Tell Me No Secrets

by Lynda Stacey

  Isobel stared at her reflection in the mirror as Marcus lifted her hair and fastened the black vinyl cape behind her neck.

  ‘And how’s the lovely Isobel today?’ His voice was effeminate, soft, fluffy and friendly with a slight Scottish tone. He was as thin as a sapling tree and his flower covered jeans gave him an almost animated look. His hands went up and down as he pulled his fingers rapidly through Isobel’s long blonde hair. ‘Would you like a tea? You take it black, darling, don’t you? I’ll get Miranda to make you one. Now, what are we doing today?’

  Isobel smiled. Marcus barely took breath. ‘Oh, I’m good, Marcus. And, yes, tea would be lovely,’ she responded. ‘I’d like it tidying up, just a little off the length. And straighten it for me too. I’m going to my therapist later; I like to look nice.’

  ‘Oh, I know exactly what you mean, my darling. How is your therapist, still networking?’

  Isobel smiled and nodded. ‘He is. He’s thinking of getting a new Porsche.’ She began to giggle like a schoolgirl. ‘Bright red with a cream interior, what do you think?’

  ‘My dear, I think it sounds perfect. Will you be buying one too?’

  Isobel nodded. ‘I thought I might. I might name her the Red Lady.’

  ‘What will your neighbours say when it’s delivered?’ His arms once again waved around and he used his hands to pretend he was driving a car. ‘Can you imagine it?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t worry about the neighbours. I’ll have it delivered at midnight, so the neighbours don’t see it, and preferably on a night when it isn’t raining. I don’t want it to get wet.’

  Kate watched the exchange. Her own hair had already been washed and trimmed, while her hairdresser had chatted relentlessly about a holiday she’d just come home from, making Kate feel quite appreciative when she turned the hairdryer on and her annoying voice blended into the background. Kate’s eyes were fixed on Isobel’s mirror. She began wishing that lip reading had been one of her talents and did her best to pick up on as many words as she could. While Isobel sat calmly, her hairdresser waved his arms around, occasionally blocking the view of Isobel’s lips.

  It was obvious that Marcus had heard all of the tales before. The expression on his face was one of boredom. He didn’t look overly impressed or surprised. But he did manage to smile politely in all the right places and continually repeated sentences that hadn’t needed repeating, making Kate look twice each time he did it.

  Kate noted that he’d used a water spray to damp down Isobel’s hair, even going over to the bowl for a drenching seemed to be too good for the ever so perfect Isobel and Kate was disappointed that she didn’t get to see her with a towel wrapped around her head, mascara down her face and smudges of foundation missing from her gorgeous face. Marcus began to use the comb to pick up tiny strands of hair, snipping away as he went. It was more than obvious that her hair wasn’t really being cut. Just titivated, played with and styled in a way that obviously made Isobel feel better. An easy hour’s work for an overpaid stylist.

  ‘Yes, it will be next week. I’ll give you an update as soon as I can.’ Isobel looked pleased with herself and Kate wished she’d heard the beginning of this sentence. But with a hairdryer blasting in her ear, it had been impossible. Isobel had walked behind her and toward the desk just as Fiona began pulling strands of her hair with the straighteners, giving them a twist and allowing the hair to fall in soft curls around her face, making it impossible for her to turn and look where Isobel had gone. She had to think quickly and grabbed at her mobile phone.

  ‘Fiona, do you mind if I just call my mother back? I just had a text. It’s really important,’ she said, putting the phone to her ear. She walked to the area near reception, pretended to make a call and listened as Isobel paid Marcus for the haircut she hadn’t needed.

  ‘There you go, Marcus, darling. Book me in again, my normal day and time.’

  ‘Oh, nice hair,’ Eric said as Kate walked back into the office, having entered the building via the back door. After her embarrassing encounter that morning, the last thing she needed was to walk in on Ben entertaining another friend in reception.

  ‘Thanks, where’s Ben? Out to lunch with her?’ She looked through the door and toward reception, but all she could hear was the sound of Gloria on the telephone.

