Текст книги "Bad Grace "

Автор книги: Annabel Chant

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

    Sixteen

Him

Matt picked up as soon as I called him.

‘He’s heading towards Leicester Square,’ he said. It was hard to make out the words, against the thrum of one of London’s busiest and noisiest places.

‘Leicester Square,’ I said, ducking down into the car. ‘He would be.’ The chances of keeping up with him there were slim, if not non-existent. It was the obvious direction to go, being only a stone’s throw from the Dominion hotel.

Alex was already inside and, as soon as I slammed my door, Stephens put his foot down, pulling away from the kerb with a spin of tyres.

‘How’re we doing, Matt?’ I said.

His voice was practically inaudible, what with him panting and the sound of the traffic both from my end and his, but I managed to catch; ‘Just passing…Empire, Sir…fucking première finishing…’

I didn’t catch the last words, but I hardly needed to. If there were a film première on, it’d be even more packed than usual, and I didn’t like the direction he was heading in, either. It was a direct route to the nearest Tube station.

‘Don’t let him see you,’ I said. ‘We’ll be right there. As close to the Empire as you can, Stephens, please.’

The chances of finding either of them were pretty much non-existent. I hoped Matt was going to be able to handle it on his own. It wasn’t like he needed to do much – just keep him in sight and find out where he was staying. He hadn’t been home since the whole affair blew up, much to Sandy’s disgust. If he wanted to lose his family, he was going the right way about it, the fucking idiot.

I took the time to look at my phone. There was a message – again from a number I didn’t recognise. It couldn’t be Felicity – thank fuck – because I’d saved her number, so could it be…? My fingers fumbled in my anxiety and, by the time I got it open, I was almost holding my breath.

It was from her.

I could hardly believe it. I hadn’t heard a thing from her since the night I kissed her on the Embankment at Chelsea. Not since, like a moron, I gave her that damned card.

There was no greeting, not even a snarky; ‘Hello, “Filth Monger”’, just a cry for help:

It’s Grace Anderton. You said to get in touch if I needed to. Well, here I am, getting in touch.

I reread it a couple of times, not sure what to make of it. I hoped it meant she wanted to see me again, but I suspected it didn’t. Not in the way I wanted, at least. I sighed. Just as well, probably, all considered – for her, at least. Not so much for me. I actually thought I might fall in love with her, given the chance. Something I’d never managed, since Aimee. Hell, I was halfway there already, and now I’d been charged with assaulting a woman. She’d love that, I was sure. Ah well, that was my fucking life all over. I’d text her back – tell her I’d be in touch – but I’d have to do it later. I couldn’t spare the time now – as much as I wanted to.

I called Matt again.

‘I’m still at the Empire, Sir. He’s hiding amongst the tourists and having a look around,’ he said. ‘He’s checking he’s not being followed.’

‘Good,’ I said. ‘Keep your head down. We’re on our way.’

We were still in Coventry Street when the traffic began to back up. By the time we hit Swiss Court, it was at a standstill. It was gone ten at night, but this was the heart of tourist London, and time meant nothing.

‘He’s on the move, Sir.’ Matt’s voice sounded urgent.

‘Pull over,’ I said.

Stephens pulled up sharply, ignoring the blare of horns, and we swung out of the car and headed through the hordes lining the streets, towards the Empire. When we reached it, the crowds were thick with tourists and teenage girls, camera phones flashing at whoever was coming back out along the red carpet. It was unlikely to be anyone interesting – those would be at the after-film party, but anyone on a red carpet was fair game to the camera-happy multitudes.

I looked around, my heart racing, but there was no sign of Rick or Matt.

I put my phone to my ear.

Matt sounded breathless, probably more from worry than from running, given their pit-stop at the Empire. ‘He’s heading to the Tube, Sir,’ he said.

Tell me something I don’t know. It was almost too obvious. What better way to disappear from the streets of London?

‘We’re almost there,’ I lied. ‘Good work, Matt. Keep on his tail.’

