by Liz Fielding
'Is something bothering you, Fizz?'
She met her sister's eyes and for a moment was tempted to blurt it all out. 'Oh, I don't know. Julian's probably right. I am getting paranoid.' Nobody would go to such lengths to avenge a catty remark made off the cuff to a reporter. 'It's just that ever since Luke Devlin arrived in Broomhill life has been difficult.'
Claudia smiled. 'That's because he's way out of your league little sister,' she said, curling up catlike on the sofa. 'Better leave him to the big girls who know how to handle men like him.'
'The big girls are welcome to him,' she snapped. Then as Claudia's eyes widened thoughtfully, she rushed on. 'Frankly, I don't think he much cares what size they are and it's none of my business, but he's treating Melanie very shabbily.'
That was guilt talking, she thought. She hadn't given much thought to Melanie's feelings when she had stepped out of her dress, when his mouth had been going indescribable things to her body.
'Is he?' Claudia seemed to find her indignant outburst highly amusing.
'For heaven's sake, you know as well as I do that he's living with the girl, but it doesn't stop him flirting with anything female that moves. That's bad enough, but when Melanie had the temerity to dance with Andy he hauled her over the coals like a naughty little girl.'
Claudia's eyes, wide and innocent as a puppy's, regarded Fizz with a provoking little smile. 'I know he's living with Melanie at the moment, darling but it's purely temporary.'
'If he's told you that, he's playing with you.' The words were out before she could stop them and she knew instantly that she had made a mistake. Betrayed herself.
'Are you afraid that I'll take away your new toy, darling?' She laughed at Fizz's stricken face. 'I don't imagine you were worrying about poor Melanie when you were playing naughty games behind that locked study door, little sister. You can tell me about it if you like, I promise I won't be in the least bit shocked.'
'I don't know what you're talking about.' She bent over the fire, poking viciously at the logs in an attempt to hide the colour flooding into her cheeks.
'I'm talking about hidden doors and secret stairs.' A log split in two and flared, making Fizz jump. 'See what a state you're in? Just as well I arrived when I did and put a stop to whatever was going on. We really don't want a repeat of the last time you fancied yourself in love.'
'There's no chance of that, but let me return the compliment. You talk a lot about games. And you think I'm naive and stupid where men are concerned, but I can tell you that Luke Devlin is trouble.'
Just how much she wasn't sure.
Claudia however, refused to be worried. 'Men like him are always trouble,' she said, confidentially. 'But I can tell you they're worth it-' She stopped. 'Hey, Fizz, I've just had an idea. We could help Dad out, you know.'
'Us? Haven't you been listening. I've got all the money problems I can handle.'
'No, listen. We could sell a bit of Ma's jewellery, we'd hardly miss a piece each. You scarcely ever wear yours, anyway.'
'Oh, Claud.' Her sister was utterly exasperating at times. She could be such a unutterable cow, but then she would do something warm, generous, thoroughly good-hearted.
'What?' She told her and Claudia's eyes widened. 'Copies? You mean we've been paying good money to keep copies in a security vault?' she demanded, furiously.
'It would seem so.'
'But...' - she frowned, deeply - '...how on earth did you find out?'
'I told you we've had sponsorship problems so I thought I might sell my jewellery. As you say, I never wear it and it seemed like a good way to raise the money to pay off my bank loan for the restaurant.'
'I thought Luke was taking over sponsorship of the station?'
'He is. But I had this feeling that something wasn't quite right. It wasn't until after I'd signed the agreement that I found out what you'd said about Melanie.'
'You're not really that worried about Luke sponsoring the station, surely?' Fizz didn't answer. 'I mean, what could he do? Make me right out five hundred times, I must not be a cat? Apologise publicly before Holiday Bay is broadcast?'
Fizz was forced to laugh. Paranoia was something that happened in the brain. Out loud her fears sounded ridiculous.
'I suppose you're right.'
'Of course I am. Now, tell me about the pawn shop. Was it terribly embarrassing?'
'On a scale of one to ten? Ten.'
