Beauty and the Dark (16 page)

Sofia

W
hat a stroke of luck that on the very morning I decide to make the beef Guinness stew that Florence talked about she calls me. When I tell her I am making it from a recipe I found on a cookery blog on the net her response is predictably Florence.

“You can’t trust the recipes you find on the internet. Nobody likes giving away their secrets so they’ll always hold something crucial back,” she says darkly.

Then she makes me get a piece of paper and gives me the recipe over the phone. She is right. While the blogger took pains to declare that browning the meat is absolutely vital as it imparts a rich flavor to the stew, she neglected to mention the real secret to browning. The meat has to be browned as large steaks then taken out of the pan and diced. Florence tells me browning small pieces of meat will make the meat tough as leather, after which no amount of stewing will soften it.

“Do you want me to go through it all again?” she asks when we get to the end.

“Nope. I got it all, Flo. Thank you.”

“Hmmm … Make sure you get a good piece of boneless shoulder.”

“I can get that at the supermarket, right?”

“Yes child.”

“I will go there this afternoon”

“I forgot to say,” she adds, “that like the meat, the vegetables should be browned as large pieces. Fish them out when you are nearly at the end of your cooking. After you have simmered them with the meat to get the flavor out of them, just fish them out. They will be quite soggy and tasteless by then, so you replace them with freshly diced vegetables.”

“I will,” I tell her, my pen scribbling fast.

“What else? What else?” she mutters to herself. “Oh yes, don’t use more than two tablespoons of flour, or it will become muddied.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“And yellow onions. Not red.”

On my paper I add yellow next to the word onion. “Got it.”

“Not too many parsnips, or it will overpower all the other ingredients.”

“Fine.” I note that down too.

“Did I say use chicken stock, not beef?”

I run my gaze down her instructions. “Err … you didn’t say, but good that you mentioned it. I would have got beef.”

“If I think of anything else I’ll call you again,” she says.

“Thank you again, Flo,” I say with a smile in my heart. I think I’m going to love having her in my life. She’s so genuine and real.

That afternoon Lena comes around with Irina, and we take a trip to the supermarket together. Leaving Mika in the car, we go in to get all the ingredients I need while Lena buys some stuff for herself. Afterwards, Lena stays with me for a bit. Once Irina has been changed, fed, and put down for a nap, we sit and have coffee and the cream cakes we got at the bakery.

“You are happy, aren’t you?” she asks.

“Yes, very,” I reply, and she grins happily.

When Irina wakes up an hour later, Lena goes back to Cheshire, and I start to make my stew. I just put all my ingredients on the counter top to begin cooking when Jack calls.

“Whatcha doing, doll?” he asks.

“Well,” I say, slicing open the plastic bag of carrots, “I’m preparing a surprise for you?”

“My dick just got hard.”

I laugh. “Not that type of surprise.”

“What then?”

I start putting the vegetables on the chopping board. “Do you know what the word surprise means?”

“I know what the word means I’m just not a big fan. Just tell me,” he coaxes persuasively.

“You can use that voice all you like. I’m not spoiling my surprise.”

He sighs. “At least tell me what you’re wearing.”

I glance down at my thick sweater and old jeans. “The truth, or shall I make it up as I go along?”

“Make it up.”

“You’re one of those guys who calls up adult chat lines and listens to women pretending to climax while they’re actually painting their toenails, aren’t you?” I tease.

“What’s with all the wild accusations? I’ll have you know I’ve never called an adult chat line in my life. However, I could be persuaded to call one if you are going to man it.”

I giggle. That’s what I like about my Jack. He treats me exactly the way he would if he was with any other normal woman. I never get that with Guy or Lena. They are always walking on eggshells around me. Lena has now managed the impressive feat of never once mentioning the word whore, prostitute, or hooker for over a year.

Once while we were watching TV together, she was flicking channels and hit Pretty Woman, and you should have seen how quickly she clicked out of it. She is so hurt by my past and so frightened of hurting me that she doesn’t realize it only makes my past feel even more shameful and dirty to me.

Jack on the other hand won’t allow anything to come between us. He accepts my past completely and behaves as if it is a non-starter in our relationship. As far as he is concerned we’re starting with a clean slate. If he has a fantasy he wants to explore with me where he leaves a thousand pounds on the bedside and pretends he is my customer, then we’ll talk about it in the same way we’ll talk about his fantasy of tying me to the bed, or getting me off in a public place. At every opportunity he instills in me that we’re just a normal couple finding out what works for us.

“Go on,” he urges, using his melted butter voice. “My next appointment is in less than ten minutes.”

“Nope,” I say firmly, picking up the knife. “I don’t think I’m going to indulge you right now. I’m too busy preparing your surprise.”

“Treat them mean and keep them keen huh?”

“Exactly.”

