by Jade Winters
‘Tomorrow evening at the latest.’
‘I’m going to hold you to that.’
The line went dead. Suddenly, Astrid felt like the miller’s daughter in Rumpelstiltskin. The fictional character whose task it was to turn straw into gold by morning. If she could meet deadlines so can I. But first things first. She had to feed the hungry animal inside. All she’d eaten was the sandwich at the station and the sausage roll Callie had begrudgingly provided. As she pushed back the covers and swung her legs onto the floor, her mind began to work out a strategy to get a story.
Dressed casually in a pair of faded jeans and a grey cashmere jumper, Astrid made her way into the kitchen. Though the room was compact, it was more cosy than claustrophobic. Everything was clean and tidy. Dishes stacked neatly on shelves. A chunky wooden table and chairs were the centre piece. Fresh flowers stood proudly in what looked like a homemade vase. Though it was by no means professionally made, its imperfections added a certain charm to it. The only other items were the cooker and a fridge. Pulling open the fridge door, Astrid saw a plate covered with tin foil on the top shelf. Dinner for Astrid. Her stomach growled when she took the plate from the shelf and removed the foil. A roast chicken salad. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten anything so healthy.
As always, when Astrid thought of food, her mind inadvertently pulled her back to her childhood. In particular, Mary Cook, her foster mother of ten years. Mary was loving, kind and thoughtful. An extraordinary woman. At least she was until the social worker was out of sight. Then the real Mary Cook came to light. The one who wanted a slave, not a daughter. With no choice but to endure a childhood of misery, Astrid hated every second of every day. No exception. The day she turned sixteen Astrid fled to London, sleeping rough, doing all that was necessary to survive. She had grown tough, and wore a fierce suit of armour. It was the only way to make it through each day. For a year she wandered. Until she met Crystal, the mother of another runaway, who had taken her home when she located her own daughter.
Crystal had fed her, showed her love and put her through school. Always telling her the power to make a good life for herself was within. It was her choice to either embrace it or discard it. Astrid embraced the chance to make something of herself and didn’t look back. It had become easier over the years to not dwell on her past. But some memories still lingered. It was the determination to not give Mary Cook the power to affect her life as an adult that gave her the strength to move forward. Mrs Cook had taken her childhood. That was all she was going to get.
Astrid shook away the memories. It was more rewarding to think of Callie instead of the past. An image of Callie’s face popped up in her mind’s eye. She hadn’t felt such an intense attraction to another woman in all the years she’d been dating. On a scale of one to ten most women hit an average of five maybe six, she conceded when she thought about Keri, but that was as far as it went. In this instance, Callie had gone off the scale. What was it about her that Astrid found so appealing? She was nothing like the women she usually got together with. Was it her fierce loyalty towards her friends? Or the fullness of her lips? Or was it the intenseness in her eyes? Astrid couldn’t pinpoint the exact one, not that it mattered. Attraction was attraction as far as she was concerned.
Astrid pushed her plate aside and made herself a milky coffee. Outside on the paved patio was a small metal table and four chairs. Deciding to make use of the remaining daylight, she took her food and drink to the table. It was so peaceful, save for the chirping of the birds. It was in stark contrast to the usual sound of traffic and loud music from her upstairs neighbour, which often contaminated the air.
Astrid sat at the table, happily munching away and reading tweets on Twitter when she heard the back door open. She half turned in her chair and gave Elaine a nod of acknowledgement when she appeared in the doorway.
‘You found your dinner then.’
Astrid swallowed before saying, ‘Yes and I’m glad I did. I can’t remember the last time I saw a cucumber.’
‘Not much of a healthy eater then?’
‘I do try but I work crazy hours, so I end up eating on the go.’
‘In that case it’s understandable. Do you mind if I join you?’
‘Feel free,’ Astrid said gesturing to the seat opposite.
‘Did you sleep well?’
‘I sure did. A little too well in fact. My boss is majorly pissed off with me.’
