Cold Grave (25 page)

23

‘I haven’t played air hockey in years,’ Anya said.

‘I’m not good at sports so we could be as bad as each other.’ Kandy sounded optimistic.

With Ben dozing on the lounge, Anya had decided to duck out and see if Kandy was in the teen club. Thankfully, she was there and not averse to talking. Although she had been initially wary when she’d first seen Anya the relaxed atmosphere of the teen club seemed to put her at ease. The club had a milkshake bar, tens of computers, a psychedelic music centre with egg-shaped chairs suspended from chains, and electronic sports games. A boy in a dark leather jacket with jet-black hair and skinny jeans slouched at a screen, collar turned up. He repeatedly flicked a long fringe from his eyes as he clicked away. It was like an adult-free fun parlour with high-tech devices.

Anya purchased two tokens and put the first into the machine. A bright red puck popped out from a dispenser at Kandy’s end of the table.

The girl knocked the puck near her own goal. ‘Are you some kind of psychologist?’

Anya held the small white mallet. ‘Definitely not, I’m a forensic doctor.’

‘Like in all those shows?’ Kandy backhanded the puck. It ricocheted off the side and Anya trapped it against the back corner, before sliding it forward.

‘Like that, only a bit different. Do you enjoy watching crime shows?’

‘Uh huh.’

A rally of four hits ended with a goal and then the buzzer.

‘I didn’t plan that,’ Kandy apologised for the goal.

Anya hit off this time. ‘They’re not very realistic. Pathologists and lab technicians don’t really carry guns and arrest suspects.’ Trying to block the puck, she managed an own goal.

‘Serious? I thought it was a kind of cool job. I don’t like science but the forensic stuff is interesting.’

Anya hit off again, this time the puck landed in the centre of Kandy’s goal.

‘Two to one.’ Kandy twirled the plastic mallet in her hand. ‘Why did you want to see me?’

‘We didn’t get a chance to speak privately last time.’ Anya struck the puck. It rebounded multiple times along all sides before slowing in the centre.

‘My dad can get pretty intense. It’s like there’s only one opinion in the world – his.’ Kandy leant forward and thumped the puck.

Anya slid the mallet along the back wall, hoping to keep the rally going. ‘I know a lot of people like that.’

‘Am I in some kind of trouble?’ A few hits later, Kandy scored again.

Anya took a moment’s rest. She hadn’t expected air hockey to be quite so active. ‘Do you think you should be?’

Kandy clenched her teeth and took a breath, as if about to disclose something. Instead, she remained quiet.

Anya placed the mallet and puck on the table. ‘Do you know there are security cameras on the ship, in the public areas?’ She moved around to Kandy. ‘There’s footage of you, Lilly and the group of men at the disco. We know some of the drinks were for you.’

The teenager dropped the mallet and turned her back to the table. ‘I only had one, or two. I promise. I thought they’d leave us alone if we had a drink with them. They wouldn’t take no for an answer . . .’

‘Did you go straight to your cabin when Lilly left?’

‘I didn’t feel well, like I was really giddy. I guess the alcohol went to my head. I told them I wanted to go to bed so one of them said he’d help take me.’

Anya took a guess. ‘Was that the one in the yellow shirt? Goes by “Genny”? He helped Lilly to the lift earlier.’

Kandy watched a group of boys playing a racing game. ‘Yeah.’

Anya pulled the camera from her pocket and stood by the girl’s side. ‘Someone took photos.’

‘What’s that got to do with—?’ Kandy looked at the screen. Suddenly, her face flushed and the pulse in her neck beat frantically.

Anya clicked to the next image and held the screen a little closer. It seemed unkind and confronting, but Kandy needed to know what had happened. She was a victim as much as Lilly, only Kandy had survived. She could help Anya and the Chans find out what had really happened, and who was responsible.

The young girl’s breaths became shorter and sharper. ‘That . . . it could be anyone.’

Anya forwarded to another graphic photo, unmistakably Kandy, lying on the floor naked, legs splayed.

Kandy slid down the table leg onto the floor, clutching her knees to her chest.

‘I said I wanted to go to my bed, but he took me to his cabin.’ She began to shake. ‘Oh my God, what if my parents see these? Please, you can’t let that happen. You don’t understand. I said I wouldn’t go into his room, with all those other people in there. He said it was a party and Lilly was already having a good time. He opened the door and I saw her. She was having sex with one of them and the others were playing a drinking game, I think. I didn’t know what to do. I felt sick and dizzy, and wanted to go home. I was tired, but Genny didn’t care. I tried to stop him, but it was like a weird dream. I was on the floor and he was taking my clothes off and kissing me . . . after a while . . . it stopped hurting. I must have fallen asleep on the floor because I woke up really cold. Genny wasn’t there so I got dressed as fast as I could and somehow made it back to the cabin before Mom and Dad.’

Anya listened. Both girls had been so vulnerable. In small amounts, GHB could increase sensuality, which was why some men thought it turned a woman into a nymphomaniac. Kandy had had a glass and a half of alcohol on the surveillance tape. Either way, the fifteen year old was intoxicated and in no position to consent.

‘You know, there’s this ad we got shown at school where girls drink and end up in bed with strangers then hate themselves in the morning. I never thought I’d be one of those girls.’

Anya crouched down next to her. ‘Did any of the others touch you that night?’ she asked gently.

She thought for a while. ‘No. They were busy inside with Lilly, but she drank less than I did.’

