The One You Love (suspense mystery)

by Pilkington, Paul

  ‘Just a co-incidence?’ Lizzy offered.

  ‘Oh, I’m sure it was,’ Emma replied. ‘But, just for him to say that, well, it freaked me out a bit. I was already on edge, really, after he took the photo.’

  ‘Sounds like another weirdo,’ Lizzy retorted. ‘You didn’t encourage him, or anything? You don’t want another stalker.’

  Emma thought back slightly guiltily about how she had laughed at his joke and allowed herself to be flattered. ‘No, I didn’t, well not really. But he didn’t seem like a weirdo. He was funny. And I’m sure it was just a co-incidence that he saw me there. I’d only jogged up there at the last minute, so he wasn’t following me. You think I should have just blanked him?’

  ‘No, not really - it’s not your style, Em. You’re far too nice. And you shouldn’t let bad experiences in the past change you for the worse.’

  ‘You’re right.’

  ‘But surely he must be a little crazy to have watched Up My Street every day,’ Lizzy added. ‘I mean, it was a terrible show, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, I guess it was,’ Emma smiled.

  ‘Those wobbling sets were a classic,’ Lizzy said, laughing. ‘And when that character got mauled by the bear that escaped from the zoo. You could tell it was just a man in a suit – you could see the zip running up its back!’

  ‘I forget how bad it was,’ Emma said, laughing.

  ‘It’s good to see you smile again,’ Lizzy said. ‘It really is. I know it’s not going to be easy for the next few months, maybe longer, but I’m going to help get you through this.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Emma said, ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Lizzy.’

  ‘Ah, don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for – it’s just part of my job description.’

  ‘We’ll be getting the call to go back any minute,’ Lizzy said, glancing over her shoulder. ‘Herr Fuhrer doesn’t like us to get too comfortable.’

  ‘I thought you were fantastic up there,’ Emma enthused. ‘Absolutely brilliant.’

  ‘Well, thank you,’ Lizzy smiled. ‘I try my best.’

  ‘Seriously, Lizzy, you’ll be great. You’ll wow the crowd with your…’

  ‘Ample cleavage?’

  ‘Well, I was going to say your voice, but now that you mention it, that outfit is quite revealing,’ she smiled. ‘Isn’t this supposed to be a family show?’

  ‘Most families will be up in the Gods,’ Lizzy said. ‘From that distance, they’d need binoculars to see anything. Actually, there might be binoculars available up there…just for the dads…I can’t remember.’

  ‘I know it sounds horrible,’ Emma said, ‘but that leading lady breaking her leg might just be the big break you needed.’

  ‘Boom, boom,’ Lizzy replied. ‘Actually, you’re right. I like Jessica, and I wish she hadn’t broken her leg, but it did work out well for me. That’s if I can remember all my lines. It’s much harder than I imagined.’

  ‘You’ll be fine,’ Emma said. ‘I didn’t notice any fluffed lines when I was watching.’

  ‘That’s because I hide it well. I’m a professional,’ she joked. ‘Unfortunately I can’t hide it well enough from the boss, and he gave me a bit of a roasting earlier. Said if I didn’t get my act together, I’d be lucky to be singing in the chorus line.’

  ‘Ouch.’

  ‘Ouch indeed.’

  ‘Is that my fault? You know, dragging you off to Stephen’s parents, and getting in your way at home?’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘Anyway, we’re supposed to be thinking about the future.’

  ‘Yes,’ Emma said, ‘you’re right.’

  Just then the call went out for cast members to return.

  ‘Better go,’ Lizzy said, jumping to her feet. ‘And pray I can remember all those lines this time. You can stay and watch for as long as you want.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Lizzy went to move away, then stopped. ‘Oh, yeah. Do you fancy going out tonight? A few of the cast are going off to a Salsa club in town. I wasn’t sure if I was going, but I’ll come if you will.’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘C’mon,’ Lizzy encouraged. ‘It’ll do you good. You don’t want to be hanging around the apartment, just thinking about things.’

