Even Stranger

by Marilyn Messik

  As the waiter flapped around, planting the napkin in my lap – don’t you always find, you’ve moved your hand at the wrong moment, so it looks as if you’re trying to make life difficult for them – I noticed, behind David’s back, a window-sized niche in the wall, with a trompe l’oeil scene of Italian countryside. It wasn’t that well done, certainly not compared to the work I’d seen at the de Freyt’s house. It was just bold, colourful and atmospheric, but it immediately put me in mind of that morning and I couldn’t help but look, and keep looking for the eyes. Of course there weren’t any, but I’ve lived long enough with all the oddities that make me what I am, to know, odd or not, my instincts are to be trusted. If I feel uneasy, there’s usually a reason, which will rear its ugly head sooner or later. There’s no doubt I was feeling twitchy that evening and it was probably all of this, going round in my head, that made David ask, slightly querulously, if I was listening to him at all. I nodded absentmindedly, and squeezed his hand, which was holding mine across the table.

  “Well?” he said.

  “Well what?”

  “For goodness sake Stella, did you not hear what I just said?” I pulled my attention back with a guilty jerk and saw, on the table, a small red box. Simultaneously, I realised, hovering out of sight, round a corner of the room, were three well-primed waiters, with champagne in a bucket, hand-held sparklers and a song on their lips.

  “Good Lord!” I said.

  “Aren’t you going to even look at it?” David nudged the box encouragingly towards me, and I appreciated that here was a man who was rapidly reconsidering his whole strategy and forward planning. It crossed his mind, fleetingly, whether he could possibly simply snatch up the box, laugh and yell ‘April Fool!’ despite the fact it was October. I grinned at that, it was rare I caught his thoughts because I never looked or listened and usually he was exceptionally closed, but he did have a great sense of humour.

  “Well?” he said again. This was awful, I didn’t know what to say. My feelings for him weren’t in question. Most of the time I’m quite a solitary person, I like my own company and time to debrief in peace and quiet, without constant sensory bombardment. David was the first person I’d ever met, other than the Peacock gang, whose company was just as comfortable as being on my own. That wasn’t to be sneezed at.

  The problem was, honesty is high on my list of important things, and whilst I certainly felt our developing relationship deserved it, over the last year, an occasion just didn’t seem to have arisen, that felt like quite the right time to mention what I thought I should. Somehow the conversation never seemed to veer in the right direction to outline, even one or two of my peculiarities, and I had thought it best to do it on a step by step basis, rather than hitting him with the whole package all at once. Isn’t it though, a fact of life, that the longer an issue remains undiscussed, the more complicated it becomes, not only to bring it up, but to explain why it’s been kept under wraps for so long. And then suddenly, there you are – up a creek without a paddle, or in this case, in an Italian restaurant at an emotional crossroads.

  Whilst I was mulling, things seemed to gain their own momentum. I’d picked up the little red box, because it seemed horribly rude not to, and opened it on an antique ring, a turquoise set with little diamonds. Unfortunately, the waiters, who’d obviously been champing at the bit and keeping an eagle eye on proceedings, took this as a sign to go, go, go! They hurtled enthusiastically round the corner, champagne and sparklers held high, whilst they let loose with a full throated rendition of O Sole Mio, the other diners started ‘aaaahing’ and clapping and David slipped the ring on my finger and told me how happy I’d made him. Well, you can see the awkwardness of the situation can’t you?

  The rest of the evening passed in a bit of a blur, mainly due to the fact that what with everything, I forgot my strict, no alcohol rule and took several reviving swigs of champagne, which promptly went straight to my already, sadly confused head. I’m pretty certain we had a lovely meal, and I seem to remember we discussed all sorts of important things, although not the most important thing. When we left, there was another round of applause, cheers and good wishes and lots of people I didn’t know, kissed me and shook David’s hand.

