Sister to Sister

by Olivia Hayfield

  ‘Rob. Yes.’ She was still processing Kit’s bombshell, but she attempted to respond. ‘I left him asleep this morning. We need to have a conversation. About Teesha.’

  ‘What will you say, assuming he’s been playing away?’

  ‘If I can’t trust him, there’s no point. I can’t spend my life wondering what he’s up to when we’re apart. And if it’s all about me being his boss, then that’s another reason to shift things back to a professional relationship. If he can’t accept that Rose will always come first . . . ’

  He brought over the toast.

  ‘I won’t compromise. I won’t spend my life apologising for being home late, or missing a night out, or not wanting children. And I will never, ever get married.’

  As she said the words, she realized this was the first time she’d thought about her future properly, pragmatically.

  ‘You don’t want children?’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘One problem at a time. What about Rob?’

  She sighed. ‘Trouble is, I still love him. I can’t imagine not being with him.’

  ‘Act like a Marley. Be with him, but don’t commit. Ever.’

  ‘He’s obsessed with me committing.’

  ‘He wants a degree of power over you. Don’t give it to him.’

  ‘You think he’d settle for less?’

  ‘You turned down his marriage proposal. Tell him why – the real reason. Nothing to do with Daddy issues, and everything to do with letting someone mess with your priorities. And you know what, Eliza? It’s no fun sticking to one. Chrissakes, girl – how many boyfriends have you actually had?’

  ‘One.’

  ‘Fucking hell.’

  Eliza spluttered with laughter. ‘Oh my god, Kit. It’s pathetic.’

  ‘Tragic. There’s a world out there full of beautiful men. And you’re its queen.’

  ‘True. And I’m my father’s daughter. It took him long enough to find Mrs Right, but what a time he had getting there.’

  ‘Legend.’

  ‘Why would I even need a boyfriend? Why can’t I just be me, and date guys for fun? Maybe even make like a Marley, as you say.’

  ‘Now you’re talking. So . . . what will you tell him?’

  She thought for a moment. ‘Before we got together properly, we called it friends and a bit more. Maybe that again.’

  ‘Be prepared, though. He’ll probably kick off.’

  ‘He might. I—’

  The front door slammed, and Will appeared.

  ‘Greetings! Two such pretty heads, deep in conversation. What gives?’

  ‘Will!’ said Eliza. ‘Heart to heart about my dysfunctional love life.’

  ‘Drama? Excellent!’ said Will, sitting down on Eliza’s other side. He kissed her cheek. ‘Mwah! I’ve missed my people.’

  ‘You did great in LA,’ she said.

  ‘Dreadful place. So corrupting.’ His eyes met hers, and she knew he meant Rob. ‘It sucks you in; it’s easy to slide into their ways.’

  ‘And did you?’ said Kit.

  ‘Not I. For me, fidelity is ever a thing.’

  ‘Sweet boy,’ said Kit. ‘Let’s have a beer.’

  He stood up, but, before heading to the fridge, he planted a lingering kiss on Will’s lips. ‘Missed you too.’

  Night was falling. Eliza had ignored her phone these past hours. There was so much to face: Kit’s meeting with Andre tomorrow, the conversation she needed to have with Rob. Harry, still lingering in limbo. So she’d been living in the moment, making the most of this time with her two best pals.

  Reluctantly she took out her phone and read her messages.

  ROB: I’m home. Where are you?

  The time sent was 6.10 p.m.

  The next one was an hour later:

  ROB: What’s going on? Call me?

  She replied:

  ELIZA: Won’t be long now

  ‘You need to go?’ said Kit.

  ‘I ought to. What’s the plan for tomorrow? What should I do?’

  ‘Sit tight,’ said Kit. ‘Carry on as normal. We’ll keep you posted.’

  She ordered a taxi.

  ‘Hey, thanks for today. And, Kit – what you’re doing for me. I don’t have the words . . . ’ As she looked at them both, she experienced a rush of emotion. ‘You two mean so much to me. Did I tell you that?’

  ‘Back at you, my sweet,’ said Will.

  Kit waited with her on the street.

  ‘Are you nervous about tomorrow?’ she asked.

  ‘Only that I’ll lose control when I confront him.’

  ‘Deep breaths,’ she said. ‘You can do this.’

  ‘Good luck with Rob.’

  ‘Thank you. And Kit . . . ’

  She slipped her arms round his neck and kissed him quickly, but not that quickly.

  Delicious.

  ‘You love me,’ he said. ‘I know.’

