Dangerous Promises (24 page)

‘Thanks,’ Sadie said. ‘I appreciate it.’

‘Ta, Mrs C,’ said Velma, dragging Sadie up the stairs before the landlady could change her mind. ‘And don’t worry about a thing.’

‘That’ll be the day,’ Mrs Cuthbert muttered as she disappeared down the hall. Her slippers made a soft flip-flop sound on the worn carpet. ‘I’m too kind-hearted for my own good, that’s the problem.’

Velma waited until they were out of earshot before speaking again. ‘So how did it go with the law? Did they give you the third degree?’

Sadie shrugged. ‘They came to see me and asked about the last time I saw Eddie, but that was about it. I’ve not heard anything since.’

‘You’re off the hook then.’

‘Maybe.’

‘You don’t sound so sure.’

‘I’m not,’ Sadie admitted. ‘Until they found out who did it, I guess I’m still a suspect.’

They climbed the stairs to the second landing and went into Sadie’s room. Velma sat down on the single bed, looking thoughtful. ‘What made you decide to go to the funeral? I thought after what you said about Eddie and all…’

‘I wasn’t going to,’ Sadie said, dumping her holdall on the floor. ‘But then his dad rang me and told me when it was and… well, it didn’t feel right to say I couldn’t.’

‘But you’d rather not?’

‘Nobody likes funerals, do they? And with all the history Eddie and I had… I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right, but then not going doesn’t feel right either.’

Velma gave a nod. ‘You should be careful. Those Gissings ain’t what you’d call the forgiving sort.’

Sadie stared at her, recalling some fairly similar words that had come from Nathan Stone. ‘No one’s going to kick off at a funeral, though, are they?’

‘I wouldn’t count on it, love. That lot aren’t renowned for their good manners.’

Sadie gave a sigh. ‘You’re not doing much for my nerves, Velma. I’m shaky enough as it is.’

‘A few drinks will soon put that right, hon. And don’t mind me: I’ve learned to always expect the worst and that way it’s rarely as bad as you think.’

‘I hope you’re right.’

‘Where do you have to go, for the service and that?’

‘It’s at St Luke’s at ten o’clock.’

‘Oh, that’s only down the road. You can walk it from here.’

Sadie opened her handbag and reached for her purse so she could get some change for the meter. As she did so, her fingers touched against the cool metal of the gun. It was probably blasphemous to take a Beretta into church but unless she could get rid of it before tomorrow that’s exactly what she’d have to do.

‘You okay?’ Velma asked. ‘I haven’t upset you, have I? Me and my big mouth. I never know when to keep quiet.’

‘No, of course not. I’m just looking for a fifty pence so we can get some heat in here.’ Sadie found a coin and crouched down by the fire. She put the coin in the slot, turned the switch and listened as the gas hissed out of the pipes. A second later the flames came on, pale blue and yellow before they gradually changed to orange. She was reminded suddenly of the flames of hell. Perhaps that was where she was heading. But she’d chosen her path and there was no turning back.

31

Sadie thought the interior of the Fox looked vaguely familiar. Perhaps she’d been here with Eddie all those years ago when he’d brought her to Kellston. There was always alcohol involved in any day out with Eddie Wise. This place was particularly nice with a clean wood floor, comfortable chairs and a blazing log fire. The pub, filled with the sound of talk and laughter, had a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Sadie glanced over towards the bar where Velma was waiting to be served. They’d had a few drinks already and the wine was having a soothing effect. She knew she shouldn’t drink too much or she’d be nursing a hangover tomorrow morning. Funerals were hard enough to deal with without the added pain of a thumping headache.

Earlier, she’d given Joel a call to tell him she’d arrived safely and managed to get a room at Oaklands. The line had been bad and she’d struggled to hear. The sound of his muffled voice had exaggerated the feeling of distance, a distance that was more than just the miles that lay between them. Why had she ever lied? It had created a barrier that she didn’t seem able to overcome. She wondered if Joel felt it too or if he simply put her recent distraction down to the shock of Eddie’s death.

Sadie was still mulling this over when a man walked past the table. He did a double take and came back to stare at her.

‘Sadie Wise! What the hell are you doing here?’

She looked up at the scowling face of Nathan Stone. ‘Thanks for the welcome. It’s nice to see you too.’

‘What do you expect after what you did, a bleedin’ brass band?’

‘It never hurts to be civil,’ she replied stiffly. ‘And what exactly have I done that’s upset you so much?’

