Dangerous Shadows

by Whitelaw, Stella

  Jake looked contrite. “Hey, where’s my sweet Holly gone?”

  “Never your sweet Holly. Leave me alone.”

  Holly turned on her heel and marched away. She was fuming. She needed a cold drink and a taxi, but thought it wiser to get the taxi first. That little gold parcel was safely in her bag but she did not feel safe anymore. Jake had been following her. The taxi driver could stop at a roadside stall and get a couple of cans of drink.

  She ran the last few yards to the taxi rank. He was a registered driver, though his cab roof was strewn with hanging good luck toys that swung in the breeze.

  “Tiger Bay Plantation House, please,” she said. “And hurry.”

  “Where the big wedding gonna be?” he grinned. It seemed everybody knew everything on the island. “My pleasure.”

  “That’s right. I’m the bridesmaid.” Holly had to laugh.

  “Hop in, mighty pretty bridesmaid. I take you to the house of the big wedding. All the island know about it.”

  He was a cheerful driver and chatted all the way. He did not mind at all stopping at a roadside stall selling fruit and cold drinks out of a humming refrigerated box. Holly knew it was best to buy factory made canned drinks. The orange drink was overly sweet but icy cold. The driver drank a Diet Pepsi.

  It was a relief when he drove up the bumpy drive to the big white house, so cool under big shady trees.

  “They never gonna fix that drive,” he said. “It been like this for years.”

  “Do you know who owns this house?”

  “I don’t rightly know, missy. Some rental company. It should belong to some nice family with bambinos running about all over the place.”

  “I agree,” said Holly. “It would make a lovely family house. Perhaps it’ll be a family house again. Thank you for pleasant company and drive.”

  She paid the driver and thanked him again. He gave her a card, his white teeth flashing. “Any time, missy, any time of night if you stranded. I don’t sleep much. You call me, Mike Morgan. I take you on taxi tour of the island one day. Proper rate, no overcharging.”

  “Thank you. I’ll remember that.”

  The hours had crept on unnoticed and Lily was already preparing for lunch on the patio. Holly didn’t want to eat but Lily insisted that she had some cold soup which was a special Bajan recipe. She did not dare ask what was in it, in case it was some unmentionable bit of fish or insect.

  “Miss Holly, you must eat or you will not be strong enough for this special wedding day.” Lily’s homely face was concerned.

  “You’re right, Lily. I’ll try some of your soup and then perhaps a salad?”

  “I’ll make you special salad, with olives, tomatoes and cheese.”

  “Thank you. That sounds perfect.”

  So much had happened in the last few days. Holly wondered what Danielle thought she was doing, lunching with a lifeguard and now with the best man. She complained about there being so much to do for the wedding yet some days she did nothing. And now this afternoon, it was to be the rehearsal. Holly wondered how she would get through it, seeing Luke standing beside Danielle, making their vows. Somehow she had to survive all that, swallow her hurt and her pride.

  *

  Earl Phillips was waiting in the shade between two shuttered shops. He was apprehensive. He did not trust this English man. There was something that stirred his Bajan intuition. He wished his mama was alive. She would have known what to do.

  “Great, so you found Holly Gray and then you let her go. I told you to take her somewhere, lock her up, make sure she couldn’t get out.”

  “But nice lady is bridesmaid at big wedding. I could not spoil big wedding.” Earl said nothing about the thunderstorm and Holly slipping out the back way.

  “Idiot. I paid you to find Holly Gray, and she was to be kept out of sight.”

  “You not paid me, mister. Nothing, not a dollar.” Earl was very tall, muscular, fit. He did not look like someone to argue with. “I want my money.”

  “Where is this wedding being held?”

  “Tiger Bay Plantation House. Beautiful colonial house in Tiger Bay. I been there many times, like family friend. It has many rooms, a beach of its own.”

  “How do I get there?”

  “By taxi. Too far to walk unless you are fit.”

  “Show me the way.”

  “No, you show me the money.”

