Death's Doorway

by Crin Claxton

  “That doesn’t sound good, Tony. What’s a council estate?” Maya asked.

  “Oh, sorry. It’s social housing, public housing. This was one of those big old blocks that are built around an open courtyard. Basically, once you go onto the estate you’re pretty much surrounded by the apartment blocks with only a couple of ways out,” Jade said. She turned to Tony. “I was terrified for you when those boys had you cornered.”

  Maya’s stomach tensed. Recklessness was a part of Tony’s character. It was admirable, to a point. Maya realized she would have to accept it now that they were in a relationship, but she didn’t like the idea of Tony in danger.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  Jade related the night’s events. Tony sat stony quiet, eating her dinner slowly.

  “Thank God you got there in time, Jade,” Maya said. “Tony, you need to start thinking about your own safety.”

  Tony looked at her but didn’t unclench her jaw to reply.

  “You promised me we wouldn’t have anything to do with the case.” Jade’s normally calm voice was tight with anger.

  “I didn’t promise anything,” Tony said quietly. “I agreed not to take the case, but I didn’t promise.”

  “You went back on your word.”

  “He came to see me. He was desperate. I thought I could quickly go see Repo and get out of there.”

  Maya put her plate down. “What made you put this ghost’s needs over your friends?” she asked Tony.

  Tony narrowed her eyes at her. Maya realized Tony was feeling cornered. She backed off.

  “Repo was going to die,” Tony said sullenly.

  “Oh. You didn’t mention that, Jade,” Maya said.

  Jade cleared her throat. “I didn’t mention a lot of things. Like how racist the ghost was. The whole gang is racist. I didn’t want to help racist, murdering gang members.”

  “He didn’t murder anyone. Neither has Repo. Scott told me when he came back again. I didn’t want to help racists, but what you don’t know is the other gang are just as horrible.” Tony put her plate down on the coffee table. It was still half full.

  “I’m sure they are,” Jade said. “I didn’t want to help any gang members. You really let me down tonight, Tony.”

  “I let you down?” Tony’s voice was cold with anger.

  “Yes,” Jade spat back.

  They glared at each other.

  “How are we going to run this agency together if I can’t trust you?” Jade asked.

  “Well, maybe we should think about that,” Tony said quickly. “Like you say, if we can’t trust each other. If we can’t rely on each other.”

  Maya frowned. Tony was trying to say something, but Jade either didn’t pick up on it or was too upset and angry to care. Jade was on her feet.

  “It was lovely to see you, Maya, but I’m going to get off now.” Jade looked at Tony and shook her head. Maya could see the hurt in her eyes.

  Tony shrugged but didn’t look up.

  Jade grabbed her jacket and bag, and within a few strides was out the door.

  The front door opened and shut. Tony switched on the TV and then picked up her plate and started eating.

  “Tony…” Maya watched Tony as she stared blankly at the TV. “Do you want to talk about—”

  Tony pointed the remote at the screen and hit the volume plus button till the noise of a sitcom filled the room.

  *

  Jade lay on Suni’s massage couch, stripped down to her bra and panties trying not to be so turned on that she could hardly breathe. When they’d met for coffee, Suni had noticed straight away that something was wrong with Jade. Suni was so observant. Under Suni’s gentle questioning, Jade had revealed that she was taking Valium. The combined effect of falling out with Tony and Felicia’s unrelenting verbal abuse had driven Jade to the diazepam bottle. She didn’t tell Suni that. She just told Suni she’d been feeling anxious. Suni had insisted that they go immediately to Suni’s clinic for an acupuncture session. Jade thought of the concern in Suni’s eyes when she’d said, “Honey, you can’t take those horrible drugs. They’ll kill your spirit. Let me reduce your anxiety.”

  The room was warm and dark. Candles flickered on a ledge. Jade watched the dancing light through heavy eyelids. There was a sweet, relaxing scent in the air. It smelled like a spa. Like a sexy spa.

  Stop it.

  Jade tried to push an image of Suni massaging her intimately out of her head.

  “Try not to move,” Suni said as she stepped back from slipping a long, slim needle into a point just above Jade’s elbow.

