Catherine Steadman - Something in the Water - A Novel

I need to read through my notes before going with Phil to interview Holli tomorrow. It’s strange to think that while we bumped across the blue-green waves in the sunshine, Holli was stepping out into the chilly gray of North London for the first time in five years. Duncan, my sound guy, can’t join us tomorrow, so Phil will be covering sound too. He’s a trooper.

There’s lots of work to be done before the morning. But it’s hard to focus. My mind keeps juddering between two worlds. My old life and my new.

I glance at Mark, who’s trawling through piles of old business cards. Hundreds, thousands of them, twelve years’ worth of meetings, dinners, functions, networking drinks—each card a person. A person who could potentially be of help to us now. Mark’s kept every business card he’s ever received. I remember the first time I looked in the drawer he keeps them in, the horror. He studies them now, each one connecting with a time and place in his mind, a handshake, a conversation, a smile.

Mark’s met a lot of people over the years, and we may be able to use some of his old work contacts to find a buyer for the stones. He’s been looking into the legality of diamond sales; it’s amazing how much you can learn from the Internet. I don’t know how people managed without it. I honestly wouldn’t be able to do my job without it. And we certainly wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing now.

I Googled Hatton Garden, London’s diamond district, in the airport lounge on our way back from Geneva. Absentmindedly, just looking at places to sell gemstones. It seemed like a fairly safe Google question. Not too suspicious. I could always argue that after the wedding Mark and I had agreed to sell my engagement ring to pay off some of the mortgage. It’s an option, selling the diamonds ourselves, but it could raise suspicion; it would be better if we could sell the stones through a private dealer, a middleman.

Mark is trying to cover all our bases—well, as far as it’s possible to do so. Apparently, it might be complicated but it’s not illegal to sell diamonds. Just very delicate. He’s been making tentative inquiries. After all this is done we’re seriously going to have to consider wiping our hard drives.

I think of the computer back in the business center of our hotel in Bora Bora. I wonder if they found out where their emails where accessed from. If they figured out where we were. If they’re even looking. Or have we just evaporated? I ran an Internet search on the company names I could remember from the translated emails, but I couldn’t find out anything. These people are shadows. Ghosts.

It’s getting late when the house phone rings. It’s about six and the London light has already faded around us, leaving us in darkness lit only by the blue glow of our laptop screens. I leap up, the sound jolting me back to reality, but Mark beats me to it. He’s been expecting a call back from someone about the diamonds.

His demeanor changes instantly at the sound of the voice on the other end of the line. He relaxes.

“Oh, hello, you.” It’s his mum. Susan. I can tell by the way he says “you,” drawn out and playful. They’re sweet together.

I try to dig back into my research while he tells Susan all about the honeymoon. She knows we came back a bit early because of my “food poisoning,” but this is the first real chat they’ve had about our trip. I catch snippets. Sharks, massive rays, empty beaches, the helicopter trip, tans and relaxation. I don’t know how long the conversation goes on for, but I snap back to attention at a sudden change in Mark’s tone.

“They what?” He stands tense, transfixed in silence, his face tight, as her muffled voice repeats. He lifts his eyes to me. Something is up. Something is wrong.

He waves me over and I join him by the phone.

“Mum, here’s Erin. I’m going to put her on; tell her what you just told me? No, just tell her what you just said. Please, Mum, just—” He hands me the phone. I take it, confused, and raise it to my ear.

“Susan?”

“Oh, hello, love.” Her voice is mild and slightly confused by the situation. “I don’t know what Mark’s annoyed about. I was just saying about your honeymoon…”

“Oh?” I look back to Mark, leaning against the sofa now, as he nods me on.

“Yes, I was saying it’s lucky you got ill, really, because of the news yesterday—” She breaks off like I might know what on earth she is talking about.

“What news, Susan?”

“In the paper. What happened.” She pokes me toward understanding but I have no idea what she’s—

Shit. What news ? I look at Mark. Is it the plane crash? Have they found the plane? Is it in the paper?

“Sorry, Susan. What’s in the paper?” I try to keep my voice steady.

“The accident. That poor young couple. I was saying it’s lucky you weren’t still out there, because I know you had an accident diving yourself a while ago and it’s such a dangerous sport. It’s lucky you weren’t out there too.”

Oh God. A couple. Are they okay?

“What exactly happened, Susan?” I signal to Mark to Google it.

“Er, let me think. Well, it was on Saturday the accident. I think I read it in The Mail on Sunday this morning. I’ve got it somewhere around here. I didn’t know you’d both be so interested. I mean, it’s terribly sad, of course. It is. Here, let me find it.” I hear her rustle around her paper-laden kitchen table as I look to Mark, his eyes now glued to the laptop screen.

He looks up at me—he’s got it, he’s found the story. He gestures to wrap it up with Susan. I hear her rustling and tutting at herself on the other end of the line. A muffled call of, “Graham, have you seen the Mail anywhere?”

I can’t wait for this. “Susan, Susan? It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I can look it up later.”

“Oh. Oh, okay, love. Sorry about that. It’s awful, isn’t it? I forget you might have met them. I can’t recall the names but a young couple. Very sweet looking. There was a picture. Sad for the family. Yes, I was saying to Mark it’s so lucky you weren’t out there then. Very sad. But I don’t want to spoil your nice memories, it sounds like you both had such a lovely time. Bring up the photos at Christmas, will you? I’d love to see them all.”

“Yes, definitely. Will do.” There’s a natural pause and I grab it. “Look, Susan, I should go. Sorry, it’s just I’ve left some pasta on and Mark’s left the kitchen. Can Mark call you tomorrow?”

Mark raises an eyebrow regarding the pasta. I shrug, What else can I say?

“Of course, love, don’t let me keep you. Yes, tell him I’m around in the evening tomorrow. I’ve got bridge in the morning, so late afternoon. Lovely. Bye then, love.”

“Bye.” I hang up and explode. “Fuck!”

“Come and take a look.”

I plop down next to him on the sofa and we scan the articles in horror.

BRITISH COUPLE KILLED IN SCUBA-DIVING INCIDENT IN BORA BORA, The Guardian. DEATH IN PARADISE, The Mail on Sunday . BRITS’ SCUBA DEATH TRAGEDY, the Sun.

It’s not front-page stuff but most of the papers have covered it.

BRITS’ SCUBA DEATH TRAGEDY A British couple drowns while scuba diving together in Bora Bora after panicking underwater and removing their breathing gear

A BRITISH couple has died in a tragic scuba-diving accident while on holiday in the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora this week.

Daniel, 35, & Sally Sharpe, 32, died after the accident off the luxury resort island of Bora Bora. The couple were diving together along with their hotel resort dive instructor in a world-renowned scuba spot in the South Pacific when the incident occurred.