Page 75 of A Simple Mistake
“And Rachel.”
“Well, yes, she was right there.But it was just afeeling, and I had no proof and… and Gareth was already stressed about Jack being gone.”
“And you felt it just the once?”Alex made notes on her phone.
“Yes.When it didn’t happen again, I just tried to forget about it.”He sighed.“I should have said something, but—”
“You were trying to protect your family.”
Daniel flinched.He wanted to glare at Alex—exchange a hot flash of anger for the chilly fear wrapping around his heart.He clutched the teacup, focussed his gaze on the liquid inside as words spilled from him almost against his will.“When you say it like that, it sounds stupid.But it isn’t.I already keep everyone awake with my nightmares.We avoid going anywhere crowded and noisy because it freaks me out.And whining about weird feelings when I don’t have a shred of proof is like… like… like the story of the kid crying wolf.Nobody believed them in the end, not even when an actual wolf turned up.And I’m sure they wish they’d said nothing.”He clapped his hand over his mouth to stop himself.It wasn’t like him to get angry, or to raise his voice.
Nico wrapped an arm around his waist and Daniel turned into his shoulder and buried his face.Yes, he was hiding.So what?
“You’re so like Flynn and Horwood.”
Aidan’s dry pronouncement brought Daniel’s head up.He wasn’t as brave or resourceful or even as organised as Jack and Gareth.“What do you mean?”
“You think everything in your vicinity is your responsibility and, by extension, your fault.”
“I do not!”
“No?Then why did you get bent out of shape when the milk was off the last time you were here?”
Daniel blinked.Thought back to the day Aidan referred to.“Because I’d done the shopping.”
“And milk hadn’t been on the list, because I told you I had some.But you felt it was your fault when the milk I did have had gone off.”
Daniel opened his mouth and closed it again when Aidan pointed at him.“Stop beating yourself up over things that aren’t on you, okay?”
“And secondly,” Alex added in her quiet, reasonable tone, “and that goes for both of you, don’t confuse proof with evidence.You don’t need proof until you go to court and make an argument.To kick off an investigation, all you need is evidence.And, Daniel, feeling like you’re being watched… that’s subjective evidence.”
Daniel stared at Nico.Found Nico returning his gaze.Had they both made themselves wretched for no reason, first over Manville and then over Daniel feeling eyes on him?
Alex’s phone chimed.She checked the screen, muttered something colourful, and left the kitchen.Moments later, half of an agitated, urgent conversation drifted from the hallway.
“She only just got here,” Nico said.
“No rest for the wicked, it seems.”Aidan sighed, resigned.“We’ll try to make it to Jack’s birthday barbecue, but—Daniel, what’s the matter?”
Daniel clutched the table like a lightning rod, trying to divert the sick feeling in his stomach.“Jack’s birthday was yesterday,” he wailed.“And… and… I forgot all about it!”
Daniel had gone to pack their bags.Nico had let him go.Nothing he said would make a difference.
“He won’t do anything silly, will he?”Aidan asked.
Nico shook his head.“I bet he’s texting Jack.Maybe after that, and talking to Gareth, he’ll feel better.”He crammed the last bite of pastry into his mouth and chewed, relief at the prospect making him dizzy.He hated arguing with Daniel.Especially when agreeing to keep Daniel’s secrets made Danielmorefearful.“Did Alex mean it?Does a ‘feeling’ really count as evidence?”
“Subjective evidence is still evidence,” Aidan said.“When you see a doctor about a headache, do you have proof to show them?You only know you’re in pain.It’s up to the doctor to investigate and determine the cause.Feeling watched, or getting a weird vibe off your dance coach, is no different.You’re offering subjective evidence of a problem.I thought you knew all that.”
“I didn’t.School is all about results—tests, times, demonstrations—that’s all physical proof, right?”
“You have a point.Let me see what I can find for you to read.”
“Thanks.”Nico checked over his shoulder.“And thanks for putting Daniel straight.When he’s afraid, he really doesn’t listen.”
“Very few people do.”
“I know.That’s why I told Jack in the end.About someone watching Daniel, I mean.So he can tell Gareth.”Nico took another look around, not sure why he didn’t want Daniel to hear his request.
