by Louise Wise
‘You don’t seem too sure about that.’
She shrugged. In fact she’d been thinking about letting him back into her life. She wasn’t good on her own; she needed someone.
‘No,’ she said at last because that someone definitely wasn’t Andy Chambers. ‘I wasn’t pleased to hear his voice, or any of the usual things I should’ve been feeling. In fact I couldn’t care less if I never saw him again!’
Melvin clapped his hands together. ‘Babes, this calls for a celebratory drink at lunchtime! This is the best news since Will Young came out!’
Charlie gave a half smile. ‘You cheer me up, Mel,’ she said.
‘Is there something else you want to get of your 34C chest?’
Charlie glanced down at her breasts. ‘I’m only a 32, if you don’t mind! And no, there’s nothing else.’
‘Sure?’ Melvin eyed her inquisitively. ‘You’ve been nervously looking at Fanny’s window since you arrived… see!’ - he said triumphantly - ‘you’re doing it now!’
Charlie scowled, and refused to allow her eyes to stray again. ‘I’m looking because it’s nice to see him back where he belongs, that’s all.’
‘Not missing Middleton then?’
She coloured, and Melvin pulled a face. ‘He’ll be no good for you, doll, believe me.’ He squeezed her shoulder, his hand lingering for a moment in genuine concern. ‘It’s just a silly crush, it’ll pass.’
Charlie scowled, and with a wink Melvin returned to his own desk. When his back was turned she looked towards Fanny’s office. The man was glaring at her. He banged on the window and mouthed, ‘do some bloody work.’
Charlie waved, pretending to misunderstand him. She mouthed back: ‘Your comb-over is slipping again.’
Fanny shook his head and pulled the blind on her. Charlie’s smile dimmed. In reality her life wasn’t any different than it had been a month ago, yet she felt she had changed – finally grown up, she supposed. She’d had the biggest adventure of her life, and the shortest love affair.
She thought about Ben and hoped he had his sister home safely. She turned on her computer and as it flickered to life, she sorted through her ‘pending’ tray.
Tuesday was tortuous, and as Charlie predicted the rest of the week was the same.
*
She arrived home from work on Friday evening without seeing or hearing from Ben Middleton all week, and didn’t even know if he’d come into work or not. She hoped with all her heart that he had sorted his family troubles out. Family was so important. Friends were made and easily forgotten, but family was everything.
Her answer phone was flashing, and she pressed a button as she kicked off her shoes and threw her handbag onto the settee.
‘Hi, it’s me,’ said Andy. The background noise told Charlie he was in some sort of club or pub. ‘Sorry, I can’t make it back tonight. I’ll try and see you tomorrow, about three-ish. Byeee.’
‘Coward for not ringing my mobile,’ she told the absent Andy, ‘I’d have answered that.’ She thought for a moment. ‘No, I probably wouldn’t have actually.’ She switched on the TV, and went into the little kitchen. She opened the freezer and peered inside; its contents were half a box of beef burgers, a bag of frozen chips and several microwave meals-for-one. She looked into the fridge compartment, a half pint of skimmed milk and a solitary yoghurt.
She closed the door on the contents, and took the kettle over to the sink. As she held the kettle under the running tap, her attention was captured by a newsreader on the TV in the other room:
‘News just in, a man has been arrested for the Gentleman Abductions. Still no sign of the women …’
Charlie gasped as cold water suddenly sprayed over her face and chest.
‘Damn, shit, blast,’ she muttered, turning off the tap. She banged the kettle down, and rushed back into the lounge, water dripping from her hair and down her face.
‘A forty-five year old taxi driver has been arrested in a dawn raid at his house in North London. His red BMW – ’
‘BMW, not an Audi!’ Charlie groaned. She sat on down and concentrated on the newsreader.
‘– Had been taken away by police, and forensics have sealed off his house as it is searched for possible clues.’ The newsreader continued. ‘He hasn’t been charged, but a police spokesman said they are confident they have their man. He’ll be charged with the abductions of Samantha Jenkins, Janice Parker and Sally Readman. The women are still missing, and hopes that they will be found alive are slipping away.’