We were nowhere near the Tube. By the time I could see the Underground sign, I was sure we’d missed them, and that would be that. The chances of Matt getting a signal down there was zero.

‘There, Sir!’ said Alex, urgently. ‘Going down the steps.’

I saw him straight away, walking in a cluster of tourists, down the steps and under the Charing Cross Road. Unbelievable. He was practically ambling. He actually seemed to think he’d got away with it. No wonder we’d managed to get there in time.

We kept our heads down and followed him into the Tube.

As we went down the steps, someone touched my elbow. ‘Sir,’ he said.

It was Matt.

‘Nice work,’ I said. ‘That was almost too easy. Let’s hope it carries on that way.’

Famous last words.

We carried on down the steps. Our pace was frustratingly slow, but we had to make sure he didn’t see us. As the steps opened out into the ticket hall, I saw him look around him again, before deciding where to go.

‘He’s heading for the Northern Line,’ I said. ‘Come on.’

As we reached the barriers, Alex and Matt got out their Oyster cards and zipped them through the machine.

Damn. I didn’t have an Oyster card – I’d never needed one, what with my fleet of cars and Stephens to drive me whenever I needed him. I took a look around me, before jumping over the barrier.

‘Oi!’ I heard someone yell from behind me, but I paid no heed and followed the others in the direction of the Northern line.

For a moment, I thought we’d lost him, but then Matt nudged me. ‘He’s going South, Sir. Come on.’

We headed down the seemingly interminable escalator, right into the bowels of the City. I loosened the collar of my shirt and blew up onto my forehead. I was starting to get twitchy already. It was the whole enclosed space thing again. I couldn’t easily get out if something happened down here, and the thought made my throat constrict, and the sweat begin to stand out on my brow. It didn’t help I knew that, if Rick were to look up now, there was nowhere we could hide and he’d be bound to spot us.

I didn’t notice him turn round, though, let alone look back up the escalator and, when we finally got off, I wiped my brow and turned to the others.

‘We’ll have to stay this end. He’s moving further up the platform – we can’t risk him seeing us.’

Matt and Alex didn’t speak. They merely nodded in affirmation and, when the train pulled in a minute or two later, we shuffled into one of the back carriages.

As the train pulled away, Matt turned to me. ‘How are we going to know when he gets off, Sir?’ he said.

I confess I hadn’t given it a thought. I blame the fact that I was in what was essentially a tin can, hurtling through tight tunnels under a seething city – I couldn’t focus. But it could equally have just been an oversight. I seemed to be making a habit of them, these days.

I shook my head. ‘I don’t know.’

Alex ran his fingers through his thinning grey hair. ‘We’ll have to split up – one get off at each station and take a chance.’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘That’s perfect. You get off next stop, Matt, at uh…’

‘Charing Cross, Sir,’ Matt supplied.

‘Yes, Charing Cross,’ I said. I couldn’t see Rick getting off at the very next stop, and Matt had done enough chasing for one night. ‘If he doesn’t get off, be ready to hail a cab in case we need you.’

‘Very good, Sir.’

‘What’s the next stop?’ I said, looking up at the map above the window. I flushed slightly – partly because I felt stifled, pressed up against people I didn’t even know, but mainly because I was acutely aware of my ignorance. I didn’t have even the most basic knowledge of the London Underground but, then, I wasn’t your average Londoner.

‘Embankment, Sir,’ said Alex, pointing it out.

‘Good,’ I said. ‘I’ll get off there.’ From the map, it looked like Embankment was a bigger station…busier. There was more chance he’d get off there or, at least, change trains. ‘Alex…you’ll get off at…uh…Waterloo.’

The train pulled into Charing Cross, and Matt tipped me a small salute. ‘See you, Sir,’ he said, his jaw clenched tight as he headed off the train. I saw him weaving between people, heading towards the exit, then holing back, in a recess, his eyes roaming the sea of passengers.

I didn’t see Rick and, as the train pulled away, I turned to Alex.

‘I don’t think he got off,’ I said.

