by Edie Baylis
He didn’t know what bothered him more: that Jane thought he’d cheat, or that he’d go with someone little more than a kid. Both, truth be told.
Seth put the crystal tumbler to his lips, the alcohol taking its toll as he clumsily missed his mouth and slopped whisky down the front of his shirt. Christ he was drunk.
And what was all that about with the phone calls Jane kept receiving? The ones where someone was telling her he was having an affair? These phone calls never happened when he was there. And what about the people watching the house? Neither Martin nor Barry had seen anyone the whole time they’d been posted outside, apart from some bloke who had apparently walked Anna home one night. That he’d be following up on.
Seth reached clumsily over the desk for the whisky yet again, his eyebrows knitting together. Furthermore who’d called the police last night? None of it made any sense.
Dan watched Seth’s mind working overtime, his fingers stumbling with the screw-top cap of the whisky bottle and his jaw clenched in frustration. “Seth, don’t drink any more. You’ll be no use.”
Seth laughed. A thin, hollow sound. “Seems I’m a nuisance to everyone at the moment.”
Dan sighed. The last thing he needed was Seth on a drunken self-pity trip. Whether he liked it or not, he’d have to fill him in about Miller, but doing it when the man was drunk was not a good idea. Saying that, what choice did he have? “Seth, you n...”
“Who called the cops?” Seth said, his steely gaze fixated on Dan.
“I’ve no idea, but it definitely looks like someone’s out to set you up.”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
Dan sat back in his chair and raised his eyebrows. “Are you suggesting it’s me?”
Seth quickly stood up and much to his annoyance, staggered slightly. “Don’t get fly with me pal!” he slurred. “I’m asking you a fucking question and I’m not in the mood for lip.”
Dan clenched his fists in frustration and fought the urge to tell Seth to fuck himself. “It’s not me if that’s what you want to know and for the record, it’s not Maggie either. Did you not notice we’ve put ourselves in the firing line thanks to you coming round caked in God knows whose blood. You haven’t even had the decency to level with me about that and you think we’d phone the bloody cops? Seth, if I thought you’d hit Jane, I’d floor you my fucking self regardless of what you are and don’t think I wouldn’t.”
Seth stared at Dan and his face morphed into a scowl. Floor him would he? If he ever hit Jane he’d floor himself! He despised that it had been put about that he’d lay a finger on his beautiful wife. It was bad enough he’d accidently knocked her into that desk, but he’d never have hit her. All he cared about and all he’d ever cared about was that she and the children were safe.
“You need to take a look closer to home as to who could be stirring. Your au pair for a start?”
Calming down slightly, Seth shook his head. “It couldn’t be Anna. She hasn’t got it in her. She wouldn’t say boo to a goose, plus she wouldn’t be that stupid!”
“How come the press were conveniently there too? It had to be a tip off. Whoever phoned the cops also phoned the press. It’s someone with an agenda.”
Seth sat down heavily on his seat and grabbed the whisky.
Dan snatched the bottle out of his hands. “Stop this Seth and fucking concentrate!” he barked.
Seth looked up sharply, feeling the urge to lamp Dan for his cheek, but refrained. He knew the man was speaking the truth. He needed to get this sorted. All of it.
“We need to find out who’s betraying you and feeding this shit around.”
“Aside from Linda fucking Miller you mean?” Seth spat. The bitch. It was probably her that called the cops. But there was no way she’d have known Jane and he were arguing. Could it be Anna after all?
Dan inhaled deeply. Now was the time. “Linda Miller isn’t worth wasting your energy on, but Jason is.... He wants out....”
“What?” Seth slammed his fist down on the table. “Why is that may I ask? Didn’t he have the bollocks to tell me himself, the spineless bastard!”
AIDEN MIGHT HAVE KNOWN there would be a catch. During his unexpected tryst with Eliza the other day he’d found himself eagerly agreeing to make more inroads looking for Lacey.