The newsreader was replaced with clips from Iraq, and how yet more bombing had destroyed another village. Charlie switched channels, but there was no more news about the abductions.
‘It’s all over then,’ she said. Strangely, instead of feeling pleased she felt doleful. A reaction to all the excitement, she supposed… a reaction to falling in love with the unattainable, more like.
The phone rang. Charlie answered it, hoping it wasn’t Andy telling her he’d changed his mind and was coming home today after all. It was Melvin.
‘Doll,’ he said. ‘Have you heard the news, yet?’
‘A man has been arrested for the abductions,’ she said, ‘that news?’
‘Flipping ‘eck, that was quick! I didn’t think they’d be able to broadcast it for a while yet. Anyway, that’s the one. And that’s not all. Our Mr Middleton has been mixed up in it!’
Charlie’s hand tightened on the phone. ‘How d’you mean?’
‘I dare say you’ll read about it in tomorrow’s edition. Middleton has decided to write his own account rather than letting a rival paper get its hands on the story. He decided, as soon as the arrest of the abductor came in, to do a press release. I doubt I’ll be home before midnight now!’
So, he was still at the office. ‘How’s Ben, er, I mean, Mr Middleton mixed up with this?’
‘I don’t know much myself yet, but apparently a family relly had fallen into prostitution, and Middleton had been roaming the red-light area to track her down and not researching a story as previously thought. Sorta makes sense why he was arrested back then, doesn’t it?’
Camilla wasn’t a prostitute, she wanted to say, but didn’t. She felt sick suddenly, and terribly embarrassed. What if Ben decided to bring her name into the story? She’d been on the streets in innocent circumstances, and it wasn’t made sordid until she’d brought Ben back to her home in the stupid attempt to overpower him with kisses and then force him to give himself up by holding him at knifepoint. It had been a good idea when she first thought it through, but now she realised that her actions could have got herself killed.
And if Andy hadn’t telephoned at that moment, would they have made love? The simple answer was, yes. Charlie had never felt passion like it, and was mortified at her lack of willpower. But what had it been like for Ben? Had he kissed all the prostitutes like that for information about Camilla?
‘Charlie?’
Melvin! ‘Sorry, Mel, what were you saying?’
‘I was saying you’d better get a good night’s kip, because I’d like you to come in tomorrow. I know you usually have Saturday off –’
‘It’s OK. I don’t mind. I prefer to work the weekends, you know that.’
‘Tomorrow then,’
‘Tomorrow,’ she promised and replaced the handset.
FORTY ONE
‘Oh, baby doll, thanks for coming in,’ Melvin came dancing towards her, carrying a huge amount of paperwork. ‘Be an extreme darling and sort all that out for me.’
He still wore his Do Not Disturb; I’m Disturbed Enough Already T-shirt from Friday.
‘Have you been here all night?’ asked Charlie in surprise.
‘Not quite, babes. I got home in the early hours, but did a ‘you’ and slept in my clothes. Busy, busy, busy,’ he said and danced off towards Mr Fanton’s office.
Charlie smiled, slipped off her jacket, and got to work. Or tried to, she just couldn’t keep her thoughts from wandering towards Ben Middleton.
> ‘Why couldn’t life be simple?’ she muttered as she switched on her computer. She flicked through the paperwork while she waited for the computer to boot up. She sighed, Melvin hadn’t given her anything to take her mind off Ben Middleton. But the truth was, assisting in brain surgery wouldn’t take her mind off him either.
Charlie’s hand stilled as she caught a glimpse of a private letter sandwiched between business letters in her pending tray. She stared at it for a while, before pulling it out. She looked up, and around to make sure nobody was taking any notice, and with her heart hammering, she tore open the envelope and took out the letter. It was dated two days ago and she wondered how she missed it. Her eyes immediately fell to the signature. It was from Ben.
Dear Charlie,
Camilla is safe in a hotel, and feeling thoroughly sorry for the distress she has caused. I can’t express how grateful I am for your help.
