by Alison Jack
Reluctantly, Louis leapt to his feet and pulled Abi upright, unable to resist kissing her.
‘Louis,’ Abi said, laughing, ‘you're turning me on again!’
Sharing a hot shower a few minutes later, Louis and Abi gave in to their desire and made love one more time, quickly but nevertheless passionately. Then they really had to get dressed and go over to The White Lion Inn.
‘This is one of the places I saw Theo,’ said Louis, absently waving a hand round the shower room as he and Abi dried themselves.
‘Did you see Theo in London? Is he OK?’
‘Yes I saw him, and he's strong. His life's hell, though, Abi. You'll hear all about it very soon, but one way or another we've got to get him out of St Benedict's clutches.’
Resetting the alarm then locking the studio carefully, Louis and Abi set off hand in hand towards the inn and the rendezvous with their friends. They arrived just as Chris Farrell was helping Gideon out of his van, and were shortly joined by Sarah and Jenny. Jenny was fighting with the straps of her car seat before Sarah had even stopped the car, and Louis could hear his little sister excitedly squeaking his name as soon as she caught sight of him. Opening the back door of Sarah's car, Louis undid the straps and lifted the delighted child in his arms. Watching the obvious love Louis had for his sister, Abi couldn't help but think what a good father he'd make one day.
‘Slow down, Abi,’ she said to herself, laughing silently.
‘Might have been nice if you could have paid us a visit this afternoon,’ growled Gideon, but his broad smile and obvious delight at seeing Louis again thwarted his attempt to appear in his usual bad mood.
‘Sorry, Gideon,’ said Louis, putting his arm around Abi, Jenny still hanging on to his legs as though she never wanted to let him go. ‘Got a bit, er, distracted…’
‘You two been shagging all day?’ yelled Gideon, getting more delighted by the second.
‘Cheers Gideon, subtle as ever,’ said Louis, grinning as Jenny asked what ‘shagging’ meant. Gideon was so happy to have Louis home that he didn't even complain at having to be carried up the stairs to Alan's room, something he would never normally have allowed to happen.
‘Al!’ said Gideon, dismay clouding his face briefly as he saw the extent of Alan's injuries. ‘They fucked you up good and proper, didn't they? Bastards!’
‘Louis, what's f…’ began Jenny, but Louis cut her off in mid-question, glaring at Gideon. Alan threw back his head and laughed his infectious laugh, then immediately gasped in pain.
‘Gideon, please don't make me laugh again!’ he said ruefully, adding, ‘Are we all here? Louis, do you want Jenny to go?’
‘I don't think we've got much choice on that score,’ replied Louis. Jenny was refusing to let go of his legs, realising there was a possibility she wouldn't be allowed to stay. ‘I'm just wondering if I ought to look in on Mam though…’
‘Your mother's fine, Louis,’ Jess assured him. ‘Lysander, I mean your father, is with her, and Jenny visited her with Sarah earlier. Didn't you, pet?’
Jenny nodded, and assured Louis that Mammy was indeed fine.
‘The Sponsor thugs have left. Only Barrington remains, and he's not been seen since this morning, so your mother's safe for now,’ Jess finished.
‘OK then, I'll look in on her in the morning,’ said Louis, snuggling down beside Abi in an armchair, Jenny on his lap. ‘Jenny can stay; she's been through so much in the last few days it would be mean to exclude her.’
Jenny nodded her agreement. Glaring briefly at his mentor, Louis continued: ‘Gideon, if we could keep the swearing to a minimum it would be appreciated. Is everyone here? Dex and Al, obviously; Chris, Georgie, Jess, Cam, Matty, Gid…’
‘Don't…’
‘…eon, Sarah, Miss Jenny…Abi.’ Louis named each of his dearest friends in turn. As he said Abi's name, he paused to share a kiss with her, which left their friends in no doubt that Abi and Louis had, indeed, been ‘shagging’ all afternoon.
‘About bloody time!’ muttered Gideon, causing Jenny to question whether or not ‘bloody’ counted as a naughty word and Louis to cast an exasperated look at his mentor.
‘Sorry,’ said Gideon unconvincingly, a mischievous grin on his face.
‘If we can continue, Gideon, there's a whole load of stuff I need to tell you all.’