Claudia reached over and clasped her hand. 'It's no good saying that you should have called me.' She gave an awkward little shrug. 'I've been staying with David. But I'm truly sorry you went through that alone.'
'Julian came along. He was a brick. Made me beans on toast and cocoa to comfort me.'
'Julian's your pet banker?'
'He's so sweet. I wish I could love him.'
'Like David.' She was silent for a moment. 'You don't think badly of Dad, do you Fizz?'
She shook her head. 'I worried about you though. You love wearing your sparklies.'
'Oh, but darling, the relief! I lost an earring once, dropped it down the plughole in a ladies loo at the some swanky restaurant. Well, I could see the wretched thing glinting up at me from the murky depths so I thought I could rescue it. I unscrewed the thingie at the bottom, you know, with my nail file and water shot out all over the carpet and I still couldn't get at the damn earring.'
'Oh Claudia!' Fizz stifled a giggle.
'Well, of course I had to confess what I'd done and pay for a plumber to be called out to dismantle the pipe properly, retrieve my bloody diamond and then put it all back. It took hours! And the restaurant sent me a bill for cleaning the carpet too. If I'd known it wasn't real I could have abandoned the wretched thing!' She glared at Fizz. 'It isn't funny!'
'Oh, god, I'm sorry, but the thought of you crawling about on your hands and knees...' She drew her knees up to her chin and buried her face in them, rocking with laughter. Claudia choked back a giggle. Then exploded. They were still laughing five minutes later when Edward Beaumont came to see what all the commotion was about.
*****
The light on her answering machine was flashing when she got home. Fizz had a good idea who the message was from and she didn't want to hear it, but she might be wrong. It might be important. And a message couldn't hurt her.
'Hi, Fizz. It's Julian. I'm just checking to see that you're okay and to remind you that I meant what I said the other day. You obviously need a big brother to hold your hand and I'm happy to play the part. An offer, I have to say that does not include your glamorous sister. If you need anything, you know where to find me.'
She smiled. He had really been a lot kinder than she deserved. The machine peeped then cut off. Several times. Somebody had been calling, but not leaving a message. Even without his voice she sensed Luke Devlin.
From the moment she had heard his name her quiet, very peaceful existence had been shattered. And right now Julian's gut-feeling was developing out of control into a real sense of threat. Not just to her inward, personal peace, but to her entire family.
She picked up the telephone and dialled Julian's number. 'What's up, Fizz?' he asked, without preamble.
'Did you mean it? About helping me, if you could?'
'Big brother at your command. Anything except money. Unfortunately I won't have any until the old chap turns up his toes and I'm not in that much of a hurry.'
'Actually, money won't really help now. I've already signed Luke Devlin's piece of paper, paid his money into the bank. But I need information.'
'Fire away.'
'Is it possible to find out the names of companies where Luke Devlin is a major shareholder? I mean, does he keep his certificates at the bank?'
'Christ, Fizz!' She had shaken him out of easy manner. 'Are you trying to get me the sack? I can't go rooting through the man's personal papers. And if I could, I would be in breach of just about every banking rule in the book if I passed private information on to you.'
'Oh, lord, I'm sorry, I just didn't
think. Forget I asked.'
'More gut feelings?'
'Is there anything stronger than gut?'
'Has something happened?' She told about her misgivings. 'Well. I suppose if you had any particular companies in mind you could check the records at Companies House.'
'Could I?'
There was a pause. 'You mean could you Julian, don't you?'
'Er... yes, I suppose I do. I would come up myself but I've got a script conference tomorrow morning and the Pier Trustees meeting in the afternoon. And I've a feeling that this is urgent.'
'You'd better tell me the names of the companies then.'
'Have you got a pen?'
'Good grief, how many are there?'
'Just four. The Chocolate Company. Dicken Films. Hawkswell Productions. Carswell Holdings. I'm not sure if those last three are the full names of the companies.'
'As far as I know The Chocolate Company is the only one that's a publicly quoted company. If the others are private it will be a lot more difficult to get hold of the kind of information you want. It just depends if I can find anyone connected with them who might be prepared to chat over a pint. But I'll do my best.'
