Текст книги "Disgraced"

Автор книги: Annabel Chant

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

‘Is there another way out of here? Without going past security?’

‘Through the garages in the basement,’ I said, doubtfully. ‘But I don’t know what Leo’s done with the car keys.’

‘Fu…forget the car keys,’ he said, wincing, as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘Just get out of here, Grace.’

‘I can’t leave you,’ I said, choking on my tears. ‘Don’t make me.’

‘You have to,’ he said. ‘You can’t get involved in all this.’

‘But you don’t understand…’

‘Hush,’ he held his finger up to my lips. ‘You don’t understand. I’ve got no reputation. It hardly matters what people think of me, anymore. They already think I’m a murderer. You? You’re the nation’s sweetheart. Make this worth my while, Grace. Let me do the right thing for once.’

‘No, Nat.’ I was crying openly now.

‘Yes, Angel.’ He lifted his phone and dialled the emergency services. ‘By the time the ambulance and the police arrive, I want you far from here, do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘But no.’

‘Go now, Grace.’ The blood was flowing openly now, pooling on the floor behind him. ‘If you’ve ever loved me, stay away from me.’

   I stood up, shaking my head.  He looked up at me and nodded. ‘Hello, yes. Ambulance please, and the police. There’s been an accidental death, and I’m not feeling too good, either.’

He glared at me to go and, finally, I turned tail and ran out to the lifts.

    Fifty Three

Him

I’d barely been in hospital more than a few hours, when DI Brown appeared. ‘So, it’s your turn to be the victim today, is it?’ she said, settling herself down in the chair beside my bed.

‘So it would appear.’ I turned my head away. I really couldn’t face any more at the moment. My shoulder hurt like fuck, and I just wanted to sleep.

‘I should’ve brought popcorn.’ She leaned over and helped herself to a cherry from the bag Ronnie had left earlier. ‘Does it hurt?’

I shook my head. ‘Not a bit.’

‘Shame. Funny how you got off with a mere flesh wound,’ she remarked. ‘While the so-called perpetrator died, don’t you think?’

‘Not at all,’ I said. ‘And I’ve already told you I killed him, so why don’t you just get on and charge me?’

She heaved an impatient sigh. ‘Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear those words?’ Her voice was heavy with irony.

‘I do.’

‘So, why is it that, when you finally utter them and admit to killing someone, I still don’t believe you?’

‘Divine justice,’ I said, with as near to a shrug as I could muster, given the current state of my shoulder.

‘You know I’m going to have to let you go for now, don’t you?’ she said, sounding bitter. ‘Your whole cock-and-bull story doesn’t make any sense. How could you hit him over the head with your shoulder like that?’

I didn’t answer.

‘I hate to say it.’ She took another cherry from the bag. ‘But for the first time ever, I think you’re innocent.’

I gave her a tight smile.

‘I’ll be in touch,’ she said, getting up to go.

‘I don’t doubt it,’ I said, with a sarcastic smile. ‘I don’t suppose I’ll be going anywhere.’

As it happened, I was wrong. I was released the following day. Ronnie came to pick me up with Stephens.

‘I saw Alex,’ she said, flatly. ‘He’s gone abroad. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again.’

‘Fucking good,’ I said, staring moodily out of the window. My shoulder was still killing me, and the news that Alex had gone was all I needed.

‘He said he had to get away.’ She sounded sad.

‘Wherever he goes, it won’t be far enough.’ I clenched my fists. ‘I’ll find him, and he knows it.’

Ronnie didn’t answer.

‘And Aimee?’ I turned to her ‘Have you seen her?’

‘No, Nat. I haven’t.’

We subsided into silence for a while, before I turned to her again. ‘You didn’t seem too surprised, when you saw her. Did you know?’

‘I knew she was back.’ She gave a sigh. ‘At least, I had my suspicions, from what your mother said. I couldn’t know, because she kept such a low profile.’

I didn’t speak for a few minutes, as the implications of her words slotted into place. When I did, it was in an accusatory tone. ‘You always knew she was alive, didn’t you?’

Ronnie gave a shrug. ‘I was never convinced she was dead,’ she said, finally. ‘If that’s what you mean.’

‘So, why the disappearing act?’ I turned to her, sure she knew more than she was letting on. ‘What was behind it all?’

Ronnie looked uncomfortable and I knew I was right – she’d known all along. Of course she had – she’d been in my father’s confidence for years. She’d known all along and she hadn’t told me. God, could I trust anyone?