It took a long time for Louis to tell everything that had happened to him from the time he left Applethwaite a mere three days earlier. Although exhausted from lack of sleep and relentless action, Louis was determined to tell his friends everything that night. The sooner they knew the truth, the sooner they could start planning to get Theo away from his cruel father. Louis's tired mind muddled things up and he was constantly having to backtrack when he realised he'd left out crucial details. He was very grateful to Sarah for helping him tell the parts she knew, giving him a chance to collect his thoughts. Most of the time his friends listened intently without interrupting, but once or twice they couldn't help themselves.
‘The Sponsors’ control is really that bad?’ various people asked from time to time as they heard Louis and Sarah's different examples of Sponsorship oppression in the big city. Everyone, but especially Sarah, enjoyed Louis's story of his second visit to the nasty security guard who'd upset Jenny so much.
‘You walked in through the front door?’ said Gideon, when Louis was telling how he initially gained entrance to the St Benedict residence. ‘Wow! You've got a pair of balls after all, as I'm sure Abi knows by now…’
‘GIDEON!’ said Louis as Abi giggled. ‘Can I please continue?’
‘I'd forgotten about Marina,’ Cameron said sadly a little later. ‘Poor kid – no wonder she always looked so terrified.’
‘She's got good cause to be,’ Louis replied and, seeing Jenny had fallen fast asleep on his lap, he shared with his friends just what hell Theo's life had become.
‘Dad told me on the drive north that St Benedict had Theo flogged unconscious, simply to send out a message that he'll stop at nothing…’
Louis's voice faltered, and Abi took his hand in hers, voicing the thought on all their minds.
‘We've got to get my cousin out of there. How does he keep sane?’
‘He's strong,’ replied Louis with a proud smile, telling the group of his friend's courage. ‘He's a Farrell.’
Finally content that he'd told his friends everything, Louis was thankful to have the chance to sit back in the comfortable armchair. Around him his friends were talking animatedly, mainly about Theo.
‘I'll go and get him,’ declared Matilda, impulsive as ever. ‘I'll take on anyone who gets in the way, all the better if it's Dyer.’
Louis felt Abi shudder in his arms; she wasn't able to hear Dyer's name without showing her revulsion for the man who'd murdered her father.
‘How do you intend getting Theo out then, Mat?’ asked Dex, chuckling.
‘Oh, well, kick some Sponsor arse I guess.’
‘You will do no such thing!’ croaked her father from his sickbed. ‘You heard Louis; alarms go off if the poor boy goes near the bedroom door, how do you intend to get him down four flights of stairs?’
‘Details, Dad…’
‘No,’ said Alan, struggling to raise himself up from the bed, ‘you are not going to fall into St Benedict's clutches! I forbid it!’
As Alan sank painfully back on to his pillows, Matilda demanded to know who was going to stop her.
‘I am,’ said Alan. Noticing Matilda's raised eyebrows at his weak condition, he added, ‘Dex is.’
‘We all are, Matty,’ said Georgia. ‘Don't glare at me! I know you're an all-action girl, but we've got to think this through. You heard Louis; we're up against probably the most ruthless and dangerous man in the country.’
‘And I don't want you falling into his clutches, darling,’ said Alan. ‘I think it might just kill me.’
Knowing that her father and friends were right, the all-action girl flopped down once more at Alan's beds
ide.
‘So what is the plan then?’ she demanded. ‘While we're sitting here chewing the fat, God knows what poor Theo's going through!’
‘That's the worst of it,’ said Georgie, ‘we've got to get our timing right, as much for Theo's sake as anyone's, but who knows how long we'll have to wait for the right time to come.’
‘So we wait?’
‘We wait…ahh, Abi, look at Louis!’
Following the line of Georgia's eyes, Abi looked at her boyfriend. Louis, all adrenalin having at last deserted him, was fast asleep.
Louis was embarrassed to wake the following morning still curled up in Dex and Alan's armchair. During the night one of his friends had covered him with a blanket; and someone, probably Sarah, had taken Jenny from his knee. Louis was disappointed that Abi had also gone from his side; the only other people in the room were Dex Montfiore, fast asleep at Alan's bedside, and Alan himself, wide awake and regarding Louis with amusement.
‘Morning, Louis,’ he said, dark eyes shining with laughter in his bruised face. ‘Sleep well?’
‘Morning Al, why didn't someone wake me? I'm sure the last thing you need at the moment is me crashing in your bedroom!’
‘Rubbish, you're always welcome in my bedroom, Louis. Oops, didn't mean it to sound quite like that! Don't worry; I've only got eyes for Dex.’ Chuckling painfully, Alan continued: ‘We did try to wake you, Lou. I thought Dex was a heavy sleeper, but he's got nothing on you.’
