Something Might Happen Read Online Free PDF Page B

ought to be easy. To go and get my coat, my little, sleeping baby, creep out, close the door behind me. But the cats—Lennie’s
     two angry tabbies—circle me, mewing loudly. I don’t like cats, something Lennie will never understand. She can’t understand
     that a person could be afraid of a small furry thing.
    But I know where she keeps the food so I get it from the shelf by the back door and pour some onto a plate, make a kissing
     noise with my lips like she does.
    And they come, slowly, tails stuck up in the air. The one with the white patch on its face looks at the food, then back at
     me, disgust on his dreamy cat face. Then they both sit back and start washing.
    The moments fall away and whole seconds go by before I notice that a man is in the room. A stranger, a man, about thirty years
     old with lots of darkish hair and an odd, quiet face. Standing there and looking at me.
    My heart clenches and then dips.
    Oh!
    Sorry, he says quickly, I really am so sorry.
    He says it but he’s almost smiling. I am grabbing at the edge of the counter, hot and trembling.
    I didn’t mean to make you jump. I should have knocked. It’s just—
    I say nothing.
    The door was open, he says, looking more helpless now. And I was told the house was empty.
    I’m—it is. I’m going, I tell him.
    Oh look, don’t feel you have to—he says, but he’s looking all around him at the room. Which already isn’t Lennie’s room.
    Are you police? I ask him, because he doesn’t look like it.
    That’s right. Sorry.
    He nods.
    You’re the forensics guy?
    I’m Ted Lacey, he says, I’m—I’m called family liaison. I’m here to—
    I fold my arms tight against me in case he tries to shake my hand.
    I’m with the police, he begins again, but I deal with—
    The family.
    Right, he says quietly, keeping his eyes on me. Yes.
    Tess, I say, I’m Tess. A friend of—
    He blinks.
    Yes, he says. Yes. I know that.
    And he just stands there.
    Are you OK? he says at last.
    I’m fine, thanks.
    He looks at me.
    Is that your job? I ask him. To ask if I’m OK?
    No, he says and shrugs, looks away.
    I smile. I don’t know why.
    Look—he begins, then stops.
    I daren’t look at him. He’s so young. Something about him makes the room tilt.
    Maybe I look dizzy.
    Why don’t you sit down? he says.
    No, I tell him, I’m fine. I just need a cigarette.
    He watches as I pull open Lennie’s kitchen drawer.
    She has a secret supply, I tell him without knowing why, of cigarettes.
    He says nothing.
    I find them quickly, hidden between the clingfilm and the roll of sandwich bags. Also, a pink plastic lighter with the Virgin
     Mary on. A present from Barcelona, it says.
    We did give up, I tell him. At New Year.
    Oh, he says.
    But we keep them here. Just in case.
    He looks at me and the way he does it makes me feel funny.
    I’m going home, I tell him. Now. In a minute.
    OK.
    It’s just, I tell him, my husband wouldn’t want me smoking.
    He looks down at the floor. I see how shiny his shoes are. Definitely not from around here. I offer him the pack. He shakes
     his head. He hasn’t moved.
    I flick the lighter and the flame whooshes up too high over the Virgin’s head and then goes off.
    Shit.
    I drop it. The cigarette too.
    Fuck.
    He reaches forward, bends down, picks them up for me. I look into his hair, which is black as anything and dense and shiny.
    He watches me fumble all over again with the lighter. Shall I do it? he says at last.
    OK then.
    I put the cigarette between my lips and pull back my hair which is falling everywhere and he lights it for me. I suck it quickly
     in and let it hit me hard all over before I weep.
    And at home, there’s Mick, standing lost in the middle of something in the room where he can’t settle or do anything, which
     is how I feel too. And he’s been crying.
    I ask if he’s heard anything from Alex and he says no, he hasn’t. He’s still with the police as far as anyone knows.
    My head feels hot.
    I can’t believe