“Yeah. There’s a couple of weird things that might be of interest to us, but I can’t think at the moment. Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” said Amelia, wondering how she would take the news about the riddle. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. That was the object of the exercise, wasn’t it? Oh, and happy birthday.”
“Oh, thank you Amelia. You’re the first today. Tommy told everyone last night at the party. Just think of it – everyone who is anyone in music sang happy birthday to me! I think I’ve got a Porsche and a swimming pool on the way, and one of the managers wants me to do a studio test; but I could feel there were some strings attached to that one. Tommy warned him off anyway.”
Once inside the shop, Amelia packed Rayn off to bed, reminding her there were cigarettes and matches in her desk. She was also pleased with herself for resisting the urge to tell her not to burn the house down.
She was surprised to find George asleep on the sofa so she made the boys some breakfast and sat them in the kitchen while she looked in on her mother. She was still asleep so she left her where she was.
Making George a coffee she woke him gently. He was awake and alert instantly. The habit of a lifetime, Amelia supposed. When he was up he joined them in the kitchen.
“Morning boys. What have you got there?” he asked them.
“Egg and bacon and toast,” they told him.
“Would you like some?” enquired Amelia.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” he replied.
As she prepared his food he remained quiet, so she ventured to enquire about last night. “How was the evening?”
“I don’t know when I’ve had a more relaxed and pleasant one,” he said. “Antonio is a really nice guy. He had us in fits with his stories. Anyway, when he and Bridie made their excuses I couldn’t leave your mother on her own, so we sat and got rather drunk. I put her to bed and decided to stay over and keep an eye on her. Is she all right?”
“Oh yes,” Amelia reassured him. “Thanks ever so much. You really are a nice man, you know.”
“But you’ve stopped trusting me, haven’t you?” His question momentarily rocked her but she recovered quickly.
“It’s not a matter of trust. Of course I trust you. It’s just that…”
“It’s just what?” encouraged George.
“It’s just that I’ve come to realise that there is more to you than the man I thought I knew,” Amelia finished quickly.
George laughed. “That happens as you grow older,” he said. “You see things and people from a different perspective.”
Change the subject, she thought to herself. He’s digging. “I don’t suppose you have an old coffee table lying around, do you?” she asked.
“Not another one already?” he said to them. “Is the old one repairable?”
“Afraid not. It’s no longer fit for purpose, completely trashed,” she told him.
“Never mind. I think I can find something a bit stronger than the others, aye boys?” He laughed again.
George stayed until Lucy was up and declared fit for duty.
Amelia had managed to clear the living room of bottles, glasses, plates and ashtrays, tackled the kitchen and followed through with a quick tidy up round the house while George kept the twins enthralled with his stories of when he was a pirate.
She had the boys back home by late afternoon and both she and Molly were pleasantly surprised when the twins said thank you to Amelia without any prompting from their mother.
As she passed the church on her way back, encouraged by the absence of the Vicar’s car, she popped in again to speak to the sisters. An idea was beginning to formulate in her head.
***
When she got back Bridie had shown up looking positively radiant. “Hi, Bridie. Talk about bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. You look great,” remarked Amelia. Bridie couldn’t keep a straight face and kept breaking into an enormous grin.
“Thank you Amelia. Actually, I do feel good,” she replied. “Is Rayn here? I got a bit worried when she didn’t come home last night.”
“Yes. She’s crashed out in my room. She, er, thought it prudent not to disturb you?” Amelia deliberately framed her response as a question in order to put the onus on Bridie to elaborate.
“Isn’t she a dear?” Bridie wasn’t taking the bait. “Antonio had to work today. I’m afraid I slept in.”
“I’ll do dinner for four of us then,” replied Amelia, not giving Bridie the opportunity to argue. “Rayn will want to tell us about her concert and I need some back-up.”
Bridie nodded, still grinning. “Where’s Lucy?” she asked.
“In the greenhouse, I think. Go on in, I’m sure she’ll want to hear all the sordid details,” said Amelia laughing.
