In the lift Clara studied herself from every angle. She held out her hands. “Look how I’m shaking. You’d swear I’m meeting him for the first time.”
To Ellie’s surprise Clara hadn’t changed her into a scarecrow. She was pleased to see the difference a little dark grey could make around her eyes. Even she had to admit that she looked pretty.
When the lift doors slid open, there were people everywhere they looked. Waiters were walking back and forth, carrying trays with drinks and canapés. The men were mostly in dark suits and the women’s dresses looked like designer pieces. Music was pumping over the speakers. Clara began to mingle, but her eyes kept searching the crowd.
As they made their way through the crowd, Ellie saw Nick Malherbe in conversation with another man. He looked up and it took a while before recognition dawned in his eyes. He said something to the man, and then came walking towards her.
“I knew I wasn’t wrong.”
“About?”
“You not being what you say you are.”
“What am I, then?”
“A vision.”
Ellie laughed. “If that was meant to be a pickup line, keep trying. It was pathetic.”
Clara turned away from the guests and came over to kiss Nick’s cheek. “Where’s Enzio?”
“I think he’s still in his bedroom. I was just on my way to call him. I’m tired of entertaining his guests.”
“I’ll go.” Clara fluttered away.
“Do you think she suspects anything?”
“I doubt it.”
“You do look amazing. The compliment was sincere.”
“Thanks.” She motioned with her head at the people. “Seeing that you’re used to all this.”
Nick took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and handed Ellie one. He clinked his glass against hers. “Cheers.”
Ellie took a sip and felt the slight burn of the bubbles. She had read somewhere that, when it comes to champagne, the more bubbles, the better the product. Her second sip told her that this one was probably all bubbles. Money isn’t everything but, hell, it buys nice things, she thought.
An excited buzz among the guests made Ellie look up. Allegretti and Clara came walking down the stairs, hand in hand. Even from this distance, Ellie could see that Clara’s eyes were shining. When Clara swept her hair back, Ellie noticed the ring on her left hand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the future Mrs Allegretti.”
There was a moment’s silence, then a loud cheer went up. Clara rested her head on Enzio’s shoulder, and Ellie felt the prick of tears behind her eyelids. The poor child.
She was still looking at the couple when someone pushed in between her and Nick, grabbed Nick’s champagne, downed it in a single gulp and said loudly: “What a fucking joke. Tell me you didn’t know.”
It was Gabriella Allegretti-Visser, in a dress that fitted like a glove – a glove that was a little too small. Ellie would bet her left arm that Gabriella was wearing nothing underneath, top or bottom.
“Gabi, have you met Ellie?”
Gabriella glanced at Ellie and back at Nick. “Let’s get out of here, before I throw up.”
“I can’t leave now.”
Gabriella put her arms around Nick’s neck and kissed him on the lips, as if the two of them were on their own and not surrounded by people – including her husband. “Please don’t annoy me tonight. I’ve had a hell of a week.”
Ellie walked away and found a spot near the stairs from where she hoped she could be a spectator.
She saw the women crowding around Clara, inspecting the ring.
“Ellie!” Clara saw her and hurried towards her. She threw her arms around Ellie’s neck and hugged her. “I can’t believe you kept it so quiet. Enzio says you helped him choose the ring. I love it, I love it! It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.”
“Congratulations. I hope you’re very happy.”
“You’re such a good liar. I believed you when you said you were going to a party.”
“I had to think of something.”
Someone touched Clara’s shoulder and she moved on. That’s the bloody problem with fairy tales, Ellie thought resentfully. Little girls are never taught that a diamond ring doesn’t necessarily turn a man into a prince. No matter how beautiful the princess, or how expensive her dress. And those glass slippers shatter all too easily.
CHAPTER 32
“Smile, it’s a party.”
Ellie looked up, and was surprised to see Ken Visser standing next to her. He wasn’t smiling himself.
She didn’t know whether she was supposed to say anything.
“Why do you think men lose their heads so easily over a fresh piece of tail?”
“Maybe that’s a question to ask a man.”
“What men often forget is that sex is sex. It’s freely available. There’s no reason to spend thousands on it.”
Ellie felt herself getting warm, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how angry he was making her.
“Girls like Clara carry on like they’re endangered species, but you can pick them up for much less than Enzio is paying at the moment.” He drew his finger down her arm. “What’s your price?”
Ellie stepped away and he laughed, though his eyes remained cold.
“Maybe the question isn’t what your price is, but who’s paying it. Maybe it’s time we talked about it.”
Ellie couldn’t control the gooseflesh and was glad when Nick spoke next to her.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I need you for a minute, please.” He took Ellie’s arm.
“What’s the problem?”
“The cops are at the gate. They want to speak to Enzio. Apparently there’s new evidence about Richard’s murder.”
Ellie looked at her watch. “They certainly choose their moment. What do you want me to do?”
“Look around you. Three-quarters of the guests are high as kites. And they’re not very discreet. If I open that gate now, the narcotics squad will be here with a warrant within an hour. I want you to go and speak to them. I’ll take Enzio in myself tomorrow morning and he can answer all their questions. Tell them it’s his engagement party. They’re more likely to listen to you than to me.”
