Harper's Fortune

by F. C. Clark

  I look up to his face, panicked. ‘You too?’

  He shakes his head. ‘Just Max, but I don’t know what time I’ll be home. Please don’t leave the house. Thomas is here with extra security staff.’

  ‘Luke, you’re scaring me.’

  He smiles, trying to ease my mind. ‘Precaution, nothing more. I will answer any questions you have when I return.’ He gently kisses me.

  Cut lip again! My hand runs against my bruised cheek. My reflection confirms I look a little battered, but nothing compared to Max. The thought sends a shiver through my body. I brush my wet hair and slip on my usual grey slouchy clothes.

  The sound of Jerry and Rosie echoes through the hall as I make my way to the kitchen.

  ‘Kate, darling, sit down. I’ll make some tea.’ Rosie stands.

  ‘Thanks. What a bloody nightmare.’ I sit next to Jerry and take his hand. ‘Sorry about earlier, feeding you bullshit. I still can’t believe what happened.’

  Jerry squeezes my fingers. ‘You looked dreadful, flower, but not as bad as Max.’

  ‘I don’t know what came over him. He stopped the car, got out and started attacking a man.’

  ‘Did you recognise him?’ Jerry asks.

  I shake my head. ‘No.’

  ‘Here – drink this.’ Rosie places a mug of tea in front of me. ‘Luke will sort him out. Those two are as thick as thieves, have been since the day we arrived.’

  ‘I’ve always thought that.’ History! That’s what binds you with someone.

  ‘Bloody madness… That’s not like Max. Something must have driven him to it.’ Jerry says.

  ‘God knows. Anyway, I’m starving. Anyone fancy beans on toast?’

  ‘Not for me, Kate.’ Rosie stands and washes her cup in the sink.

  ‘I’ve got to get on, flower.’ Jerry heads towards the garden.

  ‘Do you want me to sit with you until Luke gets back?’ Rosie walks to my side, rubbing her hand across my back.

  ‘No, I’m going to lose myself in some bad TV.’

  Midnight arrives, but there’s no sign of Luke. I lie on the sofa in his office, channel hopping and clock watching. My eyes begin to close.

  A tender kiss on my good cheek wakes me. My eyes instantly open. ‘Hi.’

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Luke crouches by the sofa.

  I sit up, yawning. ‘Fine… Max – is he OK?’

  ‘Bearing up. I took him to his sister’s for a few days.’

  ‘Oh! I didn’t even know he had a sister. Obviously I don’t really know that much about him.’

  He kisses my forehead. ‘You know the best bits. You should be in bed.’

  ‘Not until I knew you were OK. Have you eaten?’

  ‘I’m not hungry.’

  ‘You need to eat – French toast?’

  A smile appears on his weary face. God, it warms my heart to see his face light up. ‘Is that for you or me?’

  ‘Both. You look exhausted.’

  ‘It’s been a long day. Let me shower. I’ll be down in ten minutes.’

  ‘OK.’

  The first batch of toast sits on a plate ready for Luke to dip in the saucepan of warm raspberries. This has to be the best form of world peace on a plate.

  ‘Smells good.’ Luke enters the kitchen in his comfy jogger shorts and T-shirt.

  ‘Sit down.’ I pass him his plate, and watch him devour the treat.

  ‘I was hungrier than I thought.’

  ‘Here.’ I pile his plate high with more.

  I take the stool next to Luke and watch him eat while I drink my tea.

  ‘So, ask what you need to ask.’ Luke turns to me with honesty in his eyes. However, I also see another emotion – sadness.

  ‘Let me be clear, I’m not expecting you to divulge information that’s between you and Max. He’s your friend and you have history.’

  ‘A kind gesture, Kate, but after today I feel you are owed an explanation.’ Luke stands and holds his hand out. ‘I have something to show you.’

  We descend to the basement and head for the wine cellar, a place I seldom visit. Luke releases my hand and presses a button at the side of the floor-to-ceiling wine rack. It moves slightly, revealing a keypad. What’s he doing?

