The next thought quickly followed.
What if they’re still here?
She heard nothing apart from her heart hammering. Before the remains of her courage drained out through her feet, she checked the bedroom and bathroom, and sagged with relief to find no one there. A check of the front door showed no sign of a forced entry. She closed it again and slid the bolt in place.
Ohgodohgodohgodohgod. Shivers raced from her scalp to her toes. Back in the main room, she stared at the counter where she’d emptied the contents of her backpack. Things had been moved. She remembered stuff like that and wasn’t wrong. Her passport had been on the other side of the pesos. Her e-reader had lain at a different angle, closer to the boarding-card stub.
Nothing was missing. She worked her way around the flat checking everything, looking in her drawers, the closet, even under the bed. Someone had been searching and they’d been careful, but not careful enough.
If it had been a burglar, her laptop would be gone, but it sat where she’d left it. Even so, she was glad she’d taken her camera and notebook with her. She let out a choked laugh at the idea of anyone wanting her notebook. Ripples of unease continued to trickle down her spine. She might not want to come to what she thought was the obvious conclusion but how could she not? Whoever had been here had been looking for the drugs.
Summer packed fast, grabbed clothes from her closet and stuffed them into a small bag. She tucked her laptop in there too and took her passport, just in case. Within ten minutes, she was heading back to the station, a bag on each shoulder, her hat pulled down on her head with no lock of pink hair showing.
It was impossible to resist the temptation to turn to see if anyone was following. She glanced back before she crossed the road and again several yards later. Oh god, I think there is someone following me. A young guy in a green beanie and dark jacket. She knew she was being ridiculous. There were all sorts of people behind her, why pick on him? She could feel herself slipping deeper and deeper into paranoia. I should have called the police. I still could.
They’d think she was crazy. Your passport was on the other side of your pesos? Let me write that down. It could be important. She was jet-lagged and sex drunk. Maybe she’d been mistaken.
But I’m not.
The sight of the beanie guy still on her tail as she took an indirect route through the college grounds wiped the smile away. But the fact that he was behind her didn’t have to mean anything. Lots of people heading this way would be making for the Tube. She quickened her pace, walked into the arcade that led to Cutty Sark Station and once she’d turned a corner and was out of sight, she ran straight past the entrance to the Underground and out onto the street on the other side. She raced up the road as fast as she could, her bags getting heavier by the second, and when she reached the mainline station, she looked back and saw no sign of the beanie guy.
Armed with a one-way ticket to Canterbury, Summer went onto the platform to wait.
And think.
And what made you think you were followed, Miss Dey?
Well, this guy was behind me and he was wearing a beanie hat and he thinks I’ve carried drugs here from Colombia.
And have you?
No, I left them in the loo at Bogota Airport.
Why did you do that?
Because I didn’t want to get caught with them.
She imagined her family’s reaction to the wedding being upstaged by her arrest. Her mother’s horror. Summer had wrecked the last wedding. It couldn’t happen again. She had to keep quiet for the time being at least. The police would have her down as some attention-seeking female. There was no proof of any drugs, no proof of anyone breaking into her flat. Nothing was missing. No threats had been made against her. She’d be wasting police time.
Even so, she couldn’t rid herself of the nagging feeling that this wasn’t going to go away.
* * * * *
Jai wandered into the kitchen to find Nev eating toast and working on his laptop.
“Sorry about Rosie,” Nev said.
“I take it that’s the name of our new housemate.” The inflatable woman had been propped by the fridge, a banana stuck in the hole between her legs. “How old are you?”
“Fifteen in my heart.”
Jai filled the kettle and grabbed a mug from the cupboard. “Want a coffee?”
“No, I’m good thanks. So you really aren’t gay?”
“Wanker.” Jai lifted a slice of toast from Nev’s plate and bit into it.
“What happened to the luscious Krista? She dumped you already?”
Jai stopped eating.
“You made the papers.” Nev tapped on his laptop and turned the screen so Jai could see. “‘Krista makes special trip to Heathrow to meet model boyfriend.’ You lucky sod.”
Saul would be happy.
“How come you don’t ever bring women like her home? How come you don’t bring anyone home and then you turn up with a flamingo when you’re supposed to be fucking a bird of paradise?”
Jai spooned coffee granules into his mug and poured on boiling water. “Birds of paradise are flowers.”
“I know. I was being funny.”
“It was a setup with Krista.”
“To distract the press from your real love interest? Miss Pink?”
Jai dropped a couple of slices of bread in the toaster and felt his stomach fall at the same time. “To distract the press from Krista’s real love interest, but you can’t repeat that.”
“So where’s the pink chick come from? You meet her in the Bahamas?”
He didn’t answer.
“Jaaaai.” Nev drew out his name in a wheedling sigh. “How long have we lived together?”
“Two years.”
“And in all those two years have you ever brought anyone back here?”
His lips twitched in a smile. “No.”
“So what changed?”
“She’s different.”
“Yeah, she’s got pink hair.”
“I did notice. She didn’t know who I was.”
Nev stared at him. “How come?”
