Dangerous Promises (23 page)

Petra put her hands on her hips. Gin usually made her maudlin but tonight it was inflaming her rage and making her feel even more bitter and resentful. ‘Oh, yeah? And how much thinking about her where
you
doing when you were shagging my husband behind my back?’

‘Christ, you’re not still banging on about that, are you? For fuck’s sake, it was years ago. It’s time to get over it, darlin’.’ Sharon smirked. ‘And let’s face it, if he’d been getting what he needed at home, he wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere for it.’

‘Look for it? From what I heard you were giving it away.’

Sharon leapt up from the sofa, eyes blazing. ‘Shut yer mouth, you old cow!’

‘Make me!’

Wayne, sensing that bloodshed might be on the horizon, hauled himself to his feet and inserted his body between the warring women. ‘For fuck’s sake, can’t you two give it a rest for five minutes? What about Kel? This ain’t helping her none, is it?’

Sharon pointed a scarlet-painted talon at Petra. ‘Tell her, not me. I’m not the one being bloody awkward just for the sake of it.’

‘Awkward? You’ve got a bleedin’ nerve. Do you hear that, Kelly? Calling
me
bloody awkward after everything she’s done.’

Kelly shook her head despairingly. ‘God, I’ve got enough to worry about without you two going at it. I want you both there on Friday. What’s wrong with that? Can’t you just call a truce and get on for a few hours? That’s all I’m asking.’

‘Ain’t a problem for me,’ Sharon said. ‘Not so sure about your mother, though.’

‘I ain’t getting in a car with
that,
’ said Petra, stung by her daughter’s words. Since when had she and Sharon got so pally? It wasn’t that long since Kelly had hated her guts, since she wouldn’t have given her the time of day.

Sharon glared at her. ‘Well then, you’ll have to walk there or get the sodding bus.’

‘Please, Mum,’ Kelly pleaded. ‘Don’t be like that.’

Petra glanced at Wayne, but if she was hoping for any support there she only had to look at the expression on his face to know it wouldn’t be forthcoming. He’d gone over to the other side and there was nothing she could do about it. Before she could say something she might later regret, she clamped shut her mouth and marched towards the door.

‘Mum?’ Kelly said.

‘What?’

‘You will come on Friday, won’t you? Please say you will?’

Petra hesitated. ‘If that’s what you want.’

‘Of course it is.’

‘All right, then.’

‘Thanks, Mum.’

Petra went out of the room and walked stiffly up the stairs. The rage inside her was so strong, so intense, that it took every effort of will to stop it from exploding. She went into the small bedroom, carefully closed the door and slumped down on the single bed. Sharon’s smug face danced in front of her eyes. ‘Bitch, bitch, bitch!’ she repeated like a mantra. Her hands clenched into two tight fists. Well, the filthy little whore might have stolen her husband, might even have got temporary possession of the house, but she wasn’t having her daughter too. No, enough was enough. As soon as the funeral was over she’d find a way to get rid of her once and for all.

30

By ten o’clock on Thursday morning, Sadie had her holdall packed and was physically if not mentally prepared for another journey to London. This time instead of searching for Eddie she’d be attending his funeral. The thought filled her with dread. How was she going to endure it, knowing what she knew? A shiver ran through her. She would have to shake the hands of Eddie’s parents, expressing her sympathy while all the time —

Her thoughts were interrupted by the piercing ring of the doorbell. ‘Oh, who’s that?’ she said, glancing at her watch. She had a train to catch in half an hour and didn’t want to miss it. ‘Can you see?’

Joel went to the window and looked down. ‘No worries. It’s only the postman. I’ll go.’ He flew down the stairs and was back thirty seconds later brandishing a small parcel. ‘It’s for you.’

Sadie’s heart sank as she took it from him. The address on the front had been written in the childlike scrawl that was unmistakably Mona’s. Aware that Joel was watching her, she opened the package with trembling hands, afraid of what lay hidden beneath the brown paper wrapper. It wasn’t heavy but as she tore at the sheet she found her thoughts racing. God, what if it was bullets or something crazy like that? She shifted her body to try and obscure Joel’s view.

In the event, she needn’t have worried. Inside was a silk print Liberty scarf in delicate shades of blues and greens. She held it up, aware even from the feel that it must have been expensive.

‘That’s pretty,’ he said. ‘Who’s it from?’

