‘Oh, I was a right mouthy cow, me. I cringe when I think of what I was like back then.’
‘Fearless,’ said Deano.
There was a silence.
‘I wish,’ said Kayley quietly.
The reminder of their current situation was unwelcome. Reminiscing about teachers and local characters they’d both known had allowed them to forget their anxieties in a pleasant little bubble, but time was passing and there was still no sign of their being released.
She shivered.
‘Is it me or is it freezing in here?’
‘It’s not you,’ said Deano. ‘Hey, come here. You’re shaking.’
He put an arm around her, drawing her close.
‘Best way to keep warm,’ he said softly. ‘Shared bodily warmth. Why don’t we lie down and huddle for a bit?’
‘Are your ribs OK?’ she asked as he winced slightly on the way into the suggested position.
‘They’ll be fine,’ he gasped. Whatever pain he had to go through was worth it, to be lying here close to this amazing, kind, funny, brave girl. Pretty too. How had he left out pretty?
‘Weird, isn’t it,’ said Kayley, speaking into his shoulder, ‘that we used to think Skeletor was as evil as it gets? All he was trying to do was get us through our Geography coursework.’
‘Poor old Mr Kelly,’ said Deano. ‘Is he still there?’
‘I think so. God, he must be about ninety-two by now.’
‘What about Miss Hales? All the lads fancied her.’
‘I don’t remember a Miss Hales.’
‘Aw, are you sure? Blonde, leggy, taught French?’
‘Oh, you might mean Mrs Cooper?’
‘Damn, she got married! I had this stupid fantasy now and again of going back to school in all my rock star glory and sweeping her off her feet in the assembly hall.’
‘Weren’t you with Jenna by then?’
‘Well … yeah,’ he admitted shiftily. ‘But you never forget your school-kid crush, do you?’
Kayley giggled in his arms.
‘Mine was one of the lab technicians. He was a bit of rogue, used to flirt back. He left after one term though … wonder why?’
‘Er … because he was a nonce?’
‘Oi! Don’t call my thirteen-year-old self’s fantasy man a nonce!’
‘You said yourself he flirted with thirteen year olds.’
‘Oh, yeah. I suppose you’re right. Ugh. Bit creepy really. Funny how you don’t notice these things at the time. God, I wonder if he took it too far with one of the kids?’ She shuddered.
Deano enjoyed the feeling of her wriggling against him, even though it reawakened all his sore spots.
‘So you’re not the best judge of character then?’ he said teasingly. ‘The lab technician, Harville …’
‘I suppose,’ she said. ‘I get impressed by stupid stuff. The lab tech’s good looks, Harville flashing his cash around. I get taken in. At least, I did. Not any more.’
‘You’re not thinking of becoming a nun, are you?’ said Deano, slightly alarmed at the hollow little pang this thought gave him.
‘Hardly,’ she replied stoutly. ‘I’ve never been a God-botherer. But I’ve been single ever since the Harville mess. Just can’t seem to trust anyone now.’
‘What did he do to you?’ A flame of anger burned in his chest. More than anything, he wanted to get out of this place and flatten Harville.
‘Oh, you know, classic story. Sweet-talked me, made me feel special then … pimped me out.’
‘Ugh, that’s fucked up. Why would he do that?’
‘Because he’s fucked up. And now he’s passed it on to me. He’s generous like that, is our Lawrence.’
‘Didn’t you think you could say no to him?’
‘I couldn’t say no to him. He’s a scary bastard, in case you hadn’t noticed. And besides, he had me hooked on his drugs. I needed them, so I needed him.’
‘Shit. But you’re clean now, yeah?’
‘Yeah, for years. Clean and sober, hard-working, proper grown up. Even got a pension plan. I just don’t do the relationship stuff.’
‘Well, you needed a bit of space, I should think,’ said Deano. ‘Recovery time. That doesn’t mean you’ll never …’
‘I don’t know,’ she said firmly. ‘Like I said, I have trust issues now. Can’t take a compliment off a bloke without wondering what he’s after.’
‘It’s a shame,’ sighed Deano. ‘A cracking lass like you.’
She hooted with laughter.
‘What?’ said Deano.
