and started to walk away. “The shower’s down the hall on the left.”
“And your room?” she asked, her heart pounding.
He stopped and turned.
