by Sofia Grey
She lurked a short distance away, waiting until he went in and found a seat, and then she strolled in, his jacket draped over her shoulder. Jesus. Looking at him made her skin crawl.
She wasn’t prepared for the beaming smile of welcome when he saw her. “Hi,” he said. “Thanks for the text. It could have waited until next week, you know.”
There was no point in sitting down; she wasn’t staying. Adele gripped the edge of the table with her free hand, and stared down at him. “This won’t wait.” Her voice was a rasp after being sick so much.
He looked startled. “I’ll get you a drink. Skinny latte?”
“No. I don’t want anything from you, ever again.”
His eyes opened wide, and he closed his mouth. He looked confused. He’d soon be afraid, if Adele had her way.
Leaning forwards, so she could speak in a loud whisper, she glared at him. “Don’t you ever come near me again or speak to me outside of work. Do you understand? If you do, so help me, I’ll tell the police. I’ll tell everyone what you did, you sick, pathetic little fuck.”
Karl blanched. “What are you talking about?” He sounded incredulous, as though he didn’t know what she meant.
Adele laughed. There was a definite note of hysteria. “This.” She yanked down the neckline of her sweater to show him the hickeys in their angry red state. “And this.” She snarled at him again, as she tugged up her sleeves to show her wrists. “Did you forget too?”
Karl’s mouth dropped open. His eyes were even wider. He shook his head slowly. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Adele. Do you think I did this?” He took hold of her hand.
Adele whimpered and snatched it back. Nausea cramped her stomach at his touch. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”
Moisture shone in Karl’s eyes. “Honest to God, Adele, I don’t know how you’d ever think I’d do this to you? Why me? How could I have done this? To you?” His voice rose in pitch, and other café goers turned to stare at them,
“You were waiting outside for me. You took me home.” Adele drew a shuddering breath. “You did this.” She wiped her eyes. “I want to kill you for what you’ve done. How dare you?” She sniffed and repeated, her voice cracking, “How dare you?”
“I didn’t do anything.” He looked appalled.
Adele stared at him, committing his face to memory. Blue eyes with little crinkles at the corners, and a slightly uneven nose. A smattering of stubble across his jaw.
She pointed to the bruise on her chin. “Take a fucking good look at this. In case you forgot that one. And you know where the others are. Don’t you?” She swallowed, the words jamming in her aching throat. She couldn’t say more.
She dug her hand into her pocket, pulled out the condom wrappers, and dropped them onto the table in front of him. They fluttered down and landed next to his cup.
He watched them, speechless, then stared at her. There was fear in his eyes now.
“You left these behind.” Her voice was icy.
“Adele.” His voice wobbled. “Please sit down, for God’s sake. Tell me what happened. Let me help you.”
“Fuck off.” It was all she could manage.
Adele yanked the table up as hard as she could. His coffee mug jumped and fell on its side, pouring coffee down across the table and onto his lap. He yelped and leapt up.
She heard him shout her name as she turned, dropped his coat, and ran.
She raced all the way back to her apartment and locked the door securely behind her. For good measure, she jammed one of the kitchen chairs under the door handle. No fucker was coming in here again without permission.
Adele curled up on the sofa and stared at nothing. Her phone chimed over and over, but she ignored it.
Hours later, she swept her tongue across dry lips and realised she was thirsty. Like an old woman, she hobbled into the kitchen and flicked the kettle on. She’d have tea. Her mum always said a cup of tea would cure everything. Not this, Mum, she wanted to cry. Nothing will cure this.
The fridge didn’t have much inside. Milk, juice, and yoghurts. And a little film-wrapped block on the top shelf. It was dark brown and about the size of a stock cube. Hash.
Jason said he’d give her some of his stash.
He was a drug-using, freaky weirdo. He’d been waiting at the table with her drink, while she danced with Karl and the others.
Jason tried to kiss her.
He’d be angry that she ran out on him.
