‘We do know what happened! Of course we know! Some vermin racist kids at that school tipped paint on our son, and that bastard headmaster did nothing about it apart from telling you to get him a new school uniform!’

‘But we can’t prove anything. Treasure won’t say what happened. He hasn’t spoken a word since I went to pick him up.’

Randall went to the fridge and yanked out a can of beer.

‘He will. Give him time. And when he does . . .’

_______________________

Treasure was supposed to be in bed, but he was sitting at the top of the stairs listening to his parents talking, and there was one thing that he was certain of now. He was never going to tell.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

1973

‘Are they real mermaids?’ A little girl sucking an ice lolly and clutching her dad’s hand stood wide-eyed, staring into the aquarium where Dolly, Daisy and Dixie were performing an exquisitely choreographed underwater waltz. Their golden hair fanned out and trailed behind them like veils of silken seaweed and their pearlescent sequinned tails flicked and swished, sending bright bubbles bobbling to the surface like the contents of an uncorked champagne bottle.

‘I shouldn’t be surprised.’ The man was as mesmerised as his daughter, although probably for slightly different reasons. The mermaids’ costumes certainly accentuated their voluptuous figures. The little girl finished her lolly and handed the stick to her dad.

‘Where did they get them from?’

The man pocketed the stick without taking his eyes from the aquarium. ‘Somewhere exotic, I reckon. Probably Bournemouth.’