Abandoned Child

by Neale, Kitty

‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘I’m going to be sent up to Scotland for the spring migration. At least I can speak the language there – well, almost.’ He grinned. ‘It’s all right, you don’t have to pretend to be interested. I love it but I know not everybody does.’

  ‘I suppose it’s the sort of thing you have to love to be able to do it,’ she said, pouring the boiling water. ‘Do you have to be out in all weather?’

  ‘That’s part of the fun,’ John said instantly. ‘If you have the right gear you can stay out in anything, then you don’t miss a thing. I’ve been out in the driving rain all day, lying on my stomach, waiting for a chick to hatch, and it’s the best feeling in the world when you capture the moment.’ He checked himself. ‘One of the best feelings, anyway.’

  ‘If you say so,’ she said, passing him his mug. ‘Give me the warm and dry any time. I love the heat.’

  ‘You need the right gear for that too,’ he said. ‘Once you’re protected from the sun you just sit it out. You have to make sure the camera and film are okay, that they don’t overheat.’

  ‘You won’t have that problem in Scotland,’ she predicted, beginning to relax. John was very easy to be with, not like some of the men at the club. He seemed to be comfortable in his own skin and she found she liked that.

  ‘All sorts of other problems, though,’ he said. ‘Midges, mainly. You wouldn’t believe it, and the springtime is the worst. I’ve been on assignments to Africa and come back with fewer bites. I tell you, it’s unbelievable.’

  ‘Africa? Really?’ she said, interested now. She might not be particularly keen on wildlife but she’d always had a hankering to travel, to see what the rest of the world was like. ‘How was that? Where did you go? Were you there for long?’

  ‘One at a time,’ he laughed. ‘I’ve been several times. Usually to South Africa, so I can do wildlife and garden shots at the same time. They have amazing plants. It’s okay, you don’t have to be interested in that either.’

  ‘Not much call for plants here,’ Penny said. ‘Some people opposite have windowboxes but Maureen’s never bothered. We’d probably forget to water them.’ She thought of Lorna’s garden, which had been carefully tended and had always looked lovely, but she’d never bothered to find out how to do it – it seemed like hard work. ‘She gets given flowers sometimes but they usually end up in the bin as they make her sneeze.’ She looked at him and pulled a face. ‘That sounds awful, doesn’t it?’

  He shrugged. ‘No, why should it? Some people like them, some don’t. I’d rather see plants in the wild than all tidy inside.’

  John was good at making awkward moments pass quickly. She suddenly felt that she’d known him for ages. How had that happened?

  ‘When are you off, then?’ she asked. ‘Will it be right in the middle of the midge season?’

  ‘Next week,’ he replied, ‘and yes, that’ll be prime time for them. I’ll be bitten to bits the next time you see me.’ He looked up at her directly. ‘Did that sound out of turn? If there is a next time. I’d like there to be.’

  Penny realised she very much hoped so too. ‘Of course.’ She wasn’t sure what to say next that wouldn’t sound forward but she wanted nothing more than to talk to this fascinating man.

  ‘I’ll come round and show you my pictures,’ he grinned, ‘and then you can see how bad the bites are. You can tell me if you think it’s worth it or not.’

  ‘All right.’ She broke into a big smile. ‘I’ll look forward to that. And you can tell me more about your travels. Who knows, I might have worked out how to do more than just heat things up in the microwave by then.’

  ‘I didn’t carry it all the way up these stairs just so you could make tea in it,’ he pointed out. ‘It’s a deal. Look, I’d better be going, I have to be back in South London. And I don’t want to hold you up from whatever you had planned. I hope you didn’t mind me just dropping in like that.’

  ‘No, I’m glad you did,’ she said truthfully. ‘Make sure you do it again once you’re back. Tell you what, take the phone number then you can let me know when you’re coming and I’ll cook you something properly, if you’d like that. Jimmy can tell you I’m not bad.’

  ‘Good idea,’ he said, as she scribbled down the number. ‘And he’s already told me about you buying all his most unusual stuff. So I know I’m in good hands.’

