Crossfire

by Malorie Blackman

  ‘Callie, I really, really hope you know what you’re doing.’

  I swallowed hard. That made two of us.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Hey, Callie, it’s Tobey.’

  My smile was instantaneous. I held the phone closer to my ear. ‘What’s what, Tobey?’ I asked, playing his usual greeting back to him.

  ‘Not much. You OK?’

  My smile faded. ‘I’m fine. Any reason why I shouldn’t be?’

  ‘None that I know of.’

  My antennae started to quiver. ‘Tobey, what’s wrong? You sound … off.’

  He sighed. ‘It’s just been a bitch of a week. I know it’s late but I wondered if you fancied grabbing a bite to eat with me?’

  I glanced at my watch. It was almost ten. Well, my brother Troy had stood me up earlier so dinner with a friend would be welcome. And as for my brother? No text, no email, no message to tell me why he was a no-show. We’d have words about that the next time I saw him.

  ‘You haven’t eaten yet?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m lucky if I manage more than a few cups of coffee a day at the moment,’ said Tobey. ‘But it is late. You’ve probably already eaten. Forget I asked. It was just—’

  ‘I’d love to have dinner with you,’ I interrupted. ‘I’m just back at my office, doing paperwork that can wait. Where shall I meet you?’

  ‘How about we have dinner at mine?’ said Tobey. ‘I could have something delivered.’

  Pause.

  Tobey sounded so desperate for company. ‘But if you’d rather not—’

  ‘No, that’d be lovely,’ I said. ‘I already have your address. Shall I meet you there in thirty minutes?’

  ‘Sounds good. See you in half an hour then.’

  I disconnected the call, staring down at my phone. I hadn’t been alone with Tobey since … since we were teenagers. Damn! Had it really been that long? Racking my brains, I realized I was right.

  Dinner at Tobey’s.

  Be careful, Callie.

  Be very careful.

  sixty-five. Tobey

  * * *

  Callie walked into my apartment before me, then stopped. I’d met her down in the foyer, arriving as we did within seconds of each other. Part of me wondered why she’d agreed to meet me, but I wasn’t about to argue or check this gift horse’s teeth. Leaving two of my close-protection officers in the foyer and the other two outside my front door, we entered my apartment.

  ‘Computer, switch on the lounge lights,’ I ordered.

  The lights above immediately came on.

  Closing the door, I moved to stand beside her, watching as she looked around, taking it all in. I’d paid Amber and Dyson, the famous interior designers, an absolute fortune to put this penthouse together for me. The apartment had three reception rooms, one of which I used as my study, and four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite. Every time I opened the front door, I felt like I’d arrived. But now I was seeing it through Callie’s eyes, with its sterile white walls and its dark oak hardwood floors. The white leather sofas were all sharp angles and straight lines. Even the artwork on the walls was geometric by design. The other rooms continued the theme of monochrome hardwood floors and furniture that was designed for effect rather than comfort. The place looked like what it was: an expensive bachelor pad, a conquest den, made for my comfort alone and no one else’s.

  Callie turned to me and smiled. ‘It’s very … functional.’

  ‘You hate it, don’t you?’

  She shrugged. ‘Well, it’s not to my taste but it’s your home. You’re the one who has to be comfortable here.’

  Though the words were lightly said, I was disappointed, like I’d failed a test I didn’t even know I was taking.

  ‘Ready to eat?’ I asked.

  ‘You got FeedMe on speed dial then?’ Callie teased.

  FeedMe was just one of the fast-food delivery services available in the capital. I never used them.

  ‘Our dinner is already here.’ I indicated the dining table across the room. A trolley filled with covered plates sat behind the table and a bottle of champagne was cooling in the ice bucket.

  ‘Oh.’ Callie regarded me, eyes narrowed. ‘You were so sure I’d agree to your suggestion to have dinner here? Am I that predictable?’

  A verbal trap. If I walked into this one, it could take my head clean off.

  ‘No, Callie, you’re not predictable at all. I was hoping, not assuming.’

  ‘Oh.’

  A lot of meaning in one syllable.