  ‘It’s just that I was thinking of spending the night with Will. I don’t know how long he’s going to be away for. And I don’t like the thought of leaving him alone on his last night in the country, especially the way he’s feeling right now. I feel terrible already for not noticing he was suffering so much.’

  ‘See if he wants to come along,’ Lizzy suggested, ‘the more the merrier.’

  ‘Okay,’ Emma said, ‘if he says yes, count me in.’

  ***

  Emma sat at the back of the theatre, hundreds of empty seats ahead of and above her. In two weeks’ time, when Lizzy debuted in the musical, all those seats would be filled. The musical had sold out for its first few months from advanced bookings, and the press were already talking about it as the possible saviour of the West End. This really was Lizzy’s big break. And she deserved it. She had worked so hard to get to this point.

  Emma watched her friend Lizzy belting out one of the show’s closing numbers, a cast of dozens moving around her with military-like precision. Even without the full set and costumes it was impressive.

  Lizzy was just coming to the end of the song when Emma’s mobile shrilled, seeming to echo all around the theatre.

  ‘Oh, God.’

  Emma scrambled for her pocket and just before she switched the phone off she noted that it was reading an unknown number. She moved out of her seat, face flushed, and hurried up the aisle – not waiting to hear any chastisement. Fortunately, as she exited, it seemed like the rehearsal was carrying on interrupted.

  She had got into the main foyer when the mobile called out again. It was the same number as before.

  ‘Hello,’ Emma said.

  ‘Emma!’ a familiar voice blasted, nearly bursting her eardrum with enthusiasm. ‘It’s Guy here, Guy Roberts.’

  Guy Roberts: the casting director. Emma nearly dropped the phone with shock.

  ‘Oh, hi,’ she said.

  ‘Look,’ he said. ‘I won’t beat around the bush. We had our second reading the other day, as you know. And, I’m afraid to say that although the people we had were very good, they just weren’t right for the part. Do you know why?’

  ‘No,’ Emma said, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

  ‘It’s because no one came close to touching what you did in that first reading, Emma. When I saw you read I thought you were perfect for the part, and it was really unfortunate you couldn’t make the second reading. I know you had your reasons.’

  ‘I’m sorry too.’

  There was a pause.

  ‘Emma, are you still interested in this movie – in this role?’

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’

  ‘I want to see you,’ he said, suddenly sounding extremely business-like. ‘Can you come over to my place, say tomorrow around lunchtime? We can discuss everything then.’

  ‘Discuss everything?’

  ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘if you’re taking this part, then there is a lot to discuss. Your fee, for instance, which I can assure you will be more money than you’ve ever earned in your life.’

  29

  ‘Shouldn’t you be getting ready?’ Lizzy said, watching as Emma sat on the sofa reading a book, her legs tucked under her body. ‘We’re meeting Will in half an hour.’

  ‘Is it really that late?’ Emma said, getting up, still focussed on the book.

  ‘Yes, it is. What are you reading anyway? Must be engrossing, you’ve been glued to it for an hour.’

  ‘You don’t want to know,’ Emma replied, closing the book. Lizzy peered at its red cover. She’d assumed it was a novel but on closer inspection it looked like a notebook.

  ‘No, I’m intrigued,’ Lizzy said, grabbing the cover.

  Emma
released the book from her grasp and watched as Lizzy flicked through it.

  ‘What the hell?’ Lizzy looked up. ‘This is his diary?’

  ‘I took it before we found out he had died,’ Emma explained. ‘It was in his room – when you and Mrs Myers walked out I grabbed it and stuffed it into the waistband of my trousers. I thought it might give us some clues.’

  ‘You shouldn’t be reading it,’ Lizzy said. ‘It’ll just upset you.’

  ‘It’s okay. I just wanted to try and understand him. I thought if I read this then…’

  ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea, Em,’ Lizzy interrupted. ‘And what’s this?’ she said, holding up a photograph – the photograph of Emma that had been taken outside Lizzy’s flat.

  ‘A bookmark?’ Emma offered.

  Lizzy placed the photograph back in the book and handed it to back to Emma.

