The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  Seth grinned. “Not much to say really. Just delivered a friendly warning babe that’s all...”

  “Well as long as it’s nothing that could stick. We don’t need anyone on our case remember?” Jane opened her handbag revealing the pistol concealed inside. “On the flip side, I have to admit I’m carrying again. Like you said – something’s going down here – from your side, rather than mine and we don’t want to be sitting ducks do we?”

  “For God’s sake Jane! I said I’m dealing with it didn’t I?”

  “Yes,” Jane agreed, stroking his hand. “You did and I’m dealing with what’s going on with Lacey, so let me find out more info and then we’ll talk. After she’s had the abortion tomorrow it will be easier for her to spill the beans.”

  Seth sat back in shock. “The what?”

  “I’ve arranged an abortion for her.” Jane stuck her chin out in defiance. “Don’t you dare tell me that’s wrong, Seth. I told you she was pregnant by one of those bastards who get off on young flesh. The tossers who run the place were forcing her to keep the child and then sell it on! It’s fucking disgusting. You can’t expect me not to help her.”

  Seth nodded. “No I don’t. I don’t expect that at all.” The whole thing sickened him and he could already feel his blood boiling. He just wished he knew for certain the girl was telling the truth. “Believe me Jane. If this is true, then the minute we find out who these wankers are I’ll personally ensure they’re removed.”

  Jane smiled. Unclipping her seat belt, she stretched over and kissed Seth hard on the lips. “Thank you. Now hadn’t we better go in and meet the Millers for lunch?”

  Seth raised one eyebrow. “And you’re sure it wasn’t him that sent you those flowers?”

  Jane sighed theatrically. “Yes, I’m sure. Why on earth would Jason be sending me two dozen red roses? Come on! It was obviously a delivery mistake – lucky me eh?”

  She turned away and opened the passenger seat door. Seth had grilled her about those flowers last night. It was true she didn’t have a clue as to who had sent them or why, but it wasn’t true that it was a mistake with the delivery. They’d definitely been meant for her because the attached card had read:

  Jane,

  Let me know when we can finally be together. I’m waiting.

  Always

  J

  xx

  Luckily she’d found the card and got rid of it before Seth had seen it. He’d only grill her and she didn’t want to give him a reason to do that. Neither did she want to tell him about the phone calls.

  Three silent calls she’d received last night, near on one after the other. The caller hadn’t said a thing – all she’d heard was heavy breathing. It was probably a prank. These things happened, but what with everything going on at the moment – both at the clubs and with the girl, she knew Seth was on edge and didn’t want to give him reasons to keep her under guard, or constantly trailed around on the off chance someone was trying to get to them.

  Someone was trying to stir the shit, but she had no clue as to who or why. As for the crap on the card which had come with the flowers, it was utter rubbish. She was Seth’s and certainly no one else’s.

  “SO, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?” Tina asked, greedily pulling on one of the cigarettes Anna had bought for her.

  Anna stirred the spoon around in the chipped mug and glanced out of the stained window in the café where she’d arranged to meet her sister. “Not a lot.” She was really uncomfortable with this whole arrangement.

  Tina folded her arms across her chest. “You’d best find something because I got grabbed around the throat last night, so things had better happen soon otherwise I’ll be forced to start taking action...”

  Anna felt sweat begin to bead on her brow. Tina was deadly serious. She was going to fuck her life up wasn’t she? She stared at the steaming mug of tea in front of her. “Well there’s a couple of things...” she faltered.

  Tina sat forward at the table. “Yes, go on,” she prompted.

  “When Seth returned last night he was covered in blood. He didn’t see me, but I saw him.” Anna lowered her voice further. “I peered through the door and he pulled a gun from his trousers and locked it in his cabinet. Then he took his shirt off, put it in a bag and washed his arms.”

  “Bet you enjoyed looking at him without his shirt on didn’t you?” Tina pushed, seeing Anna blush. “He’s fucking hot!”