‘You, just then,’ she said. ‘You can take the boy out of Bledburn … “cracking lass”.’ She laughed again.
‘I think it’s being with you. You’re rubbing off on me,’ he said.
‘We’ll have you packing your snap tin for’t mine if we’re not careful,’ she said cheerfully.
‘Weird, that,’ said Deano.
‘What is?’
‘How the mine’s not there any more. Those pit heads were part of the landscape of my childhood. I keep looking for them.’
‘Country park now,’ said Kayley.
‘I know. What does everyone do here, now the mine’s gone?’
‘Nowt,’ said Kayley. ‘Head for Nottingham or Sheffield, mainly, if they’ve got any sense. Obviously I haven’t.’
‘What does that say about me? I came back.’
She nudged against him, turning to give him an earnest look.
‘What, for good?’
He wanted very badly to stroke her messy hair from her forehead and cup her face in his hand. And then maybe try to … No. He shut his eyes for a moment, banishing her image.
‘Well, who knows?’ he said, the thoughts forming themselves almost as he spoke them. ‘LA’s had me long enough. Perhaps it’s time for a change.’
‘Are you kidding? You’d leave LA and move back to Bleddy?’
‘Jenna did.’
‘I thought she was only here for a year. Mind you, what with Jason and all that …’
‘You think she’ll stay?’
‘I think she might. I mean, he’s got his art career going on now. If they leave the country, he’ll have to make his name all over again.’
‘She’d put her career on hold for his sake?’
‘Why not? She’s got enough money, she’s got enough fame. He’s only at the start. And she loves him.’
Deano was silent for a long moment.
‘Yeah,’ he whispered. ‘Yeah.’
‘Sorry.’ Kayley squeezed his hand, which sent a mad kind of pulse all the way up his arm and down into his stomach.
‘What for?’ For a second, he genuinely didn’t know.
‘I know you want her back. But I really think she’s moved on now. I wish I was good at breaking things gently but … not me. Bull in a china shop, I’m afraid.’
He was about to speak, about to say that perhaps he’d changed his mind about absolutely everything, when the sound of footsteps on the stone steps beyond their little prison made them both stiffen and fall silent.
When the door opened, they couldn’t make out who their visitor was, because the bright torchlight made them squint and see stars.
It was his voice that gave him away.
‘Well, now, my dears,’ said Harville. ‘I think it’s time for some serious talk.’
Ross was a terrible driver. He hurtled along the dual carriageway, swerving from one lane to the next at random, sometimes finding himself nose to tail with the vehicle in front.
‘Take it easy, eh?’ implored Mia. ‘We’re not going to be much help if we’re dead.’
‘Sorry,’ said Ross. ‘I hardly ever drive this thing any more. I keep forgetting how quickly you can accelerate. And the gears … shit.’
The aforementioned gears crunched horribly and Ross had to stop in the next layby to recover his nerves.
‘This is the right way?’ said Jason, looking out over the darkening fields.
‘I though
t you said you’d been there,’ said Ross.
‘Yeah, but I was on foot, over the fields. It doesn’t seem right without barging through a load of cows.’
‘It’s the right way,’ Ross said tersely, then took a deep breath and studied Jason’s face. ‘Hey, didn’t I see you on the local news? The artist?’
Jason smirked despite his anxieties.
‘Might’ve done,’ he said coyly.
‘Yeah, it was you. And … you’re seeing Jenna Diamond then?’
‘Myatt,’ growled Jason. ‘She doesn’t go by Diamond any more.’
‘Right. Nice work.’ He gave Jason a look of frank admiration. ‘But you were at the cottage with her ex?’
‘I know it sounds weird. Deano’s a bit of a dick but I think he’s a sound bloke when it comes right down to it. Just got used to having his arse kissed all day and night. I’m not saying I’m his number one fan, but I don’t think he deserves to be beaten up and worse by Harville and his charming friends.’
‘You think Harville might kill him?’
‘I think Harville is off his nut enough to do anything,’ said Jason grimly. ‘C’mon, drive.’
Ten minutes of stalling, bunny-hopping and rubber-burning later, they pulled up in the lane just beyond the cottage driveway.
