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“How could she do this?” he wailed “I told her to stay here I told her that I would look after her, that we could have a fine life together Why would she do this? Why would she sneak away in the night as though she’s ashamed?”

He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at Lake, expecting an answer

“She ht have left with her mum and dad?” Kirsty said

The boy shook his head vehemently

“They’re at the cae of town I already went there They aiting for her to turn up and leave with them She didn’t”

Kirsty’s jaw dropped Lake clenched his It wasn’t anything he didn’t already know about them

“Maybe they didn’t know you were hurt?” Kirsty said hopefully

He loved her for thinking that, but he knew different

“They knew everything,” he said “It’s the only story in town They thought the fire would send Rainne running to the for her”

Kirsty and her ed a look Lake could see that they didn’t understand He knew for a fact that Kirsty’s et to her

“They are shausted shake of her head

“Where is she?” Alastair wailed “Why would she run away like this?” He rounded on Lake “This is your fault,” he said as he pointed at hi over her What did you do?”

Lake looked down at Kirsty This wasn’t the tih before he talked to Kirsty His plans had changed He had changed

“It doesn’t matter now,” he said at last

“It matters to me,” Alastair shouted “Tell me Tell me what you said that made her run away from me”