Red Letter Day

by Colette Caddle

Celine brought her up to date on the whole sorry saga. 'I never thought I'd feel sorry for Eileen,' she said finally. 'But I'm sure she really loves him. Unfortunately, when she was calling me all the names under the sun, a woman from the musical society was present and she told everyone what happened.'

  Marina groaned. 'Oh, bloody hell!'

  'Dominic didn't believe a word of it, of course, which made it worse. I felt awful. He dropped in on his way home to make sure I was okay.'

  Marina smiled. 'No wonder I love him.'

  'Anyway, when he arrived I was about to open a bottle of wine so he assumed that Richard was on his way over. Kevin arrived as he was leaving.'

  'You had invited Kevin again?' Marina raised her eyebrows.

  'Only to tell him about Eileen. He's never believed that she cared about him and I had to tell him he was wrong.'

  'What did Dominic say?'

  'He just gave me a filthy look and left.'

  Marina gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze. 'Don't worry, I'll set him straight. Does Richard know about all this?'

  'Not unless Dominic has told him. I suppose it's only matter of time. Now, if you don't mind I'm going for that nap. Call me if the police or insurance people call.'

  'Sure.' Marina paid for their coffee and then guided her tired, miserable friend across the road.

  Moments after Marina had opened the shop, Dominic appeared in the doorway. 'Hi.'

  Marina moved forward to kiss him, careful not to touch his jacket with her dirty gloves. 'Hello, there. Are you avoiding Celine by any chance?'

  He grimaced. 'Is it that obvious?'

  'To me, yes.'

  'I'm sorry, darling, but it was such a shock. I felt so stupid the way I was prattling on that she would never do something like that.' He gave a short laugh. 'I'm obviously not as good a judge of character as I thought I was.'

  'Indeed you are!' Marina retorted. 'Celine hasn't been involved with Kevin for months. She asked him over last night to tell him that his wife loved him and he should give his marriage a chance. She's the first to admit she's made mistakes, Dominic, but she's doing her damnedest to put things right.'

  'I'm afraid I jumped to the wrong conclusion,' Dominic admitted.

  Maria hugged him. 'I can see why. But I don't see any reason why Richard should hear anything about this, do you?'

  'I suppose not.'

  'Excellent! Because I think Celine's got enough to worry about at the moment.'

  'Is there a lot of damage?'

  'It's not as bad as it looks. This pile is all fine.' She patted the clothes on the counter. 'That lot over there needs to be cleaned. And the clothes by the window need some minor repairs. Celine will have that done in no time.'

  'What about them?' Dominic pointed to the clothes in the middle of the floor.

  'They're for the bin, I'm afraid.'

  'You've done a great job cleaning up,' Dominic replied.

  'Not me, Fergus,' Marina said with a delighted grin. 'Talk about every cloud has a silver lining. Celine couldn't get hold of Richard last night so she called Fergus. He was here all night. I don't know how much they talked but certainly the ice is broken. It has to be the best thing for both of them.'

  'Rose will be pleased.'

  Marina made a face. 'Pity it had to happen under these circumstances. I don't know what kind of thugs would do such a thing. It's not as if they got anything.'

  'The police seem to think they may have been trying to get into my place.'

  'It would make more sense, I suppose.'

  Dominic clapped his hands. 'Enough talk, what can I do to help?'

  Marina smiled. 'Take that lot down to the cleaners and use your charms to get a good price and fast service.'

  'I'll do my best.'

  While he was gone, Marina dressed the window, hung up all of the undamaged stock and then arranged the rails so that the shop wouldn't look quite so bare. She was carefully folding scarves in tissue paper when Celine reappeared.

  'The window display is wonderful, Marina!' One mannequin was dressed in a black suit and the other in a long black dress. Marina had contrasted the black with colourful scarves and hats at raunchy angles.

  Marina smiled, delighted that her handiwork was appreciated. 'It's not bad, is it?'

  'It's great. You've got quite a flair, Marina. When you've had enough of modelling, you can take over here.'

  'I think I'd quite like that,' Marina admitted. 'It's lovely to be surrounded by such beautiful things.'