“There’s nothing sordid about it, my girl, as you’ll find out one day.” smiled Bridie.
Amelia took a cup of coffee up to her friend who eventually shimmered into the kitchen. “Feeling any better?” she gently probed.
“Hmmm,” was all the poor girl could utter.
Amelia looked at her friend and felt the warmth of compassion. She was a mess. Her clothes looked as though they were holding her body together. Her eyes were misty, as if she were gazing out at some alien landscape, and her mind was definitely on another planet. “Hey, wake up. Your mum’s here,” she said more sharply.
“Oh turdles,” Rayn muttered as she dragged herself off to the living room.
Dinner went well. Amelia got a vote of thanks from her mother. Bridie gave her a B+, Rayn just ate. Amelia watched her friend and thought Look with your eyes, see with your stomach. She smiled at her own humour. No one mentioned Antonio. With a hot meal inside her, Rayn had returned to earth and launched into her experiences.
“It was amazing,” she enthused. “Absolutely wicked. The music was so loud. Nigel’s brother Tommy was there. He was doing security for someone with some of his men. He took us to the backstage party. Poor old Nigel kept getting hit on by gay men. Lorraine sorted them out. She’s really good.”
Just then Rayn’s face changed to a frown and she continued in a quieter voice. “Isn’t it strange how things are never what you’re led to believe?” She left a pause and Amelia wondered if it was intentional.
She took the opportunity to glance at her mother and Bridie. They had looked up suddenly at Rayn’s remark, and then looked at each other.
Rayn dived in again, filling the slight glitch in the mood. “The noise and bustle of the party was crazy. Some girls arrived with champagne and people were waving glasses and spilling drinks everywhere. Snakebelly jumped up on a table and did one of her sexy dances. All the press and photographers were there, flash bulbs popping nonstop. Tommy kept me out of sight in a corner, and then one of the champagne girls got up and started stripping. She got down to her bra and thong and I told Tommy to get me out of there. He just said not to worry, it’ll be okay. And it was. Moondog turned down the music and kicked all the reporters out.”
Lucy listened with a disapproving look on her face, but Rayn continued unperturbed. “After they’d gone, the stripper got dressed and she and the champagne girls left. They turned the music off and they drifted out to change into their street clothes. It was bizarre. They were just ordinary people, and I realised that no one had been drinking. It was all an act for the press.”
“Did you believe they weren’t just people? What were you expecting?” said Bridie. “Some super computer simulations brought to life for your entertainment. Creatures they can turn on and off with a switch?”
“Oh, you know what I mean, Mum,” carried on Rayn, back in full flow. “The drummer, Crazy Kenny, once he’d taken off that tall wig and his built-up shoes he was quite small. He’s also nearly bald, and he runs his dad’s funeral parlour. And did you know that Chainsaw has a degree in electronics? Snakebelly was in a skirt and jumper and carpet slippers. Apparently, those big gold platforms she wears give her awful blisters.”
“Why on earth do they do it then?�
� asked Lucy, quite appalled. “There’s more to life than money or fame, surely?”
“They can’t stop,” said Rayn. “They’re all tied up with contracts and accountants and the tax man. Stop and they go to jail. Basically, they have to do as they’re told. Talk about creating a monster.”
“And do you still have dreams of being a star, then?” asked Amelia.
“No way. I spoke to all of them and they all gave the same advice.”
“Which was?” her mother anticipated the standard answer. “Be careful what you wish for?”
“No, actually.” Rayn said smugly. “It was whatever you do in life, have fun, but make sure you have the key to the back door. I think I’ll keep my dreams and just buy the CDs.”
She was treated to a round of applause by everyone.
“Welcome to reality, Rayn,” said her mother. “It’s not so bad, is it?”
“I’m not so sure, Mum. Reality isn’t what it used to be. Oops – sorry,” and she quickly stopped herself. Amelia knew that Rayn’s mouth had just fired without taking aim. “I went on a bit. But anyway, it was a fantastic experience. A real eye-opener. How did your evening go?” she said, back peddling like crazy.
