The Grotto's Secret: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller

by Paula Wynne

  A downstairs shutter flew open, almost thumping Barker on the side of his head. She hadn’t noticed him as she spun around to her desk. Barker had to stay out of sight. Luckily for him, Teresina never gave anyone on the TV crew a second glance.

  From the corner of his eye, Barker watched her punch a number into her landline and flop into a luxurious leather chair. Her black espadrilles matched her sombre black dress and her grave face. The she-devil swung her heels onto the edge of her desk.

  One thing she had going for her was her innate ability to transform her father’s family ruin into a chic and glamorous yet classical home. The entrance hall’s chandelier pendant was over the top, but she had a good eye for design with her edgy, contemporary pieces.

  As usual, Teresina’s shoulder length, limp black hair had been tucked behind her goblin ears. It shone as if someone had sprayed a can of furniture lacquer over her head.

  Her stark dresses were always black with an occasional spray of white as if she were at a permanent wake. And those hooped earrings made her look like a tart.

  Barker craned his neck like a giraffe over the elaborate wrought iron window decoration to peer into her office. On her desk a magazine lay open. Both women in the centre spread photograph had a large question mark splashed over them, etched in blood and dripping over their faces.

  Because he’d sent it, he knew it featured the women entrepreneurs who appeared on Devil’s Grotto. In it, each woman recounted their successes in helping their mentees pursue and hunt down their own riches.

  In the magazine photo, Kelby’s eyes were azure plunge pools in an island of complication. Every woman wanted eyes that colour. And it was obvious from the impatience radiating from her iridescent eyes that she couldn’t care less about the photo shoot. The frown lines criss-crossing her forehead warned any prospective admirers that she had passed her sell-by date. She wore a fringe to hide evidence of a workaholic face.

  Teresina leaned forward in her seat, looking into the camera and Barker could imagine precisely what was on her mind while the photo was being taken.

  He gave a start as he heard Teresina suddenly bark into the phone, ‘Kelby Wade, please.’

  8

  A twinge of annoyance shot through Kelby as Jimmy ambled back into her office. He hadn’t given her a moment’s peace that morning. ‘What now?’ She dropped her gaze and continued typing into her laptop.

  ‘The man-eater’s on the line.’

  Kelby’s head shot up. ‘What! Teresina never calls. What does she want?’

  ‘She won’t say.’

  She slid her thumb nail across her teeth.

  ‘And?’ Jimmy waited for her direction.

  ‘I’m thinking.’

  ‘Hurry up. She’ll be brewing up a head of steam on the other end.’

  ‘I don’t care. I won’t have her horns ramming into me.’

  ‘I can see you’re not in the mood for another fight with Teresina. The more you stay out of each other’s hair the better for both of you.’ Jimmy whispered, before putting the phone on loudspeaker. He raised a finger in the air to indicate he was about to speak and pressed a button. ‘Sorry, Miss Piccoli. Kelby is busy with her mentees.’

  Teresina blasted down the line, ‘I have something she needs to know. It can’t wait.’

  Kelby’s jaw dropped.

  ‘I can disturb her if it’s urgent.’

  Kelby shook her head, mouthing: No!

  Teresina snorted. ‘Oh, for pity’s sake, drop the bullshit. Kelby will want to know about this. We had a spat on the show last week, so what.’ She let out a grunt. ‘God’s truth, she cannot afford not to hear this.’

  ‘Hold on, please.’ Jimmy pressed the mute button again and raised his eyebrows at Kelby.

  ‘She’s in one of her moods. She’ll wind me up and stuff up my day.’

  Jimmy nodded, un-muted the phone and said, ‘Oh, Miss Piccoli, my mistake, a client has joined the meeting. If you’d care to give me a detailed message, I can slip it under Kelby’s nose and ring you as soon as I get a response.’

  ‘No! I cannot leave a message, you thick Mick!’ Teresina spat. ‘And I will not be giving you the low-down. Get your boss to call me.’ She emphasised her Italian accent, ‘Veloce! I’ll be on my mobile in my car. Got that? Bene!’