“Fine. It better be some surprise,” he says grumpily.

I end the call, still smiling, and start chopping off the heads of the carrots. Everything goes according to plan, and I had already poured in the chicken stock and Guinness over the meat and vegetables. I was just about to put the stew into the oven, when Florence calls.

“Sofia, have you started making your stew yet?”

“Yeah, I’m just about to put it into the oven.”

“Oh, thank heavens. I forgot to tell you to add a small cup of strong black coffee and a piece of bittersweet chocolate.”

“At what stage should I add it?”

“Now.”

I laugh. “That was a bit of luck, wasn’t it?”

She joins in the laughter.

I end the call and look in the fridge. I have no dark chocolate. I switch off the stove and scribble a note for Jack if he comes when I’m out.

Gone to get chocolate. Love you. xoxo

Then I grab my phone and my purse, pull on my coat and my silly purple hat because it is drizzling outside, and go to the front door. Mika whines because she wants to come, but I don’t take her because it’s wet and messy and I’ll only be gone for a short time.

“Just wait for me. I’ll be back soon,” I say, and slip out of the door.

I button my coat in the elevator. As I come out of it I see the little old lady that lives in the apartment a floor below us coming through the entrance so I wait and hold the lift for her. She smiles at me.

“It’s horrible out there,” she sniffs.

“I know.”

“I’ll be glad to put my feet up with a cup of tea,” she says.

I step out into the street. It is already busy with people returning from work. I huddle into my coat and hurry down the road. I get into the shop and Kaja is behind the counter. There is no one else in the shop and she chats with me as I pay for my chocolate bar. As she is returning my change, that quaint little bell over the shop door rings.

I turn around and my heart stops.

Lena

I
stand by the window staring at the needles of rain lashing the glass. I don’t know why I feel restless and jittery inside. I’ve felt as if there is a tight knot in my stomach ever since I woke up this morning. Even Guy knew something was wrong.

My first thought was that it was something to do with Sofia, so I called her straight away, but she seemed fine. Still, I invited myself to her place. She was the picture of health. We went shopping together and even then the niggling sensation wouldn’t go away, so I actually asked her outright if she was happy.

“Yes,” she said, and glowed like a light bulb. You can’t fake that kind of joy. That made me feel a little better. Then, while I was there Jack called, and the way she melted at the sound of his voice made me sure there was nothing wrong.

Reassured, I came back home, but the tightness in my stomach is worse, far worse now that I have come home, and I’m alone. It must be my paranoia working overtime. Maybe I’m just not used to seeing her so happy. I know Jack is ridiculously in love with her, but a part of me is still frightened that it is all too fabulous. That something bad is looming on the horizon.

I touch my forehead. Or, maybe I’m just coming down with something. I see Mary’s reflection appear in the glass, turn around and smile at her.

“Would you like me to bring in some tea?” she asks.

“No, thank you, Mary. I had a cup with Sofia.”

“Oh, how is she today?”

My mouth curves automatically. “She’s fine. She’s cooking for her man tonight.”

“It’s good to know that she’s happy. She has a beautiful heart.”

“Yes, she does.” I turn towards the glass and the rain splattering on it. “Why don’t you have an early night, Mary? Make your way back to the village before the storm comes.”

“I will. Thank you, Mrs. Hawke.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

She leaves the room and I turn back to the window. It is dark and miserable. Lightning streaks across the sky. The weather is definitely going to get much worse. Strange to have a thunderstorm in winter. I remember when I first arrived at this house, how a big tree came down in the night. I hope no trees come down tonight. It’s always a sad occasion for me when we lose a tree.

“Lena.”

I whirl around in surprise. The room is empty but for me, but I could have sworn I heard Sofia’s voice call my name. I freeze and listen, but there is only the sound of the rain. The kitchen is too far for sounds to carry, and Irina is upstairs with her nanny.

My heart starts beating really fast.

The churning sensation in my stomach is so strong I feel physically sick. I press my hand into my belly. Something
is
wrong. Very wrong. I know it. I run to the table, grab my phone, and call Sofia.

It rings out.

I call her home phone. Sometimes she’ll leave her cellphone somewhere and not hear it from the kitchen.

There is no answer.

The knot in my stomach is so tight I can barely breathe when I call Jack.

Jack

I
write a note for Karen in the file of the patient sitting in front of me, close it, and look up at her with a smile. “If you take this outside my assistant will sort out some dates for you.”

“Thank you very much, Doc,” she says taking the thin folder from me.

“No problem.” I stand and start walking around the table.

She follows my example and we walk together towards the door. I open the door and hold my hand out. As she puts hers in it my phone starts ringing.

“Saved by the bell,” she quips.

I smile politely. “See you soon,” I say, letting go of her hand.

