by Susan Lewis
Again she nodded.
He inhaled deeply. ‘Well, that all sounds fine and dandy,’ he commented, ‘which it would be, if you was the only one what knew about the women. But you’re not, are you? Someone had to have told you where they was, so what we need to sort out now, is who.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t reveal my sources,’ she replied.
‘Gentle George here could make it so’s you can,’ he suggested, helpfully.
Her eyes darted nervously to the big man.
Cribbs watched her and waited. In the end he was the first to break the silence. ‘You got past my guard and filmed these women,’ he said. ‘Now I want to know how you managed it.’
‘Bribery,’ she replied.
His expression was loaded with scepticism. ‘Of course bribery,’ he responded. ‘But who helped you? You couldn’t have done it on your own, so who else is involved?’
‘No-one. I did it alone,’ she told him. ‘I bribed the guard and went into the building.’
Sighing, he shook his head. ‘I reckon you’re spinning me a few Tom Peppers here, Sherry Mac,’ he said, ‘but all right, let’s leave that for the moment and go back to Laurie Forbes. Apart from the fact that you and her have had some kind of a falling-out, which I’ve only got your word for, by the way, how do I know you haven’t told her about this video? Convince me this isn’t some kind of a set-up you two journo-lists are cooking up.’
‘It isn’t,’ she replied.
‘Just like that? It isn’t.’ He sipped his drink, glanced at George, then settled more comfortably again. ‘Tell you what,’ he said, after some minutes of deliberation, ‘here’s my offer: you tell me who’s been helping you, and I’ll see to it that your friend doesn’t use the return part of her ticket from that Greek island. Now how’s that for a deal?’
Sherry’s mouth was turning dry. He really was going to do it, and she really was going to tell him what he wanted to know – she was just having trouble mustering enough conviction to support the next lie.
‘Let’s put it this way,’ Cribbs said, ‘you won’t be walking out of this room until you tell us who helped you and I don’t have a lot of time.’
‘It was Karima Ghosh,’ she stated, amazing herself by how credible she’d managed to sound.
Cribbs’s eyebrows reached for his hairline as he turned to George. ‘Now that does surprise me,’ he commented. ‘That surprises me a lot.’ He turned back to Sherry. ‘You sure you’re not telling me a tall one here?’ he challenged.
‘You asked, I’ve told you,’ she replied, calmly, in spite of the erratic beat of her heart. Then reaching into her bag she pulled out a sheet of paper and stood up. ‘Here’s the address Laurie Forbes is staying at,’ she told him. ‘The method and actual planning I’ll leave up to you.’
‘Well that’s big of you,’ he declared, appearing faintly amused.
‘I’d like it to be carried out by the end of the day on Saturday, if possible,’ she said. ‘If it isn’t the video will go to the police. You’ll find my number on that piece of paper. Once I’ve heard from you to confirm it’s done, I’ll bring you the tape.’
‘You’re not giving us much time, Sherry Mac,’ he grumbled.
Without answering, she picked up her bag and walked to the door. No-one said anything. She couldn’t quite believe they were allowing her to leave this easily. Was that it now, had she really achieved what she’d come here for?
‘George, see the lady out,’ Cribbs said.
George immediately got to his feet, yanked open the door and after making sure she was on her way down in a lift, returned to the flat.
Outside in the street Sherry took several gulps of air and started to shake uncontrollably. She had no idea if Cribbs would really do as she’d asked, but it had certainly sounded as though he would, so instead of standing here, half-paralysed by the shock of it, she should focus on getting back to Laurie’s office now, so that she could carry on with what needed to be done next.
Back in the flat George was helping himself to a Scotch. ‘So what are you going to do?’ he said to Cribbs, who’d already refreshed his own glass.
Eddie was looking thoughtful. ‘If she’s got a videotape, my son, and I do believe she has, then I’d say she’s got us by the short and curlies.’
‘But we’ve got access to her mother. She ain’t going to do nothing when we can get to her.’
‘How do you know that? She ain’t never seen her in all this time. Could be she don’t give a flying fuck what happens to the old bird, is just making out like she does.’