  The friction between them was tense. Earl was not happy. He wanted to get away. He didn’t care about the money now. It didn’t seem that important. He had not minded at first because Danielle had made it clear she did not want to see him again. She did not want him to give her away.

  “Did you get the list of names and addresses of the guests?”

  “No. No one would tell me.”

  There was a long pause. Earl wondered how he could get away, fast. He could run. He could run fast.

  “I think our little business arrangement is at an end. You are of no further use to me, Earl Phillips. I will pay you, of course. But not in public. You might get robbed!”

  They went down a derelict side lane, away from the crowds. They had been demolishing an old building, the old Fairfield Market hall. The area was littered with debris from the thunderstorm. Earl held out his hand for the money and his arm was sliced with a butcher’s knife. He fell to the ground in agony, blood spurting from the artery over the sand and grass. A blow to the back of the head made sure he would not be crawling far for help.

  “That’s your payment. How do you like it now, buster? Nice hat.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The rehearsal was timed for four o’clock, when it was cooler. Holly felt better for a quick swim and a snooze in the shade. She wondered what she should wear for a wedding rehearsal but decided that jeans, a loose shirt and sneakers would do.

  Danielle was rushing about in her flowing kaftan, looking for substitutes for the veil and train. Lily obliged with some old net curtains recently taken down from the long drawing room windows.

  “These will have to do,” she said merrily, having quite recovered her good humour. “Holly, you’ll have to pretend this is my train.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Holly said.

  Barry was on time, roaring up the drive on his Harley-Davidson. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He grinned at Holly as he took off his helmet and shook out his short hair.

  “Hello, best bridesmaid,” he said. “So we are going to be put through our paces. I’ll try not to trip you up.”

  “Woe doth tread upon another’s heel,” said Holly, knowing her quotation might be haywire.

  ‘“Indeed, woe all round, so fast they follow.’ Hamlet. I’ll take you out for a drink later so you’ll forgive me.”

  Luke was almost late. He climbed out of the Land Rover, tearing off his tie and loosening his shirt buttons. He was in a light-weight grey suit. “Been to a meeting,” he explained. “A money meeting with money men.”

  “Did you get the backing?”

  “Yes. It’s looking good. They like my new ideas.”

  He came over to Holly. “Thank you for collecting the ring. Did you put it somewhere safe?”

  “Yes, there’s a small metal box in the housekeepers room. I suppose it was used for keeping tea locked up when tea was a valuable commodity, as well as for money and jewellery. It’s in there. Cook has the key.”

  “We won’t use the ring today.” He seemed distracted, looking around as if he had never been to Tiger Bay Plantation House before. “Is everybody here?”

  “I’ve brought a curtain ring,” said Barry. “Full marks for ingenuity?”

  “Full marks and a gold star,” said Holly.

  Danielle was greeting the pastor who had arrived. He was gracing the occasion in cut-off chinos, a vivid T-shirt and dog collar. “Don’t worry, I get dressed up in my blacks for the occasion,” he said when he saw Danielle’s face fall.

  “I should hope so,” she said. “We have an important British magazine coming to
photograph the wedding.”

  “What magazine?” Luke asked. “This is news.”

  “It’s a surprise, darling. A lovely surprise for you. I’ll tell you all about it later. Now let’s get started. You three men have to go down to the bower first and wait for us to arrive in all our splendour.”

  Holly had hung some gold ribbon from the branches and hoped it wouldn’t rain again. That would be another of her chores on the wedding day, making fresh gold loops. A chill swept through her heart. The wedding day. It had almost arrived.

  Danielle and Holly waited on the patio, arranging the veil and the train. The net curtain was pinned to the hem of Danielle’s kaftan to make it longer. She was carrying flowers hastily picked from the garden.

  “Are we having music to arrive to?” asked Holly.

  Danielle shook her curls. “Not this afternoon. We’ll count instead.”

  Holly laughed. “A hundred steps to heaven? That could be a book title.”

  “I’ve ordered a calypso band. They’ll be playing on the beach but we’ll be able to hear them as we go down the path. But they couldn’t come this afternoon. Some other booking.”

