by Mia James
‘Stop!’ she cried. ‘Stop this at once! What on earth has got into you?’
‘There’s nothing to worry about, Mrs Dunne,’ said Dr Tame calmly. ‘I’ve just been using a psychiatric technique called Cognitive Re-alignment.’
‘I don’t care what you call it,’ she said. ‘Get the hell out of my house.’
‘I merely wanted April to face up to her responsibilities, to see the consequences of her actions and of remaining silent. I think it’s clear I succeeded. We understand one another, don’t we, April?’
April glared at him.
‘Get out!’ said Silvia again, pulling the front door open. ‘You can be sure your superiors will hear about this.’
The man laughed. ‘They’ll be glad to hear I’m doing so well.’
‘OUT!’ she said, pointing at the door.
The doctor smoothed his hair back and looked directly at April.
‘I was right about you, wasn’t I, April Dunne?’
April stuck her chin out defiantly.
‘No, Dr Tame. I doubt you have the faintest idea.’
‘Oh, I think I do. You’re certainly not like all those other girls at Ravenwood. You’re different.’
‘You’ll be different too, unless you get out of my house,’ said Silvia. ‘You’ve made a big mistake.’
‘Have I? I think I got it exactly right. We’ll talk again, April.’
‘Not if I have anything to do with it,’ said Silvia with ice in her voice. ‘When I’ve finished with you, you’ll be lucky if you can speak at all.’
She slammed the door behind him.
April lay on her bed, listening to her mother rant on the phone downstairs.
‘Completely outrageous … vulnerable girl … just seventeen for Christsakes! I want him fired immediately.’
She knew that Silvia was well-connected and that her grandfather was even more powerful, especially among the levels of the police where they used funny handshakes, but she suspected that not even her mother’s rage would get Dr Tame shifted from the case. What he had said about ‘the powers that be’ being concerned about the death toll in Highgate made sense. Whether he was talking about the police commission, the mayor’s office or the cabinet, it was certain that no one wanted any more bad publicity. Reporters had been pouring into the area since the Alix Graves murder, fuelled by her father’s death, and Layla’s suicide had only given them more ammunition. The Post had already run a two-page story about the ‘troubled girl with the tragic past’, talking about Milo and giving a damning profile of Layla’s father and his business dealings. April didn’t know whether Layla had been ‘troubled’ – if anything, she had seemed unnaturally self-confident. Apart from getting Davina’s approval on her new shoes, she didn’t seem to have any problems. But then she had watched her boyfriend die. Milo might have been a rat, not to mention a vampire, but it still couldn’t have been much fun. Her grandmother certainly seemed to think Layla had been serious about Milo, even if he hadn’t exactly returned the compliment. Maybe she wasn’t giving Layla enough credit. Maybe she’d had a soul after all.
She turned over and picked up her phone, speed-dialling Fiona’s number.
‘Hi darling, what’s happening?’ April felt a familiar rush of happiness to hear her best friend’s voice. There was something reliable and constant about it.
‘Major drama going on downstairs. My mother is trying to get the police psychologist fired.’
‘Ooh! You have the most exciting life,’ said Fiona eagerly. ‘Tell me everything.’
April quickly filled her in on the day’s events, particularly Dr Tame’s attack in the study.
‘God, that is weird. There’s something not right about that Dr Tame. You sure he’s from the police?’
‘What do you mean?’ April could hear her friend tapping away at her computer in the background.
‘Well, the interviews were done at Ravenwood instead of a police station and that, especially unsupervised, doesn’t sound like a standard interview technique.’
‘Come on, Fi, I know you. What are you thinking?’
‘I’m just looking up … ah, here we are. Ooh! Seems you’re not the first person Dr Tame has upset. “Expert witness causes case to collapse.” And here … it looks like he’s pretty well connected. He’s been a teacher and a headmaster at various public schools, before he started assisting the police. There are a few upsets, but he gets results. You remember that bomb on the Tube last year?’
‘Why do you think I take the bus whenever I can?’