  “Don’t be silly, he’s my boss!” she exclaimed. Seth might be her employer, but Tina was right on one thing and that was he was extremely attractive. “He then heard me outside and invited me in for a drink.”

  Tina looked surprised. “Fuck me Anna, this is getting better by the second. He invited you in for a drink? Half naked? Fuck!”

  Anna sighed. “It wasn’t like that, but I ballsed up when I said the flowers he’d sent Jane were nice. Judging by his reaction he obviously hadn’t sent them and I think I may have caused a problem.”

  Tina smirked. “Oh so Jane’s been a naughty girl has she?” She knew Eliza had sent the flowers with a message designed to cause an issue and would be glad to hear it had succeeded. “Did they have a card with them?”

  Anna looked up. “Card? How do I know?”

  Tina sighed loudly. “Oh for Christ’s sake, Anna. Look. Look for the fucking card! If it’s not there - find it! Check the bins, whatever. Maybe Jane threw it away if she’s hiding an affair?”

  “She’s not having an affair! They’re crazy for each other,”

  Tina sneered. “I expect that’s what they want you to think. Rich people always mess about. Find the card and place it something Seth will find it.”

  Anna frowned. “I don’t really want to do something like that.” She didn’t like this. She didn’t want to be party to such underhand behaviour. Seth and Jane had given her a job and treated her well. They’d been nothing apart from nice to her.

  Tina scowled. Come on Anna. “Don’t forget what will happen if you don’t. Besides, you don’t know what these people are really like. Just because outwardly they seem ok and are being nice to you at the moment....” Her eyes narrowed. She had to think quickly.

  Raising her hands to her mouth suddenly in shock, Tina gasped. “Oh my God, Anna! I’ve just realised something. You said Seth came in with a gun last night? Are you sure it was last night?”

  Anna nodded timidly, rapidly wishing she’d kept this gun thing to herself. “Yes it was definitely last night.” It was hardly likely she’d have forgotten when it had happened. That had been the first time, apart from in films, that she’d ever seen a real gun.

  “Now it makes sense....” Tina continued, forcing a realistic expression of anguish across her face. “I heard earlier that this guy called Dennis – a single father with poorly children - he was shot last night. The Wrights have been threatening him for ages. That must have been why Seth had the gun and was covered in blood. Fucking hell Anna, it was Seth that did it don’t you see? I told you didn’t I? How much more proof do you need? Imagine what he’s going to do to you when he thinks you’re using drugs around his kid...”

  Anna paled and felt her hands begin to tremble. This was fast turning into a nightmare!

  “You really need to be delivering what I need to clear my debt,” Tina said, her eyes cold.

  Ok, so it was all bullshit. Dennis didn’t have disabled kids. In fact she didn’t even know anyone called Dennis. Whoever Seth Wright had really shot, Tina didn’t know or care. She needed to get this cash. She’d thought Aiden was going to knock her teeth out last night. “So will you find this card from the flowers and put it somewhere Seth will find it or not?”

  Anna felt so nauseous she felt she might throw up. What choice did she have? It appeared she really was working for and living with psychos. “But what if there’s no card?”

  “There’ll be a card. All flowers come with a card!”

  Anna’s shoulders slumped despondently. She’d never been sent flowers so wouldn’t know. “Ok.”
>
  Tina grinned widely exposing her yellowing teeth. “And you need to get that shirt - the one covered in blood and then bring it to me.”

  Anna’s eyes widened. “How on earth am I supposed to do that?” she squeaked.

  “That’s your problem, but if you know what’s good for you you’d better get a move on.”

  FOURTEEN

  JANE GLANCED AT THE clock in the waiting room. Lacey had been gone for over an hour, so shouldn’t be much longer.

  Jane had exhausted the supply of magazines available on the coffee table and she raised her eyebrow seeing the only one she hadn’t flicked through was a copy of Anglers Weekly.

  She was trying not to focus her gaze on any of the other waiting women – after all it was obvious what they were all there for, although some of the women were undoubtedly the mothers of their younger companions: the daughters who had embarrassedly managed to get pregnant.