‘OK,’ said Jason. ‘Me and Mia’ll get out here. You go in and see if you can scare up Harville. Keep him busy, yeah?’
‘I’ll try,’ said Ross, but he didn’t sound very convincing.
Jason and Mia watched him drive into the cottage grounds. They took up a vantage point from behind the hedge to observe Ross’s progress.
He stood on the doorstep for a long time before one of the goons opened up and gave him what looked like a very unfriendly reception.
‘Keep at him,’ muttered Jason. ‘Don’t let him put you off.’
‘I think I’d be intimidated,’ said Mia. ‘That guy’s huge.’
‘They definitely don’t want to let him in. Shit, do you think they’ve killed Deano?’
‘I hope not.’
They continued to watch, tense as bowstrings, as the goon turned away and shut the door. But Ross didn’t leave the doorstep or ring again.
‘He’s waiting for something,’ said Mia.
‘Harville, probably,’ agreed Jason.
Sure enough, a few moments later, the door was re-opened and Ross was admitted.
‘Right,’ said Jason. ‘We’re going in.’
It took several blinks to banish the stars from Kayley’s eyes. By that time, Harville was sitting on the foot of the camp bed, grinning at them. His face was ghastly in the dim torchlight, and their shadows moved on the opposite wall like sinister doubles.
‘How sweet,’ he said. ‘Getting close. People always say I’m good at bringing people together.’
‘Yeah, a real people person,’ said Deano, struggling to sit up. ‘If the people are deranged psychopaths. Seriously, what the fuck are you playing at?’
‘Oh, I’m not playing,’ said Harville. ‘This is work, Deano. Sheer hard graft. You see, I’ve had to get used to getting my hands dirty, over the years. The Harville fortune isn’t enough to rely on any more. So I need to diversify.’
‘Into drug dealing and kidnap?’
Harville simply smiled.
‘Classy,’ said Kayley.
‘Oh, and you’d know all about class, wouldn’t you? Don’t forget, I have the photographs. Showing your class – and your cunt – to the world.’
Kayley flinched at the harsh language, and she felt Deano tense beside her.
‘Leave her alone. There’s only one cunt in this room and we’re looking at him.’
‘I know my methods seem unorthodox,’ said Harville, unperturbed. ‘But everything is going to work out, I assure you. We can all help each other and then this unpleasantness can be forgotten.’
‘Help? What sort of help?’ Kayley pulled the raggedy sleeping bag over her, unconsciously trying to put as many barriers as possible between her and her nemesis.
‘It’s lovely having guests in the basement, but I know I can’t keep you forever,’ said Harville. ‘The world of rock and roll can’t do without its Diamond, and as for you, Kayley, well, I daresay somebody might be missing you.’
This made her heart drop. The only person she could think of was her dad.
‘So let us go then,’ said Deano.
‘Oh, I intend to. But first I think we need to make a few gentlemen’s agreements.’
‘You can only make those with gentlemen,’ said Kayley. ‘Which leaves at least two of us out of the running.’
Harville ignored her.
‘First of all,’ he said, ‘I want your assurance that you will forget all about the little … incident … upstairs. I never intended that you should get hurt, except as part of my plan. I wish you’d gone along with it, but …’ He shrugged. ‘I’ll get that little scumbag some other way.’
‘I’m not interested in your revenge plots,’ said Deano.
‘But that little shit is fucking your wife. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?’
Kayley felt him wince.
‘Jenna has her own mind,’ he said, but his voice shook a little. ‘It can’t be made up by force. If she wants Jason, then I just have to wear it.’
‘You’ve changed your tune,’ said Kayley in some surprise.
‘Yeah, well, I’m a musician, aren’t I? If I don’t change my tune now and again the fans get bored.’
‘Good point,’ said Kayley, her lips twitching upwards despite their dire circumstances.
‘Where are your balls, man?’ exclaimed Harville. ‘You came here to get her back, for God’s sake! And now you’re just going to sit back and let that dirty little bastard shag her senseless to his heart’s content?’
‘Stop trying to wind me up, Harville. Jenna will get tired of him in the end. All I have to do is wait.’