‘You know what.’

Sadie shook her head. ‘If I knew I wouldn’t be asking.’

Stone made a quick scan of the surrounding tables before sitting down beside her and lowering his voice. ‘Thanks to you, lady, we’ve got a bloody war with the Gissings on our hands.’

‘And how do you figure that?’

‘How do you think? Someone saw us together down the dogs and now Wayne Gissing has got it into his head that I’m involved in Eddie’s killing. His little sister’s heartbroken and he wants someone to pay.’

Sadie stood her ground and said stubbornly, ‘So? I still don’t see how any of that’s my fault.’

Stone’s eyes took on an even colder shade of grey. ‘I’m sorry, but weren’t you the one who came to me wanting Eddie’s address?’

‘Yes, and weren’t you the one who wouldn’t hand it over unless I went with you to the dogs? I’d say if this is anyone’s fault, it’s yours. If you’d just given me the address, then there wouldn’t have been any bother. Well, not for you at least.’

The corners of Stone’s mouth twitched although whether it was in a smile or a sneer was impossible to tell. ‘Yeah, well, I didn’t know Eddie was going to end up with a knife in his chest.’

‘And you think I did?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ he said.

Sadie glared at him. ‘I didn’t have anything to do with Eddie’s murder. Why would I want him dead?’

‘I’ve no idea, but then I wasn’t married to him.’ Stone pulled a face. ‘And you never did answer my question. What exactly are you doing back in Kellston?’

‘Is that any of your business?’

‘Just wondering if you’re likely to cause me any more grief.’

‘Perhaps you should stay away from me,’ Sadie said. ‘That way you’ll be nice and safe.’

‘Bit late for that.’

‘So maybe next time you’ll think twice about forcing women into random nights out.’

Stone raised his eyebrows. ‘You can be sure of it, although I don’t recall much forcing going on. But I’ll certainly think twice about doing anyone a favour again.’

‘It’s hardly a favour when you demand something in exchange.’

Stone hissed out a breath. ‘Tell me you’re not going to the funeral.’

‘Why shouldn’t I?’

‘You got some kind of death wish or what? Don’t you know the Gissings are going to be there?’

Velma came back with the drinks and looked at them both. ‘Not interrupting, am I?’

‘No,’ Sadie said. ‘Mr Stone was just leaving.’

Nathan Stone stood up, his face looking grim. ‘Just watch your back, Sadie. If you’ve got any sense you’ll stay well away from that funeral.’

Sadie stared as he walked off and moved through the crowd towards the bar. ‘That man,’ she muttered.

‘He likes you,’ Velma said.

Sadie reached for her drink and gave a snort. ‘Like a hole in the head.’

‘Oh, believe me,
Watch your back
is about as close to a term of endearment as Nathan Stone gets. He’s not what you’d call the emotional sort.’

Sadie glanced across the pub to where Stone was chatting to the red-haired woman behind the bar. Some men, she figured, were just born arrogant and he was certainly one of them. ‘It’s not my back he’s bothered about, it’s his own. He’s just worried in case I stir up more trouble.’

‘Maybe he’s right about the funeral, though. Are you sure you should go?’

‘No,’ Sadie said, ‘but it’s too late now. I told Eddie’s dad I’d be there so I can’t change my mind. Anyway, I’m only going to the service, not for drinks or anything after. There’ll be lots of people at the church. Nothing’s likely to… I mean, a church is pretty safe, isn’t it?’

‘Yeah, I’m sure it will be. Just keep an eye on that Wayne Gissing.’

‘I don’t even know what he looks like.’

‘You can’t miss him, love. He’s a short, ugly fucker with a face like the back of a bus.’

Sadie sighed. ‘Sounds like a dream. I’ll watch out for him.’

‘And his sister’s no shrinking violet either. She’d rip your eyes out soon as look at you. All those Gissings are trouble, but Wayne’s the worst. Ever since his old man went down he’s been giving it the big I am. Thinks he’s got something to prove now that he’s running things. There was another bust-up last night over at the Hope. It’s one of Terry Street’s pubs and Wayne knows better than to go anywhere near it. Didn’t stop him, though; place was wrecked apparently.’

‘I suppose Stone’s blaming me for that too.’ Sadie gazed towards the bar again, noticing for the first time the smart grey suit he was wearing. Grey suit, grey hair, grey eyes. ‘Mr Grey,’ she muttered at exactly the same moment as his gaze suddenly shifted and met hers. Quickly, she looked back at Velma, embarrassed to have been caught in the act of staring.