  ‘Well, wow, we really are jealous, aren’t we?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Kate threw back as she went to the kitchen and picked out one of the doughnuts she’d bought earlier that morning, and began stuffing it into her mouth. The icing was soft and sticky and she grabbed for a piece of kitchen roll to wipe her lips.

  Eric had followed her and was now laughing. ‘Okay, I’ll stop being ridiculous, but, from where I’m standing, you look just a little too concerned with the fact that Ben may or may not have a friend.’

  ‘I am not concerned.’

  ‘Yes you are, otherwise you’d have already told me all about what happened with Isobel by now.’

  ‘Give me a chance. I was just about to tell you,’ she lied and moved out of the kitchen, doughnut and kitchen roll still in hand, and walked over to their shared office. ‘I didn’t really learn that much. It’s obvious that money means everything to her and she has a personal trainer that goes over most days, but other than that she didn’t really say anything.’

  Eric laughed. ‘Ah well, at least you got a haircut out of it. Now, tell me exactly what she did say.’

  Kate shrugged her shoulders wondering whether it had been worth it. ‘Well, she mentioned a red Porsche with cream seats. Her therapist is buying one and she’s thinking of doing the same and calling it the Red Lady. Said she’d have it delivered at midnight so the neighbours didn’t see. She also hoped it wouldn’t be raining, she didn’t want it to get wet.’ She paused. ‘Oh, and something was happening next week and she’d update him as soon as she could. Sorry, I missed the beginning of the sentence, blooming hairdryer blasting in my ear. Is any of this relevant?’

  ‘Yes, of course it’s relevant.’ He began scribbling on the board, just as Ben walked into the office.

  ‘Hey. Nice hair.’ Ben tipped his head to one side, taking in the view. ‘Okay, Eric, what have we got?’ Ben watched intently as Eric completed the board.

  ‘There’s a shipment coming in next week, could be in a red car, boat or aeroplane. The leader of the organisation is taking one delivery, Isobel the other. I’d say it’s a cream substance or drug. Possibly the MCAT mixed with a cream or white powder, which normally means soap powder. Whichever it is, it’s coming in at midnight, under cover of darkness, so the authorities don’t pick up on it. Oh, and she didn’t want it getting wet, which I’d take a guess at and say that she’s bringing it in by sea. So by deduction, I’d guess we’re looking for a boat.’

  Kate looked between both Eric and Ben. ‘Wait a minute, how the hell did you get all that from what I just said?’

  Ben turned his back on Kate. He wanted to look at her, but couldn’t stop himself from staring. She looked amazing and the last thing he wanted to do was make her or himself feel uncomfortable, especially in front of Eric. The haircut had added just a few curls to her long auburn hair, which now framed her face beautifully. She’d obviously altered her make-up and the stronger, darker eyeliner made her eyes stand out.

  ‘Okay, Eric. That’s great. Anything else?’ He tried to concentrate on the board, listen to what Eric was saying, but closed his eyes for a second. He needed to focus on the job, concentrate on the clues and, more than anything, he needed to bring this case to a close. It was fast beginning to cost more money than it would be worth, especially if they didn’t bring Isobel Reed in. ‘Do you think she’ll take delivery at the house? Or will it be elsewhere?’ He tried to think.

  ‘Oh, yes, she also mentioned the name Red Lady, you may want to dig around and see if there’s anything relevant about the name.’ Eric gave Ben a knowing look. ‘As I said, my money would be on it being a boat.’

  Ben quickly turned to his compu
ter. ‘Red Lady, I’ll take a look.’

  ‘And, Ben, the back lane,’ Eric said quickly, making Ben look up from his computer. ‘We should take a van to the other end, watch it from both sides. It’s a second point of entry, easy to come and go without being seen.’

  ‘So, if we take the van on the back lane, who gets to go in the van on the front?’ Kate asked as Ben noticed her move from her chair to stand at his side.

  Eric jumped down from where he sat on the desk, joined them both at the board and put a hand to his chest. He stood before her posing with his best sad face. ‘I think that would be me,’ he said before breaking into a laugh. Kate couldn’t stop herself and began to laugh with him, just as Eric’s glasses uncontrollably slipped down his nose and once again he pushed them back.

