The house had been quiet throughout the day. Gerrard either stayed in his room or indulged in watching Sky Sports. Maggie waltzed around the house in her element, picking up ornaments, or reading her tablet. At the front of the house they kept the blinds down. At the back the French doors leading out to the flagstone patio where dressed in voile curtains letting in the light but blocking any kind of view. They had done without food until Gerrard took a risk and went to the local kebab shop take-away at Two pm but by Seven pm they were all famished again, but Eva wasn’t in a hurry to get to her dinner date. She was still working on her exit strategy. Just after 7pm the doorbell rang. Maggie and Eva exchanged a glance, and Gerrard said “I’ll get it.” He walked down the stairs in his big jacket. Eva noticed it looked heavy again, full of all the tools to defend them if needed. He opened a narrow crack in the door, then widened it slowly and carefully. Eva could read his mind. There was a shopping delivery at the door, a supermarket delivery van outside in Tesco’s blue livery. But it could have been a trap. Gerrard asked the man to come inside while he signed the little gizmo for the food. Then the Tesco man left, and Gerrard shut out the world again. Eva looked at the shopping bags piled on the kitchen tiles. She had to be grateful that Alex Galvan was a man of his word, but suddenly dinner looked imminent. Maggie was going to make her move soon, so Eva needed to make hers.
Eva looked at Maggie and gave her a neutral smile. A don’t worry about me smile. Maggie’s eyes looked at her with a hint of curiosity over her tablet screen, then her eyes dropped back to the screen. “What’s for dinner, Gerrard?”
“I’ll let you know when I know.” He grabbed all of the bags in two hands.
“Gerrard, you can eat upstairs tonight. I want to talk with Eva tonight. Alone. Okay?”
Gerrard was in the kitchen. Eva was in no man’s land between both rooms.
“If that’s what you want. Fine.”
Gerrard stuck his head out of the kitchen towards Eva and made a conspiratorial grin. He mouthed the words, “I told you,” then moved back into the bright white light of the kitchen.
Maggie seemed happy enough, and let the matter drop. “Is there wine? Eva likes white wine.”
There was a rustle of plastic bags. “There’s two bottles. Is that enough for you?”
“It’s a good start,” said Maggie, smiling to herself.
Eva moved into the hallway and got Gerrard’s eye. She nodded to the stairs beside her and mouthed the words. “I need to speak to you.” Gerrard stopped unpacking and lifted his head. The look on his face was a mixture of subdued excitement and acting coy. He puffed out his chest and smiled, and lifted a finger to indicate ‘wait a moment’. Gerrard pointed a finger upwards, then pointed at Eva. “Now.” He whispered. Eva nodded. There was a chance she could go upstairs unobserved. There was also the matter of the toilets being upstairs. She hadn’t had to ask for permission before, but suddenly she felt obvious. Eva walked up the stairs as quickly yet calmly as she could. She flicked the light on and waited.
“I’ll get dinner on in two minutes, Maggie. You’ll be eating by eight.”
Just after he finished speaking, Gerrard’s heavy feet started off on the stairs. He emerged at the top coated in shadows. Right now, with their clandestine meeting, Gerrard reminded her of a Heathcliff type, strong, dark and dangerous. She told herself to calm down. The danger had to be messing with her hormones.
They retreated further down the hallway, both keeping noise of the footfall to a minimum.
“Now you want to spend time with me? And there I was thinking you were taking Kendra’s place with Maggie.”
“That’s not a part of my plan. It didn’t work out too well for Kendra.”
“It never works out too well for any of them. The only reason Brian is still walking is that he is even sharper than her. If you want to stay safe, it might be advisable to go through with it,” said Gerrard, looking a little sheepish at his own sorry suggestion. He scratched his head and looked away.
“Go through with what? Sleeping with Maggie? You really cannot be serious. I signed up to help get her safe, and that’s all.”
“You should have read the small print, detective. Still. If you’re missing male company, I’ll always be around.”
