The Roommates

by Rachel Sargeant

  Phoenix wills her to shut up. He might not understand the words, but her barbed tone will give him the gist. God knows what he might do if she provokes him.

  Another one not taking the danger seriously is Imo. She’s put the cutting on his desk and now inspects his bookshelf, pulling off three textbooks and flicking through before replacing them. “These are in English. You’re fluent, aren’t you?”

  Riku’s face remains impassive. He folds his arms and casts his eyes slowly over each of them. Phoenix’s heart rate rockets. She can’t remember feeling this out of control since Cloud’s accident.

  His gaze rests on Imo for several seconds, then he lets out a cold laugh. “Of course, I’m fluent; I’m bloody British.”

  Chapter 60

  Phoenix

  The shock that cracks through the tiny room has more power than if he’d used a martial arts kick. Tegan sits pale-faced and ramrod straight on the bed. Imo wraps her arms around herself. Phoenix wants to say something but her mouth won’t work.

  Imo recovers first. “Why did you say you were from Thailand?”

  “It was you lot who decided I couldn’t speak English.” He glares at Tegan. “At least I assume that the sarcasm that came out of your mouth in the taxi was because you thought I wouldn’t understand.”

  Tegan looks away.

  “Your friend Amber started it,” he goes on. “She met me in the hallway on my first day and started babbling about Thailand. I couldn’t get a word in. And, no, I don’t know where she is. I didn’t know she’d gone until her family came to clear out her room.”

  No tells, no micro-gestures – that Phoenix can see – nothing to suggest he’s lying, but he clutches the sketchpad to his chest.

  He notices Phoenix looking at the sketchbook. “My hobby. I do them from memory. No one poses. I wanted to study fine arts but my father said I was throwing away my education. So I’m here doing physics.”

  “Maybe you don’t need to study it,” Imo says, her tone conciliatory. “Those sketches look pretty perfect to me.”

  “True,” Phoenix adds. “Your technique is outstanding.” The idea of Riku as a serial killer is starting to look unlikely. She doesn’t know what to think.

  “What’s in your parcels?” Tegan asks.

  He pauses, narrowing his eyes. “Fingers, thumbs, teeth.” He watches the panic rise in her face, then he laughs. “Shoes. Trainers mostly. I pay the duty and ship them out to the Far East. My grandparents still live in South Korea. They have contacts.”

  “What’s the profit margin?” Tegan sits forward on the edge of the bed, thoughts of dismembered bodies apparently forgotten now that there’s talk of business.

  Imo must also feel the conversation drifting. She takes the sketchpad from him and turns to the picture of Amber. Her fingers hover over Amber’s soft cheek and mouth. “She’s in trouble. I’m sure of it.”

  They fall silent. Phoenix can’t bring herself to look at Riku, ashamed that she’s brought them into his space and at a loss for how she can apologize. She senses his angry stance – arms folded, feet apart, glaring.

  “So back to our first suspect,” Tegan says eventually. She checks her phone. “Crèche time coming up, we could have another snoop around Victoria Lane while Jane’s out.”

  “I don’t think Cheryl Burdett’s got anything to do with this,” Imo says.

  It takes Phoenix a moment to remember that Amber’s old neighbour might be on campus. The chances are slim. Even more unlikely when she thinks of the name change to Jane Brown on the NHS database. She flushes, ashamed of the intrusion she made into the woman’s health record. Months of treatment. No one’s business but her own.

  Riku clears his throat and puts his hands on his hips. Phoenix gets the message and moves towards the door, ready to leave him in peace.

  But Imo’s still shaking her head. “I caught a glimpse inside Jane Brown’s flat when I was in the foyer. She’s a normal mum. There are kiddies’ wellies in the hall for God’s sake. If she’d seen what happened to Amber at the Freshers’ Fair, she’d have told us, wouldn’t she?”

  Phoenix nods, encouraging Imo. They jumped to conclusions about Riku and shouldn’t make the same mistake with this woman.

  “Maybe she’s stashed her in the cellar,” Tegan says. On her hands and knees, she takes one of the parcels from under the desk and rattles it.

  “Make yourselves comfortable, why don’t you,” Riku says, arms folded, directing his comment to all of them. But, apart from Phoenix, the sarcasm falls on deaf ears.

