BooksBarbecue
Back Limelight
Chapters (49)
  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Also by Graham Hurley
  4. LIMELIGHT
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Epigraph
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. TEN
  18. ELEVEN
  19. TWELVE
  20. THIRTEEN
  21. FOURTEEN
  22. FIFTEEN
  23. SIXTEEN
  24. SEVENTEEN
  25. EIGHTEEN
  26. NINETEEN
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. TWENTY-SEVEN
  35. TWENTY-EIGHT
  36. TWENTY-NINE
  37. THIRTY
  38. THIRTY-ONE
  39. THIRTY-TWO
  40. THIRTY-THREE
  41. THIRTY-FOUR
  42. THIRTY-FIVE
  43. THIRTY-SIX
  44. THIRTY-SEVEN
  45. THIRTY-EIGHT
  46. THIRTY-NINE
  47. FORTY
  48. FORTY-ONE
  49. AFTERWARDS

There’s a mumble of agreement as people follow her pointing finger. There must be a couple of dozen of us by now, young as well as old, and I realize that the make-up of this little impromptu gathering, the sheer range of ages, is a tribute to Christianne’s cheerful sense of fellowship. Evelyn recently told me her neighbour could strike up a conversation with anyone in this little town and, feeling the warmth around me, I can only believe her.

All eyes are on McFaul, poor man. He’s wearing an old pair of khaki shorts and a grey T-shirt, and with his prosthetic leg he’s finding it hard going on the pebbles. Part of me wants to break ranks and give him a hand, but I know he’d hate it and so he limps slowly closer, his head down, checking the lie of the big smooth stones, trying to spare himself a fall. Was this the way you’d survive in the minefields? Have those years in Angola seeped deep into his muscle memory?

Finally, he’s with us. He accepts Bill Penny’s outstretched hand, but it’s Nathan Kline who leads the round of applause. This is a gesture I find rather touching, but McFaul’s curt shake of the head tells me he’s embarrassed. For him, I’m guessing this must be the most private of moments. In fact, looking at him now, I’m amazed he’s here at all.

Beth has broken off again. She’s spotted another newcomer, a much younger figure in a rumpled grey suit. I’ve seen his face before but it’s a second or two before I realize where. This was the young man who was talking to the fearsome Inspector Hollick beside the incident van, that first day of the police search. Beth is bringing him across.

‘Enora Andressen.’ Her hand is on my arm but she’s talking to the newcomer. ‘I expect you’ll know the name. A very good friend of Christianne’s. I’m sure she’d be happy to spare you a moment afterwards? Is that OK, Enora? You don’t mind sharing a memory or two?’

I say nothing. I’m looking at the camera looped over the young man’s shoulder. Then my gaze wanders to the ID card dangling on the lanyard around his neck.

‘Exmouth Journal?’ I query.

‘That’s right.’ Local accent, ready smile. ‘Beth invited me down. Very happy to be here. Wonderful way of saying goodbye.’