However, he was now stuck with his nose to the ground, still up north looking for Tash, who no doubt was blanketed up with some geezer. Eddie sighed and rubbed his balls. They were aching. He had to try to stop thinking about getting laid. It really wasn’t helping.
Freddie had told him to sort it. And Eddie knew exactly what that meant. It was a shame really; Tasha was one of the good ones. It was still hard to believe that she’d betrayed Freddie. He would never have thought it of her, other than the fact Tash was a woman. No matter how well you thought you knew them, eventually they’d screw you over.
When he’d been working for Freddie full time, Tash had always looked out for him. She’d opened her house and made him feel welcome. And although it’d been her personal chef who’d cooked the meals and the maid who’d made up the bed for him when he’d needed to crash out, it’d been Tash who’d made him feel he was part of something special.
Eddie never had a family himself and it hadn’t really bothered him. He didn’t know who his mum and dad were, and he was more than happy for it to stay like that. How he saw it was they didn’t owe him anything and he didn’t owe them. Like everything in his life, he’d just got on with it.
He’d been dumped in a children’s home when he’d been six months old and left when he was sixteen. The closest he’d got to family besides Tasha and Freddie had been his missus, until he’d caught her with the next-door neighbour’s cock in her mouth. And he’d dealt with it the only way he knew how. An axe in her head.
The psychiatrist who did a probation report told the court he had all the classic signs of betrayal bond and abandonment syndrome. Both diagnoses Eddie had found to be utter bullshit. He didn’t know one man who wouldn’t have done the same if they’d found their other half with a face full of hairy balls.
Crouching down behind the car park wall, Eddie kept his eyes on the receptionist of the hotel Tash had been staying at. She was the person he needed to talk to, though from what he could see of her she looked like she had her finger tightly up her arse. Getting information out of her might prove tricky. There was only one thing for it. The Eddie Davidson charm.
The receptionist rummaged in her bag to find some change.
‘Here you go, get yourself a cup of tea.’ Eddie looked at her in bewilderment as she tried to give him a handful of coppers. The cheeky cow thought he was a tramp. How on earth she could mistake him for one, Eddie didn’t know. Okay, maybe he hadn’t slept as much as he’d liked to have done, and the copious amount of cocaine he’d taken to keep him awake hadn’t done his skin any favours. But a tramp? She was having a giggle.
He was wearing some pukka designer gear which he’d got off the doc who’d sorted his arm out so it couldn’t be the clothes. Perhaps it was the glasses he was wearing; making him look like a numpty. But better a numpty than being caught. It was amazing how something so simple could disguise who he was and take away his handsome looks.
Eddie decided perhaps a little bit more was needed, aside from charm alone. ‘I ain’t no tramp darling, but I appreciate the gesture. Nice to see a woman with a heart for once.’ Eddie smiled his best smile, breathing his stale breath all over the woman.
‘You know you shouldn’t be here. This is private property.’
‘I know but I’m trying to find somebody. An old friend.’
‘Then what are you doing in a car park? I doubt you’d find him here.’
‘Her. She’s a her.’
‘Well whatever, but as I say, you need to leave, otherwise I’ll have no choice but to phone security.’
He’d been right. She was a haughty cow.
‘She’s been staying in your hotel. I haven’t seen her and I’m a bit worried.’
‘I can’t possibly divulge guest information sir.’
‘No?’ Eddie went into his pocket and pulled out a wad of fifty-pound notes. He saw the receptionist licking her lips as if about to taste something nice.
‘This might change your mind.’
Looking left to right, the receptionist’s face took on a softer appearance. ‘Not here. There’s a pub two streets away called The Oceania; I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes.’
Money talked. It always had, and as far as Eddie could see, it always would.
‘So what happened to not divulging guest information?’
The receptionist looked flustered as she took a sip of her house white wine.
‘I’m only trying to help. If you think it’s about the money; it’s not. I just don’t like the idea of someone not being able to find their friend.’
‘Well if that’s the case, you won’t want paying.’
Eddie thought the woman was going to choke. She spluttered her mouthful of wine on her chin and on the table as her cheeks turned red.
‘I didn’t say that … I …’
Seeing Eddie laughing at her, the receptionist stood up, affronted.
