Now You See Me by Emma Haughton Read Free Book Online

know, Hannah. You tell me.”
    I stared at her, at a loss. “What do you mean?”
    â€œDo I have to explain?” Martha gave me an exasperated look. “You were the last person to see Danny. You’re his best friend – you tell each other everything…”
    â€œNot any mo—”
    â€œNever mind what you said to the police. You’re not seriously telling me you have absolutely no idea where he is?”
    I shook my head vigorously. “No, Martha, really I don’t…”
    â€œCome off it, Hannah. You must know something .”
    â€œWhat do you want me to say? I told them everything I could think of. We went over and over it.”
    â€œBut Danny must have said or done something. Given you some kind of clue.”
    â€œLike what?” I leaped up and faced her. “He came round. We went out. You heard me tell the police all about it the first time.”
    â€œI heard—”
    â€œThis isn’t my fault,” I said, a rush of feeling punching out the words. “Why are you blaming me? I mean, how do we know Danny even planned it? What if he was…?”
    I stopped before I said it. The one thing no one wanted even to contemplate. That Danny hadn’t chosen to leave. I felt my cheeks flush, the heat of anger in my face. But underneath I was starting to panic. The last thing I wanted was to fall out with Martha; it was hard enough coping without Mum. Especially now.
    But Martha appeared not to hear me. Her voice rose, her frustration taking over. Her face was full of a mad energy I’d never seen before, her eyes narrowed, her chin jutting towards me as she spoke.
    â€œI don’t believe you,” she spat. “I can’t believe that you had no clue what was going on. The two of you—”
    â€œ Back off, Martha .”
    Dad’s voice made us both jump. He was standing in the doorway, watching. I couldn’t be sure how long he’d been there or how much he’d heard.
    â€œDon’t tell me you actually believe any of this!” Martha asked, her voice climbing still higher. She stared at him and I sensed the tension between them, like static before a storm.
    â€œBelieve what, Martha? Danny’s gone missing, and it’s very distressing. But that doesn’t mean that my daughter knows anything about it.”
    Martha’s eyes never left his. She looked for a moment like she was going to say something else, then changed her mind.
    â€œCome on, David. You can’t be serious. Those two have always been as thick as thieves. They tell each other everything.”
    â€œMartha, I know you’re upset—”
    â€œUpset? Of course I’m bloody upset. My son’s been missing for a week now and the last person to see him is sitting here acting all innocent…”
    â€œShe is innocent, Martha,” Dad growled, his face rigid with anger. “ You know that . Whatever’s happened to Danny…wherever he is and whether he planned it or not, Hannah had nothing to do with it.”
    Martha glared at him, something twitching in her cheek.
    â€œYou’re not thinking straight, Martha. Why would Hannah hide anything? She’s as anxious as anyone to have Danny home.”
    Martha looked at me, then back at Dad. “You can believe what you like, David,” she muttered. “You always have.”
    Dad’s head jerked back as if he’d been hit. No one spoke for several seconds. Then Martha sank into the armchair, dropped her face into her hands and burst into tears.
    Dad and I stood there, not moving, just listening to her awful gasping sobs.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she cried, running the heel of her hand across her cheeks, leaving a dark smear of mascara. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I keep thinking it’s all my fault. I mean, if I hadn’t…”
    â€œHadn’t what?” Dad asked.
    Martha sighed. “Oh, I don’t