‘She’s at the Castle,’ she said, before pursing her lips in a way that I knew meant she’d say no more.

When we drew up outside the Castle, Aimee was on the steps, talking to my mother. It looked as if she were leaving.

Stephens helped me out of the car, and I walked up to them. ‘Before you go, I think it’s time we had a little chat, don’t you?’

Aimee and my mother sneaked a glance at each other, then Aimee sighed. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘But it won’t do any good.’

We went into the drawing room. It was dark and gloomy inside, despite the large sash windows, and I wondered if it was more to do with the ominous presence that seemed to surround Aimee.

‘Would you like to tell me what’s going on?’ I said, when I’d pushed the door shut with a click. It was so quiet, it felt as if the Castle itself was holding its breath, listening.

Aimee looked from me to Ronnie, who was standing by the window, looking out at the grounds. ‘It’s quite all right,’ she said, mildly. ‘I’ve told him my part in it.’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Did you know, too, Mother?’

My mother looked at me, sharply. ‘I told you. I kept telling you. You wouldn’t listen.’

I nodded. ‘Yes, Mother. You’re right.’ She hadn’t known, not at the time. I knew that, really. She’d been as devastated as I had, when Aimee had vanished.

‘So why, then, Aimee?’ I turned to her.

She stared back at me. She looked sad, rather than defensive, I noticed and, for some reason, it put me on edge. ‘I couldn’t tell you,’ she said, simply. ‘I had to go away.’

‘Couldn’t tell me what? About my daughter?’

‘But she’s not…’ Aimee began.

‘Don’t even b…bother.’ I could feel myself losing control and I took a deep breath. ‘Do you think I didn’t recognise her at once? Her eyes…’ I tailed off, too choked up to continue.

‘What are you talking about, dear?’ My mother looked truly bewildered but, as this was almost her default appearance, it didn’t register with me straight away.

‘I’m talking about Aimee’s daughter,’ I said, meaningly. ‘My daughter.’

My mother gave a small laugh of surprise. ‘Oh, but she’s not your daughter, dear.’

I looked at Aimee, then back to my mother. ‘What? Well, whose…’

‘She’s mine,’ said my mother. ‘Or, at least, as close as I’ll ever get. She’s…’

‘Your father’s,’ said Aimee, over my mother. ‘There. It’s said. She’s your sister…half-sister…Nat.’ She tipped her chin up and turned her head away.

‘My father’s?’ The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt sick, and put my good hand to the table to support myself. ‘No, dear God. Please, no.’

‘I’m sorry, Nat.’ Aimee put her hand out and touched my arm. ‘I didn’t want to. You know how he is…’

‘No.’ I had a lump in my throat and I could barely speak. ‘No, please.’

‘He’d always had his eye on Aimee.’ Ronnie sighed. ‘Why d’you think he took her in? It was hardly out of the goodness of his heart.’

‘He didn’t have a heart,’ said my Mother, feelingly.

‘It was awful.’ Aimee spoke almost in a whisper. ‘It…you were away.’ She made it sound like an accusation.

‘When she came to him and told him she was pregnant, he hit the roof.’ Ronnie sounded tired. ‘He offered to pay for her to…you know…’

‘I couldn’t,’ said Aimee, tearfully. ‘There was a terrible row.’

‘So he sent her away.’ Ronnie shrugged. ‘It’s how it was in those days. Anything that caused a problem, he got rid of.’

I shook my head, not wanting to hear it. ‘You could have told me.’

‘I couldn’t.’ Aimee wiped at her eyes. ‘I was so ashamed, and he threatened me.’ Her voice dropped to a whisper. ‘He said he’d take Natalie. My daughter. I was put on a plane to the States and given money to live on, as long as I kept my side of the bargain.’

‘But they checked all the flights.’

Ronnie looked at me, her eyebrows raised meaningfully, and I didn’t pursue it any further. Giles. Of course. He could make anyone disappear. I’d seen that for myself only a few days before. And he would have, if my father had asked him. The Home Office did whatever they chose, and getting Aimee out of the country would have been child’s play.

‘So, why come back now,’ I said. ‘After all this time? To rub my nose in it?’

‘No, Nat,’ said Aimee, vehemently. ‘Never. My God, I loved you.’

‘Loved?’ I looked at her carefully. She hadn’t met my gaze at all, since she’d been here, but, now, she was staring right at me, her tired blue eyes fixed on me.