Unfortunately, due to the amount of gossip circulating the media regarding my private affairs I have no choice in doing a press release. I shan’t mention your name, you can be assured about that!
Thanks again, and regards,
Ben.
Charlie replaced the letter back in its envelope feeling disappointed. But what had she expected? A declaration of love? Silly woman.
*
‘Surprise!’
Charlie dropped her handbag on the floor and tried to look pleased. ‘Andy,’ she said, as a tall and slim blond haired man rose from the settee and came towards her. Her coffee table was littered with take-away plastic cartons and lager cans. He bent and kissed her cheek. ‘I managed to get away earlier than expected.’
‘I don’t remember giving you a key,’ she said.
‘You didn’t. I sweet-talked the old dear from next door to let me in.’ He grinned. ‘Surprised?’
Charlie grunted. ‘So, how’s your head?’
‘My head?’
‘You wanted to get “it straight” and travel for a bit, remember? Didn’t travel far, did you?’
He reddened slightly. ‘I’m all straight in my head now. I know what I want. You.’
Charlie pushed by him and went into her kitchen leaving the beaded curtain to swing close. He followed her in.
‘Everything OK, hun-bun?’ He watched as she switched on the kettle. ‘I was going to get dinner ready but I didn’t know what time you were coming home. Where have you been? I tried calling you on your mobile but it was switched off.’
God, he was such a liar! Her mobile had been on all day, and he’d had plenty of opportunity to call her. ‘I had to go into work. It’s been really busy –’
Andy began kissing her neck; his arms wrapped themselves around her waist and hugged her tightly. ‘Hmmm, I’ve missed you,’ he said. ‘Hey, how about a tiny BJ before I collapse into bed? I’m zonked.’
Charlie pushed him away. ‘No, thank you,’ she said, her face reddening through anger. How could she have put up with such a prat? ‘I’ve just come home from work, it’s been a tiring week, and I’m hungry and the last thing I want is to give you a blow job!’
He backed away with his hands raised in surrender. ‘OK, OK,’ he said. ‘Maybe later, then, eh?
Gritting her teeth, Charlie opened her fridge and grabbed the milk. Taking it out she noticed the carton was empty.
‘Oh, and you’re out of milk,’ Andy said as he headed back towards the settee.
FORTY TWO
Charlie woke to rain, the usual sound of slamming doors from next-door, loud footsteps from above and a heavy beat of music a few doors away.
She looked at Andy, sleeping next to her. His mouth was slack and a small sliver of dribble was about to slip from his lips. Charlie lay back and stared up at the ceiling and noticed for the first time how grey and dirty it looked. Andy had sulkily taken himself off to bed after she faked interest in some late night American sit-com, and it was only when she was certain he was asleep that she slipped between the sheets beside him.
She was amazed at how quickly her affections had changed towards him. The wakeup call was all thanks to Ben, although she didn’t feel entirely grateful. She felt miserable and lovesick.
She pushed off the duvet and climbed out of bed. The clock blinked 8:15 in neon green, which meant she had several hours to herself before Andy surfaced to his morning ritual of shower, hair wash, shave (entire body hair), skin and facial lotions, hair dried and styled into spikes, and finally dressed in the latest garb.
After a quick shower she put on her dressing gown and barefoot went into the kitchen. She flicked on the kettle and radio automatically.
‘… Mr Middleton junior was unavailable for comment last night,’ said the newsreader. ‘But a spokesman for The Middleton Group, had this to say… “The Middleton’s have suffered a family bereavement, and Sir Donald is recovering from a heart related illness. It’s been an upheaval and extremely distressing for all. Mr Middleton has given an interview, so please allow them their privacy.” A family in Bristol had a miraculous escape when a car, driven by joy riders, ended up in their living room…’ The newsreader went on with another story. The kettle boiled, and Charlie went about making coffee.
