by June Taylor
‘Two hundred pounds. Take it. We couldn’t have got to this stage without all your hard work. At least accept this.’
Will rolled an elastic band down his wrist and put it round the bundle of notes, stuffing it into his jeans pocket.
‘And you deserve way more than that,’ she added, ‘but it’s all the cash I have on me.’
Will threw his arms out to the side and took a step back, signing something else. ‘It’s enough, Karin,’ he said. ‘You need to watch your back.’
He was on the verge of leaving again but when he saw Karin’s fingers fumbling to remove the rainbow keyring, he waited for her to take it off.
‘For luck,’ she said. ‘And friendship.’
‘Thank you.’
Will pushed it through the hole in the bundle of notes she had just given him, then returned it to his pocket, doing a half-circle around Karin, staring in that way of his as if to say this really was it.
He didn’t look back.
She wanted to cry as Will became smaller, obscured by the green wilderness of Woodhouse Ridge until the bend in the path took him out of sight completely. It was too final. Karin couldn’t bear to be parted from him. In a world where their only choices were either to survive or give in, the two of them had stuck together in the hope that something better would come along. She always assured Will that things would improve if she could make it to her twenty-second birthday. In the end they didn’t have to wait that long because Mel had come to her rescue long before that.
They had both been thrown a lifeline. So why was he prepared to throw it back again? After all they had been through. Sitting on pavements side by side, they knew the rhythm of each other’s heartbeat, the length of the other’s breath while one slept and the other kept guard.
And yet.
She had to let him go.
Retracing her steps back up onto the path which led home, Karin left a tearful voicemail for Aaron. And then turned back again, racing down the path to Will.
She was completely out of breath by the time she caught up with him.
‘I’m so sorry, Will. I just wanted to ask you—’ Karin signed as best she could, realizing he might struggle to lip-read with her panting so heavily. ‘It’s really – well, I’d be grateful if you didn’t go to the police about the note. I mean, I know it’s unlikely and everything. But – well, you know why.’
The intensity of his stare made her shrivel all the way to the ground. Will deserved better than this.
‘They won’t listen to a homeless person anyway,’ he replied.
‘Oh. But. Do you mind if I have it? I mean it’s only to compare it with the one I got this morning. It’s not because I don’t trust you or anything.’ Her voice faded into a trail of shame.
Will certainly deserved better than this.
He handed the note over and she bit hard into her lip, avoiding his gaze. The gentle sway of the trees, the thin clouds tearing themselves apart in the sky, and even the faint buzz of traffic on Meanwood Road, all were saying that her secrets were safe with Will, so why had she had doubted him twice in the space of ten minutes? First the jewellery and now this.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I know everything, Karin.’
‘What?’
Her insides turned cold at that phrase.
Will was already walking away.
18
Mel
‘What did you actually say to Will?’
Karin was straight onto her the moment she walked through the door. Mel had only just walked through it herself, dumped her things in the hallway and sat down. Aaron had phoned her on the way home, having picked up a tearful voicemail from Karin and wanting to check his facts before speaking to her. He had adopted his landlord tone, and Mel was rather put out by that, asking questions like: Did she know that Will was intending to leave? Had Will said anything to her about going? Why hadn’t she reported it to Aaron that she was having problems with him? So she really didn’t need it from Karin as well. Mel had done her best to accommodate Will and he just hadn’t helped himself in the end. He could have played by the rules.
‘I haven’t said anything to Will,’ she said, replying to Karin’s question. ‘Where do you think he’s gone?’
‘He’s out there on the streets I guess. I gave him money, so maybe he’ll find a hostel. But I just hope he comes back.’ Karin dumped a set of keys down on the unit, presumably Will’s, although there was no keyring attached. ‘So tell me what happened then.’
‘Hey all I did was have a discreet word with him, after I caught him doing whatever it was he claimed he was doing with your jewellery,’ Mel replied, rolling her eyes. ‘Exactly like I told you.’ Mel hesitated and let out a sigh. ‘Okay, you’d better sit down,’ she added, pulling a chair out for Karin.