  When we got back to my house, I stopped regretting the champagne and started feeling grateful that I wasn’t completely compos mentis. Not only were my parents waiting for us – David had formally spoken to my father, before we left – Kitty had also been summoned, along with Brenda who, somewhere along the line, had been adopted as nearest and dearest. Auntie Edna and Uncle Monty were there too – they’d brought balloons – and, weirdest of all, Laura and Melvyn Gold.

  There was much laughter, noise and excitement – from my parents, who’d had doubts as to whether they’d ever see this day, from Auntie Edna who was convinced they wouldn’t, and from Kitty who was hitting the advocaat hard. Melvyn Gold was very sweet, gave me a warm hug and said he was delighted, he honestly couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful, than having me as a daughter-in-law. Laura Gold, on the other hand, seemed to be in a similar state of shock to me, so much so, I don’t think she’d even had time to knock back a migraine pill. She kissed the air near both my cheeks, said she was very pleased and then wrapped her arms round David and sobbed a lot – I don’t think it was with joy.

  My ring was exclaimed over, and then everyone started discussing dates. Dates for an engagement party, dates for the wedding and – this was Auntie Edna – dates to start looking for dresses, and how many bridesmaids was I thinking of? This was all moving way too fast for me and my conscience, but I wasn’t sure how to stop the runaway train and get off.

  I sat down on the sofa and absently quaffed a glass of advocaat, that had been left unattended – what the hell! And after a while, Kat came over and lay down near me, putting her head on my foot, which for her, was a gesture of wild and abandoned affection. David came over too, sat next to me and we smiled at each other. I didn’t even want to know what he was thinking, but hoped to goodness, he wasn’t feeling half as perturbed as me. In the opposite corner of the room, Laura had taken some action on the pill front and now had both my mother and Auntie Edna in a firm embrace and was earnestly assuring them, she felt like the third sister they’d never had.

  Champagne and advocaat was probably not a happy mix, it certainly didn’t feel like it when I eventually got to bed. Or maybe it was just that this was probably the only time I’d headed under the duvet, somewhat the worse for drink. But these were, I reassured myself, exceptional circumstances. I fell swiftly into a deep, dreamless sleep and didn’t wake up until I felt someone choking the life out of me. I think that must have been around 3.30 a.m.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  I was getting a bit tired of being throttled, it wasn’t that long since Dorothy Lowbell had also had a good go, and although those bruises had faded, the memories hadn’t. My eyes shot open and my back arched painfully, as I noisily tried to pull in some air through my constricted windpipe. Kat had started up from the floor and was whining. There wasn’t anyone else there with me, in the room, but neither was there any doubt about what was happening. I knew instantly who was doing it. I also knew, that when I had a moment or two to think about it, I’d be astonished he’d so quickly discovered what he could do. Right now I had a more pressing matter to deal with.

  I broke his hold sharply and felt his surprise and anger. He’d only been able to get to me so easily because I was sleeping, and it wasn’t a normal sleep – blame the drink. I’d left myself wide open, how stupid. He’d thought I was a soft touch. He hadn’t planned to hurt me too badly, just scare the wits out of me. I wasn’t sure why he was so angry. I assumed, it wasn’t so much because I’d inadvertently shown him what he was, but because no-one had done it sooner. I sat up gingerly, rubbing my neck, which was throbbing painfully, there would be bruises in the morning. I called Kat over from the corner to which she’d retreated
, but she refused to budge. I didn’t have the patience for coaxing, so went into her head where, as so often, she was trembling as much inside as out. I soothed her quickly, in the way I’d found that worked, and after a short while, she ventured cautiously back to her usual position by my bed. She wasn’t happy. Mind you, neither was I. My fear had become fact. He’d found me just as easily as I’d found him.

  The thought of him out there, knowing where I was and watching and waiting until I was at my weakest, was unnerving. I put both hands to my forehead, I don’t know, maybe I thought with a quick massage I could clear it quicker, I had to get myself together, to make sure he couldn’t get to me again. I was surprised to find a ring on my finger, goodness, I’d completely forgotten about the engagement, that didn’t bode well. Once I was sure I was shielded, I settled back down to sleep and hoped I wasn’t going to be sharing any of his nightmares tonight. I’d already decided, the best course of action was to pass this latest happening on to Rachael and then, as she’d said, stay well out of it.