  “What would happen if we do? I mean, if I do?” Jade was barely stopping herself from kissing Suni. “Could I injure myself?”

  “Unlikely, but you would spoil the treatment. It’s best you just lie there, very still, for the moment.” A smile spread slowly from Suni’s eyes to her lips.

  Jade swallowed. A shiver went through her. She didn’t think she could lie still. Her fingers itched to dash the needles from her body and pull Suni on top of her.

  She shut her eyes. She hadn’t a hope if she kept looking up at Suni.

  The sweet, floral smell filled Jade’s head.

  Music started. Something ambient and electro. It wasn’t Jade’s kind of tune, but it was soothing. She drifted along on the female vocalist’s resonant tone. After the acupuncture session, she was determined to get Suni back to the houseboat.

  Her thighs felt tingly and warm. Half in a dream, she opened her eyes to find Suni’s hands hovering a couple of inches above her body, one hand over each inner thigh. Jade gasped.

  Suni’s head turned toward her. She looked completely calm. Holding Jade’s gaze, she lowered her hands almost imperceptibly slowly until the tips of her fingers made contact with Jade’s skin. Jade arched.

  She felt a slight pressure on her abdomen as one of Suni’s hands gently pressed her back onto the couch. She opened her mouth to speak. Suni’s fingers left her abdomen and then one of them rested lightly against Jade’s lips.

  “Shh.” The sound escaping Suni’s mouth was like waves over shingle. Suni grazed Jade’s ankle with one hand, moving upward along Jade’s inner thigh. With her other hand she traced circles around Jade’s breasts and snaked a line down the center of her belly. As Jade’s eyelids fluttered open and shut, she saw Suni taking out some of the needles.

  Jade let out a sigh as the hand running up her thigh and the hand inching down her belly met. Suni’s hands rested on top of Jade’s panties. Jade began to arch again, and this time Suni answered by slipping her fingers inside the waistband and leg of the underwear.

  “You still have needles in, so move cautiously.” Suni’s voice was full of desire.

  Jade reached for Suni’s fingers. Keeping most of her body still, she flexed the center of herself, finding a rhythm with Suni.

  “I will guide you. I won’t let you come to harm.” Suni’s voice blended with the music, the perfume, and with the pleasure building between Jade’s legs.

  She moved on Suni’s thumbs until the ride carried her smoothly over the edge into an orgasm that pulsed through her.

  Jade lay quietly on the massage couch. She let the sounds and smells of the room meld with the glow in her body.

  Her eyes drifted open. She watched Suni take out the rest of the needles.

  “I told you I’d take your anxiety away.” Suni popped the last needle into a sharps container.

  Jade grasped Suni’s shoulder and pulled her gently but firmly onto the couch.

  Chapter Six

  Jade snuggled up to Suni, drifting in and out of a dream. The houseboat rocked gently beneath her. Something had woken her, but she wanted to stay warm and dreamy, wrapped up against Suni’s soft and sexy back.

  A faint crying noise tugged at her consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open.

  “I’m not angry at you anymore.”

  Jade sat up.

  She got out of bed, grabbed her robe, and padded over to the door leadi
ng to her living room.

  She switched on the table lamp and sat on the sofa.

  “Why won’t you help me? I don’t understand.” Felicia sounded depressed. Jade turned in the direction of her voice.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can help you. I’m involved with Suni now. I didn’t mean it to happen like this. I’m still working up to passing on your message. But to be honest, it would be quicker and cleaner if you went through Tony.”

  There was silence. For a hopeful minute, Jade wondered if Felicia had indeed gone to see Tony.

  “She’s white, isn’t she?”

  “Yes.” Jade’s heart sank.

  “I don’t want to chat my business with a white woman. I came to a sister. We’re supposed to help each other.”

  “This help is a one-way street. You’re not helping me. You want me to help you,” Jade pointed out. “And right now, I’m not the best person for that, sister.” Jade tried to say the word “sister” neutrally. She felt solidarity with most black women. Felicia was using that to manipulate her. Jade felt sorry for her when she was being sad and reasonable. But Felicia could turn at any moment.