‘He’s not that bad,’ Velma said. ‘Considering.’

‘Considering what?’

‘Well, you know, after everything that happened.’

Sadie didn’t know. ‘And what was that?’

‘With his wife and all.’ Velma shot Nathan Stone a sideways glance, and then leaned forward partly covering her mouth with her hand as if he might be able to lip read. ‘Leah, her name was; a real looker – she’d turn any man’s head – but completely nuts. Led him a right old dance. She wasn’t what you’d call the faithful sort.’

‘So?’ Sadie said. ‘We’ve all been there. Eddie wasn’t able to keep it in his trousers for more than five minutes.’

‘So that’s something you’ve got in common.’

‘I don’t think so. Half the world’s had someone cheat on them at one time or another.’

Velma gave a nod. ‘Sure they have, hon, but not everyone’s partners have been murdered.’

Sadie frowned. ‘What are you saying? That Leah —’

‘Yeah, someone put a bullet through her head… God, it must have been about seven years back now. ’Course Nathan was first on the list of suspects, especially as they’d had a very public row earlier in the evening. He reckoned he hadn’t seen her again after that but Old Bill thought different. And then they found the gun at his flat and…’

Sadie snatched another quick glance and shivered. Of course he was bad. She’d recognised that from the first time she’d met him. ‘So why isn’t he locked up?’

‘Oh, he was. Got life for it, didn’t he? ’Cept then it turned out that the cops who nabbed him were bent and made a habit of planting evidence. After three years, the conviction was overturned on appeal and Nathan walked free.’

‘But was he innocent?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. Anyway, it was while he was inside that he met Terry Street. Terry was on remand for something or other – I can’t remember what – and the two of them palled up. The rest, as they say, is history. Nathan’s been working for Terry ever since he got out.’

Sadie felt her chest tighten. It was a scary thought that she had spent the evening with someone who could be guilty of murder. Although, she supposed, he could say the same thing too, although she didn’t imagine that Nathan Stone was scared of much and especially not of a woman. If you’d spent time inside and survived it, there probably wasn’t much that could frighten you. ‘I wonder if he did it,’ she murmured.

Velma raised her eyebrows. ‘Best not to go there, hon. Judge not that ye be not judged. Ain’t that what the holy folk say? Maybe a few people wondered about you too.’

‘They still do,’ said Sadie, thinking about the inspector and all his questions, thinking about Peter Royston with his sly, suspicious eyes.

‘Well then.’

Sadie gave a nod. Velma was right: she shouldn’t be too quick to judge. ‘I just wondered why he went to work for someone like Terry Street.’

‘Jobs ain’t that easy to come by, love, especially when you’ve been inside. Doesn’t matter if some court says you’re innocent and lets you go, there’s plenty who’ll still believe there’s no smoke without fire. You can’t blame a man for wanting to make a living.’

‘No, I guess not.’ But Sadie, even though she understood this, still couldn’t bring herself to like him. Stone wound her up. He was like an itch under her skin – constantly annoying – and no amount of scratching was going to ease the irritation. Her gaze slid back to the bar where he was now perched on a stool, smoking a cigarette. She had the feeling that his pose was deceptively casual, that in fact he was aware of everything and everyone around him.

‘He still hacks me off though.’

‘I can see, hon. That’s one almighty scowl on your forehead.’

Sadie made an effort to smooth out the frown. ‘I can’t help it. Do you think he was deliberately trying to scare me? About the funeral and all?’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘Why does Nathan Stone do anything?’

Velma didn’t get the chance to answer. At that moment a young, peroxide blonde woman who was almost definitely a prostitute – low-cut blouse, a miniskirt barely covering her backside and enough slap on her face to start a Revlon factory – came over to the table. She put her right hand on her hip and pouted.

‘Velma, love, you in tonight?’

‘No, babe. I’ve got Sandra covering for me. What’s wrong?’

‘I’ll tell you what’s wrong: you have to do something about Dexter. It took him ten bleedin’ minutes to get up the stairs after I rang the alarm last night. Ten minutes, hon! I could have been dead meat by then. It ain’t right. He’s a lazy fucker. And that Sandra’s not much better either. All she does is sit on her arse and watch the box; bloody place could be burning down and she wouldn’t notice.’