The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  That had been what clinched it. Anna couldn’t cope with her mother being hurt mentally or physically when she could have stopped it. Besides, all of this stemmed from her connection. She knew she should have refused that bloody photograph. Oh God... What the hell was she going to do?

  Anna sighed and angrily swiped her hair away from her face. She had no choice. She’d have to do what Tina wanted.

  TEN

  DAN EYED SETH ACROSS the desk in his office. He could see the shadows under his eyes and had been able to tell from the moment he’d walked in that he wasn’t in a good mood.

  “Any news as to who this guy is or where he’s from?” Dan asked.

  Seth ran his fingers through his hair and knocked the contents of his glass of whisky down in one. “Do you think if I knew that we’d be sitting here right now?” he snapped irritably.

  Dan held his hands up. “Ok ok, stupid question,” he said in a bid to placate the situation.

  Seth took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. “Barry and Martin have been doing some digging this past week.” He pulled out a sheaf of paper from his desk drawer and flicked through some of the pages. “We’ve got some names and addresses of these scouts who could have been doing the questioning. We need to find out if any are involved.”

  Dan nodded, taking the piece of paper from Seth and running his eyes over the names. “I recognise this one,” he said frowning. Neil Batchelor. The name rang a bell but he couldn’t quite put his finger on where from. “When’s Barry and Martin lined up to do that?”

  Seth sparked up a cigarette and blew out the smoke slowly. “They’re not. We are.”

  “Us?” Dan was surprised. Although Seth had reduced his hands-on dealings, he knew those hands were a lot dirtier than they were supposed to be. The man just couldn’t help himself.

  Dan swallowed. Each time Seth went down this road he had to be careful to keep it away from Maggie. As far as she was concerned Seth had retired from that side of the business and so, by proxy, had he. She would certainly not be happy to learn these episodes were more frequent than she thought. Furthermore from what Seth had said about his daughter, he had more reason than ever to keep his nose clean.

  He watched the smile spreading over Seth’s face and immediately felt even more uncomfortable. He knew that look too well. “You’re deadly serious about doing this yourself aren’t you?” Dan said, already knowing what the response would be.

  “Yeah, why not?” Seth grinned. He needed to take his irritation out on someone after all.

  “Is that a good idea?” Dan asked gingerly.

  Seth slammed his fist down on the table. “If you’re going to question me then go home!” he barked.

  Dan sighed inwardly. “Don’t be like that mate.” He’d just have to make very sure Maggie didn’t find out he’d been part of it.

  “I need to know who these people are. I’m not having whoever this cunt is taking the piss and I want to find out exactly who it is who feels they can take me on,” Seth growled. He stood up from his desk and paced around the room. He felt like he was out of control in all facets of his life and he didn’t like it. He needed control of something.

  Dan eyed Seth closely. “Is everything ok?” he asked seeing Seth look at his watch once more.

  “Yes, fine. Why?” Seth said, glancing out of the window absently.

  “You just seem on edge. Aside from all this we’re still friends at the end of the day and you can always tell me if something’s up.”

  Feeling a little guilty, Seth turned and walked back to the desk. “Jane has an appointment which I don’t agree with that’s all. Nothing for you to worry about.”

  Dan remained silent. He knew better than to press the issue. Whatever it was had definitely caused Seth to want to take his frustration out on others – that much was clear.

  LACEY FELT LIKE SHE was tripping out. She’d managed to do exactly what Eliza and Digger required from her. She’d memorised the information needed to stick to the story. Aiden was so convincing in his part he could have won an Oscar and no one had seemed suspicious, so at least that was one thing Eliza would be pleased about. She’d also be pleased that the baby was fine.

  Lacey’s heart had been racing waiting to go in for the scan. She’d been twitching with anticipation of hearing: ‘...no heartbeat...’ She knew it sounded heartless, but she couldn’t have this baby. She just couldn’t.

  Her eyes had moved around the waiting room, looking for possible escape exits she could run out of to get away from this madness and somehow get her life back. Even if it meant she had to live in an underpass, there were two things which were certain: one was she would get away from this life – away from Digger and Eliza and two – she would not have this baby. Christ, she’d rather be dead.