Bridie said nothing. Lucy filled her in. “Oh, very pleasant. We saw the New Year in and George and I got very drunk. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
Bridie had that broad grin on her face again. Rayn faked a scowl at her and said “I have a pretty good idea how you saw the New Year in, mother, and I don’t think I want to know over breakfast.” And smiled back at her mum.
In response to Rayn’s enquiring look Amelia responded “I’m afraid babysitting doesn’t get much more exciting than drinking hot chocolate while watching Alien Teenage Ninja Pirates, the Return of, Part Four.”
Rayn groaned in sympathy. “Nothing else then?” she asked casually.
“Not really,” Amelia lied.
“Do you want to stay over?” Lucy asked Bridie.
“Yes please,” she said, as her shoulders dropped in grateful defeat. “The caravan’s a mess and I didn’t turn the heating on before I came out. I have no defence and thank you.”
“Could I infringe on you for a nice gentle massage, please Amelia?” said Lucy.
“Hey, wait a minute there,” Bridie broke in. “Amelia, you’ve just spent the weekend doing the most difficult and thankless task that life can throw at a woman, while I’ve been at the other end of the spectrum. Off to bed and let me pay for my sins. I’ll even wash up.”
Rayn smiled. “I notice no one is giving you an argument mum.” she said.
Chapter Twenty
Jogging down to the caravan site the next morning Rayn was still trying to persuade Amelia that her idea wasn’t a good one. She’d noticed a subtle change in her friend, Amelia was much more self-assured and assertive in some way, and Rayn knew that all she was going to be able to do was register her objections.
The previous night Amelia had related the events of her weekend. She told her about the mysterious tableware the sisters had been cleaning and the story surrounding the discovery of the riddle. Leaving out Joe’s inadvertent advice she was also happy not to tell her about Claire’s outburst. When she’d handed Rayn a copy of the riddle they’d both been visibly shaking and their efforts to make sense of it all were unsuccessful.
“We need Claire,” said a reluctant Rayn.
“I thought that as well,” Amelia had responded. “But I didn’t want to offend you.”
“Hey, this is way out of my league. I’m not offended, but I will of course never talk to you again for the rest of my life.” Rayn grinned and once again Amelia was thankful for her friend’s sense of humour.
“Well, I’ve already arranged for us to meet up with them at your place.”
“What? Amelia, you could have waited for my input. Mind you, I haven’t been plugged in for a while, have I?”
The first thing Rayn did on reaching the campsite was to inspect the caravan. “My God, Mother. I hope it was worth it,” she exclaimed.
“Judging by the look on your mum’s face yesterday, I’d say it most probably was,” laughed Amelia.
The weather was most unseasonal. The sun was shining; there wasn’t a breath of wind or that bone-numbing coldness that comes with January.
They dragged out and set up Bridie’s DIY barbecue from under the caravan (half an oil drum with holes punched in it,) during which Rayn told Amelia of her suspicions about Nigel’s brother, Tommy. “He told us he was doing security, but he was lying. All the band guys knew him well but the house had its own staff. And when Lorraine hitched up with someone and asked us if it was okay if she left, I saw him nod to one of his men and two of them followed her out. He spent all his time with us. So what was he doing there?”
“George, maybe?” Amelia said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” answered Rayn.
She got a good fire going and opened Amelia’s school bag. Having stitched it together with string it was holding up well. Pulling out a carrier bag, she produced the inevitable bacon, some chicken pieces, sausages and pork chops, a bottle of tomato sauce and a kitchen roll.
“That stuff looks familiar,” said Amelia.
“This is all I could find,” replied Rayn, with no sense of guilt. “There’s some lemonade and cups in the van,” she said, as she lay the food out on the grill. “There’s some rolls in there too.” Amelia took this as an instruction and complied.
“The girls are on the bridge,” said Amelia suddenly. “They’re a bit unsure. Could you go and get them?” She didn’t look up or stop what she was doing. She just ‘knew’.
“Okay,” said Rayn, and putting two fingers in her mouth she gave a sharp, loud whistle. Horace responded with a loud whinny.