“She’s been in South America for eighteen months.” Jai buttered his toast.
“Another empire to conquer there then? She okay with Krista, and the luscious models you have to fondle and all the rest of it?”
The toast stuck in Jai’s throat. No one would be okay with “the rest of it”. He just had to keep that part of his life well out of sight.
“I like her,” he said quietly.
“Well—duh. Your room’s directly above mine. I heard how much you like her. I should feel grateful now you’ve never brought anyone back. What does she do? Where does she live?”
“No one can know about her.”
Nev sighed. “Jai, mate. You’re doomed. How the hell is that going to work? You’re recognized everywhere you go. Your face is all over London, there’s cut-out models of you in Selfridges, you’re known all over the bloody world apart from South America, apparently. You can’t go anywhere with her without people recognizing you.”
“Then we won’t go anywhere.” I said I’d go to the wedding. Shit.
“Well, that’s a lovely balanced relationship. Every date spent in bed. I assume she’s a good fuck.”
Jai had his hand around Nev’s throat almost before he knew what he was doing. Not that he regretted it. He glared and then let Nev go.
“Sorry,” Nev muttered.
“I’m well aware of the problems and yes, I’ll probably fuck things up, but what I don’t want to happen is for either you or Brody to fuck things up for me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Get rid of that banana.”
* * * * *
As Summer stared out of the train at the snow-covered fields flashing past, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She whipped it out, hoping it was Jai, and sagged.
“Hi,” she said.
“Where are you?” snapped her mother.
“I’m about fifty minute
s away. The train’s just leaving Rochester. Will there be anyone around in Canterbury to give me a lift?”
“We’ve got better things to do than traipse into town to fetch you. You should have been here hours ago.”
Summer swallowed hard. “I can get a cab. I just thought if anyone happened—”
“While you’re in town, call in at Patisserie Valerie and pick up the white chocolate dream gateau and the chocolate mirror cake I ordered. It will save us a trip.”
“Are they paid for?”
There was a moment’s silence from her mother. Now what have I said?
“You can’t even buy a couple of cakes for your sister?”
Summer sucked in her cheeks. “I only wanted to know so I didn’t pay twice.”
“They’re already paid for.” Her mother cut off the call.
Bitch, bitch, bitch.
Despite having told herself not to umpteen times since she’d left him, she called Jai.
“Super Stud speaking, how can I help you?”
She laughed, her bad mood obliterated in an instant.
“Damn, I’ve got the wrong number,” she said. “I wanted Stupendous Stud not Super Stud.”
He whined. “I want to be Stupendous Stud.”
Her lips curved in a smile. “I’ll consider upgrading you. I did have an amazing time.”
“Wasn’t that five amazing times?”
“Are you boasting?”
“I can’t tell anyone else, can I?”
“Not even Nev and Brody?”
“No. This is just us, Summer Girl. Our time.”
“Glad to hear it, Winter Boy.”
He laughed. “So…are you ready for the phone sex?”
“I’m on a train.”
“T for train. P for phone. What’s the problem?”
She rolled her eyes. “T for tonight, okay? I’ll call you.”
“Was there a particular reason for calling me now? I’m in the middle of brain surgery. Just a hobby, though I’m sure the patient can wait.”
“I wanted to hear your voice,” she whispered.
“You’re going all soppy on me.”
“Jai…”
“What?”
“I think someone broke into my flat.” She blurted out the words before she could change her mind.
“What?” he gasped.
“Nothing had gone but things had been moved.”
“I’m trying not to say ‘what’ again but—what? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Have you phoned the police?”
She sighed. “Nothing’s gone. No lock was forced. They’ll say I’m mistaken.”
“You think it’s connected to Bogota?”
“If things had been taken, then no, but nothing was taken, so yes. I don’t know what to do.”
“Shit. Life’s never dull with you, is it? It’s good that you’re away for a few days. When we come back from the wedding, you can stay here with me and we’ll figure out what to do.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re a lot of trouble, Summer Girl.”
“When I speak to you later, I’ll show you how much trouble.”
She ended the call with him still laughing.
Jai lay on his bed, clutching his phone. He might have ended the call on a laugh but the idea that her flat had been broken into alarmed him. What were these guys going to do next? They didn’t know Summer had left the drugs in Bogota so did they think she was holding out on them? She needed to speak to the men she thought had put the drugs in her case. But maybe it would be better to go to the police and tell them everything. He was glad she’d asked his advice, though he wasn’t sure how much help he could be. Even so, his protective instinct had kicked in—hard.
I don’t want her to get hurt.
Maybe he should have thought of that sooner—before he touched her hand as they lay on the floor in the airport. How could she not get hurt? If he told her about Saul and Marta, she’d walk out. If he pushed her away first, how was that any better? I need to tell her, to explain because if she cares for me, she’ll understand. Oh god, why did he persist in thinking that? There was no way he could make himself look like a guy who was worth the effort.
His phone vibrated in his hand and when he saw who was calling, he sucked in his cheeks. He’d like to ignore the call but Saul would keep trying until he answered and the more times he had to call, the more pissed off he’d get. Jai really hoped he was calling from the Bahamas to tell him about another job.