  Penny smiled and gave him the slip of paper then followed him to the door. ‘Good luck in Scotland,’ she said. She smiled up at him for what seemed like a long time. For a moment she thought he was going to lean forward to kiss her, but he didn’t, he just went down the stairs and waved to her from the bottom. ‘See you soon.’

  Well, she thought as she closed the door to the flat. Who’d have thought it? Don’t go getting ideas, she warned herself. You’ve been there before. It’s only a conversation, don’t go building your whole future life upon it.

  But this felt different. Eduardo had been exciting and charming, exotic even. That had been part of the attraction. John was so easy to be with and equally good-looking, though in a different way. He felt familiar. He felt safe. Penny was seized with an urge to get to know him better, and hoped she hadn’t been too eager in giving him the phone number. Maybe he only wanted to be friends – he was older than her, after all. But even though she was inexperienced she was sure there had been that little buzz when he almost kissed her.

  Either way is fine, she assured herself. There’s no hurry. Let’s just see how it goes. She tried to imagine how sensible Juliet would think about it, never rushing into things, never panicking. But in spite of herself Penny couldn’t help but wish he’d be back soon.

  ‘Do you want to go for a coffee after the class?’ Juliet asked Michelle the next day. She’d forced herself to come in, to act normally, to look good. She tried not to think about the way her leggings and leotard felt too baggy, and knew she’d lost even more weight. Maybe she’d have a huge slice of cake with her coffee.

  ‘Sorry, can’t,’ said Michelle. ‘I’ve got prior commitments.’

  Something about the way the girl said it made Juliet look at her friend sharply. ‘What are you up to? Is it anything to do with what happened yesterday?’

  ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist,’ said Michelle, tossing her curls. ‘I’m not going to turn up pissed again. That would be really stupid and I’m not that daft, whatever Maureen might have told you. I’m just going for a walk with someone.’

  Warning bells sounded in Juliet’s head. ‘Are you sure?’ she said. ‘Do you know what you’re getting yourself into this time?’

  ‘Look, I know you all mean well,’ said Michelle, ‘and don’t think I’m not grateful. You saved my skin before, and I’ll always remember that. But I’m okay again now and I know what I’m doing. This guy is safe, he’s a poppet, he won’t harm a hair of my head. You can all relax, I’m going to be fine.’

  Maybe Michelle was right. Maybe it would be all right this time and Juliet was just overreacting because she was so on edge. Not every man was a violent abuser, and she shouldn’t assume the worst every time. She should stand back and let Michelle have her fun. She closed her eyes briefly.

  ‘Okay, good luck,’ she said tiredly. ‘But I want to go on stage tonight so you’d better be all right to go on. Despite what you all think, I can’t miss too many shows in a row, I need the cash.’ That was true too, not that she expected anyone to believe it.

  ‘I’ll be there, don’t you worry,’ said Michelle blithely, as if she had no trace of a hangover. ‘Did you hear me? I said, don’t you worry. Look at you, you mustn’t get into a state about me. We’ll show ’em this evening, we’ll dance our socks off.’ She ran off to take her place in the line.

  God, if only her friend were her only problem, Juliet thought. If only she knew she was the tip of the iceberg. But it wouldn’t help to tell her. It wasn’t as if anyone could do anything, she just had to wait it out. But the waiting was killing her inside.

  Mark had been growing stead
ily more uneasy and finally decided to speak to Penny. He picked a moment when he knew Dave was out of the office and slipped in to find her slipping two pieces of paper separated by a sheet of carbon into the typewriter.

  ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ he said. ‘Doesn’t this drive you mad? Don’t you get bored?’

  ‘Don’t touch,’ she said, slapping his hand away from the paper. ‘I’ve only just got this lined up. And you’ll get ink on your hands and then it’ll get on the costumes.’ She looked up at him properly. ‘Oooh, nice haircut. Your mate back, is he? That’s really good. Maybe he could take a look at mine?’

  ‘Juliet’s first in the queue,’ he said. ‘I promised her ages ago, but he’s been off all that time. And talking about being off, did you hear what happened earlier in the week? Did Maureen say – Michelle got pissed and couldn’t go on. It was just luck that Juliet was sick that night and Maureen didn’t have to get the ghastly redhead back in.’