  'Not so beautiful at the moment,' Celine murmured, looking at the pile of torn clothes in the corner. 'Hang on, that bundle looks a lot smaller.'

  'That's the stuff that needs to be repaired. Dominic took the dirty clothes to the dry-cleaners. They've promised to get some of it back in the morning and the rest the day after.'

  'That's wonderful. I'd better get to work with a needle and thread on the rest.'

  'Take it upstairs,' Marina suggested, 'and I'll look after things down here.'

  Celine shook her head. 'That's okay, I'm not opening the shop today.'

  'In that case I'll wash the delicate stuff while you sew. We'll have everything done in no time at all.'

  'Thanks, Marina, I don't know what I'd do without you.'

  'Don't worry about it,' Marina said with a wink. 'I'll expect a special discount in future.'

  Chapter 35

  Fergus had checked back in with Celine and was delighted to see the shop looking so well. The insurance people had visited and everything seemed very straightforward. Celine's concern about the alarm not going off didn't appear to be a problem.

  'The kids always slip in the small windows,' the claims inspector had told her. 'They're usually in and out before anyone even notices.' The main problem that Celine had to face was replacing the stock. Fergus was happy to leave her and Marina to discuss that. Once they had some ideas, he and Celine would go down to visit his mother. After dropping in to say a quick hello to Dominic, Fergus went over to Richard's apartment. He'd tried to call him a couple of times but there was still no answer. This was a bit odd, Fergus thought, given that Richard had promised Rose he'd keep an eye on Celine and the shop.

  He pressed the buzzer for Richard's apartment twice before it was answered.

  'Hello?'

  Fergus grinned at the groggy voice. 'Richard, it's Fergus.'

  'Come on up,' Richard muttered.

  When Fergus stepped out of the lift, the door to the apartment was open. He went in, closed the door and headed for the kitchen. Richard, predictably, was standing at the fridge with a carton of juice to his mouth.

  'I thought you sounded a bit seedy,' Fergus said climbing onto a stool.

  'Don't look so bloody cheerful,' Richard said, before going in search of painkillers. 'What time is it?'

  'Five o'clock in the afternoon. What have you been up to?'

  'Working,' Richard told him and then added with a lopsided smile, 'and celebrating.'

  'You didn't have your phone with you?'

  'I forgot it. Why, were you looking for me?'

  'Me, Celine, Dominic.' Fergus ticked the names off on his fingers.

  Richard frowned. 'Celine? Is something wrong?'

  'The shop was broken into last night.'

  'Shit! Is she okay?'

  'Fine. They made an awful mess of the shop though.'

  'She called you?'

  Fergus smiled. 'Yeah.'

  'God, I'm glad you were around.'

  'I didn't do much,' Fergus admitted. 'The cops had arrived by the time I got there and the thieves were long gone.'

  'Did they get much?'

  'Nothing. They just wrecked the place. Cheers,' he said as Richard handed him a bottle of lager. 'The police think it was probably kids and that the newsagent's was their real target.'

  Richard slouched against the counter and watched him through narrowed eyes. 'But you don't agree.'

  Fergus hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. 'I'm pretty sure I know
who's behind it.'

  'Some of your old pals from Sandhill?'

  'One. A guy called Mick Garvey. He's a dangerous character. A club member, would you believe? Who says crime doesn't pay.'

  'Has he been giving you a tough time?'

  'He wants me to work for him.'

  'Dealing?' Richard straightened, his hangover forgotten.

  Fergus nodded. 'I said no, of course, but then he found out where I lived, where the shop was.' He shot Richard a worried look. 'He doesn't like to take no for an answer.'

  'You need to tell the police.'

  'Tell them what?'

  'About the break-in for a start.'

  'Waste of time,' Fergus told him. 'Mick will have arranged that through one of his contacts. You can bet that the lads who did it don't even know Mick's name.'

  'There must be something we can do. If he's capable of this God knows what he'll do next.'

  'He's not the sort to give up,' Fergus admitted. 'Ma will kill me when she finds out.'

  'It's not your fault, Fergus.'

  'I should never have taken the bloody job.'

  'Then she'll have to kill me too as I got you that bloody job.'