‘Sir,’ said Alex. ‘What if he doesn’t get off at any of them, Sir?’

‘Then,’ I said. ‘We’re fucked.’

Seventeen

Him

The wait till we reached Embankment felt interminable. Half the reason I’d said I’d get off there was because I didn’t think I could take much longer on the Tube. The other half was because I did have a gut feeling that Embankment was the station, and I wanted to deal with this myself. Added to which, Alex was no spring chicken, and I didn’t want him chasing around London all night.

As the train drew in, I felt myself relax slightly, knowing I might be back in the open air soon. I nodded to Alex, then dipped my head and waited a few seconds, before moving out onto the platform.

The surge of passengers headed forward slightly, more in the direction of the front of the train – the exit was obviously in a different place here. I stooped a little, wishing for a brief moment I wasn’t so tall.

As I allowed myself to be pushed along towards the exit, I felt a tap on my arm. I looked round. It was Alex. ‘He got off here, Sir – I saw him. He’s just up ahead.’

I felt irritated for a moment, then shrugged. ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Good work. I haven’t spotted him yet.’

‘He’s there, Sir,’ said Alex, indicating ahead and a little to the right. ‘See?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Well, at least we can split up again, if need be.’

There was no need, though. Rick headed up and out, through the ticket hall, and into the quieter streets of Westminster. He crossed the road and began heading towards the river. We followed at a safe distance, keeping enough people between us to cover our presence, while staying close enough to avoid losing him.

‘If we have to split up now, Sir,’ said Alex. ‘Just give me the nod.’

‘Of course,’ I said, although I didn’t see why we’d need to. It was pretty easy, following him, to be honest. He seemed to have no idea we were there.

He crossed a few more roads, until he was on the Embankment itself, walking along next to the river, heading East towards the Golden Jubilee Bridge. It was harder, here, for us to avoid being seen.

‘I think we should split up,’ said Alex. ‘We look too obvious, together.’

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I’ll go ahead – you keep to my rear.’

‘Sir,’ said Alex. ‘Could I go first? I don’t know if I can handle too much running.’ He ran his hand through his hair again. ‘I’ll keep a low profile – pretend to be on my phone or something.’

He did look fucked. The strands of his hair were damp and clinging to his forehead. I nodded briefly and fell back until I was about twenty yards behind him. We carried on like this for a few minutes; Alex walking in front, head bowed, phone at his ear; me bringing up the rear. I could barely see Rick, with the way the river curved, and to be honest I was almost glad.

Something didn’t feel right. Embankment was a huge station. Rick could’ve gone in any direction from there. If he’d stayed on the Underground, we’d probably have lost him eventually, even without him realising we were following him. Yet, here we were, just the three of us, sauntering along the Embankment, as if we didn’t have a care in the world.

I almost laughed at the irony. I’d walked along the Embankment – not here, but at Chelsea – only a few days ago with Grace. For those few minutes, I actually had felt as if hadn’t a care in the world. Not now, though. Fucking Rick. His whole attitude had really got under my skin, tonight. Now, here we were, at least an hour later, playing some fucked-up version of follow the leader, and still no closer to getting back the tape.

I glanced at my watch. It was getting late – nearly eleven – and the passers-by had dwindled to the odd group of revellers and the occasional wino. I wondered how much longer we could get away with this, without Rick cottoning onto us. At that moment, a text came in.

It was from Alex.

He’s got a package out of his coat. I think it’s the tape.

I heaved an impatient sigh and texted back.

Are you saying no one frisked him?

It was barely a few seconds before the reply came:

Apparently not.

I pushed my hair back in frustration. What the fuck were they doing, then, when he left? They’d had him pinned against the wall. Surely they’d thought to check his pockets, at least?

I could see Rick now. He was standing, looking out over the river, something in his hand. It could’ve been the tape, it could’ve been his phone. I had no way of knowing, from this distance.