‘Listen, I don’t have to take this from you and I don’t have to help.’
‘Sit down darling, we both know what you want, so less of the performance.’
‘I won’t be made fun of.’
‘I’m sorry, okay? How does that suit you?’
‘I suppose.’
Eddie rolled his eyes. The one good thing about being inside was it had meant he hadn’t had to deal with the female of the species.
‘Tasha Thompson. She’s a guest of yours.’
‘Yes, I know her. The police came wanting to talk to her. You’re not the police are you?’
Eddie scrunched up his face. He preferred to be called a tramp than the Old Bill. ‘Don’t insult me darling.’
‘Why do you want her?’
‘I’m asking the questions. When was the last time you saw her?’
‘The other day.’
‘Don’t you find that peculiar?’
‘No. She’s a long-term guest which means she’s paid three months in advance, so what she does or doesn’t do is no concern of ours. She’s free to come and go as she pleases. It’s a hotel, not a prison.’
The mention of the word prison had Eddie squirming in his seat. ‘Okay, but have you any idea where she was going the last time you saw her?’
‘No.’
‘You’re not being very helpful for someone who wants to earn a few bob.’
‘All I know is the last time I saw her she said she was going to the hospital and then cancelled her lunch and then something about a man called Arnold.’
Eddie sat up. This was the sort of information he wanted to hear, though he didn’t expect Freddie did. ‘Arnold?’
‘Yes.’
This was becoming hard work now. ‘Who’s Arnold?’
‘Her boyfriend I think, or he
was
. I used to see him about a lot. Tall, very good looking, but quiet. Anyhow, he stayed over a few times. It’s really against hotel policy but as she was a long-term guest the hotel chose to turn a blind eye. I can’t remember when it was but he started calling several times a day. Could have been as many as twenty times.’
‘He was psycho dialling?’
‘Well I wouldn’t put it like that, but it was lots of times. She wouldn’t take his calls and then she asked me not to take any messages. She even wanted me to tell him she’d checked out.’
‘How did he feel about that?’
‘I don’t know because he hasn’t phoned back. I’m glad really. I’m not really good at lying.’
‘No, I’m sure you’re not darling.’
The receptionist cut a look at Eddie, wondering if he was being sarcastic or not, but he held his face steady, not giving away any clues. Still unsure, the woman carried on.
‘Anyhow that’s all I know.’
‘What was this Arnold’s last name?’
‘I don’t know, like I say sir it’s a …’
‘Hotel not a prison. I know, I know. There must be something else.’
‘No. If you like I can call Pete.’
‘Who the hell’s Pete?’
‘The hotel car park manager. He keeps records for a month of all the car registration plates. He should have Arnold’s. I know Mrs Thompson asked for a permit a couple of times for him to be able to park.’
Eddie’s face lit up. Bingo. ‘You, my darling, have earned every penny.’
Tasha Thompson stared in dread. She’d watched as Arnie had sat in the corner rocking, muttering numbers under his breath. He’d been sitting there for what seemed like an eternity but according to the clock on the wall it’d only been just over an hour. She’d also watched as he’d switched between crying and rage. Head buried in his hands one minute, shouting and waving his hands around the next. And now, to Tasha’s horror, he was starting to sing. A song about her. Or who he thought she was. A song about Izzy.
‘Izzy sweet, Izzy mild, Izzy sweet my little …’
‘Stop! Stop … I’m Tasha. Arnie, it’s me.’
Arnold looked at Tasha, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He crawled across to her on his hands and knees, gazing up into her face curiously.
‘Don’t you like it? Don’t you like my song?’ He reached out and touched her leg. Immediately Tasha recoiled, slamming her back into the wall, pressing herself as far away from him as she could.
‘Please, Arnie. You’ve got the wrong person. I don’t know who this Izzy is. I swear. Just let me go … please.’
The thunderous bellow made Tasha freeze.
‘Why do you keep saying that to me Izzy? Why are you teasing me? Stop playing games with me.’ Arnie’s eyes flashed in anger, his pupils hugely dilated. He put his hands over his face and sat motionless on the floor.
His fingers started to spread open, stretching across his face and exposing his eyes through the gaps. ‘Peek-a-boo. I can see you!’ High-pitched laughter exploded from Arnie. A second later, Tasha burst into tears.