  He looks at my shocked expression.

  ‘Nothing scary – I promise.’

  He inputs a code. The door unlocks and Luke steps forward. I take a deep breath, feeling apprehensive; today has truly unnerved me. A fluorescent light illuminates a fairly large room.

  I move in and slowly scan the room. ‘What is this, a secret den?’

  ‘You could call it that – a store room, a panic room.’

  There are racks filled with books and tons of paperwork, and – shockingly – piles of cash.

  ‘It’s more than a store room!’ I stop dead in my tracks. Holy shit – guns. ‘Should I ask?’

  ‘I had it built when I first moved in. I needed more than a safe to keep important documents and weapons. Kate, you have seen the work I was involved in; this is evidence.’

  ‘What the hell were you involved in?’ I hold my hand up. ‘Actually, don’t tell me… Are you allowed to keep guns in your home?’

  ‘I am.’

  I walk around the room, stopping at a box that looks a little bizarre. I look inside, to reveal handcuffs and several other toys. Luke rolls his eyes and swiftly moves to my side.

  ‘I forgot these were here. I haven’t been in here for a long time, since we got together.’

  ‘Six months, nearly seven – not that I’m counting.’ Clearly, all girls count – it’s what we do. ‘I take it this box is for recreational use.’ I pull out a large bar with handcuffs attached.

  Luke removes it from my hands and returns it the box.

  ‘Let’s just say I had a sexual partner who liked to be manhandled.’

  ‘What, whipped and shit like that?’ I’ve always wondered, and now there’s evidence.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh my God. I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘I didn’t bring you down here to discuss my past… whipping experience.’ He smiles and pushes the box further back.

  ‘I’m telling you now, if you come near me with a whip I’ll knock you out.’ My arms automatically fold at the thought of Luke doing that – not to me, but to another woman.

  ‘I have no intention of ever whipping you… unless…’ He trails off, a delectable smirk forms across his face.

  ‘Let me stop you there. That’s never going to happen, or you can find yourself a new Mrs S.’

  He pulls me into his arms.

  ‘I would never hurt you.’ He kisses my forehead. ‘Sit down. There’s something I want to show you that doesn’t involve bondage – although tying you up…’ He raises his brows.

  ‘Ha, very bloody funny.’

  I sit down. Shit, I’m having a day of revelations. I can’t believe Luke whipped a previous partner. Maddy? No, she doesn’t look the type. What is the type? I have no bloody idea!

  ‘Kate!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Are you with me?’

  ‘Yeah, sorry. Actually, was it Maddy?’

  His brows shoot up.

  ‘Miss Whiplash: was it Maddy?’

  He chuckles. ‘Max always said you were like a dog with a bone.’

  ‘You just threw me one to chew.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What, no it wasn’t Maddy or no, you’re not going to tell me?’

  ‘Both. So don’t ask, you’ll never meet her – I can guarantee that.’

  My hand covers my mouth. ‘Did you kill her?’

  ‘Jesus, Kate, do you really think I kill random people? Is that what you think of me. It was a while ago. She briefly worked in London before she headed back to…�
��

  ‘Yes? To where?’ The Outer Hebrides, I hope!

  He takes a deep breath. ‘Sweden.’

  ‘You like a blonde.’

  ‘I like you. So please stop talking.’

  He turns and collects what appears to be a scrapbook from a rack and places it on the table.

  ‘As you know, Max and I go way back.’

  I nod.

  ‘I met Max via his son, Paul Maxwell.’

  I frown.

  ‘Max’s name is Anthony Maxwell, but I’ve only ever known him as Max.’

  ‘Oh! I just assumed that was his name.’

  ‘Most people do.’

  Luke opens the book and skips a few pages, leaving it open at a page containing various newspaper articles. One headline reads: Teenager dies outside London nightclub. I begin to read as Luke sits back in his chair, running his hands through his hair.

  ‘Shit, Luke, were you there when this happened?’ I continue to read. ‘Bloody hell. Poor Max… and you, was he your best friend?’

