by Roberta Kray
Mona pulled a face. Tonight, she suspected, would be one of those nights. She would hear the padding of his heavy feet on the landing, the two clicks of the door as it opened and then closed again. Why did her mother put up with it? She could have got a divorce years ago, got the hell out of here with a decent settlement and the freedom to do what she wanted. Lots of people got divorced these days. It was no big deal.
The problem was that her mother lacked courage. She had been beaten down, stripped of her ability to think for herself. She was weak and vulnerable and didn’t believe she could survive on her own. Well, all that was about to change. Mona would be brave enough for the two of them. And when it was done, they could sell this vile house and get themselves a nice comfy apartment in the West End, maybe in Bloomsbury or Covent Garden. They’d be happy there, just the two of them.
Her thoughts shifted naturally on to Sadie Wise. She knew that Sadie still used her husband’s surname because she’d seen it on the sheet of paper that the photo of Eddie had been attached to. She had memorised her address too: 67 Buckingham Road, Haverlea. So even if Sadie suddenly left Oaklands and went home, she’d still know where to find her.
It had been surprisingly easy to follow her this morning. The worst bit had been hanging around in the cold waiting for her to come out of the guest house. She had waited in the doorway to the station for over an hour. Still, it had been worth it just to see her again. And as soon as she had, she’d known that she was doing the right thing.
Mona thought about Sadie’s soft hazel eyes and the sweep of blonde hair that fell around her face. It was fate that had brought them together. What else could it be? They’d been destined to meet, to form a bond, to make a commitment that could never be broken. Although she still hadn’t figured out what Sadie had been doing at the market. Wasn’t she supposed to be looking for Eddie? Unless that’s where she’d expected to find him. But she hadn’t shown anyone the photograph and hadn’t talked to anyone other than the stallholder she’d bought the clothes from.
Mona took another sip of vodka. A pair of black trousers and a pink sweater. What had she wanted those for – or had they just been an impulse buy? Sadie had looked at the Christmas decorations too, at all the baubles and tinsel. But what kind of Christmas would it be if Eddie didn’t play ball? And even if he did, it still wasn’t right what he’d done. The guy was a user, a nasty piece of work just like her father.
Mona knew what Sadie wanted her to do without her having to spell it out. An understanding had passed between them on the train. But she couldn’t go through with it until she found out where Eddie was. She smiled as she remembered how Sadie had suddenly turned in the market and scanned the faces of the crowd, as if she was searching for her, as if she knew somehow that she was there. And for a second Mona had thought about stepping out, revealing herself, but had managed to stop just in time.
No, she had to stick to the rules and not do anything rash. Later, when this was all over and the dust had settled, it would be different. Until then she had to keep her distance. Wasn’t that what Sadie had said? That the big mistake was… She stared into the bottom of the glass. Or maybe that hadn’t been Sadie. She couldn’t quite remember. But never mind, it would all come good in the end.
She had followed Sadie from the market to Connolly’s. That had been another boring bit, having to hang around in the rain while she drank her coffee or her tea or whatever she was drinking. It wasn’t as if she could even see her. Sadie had gone to sit somewhere at the back and the café was packed. For the next forty minutes she’d had to pace up and down the street, waiting for her to come out again. But it had been worth it. Of course it had. Patience, that’s what it was all about. Tomorrow morning, she’d go back to Kellston and give it another go. Perhaps this time, fingers crossed, Sadie would lead her to Eddie Wise.
8
It didn’t take long for Sadie to understand what Stone meant about Cheryl Moss. She was a short, loud brunette who laughed like a hyena. She had a Barbie-doll figure with boobs like melons, a tiny waist and no hips. Tonight she was dressed in a clingy, low-necked, glittery dress that showed off her cleavage to its full advantage.
They were watching the races from the warmth of the restaurant where the wide windows overlooked the floodlit track. As the dogs whipped around, Cheryl screeched out. ‘Come on, Golden Boy! Come on!’
Although the racing was more fun than she’d expected, Cheryl’s screaming was enough to give anyone a headache. Sadie’s jaw was starting to ache from having to smile all the time. She threw Nathan Stone a glance and he grinned back at her. It was the kind of grin that made her want to slap him.
When the race was over, Nathan got up and said, ‘We’re just going to the bar. You girls be all right for a minute or two?’
‘We’ll do our best,’ Sadie said.
As soon as they’d gone, Cheryl turned to her and said, ‘So, are you a natural blonde, hon? Course you are. I can tell. I used to be a hairdresser. I had my own salon before I met Barry.’
‘Don’t you miss it?’ Sadie asked.
