She caught hold of the corner of the tape covering his mouth. ‘This might hurt a little,’ she said as she whipped it away in one swift action.
‘Elena,’ her father snapped through furious breaths. ‘What the hell have you done? Untie me, immediately.’
‘Ah, I’m sorry, I can’t do that.’
She rose and wandered around the room. ‘So here we are. The place of my abduction. What do you think?’
‘What the hell are you talking about,’ he demanded, his eyes cold and impatient. ‘You will untie me. Right now.’
‘Can’t do that,’ she said as she moved about the room, finding a spot and marking it by tapping the floorboard with the tip of her shoe. ‘Right about here is where the thug tried to rape me,’ she said. ‘Thank God for Lycra sports clothing, that’s all I’ll say about that little incident. Won’t rip easily, you see. Slowed him down.’ She caught his expression. ‘Oh, does it disgust you, Dad? To know that someone tried to rape me? Does that contaminate me in some way?’
He looked away.
‘Ah, I see. It does,’ she said. ‘Well, never mind.’
She continued. ‘And up there, in the ceiling, is the gunshot. Do you remember? You should, he was on the phone to you at the time.’ She pointed to it. ‘Look carefully. See it? Can you see the little black death star?’
He didn’t look up, but kept his stare on her. ‘I don’t know what you hope to achieve here, but you are playing a dangerous game.’
‘Oh, but that’s not a problem because I like dangerous games now, Dad. Didn’t you know that?’
‘I see a woman who is having some sort of breakdown and my patience is wearing very thin.’
‘I’m having no such thing, and my sanity is not your biggest problem right now. It’s your corrupt soul and the mess it’s got you into that you should be worrying about.’
She saw the confusion on his face and stepped a little closer. ‘Would you like me to continue? To fill in the blanks? How about starting with your little friendship with the head of one of the most powerful Russian syndicates in London?’ She folded her arms. ‘How is Maxim Antonovich these days?’
He curled his lip in anger and lurched towards her.
She raised her foot and pushed it against his shoulder, shoving him down to the floor. ‘Now, now. Calm yourself down.’
She took a step back, smiling. ‘I thought that might get your attention.’
‘You know nothing!’ he spat.
‘No, no. I know everything,’ she threw back. ‘My new friend has been very busy for me, doing a lot of work. He told me all about Maxim.’ She laughed. ‘He even discovered your brother’s pathetic attempt to extract money from you. What a ridiculous exercise that was for him. Doesn’t he know you at all?’
Now she saw something else in his eyes, something that looked like fear.
‘And when my friend found a seemingly irrelevant document with a couple of dates and just three little initials in it, I saw everything for what it was. Simple as that. Isn’t that right, Ėtienne Charles Dumont?’
His eyes shot to hers.
‘Of course, it’s common knowledge within the family how much you hate your birth name, Ėtienne, don’t you? How you always resisted the French name given to you by your mother. So you buried every trace of it; some legal, some not so legal, choosing to be the English gentleman instead. You would never even respond to the name, even when dear old Mamie refused to call you anything else. But my friend somehow didn’t manage to join the dots on this one.’ She leant towards him, her voice almost a whisper, sharing a secret. ‘But, then again, only someone close would have known that. Someone in the family. Like me.’
‘Doesn’t mean a thing,’ he blustered.
‘Well, yes I suppose, but let me present my case for the prosecution.’
He smiled cynically. ‘I wouldn’t want it any other way. The burden of proof is now yours, Elena. Do continue.’
She nodded. ‘Good. Well, let’s start at the beginning. The part where I carried around the hurt at your refusal to pay your daughter’s ransom until it ate me up inside. And, stupidly, I believed the bullshit that you were sorry, that you loved me. But then I learnt of those three little initials, and it all became clear. A kind of revelation. Lots of memories came flooding into my mind. Like the time you met Maxim at my school. How you hit it off immediately. Organised a charity event that would bolster both your egos.’
‘Again, doesn’t mean a thing.’