Eva narrowed her eyes at him. Maybe he wasn’t the man she thought he was. Not good. Not good at all.
“Listen to me. I’m not going along with Maggie’s plan. Now are you going to help me, or am I going to walk out of here right now?”
“That’s up to you. But Brian’s hitman will probably kill you.”
“Supposition, Gerrard. The hitman may have been recalled or he might only be expected to kill Maggie.”
“But you don’t know that, and you never will until it’s too late.”
Eva looked at him. “I’ve got Maggie this far. She’s pretty much safe now. I’ve nearly finished the job.”
“Really? This is just another hideout. No one is safe yet.”
“Not yet maybe. These people will set up an arrangement with her. I’ve done my part. I want to collect my fee and get off this bus now. Don’t you think I’m entitled to get what I was promised?”
Gerrard shrugged. “I could ask you the same. I thought you brought me up here for a kiss and a grope.”
Eva stared at him. He still didn’t get it, and took a step towards her. “Hold it right there. You try anything, and I will fix it so that you won’t be inclined to harass any women ever again.”
“Is that your version of talking dirty?”
“No. It’s the truth.”
“Are you honestly saying you don’t want me to kiss you?”
Eva’s face flickered. She couldn’t withhold the truth well. Gerrard saw it and smiled. But Eva wanted to kill his hopes right there before he tried anything.
“I’m not saying that, Gerrard. But I am saying I need your help tonight.”
“How the hell am I supposed to help you?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ve got an idea. It’s risky, but it might just work.”
Nineteen
Gerrard served salmon in a white wine sauce with boiled potatoes and green beans. It wasn’t exactly a difficult meal to prepare, but it was more than Eva had expected of him. Eva was almost relaxed, but not quite. Maggie was the epitome of the wildcard, and the best laid plans could be shot to pieces by someone like her. Even so, Eva was optimistic. Gerrard nodded at them both and poured them a glass of white wine like the best musclebound waiter in town. Eva took a sip.
“Is it good?”
“Yes, it’s good,” said Eva, because it was. Maggie looked at Gerrard. He coughed and walked away just like Maggie’s eyes told him to.
“I’ll see you in a little while, then,” said Gerrard.
“Maybe,” said Maggie. “Maybe not.”
Eva reclined in her chair and waited for Maggie to start off the eating or the talking. Her thoughts were with Jess, and the chaos she’d created with the vigilante guy. Whatever was going on there, had to involve mental health issues. People didn’t just put on masks and run around battering criminals except in the movies. The guy had to be a crackpot and that meant he was dangerous. She hoped Jess was safe. Eva came back to the present. She knew she had to worry about her own safety first.
“What are you thinking, Eva?”
“Oh, about a hundred thousand things at once, as usual. When I’m stressed, that’s how my mind works.”
Maggie sipped her wine and started stabbing at the potatoes with her knife and fork.
“But you’ve got our situation under control, don’t you think. You worked out that Kendra was a danger. I never saw it coming. Brian, the old bastard was cleverer than I ever gave him credit for. He must have either had the bitch on his own crew when she seduced me… or Brian made her an offer after we became involved.”
“That’s all supposition, and frankly too much of it is none of my business, Maggie. She was going to kill us all, or coordinate our murder with the othe
r killer. I helped identify her, but what happened next was not part of my plan. I don’t kill people Maggie.”
“Really? What about what happened last summer? Would it spoil your appetite to consider yourself involved in a murder? Kendra was going to kill you. The motorcycle hit man shot at you! So at least you can console yourself that it was self-defence. If that helps you ease your conscience.”
“I was doing my job. You also hired me to get you safe. Mission accomplished, don’t you think? The Galvan family will keep you safe for a fee. They have nothing to do with Gillespie’s business, do they?”
“No. They’re a bunch of posers. They are idiots, really they are. They care more about their image than real power. That’s what Brian always said.”