George still wasn’t happy. ‘But Laurie Forbes is press,’ he reminded him. ‘You know we don’t go after press, if we can help it.’
‘When needs must,’ Eddie responded.
George regarded him over the rim of his glass. ‘So do you want me to get hold of Nico in Piraeus, or what?’ he said.
‘It won’t hurt to have a little chat,’ Eddie replied. ‘Whether he can pull it off by Saturday though …’ He shrugged and downed his Scotch. ‘This isn’t turning out to be a good day, George,’ he sighed. ‘Not good at all. The cops have got the nonces, our reporter friend knows where the women are, and now the little tart is jerking my chain in a way I don’t like one bit.’ He began refilling his glass. ‘Reckon it’s time to cover our asses and fuck off out of here,’ he decided.
‘What about Karima Ghosh?’ George said, speed-dialling Nico’s number.
‘I’ll get Perry to make sure she’s taken care of. He’ll know what to do.’
‘You’re not going to talk to her, check it out first?’
‘No time, George,’ he replied. ‘Get rid of all the evidence, that’s what we need to do, and that includes the Berkeley what just walked out of here.’
‘But what about the tape?’
‘I admit that’s a problem,’ he conceded, taking the phone as George held it out. ‘We’ll find a solution. Nico, my friend, how are you?’ he called down the line. ‘Long time no speak. Course it’s me, who the fuck else did you think it was? Can you hang on a minute?’ He put a hand over the mouthpiece and said to George, ‘Get yourself on over to my house and tell my missus to start packing. You know what other arrangements to make. I’ll meet you at the boat by five.’
After George had gone he put his request to Nico, listened patiently to the string of expletives when Nico learned how fast he had to move, then agreed to pay double the going rate if he managed to pull it off.
‘Right,’ he said to Dougie as he put the phone down, ‘you go and bring the car round, old son, while I take care of the silly bitch in the bedroom.’
Cheryl gaped at Eddie in astonishment. ‘What was that for?’ she cried, holding her stinging cheek. He’d never hit her before and she still couldn’t quite believe he’d done it now.
‘Take what’s yours and get out of here,’ he told her, going to the window to see what the kerfuffle was on the river path below.
‘But why? What’s happened? Where’ve I got to go?’
‘I don’t give a fuck where you go. Just get yourself out of here.’
Confused, and starting to feel afraid, she went to put her arms around him.
‘Get your hands off me,’ he growled, knocking her out of the way.
She gasped and crashed back on the bed. ‘Eddie, what is it?’ she cried. ‘What have I done?’
He stared down at her, disgust contorting his fleshy features. ‘What have you done?’ he repeated, advancing on her. ‘I’ll tell you what you’ve done. You poked another man in my fucking bed, that’s what you’ve done, you dirty little whore,’ and grabbing her up by the hair he whacked her again.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she wailed. ‘I never poked anyone, except you. Honest, Eddie. I wouldn’t do that …’
‘Shut the fuck up,’ he snarled. ‘I don’t want to hear it. I just want you out of here, and you can tell your boyfriend, Danny with the great big dick, you tell him from me, he’s a dead man.
’
‘Eddie, no! You …’
‘And if you know what’s good for you, keep looking behind you, you dirty little whore.’
As he slammed the door behind him Cheryl picked herself up from the bed, limp with fear and trembling like a jelly. She had to call her mum. No, first she had to call Danny. How the fuck Eddie had found out she had no idea, but from everything she’d heard today, he was in no mood to start messing around. If he said Danny was a dead man, then he meant Danny was a dead man.
Not bothering to take even half her clothes, she stuffed a few in a bag and crept gingerly out of the room.
Eddie was on the phone, so she managed to get past without being seen.
Out in the hall she pressed the button for the lift, and in her haste to get in she collided with Happy as he stepped out. ‘Oh Happy, sorry,’ she mumbled. She looked up at him. ‘Eddie’s really mad,’ she told him. ‘He’s just chucked me out.’
‘He tell you he knows about you and Danny?’ he asked.