‘No?’ she said as she slowly paced in front of him. ‘Well, let me paint a little picture here. See if I’ve got this right.’ She paused for breath. ‘Adam needed money to cover a failed business venture. He found Maxim and a deal was arranged. But Maxim recognised your name – and maybe mine, being Zina’s friend – so he came to you with details. Some sort of code of honour amongst men like you. I don’t know how he discovered your real name, maybe you let it slip in some whisky filled evening with him, while you plotted my downfall. I don’t really care.’
‘Wait,’ her father interrupted. ‘Adam was the one behind this?’
‘Yes, that’s right. Adam.’ She sighed. ‘You really do need to do your homework. Please try and keep up.’
Her father’s face fell. ‘Maxim always refused to share that information. I thought Adam had just lost it because you ended the relationship.’
‘Of course Maxim kept you in the dark. It kept him in control.’ She crossed her arms. ‘Do you really think Adam decided to go to my apartment, inject me with enough sedative to floor a rhino just because I had the audacity to end our relationship? I mean, yes, crimes of passion do happen, but he never really cared enough for me to be that affronted.’ She smiled. ‘No, he was playing for much higher stakes.’ Her smiled changed to a chuckle at the absurdity of it all. ‘I bet he doesn’t seem like such great son-in-law material now, does he? Someone only after your precious money?’
Her father stared, absorbing this new information.
She leant against the wall, eyes on him.
‘Anyway, we need to keep on track. I thought you might be in Maxim’s pocket somehow. But I thought, if you were, why would he feel the need to involve you? So, instead, I considered that maybe it’s not that you’re in his pocket. Maybe he’s in yours.’
Her father was still, listening.
‘You’re important. Obviously you are. I get it. A high-profile barrister such as yourself gets to take on the best cases. Especially the controversial ones. In your line of work you meet all the people – the high, and the low. The people with enough money to pay for your services. And, with you, it doesn’t matter where that money comes from, does it, just as long as it’s paid.’
She paused, waited for an answer. Nothing came.
‘What did you do for him, Dad? Did you represent him, get him off a charge and out of prison? So much so that it meant his gratitude bought you a few favours?’
‘You’re a fool if you think we don’t have any dealings with these kinds of people in my world’ he said. ‘Of course we do. I’ve crossed paths with that man many times. Yes, I overturned a couple of cases, got a couple of his people off charges. And, yes, it did earn me a few favours. He saw your name, put two and two together, and figured he’d speak to me about it.’
‘So, you sanctioned it?’ she said, her composure slipping. ‘You let what happened to me, happen. And you met up with Maxim just before the abduction and again just afterwards.’ She clenched her fists. ‘When I was living through that hell, you and he had a meeting to decide my fate. Nothing but a business arrangement?’
He sighed. ‘Elena, you were never meant to get hurt. Really you weren’t. The agreement was simple. Yes, you’d be taken, but no money would exchange hands, and you’d be released. We had to go through with the charade, it was the only way to panic the perpetrator into backing off. We figured a botched kidnap would ensure they would avoid targeting the family again. Nobody makes the same mistake twice.’
Burning fury ran
through her at his emotionally detached explanation of why she had to go through her nightmare, as if it was the only reasonable option. It wounded her, but she refused to let it show.
‘So you decided to use me as a bartering tool and a deterrent?’ she said. ‘But how could you have such a casual disregard for what I would go through, even for appearances sake? Did you know the men who were involved?’
‘No, of course I didn’t. Again, Maxim wouldn’t share.’
‘So how could you have possibly ensured my safety?’ She paused, needing to gather her thoughts. ‘Now I realise what your speech meant the other night when you said how much you wanted to make amends. It was guilt, wasn’t it?’
‘No, I meant those words.’
‘You’re not capable of meaning those words!’ she spat. ‘You even tried to imply that Edmond had suggested not paying the ransom when that was never part of your plan,’ she said, exasperated. ‘Is there any low you won’t sink to?’
‘I was just trying to protect my family.’