He’d been in her fucking apartment.
Adele swallowed, as a new possibility flashed in front of her. Fuck no. What if it was Jason that did this?
And she accused Karl.
****
Nick was relieved to have Lara back. He might not be anywhere near ready to be a father, but Lara would make an excellent mother. He needed some time to get used to the idea. They’d make it work.
After a couple of days chilling out at home and catching up on jobs around the house, they went out on Saturday and had a lazy pub lunch in the country. They were on their way back home, when Karl phoned Nick.
He sounded panic stricken. Nick couldn’t make out what he was talking about. Something to do with Adele.
Karl asked if Nick had spoken to her today.
“No,” Nick replied. “I can text her now. We’re flying out to Paris tomorrow afternoon to set up for the conference, so I need to meet up with her anyway.”
Lara was driving. She glanced at him, and he covered the mouthpiece. “Work,” he mouthed, but it was probably unnecessary.
Karl rattled on, his words running together. It sounded as though he stood by a busy road.
“Stop,” said Nick. “I can’t hear you properly. Where are you?”
“Outside the office.” That accounted for the traffic noise.
Nick peered out the window, to check where they were. It was dark, but he knew the area well. “I’m five minutes away. Stay there, and I’ll come find you.”
He disconnected and turned to Lara. “Can you drop me off at TM-Tech, if you don’t mind? I’ll get the Tube home.”
“Sure.” She changed lane and indicated for a road that would take them in the direction of Canary Wharf, while Nick sent a text to Adele.
Hey, Melda. Still good for Paris tomorrow? Do you want a ride to Heathrow?
There was no reply, so he tried again.
Did something happen? Karl phoned me. Everything ok?
Still no reply, and his messages went unread. That wasn’t significant; Adele must have a life outside of work. But coupled with Karl’s anxiety, it made Nick wonder.
“What’s up?” asked Lara. “Anything I can help with?”
“I’m not sure. You know Karl from I.T. Right?” Lara nodded. “He’s trying to contact Adele Bisset, the new Creative Director, only she’s not taking his calls. He thinks there’s something wrong.”
“Why ask you?”
It was a reasonable question, but Nick struggled to answer. “She and I were friends at Uni.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Karl’s going to explain when I see him.” Nick thought quickly. “Maybe you should come too. And when we find out there’s nothing wrong, we can go home together.”
Lara grabbed a space in the underground TM-Tech car park, and they went to find Karl.
Karl paced around in a circle at the front of the building, and hurried to meet them. He looked as though he was in shock. He kept running his hand across his hair and taking off his spectacles, fidgeting like a small child. The story poured out of him, and it was crazy. Adele met him for coffee, acted like a complete psycho, and accused him of attacking her.
“Me,” he said, disbelief clear in his voice. “Why would she think that? She isn’t replying to my texts or taking my calls, and I’m worried sick about her.” He gazed at Lara, as though appealing to her for help.
“Attacking her, like how? On social media?” Nick felt there were huge parts of this story he didn’t know.
“No.” Karl
paused. “Physically.” He looked nauseous. “Rape,” he whispered.
“What?” Lara sounded as astonished as Nick felt.
“We went to a club last night, a group of us. I made sure she got home okay, so it must have happened after that.” Karl rubbed his hands over his face. “She thinks it was me, but I swear it wasn’t.”
There must be some mistake. Nick dug into his pocket for his phone and dialled her number. It went to voicemail. He tapped out another text.
Where are you?
No response. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s see if she’s at home.” With Lara’s hand firmly in his, they walked the short distance to Adele’s block. He was worried, and his imagination ran riot. He was very glad Lara was with him. Adele might be more inclined to speak to them with another woman there.
They reached her apartment, and Nick paused. He turned to face Karl. “Look, I know you said you didn’t do anything, but Adele must have some reason for thinking you did.” He held up a hand to stop Karl from speaking. “You stay out here. Okay?”
Karl looked as though he was about to be sick, but he nodded.