  “What’s the point in me talking to your friend? You already know Suni. She’s in the other room. Why don’t you just go tell her?”

  Jade could see the sense of Felicia’s words, but she didn’t want to talk to Suni about her dead ex. Suni hadn’t even mentioned it. She was probably too traumatized. Felicia said she had killed herself. What would that do to a person? Jade didn’t know what to do. She wanted to talk to Tony. She hadn’t made it right with her, and she needed to.

  “Go tell Suni now, for God’s sake.” Felicia’s voice had the sinister edge in it that frayed Jade’s nerves.

  Jade went to her bathroom. She pulled the little bottle of Valium off the top shelf and uncapped the lid.

  There was a step behind her.

  “What are you doing with that? I don’t want you to take it. Give it to me.” Suni stretched her hand out, bending in for a kiss at the same time. The bottle left her hand as Jade lost herself in the smooch.

  Suni pulled her back into the living room and sat them down on the sofa.

  “Now. Why are you feeling anxious? Do you want to talk about it?”

  Jade thought for a moment. Obviously, she didn’t want to tell Suni about her ghost of an ex.

  “Couldn’t you sleep?”

  Jade shook her head.

  “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have taken your mind off whatever’s troubling you.” Suni smiled a sultry smile that completely distracted Jade. She put her hands on Suni’s shoulders, pushing her down. Jade didn’t even care if Felicia was still around; she had to have Suni. But Suni pushed back.

  “What’s wrong, honey? Surely you can tell me?” Suni asked.

  Jade frowned. She’d rather lose herself in sex, but it was nice Suni cared. She decided to talk about the other thing that was bothering her. “I miss my friend Tony. You know, I told you we had a row.”

  “Because she betrayed you.”

  “Um, yes. Betrayed is a bit strong.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just repeating the word you used the other day when you told me about the trouble with those gang members.”

  Jade swallowed. It was true she had said she’d felt betrayed. Her friendship with Tony was deep, and she trusted her completely.

  “And because she pretty much controls your detective agency.” Suni sat back, linked her fingers behind her head, and stretched.

  “Did I say that? I’m not sure she controls it exactly.” Apart from Felicia, all the ghosts went to Tony. It did feel like Tony was in charge sometimes.

  “I suppose it’s how you view consultation then. It’s a very strange detective agency anyway. You don’t seem to do a lot, the pair of you.”

  “We just finished a case.”

  Suni didn’t say anything.

  Jade realized she couldn’t tell Suni much about the agency. “Most of our cases are private.”

  “Oh, I see. That makes sense. I don’t mean to pry. How on earth did an actor and a stage manager become detectives?”

  “Quite by chance. A friend needed help. We have a good success rate, considering we’re new at this.”

  “Do you liaise with the police?” Suni asked.

  Jade shook her head. “We don’t need to.”

  Suni raised her eyebrows. “It’s a dangerous business, especially for amateurs.”

  Jade was piqued. “Most of our cases are perfectly safe.” Suni was right, though. Tony hadn’t a clue what she was doing. Neither of them did. That was why Jade wanted to take things slowly. She needed to know Tony would consult her. They could have both been seriously hurt.

  “I’m not meaning to get into your affairs. It’s just, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’m getting fond of you.” Suni looked deep into Jade’s eyes, and all Jade’s angst melted away. Suni was laid back and a little bit shy, but boy, was she intense. Jade bit her lip.

  “I just need to go see Tony. We’ll work it out. We always do.”

  Suni smiled reassuringly. “It’s nice you have such a strong friendship. I’m sure the friendship’s just as important to Tony. She probably just needs some space.”

  Jade frowned. “Tony likes to give people space. I don’t think…Oh, I see what you mean. If she likes to give people space, maybe she likes it herself. Yeah, that would make sense.” She squeezed Suni’s hand. “God, I’ve known Tony all these years, and I’ve only just made that connection.”

  “Happy to help any way I can.” Suni ran her fingers along Jade’s arm making all the little hairs stand up. “It’s all part of the service, ma’am.”