‘Well that’s been a pointless exercise because there’s nothing left of it now,’ she said. ‘And none of what you’ve said changes the fact that, while you and your criminal friend were making all the rules of your game, you failed to share these details to the man who abducted me from the street. The man who would have happily killed me – after he had abused me in whatever way he chose. And you didn’t account for Adam either, losing his mind and wanting revenge. Coming back for me when it all went wrong. Those people didn’t get the memo and that’s shoddy.’
‘I’ll admit, that was a mistake.’
‘The whole thing was a mistake. Even now you don’t know the damage you have caused with your toxic egos. And it’s left me more than a little bruised, both physically and psychologically.’
Her father worked to free his hands. ‘This needs to stop now,’ he said, irritated that the cable ties refused to snap. ‘If you release me now, I’ll let this go.’
‘But I can’t let what you’ve done go, so it’s no wonder I feel the need for… oh, what’s the word now? Oh yes, that’s it, a little retribution.’
‘Elena, I mean it–’
She ignored him and moved to the window. Gently tracing her fingers over the loose piece of wood, she remembered how she had pleaded for it to remain that way, just so that she could enjoy a glimmer of the sunlight above.
‘Ours has been a strange relationship, hasn’t it?’ she said thoughtfully. ‘To the outside world and all your glitzy friends, you were the loving father, while I played the good daughter. What a fiction we created. What a smokescreen.’ She took a breath. ‘The truth is that you delight in playing with people’s lives, whatever the cost. Destroying them if you wish.’ She gestured around her. ‘And so here we are.’
‘None of this was about you.’
‘Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. It was all about me. I was the pawn in your game, and somewhere along the line, you forgot who you were dealing with, not just that this was your own daughter, but another human being. So this time, I get to decide when this is over. Not you.’
He snorted. ‘You? I don’t think so.’
She continued with a smile, letting his jibe bounce off her. ‘We’ll see.’
He glared. ‘Elena, I’m warning you…’
‘No, you’re not doing anything. You’ve got enough problems right now.’
‘And you think you can do this. Leave me here and say nothing.’
‘Yes, I can. I’m getting very good at secrets. Especially with the help of my new friend.’
‘Ah, yes. The elusive Ethan. Did he help you with all of this?’
She tutted. ‘You underestimate how resourceful I’ve become.’
‘And just where did you find him, Elena? This man who is suddenly your main focus in life? I don’t remember you talking of him before your abduction.’
‘No, that’s because I didn’t know him before the abduction,’ she replied, allowing herself to enjoy the moment. ‘But fate ensured our paths crossed in the most dramatic way.’
She watched him figure it out, and laughed a little when his wide-eyed gaze turned to her.
‘He was involved?’
She nodded her agreement and watched as a look of contempt spread across his face.
‘That’s abnormal. Abhorrent,’ he said. ‘Where the hell did you go, Elena?’
‘I survived,’ she said. ‘I had to, because, as it turns out, I couldn’t rely on my family to help, could I?’
Another shot fired that left her father mute.
‘He was the good cop,’ she continued. ‘But I’m being flippant, because he’s so much more than that. He’s special. He understands me. He helped me and I’ve developed a very deep affection for him because of it. And before you say anything, he likes me too, thank you very much. Can’t get enough of me actually. Those who don’t understand it might call it an obsession, but it’s powerful. Powerful enough to turn my poor, little love-starved mind, according to the dippy shrink at the hospital anyway.’
Her father tutted. ‘You’ve finally gone mad, girl.’
‘Nope, wrong again. I’ve never felt more clarity. And unlike you, I’m loyal to the ones who care for me. I protect them and I keep my promises, so don’t underestimate what I wouldn’t do for him.’
‘So where is this man you feel so strongly about?’
‘He’s downstairs, waiting in the car for me. He thinks I’m up here getting some sort of closure, and in a way, I suppose I am.’
‘This is a sick game, Elena.’
‘Maybe. Just as my abduction was a game to you,’ she replied.
‘You won’t win.’
