COOMBS MOYLETT MACLEAN

As She Left It

  Opal Jones left home one wild Friday night when she was twelve and hasn?t been back since, not even for her mother?s funeral just eight weeks ago.  But someone on Mote Street wants her there, in her childhood home,  in her memories, in the black places where memories should be. Thirteen years Opal?s been gone and nothing much has changed.  Mr and Mrs Joshi still run a taxi firm from the last house before the dead end.  Mrs Pickess, next door, keeps her nets clean and watches everything.  Margaret Reid at No.3  has four cleaning jobs and a family to care for and down on the corner at No. 1 Pep Kendal and the Mote Street Boys still have their jazzband. Except that everything has changed.  The five Joshi sons are grown up and driving taxis now, Mrs Pickess has taken to church, Margaret?s husband won?t leave the house and nobody books the Mote Street Boys if they can help it.  Who wants a dance band with that name? Because something happened on Mote Street.  A child disappeared ? Little Craig Southgate, three years old ? and was never heard of again.  It happens.   A little lost girl used to sleep in Opal?s new bed, and someone is crying in an empty house through the shared wall. If no one but Opal knows their secrets then it?s up to her to unearth  their stories, to see that justice is done.  And she needs to forget her own troubles just right now.   But opening doors is dangerous and sometimes what?s behind them is far too close to home.