  Fergus ran a shaky hand through his short hair. 'Sorry. The job's great.'

  'Vincent owns a couple of other centres. We could ask him to transfer you.'

  'There's no point now that Mick knows where I live. Short of disappearing again, there's no solution to this.'

  'We could get Mick arrested.' Richard smiled slightly.

  'I told you, we don't have anything on him. I need to get out of Dublin. Maybe even Ireland.'

  'There's no guarantee he'd leave Rose alone.'

  Fergus sat down and put his head in his hands. 'What the fuck am I going to do?'

  Richard sat down next to him and patted his back. 'We'll think of something.'

  When Fergus had gone, Richard showered, dressed and walked the short distance to Close Second. It was closed and in darkness so he pressed the buzzer for Celine's flat. 'Hello?'

  'Celine, it's Richard.'

  She didn't answer but pressed the release on the door.

  Marina, who was hanging clothes out on the fire escape, stuck her head in the window. 'Do you want me to leave?'

  Celine shook her head. 'There's no need.' She opened the door and greeted Richard with a cool smile.

  'Celine, I heard what happened. I'm so sorry I wasn't around.'

  'I coped and luckily I managed to get hold of Fergus.'

  'Yeah, I was just talking to him. Oh, hi, Marina,' he added as she stepped into the room.

  'Just washing some of the stock,' she explained. 'Dominic took another load to the dry-cleaners. It's all hands on deck at times like this,' she added pointedly.

  He nodded. 'What can I do to help?'

  'We have everything under control, thanks,' Celine replied.

  Richard looked nonplussed and then brightened. 'If you like I could drive you and Fergus to see Rose tomorrow.'

  Celine picked up her sewing. 'I'm not sure I'll be able to go tomorrow.'

  Marina glanced from one to the other and picked up her bag. 'I'd better go, Celine, but I'm not working tomorrow so if you need me—'

  Celine stood up and embraced her friend. 'Thanks for everything, Marina, I really appreciate it.'

  Marina kissed her cheek. 'That's okay, darling, what are friends for? Bye, Richard.'

  'Goodbye, Marina.'

  Celine stood in the doorway until Marina had let herself out on to the street.

  'Come and sit down,' Richard said from the sofa.

  'I think I'll have a coffee, would you like one?'

  Richard sighed. 'Sure.'

  Celine made the coffee in silence and then sat on a stool at the bar to drink it, leaving him alone on the sofa. Richard stood up and came over to stand beside her. 'Are you angry because I wasn't here last night?'

  'Last night was difficult. It didn't help that I had to drag Fergus over here. The agreement was that you would be my contact if I had any problems.'

  'I know that and I'm sorry. I went away for a couple of days and I forgot to take my mobile.'

  Celine forced a smile. 'These things happen.' Where the hell had he been? Who had he been with?

  'Let's go out and get something to eat.'

  'I don't think so, I'm very tired.'

  'You need to keep up your strength,' he insisted.

  Celine wished he wouldn't be nice to her. 'Okay, then.'

  Richard closed and locked her window and then stood over her as she locked the hall door.

  'You don't think they'll come back, do you?' She shot him a nervous look as they walked to the Chinese restaurant.

  'Of course not. Sorry, I suppose I'm guilty of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. I wish I'd been here with you. You must have been terrified.' He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

  Celine swallowed hard. 'It wasn't so bad,' she lied.

  'You handled it very well. Fergus was telling me the police were already here when he arrived.'

  'I called them first.'

  'Which was exactly the right thing to do,' he said, his voice soothing and gentle.

  When they were seated he picked up the wine list. 'I think we should have some champagne.'

  'Are you trying to be funny? The shop that I manage has been destroyed by thugs and you think we have something to celebrate?' Her voice rose into an indignant squeak.

  'I think we should celebrate the fact that no one was hurt and that you have managed to salvage so much of the stock,' Richard replied quietly.

  The menu in Celine's hands began to shake uncontrollably. 'I lied when I said it wasn't so bad, Richard,' she whispered. 'I was scared out of my wits.'

  He pushed the menu out of the way and took her cold hands in his. 'It's okay, Celine, you're safe now.'