  Another door had opened and Lacey’s eyes had met with a beautiful dark-haired woman. She eyed her gorgeous designer clothes, her hair and immaculate face. She was a real stunner. It was that woman from the papers – Jane Wright.

  Slightly star-struck, Lacey had felt special when the woman had smiled at her, but her happiness hadn’t lasted long. Within five minutes her mind had been ‘put at rest’ to learn her baby was unharmed. She’d been ‘very lucky’ apparently.

  She’d felt like screaming. Aiden had done an award-winning performance of crying with happiness and trying to snog her face off as she’d lay on the bed, when all she’d wanted to do was curl up into a ball and wait to get hit by a train.

  “I would date your baby at around fourteen weeks,” the woman had said sweetly.

  Feeling nausea rising, Lacey forced a smile before readjusting her clothes and blindly leaving the room.

  Aiden had waited to collect the scan picture but unfortunately had been quick to catch up with her. She stole a look at him as he walked beside her, insisting she held his hand to make it look convincing.

  Feeling panic rise up her spine, Lacey’s breath became shallower and the hospital corridors closed in like a narrowing tunnel. Bright lights flashed at the back of her eyes and her skin became clammy. Unable to help herself, she stumbled against Aiden, clinging onto his arm with her hand over her mouth.

  “What are you doing?” Aiden cried, holding Lacey steady as she clung to him. “Lacey? What’s the matter?”

  “I’m going to faint!” Lacey mumbled, her eyes darting around.

  “Let me get a nurse,” Aiden said, looking around for anyone in uniform.

  “No, NO!” Lacey cried. “They might admit me.” She spotted the Ladies toilets a couple of yards away. “I’ll go in there. I just need to be sick and have five minutes.”

  Aiden paused, well aware he’d been instructed not to let her out of his sight. He looked at Lacey’s ghostly pale face and clammy skin. She wasn’t putting it on and the last thing he wanted was for her to spew down his new Adidas top.

  He quickly steered her to the toilets. “Go on then. I’ll wait over there for you,” he nodded towards a group of grey plastic chairs bolted to the floor by the window.

  JANE WAS WASHING HER hands in the sink when the grey-faced teenager bolted through the door and lurched towards a washbasin. She watched as the girl heaved violently into the white porcelain.

  Jane faltered, unsure what to do. She watched the girl as her dry retching continued and could see she was unsteady on her feet. If she wasn’t careful she’d hit the deck at any moment or at the very least, chin the washbasin. Furthermore she’d seen the girl’s eyes. It was the same one from the waiting room and she’d experienced more than enough over the years to read behind the lines to know this wasn’t illness the girl was suffering with. It was fear.

  Jane decided she’d take the matter into her own hands. Glancing at Maggie, who raised her eyebrows questioningly she approached the girl.

  Holding the girl firmly around the waist to steady her, Jane rubbed her back. “Sweetheart, you need to calm down.” She needed to get this girl to steady her breathing. It was verging on hyperventilation. “
Breathe. Deep breaths. You’re not going to be sick. Come on now. Calm it down.”

  Lacey wasn’t sure whether it was the tone of the woman’s voice or because she was being physically supported with what seemed like genuine concern, but she felt the last few months of emotion and despair rising up from her feet like a volcano.

  With a large intake of breath she allowed herself to be steered to an area past the hand dryers that contained a long shelf, a mirror and two chairs. Like a little child she was guided onto one of the plastic chairs. She rested her head on her knees and tried to regulate her gasping breaths.

  “What’s the matter with her?” Maggie asked. She didn’t want to get involved in somebody else’s drama. She’d had more than enough of her own over the years, as had Jane and she had no idea why Jane had felt the need to go to the aid of this complete stranger.

  “Not sure,” Jane muttered, “but something’s not right.” She didn’t like this. She knew it wasn’t her problem, but she couldn’t just walk away. This girl was in the shit big time.

  “Come on. She’s fine now,” Maggie said, touching Jane’s arm. “It’s not our business. We should go.”