  ‘Well, as you’ve gone to all this trouble, let’s eat. I’m starving.’

  Callie shrugged off her jacket, throwing it over the arm of my sofa as she went, like she was laying down a challenge. She was at the table and pulling out her own chair before I’d got it together enough to follow her. Removing the named warmers from over our starters, I placed a bowl of soup in front of Callie, before setting my own plate down on the table. The name of a well-known restaurant was written round the rim of our crockery. No chance of pretending I’d cooked our dinner! Callie waited till I was seated opposite her, then said, ‘Food from Bertollini’s. I’m impressed. I didn’t even know they did takeaways.’

  ‘I asked them nicely,’ I said. Plus being PM didn’t hurt.

  Callie waved her hand in the direction of the food trolley keeping the food warm beside us. ‘This is all stuff from their current menu?’

  ‘I asked for your favourites,’ I replied. ‘Minestrone soup with fresh brown rolls, petti di pollo al burro and tiramisu.’

  ‘You remember? After all this time?’

  I smiled. ‘Of course.’

  A moment’s pause to share a smile.

  Callie said, ‘What’re we waiting for?! Let’s eat.’

  Smiling, I reached for my napkin.

  Our dinner conversation flowed like the champagne. It was as if all the intervening years between us rolled up, then rolled away until they were out of sight. Callie teased me throughout the meal. She teased me about getting into law school and then dropping out. She teased me about getting all that money from her nan and then giving it all away. She teased me about being a borough councillor and then becoming Mayor of Meadowview. For Shaka’s sake, she even teased me about my hairstyle. My PR person and my hairdresser had got together and decided a shorter, more regimented cut would appeal to more voters than my usual unruly, wavy hair flopping over my forehead. On this one, I’d overruled them. Callie teased me like she’d been there while they were discussing it.

  ‘You look like you’re ready to join a boy band,’ she said.

  ‘You’ve heard me sing,’ I pointed out. ‘Not gonna happen.’

  Callie took another mouthful of her chicken. ‘So you never took singing lessons to round off your can-do-anything Superman image.’

  ‘Is that what I have?’ I asked, surprised.

  ‘You know you do. You are Prime Minister. My God, I’m having dinner with the PM.’ Callie’s eyes were wide with mock wonder. ‘But, seriously, look at everything you’ve achieved through sheer hard work, intelligence and determination. Women love you. Men admire you. Even dogs and cats adore you. You sure know how to work it, Tobey!’

  ‘But for how much longer? I’ve had to hand over most of my workload while I fight this case – which is politically motivated, at least in part.’

  ‘You believe there’s some kind of conspiracy here?’ Callie frowned.

  I shrugged. ‘It’s just interesting how they came after me with so little evidence.’

  ‘And that’s going to be the downfall of this case.’ Callie was all assurances.

  When this was all over, I’d make sure that those involved in having me arrested paid for it. A silent vow but a sincere one nonetheless.

  ‘If the voting public get to know about my arrest, my career will be all but over,’ I said. ‘To a lot of people, being arrested is the same as being guilty. I’m a Nought, Callie. There’s a whole swathe of the Cross population just waiting for me t
o fuck up. Godsake! During the election campaign, I wore brown shoes to a TV interview and the news that night discussed whether or not the wearing of brown rather than black shoes made me unfit to run as PM.’

  Callie sighed. ‘Yeah, I remember that. But look – when I get this case dismissed due to lack of evidence, I’ll make sure you can pick up where you left off with not a single stain on your character. Worst-case scenario, if the case does go to trial and the judge throws out the super-injunction, you’ll have to temporarily remove yourself from office until the matter is resolved. But, if that does happen, tell your deputy not to get too comfy in your chair. I don’t intend for this case to take long.’

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread. Some things never changed. Once Callie got the bit between her teeth, there was no stopping her.

  ‘Thanks, Callie,’ I said. ‘It’s good to know you’ve got my back.’

  Her hand covered mine. ‘Always, Tobey. Always.’

  She made to pull her hand away, but I snatched it up and kissed her palm. Her wrist was perfumed with some kind of vanilla scent. She smelled gorgeous: good enough to eat. Callie slowly pulled her hand out of mine and we went back to finishing our dinner.