“Whatever your husband thinks, they are your protection from now on. They haven’t outlined their terms yet, but I think you can work something out.”
“Sweetheart, I can always work something out.”
“Maggie, I am leaving after dinner. I’ve helped you all I can. I want the money you promised me.”
“Uh-uh. So before you commit yourself to that plan, let’s talk and eat.”
“Fine. But I’m spelling out my position, and it’s not going to change.”
Maggie laid down her cutlery, and her face got serious. “Then here’s my position. I hired you. I know your business is on the rocks, sweetheart. You worked so hard to rescue your partner, and the crazy bastard deserted you, didn’t he? So here I am. Here you are too. I need staff I can trust, and you have financial needs which I can fix. If you stay working for me, I’ll make sure the fifty I promised is just the start.”
“Fine. Now what if I still choose to leave. Straight after this meal.”
“Then you’ll be ruining my plans. That wouldn’t exactly please me now, would it?”
“Maggie, my concern was your safety, not your happiness.”
“If I paid you enough, my happiness could be your concern too.”
“No. You couldn’t ever pay me enough. I’m not Kendra. I won’t take her place, and with due respect, I will never be your little toy, Maggie.”
Maggie sat back in her chair, chewing some food, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
“You’re determined to be the queen bitch, aren’t you sweetheart?”
Eva didn’t reply. But Maggie wasn’t far wrong. To best Maggie, Eva had to be the stronger one.
“If it makes you feel a little better, I’ll let you win for now, Eva. But you’ll come back. I know you need me.”
Maggie stood and walked to the edge of the room. She had a little Samsonite. A small trolley case in red. Maggie opened it, and Eva watched with baited breath, her body rigid and ready to run. Maggie delved into the case, then turned back. Eva could breathe again. Maggie dropped a slim bunch of currency onto the table. “It’s Brian’s cash anyway. What do I care? That’s your other instalment, honey. When you’ve spent it, come back to me. Your job will still be open, but the terms will change much more to my favour.”
Eva looked at the currency, and felt a little sick at herself. It was ten grand of blood money. Were things really that bad? Yes, they were. If they hadn’t been bad, she wouldn’t have been here in the first place. She winced inside as she capitulated and moved to take the cash.
“Thank you. But once you pay at the end of this deal I really won’t be back. I’m sure with your money, you’ can find a less deadly version of Kendra. Just choose more wisely next time.” I wouldn’t wish you on any one, she though silently.
“I thought I had,” said Maggie, her voice hard and iron heavy. Eva slipped the money into her jacket pocket where the gun had once been.
He was right on time. The first course was finished. Gerrard casually walked into the room. Maggie looked up, her dark brow dropping lower over her big dark eyes. “What do you want, Gerrard?”
“How was dinner?”
“What, do you want a bloody tip or something? It was fine.”
Gerrard’s eyes looked at Eva and waited. Eva nodded twice. Her head motion was fractional, but Gerrard saw it. She had gotten her payment. Maggie shifted in her seat. Eva hoped the woman hadn’t noticed the communication. It was subtle enough to have been missed. Gerrard cleared his throat. He looked uncomfortable and shifted his posture. For the first time he looked a little afraid, his eyebrow wavering as he spoke.
“Maggie. Eva is leaving in ten minutes.”
“What?”
“She has to go, Maggie.”
Maggie’s eyes flared, and her lip tightened but she said nothing. Instead she picked up her wine glass and gulped it down in one. “You were right, Eva, this is good stuff. You really should stay and finish the bottle with me at least. A lush like you surely can’t resist an offer like that.”
Eva’s face flushed. Indignant anger flooded her senses. She was wounded. Was the truth so bloody obvious? Had she become a lush?
Maggie was ignoring Gerrard but tried again. “The Galvans are sending a driver to collect her. It’s much safer than a taxi, because it eliminates the risk of a stranger recognising us or passing information on to Brian’s people.”