  ‘Promise you’ll throw this away.’

  ‘Okay,’ Emma agreed, ‘I’ll deal with it.’

  ***

  ‘He looks like he’s having fun,’ Lizzy said, as both her and Emma watched Will salsa dancing with one of the girls from the musical.

  They had been in the salsa club for over three hours, and with over two of those hours spent on the dance floor it felt like they’d burned off enough calories to last a lifetime.

  ‘Yeah,’ Emma said, watching as Will laughed and joked with the girl.

  ‘You’re not convinced?’ Lizzy said.

  ‘Not really. He looks like he’s trying too hard. And he’s had quite a lot to drink.’

  ‘Do you think he’ll be all right in Canada?’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘I don’t understand it,’ Lizzy said. ‘He always seems so happy and carefree. I’d never guess that something was wrong.’

  ‘I should have known,’ Emma said. ‘He’s my brother.’

  ‘But he hid it well.’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘And he didn’t say that there was a reason for him being depressed?’ Lizzy said, taking a sip from her drink.

  ‘No. And I didn’t want to press him on it.’

  ‘How do you think he would feel about your dad’s news?’

  ‘It would probably tip him over the edge,’ Emma said. ‘I couldn’t tell him. Not yet anyway.’

  ‘I understand. And anyway, it’s your dad’s responsibility. ‘So, have you decided yet about tomorrow?’

  ‘Tomorrow?’ Emma said, still watching Will, who looked to be getting unstable on his feet.

  ‘Yes, tomorrow!’ Lizzy said, nudging Emma playfully. ‘You know, Guy Roberts, famous casting director…’

  Emma continued watching her brother. He was leaning against the girl. ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘But you said you’d go.’

  ‘I know, but now I’m not so sure.’

  ‘Go,’ Lizzy demanded. ‘Or I’ll never speak to you again, Emma Holden.’

  ‘Okay,’ Emma said, ‘if you put it like that Little Miss Bossy, I’ll go.’

  ***

  It was well into the early hours when Will staggered over towards Emma.

  ‘I’m going.’ He turned and headed off through the crowds, not waiting for Emma to reply.

  ‘Wait,’ Emma shouted, pursuing him.

  She caught up with him at the top of the stairs.

  ‘Will,’ she said, pulling at his shoulder. ‘Hang on a minute.’

  ‘Time for me to go,’ he said, not turning around and straining drunkenly against her grasp.

  ‘I’ll come with you.’

  ‘Why?’ he said, turning around. Up close it was clear just how drunk he was. His eyes were fire red, and his face flushed.

  ‘Because I want to,’ she said. ‘We can get a cab.’

  ‘If you want.’

  ‘Let me just tell Lizzy. Wait there until I get back.’ She pointed at the spot where he was standing.

  He nodded, his head seemingly loose at the neck.

  When Emma got back, Will had gone. She dashed outside, wondering what might happen to him in that state, wandering around the West End. When the night air hit, she realised how much she too had drank.

  Will was wandering across the road, trying to flag down a cab.

  ‘Will!’ she shouted, sprinting up to him, dodging the traffic. She pulled him onto the pavement. He seemed amused by the attention, and completely unaware that he’d just been standing in the middle of the road. ‘I’m going to get you home, now.’

  ‘Okay,’ Will said. ‘Home sounds nice.’

  It was tricky hailing a cab with one hand whilst holding onto her brother with the other - she didn’t dare let go in case he ran out into the road, or fell and smacked his head on the concrete. Eventually she did succeed, and then managed to persuade the driver that Will was fit enough to travel back without vomiting. Ten minutes later they got back to Will’s flat. She struggled up the stairs; with Will maintaining the silence he had held since getting in the cab. She gave him a glass of water, and two paracetamol: his flight was taking off from Heathrow at ten the next morning, and he would need all the help he could get to avoid or at least dampen the hangover.

  ‘Thanks,’ he said, breaking his silence, before slugging back the water and the tablets.

  Emma watched as he lay down on the sofa and covered his face with his hands.