  Kelby flinched as Teresina slammed the receiver down. ‘Sorry, Jimmy. That was out of order.’

  He’d been with Kelby for five years and she hated to imagine a day without him. She made a mental note to speak to the cow about it. Teresina had everything Kelby wanted, including a life away from the cameras with a child. But she was rude and arrogant, and that Kelby certainly didn’t envy.

  ‘Jaysus, she’s a piece of work!’ Jimmy muttered before leaving her alone.

  Kelby glanced at her desk. Cables snaked along the oak, disappearing into her laptop which took pride of place amongst the techno gadgets. Some glowed with cyber glitter as they routed her to the world’s web, while others blinked to announce their connection to her office data storage network. Each device reminded her of their right to be there with an ethereal cat’s eyes’ constant glare and a quiet electrical hum. This was her world, her real home.

  All the tools increased her productivity, but she couldn’t live without her laptop. If marooned on a remote island, she’d have to be mean with her time on it to savour the battery while trying to find an electrical connection. She’d be lost without it.

  Jimmy swept in carrying a bowl of sliced melon and a freshly brewed coffee. ‘Here you go. Your cantaloupe, madame. Sounds like antelope, only less chewy and not as likely to run away.’

  Kelby smiled, ‘No Yakult today?’

  ‘Why are you still taking that stuff?’

  ‘It’s good bacteria.’

  ‘So, you’ll be full of friendly feckin’ maggots!’

  Her eyes stole a glance at the window and what lay beyond. ‘It’s only your funny bone that keeps me from firing you.’

  ‘No-one else would do what I do, yer know.’ He darted out.

  Goodness knows what could be so urgent to make the Italian heiress lower herself to call her arch rival. Between abuse from internet stalkers and Teresina’s heckling she’d had enough of Devil’s Grotto.

  Once again, her phone beeped. Automatically reaching for it, she hoped it would give her news about Annie.

  Instead it spewed out another poisonous threat.

  9

  Barker had almost completed this part of his mission. Now he could slink back into the shadows and wait it out.

  Old palazzos had kitchens and working areas where the owners never ventured. Teresina had probably instructed the back kitchen patio to be shrouded in palms and greenery to hide her servants coming and going.

  It was a perfect place to watch his plan unfold.

  The she-devil stood in the doorway with her vicious paws clasped to her hips. ‘Majella, I’m not calling you again!’ bellowed Teresina, now in a restless rage.

  Well, soon enough the brat would snuff it too, but that was her mother’s fault, not hers.

  Teresina’s heels echoed on the marbled patio tiles as she paced. ‘Inez! My bags are ready.’

  Even from a distance, her ranting cat-calls rang in Barker’s ears. From his position on the kitchen patio, he saw an old lady hobble out from the palazzo laden with Vuitton luggage.

  ‘Book my hotel in Rome, the number’s on the dresser in the hall. Majella and I will be home in a few days. In the meantime, get the pool cleaned and the driveway hedges clipped. The house could also do with a spring clean — and don’t think I’m not watching you. I am! I have eyes in the back of my head.’

  From experience, Barker knew Teresina’s emerald eyes glowed like those of the panther she emulated.

  Inez n
odded.

  ‘Bene, okay! Don’t forget to book my hotel in Rome. We’re going there straight after visiting Nonna.’

  No you’re not, she-devil, you’re not going to Rome. The thought sent a powerful surge of warmth that radiated down one side of Barker as though someone had plucked at his central nerve. It made his Johnson bulge his trousers.

  ‘Majella wants to buy some pretty dresses after my meetings, but I have an awful man to meet.’ Her nose snarled as she said, ‘Wait till the Bastardo hears what I have to say!’

  She tossed her patent leather handbag in the car and let out a roar without turning around, ‘Majella!’

  ‘I’m right here, Mamma.’ A soft voice came from her side.

  Teresina patted Majella’s fluffy head. ‘No matter how much you brush, you can’t keep this fuzz down… can you, carino? Like your papa.’ She jumped in behind the wheel.

  Once again, she tucked her hair behind her goblin ears, and turned in her seat to check Majella was fastened into place in the back. Then the she-devil sped down the drive.