‘And in the meantime,’ said Harville, taking out his mobile phone and showing the screen to Deano, ‘Jenna’s the hot topic all over the world – for all the wrong reasons.’
Deano tried to snatch the phone from Harville’s grasp, but he held it away, hopping to his feet when it looked as if Deano was going to try to use force.
‘Yes, take a good long look,’ he taunted, still aiming the picture at Deano. ‘That’s your wife. Stark naked, covered in sweat and spunk, after a hard shagging from that council estate ne’er-do-well. There’ll be more of those, I daresay. We’ll get to see her on all fours, sucking his cock, taking it up the arse …’
‘Shut up!’ shouted Deano, now up on unsteady feet.
‘She’ll have a worse reputation than Kayley there, by the time he’s finished with her. She won’t be a famous talent spotter any more – just a famous slut. Oh, do sit down. You look as if you’re going to keel over.’
Kayley leapt up to Deano’s aid. He did look extremely pale and sweat was beading on his brow.
‘Deano, chill,’ she said urgently. ‘Come on. Sit down now.’
She put an arm around his waist, helping him back down to the bed, then turned to Harville.
‘Why are you doing this? I don’t get it. Just let us go.’
Harville replied with a cold stare, before casually enquiring of Deano, ‘Has she opened her legs for you yet?’
‘Fuck off, Harville.’
‘Oh dear. Well, you know, all you have to do is ask her. Kayley is extremely obliging. Aren’t you, Kayley? I’ve got some photographs of her you might like to look at, Deano. Specialist, if you know what I mean.’
‘I don’t want anything from you,’ muttered Deano. ‘I just want out of here. For Christ’s sake, do you really think I won’t be missed? Save yourself a shitload of trouble, Harville, and just let us go.’
‘I’m going to,’ said Harville. ‘I wasn’t planning on having permanent house guests anyway. But first, that assurance I was asking for – that nothing will be said about what has happened here.’
‘F
ine,’ said Deano. ‘Let us go and we’ll forget it ever happened.’
‘Thank you.’ Harville’s smile was bright, but his eyes had a fevered brilliance that took it beyond urbanity. ‘And secondly …’
‘Don’t push your luck,’ snapped Deano.
‘Please, hear me out. Secondly, I want you to help me with a little project.’
‘The fucking talent show’s off, if that’s what you mean. I’m not working with you.’
‘Oh, shame,’ said Kayley. ‘That was mine and Jenna’s idea to begin with, though. We can do it ourselves.’
Deano nodded briefly, smiling at her.
‘I don’t mean your precious talent show,’ said Harville. ‘I want my family home back.’
‘The Hall?’
Lawrence nodded.
‘Well, what the bloody hell did you sell it for, then?’
‘At the time, I needed the money. But a certain ship’s come in since then, and I can afford to buy it back. The chances of your wife selling to me, though, are vanishingly slim.’
‘Not very surprising, from what I’ve heard,’ said Deano.
‘No, but think about it, Deano. You don’t want her to stay there, do you? It would be good for you if she sold up.’
‘She won’t, though.’
‘Why don’t you buy it off her? Tell her you’re going to turn it into a, I don’t know, a school for talented underprivileged youngsters or something. And you’ll name it after Jason Watson. Her heart will bleed. She won’t be able to say no.’
‘But it’s not true. I’m not about to do anything like that. I can’t go around opening schools.’ Deano frowned.
‘Of course you won’t actually do it.’ Harville was impatient. ‘You’ll sell it straight on to me. And I hope you’ll ask me a good price for it.’
Deano was quiet for a moment. Kayley couldn’t help noticing that he was still holding her hand, quite tightly.
‘Well?’ said Harville with urgency. ‘It’s not a lot to ask, is it? Will you do it?’
‘D’you know what?’ said Deano. ‘I would have done it like a shot, if you’d asked me this morning, or yesterday. Like you say, no skin off my nose, and it gets Jenna back where I wanted her. If she agreed to the sale … which I think she might, if I spun the school for talented kids line.’
‘It’s good, isn’t it?’ interjected Harville eagerly, but Deano waved a hand, silencing him.
Diamonds Forever Page 18