  Chapter 36

  Early the next morning, Celine slipped out of bed and tiptoed out of the bedroom. After making a cup of coffee, she opened the living-room window and sat down on the ledge to enjoy the sunshine. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, relishing the warmth on her skin. She smiled as she relived the previous night. Richard had told her as he'd led her into the bedroom that he was going to make her forget all about the break-in and he'd certainly delivered on his promise.

  'Good morning.'

  Her eyes flew open and her smile broadened when she saw him standing over her dressed only in boxer shorts. 'Hello.' She stretched up a hand and pulled him down next to her.

  'How are you this morning?' he asked after a gentle kiss.

  'Fine.'

  Richard raised an eyebrow. 'You do look rather . . . pleased with yourself.'

  'Pleased, satisfied, content, sated.' Celine looked at him through her lashes. 'And full of energy.'

  He faked a yawn. 'Woman, you'll wear me out! Any chance of a cup of coffee first?'

  Celine laughed and went to get him one.

  'What are you going to do today?' he asked when she'd returned.

  She nodded towards the pile of clothes on the chair opposite. 'Keep working on that lot, I suppose.'

  He rubbed a hand absently up and down her bare leg. 'Let's go and see Rose. If we set off early we could have a leisurely lunch on the way back.'

  'What about Fergus?'

  'He doesn't really need to come, does he? And I'm sure he'd rather not take any more time off work.'

  'I'll phone him and see what he says.'

  Richard glanced at his watch. 'It's too early to phone. We'll have to think of something to keep us occupied for a while.'

  Celine stood up slowly and untied the sash of her robe. 'I don't know about you but I'm going for a shower.'

  'Excellent idea,' he murmured. 'I feel positively filthy.'

  Celine giggled as she pulled him towards the bathroom. 'A very long, hot shower for you then.'

  'Will you scrub the bits I can't reach?' he asked.

  'And the rest,'
she promised.

  Half an hour later they fell back into bed, wrapped in towels.

  'Maybe we should just stay here for the day,' Richard said with a wide yawn.

  Celine laughed as the phone started to ring. 'I don't think that's going to be possible.' She stretched across him to lift the handset. 'Hello?'

  'Hi, Celine, it's Fergus.'

  'Fergus! I was just about to call you.' Celine pushed Richard away as he started to tug on her towel. 'Richard was going to take me down to see your mum today.'

  'Oh, right. Do you want me to come along?'

  Celine was happy to hear the lack of enthusiasm in his voice. 'I don't think it's necessary, unless you do.'

  'No, I don't think so. Tell her I'll be down next weekend. I'll phone her to let her know what train I'll be on.'

  I'll tell her.'

  'Thanks, Celine. How are you doing? I don't suppose you got much sleep last night.'

  'Not a lot,' Celine agreed, grinning at Richard, 'but I'm fine. Marina and I were able to repair a lot of the clothes yesterday and that made me feel much better.'

  'Good, I'm glad. Will you give me a call later and let me know how you got on?'

  'Sure. Bye, Fergus.'

  As Celine reached to put the phone back, Richard slipped his hand between the folds of her towel. 'You two seem very friendly.'

  Celine curled up like a cat next to him. 'Amazing, isn't it?'

  Richard ran his fingers through her hair. 'It's great. Fergus is a good kid.'

  Celine raised her head to look at him. 'Kid? He's only three years younger than me.'

  'Ah, but you're more mature and sophisticated,' Richard said quickly.

  Celine smiled. 'No, I know what you mean. He seems very vulnerable. I can understand why Rose is so protective of him. It's probably just as well he got the job in Sandhill. Independence will be good for him.' Richard didn't answer. 'Are you gone asleep again?'

  'Me, asleep, no.' He pretended to snore.

  Celine started to tickle him. 'Come on, mate, you promised me a long, lazy lunch, remember?'

  'Mmnn.'

  She pulled his towel off and slapped his bare butt.

  'Ow!'

  'There, that woke you up.' Celine hopped out of bed before he could retaliate.

  'You're a tough woman,' Richard complained but obediently climbed out of bed.