‘Miss what?’
‘Working for yourself? Being your own boss?’
Cheryl widened her eyes. ‘Are you kidding me? I couldn’t wait to stop. Too many long hours. I was dead on my feet most days. No, I love being married, hon. Barry’s a real sweetheart.’
Sadie looked towards the bar where Barry Moss was deep in conversation with Stone. He was a great bear of a man, almost as tall as Nathan but twice as wide. He didn’t say much, but his wife more than made up for it. ‘So, how long have you two been married?’
‘Ten years now, almost eleven.’
‘You got any kids?’
‘One boy. He’s eight. I’d have liked another, but after Jimmy… Well, it turned out I couldn’t have any more. I’d have loved a girl, but you’ve got to be grateful for what you’ve got. How about you, hon? You got any?’
Sadie shook her head. ‘Not yet.’
‘But you’d like to?’
‘When the time’s right.’ Sadie thought of Joel and smiled. ‘Yeah, that’d be nice.’
‘How long have you and Nathan been together?’
‘Er…’ Sadie hesitated, not quite sure how to respond. Was she supposed to be his girlfriend or just a friend? Nothing had been made clear during the introductions. This is Sadie, he’d said and not a word more. ‘Not long.’
‘Early days, huh? You don’t want to go rushing into anything.’
‘Yes, early days,’ Sadie agreed.
‘I think you two make a nice couple though.’
Sadie’s eyebrows shifted up. Quickly, she tried to change the subject. ‘Do you come here a lot then?’
‘Only now and then. It’s more Barry’s thing than mine – he likes a flutter – and I don’t mind. It’s a bit of a laugh.’ Cheryl glanced towards the bar and lowered her voice. ‘I suppose it can’t be easy for him, after what happened and all.’
‘Barry?’ Sadie asked.
‘No, Nathan, you know with… Well, it’s been a few years now but it’s not the sort of thing you get over in a hurry.’
‘No,’ Sadie said, keeping her tone neutral. She didn’t have a clue what Cheryl was going on about and wasn’t sure if she wanted to. This was a strictly business arrangement and Stone’s personal life was of no concern to her. She wasn’t interested, not in the slightest… Well, maybe just a little bit. Curiosity nagged at the edge of her indifference. ‘He doesn’t really talk about it.’
‘No, well, it’s probably still hard for him. Guys aren’t good when it comes to talking about feelings, are they? They keep it all bottled up inside. My Barry’s just the same. Any problems, he keeps them to himself. Says he doesn’t want to worry me, but that’s the whole point of being together – sharing the bad as well as the good. Don’t you think?’
Sadie was saved from answering by the return of the two men. Stone slid into the seat beside her and said, ‘So, what have you two been talking about? Should
my ears be burning?’
‘No,’ Sadie said.
‘I was just saying what a nice couple you two make,’ Cheryl said.
Sadie would have raised her eyes to the heavens if Cheryl hadn’t been right in front of her. Instead she threw Stone a quick cold look that was meant to convey her utter dismay at the notion.
‘So you were talking about me,’ he said smugly. ‘To be honest, Cheryl, I think I’m still on trial. Sadie’s not entirely sure that I’m her type.’
Cheryl let out one of her loud penetrating laughs. ‘Oh, you just need to work a little harder, hon. Take her on holiday. Take her somewhere nice. A girl likes to feel the sun on her face.’
‘Sadie doesn’t like the sun,’ he said. ‘She prefers a cooler climate. Don’t you, babe?’
Sadie smiled thinly back at him. ‘It depends on the company.’
‘There you go,’ Cheryl said, completely oblivious to the undercurrent. ‘A week away, a couple of weeks. How about the mountains? How about Switzerland? What could be nicer?’
Stone rubbed his chin as if he was giving it some genuine thought. ‘Yeah, somewhere with lots of snow and ice. That’d make a change.’
‘I prefer the warm myself,’ Cheryl continued. ‘Mind, you’ve got to go a long way to get any decent sun at this time of year.’
Barry put his elbows on the table and grunted. ‘Don’t go getting any ideas. I’ve too much work to be thinking about a holiday right now.’
The conversation moved on, food was eaten, wine was drunk, bets were placed and the dogs continued to run round in circles. Nathan Stone was genial, charming and attentive to his guests. From time to time, Sadie gave him a sidelong glance. Although he appeared on the surface to be completely absorbed, completely at ease, there was a distance in his eyes, almost as if he was just going through the motions. But then he probably was. The wining and dining was simply something he had to put up with in order to secure a deal with Barry Moss.