  ‘She mentioned something about it,’ Penny said, ‘but I haven’t seen either of them since. I’ve been really busy. It’s all right for Dave, he phones up these travel companies, tells me this, that and the other has been agreed and then sends me in to meet them. Then it’s up to me to type it all up and make sure that they actually did agree what he says they did.’ She pointed to a big file. ‘I’ve done all that. So when I’m in the club I’m in here typing and when that’s done I’m out doing more meetings, which then means more typing. So I’ve hardly seen anybody. By the time everyone comes in I’m worn out and just want to go home.’

  ‘You are bored, then,’ he said, flicking his stunning new fringe.

  ‘Well, the funny thing is, no, I’m not,’ Penny admitted. ‘Okay, the typing bit I could do without. But the going out and meeting people, speaking Spanish some of the time, trying to work out what Dave has said without landing him in it – that’s all good fun. I’m getting the hang of it. And he hasn’t shouted at me for ages, which must be a good thing.’

  ‘Just as well he wasn’t here the other night,’ Mark replied. ‘He’d have had good cause to shout then.’

  ‘Maureen covered it up though, didn’t she?’ she said. ‘And Michelle’s been all right since, or she’d have come home and given me an earful.’

  Mark sat back in the tattered comfy chair and raised his arms behind his head. ‘It’s not her I’m worried about. Well, either she’ll be all right or she won’t, doesn’t seem there’s much anyone can do about it. No, it’s Juliet.’ He stretched. ‘You thought something was up ages ago, didn’t you? I didn’t believe you at the time, but I’ve changed my mind. She’s definitely lost weight, and I’m not just saying that because she’s needed alterations. Happens all the time to you lot, you go on diets, you have a binge, whatever. This is different. She’s almost haggard. God knows we’d all love sculpted cheekbones but she’s more like a skull. That’s not good. She wants to be careful or Prescott will haul her in. Punters don’t like to think a dancer is sickening for something.’

  ‘I know, I know,’ Penny said, realising this was exactly what she’d feared. ‘I convinced myself I was imagining things but I wasn’t, was I?’

  ‘No, I think you were right all along,’ Mark replied. ‘I feel a fool for not seeing it when you did. I’m just so used to her sorting everything out, being in control, I didn’t imagine anything could be wrong. Some friend I’ve been.’

  ‘But what do we do, then?’ she demanded. ‘Do we ask her outright? She doesn’t really like that, does she? She’s great at handing out straightforward advice but doesn’t say much about herself. I’m not even sure where she lives.’

  ‘She’s a dark horse, all right,’ agreed Mark. ‘She’s never asked me to her flat. I know Michelle’s way out east and your place is like a second home to me but Juliet keeps herself to herself.’

  ‘Should we speak to Maureen?’ she wondered. ‘She’ll know what to do.’

  ‘Don’t you think she’s got enough on her plate?’ Mark asked. ‘She’ll be keeping an eye on Michelle, and then there’s Prescott still fussing about the Ashdown development. He thought he had it sorted but it’s not that simple and she gets the brunt of it.’

  ‘And she’s not getting on so well with Stuart,’ Penny added. ‘Well, you probably knew that.’

  ‘Yeah, I don’t give it long,’ said Mark gloomily. ‘If he will get her stupid presents what does he expect? He’s got her totally wrong, that’s the trouble.’

  ‘All right, we don’t ask her,’ said Penny. ‘We’ll have to try to get it out of Juliet somehow. I agree, if we’re her friends we can’t let her go on like this. Tomorrow. Let’s do it then.’

  ‘Deal,’ said Mark, getting up and sweeping back his fringe. ‘Tomorrow it is.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Penny arrived at the club the next day determined to confront Juliet and find out what was going on. This time she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Nobody was around when she got in, but this wasn’t unusual as the dancers were often at their various classes and the crew wouldn’t strictly be needed until later. So she thought nothing of it, just went through the diary to see if Prescott had arranged any meetings for her or if he’d decided to go to any himself. It looked as if she had a day at the desk, typing up notes before starting on another round of travel companies next week.

  She began to plough her way through the pages, cursing every time she made a mistake. It was simple enough to Tippex out anything on the top sheet but it didn’t work on the carbon copies. Concentrate, she thought. What’s wrong with you today?