  It turned out, Jamie had been a lot closer physically, last night, than I’d thought, because when I went out to the car in the morning, the window had been smashed and on the passenger seat, amidst all the glass was another dead bird – a pigeon this time. Kat and I did the shrieking and recoiling, before I pulled myself together. This was all extremely unpleasant and the mind-set behind it, worrying, if childish, but it wasn’t as if I didn’t know who was doing it and help was at hand, in the form of team Peacock. It did also occur to me, if Jamie’s focus was on me, someone well able to take care of herself, then hopefully it wouldn’t be on Isabelle.

  I steeled myself to do the black bag and Marigolds thing, although I had no intention of touching the bird. I lifted it off the seat, its head hanging limp and unnatural from its neck, and floated it gently into the bag I was holding open, before knotting the top, disposing of it in the dustbin and brushing out as much of the glass as I could. I’d have to call one of those mobile services to come and fix it during the day. With the wind blowing briskly in through the broken window, making a real mess of both my hair and Kat’s, I set off for the office, where Martin and Hilary waylaid me with a freshly-purchased bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates, kisses and congratulations. Hilary was positively bouncing and Martin was as animated as I’d seen him. They both assured me, David was a lovely boy and Hilary winked, said she’d known from the start that something was in the air. I felt, with all my advantages, I should also have sussed the something in the air, before it hit me in the head. I then might have made more of a determined effort to appraise David, of exactly what he was getting into, presenting him with a chance to graciously extricate himself and run shrieking into the distance, before it was too late.

  Excitement hadn’t abated upstairs either. I staggered up, balancing flowers, chocolates and briefcase, to find Kitty had already been down the road, to Grodzinksi’s, for a selection of celebratory pastries for us to have with our coffee. It did cross my mind, if I carried on knocking back chocolate and cake at the rate I was going, Aunt Edna was going to have work cut out, finding a dress into which I’d fit and it was going to take an awful lot of bridesmaids, to roll me down that aisle. Together with Brenda, Ruby and Trudie, Kitty wanted full details of the proposal, which was awkward – I didn’t like to say, it had all happened while I wasn’t paying much attention. I retreated to the relative peace of the inner office and extricated from my bag, the piece of paper with Rachael’s number. It was getting decidedly crumpled, I probably ought, but was oddly reluctant, to officially enter it in my address book. I brought her up to date.

  “Hmm.” She said. “Right.”

  “So, what should I do?”

  “I told you, nothing. We’ll take care of it.”

  “When?”

  “We’re working on it now. Don’t worry, I’m sure we can get him sorted out.”

  “That’s all very well, but in the meantime, I’m the one coping with dead birds all over the place and him trying to strangle me.”

  “You’re all right aren’t you? Not actually hurt in any way?” she asked.

  “Well, yes, I’m OK. Bit shaken up.”

  “Good.”

  “Good?”

  “The more shaken up, the less likely to go getting yourself in any deeper.” She said. “Anything else?”

  “What about the girl, Isabelle?” I said.

  “I told you, it’s in hand. Don’t worry.” And she hung up. It was not, I felt, a particularly satisfactory conversation. Still, nothing much more I could do at the moment, I just had to sit back and hope whatever action they took, and I had no idea what that might be, would indeed sort things.

  It was a fairly normal, busy morning in the office, with a couple of inquiries from what could turn out to be new clients, so I didn’t have time to brood on the Jamie situation, until about 12.00 o’clock, when both Brenda and Kitty came into my office. They weren’t on their own. Jamie was with them. He had his arm crushingly tight round Kitty’s middle, almost lifting her off the floor, holding her effortlessly. He had a Stanley knife at her throat.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  “Hello.” He said pleasantly. I didn’t respond. I was considering my options, of which there didn’t seem to be too many.