‘Anne,’ she replied, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. She hated lying to him. She hated the fact that it was becoming second nature to her. ‘There’s a card with it. It says:
Thanks very much for taking me to the party. Hope to see you soon
.’

‘That was sweet of her.’

Sadie quickly shoved the scarf and card back in the brown paper. ‘Yes,’ she said, forcing a smile. ‘She shouldn’t have, though. I mean, there was no need. She didn’t even stay long.’ She’d had to invent a story about Mona having a headache to explain the girl’s abrupt disappearance from his parents’ house on Sunday afternoon.

‘You should invite her for the weekend. After everything’s got back to normal.’

Normal?
Sadie couldn’t imagine her life ever returning to that halcyon state. It seemed like a place where other people lived, a land of milk and honey from which she’d been permanently excluded. ‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘Maybe.’

‘Are you going to wear it?’

‘What?’

‘The scarf,’ he said. ‘You should wear it. It’ll suit you.’

But Sadie would rather have put a noose around her neck than the silken scarf. ‘Not today,’ she said. ‘I’ll… I’ll save it for a special occasion.’ She went through to the bedroom, opened a drawer and pushed the unwanted gift, still in its wrapping, to the very back where she wouldn’t have to look at it. As soon as she got home, she’d return it to Mona.

‘Are you ready?’ Joel called out from the living room. ‘We should make a move.’

‘I won’t be a second.’ Sadie took a moment to try and regulate her breathing. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest. Mona’s present, although innocuous enough on the surface, served as an untimely reminder of the ‘deal’ that was still apparently in place. What if she turned up at the funeral and started making demands? But no, she had no way of knowing when or where it was, unless —

‘Joel,’ she said, quickly walking back into the living room. ‘If Anne rings, you won’t tell her about the funeral, will you?’

Joel gave her a puzzled look. ‘Why not?’

‘Oh, because she just has a habit of turning up out of the blue. I know she means well but tomorrow’s going to be difficult enough without… Just say I’ve gone away for a couple of days and I’ll give her a call when I get back.’ She knew that Joel didn’t really get it, that in his world people were always pleased to see friends and never tried to avoid them. ‘You don’t mind, do you? I don’t want you to lie or anything.’

‘It’s okay, I understand. Sometimes you just need a bit of space, huh?’

‘Something like that.’

A few minutes later they were in the van and on the way to the station. Sadie kept her eyes on the side mirror, wondering if they were being followed. Ever since Royston had approached her, she’d been constantly glancing over her shoulder. He was the type of journalist who wouldn’t think twice about putting a tail on her.

‘Are you going to stay in the same B&B?’ Joel asked.

‘No, Oaklands is more of a boarding house. They don’t rent out by the night. I’ll find somewhere else; there are lots of places I can go.’

‘At least it’ll still be light by the time you get there.’

‘I’ll give you a call when I’m in Kellston.’

Joel pulled the car into the station, cut the engine and looked at her. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own? It’s not too late. I can still come with you.’

‘No, it’s fine. Honestly. There’s no point in both of us missing a day’s work. Thanks for the offer, though.’ She leant in to kiss him, wishing that she didn’t have to leave, that she didn’t have to face the awfulness of Eddie’s funeral alone. But it would be even more of a trial if Joel was with her; she’d be constantly worried about bumping into Nathan Stone, or Mona turning up or some dreadful confrontation with the Gissings. ‘I’ll be home before you know it.’

‘Let me know what time the train’s due in and I’ll come and pick you up.’

‘Thanks.’ Sadie got out of the car, shut the door and headed for the platform. She turned round to wave and Joel waved back. As she watched the van leave the forecourt, she had a sudden urge to run after it, to leap into the passenger seat and beg him to take her with him to Buckingham Road.
I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to go to London.
It was as if there was something final about the goodbye, as if her old world was crumbling around her. She felt a lump in her throat and tears sprang into her eyes.

For a while she stood staring into the empty space that had recently contained the man she loved. It was too late now. He was gone. She just had to get on with it. Pull yourself together, Sadie. Wasn’t that what her mother would say? With a heavy heart, she traipsed on to the platform, found an empty bench and sat down to wait.

Her journey to London was long but uneventful. She made a point of not talking to anyone, of keeping her gaze averted from her fellow travellers. She stuck her head in a book and kept it there – apart from the few train changes – until she reached the East End. It was only then that she put the book away and gazed out of the window.