Ellie got into the lift with him. “I can’t promise I’ll be able to convince them, so you’d better think of a Plan B. I hope you’re good with plans.”
“What were you and Ken talking about?”
“Nothing important.”
They walked through the front door together and crossed the driveway to where the guard was standing just outside the security hut.
“Should I open the gate?”
“No, I want to talk to them first.” Ellie had to lengthen her stride to keep up with Nick. She felt a bit wobbly in the high heels.
“I’ll stay this side. Too much testosterone may complicate matters.”
Ellie entered the hut and waited for the guard to unlock the door leading outside. She went out alone, but stopped in her tracks. Albert and Martin Vermaak were standing next to Albert’s new Subaru. Albert looked up and she saw his eyes widen.
“Fuckit! Living the good life, hey?”
“Albert, what are you doing here at this time of night?”
“We have new evidence about the security guard’s murder. We want to speak to Allegretti.”
“Surely it can wait until tomorrow? I’ll bring him to you personally. He and Clara got engaged tonight. Let them have their evening.”
Albert raised his hands. “Hey, I’m just doing my job. It’s not like I’m out on a joyride.”
“I know. That’s why I give you my word that he’ll be there tomorrow morning. What time?”
“Eight o’clock at the office.”
Ellie looked at Albert and shook her head. “Have a heart.”
“We can do it now, and then you can all sleep in tomorrow morning.”
“He’ll be there at eight.”
“How are you?”
“Fine. How’s it going at work?”
“Same as always.”
“Mac, I didn’t understand how you could just resign like that,” Vermaak interrupted, “but damn, I do now. You’ve landed with your backside in the butter. Let me know if there’s a job here for me.”
“Don’t be fooled by the outfit. It’s just another job. And it’s not easy.”
He looked at the house against the mountain. “Maybe, but your view is a damn sight better than mine, and while I had the last of the plonk tonight, I’m sure you don’t have to wonder where your next drink is coming from.”
Inside the hut, Nick was watching the monitor. He heard the other guy whistle when Ellie walked towards them. He saw Greyling’s eyes widen as he looked Ellie up and down.
They were standing close enough for the intercom to pick up snatches of the conversation, but the sea breeze was just strong enough to blow away the rest of their words.
He didn’t really care about what was being said. He had wanted to see Greyling and Ellie together, and he wasn’t disappointed. Or was he? There was tension between them. Their lips could say whatever they liked, but their bodies were saying something else. The way Greyling’s eyes kept sweeping over her figure spoke volumes. He watched Ellie turn away after a while and couldn’t believe his eyes when Greyling briefly touched her. As if he realised what he’d done and wanted to rectify his mistake, he took her arm.
“Eight o’clock. If I have to drive all the way here again, I’m not going to be very happy.”
Nick pushed the pause button, rewound the tape slightly and watched it again. It wasn’t just a casual touch. He felt himself get hot under the collar. It was enough to drive him fucking crazy. He’d had enough of this circus.
He saw Greyling follow her with his eyes and then his voice came clearly over the intercom. “Tell Malherbe I didn’t take him for the kind to hide behind a woman’s skirts.”
Ellie knocked and the guard opened the door. Nick was standing in the driveway when she came out of the hut.
“I take it you were successful.”
“Enzio must report to their office tomorrow morning at eight.”
“It won’t be easy, but I’ll see that he’s there.” He tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible, but Greyling’s parting shot was still echoing in his ears.
Ellie didn’t answer and they got into the lift. If he knew he could get the lift moving again, he would press the emergency button, like in the movies, rip off the beautiful, expensive dress and make love to her on the floor, Nick thought. Mind you, “making love” might not be the right term for what he wanted to do to her.
He had an intense desire to see her flustered. To see a crack in the too-perfect facade. And if no crack appeared, he would have the satisfaction of having messed up her hair and smeared her lipstick. If he was lucky, those clear eyes might splinter for a fleeting moment.
They stepped out of the lift and Nick asked the first waiter he saw to bring him a whisky. Then he took a deep breath and looked at Ellie. “What are you drinking?”
“I’ll have the same, thanks.”
Ellie wondered why he suddenly sounded so remote. Maybe he had heard Albert’s last remark. She wondered whether he knew who the men at the gate were.
“I know I’ve asked you before, but have you really never considered leaving the job to do something else?” she asked.
The waiter returned with two whiskies and he took a sip before he replied.
“To do what?”
“I don’t know. Open your own business. Become a consultant. There are loads of possibilities. You could even go back to the police.”
“Do you know what one of the biggest advantages of this job is?”
“Money.”
“Besides money. One of the biggest advantages, if not the biggest, is the fact that I know who I can trust. I understand the job. When I was in the police, I didn’t always understand my job. I no longer knew who I could trust. Sometimes I’d work myself to death to bring a case to court, only to discover that the perpetrator had cut a deal, or that I hadn’t been given the full picture. No, thanks. Give me this job any day.” He gestured with his hand. “You can’t deny it – there’s an honesty here that you won’t find in many places.”