  “You have a short memory Maggie,” Jane muttered quietly. “How would you have felt if I’d have walked away from you when you’d needed me?”

  Maggie quickly stood to one side thoroughly put to rights. She wrung her hands together. It was true. Jane had never abandoned her - whatever the cost, but she had a new life now. Looking at the skinny girl in front of her, it seemed she was more akin to a time from Jane’s past, rather than where she was at present.

  Sensing the girl was calming down, Jane gently placed her hands either side of the girl’s face and tilted her head up. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”

  Lacey’s eyes met Jane’s for the second time that day and her breath caught in her throat. It was Jane Wright again. “Oh!” she gasped. “It’s you! You’re from tha...”

  “It doesn’t matter who I am,” Jane interrupted. “Let’s go and get a coffee and you can tell me what’s happened.”

  Lacey’s eyes widened with fear and she grasped Jane’s hands. “I-I can’t! If I go out there, he’ll see me and then I’ll have to go with him.”

  Jane frowned and glanced up at Maggie. She’d been correct in thinking something wasn’t quite the ticket. “Who’ll see you?”

  Lacey’s eyes darted from Jane to Maggie and back to Jane again. Could she trust them? Her mind was all over the place, but her life was over whichever way she looked at it, so what did she have to lose? She quickly came to the conclusion she would place her trust in this woman. The worst that could happen would be what would happen anyway.

  Everything was worth risking if it meant the slightest chance of being able to somehow get out of this unbearable situation.

  “I-I....” Lacey hesitated, the words she’d longed to unburden herself from sticking in her throat.

  “Am I right in presuming you’re pregnant?” Jane asked. Seeing the girl hesitantly nod, she frowned. “And who will see you? That bloke you were with? Is he the father?”

  “No,” Lacey said dully. “I’d rather he was though...”

  “So what’s the problem? Are you scared of something?”

  Lacey couldn’t help herself. Bursting out crying, she leant forward into Jane. Clinging on she began sobbing in earnest, the whole story quickly spilling from her in a torrent.

  Jane listened as the girl spewed out the horrific details of what she’d been put through and what was planned for her. Stroking the young girl’s hair as she shook like a leaf, she glanced at Maggie who stood motionless looking equally horrified.

  Letting the girl’s sobbing die down to muffled hiccupping sobs, Jane held her gently at arms’ length so that she could look into her face. “Right, you listen to me.”

  Once she was sure she’d got the girl’s full attention, Jane continued. “You’re coming with me. You won’t be going back to that place.” She tried to ignore the shocked look plastered across Maggie’s face. She had to do this. There was no way she could allow it. No way could she go back to her happy life knowing she’d left this girl to return to a hellhole. It was fucking wrong and she wouldn’t allow it.

  Lacey’s mouth hung open in shock. “Coming with you? Really? Do you mean it?” Her face resumed its haunted expression. “But they’ll find me.”

  Jane smiled through gritted teeth. “They can try, but they’d have to get through me first and that isn’t easy,” she said resolutely. “Maggie, I need you to deflect that person out there. The one masquerading as her boyfriend.”

  Maggie’s eyes darted around nervously. She looked at Lacey. “Where is he and what’s his name?”

  “Aiden. His name’s Aiden and he’s sitting in the chairs opposite these toilets. What are you going to do? Please don’t make me go to the police!” Lacey stammered, feeling panic rising once again.

  “I don’t do the police so don’t you worry about that,” Jane snapped. “Maggie, find this Aiden. Look suitably flustered and panicked. Turn it on big time. Tell him his girlfriend’s collapsed and that he needs to get someone.”

  Maggie stared horrified. “But what shall I do if he tries to get in here?”

  “For fuck’s sake. You know what to do,” Jane cried. “Give him some spiel. Drag him down the corridor to find someone. Act freaked out.” Opening her bag she fished out a headscarf and wrapped it loosely around Lacey’s head and shoulders. She then slipped her jacket off and handed it to the girl. “Put this on.”