Nick knocked on Adele’s door and called her name. He was met with silence.
He banged, this time with his fist, and raised his voice. “Adele, it’s me. Nick. Let me in, please.” Nothing. “If you don’t let me in, I’m going to call the police.” He shook his head. “This is hopeless. She may not even be here.”
A scraping noise sounded inside the apartment, and then the sound of the door unlocking. Finally, it opened a crack, and there was Adele.
“Hey. Can we come in?”
The door opened properly, and Adele threw herself into his arms. She clung to him like a limpet and sobbed onto his shoulder. This was more serious than he first thought.
Nick half-carried, half-guided her to the sofa and sat with her. She burrowed against his chest like a small animal seeking shelter, and he rocked her in his arms.
Lara came in behind them. “I’ll make tea,” she said.
“Hey,” said Nick. He ran one hand down Adele’s hair, trying to soothe her. “What happened?”
“I’m so glad to see you, but how did you know?” Her words were muffled against his chest.
He kept his voice gentle, though he was freaking out inside. “We’re here because Karl called me. He was worried about you, and I am too. Talk to me, sweetheart.”
Lara pulled up a chair to sit close to them. “Let me,” she said in an undertone, and Nick nodded.
“Hi Adele. I’m Lara. Nick’s wife.” She waited, and then spoke again softly. “Can you tell us about it?” She waited. “Would you rather tell me?”
Adele told them what she remembered about being in the club and her hasty exit. “The last real thing I remember is saying goodnight to Karl, right here. After that, it’s a blank. But...” She rubbed a shaking hand across her face. “I thought it was a nightmare,” she whispered. “I was in bed. With someone. He—” Her voice cracked. “He was hurting me.” Nick held her tighter, his fists clenching in her loose sweater. “I thought it was a bad dream, and then I found these marks in the morning.”
She pushed up her sleeves, and Nick winced at her red, sore wrists. Holding his gaze, as though daring him to look away, she pulled down the neck of her top, and then twisted her face.
The bruises on her jaw made him see red. His pulse thumped in his ears, and he had to work hard to stay still.
“There’s more, but I can’t show you those.”
More? What the fuck did the bastard do to her? Nick was beside himself.
“Melda...” Nick’s voice was gentle. He gathered her into his arms and held her. “We’ll find him. I’ll not let the fucker get away with this.”
Lara stayed quiet the whole time, a look of the utmost sympathy on her face. Nick was glad he’d brought her. With her beside him, he felt stronger and more capable. Less likely to do something stupid.
“There’s something else,” said Adele. “I found some dope in my fridge. I think Jason put it there. Which means he was...” She swallowed hard. “He was in here. I think it was him.” She buried her face in her hands. “But I accused Karl. Oh God. I was so horrible to him. I need to apologise.” She said something else, so low Nick couldn’t make it out.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you, sweetie.”
“I said I really fucked up, didn’t I?”
“No, Melda. You didn’t even slightly fuck up. But believe me, if it was Jason, he will be permanently fucked when I get my hands on him.”
****
Lara was sure Nick had never mentioned Adele. They seemed close—more so than he would be with other colleagues. This wasn’t the time to quiz him, though. Whatever their relationship, Adele was a mess.
As for Karl... He’d fixed Lara’s PC a couple of times, and he was always friendly and helpful. She liked what she knew of him, unlike Jason Farnley. Jason had dated one of the girls at work, but it ended badly. The girl maintained that he hit her one night, although he denied it. His drug usage was well known, and there were rumours he had links to supply almost anything. There was no doubt in Lara’s mind he could have slipped one of those date-rape drugs into Adele’s drink.
Lara had no idea how Adele drank tea, but she took a chance on adding milk and sugar. The classic British cure-all. She put the mug on the coffee table nearby. “Here. Drink this.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.” Adele’s lips wobbled, and fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. “I need to talk to Karl.”