  “Stella?” Brenda wasn’t sounding anywhere near, as cool and calm as usual. Kitty didn’t say anything, probably best, under the circumstances. The blade, set in an incongruously cheerful red handle, looked brand shiny new and lethal. It had already scratched the thin skin at her throat, and it hurt me to see a fine string of blood there.

  He seemed to have got over his anger of yesterday and last night. He was now, by far the happiest he could remember being for a long, long while and yes, at the same time, perfectly relaxed and at ease with himself and the world. He was relishing the feel of skinny helplessness and panic-beating heart under his arm. He knew he could snap this one, as easily as a twig. One squeeze and a twist, just like the birds and, no doubt, a hell of a lot more satisfactory. He was reflecting, he probably hadn’t even needed to bring the blade, but then he always had one on him for work, and everyone understands a knife. It certainly added to the dramatic tension, of which, in the room, there was a fair amount. He liked that. The revelation of what he was, had changed everything for him – his whole world was different, as was his place in it. He knew now that what he’d been hearing and seeing in his head, all his life, wasn’t craziness at all. He wasn’t a madman, he was in fact, something very special indeed and right now, he was feeling good. Oh yes, this was definitely a chap who’d come into his own.

  “What do you want?” I said. I stayed sitting and still. I didn’t think I could risk interfering with that vicious blade or with his mind-set. He’d recognise immediately what I was doing, and could probably react, before I had time to stop him. I didn’t believe he had any idea of the full extent of what I could do, but the other side of the coin might be that he’d find out, he could do it too.

  “Why don’t you tell me, what I want?” he grinned happily. His voice was as beautifully modulated, as I remembered from before. It would normally be a pleasure to listen to, his tone was casually conversational, low-toned and polite. “You can do that, right? You can tell me, in fact, you can probably tell me before I even know – right, am I right?” He raised an eyebrow, and I could feel him trying to get into my head. He’d got in before, when I was parked outside the de Freyt’s, but that was when I didn’t know. Now I did, and I’d shut him out, so he wasn’t getting anything other than frustrated. I could still read him though, and whilst his obsessive pattern of thinking was still there, it had slowed considerably, because he was so much more relaxed, so sure of himself.

  I rose slowly from my seat, keeping my hands well within his sight – I knew, at any moment, Trudie, Ruby, Hilary or Martin could come swanning in, and goodness knows how much more, that might
complicate an already tricky situation. I was also coming to terms with the unpalatable fact that whilst I was, as always, confident of being able to take care of myself, dealing with a very real threat to someone else, was altogether a different and more awkward can of worms.

  “You want me to come with you?” I stated. He nodded cheerfully and chuckled.

  “Spot on. Give the girl a prize.”

  “Look,” I said, “You don’t have to do this. You’ve got more talent in your little finger than others have got in their whole body – don’t throw it away, playing gangster – where’s that going to get you?”

  “What do you know about it?”

  “I’ve seen the wonderful work you’ve done. Don’t waste everything by being stupid now.” I’d hit him where it hurt, he snarled at me,

  “Shut up, you know nothing about me.”

  “OK. OK.” I held up my hands, “I’ll come with you, if you want. We’ll go somewhere and we can talk. But there’s no need for threats and it’s just going to be me, this lady stays here.” He threw back his head and laughed, in genuine amusement. With the movement, Kitty was rocked from side to side and a fresh cut appeared on her neck. She grimaced. She was scared stiff, but she was a game old bat, and hadn’t taken anything lying down for years. She’d had about enough of this little so-and-so, manhandling her and I saw one sturdily shod foot extend, ready to whack back and crack him soundly on the shin.

  “No!” I hissed. She looked startled and I shook my head firmly. I understood his mood could swing from mild to murderous in a second. He thought I was talking to him.

  “I’m afraid you’re in no position to say no. Sorry ‘bout that.” he said, “She’s coming with us, insurance, you understand. Yes, indeed, no arguing.” He giggled. I stared at him expressionlessly, weighing up the pros and cons of knocking him out, but with that knife against her throat, I didn’t think I could risk it.