  Just as she was wondering when to break for lunch, Mark appeared, waving an envelope.

  ‘Hi … what’s up?’ she asked, at the sight of his stricken face.

  ‘Did you know about this?’ he demanded.

  ‘About what? What are you talking about?’

  ‘This,’ he repeated. ‘This message. It was left on my worktable. She’d weighed it down with my scissors so it wouldn’t get knocked off.’

  ‘Who had?’ Penny asked, confused.

  ‘Juliet,’ said Mark. ‘Look at this. She’s done a runner.’

  ‘Juliet has?’ she asked. It didn’t seem right. That was totally out of character.

  ‘Read it for yourself,’ he said, dropping the envelope on her desk.

  Nervously, Penny smoothed out the piece of paper inside.

  Dear Mark,

  Sorry to leave this with you but it seemed the simplest thing to do. I have to go away for a while. I’m fine so please don’t worry about me but there’s something I have to do and I can’t carry on performing at the same time. Please do not attempt to find me. I’ll be back in contact when everything is sorted out.

  Please also tell Maureen how very sorry I am that I’ve let her down and perhaps she will understand.

  I’ll be thinking of you all, my very dear friends.

  Juliet.

  Penny reread it very slowly to see if it made more sense the second time around but it didn’t. There was nothing to give them any clue what this was about.

  She looked up at Mark. ‘What do we do? She can’t expect us not to do something?’

  ‘No idea,’ he said. ‘Well, it proves one thing, we were right and there’s something really serious going on. We’d better tell Maureen at least.’

  ‘It’ll have to wait,’ said Penny. ‘She went to teach her first class and then was going straight to the dentist. She couldn’t get an appointment at such short notice but they told her to come in and wait. She could be there all day, and she’s got such bad toothache she can’t think straight. So there’s no point in saying anything till she’s been treated.’

  ‘God, what timing,’ groaned Mark. ‘I’m sorry for her but really, we need her here. She’ll have to know.’

  Penny frowned. ‘Look, we don’t have to do what Juliet asks. We could try to find her. Do you have her phone number?’

  ‘I’ve got it in my address book at home,’ he said. ‘Won’t it be in the
office somewhere? Bet they have contact numbers for everyone in here. And addresses, they’ll need them for the payslips.’

  He was right. They found the number and tried it from the office phone but it rang and rang before finally cutting out. ‘Might not mean anything,’ suggested Mark. ‘She might not be answering or there might be a fault on the line. Let’s take the address and go round. Too bad if she’s angry, I’d rather know she was okay.’

  Penny knew they were clutching at straws but agreed anyway. It was something to do, and at least then they could tell Maureen that they’d tried to find her.

  ‘Okay, why not?’ she said. ‘Get that A to Z and see where it is.’

  It turned out not to be too far – a side street between Covent Garden and Holborn. ‘We can walk that, easy,’ said Mark. ‘You haven’t got those high heels on, have you?’

  ‘Thank God, no,’ said Penny, pointing to her pixie boots. ‘I was glad to have a rest from them to tell you the truth. These are much better.’

  Zigzagging through the back streets Penny tried to put from her mind all the images of what they might find at the flat. She couldn’t believe Juliet had done anything stupid or tried to harm herself in any way, but then until recently she wouldn’t have believed that Juliet’s life was anything but easy and under her complete control.

  Mark led the way, taking her down shortcuts and what she thought were blind alleys until they found themselves in the small street of redbrick buildings. None looked in good repair. ‘Blimey, I always assumed she lived in somewhere upmarket paid for by her parents,’ he muttered. ‘This is a bit of a dive, isn’t it?’

  ‘I don’t know what I expected,’ admitted Penny, ‘but it wasn’t quite this.’ She stepped sideways to avoid a suspicious pile on the pavement. ‘God, it smells worse than the lane to the dance studio.’

  ‘It’s rank, that’s what it is,’ said Mark, wrinkling his nose. ‘Let’s see if it’s any better inside.’ He counted the doors until they were at the right one. It was in need of a lick of paint, and the ground-floor windows were filthy. There were several doorbells and he squinted until he found Flat F. When he rang it there was no response.