It was shortly after ten when the two couples parted company and went their separate ways with handshakes and pecks on the cheek and suggestions they should do it again some time. Sadie climbed into the Daimler, sat back and sighed. The night hadn’t been that bad but she was still relieved it was over. She had been on edge throughout the evening, worried that she might say or do something wrong and that Stone would change his mind about giving her Eddie’s address.
As he started the motor and swept out of the car park, Sadie examined Stone’s lean, enigmatic face. He was hard to read, the type of man who didn’t give much away. ‘So how did it go? Do you reckon he’s up for it?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Only maybe?’
‘It’s a big job,’ he said. ‘Barry’s not the impulsive sort, but he knows a good deal when he sees it. He’ll think it over, check out the site and do the sums. Hopefully, he’ll say yes, but even if he doesn’t it’s not the end of the world. There’s plenty more builders out there.’
Sadie found herself wondering how much Barry Moss knew about Stone’s connections to the underworld. But of course he knew – how could he not? Anyway, it was none of her business. After tonight, she’d never see any of these people again. Her part in it all was finished.
‘And you?’ he asked.
‘Me?’
That grin tugged at the corners of his mouth again. ‘How was it for you?’
She threw him one of her cooler looks. ‘An experience,’ she said.
‘Well, that’s what life’s all about, huh? It would be mighty boring if every day was the same.’ He stopped at a set of red traffic lights and tapped his fingers on the wheel while he waited for them to change. ‘And actually, I think Cheryl quite liked you.’
‘There’s no need to sound so surprised.’
‘Well, you can be a bit…’
‘A bit what?’
He paused for a few seconds as if searching for the right word. ‘Snippy,’ he said eventually.
Sadie released a waspish breath. ‘Yeah, well, you’d be a bit snippy too if you’d been forced into doing something you didn’t want to do.’
‘Jeez, we’re not back on that again, are we? I thought we’d got that sorted.’
‘You thought wrong.’
‘And, as it happens, I haven’t forced you to do anything. I offered you a deal. You accepted.’
‘As if I had a choice.’
‘There’s always a choice. Maybe you should learn when to let things go.’
‘Maybe you shouldn’t put people in a position where they need to let things go.’
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘You think I should be nicer.’
Sadie heard the mockery in his voice and answered in a similar tone. ‘Why not? It’s always good to try new things.’
Stone barked out a laugh. Then he leaned down and rudely switched on the radio, turning it up loud to effectively drown out anything else she might have to say.
Sadie averted her face and gazed out through the side window. For the rest of the journey they didn’t speak again.
By the time Stone pulled up outside Oaklands, the atmosphere between them was positively frosty. The upside to this, Sadie thought, was that at least she didn’t need to worry about him making a move on her. There wouldn’t be any funny business tonight. It was perfectly clear that he couldn’t stand the sight of her and the feeling was mutual. He was cold and arrogant and sarcastic. Any charm he had was entirely superficial and reserved purely for those who could be useful to him.
As if Stone didn’t want to hang around any longer than he had to, he kept the engine running while he reached into his pocket and took out the slip of paper. ‘Here,’ he said, thrusting it into her hand.
Before getting out of the car, Sadie unfolded the piece of paper to check the address. She peered through the gloom and the words that might be about to change her future. All it said, in neat sloping handwriting, was: 93 Carlton House.
Stone began his impatient rhythmic tapping on the steering wheel again. ‘What’s the matter now?’
‘Where is this?’ she asked. ‘Is it in Kellston?’
‘The Mansfield,’ he said. ‘The estate. The three towers, yeah? Just walk up to the top of the high street and you can’t miss them. You don’t want to go at this time of night, though. It’s rough enough in daylight, but you’ve got to have a death wish to go there after dark.’
Sadie felt her heart sink. ‘Okay.’ She put the slip of paper in her bag, reached for the handle of the door and then hesitated. Frowning, she turned towards him again.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘How do I know this is really where Eddie lives? You could have written down any old address.’
‘I could,’ he said wearily, ‘but I didn’t. Just go and check it out, yeah?’
‘I will, but if you’re lying to me —’
‘You’ll do what?’ he said. ‘Hunt me down and kill me?’
Sadie gave a small shake of her head. He was impossible. ‘Goodnight, then. I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure but it hasn’t.’
‘Likewise.’
She got out of the Daimler and slammed the door. Seconds later the car screeched away, accelerated up the road and disappeared round the corner. Sadie stood for a while on the pavement, feeling the relief wash over her. Nathan Stone was gone and with luck she would never have to see him again. She breathed in the damp evening air and thanked God for small mercies.