  Rob was watching TV when she let herself in. Her heart was in her mouth. All the way home she’d been wondering what to say, what words to use. Should she start with an accusation – I know you’ve been cheating on me with that actress.

  Now that she was considering their future, all she could think about was the good times. Rob’s twinkly eyes as he mocked her attempts at making coffee; lying on the sofa with a chocolate between his teeth. Walking home arm in arm across London Bridge, his curls blowing in the wind. Always laughing, always fun.

  ‘Where have you been?’ He kept his eyes on the TV.

  ‘I’m sorry, I should’ve texted you.’ She took off her jacket and draped it over a chair back. ‘There’s all sorts of stuff going on. It’s to do with Dad, but I can’t tell you. Sorry – it’s Uncle Charles and Terri and me . . . ’

  This isn’t going well.

  She sat down beside him. ‘And Kit. I’ve been at Kit’s.’

  He turned to face her. His eyes were cold. ‘Kit’s. Finally, the truth. Why don’t you tell me what you’ve really been up to?’

  Two could play at that game. ‘You first, then. Tell me all about Letitia.’

  His eyes slid away for a moment, then he met her gaze again. His expression was guarded, but there was guilt. ‘Chess told you? It didn’t go far, Lizzie. I ended it before anything much happened. I’m sorry, especially about how I didn’t try to hide it.’

  ‘It’s like you wanted me to know.’

  ‘I’ve tried to work out why, but I’m not good at introspection like you are. I thought . . . maybe it was because I wasn’t sure how you felt about me. And maybe I was kicking against you being my boss? I don’t know. But it won’t happen again.’ Now he looked contrite, and his eyes pleaded for a second chance.

  ‘Your turn.’ His expression hardened again. ‘You and Kit. Has it been going on for ever? Or did you just get . . . extra close while I was away?’

  Eliza was still processing his words about Letitia when she realized what he’d asked. ‘What? Kit? No! I told you before. How many times – there’s nothing physical.’

  ‘Come on, Lizzie! How stupid do you think I am? You’re always touching each other. You read each other’s minds. You disappear off together; he’s the person you turn to when you’ve had a bad day, when things go wrong. Him, not me. I’ve fessed up, now why don’t you do the same?’

  She needed him to understand about Kit, before she . . . what was she going to do? Had he really not slept with Letitia? Was he telling the truth?

  ‘Kit gets me like nobody else,’ she said. ‘Not even you. I can’t explain it. Anyway, you know Kit – he plays by different rules. Love and . . . well, sex. They don’t go together for him.’

  ‘He loves you?’

  ‘We love each other, but not in that way.’

  ‘So he’s never come on to you?’

  ‘After that first time at Oxford? Only for fun, not seriously.’

  ‘For fun, Lizzie? Really? The guy’s a complete slut.’

  ‘He just behaves differently.’

  ‘Diffe
rently? And his mind’s twisted. You’ve only got to read his writing. Oh, wait – no. It’s brilliant.’ He glared at her. ‘Don’t touch, you told me. Hands off Kit’s genius. And sending Will over to LA to bring me back in line. They’re the talent; they get final say. I’m just the salesman.’

  ‘Stop it, Rob. Please . . . ’

  This was horrible. This wasn’t Rob.

  She owed him the truth.

  ‘I was at Kit’s because of Dad. I can’t tell you more than that – it’s a dangerous situation to do with why Mum died.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m so sorry, I can’t explain.’

  ‘So. Like I said. You have a major life crisis, and you turn to him. Not me.’

  ‘No! It’s not like that . . . ’

  ‘It is like that. It always has been, all through our relationship.

  You won’t commit to me, you never have. Maybe we should just call it a day.’ He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

  ‘No, Rob!’

  What could she say? How could she make him understand?

  He stopped.

  ‘Come on, Rob.’ She went over to him, holding his gaze. ‘You know it was real, me and you. That brief time we had, when things finally worked out. After Amy, before Letitia. I thought we were for ever, that’s the truth.’ Tears filled her eyes.

  ‘So did I.’ His voice caught.

  ‘But then I found out you were cheating on me. You may not have slept with her – I don’t know – but Chess and Will told me how you two were.’

  He shook his head. ‘This isn’t about her.’

  ‘You’re right. It’s not.’ She blinked, dismissing the tears. ‘All this wanting me to commit is just you wanting me to put you first. That’s not going to happen. Rose will always be my priority. If you can’t handle that, then it’s best we go back to how we were. Friends and a bit more.’

  ‘That’s not enough.’ He paused. ‘Lizzie – don’t you ever wonder, what’s the point? You’ve got more than enough money, you have power and status. But the way you’re going, you’ll have no one to share it with, no one to pass it on to. What’s driving you?’