For a moment Elaine stared at her in disbelief as she lowered herself onto her seat. ‘Because you fell asleep?’
‘Not just that. He thinks I should be out there walking the streets, digging up anything I can find.’
‘Well you can tell your boss you haven’t missed anything. There’ve been no new developments.’
Astrid balanced her mug on the edge of her chair, keeping her hand around it. ‘Did you know Lexi well?’
‘Did? As in past tense? Do you think there’s more to this than her just being missing?’
Astrid gave a quick shake of her head, alarmed that Elaine could misconstrue a careless slip of the tongue. Despite needing there to be a story at the end of the road, she didn’t want it to be a tragic one. She glanced over at Elaine with what she hoped was a reassuring look. ‘No, of course not.’
Elaine leant back in her chair. Her petite features visibly relaxed. ‘In that case then yes. But not as well as Callie. Those two had a bond.’
‘Oh?’ Astrid said, sensing there was something she had missed. A teenage girl and a woman in her twenties being close friends wasn’t unusual she supposed, but it was the tone Elaine used that made her think there was an underlying factor. A common thread that held them together. It was her job to pick up the cues. Astrid leant forward slightly as Elaine began to speak.
‘Well it’s only natural I suppose. Both of them growing up without their mothers.’
‘What happened to Callie’s mum?’ Astrid asked.
‘She disappeared and Lexi’s mum died.’
‘Disappeared? As in—’
‘Yep, just vanished one day. Never to be seen again.’
Astrid had been vaguely aware that this case ran deep for Callie, but now she knew why. The girl’s disappearance must be dragging up all sorts of memories for her. ‘That’s dreadful. In both cases. This must be extra tough for Callie now.’
‘It is.’
Astrid pushed her plate away. Her appetite now gone. She was aware that Elaine would have to be handled carefully if she was going to prise any information out of her. Her loyalty to Callie stood out a mile. Too many questions, too fast would have Elaine pulling up the drawbridge and that was the last thing Astrid needed. There was only one way to disarm Elaine and that was to make an ally of her.
‘You and Callie look really close. She obviously sees you as a great friend. How long have you known each other?’
Elaine beamed, completely happy with the compliment. Astrid was relieved to have hit the right button.
‘Oh for years,’ Elaine said. ‘We were at secondary school together. She moved here after her mother disappeared.’
‘So I was right. You’re best friends?’
Elaine nodded.
‘She doesn’t seem to like me very much.’
‘Callie’s just cautious that’s all. If she really didn’t like you, there’s no way she would have fed you.’
Astrid was unconvinced. ‘If you say so.’
‘It’s true. Callie is the sort of person that once she gets to know you and lets you in, you’ve got an amazing, loyal friend for life.’
‘If’ being the operative word. ‘So is Callie seeing someone?’
‘No, emotionally, she’s not in the best place at the moment. Her dad died a few years ago.’ She stopped abruptly.
‘Go on.’
Elaine rose to her feet. ‘Sorry it’s not my place to talk about her business. I’ve said too much already.’
Astrid prevented herself from pressing any further. Though it was irritating to have the conve
rsation brought to a close quicker than she expected. All she said was, ‘Fair enough.’ Astrid put her cup on the plate and got to her feet. ‘I’ll just wash these up then I’m going back to bed. All this fresh air is making me tired.’
Astrid stopped before entering the kitchen and with her spare hand, dug into her pocket and took out a wad of money. She handed it to Elaine.
A puzzled expression on her face, Elaine counted it before saying incredulously, ‘There’s three hundred pounds here.’
‘I figured since you’re providing me with meals, I’d pay more.’
‘You really don’t—’
‘I insist. Besides if I were eating takeaways it would be a hell of a lot more expensive,’ Astrid said.
‘If you’re sure. Tomorrow, if you like, I’ll make my seafood pasta special.’
‘Sounds yummy.’
Astrid returned to her room shortly after. If she was going to make something of this story, she needed to speak to the parents and she knew exactly how she was going to get to them— through Callie, regardless of whether the woman liked her or not.