Eliza had made him feel special by firstly pointing out that he was being trusted to be responsible for finding Lacey and then in the same breath, she’d casually reminded him that it was due to his failings in the first place that the girl had escaped.
The trouble was, once Eliza had sunk herself onto his rigid shaft and begun working him like a machine he’d have agreed to anything. And now he was trapped.
He knew full well she’d got one over on him with bells on. Now not only did she have the leverage to blackmail him because he knew she’d have no problem informing Digger of his ‘indiscretions’. He’d done it all to himself because his need for gratification was, as usual, all consuming.
Aiden scowled as he pulled into the multi-storey car park. He glanced at the girl sitting in the passenger seat who hadn’t said two words since she’d got into the car.
“Where are we going?” Selena asked. She had no idea why she’d been told to accompany Aiden into town, apart from locating Lacey Garner. The story Aiden had given her certainly hadn’t matched what she’d heard from the other girls, but then again it was none of her business.
“I don’t know,” Aiden answered. “We’ll have to scout around. Ask as many people as you can who look the sort who may have seen, or been in contact with her.” He fished a photo of Lacey from his pocket. “Here, take this. Say you’re her sister or something. Something believable.”
Selina stared at the picture of the pretty girl with haunted eyes. “Is she in trouble?” She didn’t want to get involved with anything which could cause more issues. There was undoubtedly a very good reason why the girl had done a runner – Steve Lomond for one - and she didn’t want to be party in bringing her back to that.
“Eliza’s got a soft spot for her,” Aiden lied. “She’s heard on the grapevine she may be danger, so wants to locate her. Whether you believe it or not, this is for Lacey’s benefit and if you try to impede what Eliza wants I promise it won’t be good,” he said, the unmistakeable threat heavy in his voice.
Nodding and although utterly unconvinced, Selena opened the car door and stepped out.
“DAN!” MAGGIE HISSED as she pulled the kitchen door closed and dragged him halfway up the hallway. “Are you out of your mind? We can’t keep doing this.”
Dan opened his mouth to respond, but Maggie silenced him by putting her finger on his lips. “I mean it! It’s ridiculous.” She nodded towards the closed door. “I told you before I wouldn’t get involved with anything suspect and you’re involving me. You’re also involving yourself and I won’t have it!”
“Keep your voice down,” Dan muttered, glancing up the hallway. “He’ll hear you.”
“I don’t care!” Maggie said, her voice rising. “I’ll tell him myself if I have to. None of this is right and we’ll be the ones implicated with whatever’s going on here if we’re not careful.” She raised her eyebrows. “Let’s face it.... You don’t know do you?”
Dan’s silence confirmed Maggie’s suspicions and made her determination stronger. She had no idea what was going down and realised Dan kept a lot of it from her, but now it was obvious he was in the dark as well as her. She didn’t like it. Seth’s behaviour was getting much too reminiscent of the old days and she was feeling that all-encompassing cold dread every time he was on the scene which didn’t bode well.
Jane had been acting erratic lately too and Maggie was sadly coming to the conclusion that it looked like it may all come round full circle. She desperately hoped not, but wasn’t willing to risk Dan or herself being dragged into their shit.
“Regardless of anything else, they can’t see getting back involved in this sort of shit. I
f it hits the fan, like it invariably will in the end, it will completely scupper getting their daughter back,” Maggie hissed. “Being as they seem blind to that, we’re not so it’s up to us to stop them – for their sakes.”
Dan looked exasperated. “What the hell am I supposed to do then Mags?”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “For Christ’s sake, Dan. He’s got to go.”
“The man’s getting it from all sides here. I can’t abandon him too. Everyone’s got it in for him and trying to set him up.”
“But are they?” Maggie spat. “Have you questioned as to whether any of it is true Dan? You’re forgetting I know him of old. I know what both him and Jane are capable of and I think you forget that sometimes. Believe me, I wish I could forget it but I can’t.”
Dan stared at Maggie unsure what to say or even what he could say. The truth as to how she felt was coming out now. Things were getting complicated.