‘I’ll always love you, Nat,’ she said, with a sniff. ‘But too much has happened, and I have…someone…now.’

‘The owner of the house I walked you to?’ I cursed myself – I should’ve guessed.

She nodded, shame-facedly, and I felt a complete heel, especially as I realised I felt the same. I still loved the Aimee I’d known all those years before, but this woman in front of me was a stranger, to all intents and purposes. I couldn’t expect things to be the same as they had been. I didn’t even want them to be, now I’d met Grace.

Hey, that’s great,’ I said, trying to sound upbeat. The whole thing was so tragic it was almost funny. My fucking father had a lot to answer for. ‘I’m happy for you, Aimee. I am, really. None of this was your fault.’

She gave me another small, sad smile.

‘So why did you come back?’ I asked her, again.

‘I missed you all,’ she said, simply. ‘I’d have come back years ago, if I’d been allowed.’ She looked over at my mother. ‘As soon as I heard your father was ill, I got in touch with your mother. She told me you’d got married.’

Ronnie and I glanced at each other, uncomfortably.

‘I didn’t want to interfere, so I just stayed in touch with your mother and, when she told me you were in trouble, I knew it was time for me to sort things.’

‘You had nothing to sort,’ I said. ‘It was the old man who was to blame.’

‘Well,’ said my mother, walking over to Aimee. ‘That situation has resolved itself.’

She sounded so cheerful that her meaning was lost on me, for a moment. Then, something she’d said came back to me. She’d said he hadn’t had a heart, as if…

Ronnie had clearly picked up on it, too. ‘How is it resolved, exactly?’

I looked back at her, realisation dawning, then at my mother and Aimee. ‘My God, what have you done?’ I said.

Ronnie rushed to the drawing room door and, throwing it open, sped out through it in the direction of the East Wing. I followed suit, more slowly due to my injury, Aimee and my mother following at an even slower pace.

When I reached the tower room, Ronnie was standing at the end of my father’s bed, her hand to her mouth, tears running silently down her cheeks. My father, Quinlan Fforbes, ex-MP, hotel magnate and all-round bastard, lay dead, staring at the wall, his oxygen tube on the floor next to the bed.

Aimee and my mother followed us in a few minutes later.

‘He asked for it,’ said my mother, fiercely. ‘He asked for every bit of it.’

Aimee put her arm around her and they walked out, leaving me in the room with Ronnie.

‘I’ll take the rap,’ I said, going to leave. ‘I may as well add it to the list.’

‘I doubt it’ll come to that,’ said Ronnie, following me out. ‘He was a dead man walking, let’s face it.’

She couldn’t help a sniff and I wondered how, after all these years and all these revelations, she could still give a shit about my ruthless, selfish father.

    Fifty Four

Her

‘What’s the matter with you?’ Liv sat down opposite me at the kitchen table. She’d just got in from work. ‘I’ve barely seen you since yesterday.’

‘I’ve had things on my mind,’ I said. That was putting it mildly. I’d been pacing my bedroom all night, replaying the moment I’d hit Leo over the head. It made me feel sick and shaky every time. What with that and the memory of the knife going into Nat’s shoulder, I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t stop thinking about Nat. He was okay – it had said as much on the news – but he’d been questioned about Leo’s death. The only thing that had stopped me rushing to the nearest police station was the promise he’d forced me to make: If you’ve ever loved me, stay away from me. ‘I take it you’ve not seen the papers.’ I added, trying to sound casual.

‘I’ve been a bit busy.’ She got up and went over to the sink. ‘Max has been out of the office again – I’ve been snowed under. What’s happened, then?’

‘Leo’s dead,’ I said, blankly. ‘I killed him.’

‘You what?’

‘I killed him. With a knife block.’ I looked up at her. ‘He was trying to kill Nat – he stabbed him – I’m not some psycho.’

‘Well, I don’t know,’ she said with a grin, clearly not believing a word of it. ‘Maybe it’s rubbing off on you. I mean, Nat’s a psycho. He was arrested for killing those women.’

‘He didn’t kill anyone,’ I said. ‘It was Leo.’

‘What was Leo?’

‘It was Leo who killed Charlotte…Christine, I mean.’

Liv’s eyes widened. ‘Oh my God, Grace. Are you actually being serious?’

I could only nod, hardly daring to meet her eye.

She put her hands to her face and leaned back against the sink. ‘What the hell have you got yourself into?’ she said in horrified tones.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘But Nat told me to keep away from him. He doesn’t want me involved.’

