The Island Angel

by Alex Slorra

  Jessica studied the brochure for a long time.

  “We’ll assume we can go. All right?” Anna said, squeezing her arm tight around Jessica’s waist.

  “Sure.”

  “And I want you to play there. We can get that crappy band from the pub to play with you. What was their name? No Balls?”

  One corner of Jessica’s mouth was turned upwards. “We’ll see.”

  “You know, I didn’t realise they were a couple.”

  “Wendy and Nicole?”

  “Yeah. Do many same-sex couples take their partner’s last name when they get married?”

  Jessica shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve not been married.”

  “That I can understand. No one’s going to marry you if every time they get into your car, they get a wet ass.”

  “I’ll get it fixed,” Jessica said seriously.

  In the corner of her eye, Anna noticed that Nicole was heading towards them, carrying two pizza boxes. Outside the van, it was easier to see that Nicole was at least ten years younger than Wendy. “You didn’t have to bring them over. I would’ve collected them.”

  “It’s cool.” Nicole pushed her fingers through her auburn hair that had been cut in unequal tufts. A colourful tattoo poked out beyond the rolled-up cuff of her chef’s shirt as she handed over the pizzas.

  Anna pulled her purse out of her jacket pocket, but Nicole shook her head. “They’re on us.”

  “I should pay.”

  Nicole wangled her finger. “Nope, you’re a cute couple… Cuteness always gets free pizza. Just promise to see us at L Fest.”

  The unguarded friendliness of Nicole had taken her aback; she had found it so rare in the UK. Anna beamed. “Sure, we’ll try.”

  “Good enough.” Nicole returned the smile, spun around, and jogged back to the van.

  Sitting down with both pizza boxes on top of her lap, Anna stared at Jessica.

  “What?” Jessica asked, after enduring a few seconds of scrutiny.

  “Why does stuff like this always happen when you’re around?”

  “What stuff?”

  “Free pizza stuff.” She leaned over and kissed Jessica’s lips, while simultaneously passing her lunch.

  “Hardly a game-changer.”

  “To me, it is,” Anna whispered.

  “What on earth is this?” Jessica had opened her box.

  “Oh, that’s mine. Pizza with French fries on top. A mortal sin, but I’ve not been cast into purgatory yet.” Anna swapped their meals. “Here’s yours, tomato roadkill.”

  “Just because you’re feeling guilty about the calorie count, doesn’t mean you should insult my pizza.” Jessica reached over and grabbed a couple of Anna’s fries, before popping them into her mouth.

  “Hey! Eat your own toppings. Oh, but wait,” Anna paused for dramatic effect. “You don’t have any!”

  “Seriously, you’re still insulting my choice of—”

  Anna stuffed a half a dozen fries into Jessica’s mouth. “I’m taking you with me to chunky hips hell.”

  ON THE BANK of the Thames, The Prospect of Whitby, once known as the Devil’s Tavern, was filling up with office workers.

  Ira Kapoor leaned against the railing of the garden patio on the second floor, looking westward along the river as the sun disappeared behind a glass building. The London skyline had changed dramatically in the last few years. A mock gallows and noose restricted her view. It was part of the tavern’s history, commemorating a seventeenth-century hanging judge who’d frequented the public house. This evening, Ira wished the gibbet worked. She would hang the bitch herself if the police didn’t catch her first.

  She’d thought the look on Jessica Cox’s face when she was sacked would be enough, but the fact she hadn’t been found or charged kept her seething with anger.

  “There you are.” Jason Carter, VP of Customer Support, had managed to find her, despite being completely incompetent. “We have a table downstairs.”

  She collected her glass of tonic water and followed him back inside.

  There were two others at the table when she sat down with Brian. She flicked her long black hair over her shoulder, knowing the single motion would attract the attention of male onlookers. Females as well. She gagged at the last thought.

  “So, any news?” she asked, loudly enough to overcome the din of the bar. “Come on, speak!” Ira pretended it was a joke but, really, she wanted to get out of the pub and away from the group as quickly as possible.