  ‘Now tell me more about the Gentlemen’s Monthly photo spread you did last month,’ said Callie. ‘May I just say how devastatingly handsome you managed to look in the photos. Someone must’ve spent a good couple of weeks photoshopping the hell out of those pics.’

  I pursed my lips. ‘Bitch! You’re loving this, aren’t you?’

  ‘You know it!’ Callie laughed, barely pausing for breath before the teasing continued.

  And I loved it.

  It was well after midnight and into the small hours. This was the first time in forever that I’d had a conversation that didn’t revolve around politics. We discussed films, music, books, and I couldn’t remember when I’d been so relaxed, so able to let my guard down. We’d finished our tiramisu hours ago and had just spent the time since playing catch-up until at last Callie glanced at her watch and sighed.

  ‘I’d best head home before I turn into a gourd,’ she said, quoting a famous Cross myth about the consequences of staying up past midnight. She stood up. ‘Tobey, thank you for a lovely evening, good food and great company.’

  I got to my feet. ‘The night is still young.’

  ‘Yeah, but I’m not!’ Callie shot back with a wry smile. ‘I’ll phone for a cab and be out of your hair within fifteen minutes, if you don’t mind me waiting here until it arrives.’

  She headed over to the sofa to retrieve her jacket, taking her phone out of the pocket. I took hold of her free hand and pulled her to me.

  ‘What I mean is, I’d like you to stay the night,’ I told her softly.

  At that moment, more than anything else in the world, I wanted her.

  Callie’s smile had disappeared. She sighed. ‘That’s not a good idea, Tobey.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m your lawyer. You’re my client. There are all kinds of rules against that. As it is, I feel like I’m already bending enough of the rulebook for it to qualify as origami.’

  ‘What rules are you bending?’

  ‘My mum was at Dan’s dinner party. If it wasn’t for the fact that she left before Dan was killed, I would have to recuse myself from this case. As it is, Solomon, my head of chambers, will be acting as co-counsel to make sure there’s absolutely no conflict of interest.’

  ‘This isn’t about Solomon or the case. It’s about us, Callie. You and I belong together. We always have and we always will,’ I told her. ‘So I’m asking you to stay with me.’ I stroked a thumb over her lips. ‘We were friends first. And lovers, long before you were my lawyer,’ I whispered, my lips mere millimetres from her own.

  Callie drew back slightly. ‘We slept together once. That hardly makes us lovers.’

  ‘We made love together once – and sometimes once is enough to know when two people are right together. So stay? Please?’

  Silence.

  What was Callie thinking? Once I could read her face like a picture book, but during our years apart she’d obviously become more adroit at masking her expression. I stepped back, inwardly sighing. No more pleading. Callie was right. This wasn’t a good idea. I guess only one of us was emotionally frozen in time. Stupid of me to think that she’d ever—

  ‘It would be very unfair and downright cruel to drag some poor taxi driver out at this time of night,’ Callie told me.

  The relief I felt was instant and heartfelt. ‘Cruel and unusual,’ I agreed. ‘So is that a yes?’

  ‘That is a— We shouldn’t do this. It’s such a bad idea. We’ll both regret it in the morning. Maybe we should just take a minute and—’

  I kissed her, effectively halting the high tide of words. Callie’s phone fell on the sofa before her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, holding me tighter.

  I reluctantly drew away. ‘So that’s a yes?’ I needed to hear her say it.

  ‘That’s a hell yes.’ Callie grinned. ‘I’ve missed you so much, Tobey.’

  Reaching out with one hand, she stroked her fingers over my cheek, my nose, my lips. Her touch was already melting the wall of ice I’d carefully built up around my emotions. A mutual smile and, taking her by the hand, I led the way to my bedroom. Tonight Callie was mine. I had till the morning to find a way to make one night last a lifetime.