Alex turned and looked at me. I shrugged. What to fucking do? Should I let him carry on, and find out where he was hiding out, or should we risk it and try to get the tape back now? I stopped for a moment, to gather my thoughts. A moment too long…

Alex had evidently decided to take matters into his own hands. He quickened his pace, walking faster and faster until he broke out into a trot. Within a few seconds, he was almost upon him, and I just stood there, aghast.

‘No, Alex,’ I murmured to myself. ‘Let it go.’

But he couldn’t hear me, naturally. I started to run, looking on as Alex reached Rick, who span round and looked at him, horror etched into his face. Alex made to grab the – whatever it was – but Rick was having none of it and pushed at him. Within seconds it was a full-blown tussle, stopping only when Alex suddenly crumpled and fell to the floor, clutching his side.

‘He’s stabbed me,’ he said, through gritted teeth, as I reached him.

    Eighteen

Him

I stood there, looking down at him in horror, before turning to see Rick walking off quickly along the Embankment. He hadn’t noticed me, or he’d be running. As it was, he was moving as fast as he could, without attracting attention to himself.

I looked back down at Alex.

‘Don’t just stand there, Sir,’ he gasped. ‘I’m okay. Just get the fucker.’

I hesitated, but Alex glared at me, his face bunched up with pain. ‘Go!’ he said.

A group of passers-by were already coming over, looks of concern on their faces. I hesitated a second longer, then turned and ran along the Embankment, as fast as I could.

Rick must’ve heard me coming, because he turned and looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened, and he broke into a sprint. I upped my speed to match him and, for a minute or so, the distance between us didn’t seem to diminish. After a few hundred yards, though, I could sense I was gaining on him, and I wondered what I’d do when I reached him. He had a knife, after all, and I had…nothing. Why the fuck hadn’t I brought some sort of firearm? But it was never meant to come to this. It was supposed to be an exercise in surveillance, nothing more.

We were almost at the Golden Jubilee Bridge by now and, as he reached it, Rick turned and ran onto it. I followed him, rounding the corner at top speed, until I pulled up short.

A few yards ahead of me, Rick was standing looking at me. From the angle I was at, the London Eye, behind him and on the other side of the river, seemed to encircle him, its illuminated white frame outlining his body almost perfectly, like some fucked-up DaVinci sketch.

I walked towards him.

‘You stabbed Alex,’ I said. I could still hardly believe it. They’d been almost like father and son since Alex had taken him under his wing. ‘Is there nothing you won’t do for money?’

‘Not at the moment.’ Rick moved backwards away from me, as I advanced upon him. ‘I’ll do anything it takes, trust me.’

‘I offered to help,’ I said. ‘I offered again tonight. You’re out of control, Rick. Don’t come begging to me when it all goes to shit.’

‘I won’t,’ he said. ‘I’ve got other avenues to explore.’

‘I wish I understood what your problem was,’ I said and sighed – this was all so unnecessary.

‘I’ve told you my problems,’ he said, his voice rising sharply. ‘I haven’t got a choice.’

‘You’ve had plenty of choices, Rick,’ I said. ‘You’ve just made bad ones, that’s all. I can’t let you go, I suppose you know that. You’re a fucking liability.’

‘What are you going to do, then?’ he said, almost jeering. ‘Call the cops?’

I pursed my lips in anger. He knew that wasn’t even a possibility, the fucker. ‘No, but I need that tape before you do something we all regret.’

‘I won’t regret it,’ he said, still edging away from me.

‘You will,’ I said. ‘The way you’re acting…it’s bordering on suicidal.’

‘Maybe I am,’ he said. He looked thoughtful suddenly.

I drew back, wondering what he was planning to do. I still couldn’t tell what he had in his hand – was it the package? The knife? His phone? I wasn’t getting close enough to find out.

‘Maybe I am suicidal,’ he said again and, before I even realised what he was planning to do, he jumped over the rails of the bridge and into the river below.

    Nineteen

Hm

I hesitated only for a moment. Alex was injured, Felicity was still in danger of being – quite literally – exposed, and if I let Rick go now, I might never get the tape back. I didn’t have a choice – I had to follow him.