As soon as she walks through the door I close it, cross the room, and glance at my phone. It’s Lena. With a frown I accept the call.

“What’s up, Lena?”

“Do you know where Sofia is?” she asks in a rush.

“At home,” I say immediately, even though my brain instantly registers that she can’t be or Lena wouldn’t be calling me.

“She’s not. I’ve tried both her mobile and the landline. She’s not answering either.” Her voice is high and full of anxiety.

At that point my mind refuses to believe anything could be wrong.  I am very aware that Lena tends to be overprotective. “She should be,” I say mildly. “She said she was preparing a surprise for me. I assumed she was cooking something.”

“She was, but I can’t contact her, Jack, and I’m really worried. I know it sounds stupid to you, but something is wrong. I can feel it.”

Her words send a chill through my body. “I’m on my way,” I say striding towards my door.

I run through the reception and burst out into the street in my shirt. I run around the block to where my car is parked. I get into my car and start the engine. A text comes through. It is Lena again.

Please call me the instant you find her.

I turn on the ignition and speed dial Sofia’s number. Sofia has never activated her answerphone and it rings out. I swing out into the traffic, swearing.

The journey home is without any doubt the longest one I have ever taken. I get cursed at by a dozen irate drivers, but fuck them. I just use the sheer width of my Lambo to literally ram my way through the traffic.

They honk and viciously spit profanities at me, but they make way. I don’t care what happens to my steel box, but they do. I hit two red lights and just plough through, but less than a block away from home I get stuck in a standstill traffic jam. I pull over onto double yellow lines, get out, and start running.

I fly through the entrance door of my building and slam my palm on the elevator button. It opens. I go in and pace the floor restlessly while I wait for the elevator to take me up to my floor.

The doors swish open and I run down the corridor. On the other side of the door I can hear Mika barking, and for a few seconds I actually think everything is fine. She must have popped out and now she is back with the dog. Fucking hell, Sofia. This is some surprise all right. I open the door and Mika doesn’t run in mad circles around me. Instead she barks in a high pitched tone.

Oh shit.

I rush through the apartment calling for her, even though I know she is not there. In the kitchen I see the half-cooked pot of stew. I touch the pot and it is still warm. The oven light is on. 

I look around and see her hastily scribbled note stuck under a fridge magnet. I stride up to it and snatch it off the fridge. She went to get chocolate. I dial her number, and as it rings I walk through the apartment. At least I know the phone is not here. She took it with her.

I run all the way to the corner shop. Kaja must have seen me running because she comes out and stands under the awning at the entrance of her shop. Her hands are tightly clutching the edges of her cardigan and her eyes are anxious.

“Have you seen Sofia?” I ask urgently.

She nods, her hands coming up to gesture wildly as words tumble out of her quickly. “Yes, she came here. She bought chocolate and then these two scary men came in. They spoke to her. I think in Russian. She didn’t say anything to them. She just turned to me, and asked me if she could leave a message for you with me. She looked pale and strange. Not like herself at all. She was talking like a robot. I was so shocked I just nodded and she said, ‘Tell Jack. I’ll love him to the day I die.’ Then she went with them.” 

I stare at Kaja in horror. I had imagined her falling, hurting herself, lying in a hospital with a fractured leg, even a concussion, but never this.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. They called her by name and she went with them willingly so I couldn’t even call the police, but they were big and had dangerous eyes.”

“How long ago was this?” I demand

She glances at her wristwatch. “Exactly … twenty-seven minutes ago.”

“Can you describe them?”

“Yes,” she says, and immediately starts describing them in astonishing detail. “Both of them were wearing black leather jackets and very shiny black shoes. One was wearing blue jeans with a white shirt. He had a short, red beard, small pale blue eyes, a broken nose, and his hair was cut close to his head. He was big, even bigger than you and thick around the middle. The other one had black hair, black eyes, a scar here,” her hand points to the apple of her right cheek, “and he was clean shaven. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and black jeans. He was shorter and narrower.”

“Do you know which way they went?”

“That way.” She immediately points in the opposite direction I had come from.

I look in the direction she pointed not really expecting to see anything, but I see the type of plastic bags that Kaja uses in her shop caught between the black metal cover and the bin inside. It is fluttering in the wind like a flag. Even from where I am standing I can tell that there’s still something inside it. I dash over to it and yank it.

There is a bar of dark chocolate in it.

“That’s the bar she bought,” Kaja says next to me.

I turn to look at her. Her eyes are wide and scared.

I take my phone out of my pocket and hit Sofia’s number. I close my eyes when I hear her phone ringing from inside the bin. I want to roar with fury. They took her. They just came and took her.

They fucking took
my
woman. My heart. Why the fuck did I not see this coming? I should have known. I should have protected her better.

Beside me Kaja speaks. “We should call the police.”