  ‘Are you okay, Will?’

  ‘I don’t deserve you,’ he said, his voice muffled against his hands. ‘Not after what I’ve done to you.’

  ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘I just want to go to forget,’ he said, before falling asleep.

  30

  ‘You didn’t have to stay, you know,’ Will said, looking up from the sofa and grimacing against the light as Emma poured a cup of tea over in the small kitchen area.

  Emma popped a couple of rounds of bread into the toaster. ‘I wanted to. It wasn’t a problem.’

  ‘I appreciate it,’ he said, attempting to sit up. ‘Ouch.’ He brought a hand to his head.

  Emma brought over the tea. ‘Hangover?’

  ‘One mother of a hangover,’ he complained, taking hold of the cup. ‘Feels like someone’s playing pinball inside my head.’

  ‘I don’t know about pinball. Last night you were playing Frogger with the traffic on Tottenham Court Road.’

  ‘Oh, bollocks,’ Will replied, looking concerned and ashamed. ‘Was I really?’

  ‘Really.’

  ‘And you saved me from certain death?’

  ‘Most probably.’

  ‘I don’t deserve you,’ he said, taking a sip of the tea before breaking out into a cough.

  ‘That’s what you said last night,’ Emma replied.

  He looked up.

  ‘What else did I say? I didn’t say anything stupid, did I?’

  ‘I think you were still feeling guilty about what happened with Stephen,’ Emma said.

  ‘Oh, right.’ He looked down into the tea.

  ‘You really can’t remember any of that running about in the road?’

  ‘Can’t remember anything. Apart from dancing.’

  ‘You did do a lot of that.’

  ‘It just gets worse,’ he said. ‘Shit, what time is it?’ he said, scrambling for his watch.

  ‘Seven o’clock,’ Emma said. ‘You want me to book a taxi?’

  Will rose from the sofa. ‘Already done it, yesterday. It’s due to pick me up in half an hour.’

  ***

  Twenty-five minutes later he stood in the centre of the lounge, holding a travel bag in each hand. It didn’t look enough for a trans-Atlantic trip.

  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘here starts my big adventure.’

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ Emma said. Will didn’t cut a convincing figure, and she was certain it wasn’t just the hangover that made him looked so washed out.

  ‘Sure as I’ll ever be,’ he said, putting on an unconvincing smile.

  ‘Maybe you should stay here,’ she suggested. ‘Get some help, with us to support y
ou.’

  ‘No,’ he said simply, the smile vanishing. ‘I have to do this, Em. I need to get away.’

  ‘But aren’t you just running away from your problems?’

  ‘Maybe I am,’ he admitted. ‘But it’s something I want to do. I think it will help.’

  ‘What will you do over there?’

  ‘I’ve always wanted to see the major sights, you know, Niagara Falls, go up the CN Tower, maybe go to the Canadian Rockies and see some bears.’

  Emma watched as he enthused about Canada and for a moment he actually looked happy, and excited. Maybe it was just what he needed.

  ‘And will your friend Stefan be around?’ Emma asked.

  ‘He said he could take a week off. But he’s got some other friends who I can hang around with too. Don’t worry about me, Em. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Good,’ Emma said, ‘I’m glad. I just want you to be happy, Will.’

  ***

  ‘I’ll call you when I get to Canada,’ Will said, his head sticking out of the taxi’s window.

  ‘Make sure you do.’

  ‘I hope everything is okay next week,’ he said, ‘I know it wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll be okay,’ Emma replied. ‘I’ve just got to get over it.’

  ‘We’ll both come through this, Em. When I get back, we can go out to celebrate our new start.’

  ***

  Emma watched as the taxi drove off. She hoped that Will was right, and that he could somehow cure his demons so far from home. She hoped too that they would both be able to make a new start.

  She checked her watch, before heading towards the tube. Hopefully she would catch Lizzy before she left for her rehearsals, and hopefully Lizzy would be fresh and reasonably awake, ready to give advice and support – because if she was going to meet Guy Roberts she would need all the advice and support she could get.