“I knew it would end up like this. I never fully believed Seth wouldn’t start doing this sort of shit again. I’ve always said th...”
“That I was a psycho and always would be? That Jane should have left me and kept it that way? Yes I know full well how you feel Maggie,” Seth interrupted, making his presence known as he leant unsteadily against the door jamb.
“Seth, I.... Maggie wasn’t saying th...” Dan blustered.
“Shut it Dan. I might be drunk, but I’m not fucking deaf!” Seth roared.
Maggie paled and tried to ignore the daggers Dan was glaring at her. “We’re just worried about you Seth, that’s all,” she said quietly, her determination to sort the situation reversing like a getaway car. “You’ll mess up your court case and I’m worried.”
Seth sneered. “Like hell you are. Why the fuck are you trying to make things worse. Don’t you care about Jane? What do you think will happen if I keep getting set up?” he slurred. “Don’t you think that’s important even if you don’t give a rat’s arse about me?”
Maggie folded her arms, finding a small burst of inner resolve. “It’s not that I don’t care about you Seth. I do, but you shouldn’t expect us to do things like this for you all the time.”
“All the time?” Seth raised one eyebrow and stumbled slightly as he moved forward. “It’s only been the once Maggie. Tell you what, I’ll get out of your hair shall I? Perhaps go home and give Jane another kicking and wait to be arrested again along with everything else. That’s if she hasn’t already divorced me for fucking sixteen year olds!” he yelled sarcastically.
“Now you’re being ridiculous!” Maggie yelled.
“Then tell me what the fuck’s so important you’re having problems dealing with this will you?”
“I just don’t need all this shit again ok?” Maggie screamed. Turning on her heels she ran upstairs, tears flowing down her face.
IT HAD BEEN A LONG walk home, but Seth knew he needed both the time and the fresh air to sober up and sort his head out. He’d not had much choice but to leave Dan and Maggie’s if he’d wanted to remain being anything near a decent person once Maggie had had once of her meltdowns. Furthermore, what the hell was he doing standing there drunk when he should be at home with his wife?
Fuck these people trying to cause issues. They weren’t important and he’d deal with them, but the priority was Jane. These things she thought were going on: phone calls and these wild accusations... Was she cracking up? Was all of this pressure about Grace too much?
The hackles on Seth’s neck tingled with anger at the lost time and their lost child. He shoved his hands further down in his pockets as he continued slowly along the road, his unsteadiness improving the more he walked.
It wouldn’t surprise him if these bouts of paranoia Jane was getting stemmed partly from the emotional turmoil she was feeling over their daughter, along with the impact of finding out where she was. He knew it was hitting her hard and what Maggie had told him about Jane’s behaviour recently in the spa was a good example of her beginning to lose it.
Rounding the corner of his road Seth spotted Barry’s car not far from his driveway. Approaching the dark saloon he tapped on the window and shrugged his shoulders questioningly. Seeing Barry shake his bullish head signifying there had been no movement or watchers to the house, Seth nodded and continued.
He smiled as his boots crunched noisily up the gravel pathway. He couldn’t wait to see Jane. Every time he was away from her it was painful. It was imperative she listened to him and believed he wasn’t guilty of her suspicions. He had to make her realise it was her mind playing tricks.
The vendetta to do with the club was a different story however and it was only a matter of time before he’d prove this was down to Miller. He had to show Jane the rest of this stuff was unfounded.
Letting himself in through the front door the house was in darkness, apart from a light in the kitchen. Seth’s eyes narrowed. Just one thing he needed to do first.
ANNA ALMOST DROPPED her glass of water on the kitchen floor when suddenly feeling a presence like a buzzing charge, realised someone was in the room.
Swinging around, she was astounded to see Seth two feet behind her, regarding her with steely eyes. She hadn’t heard one sound to signal his arrival, yet here he was – almost upon her.
With her heart pounding, Anna attempted to replace the shock plastered across her face with a smile and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped realising Seth’s expression and demeanour hinted that things were far from alright. She faltered, unsure of what to do or say. Her nervousness was glaringly obvious.