  Peace. That’s what I felt for the first time in a long, long time. I was where I was meant to be, with the one person in this world who was my true other self. Hours earlier, when we’d entered my bedroom, I hadn’t even bothered switching on the lights. Moonlight now flooded the room, giving it a silver glow, as if the night itself were blessing us. The room was so silvery bright, it could only be a full moon out there, the night-time clouds having moved on. Underneath the duvet, Callie’s hand stroked my chest and my abdomen, slow, circular movements that increased the peace I felt. It wasn’t a flash of insight or a thunderclap of reason that hit me. Rather it was the calm acceptance of something I’d kept buried so deep, I thought it must surely have died. I was mistaken. The simple truth was, I still loved Callie and I knew in that moment I always would. There was a space and a place in my heart that belonged to her and her alone.

  ‘What’re you thinking?’ she asked lightly.

  ‘That you’re peace,’ I said honestly.

  ‘That I’m a piece?’ Her voice held an unmistakable frown. ‘Of what? Tail? Ass? Is that what this is? A booty call?’

  ‘You’ve got to be kidding me—’ I blinked at her in dismay. Was that really what she thought was going on here? She thought I was—?

  Callie burst out laughing. ‘Totally got you! Act like you know!’

  I shook my head, holding her closer. ‘Tell me why I’ve missed you so much again?’

  I pulled her to me for another kiss. A long one. From the living room came the intro to the song ‘Mama Says’ by Freel. It was only just audible. Quizzically, I looked at Callie.

  ‘That’s my ringtone for when Mum phones me,’ she explained. She swung her legs out of bed and was already on her feet. ‘Computer, lights on.’

  The bedroom lights complied immediately.

  ‘Do I have my own ringtone for when I phone you?’

  ‘Now that would be telling.’ Callie winked, heading for the bedroom door.

  ‘Where’re you going?’ I sat up to ask. I didn’t want her away from me, not even for a minute.

  ‘To answer my phone.’ She turned to me and smiled. ‘If Mum’s calling me at this time of night, then …’ Her smile faded as her eyes skimmed over my torso. Her phone rang off as she walked back to sit down on the edge of the bed. She leaned in closer to my chest. Good! I opened my arms, hoping she was going to kiss me as a precursor to another bout of love-making. God knows I wanted her again.

  ‘Oh. My. God!’ Callie breathed.

  ‘What’s the—?’

  And only then did I remember my tattoo, lasered off but unfortunately still
just discernible. I’d had it inked over my heart the day my daughter Libby was born.

  Two words written in cursive black ink on an undulating white flag in the middle of a red heart. Laser treatment meant the flag had gone, the red heart was faint, but the black writing was still just legible – Nought Forever. The thing had been a pain in my arse from the time I’d entered politics. In the very few photos of me wearing swimming trunks that were in the public domain, I’d always had make-up applied over the tattoo to cover it up. Callie was looking at me like I’d sprouted two horns out of my forehead and a tail from the small of my back.

  ‘Callie, let me explain—’ I began.

  ‘What the hell, Tobey?’ She leaped off the bed like she’d been stung. She backed away from me, staring as if I really had turned into the devil himself.

  ‘I can explain—’ I climbed out of bed, oblivious to my nakedness.

  ‘Jesus! You’re a member of Nought Forever,’ Callie whispered.

  ‘I was,’ I said, trying to move closer to her, but, for each step I took towards her, she took one away. ‘Not any more. Not for years.’

  ‘You belong to a Nought supremacist group, any one of whom would gladly kick my head in as soon as look at me.’ Callie shook her head, still backing away.

  If she left now without giving me a chance to put things right, I’d never get this evening back – and I was greedy. I wanted more, a lot more. I moved forward with determination before she could outpace me and grabbed her upper arms.

  ‘Callie Rose, you will listen to me. I joined them the year after we split up,’ I told her urgently. ‘When I finally realized what I was getting into, I shook them off and left. I was angry, and joining them was a way to vent that. It was a stupid mistake, but that’s all it was.’

  Callie’s eyes held horror as she regarded me. Had she even heard a word I’d just said?

  ‘Oh. My. God. I’m such a simp. Why did you do it? Why did you sleep with me if you hate me and mine so much?’

  ‘I don’t hate you. I—’

  Silence. God, I couldn’t believe what I’d almost just said.