‘Why?’
‘Because I didn’t want to say this.’ She waited for Karin to take a seat, but she clearly wasn’t going to. ‘Some of my things have gone missing too over these past weeks.’
‘Well like what?’
‘Money, if I’ve left any lying around. A really expensive pen. My mum’s bracelet, which I’m so upset about. Too many things for it to be a coincidence, Karin.’
‘So why didn’t you say something to me?’
Karin looped her bag over the chair, flopping down into it after she had done a full circuit of the room.
‘Because I knew how important it was that Will had a roof over his head until his place was ready. Important to you, important to him. I didn’t want to cause any trouble. To be honest though, it’s a bit rich of you and Aaron to start accusing me, when you two were never around. You did abandon me with him.’
‘I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m worried about Will.’
The pipes howled and juddered, because Mel had got up to fill the kettle and turned the cold tap on too far. She had to wait for it to stop before she spoke again. ‘Look I didn’t tell him to go, if that’s what you’re asking me.’ She used the kettle to make her point, swinging it round to plug it into the wall. ‘There could be a whole host of reasons why a guy like Will has to move on.’
Karin pressed her nails into her head, scratching it like there was some unwanted thing inside. Mel had seen her do this before, but not for a long time. She stopped and looked up at Mel.
‘Will got a note too,’ Karin said.
‘No. From Louie? So what did it say?’
Karin was struggling to get her words out, on the verge of tears. ‘It’s so hurtful,’ she said, taking the note from her bag. ‘It says, “no home for you here. Loser”.’
‘Wait a minute,’ said Mel, banging two mugs down onto the unit. ‘How the hell does Louie know about Will?’
‘Because she’s already in Leeds setting up for her exhibition. Been texting and calling me, and I think she must be spying on me. It’s really creepy what she’s doing, Mel.’
Mel placed a steaming mug of tea in front of Karin and sat beside her, gently rubbing her back. ‘She’s sick in the head, that one. What do you think we do now?’
Karin seemed to regain her strength. She sat up tall and said, ‘I’ll speak to her on Thursday at the exhibition.’
‘What? You’re still going, even after this?’
‘I’ve tried telling Aaron that Louie can be a bit weird and that I really don’t want to go, but he says it’s business and he’s quite capable of going on his own. Obviously, I can’t let that happen. He thinks he can sell Louie’s work to the corporate market, but it’s all so mixed up because I really want her to do well and it could be the making of her. It might even get her off my back in the process.’ Karin used her pleading face and Mel could predict what was coming. ‘You’ll be there, won’t you, Mel? Please, I could really do with your support.’
When Mel didn’t give an answer straight away, Karin grew agitated, then desperate. ‘You’ve always been there for me and you know I’m so grateful for that. I’ve booked us a table at Swank. Just me and you, because I want t
o say thank you, and Aaron is fine with—’
‘Of course I’ll be there! Don’t worry. I’ll be there.’
Karin collapsed into her.
Mel was used to her being an emotional pressure cooker, in the early days, but it all seemed to be starting up again. She asked if Karin wanted to talk some more, but she said she didn’t. Mel still sat with her, forcing her to finish her tea. Then when she had, Mel studied the note and folded it up. ‘I’ll put this safe in the drawer with the other one, shall I? I really don’t think we should throw them away. It’s evidence.’
Karin looked fearful. ‘I’m not going to the police, Mel. I can’t.’
‘Do you want to tell me why not?’
She shook her head.
19
Louie
Louie stood back to examine how the exhibition was taking shape. It wasn’t quite what she had in mind. Her artwork was mounted onto thirteen felt-backed panels, which made it look more like a museum display than an art exhibition, and much smaller than she expected. She had requested some extra panels; the arcade in the Victoria Quarter was plenty big enough. She really needed Karin to see the full effect. Without Karin, there would be no exhibition. And this was her moment to come back to Louie.