She collected the paper from her pigeonhole outside, and spread it out on the kitchen table, turning pages until she arrived at the article. It was a double spread with a huge headline. Ben’s handsome face was smiling and clearly free of stress so it was obvious that it had been taken some time ago. There was also a smaller picture of Sir Donald and Camilla. Camilla looked older than Charlie had thought; and wasn’t a child at all, but a grown woman. She had long blonde hair, and looked very vogue.
The article told of Ben’s mother’s painful death of cancer, and how Camilla felt unable to cope and had left home, but because of family breakdown in communication, nobody had known how to reach her. Ben Middleton had admitted to hiring a private investigator to track down his sister, who had linked her to Sally Readman because the prostitute had stolen some valuables from her. This put Ben in an impossible situation because, of course, he knew how someone was targeting prostitutes. And this was where the ludicrous gossip came about that he was the Gentleman Abductor, because he’d been trying to track his sister. Finally, the article said, the PI had found Camilla staying with friends in Westminster. The article ended with Camilla saying how she had no idea of the distress she caused and was extremely sorry.
Charlie made herself a coffee and toast, and then sat at the table to eat and read the article again; her eyes drifting to Ben’s smiling face from time to time.
A chapter in her life had ended, Charlie thought as she stood to clear away her breakfast dishes. She had felt lust and love for the first time in her life, and if this was love, then she didn’t want any of it, for it was far too painful.
She tip-toed into the bedroom to collect her clothes; with them bunched in her hands, she stood and stared down at Andy’s sleeping form. She tried to feel something, but nothing was there. He was still lying on his back, but one arm had risen from the bedclothes to cover half of his face. Charlie could see where he had failed to rub in the fake tan properly. He had missed parts of his neck, and his armpits and underarms were almost a brilliant white. A couple of weeks ago, Charlie would have seen this as sweet and offered to do his tan for him, but now she saw it as fickle and extremely vain.
He was a slim man, but a life of lazy years and junk food had taken its toll and he looked flabby and toneless, and Charlie couldn’t help but compare him to Ben’s muscular body. In comparison, Andy was a pubescent boy.
In the bathroom, Charlie showered and dressed and was at the table on her battered laptop. She reread the previous chapter and wondered if this was the one Ben had read. Sally, her character, had left home after her drunken father lashed out and blackened her eye, and was in London. A place she sought because it promised adventure and opportunity.
Charlie stopped reading, wondering for a moment how much her character was based on herself. Of course, she had no father t
o beat her but she had come to London to find adventure and opportunity, as well as meeting Melvin again. She had somewhere to go when she first arrived unlike her character who was sleeping rough and would soon meet a ‘friend’ who would become her pimp. She began to type and soon became lost within her story.
The trill of the phone caused her to jump, but before she could rise to answer its call, Andy said, ‘I’ll get it.’
She didn’t even know he was awake. She glanced at the clock on the radio and was astonished to see it had already passed midday.
She clicked save and sat back feeling satisfied with the amount of words she had done.
‘It’s gay-boy, for you,’ Andy said with a sneer. He went into the kitchen wearing nothing but boxers, and Charlie could hear him banging through her kitchen cupboards looking for something to eat.
‘There’s only toast or Sugar Puffs,’ Charlie called as she went to answer the phone. She picked the phone up from the side where Andy had left it.
‘Mel?’
‘Baby doll,’ Melvin said on a groan. ‘Tell me you’ve not taken Andy Pandy back?’
She giggled, but then sobered. She’d felt guilty about leaving him out of the biggest secret of her life, and wanted to tell him what had been happening to her over the last few weeks. Her pretend life on the streets was over now anyway. ‘Fancy a Sunday lunchtime drink?’ she asked.
‘Babe, I thought you’d never ask. Dean’s gone to his mum’s for lunch. I haven’t been invited. I think she’s still hoping he’ll “get better” and settle down with a nice girl, who’ll probably work in a library.’
She laughed again. ‘He’s been ill now for five years, I don’t think he’ll get any better, do you?’
‘Bloody hope not, baby doll. Shall I meet you in the Saddlers at say, one? Oh, and come alone.’