Laughing, Louis pushed back his blanket and got up from the chair that had served as his bed for the night.
‘So I've been told,’ he said. ‘Well, as I am here can I get you anything?’
‘Tea would be nice thanks, Louis; and Matilda if she's about.’
‘Coffee,’ mumbled Dex, raising his head from Alan's pillows.
‘Coffee for sleeping beauty here, please. He normally likes the quality stuff, but he can make do with instant for now.’
Still unsure whether to be amused or embarrassed at having woken up in his friends’ room, Louis made his way to the kitchen and found Dex was in luck. An early riser like her father, Matilda was already making a pot of good-quality coffee so Dex wouldn't have to put up with instant after all.
‘Morning, Louis,’ she said. ‘Didn't think you were ever going to wake up again. Cup of tea?’
‘Please, Matty; and one for your dad too. Dex wants…’
‘Coffee. Dex always wants coffee,’ Matilda finished for Louis. ‘Abi said sorry she had to go, but she and Chris are getting an early start this morning. They've lots of work to catch up on.’
Returning to the bedroom with the drinks, Louis watched the affectionate interaction between Matilda and Alan, wishing he could have such a good relationship with his own father. Thoughts of Lysander reminded him of the need to get home. Lysander never seemed to stay long in Applethwaite, so someone was going to have to look after Nicola.
‘I need to get home, check on me mam,’ Louis said to his friends, running a hand through his hair. ‘And get a shower. I stink! Thanks for the tea, Mat. Thanks for the bed for the night, guys.’
Taking leave of his friends, Louis donned his dark glasses and made his way out into the street to walk home. Letting himself into his family home, Louis felt a huge glow of happiness, so comforting were the familiar sights and smells. Jumping straight into the shower, Louis almost wished for an appearance from Theo, but his friend remained in London and the shower remained a shower. By the time Louis was clean again the household was waking up for the day, and Louis felt happier still hearing the cheerful voices of Sarah and Jenny getting breakfast ready.
‘Louis lazy bones!’ shrieked Jenny as Louis entered the kitchen.
‘Morning to you too, Miss Jenny. Morning, Sarah,’ said Louis, kissing them both. ‘Yes please, I'd love a full English breakfast. I'm starving!’
‘Coming up, Louis my love. Morning, Mr Trevelyan,’ Sarah added as Lysander entered the room.
‘Good morning, Daddy,’ said Jenny, suddenly shy in her father's company. Lysander picked up his small daughter and kissed her.
‘Morning, Genevieve.’
‘Daddy,’ said the little girl, exasperated, ‘no one calls me Genevieve anymore.’
‘Wrong, young lady! I call you Genevieve. Morning, Louis. Erm, sleep well?’
Seeing an amused gleam in his father's eye, Louis guessed Lysander had assumed he had spent the night with Abi.
‘Yes thank you, Dad. In an armchair. In Dex and Al's room.’
‘Oh,’ said Lysander, a little deflated. ‘How is Alan?’
‘Bearing up, but he's in a lot of pain. Your friends messed him up good and proper.’
‘They're not my friends, Louis.’
‘Your employees, then. Your Sponsored minions. Whatever you call them, they attacked a good friend of mine and left him for dead, which would seem to put us firmly back on opposite sides of the fence.’
Sensing the tensions growing in the room between father and son, Sarah put their breakfasts down on the table then hurriedly ushered Jenny upstairs to get dressed. Louis and Lysander ate in silence for a while, then Louis asked, ‘So, when do you return to London?’
‘As soon as I've eaten and got my stuff together. Don't look at me like that, Louis. You know it's not safe for me to stay here.’
‘Would you, though? Even if it were safe?’
When his father didn't answer, Louis found himself becoming inordinately upset. It wasn't as though he hadn't become used to Lysander never being home for long, but after the brief camaraderie they'd shared the previous day Louis realised he'd been hoping that this time would be different.
‘OK, OK, go back to London! Kiss Lord William's arse in all the right places. Don't let me hold you back!’
‘Louis,’ said Lysander, ‘you know I have to go back. You know what sort of man Lord William is…’
‘Yes, I know what sort of man your boss is. One who imprisons and tortures his own son.’
Knowing it would be pointless to answer while Louis was so upset, Lysander carried on eating in silence. Finally, Louis asked, ‘Do you still want to be part of the Scheme, Dad? I don't mean do you feel you have to, do you want to?’