  Pulling up just short of Owl Lane, Kate jumped out of the van as instructed, wandered along the street and carefully planned her next move. She could see Honeysuckle House and made her way around the side, looking for a vantage point, a place where she could leave a remote camera where it would best serve its purpose, a place where they could see exactly who was coming and going.

  She crouched down and pretended to tie her shoelace. She scanned the terrain and moved her position slightly to the left, where she placed the camera as far under an ivy bush as she could. It was close to the drive, but looked directly toward the back garden and faced the back door. Anyone coming or going would be seen. It was a good position, which made her smile as she dusted down her knees.

  Standing up, she turned and began walking toward the back lane. Ben would be there, waiting for her. She happily bounded around the corner and saw the van, but a familiar noise made her stop in her tracks. Keeping herself hidden, she looked back along the road to see Rob’s truck turn the corner and pull into Isobel’s drive.

  ‘Okay, calm down. Are you sure?’ Ben asked as he pulled her into the van, sat her down and passed her a bottle of water.

  ‘Of course I’m sure. It was definitely him. I knew the sound of that truck before I actually saw it pull up on the drive. I mean, what the hell is he doing here?’ Disbelief turned into frustration and she looked up, staring intently at the surveillance screen that was still showing no movement. She sipped at the water.

  Ben crouched down beside her, took the bottle from her and took her hands in his. Her stomach turned as she looked into his eyes. They were full of pity and concern, which made her uncomfortable and she glanced away. Rob being there worried her; it was a game changer. It made the whole surveillance feel different, more personal, more real. She’d suspected that he was up to no good, but had prayed that he wasn’t involved in anything shady. He’d changed lately and she’d even thought that he might be having an affair, but drugs? What if he’d gotten into them, into the Ketamine? She closed her eyes.

  ‘Kate, let’s think rationally. He’s a personal trainer, right?’ Ben asked, again looking directly at her. ‘That house.’ He pointed out of the window. ‘That house is big enough to have a gym in it and Isobel Reed is rich enough to employ him. After all, didn’t she mention having a personal trainer at the hairdressers’?’ He sat down on the van floor, his arm rested on her leg, and she purposely turned her gaze from his, once again holding the left side of her face away.

  Taking a deep breath, she stared at the screen as Ben got up and started adjusting the dials, trying to enhance the grainy images that the remote camera sent back.

  ‘Let’s try and get some sound. This one cuts out background noise,’ he said as a green line flashed across a screen. ‘When the line becomes irregular it indicates that a noise can be heard and if it’s distorted, turn this.’ He pointed to another dial.

  Kate nodded. Her hands still trembled. She sipped the water. ‘What do we do now?’

  ‘We just wait,’ Ben replied. ‘We have till three o’clock, that’s when Patrick will come back for us. We’d have normally waited until after four, but I have a meeting that I can’t be late for.’

  ‘What, late lunch with your girlfriend?’ Kate knew she shouldn’t have asked and carefully watched Ben’s face as he squinted at the dials.

  ‘What girlfriend?’ He looked genuinely puzzled and Kate rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn’t going to answer her question easily. After all, why should he? It really wasn’t any of her business who he snuggled up to on the settee, she just wished he hadn’t been doing it when she’d walked in.

  ‘The woman, you know at the office.’ Kate stared at the clock waiting to see if Ben would respond. The clock ticked by slowly, but nothing happened. Rob’s truck was still where it had been parked, yet he hadn’t emerged from the house and she began to amuse herself, looking in the dials at the new hairstyle that curled around her face. She flicked it back over her shoulder.

  ‘She wasn’t my girlfriend, that was Rebecca, Julia’s little sister. I’ve known her since she was a child. I used to babysit for her.’ He laughed. ‘We all used to be very close and with it being the anniversary this week, Rebecca wanted me to go to the cemetery with her. To take flowers.’ He paused, sat back in his chair and Kate turned away from him in her embarrassment. She should have known that the woman was far too young for Ben, but as usual had jumped to conclusions without thinking.

  ‘Sorry. It was none of my business.’ She continued to look at the dials.