  For a moment Barker watched the Maserati disappear over the winding hill towards Serramonacesca. He gave a salute and muttered, ‘Drop dead… devil,’ before he sauntered inside with a sudden lightness in his chest, and let out a deep gratifying sigh.

  One down. One to go.

  10

  Kelby stared at the latest message:

  @kelbywade Get your pussy ready 4 a beating.

  U will be raped B4 2nite’s over

  Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs. Hot breath caught in her throat. This has gone too far!

  Kelby’s instinct was to hurl the phone at the wall and watch it splinter and crack, removing all traces of the violence it held. Instead, she tossed the phone back onto her desk and snubbed its clatter of disapproval. She yelled to Jimmy in his adjoining office and his head appeared around the door.

  Kelby slumped back in her chair. ‘To do the show, I signed up to being hounded. I know I have to have rhino skin, but this…’

  Jimmy loped over to her, picked up the phone and read the message. ‘The bastard!’

  ‘It’s about time the cops stopped this abuse. Please get them in here asap.’ She shook her head in disgust. ‘Call Twitter. They must have policies about this kind of thing happening.’

  Before either could speak, her phone beeped again:

  @kelbywade I’m not going 2 go away. I WILL B in your face

  Kelby gasped. ‘It’s as if the bastard’s right here in the office listening to us.’ She stood and glared at her team of workers. Everyone had their head down and a phone to their ear.

  ‘You think it’s one of them?’

  Kelby sunk back into her chair and tossed her phone to him. Jimmy grabbed it in mid-air with a well-practised catch. ‘I’m sure some fellas from Dublin’s north side would love to pay this tormentor a visit.’

  ‘I don’t play dirty.’

  ‘Maybe it’s time you did.’

  11

  An hour later Jimmy pranced into Kelby’s office with a cat-that-got-the-cream expression on his face. ‘The cops will be here any minute.’

  Still deeply engrossed in a financial spreadsheet, Kelby looked up.

  ‘And you wanted to see the leopard.’ He waved at Zelda to enter.

  While Jimmy hovered nervously, Kelby watched Zelda saunter into her office. Before the girl had a chance to spread her effervescence around the room, Kelby said, ‘I have something special for you to do today.’

  ‘Okay, Kelby.’

  ‘Jimmy will give you an office credit card and I want you to go to Hamleys and buy the best toys for Down Syndrome kids.’

  Jimmy and Zelda’s jaws dropped.

  ‘Act as though you’re a kid again and find the most exciting ones, okay?’

  ‘Sure, that sounds fun. How much do I spend?’

  ‘A couple of hundred or so will be fine.’ Kelby turned to Jimmy and held out her hand, ‘Card please?’

  Still puzzled, Jimmy dug in his wallet and handed her the company credit card and she passed it to Zelda.

  ‘And another thing, I have a pile of designer dresses I want to get rid of.’

  ‘Ooh, sounds fun!’

  ‘Don’t get too excited. The studio tends to dress me in frilly sleeves that get in the way and long skirts I keep tripping over.’

  Zelda giggled.

  ‘Anyway, can you find the best way for me to get rid of them without the studio getting offended?’

  Zelda threw her arms in the air and exclaimed, ‘Why not give them to a charity? They can sell them and make money. You’ll get oodles of PR. And …’ she drew out her final comment, ‘the studio will think you’re a saint.’

  It was Kelby’s turn for her jaw to drop. She stared at Zelda and gave Jimmy a smug glance. ‘What a brilliant idea!’

  Zelda spun around in a pirouette. ‘Ta-dah! Everyone happy.’

  ‘Can you handle it, please?’

  ‘Oh, Kelby, I’d kill if anyone else took on the job! I’ll get right on it when I’m back from Hamleys. Any particular charity?’

  ‘Actually, there is. Help For Heroes. And the National Eczema Society — split it between them.’

  ‘Yuck, I know the one. The scaly red patches that make them look like lepers.’

  Kelby flinched.

  As Zelda clomped out of Kelby’s office in her high-heels, Jimmy called after her, ‘And buy everyone a round of sarnies.’