‘I still agree with the Scheme in principle…’
‘That's all I need to know,’ Louis interrupted, taking his empty plate to the sink and rinsing it. ‘Goodbye, Dad. Safe journey.’
Without waiting for an answer, Louis turned on his heel and walked from the room.
Part Two
Dory
Chapter Nine
Louis's life soon returned to normal, with the very welcome addition of Abi as a major part of it. He spent his first full day back home catching up on his sleep while Abi worked with her uncle. Late in the afternoon Louis finally got round to checking on his mother, guilty at having left it so long. He needn't have worried though; Nicola was quite comfortable, but so lost was she in her drugged world that she barely even recognised Louis. Looking into his mother's vacuous eyes, Louis couldn't help but wonder whatever had happened to Nicola Brown: fine gymnast and challenger of the St Benedict Scheme.
As summer gave way to the first signs of autumn, Louis's training carried on at its usual exhausting rate. Jenny returned to school, grown-up front teeth well on their way, and continued to do well at her lessons. Louis was glad his sister had moved up from Miss Winter's class; he couldn't help but connect Karen Winter with the abrupt disappearance of the Radcliffes. The love between Louis and Abi deepened and flourished, much to the delight of Jess and everyone else who cared about the young couple. Alan made a full and swift recovery from his beating, mainly thanks to the loving care of Dexter and Matilda. Alan's daughter stayed on in Applethwaite after her father's recovery, not wanting to miss out on any plans to rescue Theo and becoming increasingly frustrated with her friends’ lack of action. Despite Alan's beating, or possibly because of it, Dex remained steadfast in his decision never to accept St Benedict endorsement. People still cont
inued to use The White Lion Inn, becoming expert at dodging the Sponsors’ spot checks, and the sense of community in Applethwaite grew with every passing day.
It was on a cool day in October that Louis and Abi popped into the pub for a beer to find a very disconsolate Alan tuning one of his guitars.
‘You OK, Al?’ asked Louis in concern.
‘No,’ was all Alan would say, finishing his tuning and starting to play randomly.
‘The band wants to get Sponsorship,’ said Dex from the bar, looking as fed up as Alan. ‘Al doesn't.’
‘But why?’ asked Louis.
‘Dislocated jaw, three broken ribs, concussion, loss of my fine looks for weeks, lucky to still have all my teeth. Those enough reasons for you? I hate the bloody Sponsors!’
‘I meant, Alan, why do the others in the band want Sponsorship?’
‘Same reason anyone does,’ said Dex glumly. ‘It's the only way to progress. Al's had an ultimatum: either accept Sponsorship or he's out of the band.’
‘But it's your band, Al,’ said Abi. ‘You put it together, and there's no way they'll find another guitarist as good as you.’
‘Thank you, Abi; I appreciate that,’ said Alan, smiling and continuing to play. ‘But I'll soon be a guitarist without a band, and that's not what I want to be really.’
‘Still moaning about the stupid Pink Pound, Dad?’ said Matilda, bursting through the door. ‘Max has got the latest spot check dates.’
Since the summer, Max and Matilda had struck up the most unlikely of friendships. Things having gone quiet in Applethwaite, Lord William seemed to have forgotten all about Max, so the young man remained where he was. The only move he made was from the Applethwaite Guesthouse to The White Lion Inn, covering his tracks with the Sponsors by saying it would make it easier to keep an eye on Dex and Alan. Every so often he'd email a report back to London, usually completely fictitious, which seemed to pacify the Sponsors as the village now appeared to be towing the line. Whenever a check was carried out on the Montfiores’ pub, the only people found drinking there were some worthless Unsponsored. The Sponsors didn't need to know that this was thanks to Max letting Dexter know the dates of the spot checks as soon as he himself was in possession of them. Max knew the situation couldn't continue; sooner or later the Sponsors would catch him unawares and his cover would be blown, but for now he was loving being part of a proper community. He had never forgotten his epiphany the day Alan took his beating, and had become a better man for it. Best of all for Max was his friendship with Matilda, who had been as quick to forgive him when she realised he was disillusioned with the Sponsors as she had been to loathe him in the first place. So far she'd resisted his attempts to seduce her; and as the arrogant Max was a thing of the past he didn't ever assume that he'd be successful one day. Instead, he enjoyed every exciting day he spent as a friend of Matilda and of Applethwaite.