  ‘Hair looks really good, by the way,’ Ben commented, making Kate swell with pride even though she knew he’d probably said it to change the subject. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to the hairdressers’; she’d stopped doing things like that after the accident. There hadn’t seemed much point in trying to make herself beautiful, not after that.

  Kate lifted a finger to her lips; she’d heard something on the receiver. The green line had begun moving up and down. It reminded her of one of those machines you’d get in a hospital that would show your heart beat pulsating on the screen. They both checked the surveillance cameras but nothing could be seen, except for perfectly pruned bushes.

  A rustling came from behind the house, something banged and a mumbling could be heard. Then silence.

  ‘Oh well, it was worth a try,’ she said picking up the rucksack she’d brought from home. She dug in its depths for any crisps or biscuits that may be left. ‘Twix or Snickers?’ she offered Ben, who cheekily grabbed the Snickers, tore open the packaging and began to eat.

  ‘Shhhhhh,’ Kate whispered as she held her finger to her lips, leaning closer to the receiver. ‘Stop rustling.’

  The silence was almost deafening but she was sure that she’d heard something familiar. Suddenly the faint sound of footsteps padded over the radio.

  A door opened and slammed, but no words were spoken and both Kate and Ben stared at the screen. There was a strange murmuring sound coming through that made them both move closer to the receiver, pressing the record button.

  ‘Oh, baby. You’re insatiable, you can’t want it again?’ Rob spoke, but still they couldn’t be seen. Again, it went quiet.

  ‘Please God, no,’ Kate whispered. Her mind raced. She knew what she’d heard, but didn’t want to believe what was more than apparent. Every emotion went through her body; devastation and disbelief hit her like a thunderbolt. It was true. Rob really was having an affair. And with Isobel Reed.

  ‘My Rob, that’s … that’s my Rob.’ Kate’s voice was wretched.

  She moved to the far side of the van, crouched down in the corner and pushed her fingers in her ears in a stupid and vain attempt to block out any noise. She gulped in deep breaths of air and tried desperately not to vomit. She couldn’t. Not in the van. Not in front of Ben. She tried to think rationally. There had to be an explanation. ‘Rob must be Isobel’s personal trainer, he’s there working, that’s all.’

  Kate’s eyes involuntarily closed as tears fell down her face. Maybe he was just being nice; he was doing what personal trainers did, he was making his client feel good. That’s what she paid him for, right?

  She screwed her face up and thum
ped the floor. Who was she kidding? Her Rob was at the back of that house right now, making love to another woman and talking about how insatiable he thought her to be. She could imagine Rob’s arms around the perfection that was Isobel Reed. He’d be holding Isobel in the same way as, on so many occasions, he’d held her. He’d be using his hands to tease, his tongue to make her feel hot and aroused. Kate heaved.

  ‘Water?’ Ben offered. She nodded her acceptance and took the bottle from his hand.

  ‘Are they … are they still …’ She gulped the water down. ‘… you know?’ She looked back toward the dials which had now been turned off. She really didn’t want to listen, didn’t need to hear what was happening between them and was appreciative of the silence.

  ‘I turned the volume down. I didn’t think you’d want to … you know. I can review it later, alone,’ Ben said, looking down at the floor.

  ‘How could he do this to me?’ she questioned. ‘I should have guessed. After all the things he’s done recently, how could I have been so stupid, so blind?’ She blinked back the tears. ‘He’s been sleeping on the sofa, on and off for months, then the other night, he … he …’ She couldn’t continue as she remembered the lovemaking earlier that week.

  ‘Here, sit down.’ Ben moved the camp chair closer to her and his hand reached out and touched her lightly on the shoulder. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said as she stood up and he pulled her into a hug. His arms felt safe, secure and she didn’t want him to let go. But a knock on the side of the van indicated Patrick’s arrival. The hug ended and they both sat back down on the chairs.

  ‘All okay?’ Patrick asked in his soft Irish accent. ‘Sorry I’m late, had to get Eric to bring me in his car.’

  The van started. The gears crunched and Kate sat in silence, staring at the floor as they drove back to the office.