Chapter Eight
Lloyd opened the kitchen cupboard where Keri kept a selection of herbal teas. He pushed the boxes aside before slamming the door shut with a sigh of irritation.
‘Shouldn’t you have left by now?’ Lloyd asked turning to her.
Keri pursed her lips. She had forgotten to buy Earl Grey tea for him. Tough shit, he should have bought it himself. She may be his spy but she sure as hell wasn’t his servant. She ignored the anger in his narrowed eyes. ‘The first train doesn’t leave until ten. Oh by the way, thanks for having a word with Tyler.’
‘Why are you thanking me? It’s in my best interests you go there. It wasn’t exactly a favour.’
‘Maybe not but it saved me having to twist his arm.’ Keri glanced down at the computer screen in front of her. Astrid’s Twitter page was open. Her smiling face stared back at her bringing up a host of emotions she could do without. Especially while she was in the same room as her father.
‘I’ve been checking Astrid’s Twitter updates. She’s arrived in the Lake District, but she hasn’t reported anything new about the missing girl.’
‘In which case that’s bad news for us.’
Keri looked up at him with raised brows. ‘Us?’
‘Yes us,’ he said shamelessly.
That was just typical of her father. Only using the term ‘us’ when he was dragging her into one of his messes he needed help cleaning up.
‘How so?’
He sat down across the table from her and opened his paper. ‘If her attention isn’t focused on a story, it means she has time on her hands. Time to delve further into my business.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
He didn’t bother to look at her. ‘It seems you’re not doing much thinking if you ask me.’
‘It’s unfortunate that we can’t all be as clever as you,’ she retorted and immediately regretted it when he shot her a look of disapproval.
Keri was surprised it still bothered her. What he thought of her. That she still yearned for his approval. She had grown up longing to hear the words ‘I’m so proud of you’. But he had never spoken them. Not even when she had received a first class honours degree from Cambridge University. On the morning of her graduation, he had merely given her a curt nod of the head, before hurrying back to London.
It struck her that she had never known her father. Not really. And he didn’t really know her. Bar the things that he took pleasure in putting her down about. Like her sexuality and choice of friends. It had taken plenty of sessions on the therapist’s couch before she had finally found the courage to come out to him. She was sure that made her seem even more defective than he originally thought. Maybe that’s why she was so determined to get him out of this hole he had fallen into. Maybe, just maybe, she would finally gain his respect.
The kitchen suddenly felt chilly. She leant over and touched the radiator. It was on. Wrapping her arms tightly around her waist to try and warm herself, she thought about asking him if he had plans to have another radiator fitted in the spacious room. One was evidently not enough. But she felt uncomfortable even bringing up a topic as innocent and inconspicuous as a radiator. He would probably tell her that there was something wrong with her than admit she was right.
‘I suppose I’d better start packing. I don’t know how long I’m going to be away for.’
He kept his head down. ‘Okay.’
‘I’ll let you know as soon as I meet up with her.’
‘You do that. And remember haste is needed. Don’t get complacent with that woman.’
‘As if,’ she said as she closed the lid of her laptop.
In her bedroom, Keri took her case from the wardrobe and flung it onto her bed. Every interaction with her father left her with a bad taste in her mouth. Trust me to have daddy issues in my twenties.
She moved back and forth between the wardrobe and her case, carefully lining it with specially chosen outfits. If she was going to knock Astrid’s socks off, she had to look the part.
Case packed, she dragged it onto the floor then found her mobile phone. It was time to put the plan into action. First she needed to find out exactly where Astrid was staying. An idea stirred. That should be easy enough.
Keri googled The Daily News, put a call through to the reception, and was put on hold while they located Mike. She went to her bedroom window and gazed through the slated blinds. Her father was being helped into his shiny black Jaguar by his driver. Keri turned back to her room when she heard Mike’s voice. In the background the hustle and bustle of the newsroom thrummed.
‘What is it?’ he said, his voice as sharp as a knife.