  “No news, Ira,” Brian, answered for the others.

  “So we’re stuck then. Still having to wait.”

  “It’s for the best. But you’re too impatient. We need at least a month after she’s convicted before we should exercise our options,” Jason said. “And even then, we’ve to stick to the schedule we agreed.”

  Useless cowards.

  “Evening, gentlemen.” A curvaceous redhead in a tight-fitting, blue business suit joined them at the table. Ira knew she was intentionally calling her a “gentleman” just to annoy her. Ira hated herself for being part of their scheme, but revenge and money would compensate for the indignity.

  “Hi, Victoria,” Brian said, before standing. “Let me get you a drink.”

  CHRIS HAD COME to The Prospect of Whitby to meet a friend who worked for Genism Systems. With Hokthorn going to hell in a handcart and especially now he reported directly to Brian Lopez, Jessica’s old boss, he wanted to find out what it was like working for their competitor, and if there might be a job for him.

  “Busy here,” Chris said, sipping the foam off his pint before someone could knock it onto his shoes.

  “Yup, it always is at this time,” his friend said. “Most of Genism drinks here and most of them drink a lot. Did you get here all right?”

  “Was a bit of a pain. Bomb scare on the DLR.”

  Chris’s old friend from university shuffled closer. “Watch out, our CFO is behind you.” He discreetly pointed to a woman with red hair at a table with three others.

  Chris glanced behind him, and his jaw dropped. He recognised Ira Kapoor, the HR Director from his own firm, and Jason Chapman, Jessica’s nemesis in all things QA-related. They’re all looking for new jobs? No…that can’t be. They all hate each other. “What the fudge?”

  “What’s up, Chris?”

  “Hold my pint for a sec.” Chris took out his phone and snapped a couple of pictures of the group. “You know I told you about my boss, Jessica, and her laptop.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Those people with your CFO, they were all involved in sacking her. Except…wait…fuck.” He rubbed the stubble on his three-day-old growth, before retrieving his drink and downing a third of it. “Jessica was acting nervous a few weeks back about a date with a redhead. You think your CFO was her?”

  “I’ve no idea what you’re on about.”

  “Take my pint again.” He quickly passed it over, pulled out his phone, set it to record, and stuffed it in his back pocket so the camera lens pointed outward. He took his lager and backed slowly towards the table, waving his hand at his companion to follow him. Now only a foot away, the space they vacated instantly filled with new arrivals to the narrow lounge bar. Chris held up a single finger, a few inches away from his lips, telling his friend to be quiet as he tried to video the conversation.

  He was at the bottom of his glass when a hand gripped his shoulder.

  “Hi, Chris, I’m surprised to see you here.” His new boss, Brian, stared back at him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  THE WOMAN AT the car hire company had offered him an upgrade, but he wanted the vehicle he’d spent hours researching online. Eventually, she came up with the goods, and he was able to leave Edinburgh airport. And, after a few near misses, he adjusted to driving on the left.

  Once out of the city, the midday Friday traffic was heavy on the A1 as he headed southeast. She would pay for all she’d taken from him, all the time in prison and for making him stab Emma. After,
he’d collect his daughter from her school. The few pictures he had of Abbie as a baby with Emma and a birth certificate should be enough to convince the girl she had to come with him. If it worked, they’d simply fly back to the States. If it doesn’t, well, she’ll die with her aunt.

  WITH HER ARMS folded and resting on the bottom half of the endmost stable door, Anna watched as Jessica fixed the final plank that would make the interior safe for animals.

  “When’s Abbie coming home?” Jessica asked, picking up another screw.

  “Not until tomorrow. The tides are a real pain right now.”

  “I was thinking,” Jessica said. A yellow cordless drill hung in her right hand.

  “You can think while working? Impressive.”

  Jessica pointed the drill at Anna and pulled the trigger. It whirled for a few seconds. “This has reverse. I can undo all the screws.”

