CHAPTER 10

CARAVAN

Dani knocks on the door and upon hearing Rhys' invitation to enter she opens the door.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"Mum - that she was in hospital"

It had only just clicked. He'd walked straight in and enquired after her. Nothing had come as a surprise. Rhys stumbled over his answer in uncertainty.

"I've not been off the planet for all these weeks Dan… you hear things…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've just been keeping up to date with what's been going on"

"Who's been telling you, Dad?"

Rhys knew she was unaware of Kane's part in the matter so he couldn't tell the truth.

"Um... Kirsty…"

"You've been in contact with Kirsty?"

"Yeah… well, no… not as such"

"Dad! What's going on?!"

Rhys had no idea how much Dani knew. He remained silent.

"Look, Kirsty would have told us if she had seen you - we've been in contact every week… just so we know she's alright."

"I know…"

Rhys looked shifty. He knew he had the ability to blow open a whole can of worms. Dani looked at him suspiciously. Knowing something was amiss. Nothing made sense to her.

"Kirsty's been… living with someone... I've kept up to date through him"

Dani's expression changed. No one had told her that Kirsty was seeing anyone. If she had known it would have put her mind at ease. Kirsty would be getting looked after. But why had it been kept a secret? Did it have anything to do with Kirsty running away in the first place? She was determined now. Determined to find out what had been going on.

"Someone we know?"

"It's not important"

"I think it is Dad… something's going on and I think I deserve to know what"

Rhys sighed.

"Trust me Dani… it's best you don't know just now... look, I'm exhausted after the journey…I need some sleep"

Dani remained standing next to the door, not moving.

"Dad…"

Her voice was harsh

"…you've caused enough trouble already... just tell me.. I can take it"

"You'd better sit down Dan"

She reluctantly took a seat next to him in the bed.

"You've got to realise Dani… we kept this from you to protect you"

He stood up, glancing uneasily around, unable to look Dani in the eye.

"Kirsty's been seeing… Kane"

Suddenly it made sense. The secrets. The lies. Kirsty running away. Dani rose shakily from her seat.

"Dani"

Rhys placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Leave me alone Dad"

Her voice was numb as she shook him off. She walked out of the van, leaving Rhys staring guiltily after her. She felt so sick. Betrayed. Her family had known. Her father had been in contact with him. She'd been holding the family together and she hadn't known. Hadn't realised. She felt so alone as she entered the house. She couldn't handle it. Refused to believe it. Grabbing her coat she ran out, heading to the Palace. She needed Josh's support. She needed to know if he had known all about it.

Back in the van, Rhys calls Kane. He was cut off. What was Kane playing at? He dialled again. Kane's phone was switched off.

……………………………

CAR

Dennis places Kane's phone into his own pocket.

"He'll know something's up if I haven't answered"

Dennis doesn't reply. He turns a corner, driving into an industrial estate on the outskirts of the city.

"He'll call the police"

"And say what? His new best mate isn't picking up the phone?! Yeah, they're going to have search parties out all over the country"

"You've got his daughter"

"He hasn't got a clue what's going on - so it looks like you're on your own"

He swings the car up a sidestreet, continuing until they reach a row of lock-ups. Parking the car, he opens his own door before walking around and releasing Kane.

"This way"

He walks up to a lock-up on the end and tries the large door. Locked. He looks puzzled and withdraws a set of keys, inserting one into the lock. Unlocking the door and rolling it open, he stands back, letting Kane enter before himself. He fumbles for a light switch and illuminates the room. Obviously used for storage. A small area with a few crates stacked to one side. Dennis looks around the empty room in confusion, before heading to another door at the end of the room, pulling it open. Another room lies beyond. Barely a room. A cupboard almost. Also empty.

"Where is she?"

Kane's voice cuts through the silence. Dennis' expression tells him that he's just as much in the dark about the whole situation.

"You don't know do you?"

Dennis doesn't reply. Kane strides towards him threateningly and Dennis whips his gun out.

"Don't try me… mate"

Dennis' eyes glisten. A warning. Kane steps back, beaten, as Dennis withdraws his phone from his pocket, proceeding to dial.

……………………………

THE PALACE

Dani knocks gently on the door and swings it open. She is about to call out to Josh but hearing his voice talking to someone down the phone stops her. She peers around the kitchen door. Josh is sat on the sofa, phone in hand.

"Look, I'm just picking up a couple of things at home - I shouldn't be long [pauses] yeah, look she's safe alright, so you can tell Mr Phillips not to worry… just so long as me and him get things sorted Kirsty will be fine"

Dani freezes, backing towards the door. Something was going on, that much was obvious. But what could she do? Her arms hit a pan on the surface and it clatters to the floor. Josh looks up in alarm.

"I've got to go"

He hangs up the phone and runs towards the kitchen, well aware that someone had overheard. Someone knew.