Looking at what she could see behind Seth’s green eyes, Anna felt an invisible ice-cold finger of fear tap her on the shoulder. Overriding the constricted feeling in her throat, she managed to force her words out. “Mr Wright,” she squeaked. “You’re back!”
Seth smiled thinly and took a step towards her. “Yes, it seems I am...”
Aware she was now trapped between Seth and the work surface, Anna couldn’t pull her eyes away from him and stood stiff with fear waiting for him to speak. In the close proximity between them she could smell spirits on Seth’s breath and could see he’d been drinking. Whisky at a guess and a hell of a lot of it.
Her eyes darted across the room, realising there really was no way to get past this man without physically pushing him out of the way and that was not a plausible route to take.
“So,” Seth drawled. “Was it you who enlightened the police last night?”
Seth’s voice coming unexpectedly after such a long silence startled Anna further and the question’s subject worried her even more. Shit! What the hell did she do now? “M-Me?” she stammered meekly.
“Yes, you!” Seth growled, placing one hand on the work surface to the left of her, trapping her further into position. His body was now only six inches from hers and she forced herself to look into his eyes, more than aware of his over-dominant position.
Anna quickly lowered her eyes to the floor. “I-I didn’t call the police on you Mr Wright. I wouldn’t do that.” Well it was true. She might have called Aiden and told him what was happening, but she’d only done that because she’d been terrified and hadn’t known what else to do.
She’d been as surprised as they had when the police arrived. She wouldn’t have called Aiden if she’d known he would do that, but he was most likely trying to protect her. He seemed good like that.
Seth’s mouth formed into a grimace. “Why else would they have turned up in the middle of an argument if it wasn’t you Anna? Tell me that! There may be several people who’d love to set me up, but it would be an amazing coincidence if someone outside of the house happened to guess the best time for the cops to arrive....” He smiled savagely, baring his straight white teeth. “How do you explain that?”
Anna stared at the floor, knowing she was acting guilty as sin, which of course in a way she was.
Seth gripped Anna’s face with his hand and pulled it firmly up so she was forced to meet his eyes. “Well?”
“I-It wasn�
�t me who phoned either of them Mr Wright,” she repeated, hoping against hope he’d buy it.
Seth studied Anna’s face. He knew she wasn’t being straight. She knew something about it and he felt like giving her a slap. “I’ll find out you know,” he sneered, the faint hint of a smile across his full mouth as he released his grip. “Ok, so try this one... It had to be you who spoke to the press.”
Fighting the urge to touch where Seth’s hand had gripped her face, Anna knew there was little point denying that one. “T-They cornered me and I panicked. I didn’t say all that stuff though, I swear. They’ve twisted it around.” She’d seen the newspaper and had been horrified. It was obvious she’d been the source. Who else could have been interviewed at the scene with ‘inside’ knowledge?
In all honesty she’d been so frightened and confused she couldn’t remember what she’d said to that pushy reporter, but regardless, the most insinuating parts of her statement had been twisted around and bolted together.
“I-I’m sorry if what they’ve quoted me as saying has made things worse. He just kept firing questions at me and wouldn’t let me back into the house. I needed to get to Toby.”
Seth scowled. Another reporter he’d have to pay a fucking visit to then? He walked over to the fridge, grabbed a can of lager and leant back against the work surface, studying Anna.
Anna stood unmoving, Could she go now? “I-I’m glad you’re back and it’s all sorted out anyway,” she muttered, attempting to take a step towards the door.
Pushing quickly away from where he leant, Seth easily blocked Anna’s path. “Just one last thing... Who the fuck brought you home the other week? What’s his name and has he been in my fucking house?”
TWENTY SEVEN
SELENA KEPT WALKING. This was the third day in a row she’d gone around town for hours in what, as far as she was concerned, was a near impossible task.
On the upside, despite the pain from her blistered feet, she’d quite willingly spend the rest of time looking for Lacey Garner if it got her out of having to service Steve Lomond. Or any of the others for that matter.