“Hi,” Jai said.
“Nice shot of you and Krista in the Mail.”
Jai grunted.
“How did the shoot go at the Design Museum?”
“Fine. As long as they don’t use any of the shots of my dick.”
“We’ll sue their asses if they do. I need you to be seen with Krista tonight. Take her for a meal, then go to a club. There’s some nosey reporter who’s seen her with her tongue down her bird’s throat. Stupid little twat.”
His entire body tensed, his grip on the phone turning his knuckles white. “I’m tired.”
“Take a pill. It’s what you usually do.”
What would Saul do if he refused to take her out? How far could the guy be pushed? Jai was his cash cow. But then, he didn’t need to bring Jai down, just threaten his brother.
“And tomorrow night, I want you in Richmond,” Saul said. “We’re having a party.”
“I’m busy.”
This time there was a few seconds of silence before his agent spoke. “No, you’re fucking not.” The tone of Saul’s voice chilled him.
“I really am.”
He’d tried to refuse the summons to Richmond before, and the only time he’d managed to get out of it was when his mother had been rushed into the hospital after a fall. Saul had checked it had actually happened. He’d even sent her flowers, the bastard. Jai’s mother thought he was “a lovely, thoughtful man”. Not when he fucks your son.
“Unless someone’s dying, I expect you here.”
“I’ve been invited to a friend’s wedding this weekend.” Jai gritted his teeth. He shouldn’t have told the wanker that much. He’d have been better to agree to go and not turn up. He’d pay for it later, but what was Saul going to do, kill him? He wouldn’t let Summer down.
“They’re not getting married on Friday night. You can leave on Saturday morning.”
“It’s the rehearsal dinner on Friday.”
“What friend is this? You didn’t tell me you were going to be busy this weekend.”
“I don’t have to tell you everything.”
“Don’t you dare get sullen with me. You don’t need to go to a rehearsal dinner. I assume you’re not the best man. You don’t have any friends apart from the pair you live with. Be here at eight tomorrow and make sure you take Krista someplace visible tonight. I advise you not to let me down, Jai. Do I need to remind you of the consequences?”
Jai cut off the call and barely resisted the temptation to throw his phone at the wall. Too late. He should have done that the moment he knew who was calling.
He was in the bathroom reaching for his pills before he registered what he was doing and put them back. Time he stopped hiding behind them.
Something else had occurred to him too—he’d stopped thinking about killing himself since he’d met Summer. Well, no, he’d not stopped thinking about it, but he’d stopped wanting to do it.
* * * * *
Summer paid the cab driver and picked up her bags from where he’d deposited them in the snow at the side of the road. She’d kept hold of the one with the gateaux. If she managed to ruin those, she’d be hung, drawn and quartered. The iron gates to her parents’ house were closed, so she tramped through the snow to the small gate and onto a cleared path that ran through the snow-covered garden to the front door.
To knock or not to knock? That was the question.
She pulled off her hat and knocked.
It was her mother who flun
g open the door. “Yes?” Her face paled as recognition dawned. “What on earth have you done to your hair?”
Summer thrust out the gateaux. “Take them before I drop them.”
Her mother grabbed the bag and Summer stepped into the house. Winston, the long-haired miniature dachshund, flew down the hall toward her, yipping and whining in excitement. Summer crouched and he planted his paws on her shoulders and licked her as if she was the tastiest treat ever—and he was a picky dog.
“Winnie! Best little doggie in the world. You haven’t forgotten me then?”
He jumped up, desperate to get as close to her as he could, and Summer picked him up to cuddle him.
“That’s enough, Winston,” her mother said.
Summer gave him one last stroke and put him down.
Her mother stared at her hair. “I’m going to have to call Toni and get you an appointment immediately. He’ll have to fit you in. You can’t possibly have hair that color. You look like a t—”
Her mother clamped her lips together and Summer wondered what she’d been going to say. Tart? Tramp?
Summer’s middle sister Pippa bounced down the stairs, the smile on her face fading a little when she saw Summer. “Oh my god, Summer, what the hell have you done to your hair?”
“Nice to see you too,” Summer muttered.
“Sorry.” Pippa hugged her and Summer felt herself melt as she wrapped her arms around her sister. “But you can’t have your hair that color. It’s the only thing people will look at.”
“It’s very selfish of you, Summer,” her mother said and spoke into her phone. “Ah, Toni. There’s been a disaster, darling. You have to help us.”
Summer started upstairs with her bags.
“You’re sleeping over the barn,” Pippa told her.
“Oh, okay.”
Summer put the bag of presents in a corner near the front door and set off toward the back door with her other bag.
“Don’t leave that there,” her mother snapped.
“But—”
“Move it. Thank you so much, Toni. You are an angel. I’ll send her straight to you.”
Summer slunk back down the hall and picked up the other bag.
“Take those to your room then go back to Canterbury. Toni will put your hair right.”
“How am I going to get there?” Summer muttered.
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