Maggie changed colour before their eyes. She looked pale. Maggie was not used to disappointment. Eva knew she was a control freak, but here was another part of her world falling apart. If Maggie Gillespie hadn’t been such a murdering, manipulative and evil bitch, Eva might have even started feeling sorry for. But that was never going to happen. She felt like a diver whose air tanks were running low, she was getting close to the surface and was gasping for air. Eva couldn’t wait for those ten minutes to end. The seconds felt like minutes.
“You need to get ready now, detective.”
Eva stood and smiled at Maggie, and pushed her chair into the table. Maggie reclined in silence, sipping the remnants of her white wine. She watched Eva walk out of the room. She stopped by Gerrard’s shoulder and mouthed the words “Thank you” then to disguise her thanks followed quickly by rambling “you know, Gerrard, you don’t have to call me detective.”
“But it suits you, detective. You’re a cold fish and harder than most coppers.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Eva passed him by, letting her shoulder scrape past Gerrard’s bulk. It was a light and simple touch. It was almost nothing, but for a logical, controlled person like Eva, with passion and attraction burning bright within her body, it was the closest she could let herself come to giving Gerrard the kiss they both craved. The slight change on Gerrard’s face showed he felt the electricity in that simple touch. Eva climbed the first few stairs and waited to hear if they argued. The silence endured for a second, then Maggie spoke in a strangely subdued voice. “Gerrard, I need a favour from you. I need a telephone number.” Anxiety prodded her senses. What number? But who cared now? She was going to be free. Eva ran up the stairs to the small room she’d chosen as her own. She picked up the few things she owned, her iPad, notebook, hairbrush and lipstick, along with her spare blouse. She squeezed them all back into her handbag, and checked herself in the mirror. She looked tired, and for the first time maybe she looked older than her thirty years. Until now she’d always looked younger than her age. But if she looked older now, she could blame the stress. Or was it true? Was she a lush? The words had struck home and hurt. But what did it matter? She was alive, and her jacket was bursting with the kind of money which could keep her business afloat until things got better. The issue with Jess, well, maybe Jess would still have to go. But that decision was not about money. It was about everything else. Eva straightened out her suit, buttoned up her jacket and was on her way. She skipped down the stairs, and for a stressed out thirty year old lush without a man to call her own she guessed she was almost doing well. She felt happy. Looking back, those feelings were high points. They were the lightness before the heaviness crashed down and destroyed them. They were the dream immediately followed by a new black nightmare. Happiness was so very fleeting. She noticed Gerrard wasn’t standing
by the door where he’d been moments before. She walked slowly into main red and white room where they had dined and sat together. The half-finished plates of salmon and potato dinner and empty glasses were still in place. A chill wind blew inside Eva’s body. She walked back into the hallway. Brightness poured from the edges of the closed kitchen door. The door was almost shut. She looked at the door with dread. Her eyes began to brim full of vision blurring tears on instinct. Eva hushed her breath and she listened to the awful silence. Before she faltered, she lurched forward and pushed the door. It swung half way before it started to creak on its hinges. A quarter second later Eva started to scream, but stopped as Maggie hushed her with a finger pressed to Eva’s lips. Eva’s heart was thudding and hurtling fast, and the tears of shock spilled out over her eyelids and poured down her face.
Chest down on the floor, his lifeless face and open eyes pointing to one side, was Gerrard. His arms were splayed wide. His back had been punctured over and over, his T shirt was dark red, and the blood lay in a deep dark red viscous pool all around him. The smell of warm blood filled the air. Maggie smiled and shrugged, a long chopping knife still held in her hand.
“On this tiled floor, the evidence is as good as gone. Bleach is a wonderful thing, don’t you think?”
“But he was your cousin! How could you! He saved your life!”
“He betrayed me. No one betrays me, Eva. No one at all. Call the Galvans. Tell them not to bother coming. We’re going to call a man with a van instead” Eva stared at her. “Do it!” she shouted.
Better the Devil Page 14
