The Rose Carousel

by June Gadsby

  The American must have worked some kind of charm to get her to agree to his demands. The whole thing was crazy. When he came back on Monday she would tell him that she had changed her mind. He would have to find some other safe house to lodge his rich employer’s little girl.

  The flat seemed particularly chilly and empty when she let herself in and switched on all the lights. She had got into the habit of lighting the place like Blackpool Illuminations ever since they had had a break-in while she was watching the tele in the dark with a cup of cocoa in her hand.

  Sally shuddered and hurried to switch on the gas fire, boosting the appliance to its full capacity and sitting huddled over it until the place was thawed through.

  Looking around her she felt she was seeing her home for the first time. Seeing it through a stranger’s eyes. It was pretty drab. Gavin Calder couldn’t have thought much of the way she lived. Not after the luxury he was probably used to. As soon as Rob got himself back to work, she promised herself, she would take some time off and redecorate. And maybe she would buy one or two bits of furniture that didn’t look as if they came out of the local bric-a-brac shop.

  It wasn’t as if she couldn’t afford to buy a few things to pretty up her lifestyle. She just hadn’t bothered. It hadn’t seemed too important. She had just been just too damned relieved to get out of a marriage that was too painful to support. What did it matter if she didn’t have any personal items to take with her?

  Of course, when her aunt died, she could have had the house and what was in it, but she had never been happy with the old lady, so the house and its contents only served to remind her of her life there. Her half-life.

  She had sold the house with its contents and bought The Rose Carousel. Not that it was called that then. It had been a paint and paper shop with a warehouse over it. It had taken a lot of time and hard work to turn it into her dream of a children’s paradise and she was madly proud of the results.

  Now, it was time to take her own personal life into stock and think more in terms of a little more elegance. And a lot more comfort. After all, she had never been born a martyr, though her aunt would have liked to turn her into one.

  Thinking again of Rob and his foot, her conscience pricked her and she decided to give him a ring and find out how he was. Maybe he needed her to do some shopping for him, cook him a meal or two. He had always been so good when she needed help. It was time to return the favour.

  “Hello, Rob? It’s me, Sally.”

  It obviously wasn’t Rob on the other end of the line. She heard a muffled, hasty conversation that sounded as if someone had put their hand over the mouthpiece. She wondered for a moment if Rob had got himself a new partner, since he had been without one for some time now. Then she remembered what Bella had said about his brother.

  There were one or two more noises as the handset was transferred and she recognised Rob’s voice, though he sounded a bit strange.

  “Hello – er – Sally? Wh-what are you phoning for? I mean…”

  “Is it a bad time. I can hang up and you can ring me back if you like.”

  “No-oh! No, don’t do that. It’s all right. Did you – um – did you want something?”

  “Just to know how you were. How’s the foot? Bella said it was worse.”

  “The foot? Oh, yes. Well – um – yes, I – er – they think it’s broken.”

  “Have you had it X-rayed?”

  “Tomorrow – er – yes, tomorrow. Sorry about the job, but…”

  “Bella said your brother was going to help out.” Sally hesitated as she could hear a constrained muttering in the background. “I didn’t know you had a brother, Rob.”

  “No, well – er – we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Family business, you know. It’s all right now.”

  “Is that who you’ve got with you now?”

  “Who? Oh – um – yes. That’s him. My brother.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “His name?” There was a long pause, then he said quickly: “Bruce. Look, sorry, Sally, but I have to go – I mean, there’s somebody at the door…”

  “Yes, all right. Tell Bruce I’ll look forward to meeting him on Monday morning.”

  She found herself speaking to an empty line, except for the purring in her ear that told her Rob had hung up without even saying goodbye. That wasn’t like Rob. He was usually so well-mannered. She sighed and creased her forehead, hoping that Rob wasn’t getting into another session with drugs. He had been off them for two years now and seemed to be doing well.

  Sally suddenly remembered her conversation with the American security man. He had made particular mention of Rob. He wasn’t sure about him for some reason. She had to admit she didn’t like the idea of either herself or her staff being checked up on by any security firm. Calder and his firm had a cheek to do this behind her back, treating them all like possible criminals under surveillance.

  The nights were beginning to draw in and darkness was descending on the streets of Harrogate almost before the lamps were lit. Sally got up and went to close the curtains. She really had better get something to eat before it got too late or she would never sleep.

  Being a converted warehouse, there were windows both back and front, yet the world she could see from one window was very different from the other. At the front of the building the street was still active and the people animated. The roads shone greasily in the light from the lamps and the passing cars hissed along like snakes rushing for cover.

  The back was a half-world of grey and black shadows that did not move. It was dead and silent. Not even a cat to disturb a dustbin lid. It was a dark, sombre place, which was why Sally always liked to return home in relative daylight because the flat’s entrance was down there. It saved her going through the complicated procedure of switching on and off the alarm system in the shop. It was something of a no-man’s land and it scared her to be there even in daylight when the sun didn’t shine.