‘Well, Dr Tame is the man who made the bomber confess. Gave up his whole cell. From this, it seems he gets results, but with suspect methods.’
‘Suspect methods is right!’ said April. ‘How can someone like that be allowed to interview kids?’
‘Well, that’s what’s worrying, isn’t it?’ said Fiona.
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, if the police are prepared to unleash a “psychological attack dog” – the words of George Framley-Green, QC, not me – onto a load of kids, it shows they’re pretty desperate for results. I think you’re right about your mum. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one of Silvia’s tirades either, but I don’t think even that will shift them. Layla’s dad may well be an important man, but Highgate is full of them. I think someone’s determined to put a stop to this.’
‘That’s not what bothers me; I want this stopped as much as anyone. I’m just worried Tame might be right. That if I don’t help them more people will die.’
‘So help them. Seriously, what’s stopping you?’
‘The fact that it sounds insane, Fi! Am I supposed to call him and say “Hey, I just thought you’d like to know, all those murders in the village are actually the work of vampires”?’
‘But can’t you call anonymously or something, give them a few pointers?’
‘I don’t have any evidence. I only have Gabriel’s word for it that Davina and the Faces are recruiting promising brains for their evil scheme to take over the world. And then they’ll ask why they should believe him. How am I supposed to answer that? “Because he’s a vampire too. I know because I stabbed him”?’
‘I see what you mean. But you could speak to that nice policeman, what’s his name, Inspector Reece?’
‘Maybe. I don’t know. I wish I knew who I could trust. I feel so alone down here.’
‘I know, honey,’ said Fiona sympathetically. ‘But you know you can trust me and Caro and all the rest of your friends. And your mum, she’s down there sorting things out for you, isn’t she?’
‘I’m not so sure any more. She’s been acting really strange since Dad died. She’s never here, anyway.’
‘Well, what about Gabriel?’
April sighed.
‘That’s the annoying thing about him. One of the annoying things about him,’ she corrected herself. ‘When he’s here, he’s all “I want to be with you,” but then he’ll disappear for days. It’s not like he’s adapted to the advent of mobile phones either.’
‘April, he’s a hundred years old. The telephone is probably a bit of a culture shock for him.’
They both giggled. It felt good to be able to laugh about it and it lightened the rest of their conversation. When April hung up she looked at the phone. She scrolled to Gabriel’s number, hesitating for a moment. Oh hell, why not? she thought. He’s supposed to be my boyfriend isn’t he? You can call them to chat, can’t you? She pressed ‘call’ and waited while it rang.
‘Hello?’ Gabriel sounded distracted, annoyed.
‘Hi, it’s me,’ said April.
‘Oh.’
Silence.
Oh? Is that all he’s got to say?
‘Just wanted a chat,’ said April. ‘Things have got a bit weird around here …’
Gabriel didn’t say anything for a moment, then: ‘Listen, I’m with someone, can we talk later?’
‘Oh, okay, I just wanted …’
He ended the call.
‘… to say I missed you,’ she finished to dead air. April felt her stomach churn. What was that all about? He’s with someone? Someone more important than me? Hang on, aren’t I the one who saved you from slipping into a coma and dying?
‘Bloody MEN!’ she shouted, throwing her phone against her pillow.
Just then it began to chirp. Ha! He called back! Well, he can grovel, she thought.
‘Yes?’ she said icily. ‘What do you want?’
‘Oh, is this a bad time?’ It was Davina, amusement in her voice.
‘Sorry,’ said April quickly. ‘Not you. I was …’
‘Let me guess. Mr Gabriel Swift, by any chance?’
‘Yes, how did you know?’
‘Sweetie, the only thing that makes a girl that mad is a man. And Gabriel Swift is a particularly maddening one.’
‘God, he drives me crazy sometimes!’ said April. Then suddenly, irrationally, she got a stab of intense jealousy: maddening? Why would Davina find him maddening? Was there some history there? Suddenly April realised that beyond his great lost love of Lily, she knew almost nothing about Gabriel’s history, let alone his romantic history. Had he and Davina ever been a thing?