The management team at The Midland were being very accommodating, allowing her the time off that she had requested. As a rule, they were supportive to employees in endeavours of this nature, so Louie had always assumed there wouldn’t be a problem asking for unpaid leave. The exhibition sponsors were paying modest expenses for her to stay in Leeds during the set up and preview night, and the rest she was covering herself. Even if it was only a room above a pub in a seedy part of town, at least it was the same town as Karin, which, in itself, meant as much as the exhibition.
Louie took the scarf from her pocket and ran it under her nose. It went everywhere with her, since retrieving it from the beach that day. She had seen roughly where it had landed after it broke free from Karin’s neck, and she had gone out in search of it. It was a different perfume to the one Louie was used to her wearing, more expensive probably as Karin could now afford to splash out on such luxuries. The scarf would be waiting for Karin in Morecambe when she came home; she could have it back then.
Louie was rather surprised by the interest that old bastard was showing in her work. Despite being flattered, she was also sceptical. With his percentages and sales-projection jargon, he may as well have been speaking a foreign language, but she understood the gist of it to be that her commercial work had potential in hotels, offices, bars, and that he could place it for her. She did wonder if he was playing some sort of cat-and-mouse game but, when he spoke of drawing up a contract, she said she would give it some serious thought and agreed to discuss it further with him at the preview night. If it had been anyone else making this offer she would have jumped at it immediately.
For the moment, though, her focus was on getting these paintings displayed correctly. She couldn’t wait to see Karin’s face tomorrow night when she set eyes on them.
She would do whatever it took to get Karin back in her life again.
20
Mel
Mel was secretly furious with Aaron for cutting it so fine. She knew, from his point of view, this was neither reasonable nor rational, but having promised to come and sort out the dishwasher before the end of the week he had finally showed up today, only four hours before the exhibition. Confiding in her about his marriage proposal was all well and good, however a follow-up conversation to that might have been polite. The one phone call she did receive from him was the scolding about Will, which she could really have done without, particularly when Aaron’s biggest concern now ought to be Louie. Of course he still didn’t know this, nor could she tell him.
He arrived in a steaming temper. Not only was he still showing resentment for her not informing him of Will’s snooping and thieving habits, he also let slip that some property deal had fallen through.
He crouched down to look in the dishwasher.
‘You’re not really dressed for that you know,’ said Mel, teasing him. ‘Hand over your jacket. Come on.’
Aaron stopped what he was doing, looked up and smiled at Mel who was standing with her arm out. He removed his suit jacket, which she hooked neatly over the chair for him.
‘Sorry. I know it’s not your fault about Will,’ he said. ‘It upsets Karin, you know how it is.’
‘Yes, I do know how it is,’ she replied. Mel admired these qualities in Aaron: his willingness to apologize, his loyalty to Karin. ‘Congratulations on your recent engagement, by the way,’ she added.
‘Oh thanks. Even though you don’t approve?’
‘I never said that, Aaron. I just don’t want either of you to get hurt. You know how much I love that girl, so if your intentions are less than honourable, you’ll have me on your case.’
Aaron laughed. ‘Noted,’ he said, diving back into the dishwasher.
‘Good. Right, well I’m going upstairs to get changed. If you want to strip down to your underwear, I’ll be gone approximately thirty minutes. I’ll hum loudly when I’m on my way back.’
He laughed again. She liked to hear him laugh, and to know they were on good terms again. Mel left him in the kitchen, going upstairs to get ready.
When she reappeared, Aaron was shouldering his jacket and looking at his watch. He did a double-take when he saw her.
‘Wow. You must be going somewhere “swanky” tonight.’
She was wearing a black cocktail dress, above the knee, and heels. Nothing too over-the-top but she supposed he had never seen her dressed up like this before. Plus she had been to the hairdresser that afternoon, so her black bob was looking neat and slick.