'Maybe I'm just being paranoid, imagining things, but I've sort of got a motive worked out why he might want to give Claudia a hard time. I can't believe he would really go as far as attempting to hurt Dad.'
'And what about you? Will he hurt you?'
'No.' She closed her eyes. 'No. He needs the radio station to get at Claudia, that's why he had to sponsor us. He didn't want it to go under.'
'Expensive weapon.'
'Am I just being silly?' How she would love to be told that. To be able to believe it. 'He couldn't do it by himself could he?'
She heard the pleading note in her voice but Julian didn't offer her empty comfort. 'Shall we find out if there's any connection before we start asking ourselves how many beans make five? Haven't you got anything else to worry about?'
'Hundreds of things. Claudia and Dad suggested that I hold a party at the new restaurant. A sort of launch, now it's been run in. Maybe get a mention or two in the Sunday papers' food guides. I suppose I should think about that. Of course as the man with the foresight to provide the necessary capital, you are invited.' She paused. 'Claudia has promised to come.'
He chuckled. 'Is this your idea of a payoff?'
'It's all I can afford, but I warn you, she collects charming young men like you and keeps them as house pets.'
'If that's a promise my dear Fizz, wild horses couldn't keep me away.'
A long sustained ring on the doorbell brought the conversation abruptly to an end. She hung up and turned to stare at the door and her skin prickled with gooseflesh. Luke. It had to be him. If she just stayed very still, he might just go away.
'Fizz!' She flinched as his voice penetrated the door. 'Fizz, I know you're there, your light's on.' There was another ring. Then she heard her neighbour across the hall open her door.
'She's definitely in, dear.' Oh, lord. Dear Mrs Pusey was as deaf as a post and shouted to compensate. 'I heard her come in about twenty minutes ago.' Deaf as a post, eh? 'Try the bell again,' she encouraged. 'Maybe she didn't hear you.' Didn't hear him? It was a wonder the entire street hadn't come out to see what was going on.
Fizz didn't wait but wrenched open the door. Luke Devlin, his face masked with tiredness and worry, leaned on the threshold. 'I want Andy Gilbert's address, Fizz,' he said. 'Now.'
Confused, not a little angry, Fizz stared at him in astonishment. Whatever she had expected him to say, it certainly wasn't that. 'Andy's address?' she demanded. 'What on earth for?'
'Don't play dumb, Fizz, you've been encouraging the pair of them since the word go, so you'd better give it to me right now, because I warn you, I'm in no mood to put up with any nonsense.'
'Oh really! Well, let me tell you that nonsense is all you're going to get.' Furious beyond belief, she made a move to close the door. He blocked it. 'If there's anything else, Luke, I deal with business at the office and you'll find me there on Monday morning at 9 o'clock.'
She remained at attention, refusing to look at him, but holding the door open, inviting his departure. Luke ignored the invitation, instead he unwrapped her fingers from the door handle and closed it, very quietly still on the wrong side.
He still had her fingers grasped in his hand. It was desperately cold and she felt a momentary urge to warm it between her own before her instinct for self-preservation reasserted itself and she pulled free.
He dragged his hand over his face in a weary gesture. 'I understand how you feel, Fizz. Last night was a mess.' A mess. Well, that was an interesting way of putting it. 'I've been calling you on and off all day, whenever I've had a moment. I hoped the note would help. Where have you been?'
'Out.'
He took a deep breath as if making a strong effort to control himself. 'All right. I'll leave us for later. But I have to find Melanie. I need to know that she's safe.'
'Why shouldn't she be?'
'Fizz, please. I promised her mother I'd take care of her.'
'Her mother?' He expected her to believe that! 'She told me that her mother died a year ago.'
He looked for a moment as though she'd hit him. That she had the power to wound him was deeply shocking to Fizz. Her anxiety to protect herself had blinded her to the possibility that Luke might also be capable of deep feelings.
'I did suggest you took a bit more care of her last night, if you remember,' she said, more gently. She'd be a hopeless agony aunt, she decided. She dished out advice without listening to what she was saying. 'Just before you waltzed me into your study and locked the door.'