  Anna formed a gun with her fingers. “Put down your weapon and step away.” She opened the bottom half of the stable door and entered. Once Jessica had been disarmed, she drew her into an embrace. “So what were you thinking?”

  “That you don’t need to buy ponies.”

  “I should open a B & B instead, right? Four rooms, fresh bedding, and a complimentary salt lick.”

  “I’d stay.”

  “But you’re a bit simple and easy to please.”

  “Do you want to hear my idea or not? Because I’m thinking I should save it for someone worthier.”

  “Pick me!” Anna hopped up and down next to her. “I want to hear.”

  “Okay, crazy girl. I thought you could open a livery.”

  “A livery?”

  “You allow children to keep their ponies here for free, or nearly free, and then you can use them for your pony trekking. Everyone wins. And you don’t need to care for them all the time. And you get ponies to use for your business. Your paddock is big enough.”

  With her lips parted, Anna gawked at her.

  “It’s just an idea.” Jessica grinned.

  “Well, it’s a pretty good one.” Anna moved closer. “I knew there was a reason why I loved you… But what was it again?” She tapped her knuckles on her forehead.

  “Let me remind you…”

  “Ahem.” The sound caused Anna to break their kiss. David stood at the stable entrance with his face tinted red. “Sorry. Um, Daniel and I are moving the sheep across your lane.” He swallowed. “And I remembered I was supposed to give you a message.”

  “Hi,” Anna said, untangling herself from Jessica. “What message?”

  “It’s for Jess.”

  “I see.” Anna gave Jessica a peck on the check. “I’ll leave you to it.” She headed across the farmyard, but when she saw a man who looked like a clone of Iain Foster in the neighbouring field, she changed direction. She wanted to find out how Iain was doing and guessed the man must be his older son, Daniel.

  Fifty or so sheep were pressed close to a five-bar gate. Fairweather skirted around the herd, keeping them in place.

  When Anna got closer, Daniel whistled then shouted, “Fairweather, hold.” The dog obeyed and hunched down in the grass.

  She watched as Daniel counted the plumb woolly balls while they jostled for position. When he was done, she introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Anna. You must be Daniel.”

  “I am.” He shook her hand with both of his. “We owe you and your partner a great deal. And not forgetting Abbie.”

  Partner? Jessica? How does he know…? Oh, yeah, the gossips of Holy Island.

  She would have normally been angry about people knowing her personal affairs, but right now she felt proud and didn’t mind who knew that Jessica was part of her life. She was about to ask how Iain was doing when a black BMW crossover pulled into the dirt lane in where they stood.

  “Police,” Daniel said.

  “What?” Anna squeaked. “How do you know?”

  “Blue LED strips behind the grill and the small box on the dash.”

  “Jessica!” Anna said. She tried to move, but her brain froze her to the spot. She glanced at Daniel, knowing her eyes must be wild with fear.

  “I see.” He opened the gate to the field, allowing the sheep to spill into the lane. A few calls to Fairweather sent the rest of the herd towards the car. “Stay here.”

  A smartly dressed man tried to get out of the car but was forced back by the press of bleating animals.

  Anna was being bumped left and right herself until the last of the ewes passed by. The fear of what was about to happen had kept her from reacting, and all she could do was stand still and listen. She glanced back to her farm, praying Jessica stayed in the stables.

  Daniel made his way towards the car, effortlessly nudging sheep out of his way. Anna let out a gasp of surprise when she saw Kermit trailed in the gap behind him. As soon as Daniel got close, Kermit leapt onto the bonnet of the car and then onto the roof. He did a three-sixty, before settling down on his new vantage point.

  “Clear them out of the way!” the driver yelled through the open window. “And get that goat off my roof!”

  Daniel bent down to the officer. “You’ve taken a wrong turn. This is private land,” He said calmly. “The causeway’s to the right.”

  “Police business. Clear the fucking lane.”

  “My land, my sheep, my business.”

  The lane was Anna’s, but she understood the message he gave.