  Zelda shot Kelby a questioning glance.

  ‘Sure.’ Kelby smiled and waved her off.

  Within seconds, Zelda’s head popped back around the door. ‘Own up. Who did it?’

  ‘What?’ Jimmy started towards the door.

  Zelda whispered, ‘The pigs are here!’

  12

  Kelby watched as Jimmy led the two policemen into her office. She indicated the soft seating in the corner. ‘Please take a seat.’

  Young Police Constable Pike resembled a string-bean, thin and gaunt like a marathon runner. PC Gardenia, turkey-necked and cagey, allowed his less-seasoned colleague to take charge and stood silently while PC Pike said, ‘Great show, it’s very popular. I believe you’re currently filming the next series.’ His eyes betrayed the tension inside him and Kelby wondered if he was being supervised by Turkey-neck.

  Sitting opposite them, Kelby explained how she had to maintain a social media presence, but some dimwit had started trolling her.

  PC Pike scribbled notes, flipping back and forth between pages to check what he’d written. Beside him, PC Gardenia stared over his shoulder in silence.

  She finished by handing PC Pike her phone. ‘You can see the messages in there.’

  The young officer took his time scrolling through the threats she had received earlier, nodding now and then.

  Biting back impatience, Kelby pushed her glasses on top of her head and blinked to focus on PC Pike. ‘What are you going to do about it?’

  ‘What do you expect us to do, Miss Wade?’ PC Gardenia appeared suddenly energised. ‘This sort of thing is to be expected when you’re in the spotlight.’

  Kelby bristled. ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t accept that. People don’t need to behave this way to anyone, even to someone in the spotlight.’

  ‘Well, most people don’t bother the police with such everyday matters.’

  ‘Can’t you hunt him down and stop him before he gets it in his stupid head to act on any of those threats.’

  ‘They are only tweets at the moment —’

  PC Pike interrupted his colleague, ‘Twitter should sort this out for you by closing the offender’s account.’

  ‘But can’t you get someone to watch my house in case this idiot tries to break in?’

&
nbsp; The Turkey-neck’s excess skin flapped about his throat as he shook his head. ‘If he comes around, then call 999 and we’ll come straight round. But for now, we are very understaffed due to the budget cuts and very busy with real threats.’

  His monotone voice made it hard for Kelby to concentrate. There were too many things whistling through her head.

  Opposite her, PC Pike fidgeted uncomfortably and added, ‘Miss Wade, we can’t put surveillance on you just like that, but we —’

  PC Gardenia butted in, ‘Listen, many celebrities face this kind of thing, and they get private security firms to guard them.’

  The younger officer seemed bent on trying to help and said, ‘We’ll discuss it with our supervisory officer, but we have to manage your expectations.’

  She slumped back in her seat and narrowed her eyes. ‘You can’t

  do anything?’

  ‘As I said, we’ll speak to our super —’

  ‘Yes, yes, I know.’ Kelby jumped to her feet, ‘you have to manage my expectations.’ She marched to the door. ‘If that’s all, officers, I’ll take it from here.’

  As PC Pike reached the door, he turned to her, took her hand and wished her well.

  When they were gone Kelby spotted a cloud drifting past the window forming into a one-eyed gargoyle that scowled at her. Maybe Jimmy was right. Even if Twitter closed his account, he’d rise again with another account, a new obnoxious user name and the same abusive torch. How could she ever hope to win if she didn’t play their game?

  She spun around and marched to the door linking her and Jimmy’s office. ‘Jimmy, please get Jon Thompson on the line.’

  ‘Sure, anything I need to prep before you speak to him?’

  ‘No thanks. The cops won’t help. As executive producer, Jon should handle this.’ She sighed. He wasn’t the show’s only producer, but he was certainly the most difficult.

  ‘Will do.’ At the door, Jimmy stopped. ‘Ah, I nearly forgot. Your herbs are sitting in the boardroom.’

  For a moment Kelby didn’t understand, then it dawned on her. As she readied to meet the new mentee, she recalled the cryptic note. Could it be linked to this sudden and urgent meeting?