I didn’t even stop to take off my jacket. I clambered over the railings, took a deep breath, and dived into the murky waters below.

The drop was astounding. I hadn’t realised it was so far down. It had to be a good twenty metres, if not more. As I hit the water, the force of it, coupled with its cold bite, took my breath away. For a moment, I just hung there in the freezing wet blackness, my lungs compressed and my eyes unseeing. I knew I had to act. I could freeze to death in these temperatures, if I didn’t drown first. I forced my way frantically to the surface, kicking with my legs and pulling off my jacket as I did so.

When I finally broke through the slapping waves, I paused again, gasping for air and looking around me. Everything was quiet and dark, but for the moonlight playing silvery across the water. It was a pallid light, and it gave the silent river an ethereal feel, but was enough for me to catch sight of him, under the bridge. The current was driving him into one of the pillars, and he was trying to push himself away, back into the swim.

As I neared him, he succeeded and was swept away downriver. I kicked as hard as I could and followed him, narrowly avoiding plunging straight at the same pillar he’d hit. As I rushed past it, I pushed against it with my hand, trying to force myself out into the same wash that had carried him away. It was so dark under the bridge; I could barely make him out as the river swept him further and further from me.

It was a matter of seconds before I was past the pillars on the other side of the bridge and out in the open river. I must have finally hit the same current as him because, with a sudden rush, I picked up speed, and started to gain on him. I was struggling to stay afloat, my clothes making swimming almost impossible and threatening to drag me down with every stroke I took.

It looked as if Rick was having the same kind of struggle. In the brief glimpses I caught of him, I could see him holding up one hand, as if trying to grab at an unseen rescuer.

What the fuck had I been thinking of, going after him like this? We were both going to end up dead at this rate, drowned in the filth of the Thames. A fitting end for the Filth Monger, I thought, laughing almost hysterically, as the waves chopped at my face and mouthfuls of water forced themselves down my throat.

It was going to be the end of one of us, it seemed. As I struggled to get closer to the shore, I became dimly aware of a platform – some sort of jetty, probably for the river taxis – coming closer to me. With the last of my strength, I pushed with my legs and, reaching out with my arms, got alongside it. I reached up to grab hold of the side, but it was too high, and my hands slithered down the sides, barnacles scratching at my wrists and palms.

I tried once more, this time managing to snag hold of a rope. I pulled myself up, until my shoulders were almost out of the water, my legs still being dragged forward by the pull of the river.

But I was safe, I knew. Safer than Rick, at least. As I looked out across the moonlit water at him, his hand – still stretching upwards for some sort of salvation – sank beneath the surface and didn’t reappear.

I carried on watching for a minute or two, but there was no further movement, and my heart sank. Despite everything, I wished it hadn’t had to end like this. I turned to the jetty and started to haul myself around it to a place where I could get a purchase to climb on board. It was flat and empty – tethered, but still drifting slightly with the current. I put my hands up again. They were practically numb, which made gripping the rope both painful and difficult, and I was starting to yawn. I knew I had to get out, or risk hypothermia setting in.

Finally, I managed to heave my exhausted, waterlogged body up out of the river. I sat there for a few minutes, getting my breath back and staring out across the river in the direction I’d last seen Rick. I wondered how Sandy would feel when it became apparent he was never coming home. Would she forgive him? Would she remember him fondly? Would she tell his girls how great their daddy was? I doubted it, and in some fucked-up way I felt responsible. I’d sort something out, make their life easier than it otherwise would be.

But for now, I needed to get ashore and get myself sorted. Hopefully, the tape had ceased to be a problem, and I could allow my mind to think of other things for the first time in days. I had to find out where Alex was, and how he was doing. I also – and I felt almost guilty thinking of something that gave me so much pleasure, straight after watching Rick drown, cold and alone – had to get back to Grace.

And that was when it hit me. I’d gone into the water fully clothed. My phone had been in my pocket. I couldn’t contact her.