She nodded. ‘Who told him? How did he find out?’
‘It was that bloke Barry Davidson,’ he answered. ‘He got it from Suzy, who must have got it from Danny. Now if you know what’s good for you, scram. There’s a lot going on round here today, and if you ask me, you’ve got a lucky escape.’
Her face was streaked with mascara, her cheeks and one eye already starting to swell as she stepped out into the street to look for a cab. There were never any round here, so she’d have to call, but first she had to ring Danny.
‘Oh fuck, where are you, where are you?’ she wailed when his phone just rang and rang. ‘I’m going to kill that bitch Suzy. I’m going to tear her limb from fucking limb.’
Putting her phone away, she tottered off down the street, hefting her bag, still sobbing and swearing. In the back of her mind she was thinking about what she’d heard, because her mum had always told her make sure you listen, and remember what’s important, because you could never have too much knowledge in the bank. Well, she reckoned it was important he was going to Spain on account of some nonces being arrested. Nonces was child molesters, she knew that, so this was bad. Then there was that Sherry woman who’d come in telling him she knew where some women were and asking him to off her friend. Some fucking friend she was. She’d recognized the name as well, because it was that poor cow whose bloke had chucked her when they was supposed to be getting married. Wonder what her horoscope was looking like for the month.
Anyway, none of that mattered right now, what did was getting hold of Danny – or killing that bitch Suzy. She’d call a cab first though, to take her home to her mum, then she’d ring Danny from there.
Sherry was back at Laurie’s office, updating the files ready for Rose’s return. Though outwardly she appeared calm, inside she was a seething mass of emotions. She wondered what Cribbs was doing at this moment, if he’d already contacted his Greek friends. What was Laurie doing over there on Hydra, apart from grieving for the wedding that now would never be? Where was Nick? He might even be with Laurie, but she didn’t dwell on it, because though it hurt, it made no difference now.
Scrolling down to the end of the file, she typed in the name and phone number of the lawyer who was holding the videotape they’d need for the programme, then the address of where the women were being held. After hitting the save button, she turned off the computer and gathered up her belongings ready to leave.
She took a long, last look round, knowing she’d never see the place again. She could have felt sad if she’d allowed it, but she merely turned away and went to let herself out of the door. After locking it, she put the keys back through the letter box and started down the street towards her flat. In a way she hoped Nick was with Laurie, for if he was, it would add even more justice to the punishment of her unforgivable betrayal.
Laurie and Rhona were laughing as Nick, much to his daughter’s embarrassment, attempted to converse in terrible Greek with a waiter whose English was fluent.
‘Dad!’ Julia muttered under her breath, her eyes darting around to make sure no-one else was listening.
‘What about this one?’ Nick suggested, presenting his daughter to the waiter. ‘She’s yours for fifty roubles and a female donkey. Now how’s that for a deal? Are you shaking your head. OK, no donkey and fifty roubles.’
‘Dad, they use euros,’ Julia said, rolling her eyes in Laurie’s direction. ‘He’s not with us,’ she informed the waiter. ‘We’ve been trying to lose him all day, but he just won’t go away.’
‘Ah ha, now isn’t that the truth?’ Nick smiled. ‘Ever since Adam turned up, first thing this morning, she’s been doing her damnedest to dump me. Her own father, and she’d rather be off with some hunk of a sixteen-year-old who doesn’t even have the decency to be blighted with spots like most kids his age.’
‘And who’s Adam?’ Rhona wanted to know.
‘The son of the friends we’re staying with,’ Nick told her. ‘He goes to school in the States, and just flew in for the summer holidays.’
‘So, you’re glad you came now,’ Laurie said to Julia.
‘I was until he started behaving like an idiot,’ she replied, her pretty, fresh face not quite able to scowl away the laughter.
To the waiter, Rhona said, ‘Just bring us margaritas all round.’
‘Oh, cool,’ Julia responded.
‘Lemonade for the child,’ Nick called after the waiter.
‘I’m going to whack you,’ Julia threatened.