  Jane watched them all sneaking furtive glances at each other hoping there was no one they knew in order to save the humiliation of their or their daughter’s predicament within the elite circles they liked to be part of. She snorted with the hypocrisy. This lot might have loads of money, drive the best cars and hob nob with the well-connected, but when push came to shove, everyone from all walks of life had the same issues to face from time to time.

  Jane had specifically arranged Lacey’s procedure to be carried out in a private clinic out of the city for two reasons: one, so there was no chance of Lacey bumping in to anyone who may know her, or know of her and two, less chance that she herself would. The last thing she wanted was gossip floating around about her being seen in an abortion clinic. The press would love that.

  Jane’s mind wandered off to how Toby was doing. Anna hadn’t been herself lately. The girl seemed preoccupied and more nervous than usual and hadn’t even been able to look her in the face this morning.

  She frowned, hoping Anna wasn’t planning on leaving. Maybe the best thing to do would be to have a chat with her and see if she was finding everything ok. If Anna had anything that was bothering her or if she was unhappy with something, then now was the time to say, rather than later.

  Interrupted from her thoughts by a door opening, Jane looked up as a woman wearing the clinic’s uniform approached.

  “Mrs Wright? Lacey’s in the recovery room so you can come through and see her now.”

  Jane got to her feet and followed the woman through the door. Lacey lay on the bed looking pale, shaken and very small. She walked over and took her hand. “How are you feeling?”

  Lacey nervously checked to make sure the woman had left the room. Satisfied they were alone she winced as she propped herself up. “Has it gone?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes love,” Jane answered softly. “It’s all done.”

  “Are you sure?” Lacey questioned, panic clear in her voice.

  Jane nodded. “The baby’s gone Lacey, I promise.” She’d checked with the nurse as they’d walked down the corridor to confirm everything had been successfully carried out. “You’ll be a bit sore and bleed for a couple more days I expect, but everything went well. You’ll be back to normal before you know it!”

  Tears of relief seeped from Lacey’s eyes as Jane’s words sunk in.

  “Are you ok?” Jane asked.

  “I will be now. I don’t know how to thank you for doing this for me.”

  Jane smiled. “You can start by telling me how all of this happened.” Watching Lacey’s face drop in disappointment she continued. “You really do need to tell me everything and I mean everything.” She needed to know what she was dealing with so this girl and any others were not exposed to further harm by whoever was running this sick gig.

  ELIZA SMILED AT THE little girl clinging shyly behind the social worker in the doorway to her lounge.

  “And this is Emily,” the social worker said brightly. “She’s been really looking forward to meeting you, haven’t you Emily. We hope this time you’ll find each other a good match...”

  With the silence weighing heavily in the room, Eliza felt her muscles aching from fixing the wide beaming smile across her face.

  Only the other day they’d been introduced to the other girl – the one they weren’t interested in. Although the kid was kind of sweet in a fragile, sad sort of way, it was irrelevant because she was of no use to them. Eliza had stated that she and the child just hadn’t ‘clicked’.

  Despite the social worker’s pushing to give it a little more time before making a firm decision, Eliza had made it clear her feelings were final. She’d needed access to the right kid sooner rather than later and hadn’t time to ponce around to anyone’s feelings.

  Eliza still hadn’t seen the girl hiding behind the social worker and tried not to make it obvious she was attempting to peer around the woman’s large thighs to get a glimpse of the girl who seemed hell bent on remaining obscured from view.

  She had to ensure this was Jane’s kid. It made no difference if she was called Emily these days rather than Grace – that happened a lot with kids like her. That had been part of what had made tracking her down so difficult. All the credentials about birthplace, age etc. added up, but she needed to see for herself. Surely there would be some resemblance to her biological parents? Jane and Seth’s faces were indelibly etched in her mind so she’d spot any true likeness a mile off.

  Eliza glanced at Digger noticing he looked extremely uncomfortable. He needed to get a grip. She couldn’t pull off this doting ‘We-Want-To-Be-Your-New-Parents’ thing if he sat there with a face like a slapped arse could she?