“He’s outside,” said Lara. “We didn’t know how you’d feel about seeing him.”
Hope lit Adele’s eyes. “Is he? Would you get him, please?”
“Sure.”
Lara found Karl sitting on the floor by the landing.
He scrambled to his feet. “Is Adele okay? Do you know what happened?”
“A little. She wants to see you, though.”
Karl followed her into the apartment, to where Adele was still tucked into Nick’s side.
He walked up to Adele and crouched at her feet. “Are you okay? Can I do anything?”
Her face crumpled, tears trickling down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Karl. It wasn’t you, was it?”
“No. It wasn’t.” He sounded upset rather than angry.
“What do you remember of last night?” Lara asked.
Karl’s gaze was fixed on Adele. “I was worried about the way you behaved with Jason. He was pawing you, and you didn’t seem to like it. Then you disappeared to the bathroom, and he told us that you’d gone on ahead, you were going home with him. We left, but I didn’t go with the others. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He shrugged. “When we found a cab, you were all over the place. I thought you were drunk. The taxi driver helped me get you into the apartment, and you perked up a bit. You told me you were fine, you’d see me on Monday, and that was it. I got back in the cab and went home. I wish I’d stayed. I might have been able to stop this.”
Karl stared at the floor for a long moment. “Then you sent me a text about meeting for coffee. And—well—you know the rest.”
“I’m so sorry I accused you,” said Adele. “You didn’t deserve that.”
Karl smiled, but it was touch and go. “Thank you. I would never hurt you.”
Once Adele felt more together, they sat drinking tea and comparing notes on Jason. Karl remembered he’d picked up a girl in a club last week and gone home early with her when she felt unwell. Could this be a regular thing he did? Adele talked haltingly about a poker game, earlier in the week, and how Jason’s temper had flared up suddenly and violently. Nick added that Jason had been asking about Adele, and whether she had a boyfriend. Also how Nick bought some hash from him. He shrugged at Lara apologetically when he admitted this.
Adele seemed quieter now, and Nick reminded her they were due in Paris tomorrow. She shook her head. “The state I’m in?” She looked around her apartment with wide, scared eyes. “I can’t stay here. Not
when he lives upstairs. If he got in once, he can do it again.”
“Come stay with us tonight,” said Lara. “We’ve a spare room you can have. I’ll take you both to the airport tomorrow.”
Adele tried to protest, but Lara insisted. “It’ll be easier for you to be in Paris and far away from him, don’t you think? While you’re away, I’ll sort out another place for you to live.”
Adele gave her a crumpled smile. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You’re so very kind, and I don’t even know you.” She still nestled in Nick’s arms, and Lara couldn’t help noting how comfortable they looked with each other.
Lara pushed the idea away. Nick wouldn’t cheat.
They jumped when someone knocked on the door. The colour drained from Adele’s face, and she had to put her tea down before it spilled.
Karl opened the door, and Jason sauntered in, looking casual and confident, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
“Well,” Jason drawled. “Having a party and didn’t invite me?”
“Was there something you wanted?” Nick’s voice was harder than Lara had ever heard it.
Jason shrugged. “Adele owes me some money. Don’t you, darling? Thought I’d call in, to see if you had it.”
Adele wriggled out of Nick’s arms and stood, swaying like a willow sapling in the breeze. She walked to the fridge and extracted a film-wrapped little cube. “Take this back. I don’t want it.” She tossed it to him from a few feet away, and he caught it easily. “What I would like to know is how it got in my fridge.”
Jason stared back at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Why are you asking me? The fridge isn’t the best place for it. You’ll dry it out too quickly.”
“You put it in my fridge.”
He raised his eyebrows, the irritating smile in place. “No, I didn’t. I gave you the hash in the club. Maybe one of your friends put it there. I don’t know who you’ve been entertaining.”
She gave a little cry and launched towards him, hands flailing.
Karl leapt up and grabbed her, a look of cold fury on his face as he stared at Jason.