She saw the same grey sky and the same drab houses. As the three tall concrete towers of Kellston came into view her stomach gave a lurch. That was where Eddie had died, where Mona – for her own sick reasons – had decided to end his life. The knowledge weighed heavily on her, a reminder of everything she was doing wrong. She should have had the courage to go to the police and tell them her suspicions while she still had the chance. With every day that passed, the truth receded further into the shadows. Who would believe her side of the story now? No one, she suspected; not even Joel.

It was drizzling when she left the station, a light cold rain that slid down the back of her neck. She crossed over at the traffic lights and began to walk along the road. As she passed Oaklands she gazed almost fondly at its exterior, wishing she could book in there again. It would have been nice to have somewhere familiar to lay her head that night.

After wandering up and down for a while, she decided to try a place called Greyfriars, which had a prominent
B&B
sign outside as well as a
Vacancies
notice in the front window. She went up to the door, raised her hand and was just about to press the bell when she heard a voice behind her.

‘Sadie?’

Surprised, she turned round to find Velma standing behind her. She walked back along the path, pleased to see a friendly face. ‘Hi,’ she said, smiling. ‘How are you?’

Velma, dressed in a short black leather skirt, black boots and fake fur jacket, grinned at her. ‘Hello, love. What are you doing here? Not on the run, are you? We heard about your old man. The law were round asking questions and checking out your story. I didn’t tell them nothin’, said I only saw you to say hello to.’

‘No, not on the run. Not yet, at least.’ Sadie paused and then added, ‘And in case you’re wondering, I didn’t do it.’

‘Don’t make no difference to me, one way or the other, love. There are plenty of blokes that I wouldn’t have minded… Well, let’s just say there are times I’ve been tempted.’

‘I don’t suppose Mrs Cuthbert was best pleased, having the police round.’

‘Are you kidding? The old bat loved every minute. It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to her in years. ’Course she’d have preferred it if you were actually guilty. Makes for a better story, don’t it, having a murderer staying under your roof.’

‘That’s me,’ said Sadie wryly, ‘a constant disappointment.’

Velma glanced towards the B&B. ‘So what are you doing here? Oaklands isn’t that bad, is it?’

‘It’s Eddie’s funeral tomorrow. I just need a room for the night.’

‘So?’

‘So, last time I was here Mrs Cuthbert told me that she only rents out by the week.’

Velma slid her arm through Sadie’s and started pulling her along the road. ‘You don’t want to listen to anything the Cuthbert tells you. She makes it up as she goes along.’

‘Are you sure? I don’t want to —’

‘Leave it to me,’ Velma said confidently.

Sadie didn’t argue. Meeting up with Velma had instantly raised her spirits; she was the type of person who took you at face value and never seemed to judge. ‘Well, let me buy you a drink later. It’s the least I can do.’

‘Ta, I’d like that. We can go to the Fox. It’s not so far to stagger home.’

In the slightly musty hallway, Velma yelled along the corridor. ‘Mrs C? Are you there?’

After a few seconds, the landlady appeared, wiping her hands on a floral apron. As soon as she saw Sadie she stopped and frowned.

‘Look who’s here,’ Velma said. ‘We can squeeze her in for the night, can’t we? There’s no one in her old room.’

‘I don’t do single nights,’ Mrs Cuthbert said bluntly. ‘It’s the rule.’

Velma put her hands on her hips and raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Oh, come on, Mrs C, don’t be like that. I’m sure you can bend the rules, just this once. I mean, didn’t Sadie pay for a full week last time she was here? And she only stayed for a few nights so I reckon you owe her.’

But Mrs Cuthbert shook her head. ‘I don’t want any trouble. This is a respectable establishment.’

‘Yeah, right,’ Velma said. ‘Everyone who stays here is white as the driven snow. And what kind of trouble is Sadie going to cause? It’s hardly her fault that her old man got done in. It’s not as though
she
did it. Come on, give her a break. She’s had a tough enough time already.’

Mrs Cuthbert looked from one woman to the other before her gaze finally settled on Sadie. She mulled over Velma’s words for a few seconds before finally making up her mind. ‘Just the one night then,’ she said. ‘I suppose it can’t do any harm. The room’s not locked. I’ll leave the key on the hall table for you.’