‘All men are the same,’ said Davina, oblivious to April’s thoughts. ‘I think this calls for an emergency girlie night in. I was calling to ask you over anyway – I’m having a crisis of my own.’
‘What’s up?’
‘I can’t decide on a gown for the Spring Ball.’
April shook her head. She should have known Davina’s definition of crisis might well be different to everyone else’s. She supposed that even the vampire world must be divided into girls who watched Sky News and those who obsessed over dresses. Just because she was one of the undead, who was to say she was any less shallow?
‘Come on, I need a second opinion!’ cried Davina dramatically. ‘We’ll drink left-over eggnog and bitch about why boys are useless.’
April had no idea if leftover eggnog would be any better than fresh eggnog, but she was in the mood for forgetting all about her problems. She just wanted to veg out and gossip about pop stars like any other teenager, even if it was with an untrustworthy vampire.
‘I’ll be right over.’
Chapter Twenty-One
Davina answered the door in a flowing bottle-green gown. Off-the-shoulder and cut from shimmering silk, it looked as if it cost more than her mum’s car. It probably did, thought April.
‘Sorry, sweetie,’ said Davina, holding the door open while hopping on one foot. ‘This bloody dress keeps getting caught on my heels. It’s a living hell.’
‘It looks amazing.’
‘Thank you, darling, but I know you’re just being kind. It’s going straight back to Browns; I don’t know why they sent it over anyway, it’s a size four!’
April followed Davina down the hall and up the stairs as the girl kept up a constant stream of complaints about the personal shoppers at Harvey Nicks. ‘You should have seen some of the things they brought out,’ said Davina, her lip curling. ‘I wouldn’t have dressed a dog in them. They even brought out Armani diffusion. I mean, diffusion!’
April walked in to Davina’s huge room, stifling a gasp. It was April’s idea of a dream bedroom. Canopied bed, voile at the windows, polished wood cabinets. The carpet was so deep, April’s feet sank into it as she walked across the room. It was hard to get the full effect of the interior design, however, as every surface was covered with clothes. Dresses, skirts, jackets, draped over drawers and chairs, plus a huge pile on the bed. There was even a scarf hanging from the light, as if it had been thrown there in a fit of pique.
‘I know, it’s such a mess,’ said Davina, waving a hand at the pile. ‘But I need a pair of fresh eyes, I’ve tried everything on twice and it all looks revolting.’
She went over to the dressing table and, moving aside a pillbox hat, poured April a generous measure of something that looked creamy and sweet. ‘Here, have a belt of this,’ she said, handing her the glass. ‘You’re going to need it.’
April took a tentative sip and sat down to watch the show.
Davina, of course, looked amazing in everything. The big surprise, however, was that she was also great company. Complimenting April on her figure as she tried on gowns too, giggling about boys, bitching about parents and teachers and reality TV, she was surprisingly witty and even wise about relationships. ‘No boy, whatever he says, really wants a one-night stand,’ she said as she forced her feet into a pair of silver sandals at least a size too small. ‘They’re all looking for “the one” just as much as we are, it’s just they feel they have to conform to this Neanderthal Boy Code and never admit it. Now, take my brother for example …’
‘Did I hear my name?’ said Benjamin, putting his head around the door. April squealed, clutching a dress to herself.
‘Hey!’ said Davina. ‘Ladies only!’
‘I can only see one lady in the room,’ grinned Ben. ‘And honestly, April, whatever she’s been telling you about me, it’s not true.’
‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ said Davina. ‘We’ve got better things to do than talk about you.’
‘Well if you need any assistance with a zip or anything, just yell,’ he said.
‘OUT!’ screamed Davina, flinging one of her silver sandals at him.
‘I’m going, I’m going. See you in history tomorrow, April.’
Davina rolled her eyes. ‘God, rather you than me,’ she said, refreshing April’s glass. ‘I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as that witch Holden, let alone listen to her chirp on for hours on end.’
‘Why do you hate her so much?’