  Imo frowns and stands in front of Tegan. “What did you say?”

  “What?” Tegan replaces the parcel and stands up. She hesitates, apparently trying to remember her last comment. “The cellar? I was joking. Maybe your pal Jane Brown has kidnapped Amber. It was a joke.”

  Phoenix holds her breath, watching Imo. She regrets not telling Tegan what Imo revealed about her sister. Tegan wouldn’t use words like kidnap if she knew.

  But Imo tips her head to the side, studying Tegan. “What cellar?”

  Thinking she needs to intervene, Phoenix touches Imo’s arm. “I don’t think she meant … We should go.”

  Imo steps away.

  “Are you okay?” Phoenix asks.

  Imo turns round. “What cellar, Tegan? What did you mean?”

  Leaning back on Riku’s bed, Tegan shakes her head and sighs. “My gob lands me in it every time. Even her family thinks she’s holed up in a squat, but just on the off chance that nice little Freshers’ Fair mummy has taken Amber for her own sordid pleasure, there are cellars under the flats in Victoria Lane. Some of them anyway. Before I found sleeping beauty on the sofa in the wrong flat, I nosed round his kitchen. There was a door leading down some concrete steps. Maybe Jane’s flat is the same.” She sits up. “Wait, Imo, where are you going? Wait for us.”

  But Imo has already run out of the flat, leaving the door wide open.

  Chapter 61

  Phoenix

  The adrenaline pumping around Phoenix’s body takes a dip when Tegan doesn’t turn off campus but parks outside the geography block. Now that they’ve caught up with Imo and promised to help, Phoenix thought they would drive together straight to Jane’s place. Why the detour? Tegan climbs out of the car, releases the bonnet catch and looks up at the building.

  Imo opens her door. “We could get a taxi if you’re having engine trouble.” She checks the time on her phone. Jane will only be out for so long.

  “Shall I call Hamid?” But Imo’s question dissolves into a gasp as Tegan’s thug, Marlon, parks his Merc alongside. He gets out and leans over the open bonnet of the Mini.

  Phoenix’s adrenaline rushes again but not in a good way. Last time Phoenix saw him, he took Dylan. She realizes she’s raised her knees and wrapped her arms around them, cowering on the passenger seat. Pulling herself together, she opens her door to listen.

  “It’ll have to be tomorrow,” he’s saying. “I’m not tooled.”

  “You won’t have to do anything,” Tegan says. “Just be there if anything kicks off.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  Tegan makes a big sigh. “Okay, but don’t tell my father.”

  “The boss likes to be kept informed.” Marlon closes the bonnet and returns to his car.

  Tegan gets back in the Mini. “Jane Brown will have to keep for an extra day.” She looks in the mirror as she reverses.

  Phoenix has to sit on her hands to hide the tremor. Tooled? Tegan’s hired an armed – armed – henchman to break into a young mother’s house. Phoenix wants no part of it.

  “I can’t believe you did that, Tegan.” Imo lets out an exasperated breath and Phoenix gives a sigh of relief that she shares her alarm.

  From the driving seat, Tegan looks round. “Cheryl Burdett left her home in a hurry and changed her identity. There’s an outside chance she’s pitched up here. And we’ve agreed one possibility – however half-baked – is Amber’s in her cellar. I’m not going in there like … H
ansel and Gretel, ready to get locked up too. Marlon’s our backup.”

  Then Imo adds: “We can’t wait until tomorrow; it has to be today.”

  Phoenix is horrified; Imo’s as lawless as Tegan. “We should call the police,” she suggests.

  Tegan lets out a bitter laugh. “You can’t trust them.”

  Phoenix glances sideways at her. “Is that what your dad told you?”

  Tegan’s voice darkens. “Leave my father out of this.”

  “Why? Who else taught you how to plan an armed raid, if it wasn’t him?”

  Tegan slams on the brakes. The seatbelt locks against Phoenix’s breastbone. “You can both walk back.”

  “I haven’t done anything,” Imo protests.

  “I’ve been in this craphole for under three weeks and all I’ve done is wipe your backsides. Computer hacking, talking to crackheads, impersonating a parent – you’re happy for me to bend the law when it suits you. I’m the mug you hire so you don’t get your hands dirty. Well, you’re on your own.” Tegan leans across Phoenix and opens her door. “Out, both of you.”