  “Hello sweetheart!” Eliza said in the sickliest sweet voice she could conjure up. “I’m Eliza and this is Di... erm... Sam.” She ignored Digger’s death stares. She’d had to use his real name as she could hardly introduce him as Digger could she?

  “Do you want to come over here to sit by us and tell us a little about yourself Emily? We’d love to get to know you,” Eliza continued, subtly wiping her sweaty hands down her knee-length smart skirt. Come on! I need to see your face kid!

  The social worked pulled the little girl forward slightly. “Come on Emily. These nice people have invited us around especially to meet you.” She glanced at Eliza. “She’s a bit shy.”

  The little girl reluctantly stepped forward and stood awkwardly, her small hand clutching a doll.

  Eliza couldn’t hide the audible intake of breath when she cast her eyes on the child in front of her. Her gaze locked on the girl’s curly raven hair, emerald eyes and exquisitely pretty heart-shaped face. She studied the pouting rosebud mouth and swallowed hard. Christ! This was definitely Seth and Jane’s child no mistake. The kid had won the jackpot with her looks by inheriting all of her parents’ best bits.

  She stole a quick glance at Digger who looked equally astounded with what they were looking at.

  “My, don’t you look pretty!” Eliza said brightly. “I love your dress!” She hadn’t even noticed what dress the kid was wearing, but she’d had to say something.

  The child beamed from the compliment and her whole face lit up. “It’s my best one!” she cried happily, the shyness slowly evaporating.

  Eliza patted the sofa. “Come and tell me about your dress then.”

  The child ran over to the sofa, jumping onto it and Eliza stifled the urge not to scream at the kid to mind her shoes on the cream leather.

  “Will I be living with you now?” she asked boldly, staring at Eliza with intense eyes like Jane’s, just with Seth’s colouring.

  Momentarily taken off guard by the look in the child’s eyes, Eliza’s mouth flapped up and down silently.

  “Emily!” the social worker interrupted. “You know you’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

  “No, it’s ok,” Eliza said, waving her hand dismissively. She turned towards the child. “We’d very much like it if you decided you wanted to live here, wouldn’t we Di... erm, Sam.”

  “Yeah,” Digger grunted, unable to get his head a
round this. God, having this kid here would be far too close to having a bizarre combined version of Seth and Jane in his house.

  “I think perhaps the next thing to do is arrange a day where you three can spend more time together getting to know each other properly,” the social worker beamed. “Would you like that Emily?”

  The little girl nodded enthusiastically. “Yes please!”

  Eliza smiled widely. “That’s great. Let’s arrange it now.” Maybe then they could fuck off and get back to Elipse. This afternoon she’d have to break the news to Lomond that Lacey had gone AWOL and he wouldn’t be happy.

  ANNA WAS IN COMPLETELY unchartered waters in more ways than one. Toby was having his afternoon nap so she’d taken the opportunity to have a bit of time in her room.

  After she’d left the café she’d been shocked when she’d literally bumped into a man.

  “Hello! Anna isn’t it?” the man had asked. “Do you remember me?”

  It had taken her a few seconds to place the good-looking tall blond man she’d met at that awful function the other week. She hadn’t even thought he’d known her name he’d been that desperate to get away from her before. Shyly she’d smiled, unsure what to say or do with this unusual turn of events.

  “I’m Aiden by the way. I’m sure you don’t remember my name or even me! You must get chatted up by everyone!” he’d said smiling, exposing a row of straight white teeth.

  Anna had blushed. Hardly. She never got chatted up by anyone, let alone the nice looking ones... “Yes, yes of course I remember you. How are you?” she’d asked timidly, frantically trying to disguise her nerves whilst remembering the art of conversation.

  “All the better now I’ve seen you. I can’t believe I’ve been so lucky as to run in to you like this,” Aiden had gushed. “I’ve been trying to get into contact with you since the Miller’s party.”

  “You have?” Anna had asked perplexed, her eyes running over his muscled arms. “Why?”