  Jade shivered. She pushed her lips against Suni’s, closing her eyes. Suni opened her mouth, quickening Jade’s heartbeat. Jade felt better about Tony than she had in days. Suni was right. Jade didn’t need to be so hard on her. Tony probably just needed a couple more days’ space.

  I’ll drop in on her at the theater on Monday.

  Suni kissed Jade hard, and her only thought was where Suni’s hands were on her body.

  *

  Tony called Jade again. The number rang, but Jade didn’t pick up. There was no voice mail facility, as Jade had to pay for voice mail on her new pay-as-you-go plan, and Jade was feeling the pinch. Tony thought about sending a text but didn’t trust herself not to send an angry one. It had been nearly a week since the row. Jade hadn’t responded to Tony’s calls or her emails.

  Tony had to force herself to make contact with Jade. She’d been feeling weird about her since the night they’d helped Scott and Repo. Tony hadn’t told anyone the things the boys had threatened to do to her when she’d been surrounded by them.

  Tony shuddered. She felt the boy’s body pressed up against her again and clenched her fists till the nails bit into her palms. She could smell his aftershave.

  On the way to the theater, she’d walked behind someone with the same scent. As the smell hit her, a wave of nausea had engulfed her, and she retched in the gutter.

  Tony blinked away tears. She felt stupid. Nothing had really happened. Not really. Not compared to what some people went through.

  The boy had put his hands all over her. She hadn’t been able to stop him. She kept thinking about it. Part of her wanted to go back to the estate, get him on his own, and beat him until he was out cold.

  She was furious with Jade. She didn’t want to be. Tony knew it was her own fault she’d been on the council estate. She guessed the bad stuff would have happened anyway, but she couldn’t get over the fact that Jade had seen her surrounded by the boys and left her there. Jade had been talking to Repo when Tony had been groped.

  Jade was angry with Tony for going against her wishes. Tony understood that. She had even texted sorry. Jade hadn’t replied. That hurt a bit, but then, Tony didn’t want to talk to Jade, so maybe it was for the best.

  Tony pushed all thoughts of that night down into the deep recesses of her psych
e and shut the door on them. She was good at that.

  The show was ticking over nicely, and Tony didn’t have a lot to do apart from press the go button when Beth, the deputy stage manager, called the lighting cues. The only setting up to do was powering up the lighting board, but Tony arrived at work early anyway. She liked the peace and quiet of the lighting box before the show.

  Since the incident, she’d been relishing her solitary pre-show time.

  She’d made a cup of tea in the green room on the way up. It was sitting on the desk in front of her, next to her currant bun. Tony unfolded her newspaper, leaned back in her swivel chair, and breathed a peaceful sigh.

  The door opened with a thump. Beth strode in and stood in front of the broken chair Tony had been meaning to dump backstage.

  “Hi, handsome. See you’re in early as usual. I looked for you in the green room, but you weren’t there.”

  “Do you need something?” Tony said as politely as she could. She wasn’t happy her solitude had been disturbed.

  “No, I just came for a moan. I’ve had it up to here with those fly men. Well, that’s their problem, isn’t it?”

  “Huh? You’re not making sense. Oh wait, don’t—” Tony put her hand up to try to stop Beth sitting in the faulty chair.

  “That’s their problem, they’re men. Ahh!” The back of the chair flipped outward and then recoiled like a bucking bronco, throwing Beth onto the floor.

  “Yeah, it’s been doing that a lot. I’ve been meaning to throw that chair out.” Tony reached down to help Beth up.

  Beth glared at her. Then she accepted Tony’s extended hand. She rubbed her rump and sat down gingerly, being careful not to lean back. “I am so off men,” she said, grimacing. Tony wasn’t sure if she was grimacing at her sore butt or at half the human race. She didn’t ask.

  “Men are such a pain,” Beth said a little louder.

  Beth had come out some months previously. Before that, she had been very into men. Was she now saying she was bisexual? “So, are you back on men, again?” Tony asked cautiously.

  “No. That’s just it. I’m completely off them; that’s why they annoy me so. You know how it is when you’re a hundred percent lesbian. Men must annoy you all the time.”