  She ate a simple cheese omelette and salad, listening to some Mozart and tried to settle down to read. At first, she couldn’t concentrate. Her mind was far too busy to take in the printed words, so she ended up turning the pages blindly. Then her eyes closed and her head started nodding towards her chest.

  It was only ten o’clock, but she decided she might as well go to bed and sleep off her exhaustion there. Tomorrow, she would rest and recuperate as much as possible before throwing herself into another busy week. And it would get busier up to Christmas. It always did. Toy shops were particularly hectic.

  She climbed into bed, jotted down a couple of ideas for a Christmas theme for the shop, then switched off her light and lay, strangely awake now, staring up at the invisible ceiling.

  Sally must have dropped off to sleep at some stage, because she awoke with a start, wondering what she had heard. There were often disturbing noises in the night. It was an old building. The timbers shifted and creaked, mice scratched and gnawed.

  She opened her eyes and felt completely blind in the blanket of darkness that enveloped her. It was a moonless night and as silent as the grave.

  Two o’clock, her bedside alarm told her. She groaned and turned over, facing the window. She had opened the curtains after putting out the main light because she preferred to wake up naturally with the rising sun unless it was winter, then the alarm had to be set.

  There it was again. A soft, rasping, grating sound. She sat up, propping herself on her elbows. Yes, again the same noise. It seemed to be coming from the yard down below.

  Sally slid out of bed and padded barefoot to the window, keeping well back out of sight as she peered out into the night. She could see nothing, but darkness, a great empty, soulless void.

  She shrugged and started to turn away, but then a sudden light made her halt and started her heart off at a gallop. The flare of a match had lit up a face half turned away in shadow. Then she saw the red glow of a lit cigarette being drawn and a tell-tale wisp of grey smoke against the blackness like floating
ether.

  How had he got in? There was a seven-foot wall all around the yard. But then, the man – it surely was a man, though she could see little of his form – was exceptionally tall. The wall would not have presented much of a problem to such a tall individual. Especially if he was fit and athletic.

  Like Gavin Calder perhaps.

  Sally crossed the wide expanse of her warehouse apartment, not needing light to find what she was looking for. She triggered the alarm, then shot back to the window in time to see the intruder launch himself at the top of the wall and virtually throw himself over and back into the deserted road at the rear.

  A few seconds later she heard the soft thunk of a car door and an engine starting up. It purred down the lane that separated the yard from the Children’s Garden area.

  The two young constables who appeared in answer to the alarm summons, of course, thought she had been hallucinating, having a bad dream, behaving neurotically. After all, she was a young woman living alone and these things happen!

  Chapter Four

  Monday was as dreary a day as it could be in the north of England at the beginning of September. And Sally felt as dull as dishwater as she opened up The Rose Carousel at eight o’clock. It was earlier than usual, but then there was nothing usual about the day. She had agreed to meet Gavin Calder at eight-fifteen.

  He came on time. He came alone. She was glad on both counts since she had something to say to him and she didn’t want any witnesses. Especially a five year old who could hardly be expected to understand her grown-up attitude.

  “Sally.” He nodded as he came through the door, acknowledging her presence. Then he turned and locked the door behind him and she was left staring at the dark hair on the back of his head and the broad shoulders that filled out his jacket and tapered down to his narrowed hips. “Thank you for being here.”

  “Usually, when I say I’ll do something, I do it,” Sally said and was treated to a disarming smile as he turned back to face her. “However, on this occasion, Mr. Calder, I’m going to change my mind.”

  His smile faded and the angry shadow that now replaced it made her wonder what it would be like to get on the wrong side of Mister Gavin Calder. Perhaps she was about to find out.

  “What do you mean? I thought we had an arrangement.”

  “What you thought was that I would put myself on the line to look after your employer’s daughter while you sort out a kidnapping and blackmail threat.” Sally was shaking, but she tried hard to hide it, even though it came through in her voice. “I’m a simple shopkeeper, Mr. Calder. Not a CIA agent.”

  “I didn’t think you were the type of person to renege on your promises, Ms. Rose. Especially where a five year old child is concerned.”

  He approached her and she automatically backed away until the small of her back was pressed against the counter behind which she normally spent most of her working day. “This has nothing to do with the child, I assure you. I’ve had time to think things over and I don’t think I’m the right person to oblige you, Mr. Calder.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. It depends what you mean by obliging me, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m not going to parry words with you, Gavin.”

  “Ah! We’re back on first-name terms. That’s a good sign.”

  “Dream on, Mister Big Shot! You don’t intimidate me one iota!” If only, Sally thought, he knew just how much her knees were knocking at that point and her heart palpitating. She was more intimidated than she had ever been by any man.

  “I wasn’t thinking of intimidating you, Sally. I just want to save Anna. She’s been through too much already for such a small person. You seem to have a way with children. I heard it from various independent sources and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Yes! I’ve been watching you for some time and not all the time when you were dressed as a clown and sussed me out in the park. You’re good, Sally. You’re a very kind, loving young woman. I feel I could trust my own daughter in your keeping.”

  “What would your important employer say?”

  “I speak for my employer.”

  “Who is he?”

  “That doesn’t have to concern you.”