He made a weary gesture. 'Later, Fizz. You can tell me exactly how you feel about that later. But I've been at the factory since just after midnight and I'm not fit-'
'The factory?' Her voice wavered and finally she allowed herself to look at him. 'Why were you at the factory?'
'A couple of men who thought they were going to be made redundant got drunk and decided it would be a good idea to smash the place up. It took a bit of sorting out.'
'Oh, lord. Was anyone hurt?'
'A machine fell on one of them. He's broken his leg, a couple of ribs. The other got away with a few scrapes and cuts. But it took a while to get hold of their families, discuss what was to be done with the union officials, organise a clean up.'
'But that's a major local news story. Why didn't we get any of this at the radio station?'
He gave her a deeply ironic look. 'Well, I'm sorry, Fizz. I guess we were all too busy to ring you.'
'Oh, look, I'm sorry -'
But he was already shaking his head. 'No, I am, that was a cheap shot. The truth is that I thought a little discretion was the best thing all round. Fortunately everyone else agreed.' He shrugged. 'Well, the police weren't very happy that I wouldn't press charges, in fact I was as good as told if it happens again it's my own fault. But it won't. I'll make sure of it.'
'All that and you still had time to pick snowdrops?'
'Snowdrops?' There was the briefest pause, then he gave her an odd little smile. ‘I can always find time for the really important things. I did come after you as soon as I realised you'd left the party.'
'Why would you do that when you had Claudia to take my place?'
'Claudia could never take your place. And when your car wasn't outside your flat-'
'I went straight to the pavilion.'
'Yes, I know. I went down to the pier hoping that you were there and not in some ditch, but of course I couldn't get in and short of calling out the lifeboat...'
'The lifeboat isn't a personal taxi service, Luke. If you plan on staying here for any length of time it might be wise to invest in a boat of your own,' she suggested. But not if he was to use it to lay siege to the pavilion.
'Maybe I will. Anyway I came back and left the note.' He waited, clearly expecting some response, but it didn't seem a good moment to confess to dumping his note,
unread, with the flowers into the bin.
'You've had an interesting night, one way and another.'
'That's certainly one way of putting it. And when I did get home it was to discover that Melanie had gone walk-about with Andy Pandy. So I really do want his address, Fizz. Please.'
'I'm not so sure it's a good idea to give it to you. Suppose... Well suppose they're ...' Thankfully she didn't need to spell it out.
'Do hope they're not, Fizz, or you'll be looking for a new DJ. But you can't protect him. I'm not leaving until you give me his address.'
He obviously meant it. 'All right, but I'm coming with you. Despite your opinion of him, Andy is too valuable to be knocked about.'
'Then we'll take your car and I can send away the taxi. I'm a bit passed driving.' He grinned quite suddenly. 'Picking snowdrops is hell.'
Being given them wasn't a whole bundle of laughs, either, so she didn't smile back. 'We don't need the car, Andy lives just round the corner.' They walked in silence along the street for a few minutes before turning off. Fizz halted before a recently constructed block of flats. 'This is it. It's number five.' He looked up at the facade, apparently unwilling to go inside. 'This is ridiculous, Luke.'
'I'm beginning to see your point.' Nevertheless his eyes narrowed dangerously as he caught sight of Melanie and Andy wandering down the street, arm-in-arm, heads together and laughing at some private joke.
'Luke!' Melanie's face lit up when she saw him and she pulled from Andy's arm to run and hug him. 'Are you all right? What happened at the factory?'
'A storm in a teacup. Nothing to worry about,' he said, holding her, giving her a little shake. 'The worse part was coming home and not knowing where you were.' Fizz felt the chill run right down to her bones.
'I was all alone in that huge house after everyone had gone. When Andy 'phoned to see if I'd like to have tea with his mother it was such a relief. I didn't think you'd mind.' Fizz coughed as Andy calmly met her eye. 'I did put it all in the note,' Melanie explained, with just a touch of reproach.
'What note?'
'It's pinned to the board in the kitchen. Oh, lord, I don't suppose you've been in the kitchen,' she said, comically.