  Luke nods silently. My eyes brim with tears. I reach across for his hand and turn the page. A name in an article jumps out at me – Anderson. It must have something to do with today; it can’t be a coincidence.

  I carry on reading. ‘It went to court… Jesus, Luke.’

  He inhales deeply, trying to find the words to explain. God, no. Watching him crumble kills me.

  ‘Luke, please, baby, don’t say any more. I can’t bear to see you hurt.’

  ‘I need to. One night Paul and I went out clubbing, we had a few drinks, and some trouble broke out.’ Luke takes a deep breath. ‘The bouncers attacked us, even though we had done nothing. They threw us out – we tried to defend ourselves, but there were too many to fight off. All I remember was Paul lying face down.’

  ‘Oh shit! Luke, I’m so sorry. Poor Max.’

  ‘He died in my arms, Kate. By the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late. I couldn’t do anything to help him except hold him until he stopped breathing.’ He lowers his head in his hands, hiding what lies in his eyes.

  I go to him, wrapping my arms around him. ‘I’m so sorry – to go through that at seventeen… I love you so much. I hate seeing you in pain.’ Tonight is my turn to be strong.

  He pulls away slightly, his head held low, not in the usual manner of Luke Sutton. I lift his chin and use my thumbs to wipe away the dampness on his cheeks.

  ‘Kate, I’m sorry about today.’

  ‘You just told me your best friend died in your arms. Bloody hell, that’s a huge thing to get over.’ I move back to my chair, bringing it closer so our knees are touching.

  ‘I met Paul through being at the wrong place at the wrong time; we immediately hit it off. We had totally different backgrounds: I was wealthy, and he was from a council estate, but it made no difference. He was clever and funny. The way he died really fucked me up. It killed me that I couldn’t help him.’

  ‘No shit. I can’t imagine what you went through – and Max, of course. What about your parents? Did they know?’

  ‘Not really. I’m the first to admit I was rebellious. I was sharp enough to never bring trouble to my doorstep; my school results were always good, so they never had any real cause to worry.’

  ‘Luke Sutton was a bright boy? Why am I not surprised? But how did you cope afterwards? I mean, it must have been bloody lonely.’

  ‘I managed to get through the funeral and then there was a court case. You’ve just read that the bastards got off.’

  I nod, my eyes remaining fixed to his. I don’t want him to stop talking.

  ‘Kate…’ He breathes out and sits back in his chair. ‘That’s when I lost it and went after Derrick Anderson. I wanted to kill him – and still do, for what he did to Paul. Thankfully, Max came after me just as I was about to kick the shit out of the prick. Max threw me in his car and took me away before I did something I’d regret.’

  ‘So, that’s why you owe Max – he rescued you.’

  ‘Max was in the military when he was young, and got out when Paul was born. He never married Paul’s mum, but they remained close for his sake. He also kept in contact with his old military friends. He drove me to Hereford – that’s where I started my training – and the rest is history.’

  What the hell? I wasn’t wrong about a night of revelations.

  ‘Anderson was the guy today?’

  ‘He played a part in what happened to Paul. He denied touching him, but I saw him with my own eyes. When I got out of the SAS and started Sutton Global, I went after Anderson. I wanted to destroy him. Look at the picture again – do you recognise it?’

  I consider the black-and-white newspaper images. ‘Oh my God, it’s SGI; I could barely recognise it.’

  ‘I managed to dig deep into Anderson’s business and found out he was a rogue operator. After some investigation, he got put away for dealing in drugs and money laundering. Nothing too hardcore, but enough to see him behind bars. He got out some time ago.’

  ‘That’s why you own the club.’

  ‘He had to sell it in order to pay his legal bill. I was there to pick it up for next to nothing, and now it’s a thriving business. It belongs to Max: I signed it over to him a long time ago, in honour of Paul. Although Max never visits the club, and I just keep an eye on it. I had no idea Anderson had returned to London; he’s been off my radar for some time.’

  ‘Bloody hell, so today was a massive shock for Max? No wonder he went mad. Luke, I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe Max lost his child.’