‘I already have. And at least I understand you now,’ she murmured. ‘At least I see the real you.’
‘Oh, and who’s that?’
She moved towards him and crouched to his level. ‘I see your poison, seeping deep into the layers. Penetrating and warping everything you touch until it’s exactly as you want it. And so now you need a lesson in what I’m capable of too. Because you need to learn that you can’t abuse people. You can’t play with people’s lives, especially for the sake of money. Because they can snap and break.’
‘Just like you?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Just like me.’
They stared at each other until she moved to stand, stretching her legs. ‘Anyway, you should be proud of me. This little gem is all my own work. I just had to do a little research. Find someone desperate enough to do whatever I demanded. No questions asked. It got you here, trapped, and no one will ever know I was anywhere near. You see, still playing the good and ever so slightly traumatised daughter.’
‘So your plan was to knock me about a bit. Give me a taste of my own medicine?’
‘Oh no, it’s much more than that, and something that I have no need to be involved with any longer,’ she said as she glanced at her watch.
‘How do you think this is going to end, Elena? You must realise I will find you and once I do, I’ll expose you. You and Ethan. Everything. I’ll ruin you.’
‘You see, that’s where you’re wrong again,’ she said with a sigh. ‘Because I have enough on Maxim and you to bring both your houses down. All the nasty dealings you’ve made will be released, everywhere. Would you like that? A nice little scandal, perhaps? Let the world see the kind of man you really are. Life as you know it would be over. How do you think Mum would react to that, eh?’ She drew close, to make herself perfectly clear. ‘And we all know how people like Maxim would react to being outed in such a way, so don’t go mistaking the havoc I can wreak in your life.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘You wouldn’t dare, girl.’
She stared him down. ‘Question is, do you want to try me? Surely someone like you is aware of what they do to corrupt lawyers in prison?’
She watched him, waited for his response, but no sharp reply came.
‘I have this situation locked down. This conversation didn’t happen and yo
u’ll find nothing on Ethan and nothing on me.’
He broke her gaze, and she knew she’d won.
‘But, right now, this is what you need to focus on,’ she said as she glanced around the room. ‘I thought it might be nice to let you experience this place, see how well you do. How good is your agility, old man?’
She watched with amusement as he struggled against his ties.
‘I’m not completely without heart though. Here, have this,’ she said as she pulled out a small mobile phone from her pocket and laid it down on the floor, just out of his reach. ‘Better be quick though, I forgot to charge it up. Not much juice left.’
She checked her watch again and moved to the door. ‘So, Dad, I guess this is it. I won’t be seeing you again. I need to get as far away from my toxic heritage as possible. Give my love to Mum though, not that she ever wanted it.’
‘Elena, get back here! Do you hear me! NOW!’
‘Now, now, you need to focus. You’ve got enough on your plate with figuring out how to get out of here. You’ve already wasted enough time. Think of that fading battery.’
She opened the door and glanced back, watching her father furiously grapple with his ties.
‘Goodbye, Dad.’
She closed the door and walked purposefully out of the house, calming her body as he pounded his feet violently against the dry floorboards, still bellowing her name. She enjoyed the thought of how she’d got here; how she’d done it. A miracle really. A nugget of good fortune when she was last in hospital. Never expecting it, she failed to hide her surprise when, during a graveyard shift one night, she came face to face with the doctor from her captivity.
Having left her room when sleep evaded her, and without Ethan by her side, she had seen him sitting at the nurses’ station. The surprise on his face was evident, his pen frozen in his hand. His presence at the hospital was proof of his attempt to go legitimate, and someone trying to do that had a lot to lose. She learned quickly that people in those situations were open to persuasion. Hers was a simple request – bring her father here, secure him, and leave. Not the end of the world. Quite reasonable really, given his past experience. And in payment, she’d keep her silence. She wouldn’t send the letter exposing him and his dubious past to his employers at the hospital. She’d let him have his new start. After all, everyone deserves a new beginning.
When I Know Your Name Page 28