  It was like a scene from a Disney film, following Danielle down the path through the flowering trees, holding up a net curtain. No one was giving Danielle away as her parents couldn’t make the journey. She had joked that she didn’t have the nerve to call at Government House and see if the governor was free. Nor had she told anyone that Earl had offered to give her away. There had already been enough shocks for one wedding.

  There was a swept path over the sand, laid with matting, so that Danielle’s dress, on the day, would not be sand blown. Holly wondered if her kitten heels would sink into the matting. She might be better barefoot.

  They arrived in the bower where Luke and Barry and the pastor were waiting.

  Again, it seemed like something out of Disney. Danielle was smiling as if she was already wearing her magnificent dress and train. She handed the flowers to Holly. Holly felt that her part in the ceremony was over. She could go home now.

  “Dearly beloved,” began the pastor.

  He was very good. He intoned the time-honoured words with great feeling. He was playing a role and for a moment he was the star.

  “Now we are coming to the vows. You don’t have to say the actual vows today but on your wedding day you will repeat them after me. Today you can just say whatever comes into your head.”

  Danielle giggled. She smiled up at Luke. “I promise to always look beautiful and be really nice to all your friends. Amen.”

  Luke said: “I promise to make lots of money so you can buy beautiful dresses and get your hair and nails done. Amen.”

  Barry produced the curtain ring. “Is this the right time? I haven’t done this before.”

  The pastor solemnly took the curtain ring, blessed it on his bible, and handed it to Luke. Luke placed it on Danielle’s finger. It swung round, almost falling off. She got the giggles again.

  “Now you may kiss the bride,” said the pastor.

  “Do I get to kiss the bridesmaid?” Barry said quickly. Holly dodged a lightening kiss on her cheek.

  Everyone laughed. They returned to the house in a procession, across the sand, up the path to the patio, where Lily was waiting with a tray of champagne. There was relief that it was all over, that it had gone without a hitch. There was nothing more to worry about.

  “Aren’t there supposed to be two witnesses at the wedding?” said Luke.

  “No problem. I will supply the two witnesses. They are my son and my daughter. They like going to weddings. I pay them of course. It is a pittance.”

  “We’re having a sort of a reception rehearsal now,” said Danielle, taking a glass. “Lily has prepared a few nibbles.”

  “Nibbles are my favourite food,” said Barry.

  Luke was saying very little. He was smiling, making small talk, but there was a strained look to his face. The pastor had a glass of champagne, a few nibbles and then departed on his bicycle. He had other duties as a beach pastor.

  “See you on the big day,” he said, waving cheerily.

  “Barry tells me that the Round House at Bathsheba plays jazz on Wednesday nights and reggae on Saturdays,” said Luke. “It might be worth a visit for my music documentary. There’s a local guitarist Sunday lunch times.”

  “You’ll be able to take Danielle,” said Holly quickly. “I won’t be here.”

  He looked startled. “I’d forgotten you have to go home. I keep thinking you’ll always be around.”

  “No, I won’t be around,” said Holly. “Those days are over. You are marrying my cousin and I have a model agency to run.” She hoped she sounded firm and decisive but there was a break in her voice. She reminded herself that she hadn’t found two new models for Zoe. But there was still time.

  Lily was showing someone onto the patio. A tall man with a thatch of streaked blonde hair. He strolled confidently into the group as if he owned the place, holding a white panama hat. Holly recognized the white feather in the band. She had seen it before. It was the feather of a white egret.

  “Hello, hello,” he called out. “Champagne? Perfect. You must have been expecting me. A good vintage, too.”

  Holly’s heart chilled to zero. It was Jake Furrows. He was gate-crashing the wedding rehearsal. A nightmare was coming true.

  “Hello, darling Holly,” he said, taking a glass of champagne from Lily’s tray. “You look wonderful, so relaxed. We are old friends, very old friends. We used to share a flat together.” He swung round, including everyone.