‘Good on him.’ She turned back to the sink and filled up the kettle. ‘I always thought he was a nice guy.’

‘You just said he was a psycho,’ I said, managing a forlorn laugh. ‘And he is a good guy. The best I’ve ever met, in fact.’

‘That good?’ Liv whistled. ‘So, why aren’t you with him, then, if he’s been stabbed?’

‘He doesn’t want me linked to him, or what happened.’ Saying it aloud, it sounded ridiculous. ‘I hit Leo with a knife block while he was stabbing Nat. It wasn’t my fault. Nat wants to save my reputation.’

‘Bless him,’ said Liv. ‘So, that’s more important, is it?’

‘What?’

‘Your reputation. More important than Nat?’

‘Of course not.’ I shook my head. No wonder it sounded stupid – it was. ‘I can’t bear the thought of him in hospital. I want to go to see him, but he made me promise.’

‘And?’ Liv looked at me as if I were mad. ‘Sweetie, it takes strength of character to keep a promise. But, sometimes, it takes more strength to break one.’

Suddenly, something occurred to me. ‘He broke his promise to me, not to go and see Leo.’ I stood up. ‘If he hadn’t, I’d be dead.’

Liv looked confused, but shrugged. ‘Better Leo than you,’ she said. ‘Maybe it’s your time to save Nat.’

I looked at her, and nodded. ‘It’s not like I’ve done anything wrong,’ I said, as if trying to convince myself.

‘Apart from killing Leo,’ Liv pointed out, helpfully.

‘Apart from…’ I tailed off. I still couldn’t bring myself to believe it. It was all such a waste.

‘I’ve done nothing wrong, intentionally, at least,’ I amended. ‘And Nat’s done nothing wrong at all. He can’t take the rap for me.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to pay a little visit to DI Brown,’ I said, relief flooding through me. ‘And rescue my Filth Monger.’

    Fifty Five

Her

I was interviewed at some length at the police station but, in the end, they released me without charge. The DNA evidence from Charlotte’s murder corroborated my story. I’d have to go to court as a witness, but everything was going to be all right. When I got out, Nat was sitting on a wall, waiting for me, his arm in a sling.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked him, entirely unable to hide my delight. It was another hot afternoon and his eyes were almost as blue as the sky above us.

‘Well, obviously, my favourite detective couldn’t wait to pull me in again.’ He gave a satisfied grin. ‘She’s officially withdrawn all allegations made against me, though, mainly because I wasn’t guilty. How about you?’

‘She said I did the right thing.’ I shot him a mischievous grin. ‘But that I was a terrible aim. I think she thought I should’ve killed you.’

He laughed and put his arm around me. ‘I’ll bet. You didn’t do as I told you, you know.’

I shrugged. ‘Neither did you. Skulking around in people’s coat cupboards.’

‘I told you that you weren’t the only stalker in town.’ He pulled me in towards him and kissed me softly. ‘Anyway, I can do as I please, remember?’

‘In the bedroom,’ I replied, raising my eyebrows.

‘Whatever.’ He bent in to whisper in my ear. ‘You know you’re going to have to be punished, don’t you?’

‘Mm-mm,’ I nodded. ‘But Nat…’

‘Yes, Angel?’

‘Gently, please, and in private.’

He sighed. ‘Definitely. I’m keeping you all to myself from now on. I’m going to look after you, Grace, don’t you worry.’

His words ignited a glow of warmth inside me. ‘I’m going to look after you, too.’

‘I might actually take you up on that,’ he said, glancing down at his shoulder.

I couldn’t help laughing at his rueful expression. ‘You can count on it,’ I said. ‘So what are you doing for the rest of the day?’

He looked pleased with himself, suddenly. ‘Well, this evening, I’m going to visit a girl I know,’ he said. ‘She’s just woken up from a coma and is asking for me.’

‘Oh,’ I said, feigning disinterest. ‘Mr Popular. So you won’t be wanting to see me, then?’

‘On the contrary, Miss Anderton.’ He pulled me round to face him. ‘I’ll most definitely be wanting to see you. In fact…’ He gazed into my eyes soulfully, ruining the effect slightly by smacking me on the bottom. ‘…I’ll be wanting to see a whole lot more of you.’

We walked down the street to where Stephens was waiting in the Bentley. Just as he was coming round to open the door, my phone went. It was Jimmy.