‘Hey, Mike, it’s Keri. We met—’
‘Yeah, I remember. I never forget a rude—’
‘Look about that … I want to apologise. I’d had a bit too much to drink.’
He sounded uncertain. ‘Shit happens, I suppose.’
Now this was the part where she had to sound convincing. Where her drama classes would finally pay off. ‘So … I was thinking … what do you think about the three of us getting together sometime?’
‘You mean you, me and Astrid?’
She made a face at the phone. ‘Sure. Why not? I’m always up for a new adventure.’
‘I knew it. I knew there was something daring about you.’
His voice was literally shaking with excitement. She dreaded to think what affect the thought of a threesome was doing to his libido.
‘Yeah, you sure know how to read a woman.’ She stifled a yawn. ‘Hey, listen. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Astrid to arrange a date but it keeps going to voicemail. I know the reception in the Lake District is sketchy at best. You couldn’t let me know where Astrid is staying? I’m going to be reporting up there too so thought I’d drop in on her.’
‘Sure, one minute.’
‘And Mike, I’d appreciate it if you kept this between me and you. I don’t want her to know we spoke. I want to surprise Astrid.’
‘No worries. Your secret is safe with me. Hang on.’
She heard his hand cover the phone as he called out to someone by the name of Ross.
‘Where’s Astrid staying, boss? A friend of hers needs to speak to her urgently. Cheers.’ His voice came back to the phone. ‘Keri, she’s staying at Glenview bed and breakfast in Grasmere.’
‘Brilliant. Thanks for that. Can’t wait to catch up soon.’ She hung up before he could respond.
It took her a few minutes to find the bed and breakfast Mike had told her about. Another five minutes later, Keri had spoken to the owner and had booked herself in for a week. If she needed any longer she had been reassured it wouldn’t be a problem to extend her stay.
It’s going to be priceless seeing Astrid’s face when I show up. It shocked her to realise that she was actually looking forward to seeing her again, on a personal level. Keri hoped her attraction
to Astrid wasn’t going to pose a problem to her end goal. First and foremost, were her dad’s needs. Everything else, including Astrid, would have to wait.
Chapter Nine
Callie sat idly munching on a chocolate bar. It was another crappy, gloomy day. She stared into the distance at the thick clouds enveloping the ragged peaks of the Central Fells.
I wonder what Astrid is doing today?
Just thinking her name gave her butterflies. Sexy and confident, with eyes that felt like they were undressing her, Callie couldn’t help but wonder how many hearts Astrid had broken along the way. Plenty, she assumed, which made her all the more adamant her own heart wasn’t going to be one of her casualties.
She was only trying to charm me because she wanted information. Get a grip.
Callie polished off the rest of the chocolate bar and felt a bit guilty for not snacking on something a little healthier, like a granola bar, but what the hell, chocolate gave her the little boost she needed at that moment in time. To her dismay the weather was still unpredictable—heavy rain and wind— she hoped she wouldn’t have to cancel the beginner’s rock climbing class booked in for that afternoon.
Her thoughts turned to Lexi. Callie had been updating her Twitter page trying to keep the story alive. Not that she really needed to. It had been three days now and the mainstream media were all over the story. Probably hoping for a tragic ending, the village had been besieged with reporters. The online news outlets had used pictures of Lexi in her school uniform, looking like the perfect school girl. Two bunches of long wavy hair propped up high on her head. A smile that could turn the dullest day into a bright and sunny one. Through Lexi, Callie witnessed the life a teenager should have. One of fun and surprise. Not full of worry and angst.
Like mine was.
Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing Lexi again. To not hear her voice.
Stop thinking the worst. She’ll be fine. She is fine.
The sound of footsteps alerted her to someone’s presence. Expecting to see Elaine when she looked towards the door, Callie jolted back in her seat. Startled. Was this how it was going to be until Lexi returned home? Astrid appearing out of the blue when she least expected. And why is she looking at me as if I’ve got two heads?