  Holly could barely find her voice. “Not exactly. I shared a flat with Sadie.”

  “But I have slept there many times, haven’t I, my sweetie,” he said with a wicked grin. “Don’t you remember? Those balmy nights?”

  “You slept on the sofa bed because you told us you were flat hunting.” Her voice was blunt, no feeling.

  He laughed heartily. “Is that what it’s called these days? Flat hunting. Well, I certainly did a lot of flat hunting in my time. And you must be the gorgeous bride, Danielle. Congratulations, my dear.”

  Luke interrupted him. His face was stony. “Excuse me, but this is a private party, and I don’t think you have been invited.”

  “I’m Jake Furrows, an old friend of Holly’s. I met her in Bridgetown today. She told me all about this lovely wedding and her beautiful, gorgeous cousin.” He bowed towards Danielle. “Told me to pop along any time, pay my respects.”

  “I did nothing of the kind,” said Holly, through her teeth. “This is all lies. This man is nothing but a cheat and a liar. He’s no friend of mine.”

  “But an awfully hungry one,” Jake said, hijacking a plate of canapés from Lily. He began to eat his way through the selection. “Delicious. I unfortunately missed both lunch and breakfast. I’ve a slight cash flow problem.”

  “Do help yourself,” said Danielle, bewildered, not knowing how to cope. “We must be hospitable to a friend of Holly’s.”

  “This is a really grand old house,” Jake went on. “The taxi driver said it was one of the best plantation houses on the island, but that it was time you got your drive resurfaced.”

  That must be how Jake had found out where she was staying. The taxi driver had talked, told him about the wedding, the plantation house. Holly cringed. He frightened her. Somehow she had to get rid of him.

  “Please go,” she said. “You have no right to be here.”

  He strolled over to the edge of the patio, twirling a second glass of champagne in his hand. “What a view. This must set you back a pretty dollar. How much are you paying for this place?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” said Luke. “Please finish your drink and leave. This is a private party and it is clear that Holly is not an old friend.”

  “She’s just pretending,” said Jake. “She used to be mad about me. Couldn’t keep her hands off me.”

  “It’s not true,” Holly wh
ispered hoarsely. “None of this is true.”

  “You must have plenty of rooms in a house of this size,” said Jake, gazing up at the row of windows. “Unfortunately I’ve missed the departure time of my cruise ship, Gloriana II. They have sailed away without me and I have nowhere to stay.” He turned to Danielle. “Surely you can find me a small corner to sleep, perhaps a very small room with a big bed? You never know, someone might not be able to resist sharing it with me.” He grinned around to everyone, sharing the joke.

  Holly gasped. Her skin chilled as if a something wet had wiped itself over it. She wanted to crawl away and die.

  Luke put down his glass. “I’m just leaving,” he said coldly. “I’ll give you a lift back to Bridgetown. There is no need to trouble these ladies further. They both have plenty to do.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” said Barry with a brisk leap to his feet. “I can give you a pillion ride on my bike. It’ll keep you cool. And I know a hostel in old Bridgetown where you can stay the night for a few bucks. I’ll even give you the bucks. Money burns a hole in my pocket.”

  Holly didn’t care what happened as long as Jake Furrows left.

  Jake looked from one man to the other. He raised one eyebrow. “Well, I’m clearly not wanted here. Thanks for the champagne and the nibbles. I’ll be back for the wedding. I take it that I’m invited, old friend of the bridesmaid?”

  “Get out,” said Luke. He was fuming.

  “I’ll go with the man with the bucks,” said Jake hurriedly, following Barry. “Since I am not being overwhelmed by your hospitality. Cheer up, Holly old girl. Where’s your sweet nature gone?”

  “Down the drain, the day you stole my winnings,” she said.

  “Tut, tut. That’s all in the past. You know you don’t mean that. We’ll talk about it later.”

  “No chance.”

  Luke made sure Jake left the premises, watching the powerful bike roaring down the drive with its precarious pillion passenger holding onto his hat. He came back onto the patio, his face grim. He stared at Holly, not happy.