“I haven’t been in the job long enough to agree or disagree. I’ll have to accept that you’re right. But it probably depends on how you define honesty.”
“Forget about definitions. They’re a waste of time. You’ll just tie yourself in knots. Honesty is honesty. What you see is what you get.”
Ellie touched his arm briefly. “Don’t let Captain Greyling’s remark upset you.”
“Why do you think I’m upset?”
“I can see you’re cross.”
“And you think it’s about Greyling’s remark?”
“What else?”
He looked at her until she looked away and took a step back.
“Because I have to get up early tomorrow morning.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. It was either tonight or tomorrow morning at eight. You know the games those guys play. You probably did the same.”
He looked at the dimples in her cheeks and the fine scattering of freckles on her nose. For the first time he thought he understood the meaning of the word “karma”. What you sow, you will reap. What goes around, comes around. Payback time. She was the universe’s way of getting him back for everything he had done wrong in his life. Tonight he felt a strange urge to protect her, though he had no idea against whom. In fact, there was a good chance that he was the one who needed protection and that she was the danger.
He kept quiet and Ellie looked around her. The party was in full swing. It was clear that no one felt the need for discretion tonight. From where she was standing, she could see several groups of people snorting cocaine. At the club it happened behind closed doors, but tonight they were among friends, who joined in enthusiastically.
Ellie sipped her whisky slowly and felt a sadness settle deep inside. She should get herself another drink, but she just couldn’t bring herself to. As the days passed and her dad’s presence faded, she found herself searching desperately for things to hold on to, to tie him down before he slipped away forever.
She saw Gabriella dancing with another man, and how she let him hold her tightly while his hands moved freely over her body. She looked at Nick to see if he had noticed. If he had, he showed no reaction; again, she wondered about the two of them.
A waiter came past with a tray of canapés, and Ellie took a double portion. She wouldn’t be able to stay on her feet all night on an empty stomach. She noticed how slowly the food seemed to be disappearing, while the waiters couldn’t keep up with the demand for drinks.
No wonder the girls were all so thin.
Ellie was on her fourth canapé when Gabriella put her arms around Nick’s neck and dragged him away. Ellie was relieved. She had run out of conversation. She didn’t know whether it was intentional or if he was just distracted, but to everything she’d said he’d replied with a single word at most.
A young man came over and asked her to dance. They danced around the pool. It was cold, but the rain had stopped. The gas heaters around the pool hadn’t quite taken the edge off the cold air, though no one else seemed to notice. The dancing was chaotic, and when Ellie discovered after a while that she was dancing with a different partner, she left the dance floor and headed for the kitchen, in search of more food. Hopefully she could fill a plate and take it to her flat.
As she was walking through the dining room, she heard voices.
“I told you I was handling it. Give me a week. If I haven’t done it by then, we’ll follow your plan. But until then, it’s hands off. I know what I’m doing.”
“You know what you’re doing, my arse. Look at you! That girl has you wrapped so tightly around her little finger you can’t even see straight. This was not the plan. So, listen carefully: You … you�
�ve got two days. After that, I’m done talking.” It was Allegretti and Visser.
“Don’t try to screw me. I told you I’ll handle it, and I will. If you try to do anything, I’ll take you out personally. Capiche?”
Ellie froze, not sure whether to continue or retreat. Going back might be better. She didn’t know where the voices were coming from. But she was so hungry, maybe she should just keep moving. Or find a chair and sit there for the rest of the night. Clara was fluttering among the guests like an exotic butterfly. A touch here, a smile there. Dancing with whoever was available. Now and again Ellie saw Enzio. He looked like a proud father watching his child play the leading role in a concert. Of Gabriella and Nick Malherbe there was no sign.
Ellie sat down under a gas heater near the pool. A waiter came over and she ordered the most expensive whisky she had seen on the shelf. When he brought it, she took small sips and surrendered to her nostalgia.
“I’m afraid I can’t leave you here. It’s going to get even colder just before sunrise.”
Ellie opened her eyes. Nick Malherbe was standing beside the lounger she was stretched out on. She must have fallen asleep. “Is the party over?”
“Except for a few die-hards I still have to babysit. By this time they’re capable of anything.” He sat down beside her.
“Is Clara okay?”
“She and Enzio went to bed hours ago.”
“Thanks. I thought I’d just sit down for a while.”
She jumped when he slid his hand up her leg. “I don’t believe it. You’re armed.”
She slapped his hand way. “As I’m sure you are.”
He lifted the hem of her dress slightly. “What would have happened if you’d wanted to get to know a guy a little better tonight?”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Do you always plan that kind of thing? Have you never acted on the spur of the moment?”
She pulled the hem of her dress down. “No.”
“Never had a one-night stand?”
She shook her head.
“Religious objections?”
Ellie laughed. “No, personal objections.”
“Just as well I got a grip on myself.”
Ellie knew she shouldn’t ask, but the place where he had touched her leg felt warm, and the dress felt like satin on her skin. Her limbs were relaxed and lazy, and it was just late enough for her brain to have stopped analysing every word.
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