‘Grace! My dear! I just…’

‘Now, Jimmy,’ I said, cutting across him. ‘I know what you said about being careful, but I have to tell you now that I’m seeing Nathaniel Fforbes, and I don’t care who knows. I’m sorry.’

‘Sorry?’ He gave a short laugh. ‘I hope you’re joking, sweetheart. Mr Fforbes is the flavour of the month, now it’s all come out about him being innocent. It’s fantastic news. You’ll make the perfect couple. I can see it now…Nathaniel Fforbes and the Filth Mistress.’

As we climbed into the Bentley, I cast a sideways glance at Nat. The Filth Mistress. It had a ring to it. Yes, I could learn to like it.

‘Right, then, Stephens,’ said Nat, throwing me a wink. Jimmy spoke so loudly – he’d clearly heard every word and was grinning with amusement. ‘The Castle, please. I have some rather filthy business to attend to with Miss Anderton.’

Epilogue

Liv

Six thirty, and everyone but Pascale and Max had gone home. Grace had landed me in it good and proper.

After a few days of seeming subdued, Max had more than made his presence known today. He’d dumped a pile of documents on my desk earlier that afternoon.

‘These all need to be seen to by close of business,’ he’d said, in his most imperious manner. I got the feeling he was trying to re-establish his authority after Grace’s shock exit, and I didn’t want to be next in the firing line. I’d got them all done, double quick, checking them carefully for errors before returning them to him triumphantly well before five.

His only response had been to thrust another sheaf at me. ‘These, too. Before you go home, please.’

I was going to be here all night, at this rate. Pascale had obviously finished for the evening, too, now, because she called a cheery ‘Bye-bye’ to me and walked out towards the lifts.

I was on my own.

Well, apart from Max, but I hadn’t seen him all day apart from those two occasions. He’d been sitting in his office, probably brooding over recent events. I loved Grace to bits, but I could have killed her at that moment.

Just when I thought I was going to be sitting there all night, Max came out of his office. ‘Can I have a word, please, Miss Perry?’

I got up, wondering what I’d done wrong, and went into his office.

He was standing there, in front of me, a strange expression on his face. He almost looked amused and, for a moment, I wondered if this had all been some kind of strange punishment, as if, maybe, he was taking out his anger on me by proxy.

‘Come in, Miss Perry,’ he said. ‘Don’t be shy.’

Shy? I was more irritated and becoming oddly unnerved. What the hell did he want? And, come to that, what was it with the Miss Perry business?

‘Miss Perry, it has come to my attention that you would be interested in…ah…replacing Miss Anderton as my assistant. Is that correct?’

I didn’t know what to say. Of course I wanted to – I’d just never thought it was an option.

‘Uh…yes, Max,’ I said. ‘If you’ll have me.’

He began to pace the floor, as if he were thinking how best to express himself. Eventually, he stopped and turned to me. ‘There would be some…uh…stipulations.’

‘Yes, Max,’ I said. ‘Anything.’ Anything? Oh my God, I sounded like a love-struck teenager.

He shot me a look. ‘Anything?’

I nodded, staring at him and wondering where this was going.

‘I have some…unusual requirements,’ he said.

‘Anything,’ I said. You have no idea how much I mean that, I thought to myself, as I said it. I almost smirked at the thought.

‘Do you find this funny, Miss Perry?’

‘Um…no, Max.’

‘Good, because I demand total loyalty from my assistant. I’m not having another…incident like the one with Grace.’

‘You don’t have to worry, Max.’ God, I could be loyal – I could be anything he needed me to be.

‘Excellent, Miss Perry. You would have to do anything I told you to, you realise?’

He was clearly aiming to have some sort of effect on me with his words, but I don’t think the effect he was having was quite what he had in mind. I wondered what he’d think, if he’d known how wet he was making me.

‘Of course.’

‘So you say, Miss Perry.’ He turned away for a moment and, when he turned back, his eyes were glinting wickedly. ‘Let’s see if you’re telling the truth. Get on your knees, Miss Perry.’

What the fuck is going on? Have I dozed off at my desk? Is this some sort of prank? I just stared at him, for a moment, wondering what to do.

‘You have one chance left, Miss Perry,’ he said, his tone measured, but with that same flash of fire in his eyes. ‘This is a business arrangement. If you mean what you say, and you’ll do anything I tell you, get down on your knees.’

I looked heavenward, and thanked all the gods of all the pantheons, as I sank down onto my knees in front of Max Flint.