  She leaves them on the roadside by the geography tower and guns her engine.

  Imo reaches her phone out of her jeans. “I’ll call a cab. It can’t wait till tomorrow, with or without Tegan’s help. If Amber’s in danger, I need to rule Jane Brown out now.”

  “I’ll come with you.” The words escape before Phoenix considers what she’s getting into. She knows she’s fit, stronger than most women, but if – by the remotest chance – Jane Brown is Amber’s captor, they’ll be facing a serious psycho. “Maybe we should call the police.”

  “And tell them what? They’ll look me up on their system, see all the stuff about Sophia and not believe a word.”

  “But we need someone with us, if Jane is a kidnapper and turns nasty.”

  “What do you suggest? You didn’t want anything to do with Tegan’s hired help.”

  An idea tumbles into Phoenix’s head. It’s a long shot, but it’s the only option.

  ***

  “What do you want?” Riku’s face takes on an expression, but it’s not the one Phoenix hoped to see. His eyes narrow and his mouth sets.

  Imo seems oblivious and blurts out: “We need you to help us break into a flat in town. Amber could be there.”

  Riku steps back from his door, clearly not expecting that, but he shakes his head. “What’s the plan: find a sketchpad and accuse the owner of every perversion you can think of?”

  Phoenix winces and looks away. Stares at the door jamb. “We’re sorry. It was a misunderstanding.”

  Riku glares at them. “Was it a misunderstanding when you hijacked my cab and bad-mouthed me for the whole journey, because you thought I didn’t understand English?”

  “I didn’t say a word against you,” Imo says. “And Phoenix wasn’t even in the taxi. Your beef should be with Tegan, not us, and we don’t blame you.” She waves her hand dismissively. How easily she’s thrown Tegan under the bus. She gets back to business. “There isn’t much time and we might need you to do your taekwondo stuff. Our taxi will be here any minute.”

  “Forget it,” he says. “Even if I wanted to help – which I don’t – I’ve barely practised taekwondo in the last three years.”

  “You’re better than nothing.” Imo moves past him into his room. “Martial arts must be like riding a bike; you never forget.” The unicycle is hanging in its usual place. She reaches up to touch the wheel and her eyes take on a new light. As if mulling something over, she hesitates. “Can I have a go?” she says eventually, her fingers caressing the wheel spokes.

  Riku looks bewildered and Phoenix stands in the doorway, puzzled too. One minute Imo’s clamouring to get into Jane’s flat as if her life depends on it, the next she wants to play circus. Phoenix recalls how manic she was when she spoke of her sister. The mania must be back.

  But she is forced to think again when Imo says, “If one of us manages to ride this thing, will you help? It’s not much of a bet as I can’t even ride a two-wheeler, but we’ll give it our best shot, won’t we, Phoenix?” She flicks a thumbs-up at Phoenix and turns back to Riku. “We need your help.”

  Riku folds his arms. “Everyone can ride a bike.”

  “I swear on my life, on my sister’s life, I can’t ride a bike, and I’ve never tried a unicycle. Just give us the bet. If one of us manages it for three seconds, you help us. If we can’t, we’ll never bother you again.”

  His weight shifts from foot to foot as he considers her challenge and the possibility of them humiliating themselves. He unhooks the unicycle. “Thirty seconds.” He opens his desk drawer, gets out his beanbags and drops them into Imo’s hands. “Juggling these at the same time.” He gives her a smug smile.

  Imo responds with a smirk of her own. “You’re on.” She hands the beanbags to Phoenix. “You go first.”

  Chapter 62

  Imogen

  There are hearty laughs from Phoenix and Riku in the back seat. Imo strains to hear what they’re saying above Hamid’s chatter beside her. Despite the trick she played, Riku’s in a good mood, asking Phoenix for tips to improve his unicycle technique. And Phoenix’s smile is still as broad as when she completed four lengths of their hallway, juggling fast and pedalling slow.

  “I’ve come home,” she said as she handed back the unicycle.

  Imo loves the atmosphere. Like an outing that she’s organized. Maybe that’s her forte. Even if this trip to Jane Brown’s is as pointless as she fears, she’s brought Phoenix and Riku together.

  “Shall I stop at the student place?” Hamid asks when they turn into Victoria Lane.

  “No.” Phoenix and Imo speak in unison.