‘I think you would too,’ he decided, looking at her. ‘Don’t you think she seems the type?’ he demanded of Laurie. ‘Those eyebrow and nose rings, the tattoo on the arm, the spiky black hair – she’s blonde really, you know.’
‘I remember,’ Laurie assured him.
‘Did she ask permission to turn herself into a gothic nightmare? Did she hell. Is she going to get it from her mother? Sure as hell.’
Laughing, Julia leaned against him, and snuggled into the arm he put round her.
‘So tell us more about Adam,’ Rhona encouraged. ‘Cute, is he?’
‘Very,’ Julia assured her. ‘He said he’d take me to a disco tonight, if Father will allow it.’
‘Absolutely out of the question,’ he told her.
Julia looked at Laurie, and grinned as Laurie winked.
They were sitting outside a crowded café, right on the port, almost close enough to touch the nearest luxury yacht. The noise and bustle were enveloping them as stiflingly as the hot humid air, and every now and again a chorus of shrieks and laughter greeted the jarring and deafening explosions from the port cannons.
‘What is that all about?’ Laurie groaned as yet another went off.
‘Oh it’s probably some religious day,’ Rhona told her, getting up to go to the Ladies. ‘St Wilberforce, or someone like that. Just be thankful it’s not Greek Easter. They fire them all day and all night for the entire weekend – and the whole island just goes party, party, party. ’
‘We need to come at Easter,’ Julia informed her dad.
He was about to respond when a large, elderly woman with a big friendly smile and disposable Kodak elbowed past Rhona, saying, ‘Excuse me, excuse me. I see you laughing and you look so happy with your family. Do you mind, I take a photo?’
Laurie started in surprise as she realized the woman was talking to her. Happy? How deceptive appearances could be, she thought, as Nick reached across the table for her hand.
‘Click away,’ he instructed.
Julia leaned back against him, while Laurie made herself sit in closer, not wanting to dampen the light-heartedness with unnecessary corrections. What did it matter if the old woman thought they were family? They’d never see her again, and it was sweet of her to want a photo of strangers, just because they looked happy.
‘Say cheese,’ the woman called in her throaty Greek accent.
They all smiled, and the woman’s finger went down. At the same instant a cannon went off. Laurie almost jumped out of her ski
n. A group at the next table cheered and applauded. Someone suddenly turned the music up loud. Nick and Julia started laughing at something, and a man behind them leaped up on the table to dance.
Laurie looked round to say goodbye to the old woman, but she was already disappearing into the crowd. The margaritas arrived and Rhona came back. Then Nick’s friends and their son turned up and more chairs were squeezed round their table. Plates of tsatsiki and calamares started to arrive. They all ate and drank, bantering with each other as the sun beat down on the canopy overhead and the lean island cats came to beg like dogs.
It seemed strange, Laurie was thinking, the way she was able to submerge herself in the mood of the moment, even though a part of her felt she was in the wrong place with the wrong people. But where was the right place now, and who were the right people? Tomorrow would have been her wedding day, but she would be here, thousands of miles from Elliot, with a man she barely knew, whose charm was like an elixir, and yet whose very presence filled her with guilt.
‘I think we should all go to the disco tonight,’ Nick suddenly decided.
‘Yeah! That’s a great idea,’ Julia cried. ‘Then I’ll actually get to go.’
‘You’ll come too, won’t you?’ he said, looking at Laurie and Rhona.
‘Of course,’ Rhona assured him. ‘I love to dance. So does my friend here, don’t you, my friend?’
Laurie looked at Nick and felt some of the warmth drain from her smile. ‘Yes,’ she replied, not wanting to spoil the moment.
She’d make her excuses later, when they’d returned to their separate villas for siestas. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, because a part of her did – certainly it would be a lot better than sitting at home thinking about what she would have been doing on the eve of her wedding, if Elliot hadn’t changed his mind – but she was very much afraid that more drink, a late night and dancing would conspire with her sadness to throw her into bed with Nick again. Not that he’d made a single gesture or comment to push her in that direction, but the chemistry was there, she could feel it, and was certain he could too.