‘I take it you can spare your fiancée for a few hours,’ Mel said. ‘She did run it by you?’
‘She did, and I’m sure I can.’
He was already on his way out, walking hurriedly into the hall checking his watch as he went. Mel knew this was her moment if she was going to say something.
‘I’ll see you at the art thing though,’ she shouted. Aaron gave her a backwards wave, almost at the front door. ‘It’s her friend’s exhibition, isn’t it? Louie somebody or other. Think she knew her in Morecambe.’
Aaron paused, the door half open. ‘Actually not a friend as it turns out. But she’s a bloody good artist.’
‘Ah. So you do know? I’m glad she’s told you. And you’re obviously okay with that?’
Aaron was looking puzzled now, letting go of the door handle. ‘She’s told me this Louie can be a bit weird sometimes. Artistic temperament and all that.’
‘Well yes, that’s what I meant. And erm, well Karin mentioned you really like her work, and she’s finding that a bit awkward I guess. Doesn’t want it to look like she wants to suddenly be friends. I suppose.’
Aaron stepped outside. His parting words were: ‘Karin knows she doesn’t have to be involved. I’ve told her that. See you later.’
Mel decided to take a quick blast of air in Hyde Park to clear her head, once Aaron had gone. She was finding the role of go-between quite a strain. She slipped off her heels and slid into a pair of trainers, draping a long cardigan over her shoulders to protect her dress.
There were students everywhere, having barbecues and getting drunk, teenagers going back and forth on the skate park, litter overflowing from all of the bins.
After half an hour she headed home again, calling by the florists at the bottom of the road to pick up some sunflowers for Karin. She needed cheering up, with all that was going on.
Closing the front door, Mel thought she could hear someone upstairs and assumed it would be Aaron, perhaps forgotten something. But she hadn’t noticed his car outside, which then made her anxious. It was unlikely to be Will, as he no longer had a key, and she had arranged to meet Karin later at the exhibition. Unless Karin had changed her mind, but that also seemed unlikely.
It only left one other person.
C
ould it be Louie?
Mel removed her trainers, putting them down silently in the hallway along with the flowers. She hitched up her dress so she could creep upstairs, her heart pumping. Should she be armed with a heavy implement of some kind? But it was too late for that now. Her phone would have to do as her safeguard.
The noise was coming from her bedroom.
Nudging the door a fraction, Mel peered through the crack and saw that it was Karin.
‘Have you lost something, Karin?’
She was leaning over Mel’s desk, shuffling papers around.
Karin froze. Her body turned slowly, although her head was a few seconds behind because she didn’t want to look Mel in the eye. ‘Oh erm. I thought you’d gone into the office today and were meeting me straight from work.’
‘I ended up working from home because Aaron phoned to say he could come and have a look at the dishwasher again. I thought if I could show him the problem it might actually get fixed this time. What are you after?’
‘I-I was trying to find the notes and couldn’t remember which drawer you said you’d put them in. Thought I might take them tonight, just in case. I’m sorry, I should’ve asked you just to bring them, but my head is so frantic I can’t think.’
‘Sure,’ said Mel. She opened the drawer of her dressing-table and took out the notes.
‘Thanks.’ Karin was digging her nails into her head.
‘Come on, sit down.’ Mel guided her over to the bed and sat beside her, pushing her hair back and stroking her cheek. Karin looked so lost. ‘I am here for you,’ she said. ‘You know that, don’t you? You can’t deal with this alone.’ Karin dipped her head into Mel’s shoulder as she continued to stroke her face. ‘Louie sure knows how to push your buttons, I’ll say that for her.’
‘It’s not just Lou,’ Karin muttered. ‘It’s something Will said too.’
Mel knew it was often better to leave her rather than try and tease it out of her. Karin did continue, after a brief period of reflection, staring at the notes in her hand. ‘He told me to watch my back. But then said something else, which I can’t stop thinking about.’