I was back in the office making more observations. Melissa Dawson’s car was parked outside Mr. Charles’s house, and Officer Campen was standing on the step. He put the back of his hand over his mouth as he tried to hide a yawn. A second car was parked a bit farther up, which I’m sure belonged to Detective Bradley.
I tried to sit at the computer but I couldn’t keep still, so I went to go back to my room. Nigel was sitting outside the door, blocking my way. He purred loudly and closed his eyes, his head rocking back and forth slightly.
“Get out of the way, Nigel,” I said as I tried to find an angle to get into my room. The ginger cat opened his eyes and watched me dancing around in front of him. “Go away, you disgusting cat!” I reached forward and pushed my door open, intending to make a leap for it over his head, but as soon as I’d opened the door he was in. Sauntering across the carpet, he jumped up on my bed, where he padded his feet up and down, snatching at the duvet cover with his claws.
I stood in front of him.
“Nigel! Get off! Get off, you flea-ridden old bag!”
The Wallpaper Lion snarled at me but I ignored him. I looked around the room for something to use to push Nigel off with, but there wasn’t anything I was prepared to get infected. The cat did three lazy turns and then curled into a furry circle, shutting his eyes. I wanted to cry. All of the cleaning I’d done that morning was ruined.
“Nigel, I hate you! I HATE YOU!” I spat at him.
The cat twitched an ear but didn’t move, so I pushed at the mattress with my knee, but he just wobbled a bit. I looked out the window and wondered whether to bang for Mum or Dad to help, but Mr. Jenkins and Hannah were still out there. It was far too embarrassing to ask in front of them.
I ran into the office.
To: Melody Bird
From: Matthew Corbin
Subject: CAT!
Melody, I need your help! Can you come over? Right now?
M
I paced around, checking the street to make sure there was no sign of Melody, then I went back into my room. Nigel had stretched himself out like a long fuzzy sausage. I tensed my hands, but there was nothing I could do. I went back into the office, but there weren’t any emails.
“Come on, Melody! Answer!”
I looked out at number three. There was only one thing for it. I ran downstairs, pulled on my sneakers, and headed across the close.
If you stand on Melody’s doorstep (number three), you can’t see the number on Penny and Gordon’s house (one), so for now, I was safe from the unlucky number. I rang her doorbell, wishing I’d put on some fresh gloves.
Melody answered the door, and her eyes widened when she saw it was me. I took a breath and launched into what I had to say.
“I need your help. The cat’s on my bed! Can you come over and just get him off?”
I stopped, almost panting for breath.
She leaned against the doorframe. Her hair was curled and hung down in dark waves onto her shoulders, and she was wearing the blue dress she’d worn when I’d met her in the graveyard.
“What?” she said. My gloved hands fiddled by my sides. I didn’t have to hide them from her.
“Can you help me? Can you come and get the cat off of my bed?”
I knew I was fidgeting. Melody looked down at my feet, and I tried to make them stop moving. She tucked her hair behind an ear.
“Matthew? Are you scared of your cat?”
She held my gaze, and I felt the warmth spreading up my neck to my cheeks.
“No!” I said, a little too loudly. “I just, I can’t touch him. You’re good with animals, aren’t you? What with Frankie …” I looked behind her, making sure the little dachshund wasn’t going to suddenly appear and hurtle toward me. I couldn’t bear this. I wanted to go back to my room where I could talk to the Wallpaper Lion. He’d understand. He knew how dangerous it was to have a cat on your bed.
“I can’t, I’m going out with my mum now. You’ll have to ask your parents.”
I shook my head.
“No, they’re in the garden with Mr. Jenkins and Hannah. I can’t ask in front of them. Come on, Melody. Please?”
Tears stung my eyes. All I could think about were the germs on Nigel’s paws now swarming, infesting every inch of my room.
“Melody, we’re going now! Oh hello, Matthew.” Claudia was standing behind Melody in the hall. “I hear you’ve been doing some investigating, is that right?”
I looked at Melody, but she was staring at the ground.
“Erm. I’ve just been watching from the window a bit, that’s all,” I said.
“I see. Come on, Melody, get your shoes on,” she said and she disappeared into the kitchen. As soon as she’d gone Melody pulled the door closed a little and began to whisper.
“Matthew, Mum saw our emails! She wants me to go to the police station and tell them what I know about Old Nina: That you saw something in her house and saw her buying diapers.”
“What? She wasn’t buying them though.”
“I know! I tried to tell her, but she said we’ve got to be sure.”
Melody looked at her watch.
“Sorry, Matthew. I’ve got to go.”
My heart was going so fast the beats felt like a blur and the dizziness was coming back. The glass door closed and I was faced with a brown-haired boy wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt, jeans, and white latex gloves. He looked close to tears. I couldn’t bear to look at him, so I turned and walked toward the alleyway.
I passed the horse chestnut tree with the hexagonal bench and then the patch of overgrown weeds where the mermaid slept with her head resting on her arms. I carried on along the dusty path where Melody and I had walked together and found myself at the front of the graveyard near the church. I hadn’t intended to come here. On my right, standing barefoot on top of a small plinth, was a brilliant white angel. Callum’s angel. Its hands were pressed lightly together in a prayer, its mouth almost smiling. Beneath its creamy, carved feet I read the inscription:
Callum James Corbin
A beloved son and brother
A moment in our arms, forever in our hearts23rd March 2010
I stood looking at the angel with its huge feathered wings and felt my face cooling in the light breeze as tears trickled onto my cheeks. The angel’s eyes were almost closed, its head tilted to one side, full of concern. I stared at the angel’s feet where I’d tucked the note a few months ago. There were dimples on the top of each foot showing that this angel was a child itself.
“I didn’t mean for Callum to die,” I whispered. “I wish he was here now. I really do. I would have been the best brother to him, Angel. Honestly.”
I wiped my face on my sleeve as I watched the statue praying, and then I turned and headed home.