helped divide the party into smaller groups so they could be taken to their new homes for the week. A boy with such striking brown eyes that Victor had to look twice stepped off the ferry. His elfin face seemed to radiate an uncanny glow in the dying light of the sun. âHere, let me help you with that holdall.â
âIâll see to that.â A carer he didnât recognize spoke sharply enough to suggest he keep his distance from the boy. She had blonde hair, and a face that, while being extremely attractive, had the drawn appearance of someone living on their last reserves of nervous energy.
âNo problem.â He shrugged. âIs there any more luggage on board?â
âNo, weâve got it.â She seemed on edge.
âMy nameâs Victor Brodman, the island ranger. Iâll be helping out generally and will be your guide while youâre here.â Despite his burden of half a dozen holdalls he freed a hand, then held it out to her.
For a second she eyed him suspiciously, then extended her own hand. âNurse Laura Parris.â The woman flinched as if not liking the steely sound. Softening it, she gave a tired smile. âCall me Laura. Iâm in charge. Thanks, by the way. Youâve got everything organized.â
âWeâre well rehearsed now,â Victor said. âWeâve been taking parties from Badsworth Lodge for years.â
âEver since it was known as Badsworth Orphanage, no doubt?â
Is she always this prickly? He nodded. âWe enjoy having you. The whole island prides itself on making sure the children have a good time.â She appeared not to be listening but was scanning the crowd of faces instead. âSo, Laura, Iâve still got to learn some of new childrenâs names. This will be . . .â He nodded to the fragile-looking boy with the elfin face. When she didnât make the introduction he did it himself. He held out his hand to the boy. âMy name is Victor. Pleased to meet you.â
Laura quickly drew the boy away. Guiding him to a gangling boy of eleven or so, she said, âBilly, Jay is your holiday buddy. Heâll be staying with you at Mrs Millerâs house.â
Billy immediately let fly with a howl of protest. âNo damn way! Iâm not stopping with that little witch.â
âBillyââ
âWhat if he starts saying my name? Iâm not going like Maureen and Tod. Iâm bloody well not!â
Lou stepped forward. âLetâs not wage a war about this.â
Billy trembled. âYou canât make me. Iâm not staying with Jay. Iâm not, Iâm not, Iâmââ
âOK. Weâll shuffle the deck,â Lou told him. âCalum, if you swap places with Billy, thenââ
A freckled boy reacted exactly as Billy. Flinching back, he yelled, âNot with Jay! Iâm not being anywhere near him. Never!â
The other children retreated from the elfin-faced boy as if heâd burst into flame and burn them to cinders. All clamoured that they wouldnât stay with him; that it wasnât fair. What struck Victor so forcefully was that they werenât being merely stroppy, they were absolutely terrified of Jay.
Mayor Wilkes had been overseeing the arrival of the party in his usual manner â hands behind his back, pointedly announcing that his status was far too elevated to actually help with the mounds of luggage. He scanned the adults from the Lodge.
âWhoâs actually in charge?â
Laura Parris turned to him. âThat would actually be me.â
âYou can find that boy another child to stay with?â
âDonât worry. Iâll work something out.â
âThatâs how the system operates for your party. They stay in groups of two with carefully selected local residents. We canât have children chopping and changing.â
Laura glared. âThe children are worn out. We can deal
Learning to Kill: Stories