‘Did they offer you any drugs?’

‘Oh my God! You think I took drugs as well?’

‘No, that’s not what I’m saying. Did the men offer you anything else to drink?’

Kandy thought back. ‘They were passing a bottle of water around and someone had a bottle with a worm in it, but I didn’t want any.’

The water could have had the GHB in it. It was colourless and odourless. They were probably drinking tequila as well.

‘A test found a drug inside Lilly’s body. One that is sometimes used as a date-rape drug.’

‘They drugged her? Oh my God. I had no idea.’

‘We suspect they may have put something into the drinks at the bar.’

Kandy held a hand to her mouth. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

Outside the consulting room, Anya waited. Rachel, the junior nurse, appeared.

‘How is she?’

‘Karen’s talking to her about infection and pregnancy risk. It’s within five days, so emergency contraception is still an option. With a little luck, in this weather, her parents might just think she’s seasick.’

As much as Anya believed Kandy should tell her parents, she had to respect the young woman’s autonomy.

‘She still doesn’t want them involved?’

Rachel shook her head. ‘Can you blame her? Not that it matters, once FitzHarris gets here, she won’t have a choice.’

‘Who called him? I assumed you were bound by confidentiality.’

Rachel glared at her. ‘Not us – you’re his sidekick.’

Anya resented the accusation and all it implied. ‘I’ve been dragged into this. I’m just trying to help the Chans and make sure the company doesn’t sweep Lilly’s death away. I didn’t ask Carlos to tell me anything. For your information, FitzHarris has no right to any medical or personal information about Kandy, unless she gives permission.’

Rachel put both hands up. ‘Sorry, I just thought . . .’

Anya felt heat rise in her face and neck. ‘I know what everyone thinks. I’m not working for FitzHarris, or anyone. I’m just trying to do what’s right for the victims and their families.’ This was supposed to be a holiday, and right now, she was disappointing her son. They would almost be finished ice-skating by now.

Rachel lowered her gaze and made sure no one was listening. ‘You don’t understand the way things work around here. Last time something like this happened, an “anonymous source” told the media that the woman who had been date-raped brought the drugs on board herself, and was supplying. Last I read, she dropped the lawsuit.’

Anya needed to know: ‘Was FitzHarris involved?’

Rachel looked at her anew. ‘He wasn’t on that cruise, but the Andersons only employ people who are loyal and happy to do their bidding.’

‘Even if innocent people get hurt?’ Anya said, although she was hardly surprised.

Rachel leant closer. ‘You wouldn’t believe—’

Karen came out of the office and closed the door. Her shirt was only half-tucked in, and had a wet mark on the shoulder, no doubt where Kandy had cried. Rachel suddenly had to be somewhere else.

‘I wish there was more we can do, but it’s too late to test for GHB,’ Karen said.

The window for testing had long passed. With a short half-life, it could only be detected in blood for two to eight hours following ingestion, and was only excreted for eight to twelve hours in urine. There was no way of proving it had ever been in her system. The CCTV showed her drinking alcohol at the disco. That in no way lessened the crime the men committed, but experience told Anya it could be used as a weapon to suggest she was a willing participant.

‘I just double-checked. There’s still only an eighty percent chance the morning-after-pill will be effective this far along. We’re within the effective timeframe, so it’s lucky she told you when she did. She’s still adamant about keeping this from her parents, particularly her father.’

Anya thought back to his comments about blaming the parents for their children’s poor behaviour and its consequences. No one could blame Kandy for wanting the assault kept secret. She would, though, need careful follow-up with a sexual assault counsellor. Whether or not Kandy would seek that after the cruise was another potential problem.

‘Did you give her contacts for when she gets back home?’ Anya assumed any good nurse would, but had to ask the question.

Karen nodded. ‘That’s the downside to this job. You can’t guarantee or ensure follow-up. My guess is she’ll try to deal with this herself, then have major issues down the road.’ She touched Anya’s arm. ‘Does Fitz know?’

‘No, and he’s not going to. Our duty of care is to Kandy.’

Karen nodded.

FitzHarris was not aware Anya had the memory card, or that Martin had retrieved incriminating photos of the night Lilly died. If someone had taken pictures of Kandy in the corridor, it was likely Lilly had been photographed as well. That would prove the men had been with her that night. Anya just had to figure out a way to expose them
and
keep Kandy’s secret.

24

Anya still felt guilty about missing ice-skating, but Martin had explained to Ben that his mum was sad for not being there, but had to look after a very sick patient. Reliving the moment through the photos that Martin had kindly taken seemed to make Ben happy. With their son peacefully asleep, Martin and Anya curled up on separate lounges to watch a classic movie. Martin had bought a bottle of wine, which they shared after a glass of sangria.

Rain lashed the windows and wind continued to buffet the secure umbrella canvases. The storm was nowhere near over.

‘All that’s missing are toasted marshmallows,’ Martin remarked while the opening credits scrolled.

Anya was deep in thought.

‘Penny for them?’

She sipped her drink, not wanting to discuss how emotionally drained she felt, and how torn she was between being with Ben – who was happy, safe and healthy – and helping the Chan family get the answers they needed to grieve properly.

‘I know you feel bad about not being able to spend time with Ben, but kids just want to know you’re there if they need you. He’s pretty independent, but you’re his only mother, and he loves every minute you’re together. He’ll remember this trip for years.’