  The officer tried to open his door, but the ewes couldn’t move, hemmed in by the stone walls on either side and Fairweather at the entrance.

  “Hey. That’s my livelihood you’re ramming with your door. A reminder, I’m the person who puts milk in your coffee, bacon in your butty, and wool in your clothes.” His tone was still calm but authoritative. “So, before you do any more damage to my animals and, unless you have some legal reason to be here, like a warrant, I’ll help you back out.”

  “We don’t need a warrant to enter land the public can access!” the officer snapped back.

  Daniel frowned and pointed behind the BMW. “There’s a gate. On the gate, it says ‘Private.’ It’s open so I can move my sheep. No one has access along this lane.”

  Anna knew this wasn’t true. She always kept the gate open and didn’t mind at all when walkers used it as a shortcut to the sea.

  “I don’t know why you’re here,” Daniel continued. “But you might need to do some more paperwork.”

  The driver glanced to his po-faced female colleague in the passenger seat. “Fine,” he muttered.

  After clearing a space behind the vehicle, Daniel directed them back to the road.

  Anna watched as the police car drove slowly towards the village with Kermit still on its roof.

  With a few calls to Fairweather, Daniel sent the sheep in the opposite direction. He closed the gate at the entrance, before striding back to Anna. “One second,” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket. “Hi, Simon, Daniel here. Can you do me a favour…? I need you to be fully booked for two unwanted visitors.”

  Anna listened, stupefied as Daniel described the two people in the car.

  “Can you call the B & Bs as well? And the Crown? Thanks, mate.” He ended the call and reached down to pet Fairweather between the ears. “At least you can have your dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner?” Her voice still trembled with the aftershock of what had transpired. She could have lost Jessica. Although Jessica planned to head to London after the weekend, the police just turning up like that to take her away felt so much worse.

  “Ah, maybe that was a secret.” He scratched the back of his neck.

  Emotions swept through her, and she hugged Daniel without thinking. “Thank you.” Embarrassed, she quickly released him.

  “No problem. The island protects its angels.”

  THE ROAD WAS covered in water. At least three feet deep by his reckoning. His phone insisted he had to cross here to an island that looked nothing more than sand dunes and long grass.

  Standing beside his rental
, he took a long drag on his cigarette, wondering what the fuck to do. When a car arrived behind him and started a U-turn, he flagged it down.

  “Hey, what’s with the road?”

  “It’s the sea. Tide’s coming in. Caught us out too. We’ll have to get a hotel.”

  “When can I cross?”

  The driver consulted his passenger before answering. “Around midnight, give or take a couple of hours.”

  Without saying thanks, he turned away. He flicked the butt of his cigarette onto the road and got back into his car.

  His fist crashed against the steering wheel. “Fucking fuck!” He rammed the gearstick into first and slammed down the accelerator while having the steering on full lock. The car squealed in an arc, heading back the way he came.

  At a budget hotel, he checked in. Pacing the dour, utilitarian bedroom, he tried to decide what to do about Abbie. It was two in the afternoon. If he was to collect Abbie now, with Anna still around, she could send one quick text and undo his plans. He had no choice, he’d have to risk it. I’ll take the kid with me. If she cottons on, then it’s her own fault… Near the school, somewhere quiet. Then cross at midnight and wipe that fucking bitch off the planet.

  He stood up, grabbed his key card, left the hotel and got into his sedan. He’d find a hardware store or garage for a roll of duct tape, just in case his daughter didn’t behave.

  ANNA CHECKED THE time on Emma’s watch. “Are you ready yet?” she called up the stairs.

  Jessica had fitted the new strap she had given her as a present. And now it was firmly buckled to her wrist, alleviating the fear that she might lose it again and providing comfort that her sister was only a glance away. Inspecting herself in the hall mirror, she straightened the spaghetti straps of her burgundy dress.

  When she saw movement behind her, she spun around. A vision of sheer elegance stood at the bottom of the stairs; a femme fatale ready to devour anything that approached her web.

  “My God, you look stunning!” Anna stammered.