  This time Luke pulls me into his lap.

  ‘Max told me you tried to stop the fight; standing in front of two men fighting is not clever.’

  ‘I couldn’t watch that man hit him.’

  Luke gently kisses my lips.

  ‘Max thinks the world of you. This should never have happened with you there, Kate.’

  ‘You can’t say that. Max protects me, but how he must have felt, seeing the man who killed his child… Luke, you just said you wanted to kill him – just imagine if that was your son.’

  ‘You shouldn’t have been caught in the crossfire.’

  ‘Wrong time and place, that’s all. I would do it again. Actually, I lied to that Anderson man. I said I saw him throw the first punch… I did look for CCTV but couldn’t see any.’

  ‘So now you lie for your friends.’ He runs his hands through my hair.

  ‘Absolutely, honour among friends – shit! Luke, I didn’t mean it like that.’

  ‘I know. Max appreciates you were defending him. Kate, he’s never got over how much time you spent with him after the explosion. Well, between my room and his.’

  ‘Yes, and if I remember rightly, your room was a little more challenging.’

  Luke laughs for the first time. ‘What can I say? Rehabilitation.’

  ‘Rehabilitation, bullshit. I would describe it as the most embarrassing day of my life. That poor nurse – caught us having sex!’

  ‘As I said, rehabilitation.’

  ‘Yes, well, thank God I didn’t see her again.’

  He gently kisses me again then looks at his watch.

  ‘Three o’clock – you should be asleep.’

  ‘Thank you for sharing your life. You very rarely tell me anything. I’m here for you always – you know that.’

  ‘I know, baby. Now, bed. You look exhausted and bruised.’

  We stand as Luke puts the book away and I look at the Swedish pleasure box.

  ‘This needs to go in the bin.’

  I run to Luke and Max, who are lying on the ground, unconscious. I check their pulses – they’re faint. I try to breathe, but my chest hurts. I gasp for air. Please, God, help them…

  I wake, alarmed that I’ve had a nightmare – my first since New York. I look at my watch: eight thi
rty. Luke remains spread-eagled across the bed.

  I slide out from the covers, needing some air. The house is quiet; maybe Rosie and Jerry heard what time Luke arrived home. I grab a blanket from the sofa and go out into the garden.

  There, my eyes close, and I allow the morning chill to coat my skin.

  I feel a kiss on the top of my head. ‘Nightmare?’

  ‘Yeah.’ I turn to face Luke. ‘You were asleep, I wanted you to rest. I was going to call Stella.’

  ‘I emailed her last night. I’m not going to work today.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘You and I have a date in the gym.’

  ‘What?’ I know the gym is at the back of the house, but it’s not a room I visit. Does he think otherwise?

  ‘Driving back last night, I had time to think. Yes, you know where the panic button is…’

  ‘In our bedroom.’

  ‘Right. But you’re poorly armed for these situations.’

  ‘Poorly armed.’ Where’s this heading? ‘Luke, this won’t happen again.’

  ‘We both know trouble follows you, so I’m going to teach you self-defence… and this afternoon you have an appointment at my gun club.’

  ‘Are you shitting me? Gun club! Luke, I will never go near your guns – ever. You say I’m not to be trusted with technology, but you want me to handle a gun? You’re either brave or bloody stupid.’

  ‘I see it as a challenge. I need to know you can handle yourself. I’ll sort out the license and—’

  ‘And I think you need some breakfast; clearly you’re not thinking straight!’

  After breakfast, Luke tries to explain what happened yesterday to Jerry and Rosie. Seeing Luke in pain last night hit me hard. I can’t watch their reaction to Max’s loss, and wander off to the office. Once I have checked my emails, I collect some drawings ready for my meeting with Tanya and Maria – where hopefully they will offer me a ‘yes’ to Harper Jones. Last, I write Luke’s Valentine card for tomorrow. Our first!

  Luke pads, barefoot, in to the office.

  ‘Everything OK?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good. Have you heard from Max?’

  ‘His sister called. He slept well and he’s talking.’ He sounds stressed.