Costa Crew 2: They Walk Among Us

Chapter 6 - An Undying Grudge

"Amelia Murphy," stated Becky.

"Becky, Amelia Murphy's in prison," said Paul, sounding concerned.

"Exactly," Becky said, speaking quickly. "I remember when she was found guilty. She said 'you'll regret this, Hidgens'. We made eye contact and I could tell she was serious, there was nobody she hated more than me. She killed Curt to get back at me."

Paul wasn't convinced. "It's possible that someone on the outside killed Curt on Amelia's orders. But Amelia's associates are either lying low or they've abandoned her completely. There's a million possibilities. Curt might have seen something and been killed for his silence, or it could have been a robbery gone wrong, or maybe even a grudge against him personally."

Becky sighed impatiently. "I know. But I just have a gut feeling. It's Amelia."

"Look, you need to be with your parents right now," said Paul. "When we go back to London I'll speak to Amelia and see what I can get out of her."

"I'm coming with you," snapped Becky.

"Fine," said Paul, "but after the funeral."

"Fair enough," Becky replied reluctantly. "See you later."

She hung up and went back inside, where her parents were now talking about her grandparents' deaths. "At least with my parents I got to be there, to say goodbye," Faith sobbed. "And they'd...they'd lived their full lives. Curt...he's too young."

"We've got to hold onto the memories," said David, trying to stay strong, but couldn't hold himself together after losing his son.

"What's happening with the funeral?" he continued after nobody spoke.

Becky hesitated. "I wasn't sure whether you'd want it in London or Glasgow."

Her parents looked at each other. "London," they both said.

"Curt grew up in Glasgow, but his greatest achievement was in London," Faith explained. "Not to mention all his friends."

Becky nodded, although this wasn't the response she had expected. "All right," she said, "I'll speak to the funeral directors when we get back."

***

Becky didn't normally stay for maths supported study. Maths was, after all, her best subject - normally she would just get on with it by herself. But physics had been cancelled and she wasn't getting picked up until four. So here she was.

When she got there she was delighted to see her friends Amelia, Lisa Beck and Lisa Kleinman. "Hey guys," she said, sitting down in the empty seat beside Amelia.

"Hello," muttered Amelia.

Becky opened up a past paper and got to work, starting on the third question as they hadn't covered the topics for the first two. "Hey, Becky, can you help me with this question?" Lisa Kleinman asked.

Becky took a quick look at the question and gave a brief explanation. "Okay, thanks," Lisa said.

Becky smiled. "No problem."

"Do we all have that chemistry test on Monday?" asked Amelia as they worked.

"Don't remind me," Lisa Beck groaned. "I've tried to study for it but I just don't understand any of it."

"Calculations will be the death of me," Lisa Kleinman announced dramatically.

"It's the bonding explanations that I can't do," added Becky.

"The bonding explanations are so easy though," Amelia said condescendingly.

Becky looked away, blushing slightly. "I mean, I can do them, it's just what I find hardest," she said hastily.