Speculation

Luke and Matt

"I've been going over who it could be," Matt said. "I mean, it's not Laney. It can't be."

Luke sees pain's flutter as it passes over Matt's face.

"So, the camera had to have been found."

Luke takes this in and mulls it over.

"I reckon someone's kept it all these years."

Luke looks up sharply at this but his friend is gazing into his pint, deep in thought. Luke trusts Matt's judgement. He was their leader as boys, having a natural air of authority and Luke can see that he's following a logical trail from what he knows and what he can surmise.

"If it had been left at the quarry, it would have been wrecked and the film corrupted. That makes me think that someone's held it all these years."

Luke takes this in, wonders where Matt is leading, and waits.

"So, there's a couple of different scenarios here." Matt places his index finger on the table. "1. Someone saw us that day."

Luke feels the stab of guilt and fear as it courses through his body. Discovery of what they hid would be so, so bad.

"I don't think that's it. No-one reported it and I think if we'd been seen, with all of the upset and press at the time, someone would have said something. There would be no reason for them to keep it secret. They could've gone to the police and have done. If they found the camera, they'd have handed it in and this would all have come out a long time ago."

Luke takes this in, sees the sense in it and feels the panic receding.

"2." Matt lays another finger down to emphasise his process. "Someone found it. But not recently. Around the same time." He looks at Luke. "That film would have been spoilt if it had been left outside for any length of time."

Matt pauses.

"And so, why take it? Why hold onto it?"

Luke shrugs.

Matt looks directly at Luke. "You know what I think? I wonder what else was on that camera."

The suggestion sinks into silence.

Finally, Matt adds: "Perhaps someone else has something to hide."

***

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