Arnie reached up, grabbing hold of Tasha who was violently trembling.
‘I’m sorry Izzy. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t mean to shout. Say you’ll forgive me.’ He smiled at her and carefully placed the restraint over her mouth again.
He stared at her for a minute, transfixed, then leapt up from the floor, sitting next to Tasha on the tiny sofa bed. He began to stroke her hair. Whispering quietly, he nuzzled his head into her neck as she sat shivering naked.
‘It just makes it so hard for me; for us, when you play the pretend game Izzy. It spoils what we need to do, especially as today is our special day.’ Tasha’s body didn’t move, only her eyes, looking down at the knife Arnie held in his hand.
The intensity was broken by Arnie bounding up from the bed. He ran across to his CD player and pressed play. Tasha watched in horror. This was worse than him screaming at her. He was acting as if nothing was wrong.
‘I think this is the best version of the song, don’t you?’ He smiled warmly, shuffling his feet to the sound of ‘Feels Like I’m in Love’ by Kelly Marie.
‘Oh this is the part; this part’s my favourite.’ Arnie giggled as he sang out the chorus in a low droning voice. He was about to launch into the next verse when he looked across at Tasha. He stopped as he noticed for the first time the tears running down her face.
‘Whatever’s the matter baby?’
He went over to her, bending down to Tasha’s eye level, with the music still on full blast. He saw she was still shaking.
‘Sorry, my darling, you’re cold. I always presume everyone’s as warm as I am. Maybe if you danced, it would warm you up. Come on, dance.’
Arnold pulled Tasha up, dragging her off the bed as he swayed vigorously in time with the music, moving from one foot to another as the CD player looped Kelly Marie to play again.
As he pulled her, holding her tightly against his body, Arnie could feel she was tugging at her ropes on her hand. Holding her at arm’s length, he could see the restraint was keeping her quiet but she was still crying and he could see the mucus coming down her nose, leaving bubbles on the front of the home-made leather gag.
He really had no idea what the matter could be, but then Izzy had always been prone to tantrums. Silly little Izzy; forever wanting her own way, but he didn’t love her any less.
‘Are you trying to dance Isobel? That’s it, move side to side to the beat.’
Arnold watched proudly as Tasha’s body shook. She wasn’t quite in time with the music but enough for him to see she was really trying; not everyone had rhythm like he did he supposed, although he knew better than to say anything; he didn’t want her any more upset than she was already was.
The only thing which would probably cheer her up was what they’d both been waiting for. He smiled as he hugged her hard, making sure he didn’t cut his fingers on the knife.
Freddie sat on the top deck of the private yacht, watching as the light bounced and reflected off the sea, shimmering like precious stones. He hadn’t moved since this morning. He was too afraid to, certain that if he did take his eyes from the rippling sea he might never recover.
He needed to wait for this feeling to pass. For the rage, unlike any anger he’d ever experienced before, to leave him. Though he didn’t know how long the wait would be; it could be a day, a week or even a year of sitting, staring at the sea.
But he would wait as long as it took. After all, time was what he had plenty of.
Moment by moment, minute by minute. Anything to get him through. The only way he knew he’d stop staring at the sea was when he got the news from Eddie. The call to tell him that Tasha, his dear beloved betraying bitch of a wife, was face down in a shallow grave.
Eddie put down the phone and laughed. It was easier than taking a piss. Whoever this guy was that Tasha had been shagging, he certainly didn’t seem to mind who knew about it. Pete the car park attendant had come up trumps.
When he’d passed on the car plate number to one of his contacts to find out who it belonged to, he’d half-expected it to be registered to somebody’s pet fish. Instead, he’d just been informed of the address and date of birth of one Arnold Wainwright. Eddie smiled, thinking that he’d probably get that shag with the tom sooner than he expected.
Sitting outside the flats in his car, Eddie shook his head again. It was almost as if Tasha wanted Freddie to find out what she was up to. He knew it couldn’t be the case though; she, more than anyone else, knew what her husband was capable of and what he would do if he even suspected her of cheating. Putting on his black leather gloves, Eddie took a deep breath before getting out of the car. It really was a shame. He’d liked Tasha a lot.