‘Hate is rather a strong term,’ smirked Davina. ‘Dislike might be more accurate. It’s that nose-in-the-air attitude, as if she’s so much better than the rest of us. I mean, darling, not in those clothes. And an Oxford degree or whatever she’s got? I mean, is that supposed to impress us? What has she ever done in her life?’
‘I found some magazines she’d written for in the library.’
‘Exactly,’ said Davina. ‘I mean, I’m guessing it wasn’t Vanity Fair?’
April laughed. ‘No, some boring old history journal.’
‘See? When I’m as ancient as that old bag, I intend to be living the life of Riley, sitting on a yacht, fingers covered in jewels, being handed a Mojito by some gorgeous heir with a six-pack.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
‘What about you? I suppose you’re dreaming of running off with Gabriel Swift?’
April blushed.
‘I mean, I get it, the boy does have heavenly cheekbones. But what else does he have? You should be setting your sights higher. Someone with a car, perhaps? Maybe I’ll hook you up with some more eligible bachelors at the Ball.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘Come on, we’ve got to get you over this crush. Trust Davina, okay?’
‘All right, you’re on,’ said April. She needed to get in with the Suckers, didn’t she? And anyway, why shouldn’t she make new friends? Gabriel seemed too busy to talk to her at the moment.
‘Listen, I’d better get back,’ said April, standing up. ‘My mum gets super-jumpy if I’m out of her sight these days.’
‘Understandable, given what’s happened,’ said Davina picking up her phone. ‘I’ll get Miguel to drop you home.’
‘No, no,’ said April quickly, ‘it’s only ten minutes’ walk.’
‘Please,’ said Davina seriously. ‘I let Layla walk home that night. If I had insisted on getting her a car, maybe … maybe …’
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
‘Hey, don’t,’ said April, walking over and rubbing her arm. ‘Come on, it wasn’t your fault.’
‘Oh, I know,’ sniffed Davina, brushing the tears away. ‘It’s just … I know people think I’m this ice queen, but Layla was my friend.’
She looked into April’s eyes, her face a picture of misery.
‘She really
was and I wish … I just wish I could have stopped it.’
‘Stopped it?’ said April, looking at her more closely. What was she saying? Was this a confession? ‘How could you have stopped it?’
‘You know, asked her to stay the night, called her a cab, anything. Instead she went into that cemetery and I could have prevented it.’
April didn’t know what to say. If Caro was right and Davina had been behind Layla’s so-called suicide, then this was the coldest, most manipulative thing April had ever heard. But then she’s a vampire, a pure-bred killer, what do you expect? she reminded herself. But there was something about Davina at that moment, a brittle vulnerability April had never seen before. She seemed genuinely broken-up about the death of her friend: April could have sworn the tears were real. Even if she was lying about being able to prevent Layla’s death – surely if they believed she was a Fury, the vampires would have to kill her, whoever she was? – she certainly seemed racked with remorse.
‘It’s easy to think we could have done something afterwards,’ said April. ‘I’ve gone over my dad’s death time and time again, wishing I’d done something differently: if only I’d run straight home, if only I’d told him I loved him, but “if onlys” are futile, I know that much. They only make you feel worse.’
Davina nodded and looked up at April gratefully. ‘Thanks, honey,’ she said. ‘Maybe you’re right, but it all seems so … so unjust. Layla wasn’t perfect, but she was a good person underneath it all. Why is it always the good ones?’
April shook her head.
‘I’ve been asking myself the same thing. There’s no answer.’
Davina took a deep breath and stood up purposefully.
‘Well one thing’s for sure, I’m certainly not letting you walk home,’ she said reaching for the phone. ‘I’ll get Miguel to come around.’
‘Okay. Thank you.’
‘No, thank you, April Dunne. I’ve had a lovely time.’
For once April almost believed her.
It was raining as the Bentley pulled up. The windows were misted and the street lights looked like hazy lollipops. ‘Is this all right, miss?’ asked the driver, opening her door and escorting her to her front door with an umbrella.