  “Oh, but it does! It concerns me very much. Why wouldn’t it? You come here looking like some left over from the Mafia and you tell me that you’re trying to protect a five year old child from being kidnapped. You want to use me and my business as a hideaway…”

  “I prefer to think of it as a safe house…”

  “Whatever! How do I know you’re not the kidnapper? Eh? Can you tell me that?”

  “No, I can’t tell you that. You’ll just have to trust me.”

  “How can I trust a man who stands in my backyard in the middle of the night smoking a cigarette as if he’s part of a lonely smokers’ campaign.”

  “I don’t smoke, Sally.”

  “I told the police about you.”

  “It wasn’t me – in your back yard. What did you tell them?”

  “Only that there was an intruder at two this morning and that he was tall and smoked. Dammit, I saw you!”

  “One of your admirers perhaps.”

  “I don’t have…” She skidded to a halt. No point in letting this man know that she did not have any admirers. Not that he would care. Or that she should care about what he thought of her.

  He stepped forward and she could feel the material of his suit touching her through the fine wool of her dress, feel the heat of him, smell the heady aftershave. He gripped her upper arms and put his face down to hers and suddenly he didn’t seem so tall and she hated herself for enjoying the close proximity of this man who frightened her.

  “Don’t!” she warned and a slow smile crept across his face, lighting up his eyes.

  “You don’t for one minute think I’m planning to kiss you, do you?” he asked and she stiffened in his hold. “I don’t get what I want by that means, Sally. I only take what I want when the other party is willing – and able.”

  It was an insult to her femininity and suddenly she kicked out at his shin and as he jerked away with the pain of the blow, she pulled back her hand and brought it sharply across his face.

  The resounding slap made him blink, but she couldn’t help feeling that it had hurt her more that it had done him any damage. He rubbed the sore spot delicately and his smile widened. His head tilted to one side in a lop-sided nod and she heard a deep-throated chuckle.

  “That was quite impressive, Sally,” he said. “I’d say that in a tight spot you could take care of yourself quite adequately.”

  “It has been known,” she told him, surreptitiously hiding her stinging palm in a clenched fist behind her back. Ready to strike again if necessary.

  “I see. What a pity. Kissing can be a lot of fun.”

  “That depends on who’s doing it to whom.”

  She saw his chest heave, heard his sigh. “Who hurt you, Sally? It must have been pretty bad to render you so frigid.”

  Sally stuck her hands on her hips and her eyes came out on stalks. “I am not frigid. My God, you men! You are so – so conceited. Just because you’re handsome you think every woman’s going to grovel at your feet. Well, it’s not true.”

  “Thank you for the ‘handsome’ bit, but where I come from women tend to go for the plain, dependable types. Me, I get stuck with gold-digging harpies who think I’m a stepping stone to fame and fortune. Don’t talk to me about being used, ma’am!”

  Then they were standing there just looking at one another and reading the signals that passed between them like silent vibrations.

  Eventually, Sally shrugged. “It seems like we’ve both had a taste of the bittersweet. So, who hurt you, Gavin?”

  “Another time, Sally. Right now, I…”

  Their strained conversation was interrupted by a rattle of the front door and they turned to see a small face pressed up against the glass. Two chubby hands were raised, gripping the handle and working it up and down. The wide, spaniel brown eyes mov
ed from Gavin to Sally and back again to Gavin, filled with pleading.

  “What the hell…? That bloody nanny!” Gavin projected himself across the floor of the shop and pulled back the bolt. The child almost fell inside and clutched him around his knees. “Anna, what are you doing? Where’s Lorraine? I told her to wait in the car with you.”

  The child didn’t respond other than fixing him with large, tearful eyes that Sally could have killed for. Such a beautiful, fragile child and she had to contend with a nanny and this – this Mafia goon – to look after her. It was criminal.

  “Hello, Anna!” Sally stepped forward and touched the child gently on the pale cheek. Anna looked up at her, blinking furiously to keep the tears at bay. “You remember me, don’t you? I’m Sally Rose and I own The Rose Carousel. Come on. You can have a look round before all the other children arrive.”

  She took the child’s hand in hers and pulled her away from Gavin Calder, surprised that she didn’t seem to want to let go at first. She felt Gavin watching them closely as they made a tour of inspection, looking at the toys on the shelves, the clowns, the stuffed animals, the music boxes.

  Sally saw where Anna’s eyes came to a halt and picked up the miniature replica of The Rose Carousel. “I remember the last time you were here. You liked this carousel, didn’t you? Look, Anna. It plays pretty music if you wind this little key at the bottom.”

  She turned the key a few times and the small carousel started to turn, its tiny white alabaster horses with their gaily painted harnesses going up and down to the music.

  “Do you recognise the music, Anna? It’s from Oliver Twist. I’m sure you’ve seen the film.” Sally sang along to the tune, but then got all choked up on the word of ‘Where is Love?’

  Anna took the music box and turned it over delicately in her small hands, looking at its every detail. She looked up at Sally and smiled. It was a radiant smile that transformed her unhappy face.