  “There’s a side road further on,” Imo explains, glancing in her wing mirror at Phoenix. “We’d like to stop there.”

  The car slows. Have they made Hamid suspicious?

  “The side street’s nearer to where we’re going,” Phoenix adds.

  Hamid’s forehead knits into a puzzled frown, but he speeds up. Imo’s insides jump when they pass Jane’s house. Can she really break in? Riku and Phoenix have stopped talking. Are they thinking the same thing?

  Applying a touch to the brakes, Hamid makes a left into the side road. When he stops behind a blue Mini Convertible, Phoenix lets out a grunt.

  Hamid can’t contain his delight. “That’s your Welsh lady’s car, init? She can drive you back. I’ve got an airport run.”

  “Can’t you wait?” Phoenix snaps. “We’re not with her.”

  “Money, init? But you call me next time. I’ll be there for you. Hamid Cars always there.”

  They pay him and get out, making a show of playing with their phones until he’s turned round and driven off.

  “Do you think Tegan’s gone in already?” Imo asks.

  “Looks like it,” Phoenix replies.

  “I hope she’s okay.” Imo’s voice wobbles and even Phoenix looks concerned.

  Riku eyes her suspiciously but with no inkling of the danger they might be walking into.

  They walk round the corner to Jane’s student hall. Imo, the only one who’s been here before, leads the way despite the fear coursing her limbs and making it hard to walk. When they get to the front door, both girls step aside and look to Riku. He sizes up the door and puts out his hand. But the door creeps open.

  Tegan is standing in the foyer. “All we need is a mutt and we’re the Famous fecking Five.” There’s no humour in her voice. No anger either, she sounds disappointed. Betrayed. She heads towards Flat 2.

  “Thanks for coming,” Imo says.

  Tegan shrugs. “I knew you wouldn’t wait.”

  A feeling of shame comes over Imo; she’s got Tegan involved again. “I’m sorry …”

  “Later.” Tegan puts a finger to her lips and wedges a credit card into the door of the flat. After a couple of flicks of her wrist, Jane Brown’s door opens.

  There’s an intake of breath, and Phoenix and Riku stiffen. />
  “I’m not sure about this,” Riku says, folding his arms, feet slightly apart.

  “Me neither.” Phoenix stands beside him. “You’ve got a good heart, Tegan. I shouldn’t have said what I said, but I can’t …” Her voice trails off. She looks down and rocks on the balls of her feet.

  “You two stay here then,” Tegan says and turns to Imo. “Are you coming?”

  Imo realizes there’s a pecking order to law-breakers. She resisted yesterday when it was just her and Tegan, but compared to the moral high ground Phoenix and Riku have climbed, she’s slipped down the slope.

  She follows Tegan into the flat, taking in the strong fragrance of air freshener. Something quivers in her belly, and her legs tremble. It’s like getting out of bed after a night of sobbing for Sophia, but more concentrated. Maybe it’s the fear of getting caught, but her gut tells her it’s something else. It’s as if her worst nightmare lies in wait and at any moment will become reality. Sophia trapped in a cellar.

  A crowded line of coat hooks and an untidy pile of women’s and kiddies’ shoes and wellies greet them in a tiny hallway. Imo’s breathing races and before she’s gathered herself, Tegan opens one of two doors to the left of the coats and pulls on a light switch. An extractor fan clatters into life in a small shower room. Two toothbrushes rest on the clean basin. One has a red dinosaur face on the back of its head. She tugs the string to kill the light. The extractor noise continues after she closes the door.

  She goes through the other door and Imo follows, taking a deep breath. A cramped bedroom, twin beds with only a small gap between them. One, lower than the other, with countless teddy bears on top of a Paddington duvet. There’s a lit lamp on the bedside locker. It lights what would otherwise be a dark room even at this time of day as there’s no window.

  The main living area is to the left of the hallway, beyond the bathroom and bedroom doors. A beige, L-shaped sofa against the left wall; a bookcase with a built-in computer desk on the right; a pale pink play table and matching stool on a learn-the-alphabet design rug. An old ice-cream tub on the table contains crayons and a half-dressed Barbie doll. Imo remembers what Tegan said about looking for signs of unexpected wealth, but even she can see this isn’t a master criminal’s home. Jane Brown is a young mum, making ends meet.