  Jane looked back at Maggie. “Go! We’ll give you thirty seconds and then we’re coming out. Make sure you’ve got him away in the opposite direction. Once you’ve gibbered some crap to a member of staff and he’s ensconced with them, they’ll be dashing back here. At this point slip off in the other direction, find the nearest exit and make your way as quickly as possible to the main road. Keep walking and I’ll come and find you in the car.”

  Looking nervous, Maggie nodded and with a final glance at Jane and the trembling young girl she dashed from the toilets.

  ELEVEN

  ELIZA STARED AT THE clock and took a long swig from her glass of gin. “Where are they?” she snapped irritably, scowling as Digger flicked through the paper seemingly without a care in the world. “Are you even listening to me?”

  Looking up, Digger smiled causing the scarring across his face to pucker. “Chill babe. They’ll be back soon.” Why did women always have this uncanny knack of over dramatizing just about everything?

  “But they’ve been gone hours!” Eliza whined.

  “For God’s sake, Eliza. Have you forgotten what waiting times are like in hospitals? It’s only been a couple of hours.”

  “Four actually,” she snapped, frowning at the chipped edge of one of her false nails.

  Digger laughed. “Four then. Maybe she’s had to have some tests?”

  Eliza sat up straight. “Well if that’s the case it must mean something’s wrong.”

  “Oh for Christ’s sake!” Digger muttered and ran his hand over his shaved head, his patience wearing thin. “It doesn’t mean anything of the sort. Aiden’s with her. He’ll have it in hand. If there had been a problem don’t you think he’d have called?”

  Eliza opened her mouth to fire a suitably venomous retort in Digger’s direction when the door to her office burst open. Swinging her head around in shock, she stared at Aiden standing in front of them, red-faced and out of breath. “Aiden! Where the fuck have you been?” she screeched.

  Aiden leant on her desk with both hands, desperately trying to catch his breath. “I got back as fast as I could. I had to make sure before I left,” he panted.

  Eliza glanced at Digger. “Make sure of what? What’s going on? Where’s Lacey? Is everything alright?”

  Aiden resembled a rabbit caught in the headlights and looked towards Digger in the vague hope of some support against the barrage of Eliza’s questioning.

  Digger stood up from beh
ind his desk and held his hand up. “Whoa! Slow down Eliza! Give the poor guy chance.” He turned towards Aiden. “Right mate, what’s the score?”

  Aiden took in a deep breath, thankful to get a full lungful of air. “I looked everywhere. I just don’t know how she could have vanished.”

  A cold rush of ice raced up Eliza’s spine. “Are you telling me Lacey isn’t with you?” she asked slowly, desperately trying to contain her voice from turning into an ear-splitting screech.

  Aiden nodded slowly, unable to meet either Eliza’s or Digger’s accusatory glares.

  “You’ve lost her haven’t you?” Digger growled, getting impatient. Enough beating around the bush.

  Without waiting for an answer, Eliza darted around the desk, her large fake breasts bouncing like beach balls. “You fucking idiot!” she yelled, slapping Aiden hard around the face. “Where the fuck is she?”

  “Eliza!” Digger shouted warningly and grabbed her around the waist, effortlessly pulling her away. “Let’s all just calm down.” He nodded towards a chair, gesturing for Aiden to sit in it.

  Aiden raised his hand to his face to touch the stinging red mark left by Eliza’s hand and sat down automatically even though all he wanted to do was to get as far away from them as possible. He’d known he would get in serious shit for this. “We stuck to the story you gave us and no one asked any questions,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady rather than disintegrating into babbling. “Lacey was more in awe of that Jane Wright woman.”

  Eliza scowled. What was Jane doing there? Pregnant again was she? “Right, but?”

  Aiden rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the creased scan picture. Glancing at it he held it up to Eliza. “Everything’s fine. The baby’s unharmed,” he smiled.

  Ripping the photograph from Aiden’s hand, Eliza scrunched it up and threw it on the floor. “What does that matter if Lacey’s disappeared?” she yelled.

  Digger intervened once more. “Calm Eliza!” he muttered. “What happened then?”