“Come on you two,” she called out. “It’s only us.” The two sisters appeared through the trees. They both showed an open-mouthed pleasure at the sight and smell of the barbecue.
“Hi guys,” continued Rayn. “Amelia has something to say. This won’t be ready for another half an hour. So, Amelia?”
“We don’t have a lot of time and there’s a lot to get through.” Amelia was desperately trying not to sound nervous. It was the first time they had tried to tell anyone and she had no idea how it was going to sound. She was beginning to wish she’d listened to Rayn’s objections.
“Rayn, take Caz, the dogs and your goody bag over to the paddock and tell her everything. Don’t exaggerate. Just the facts as we know them. Okay?”
Rayn gave a mock salute, “Yes ma’am. The whole truth and nothing…”
“Rayn!” appealed Amelia, “get on with it.”
“Is this finally the true story of Professor Melkins’ death?” asked an eager Carrieanne.
“Er… yes, sort of.” said Rayn. “But you might not like some of it.”
“Why only her?” complained Claire.
“She can tell you later,” said Amelia quickly.
“But it’s not fair…”
“Claire,” said Amelia. “We don’t have much time. I have something very important that only you can do.” A curious and suddenly very interested Claire gave her sister a look for support. Carrieanne gave her a nod.
“This had better be a top story!”
“Oh, I think you’ll find its way up there somewhere,” said Rayn.
As Carrieanne and Rayn settled themselves on the paddock gate, lobbing sweets for the dogs and feeding a very contented Horace, Amelia turned to Claire. “I hear you are pretty good at puzzles and riddles. Is that right?”
“Yeah,” said Claire. “What’s going on?”
“I’m hopeless at them,” confessed Amelia. “Rayn’s not bad, but the one we have is way beyond both of us. Would you take a look please?” Claire was secretly pleased that Amelia had recognised her talents.
She looked at it for a moment then handed it back to Amelia.
“What? No good?” Amelia asked, extremely disappointed.
“What?” Clair
e remarked. “I just memorised it. I’ve got a photographic memory. But we are in trouble.”
“How? Is it too clever?”
“No, quite the opposite. Clever ones are done by experts. Once you know how they think it gets easier. But this one…most of it seems random. Who wrote it?”
“Professor Melkins,” said Amelia. “What do you mean by random?”
“He’s trying too hard to disguise the main text. What’s the Styx? I thought he was a cartoonist?” said Claire and Amelia told her about the mythical river and the paying of the ferryman to reach Valhalla.
“And what’s a Sanddancer?” she asked.
“No idea,” answered Amelia, getting desperate.
“Hmm, It definitely relates to a book, about history,” muttered Claire perched in a plastic garden chair with her back to her sister, who seemed to be totally engrossed in Rayn’s story. Pulling out a single cigarette she lit it with a match and inhaled deeply. Amelia was both shocked and furious.
“I don’t think you should do that.” She controlled her voice to one of gentle advice.
“I don’t remember asking you for an opinion,” replied Claire. There wasn’t the slightest bit of anger or irritation in her voice. She said it as if she fully expected Amelia to accept this ‘put down’ as part of the conversation.
Amelia recognised the abnormal intellect she was dealing with, but was more concerned for the girl inside.
“Tell me if Caz heads this way, will you?”
“Well, if it helps you think…” Amelia conceded.
“Yes, it does and I really have to think about this. It’s a load of rubbish as a riddle. Do you know if he was under any pressure at the time?”
“I think he was about to throw himself out of a window,” answered Amelia, a little dramatically.
“Ah, that makes sense. You could call that pressure I suppose.” There was no emotion in her voice. No compassion. It was just a factor in her equation.
Amelia went to the caravan and a few minutes later emerged with a tray of drinks. After negotiating the steps without spillages she gave Carrieanne tea, Rayn a coffee and more tea for Claire. She carefully sipped her own coffee. Not saying anything, she remembered Joe’s words: Delegate and let them get on with it.
The Chrysalid Conspiracy Page 29