  And there it was. The reason why this could never work. He just didn’t understand her.

  ‘None of those things you said. I want to create great things, leave a legacy. It may be a cliché, but I want to change the world. And I want to give back. For Rose, for Dad, as well as for myself.’

  She sighed. ‘Look. I know you can’t handle coming second. And as for Letitia – you know what? Dad said you’re just like him when he was your age. Incapable of resisting temptation. That’s not what I want – always wondering, always worrying; picturing you with someone else.’

  He was quiet. The fight had left him. ‘So . . . we’re over?’

  ‘Rob, I . . . don’t . . . ’ Finally, she ran out of words.

  ‘Goodbye, Lizzie.’ He shut the door quietly behind him.

  Chapter 49

  Eliza

  Eliza couldn’t focus on work. She checked her phone again. No messages.

  The time Kit was due to meet his father came and went. She took herself down to the cafe, nibbled at a sandwich, tasting nothing, and stared out of the window at the Thames chugging along, oblivious.

  ‘Here you are!’

  Eliza looked up to see Mac pulling out the chair opposite. With the exception of Andre himself, Mac was probably the last person she wanted to see.

  ‘Not now, Mac,’ she said, and resumed looking out of the window.

  ‘It’s important. Can we go somewhere private?’

  When Eliza didn’t respond, Mac sighed. ‘Look.’ Glancing around her, she slipped down one shoulder of her blouse, briefly exposing her upper arm. Wordlessly, she waited for Eliza’s reaction. There was a row of livid bruises, as if someone had gripped her strongly and shaken her.

  ‘Hamish?’ said Eliza. It didn’t come as a surprise.

  ‘I won’t be marrying him. I’ve always known he had a violent streak, but never thought he’d direct it at me.’

  Why would you not?

  ‘Good.’ It was good but, right now, Eliza couldn’t bring herself to care. All she could think about was what Kit was going through. And the scene last night, with Rob.

  Rob. She felt her heart bleeding.

  ‘Eliza,’ said Mac, ‘I know things between us are difficult—’

  ‘Look, could you just leave me alone? I’m waiting for news on something important.’

  ‘Harry?’

  ‘Unfortunately not.’

  ‘Hamish went ballistic when I told him the board’s decision. I’m scared. I want to break it off with him. I’m asking you for help. You’re the nearest thing to a friend I have down here.’

  Eliza thought for a moment. Perhaps her cousin could still be useful.

  ‘I see. Mac, could you not break up with him just yet? There’s been a death threat against Eddie.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I think Hamish might have something to do with it. I’m afraid I can’t tell you what’s going on – it’s nothing to do with Rose. But if you could let me know what Hamish is up to, that might help.’

  ‘You mean . . . spy on him?’

  ‘Yes. Keep an eye on his whereabouts. Be on my side now, Mac.

  Enough with the bad boys.’

  ‘That’s what I want. Please – can we start over? You, me and Chess. We could be a fabulous team.’

  ‘Perhaps. In fact, I have a role in mind for you. But like I said, you need to prove your loyalty. If and when you do, then we’ll talk about that further.’

  Back in her office, Eliza finally received a text from Will:

  WILL: Kit got what he wanted. Andre suspicious, took phone but we have backup. On my way to you.

  ELIZA: Brilliant! Hope it wasn’t too awful for Kit xx

  They’d done it! Kit got what he wanted.

  A confession. Had Andre Sokolov really admitted to murder?

  Will arrived, and sat down on her office sofa. ‘Oh my lord, Eliza. Kit was incredible. So cool under pressure. You’d never have guessed he was laying a trap.’

  Will described how he’d listened in via a hidden microphone. ‘Kit held out the olive branch, hinted at a reconciliation, then spun a yarn. He almost had me believing him; it was a sublime piece of acting.’

  ‘What yarn?’

  ‘About falling in love with a girl at university – one Eliza Rose, daughter of Harry and Ana Rose. He told Andre he wanted to resolve things so he could move forward with you.’

  Eliza swallowed. ‘What happened next?’

  ‘Kit said he couldn’t properly be with you while Ana’s death was hanging in the air between you. He told Andre he suspected he’d organized her murder. Andre didn’t deny it, Eliza. He just scoffed.’

  Will put on a Russian accent. ‘He said, That woman wanted to ruin Harry, my English brother. It was easy to remove her. I did him big favour. He soon found a new wife.’

  Eliza’s hand went to her mouth.

  Will put his arm round her. ‘I know. It’s horrible. So you see, Andre couldn’t resist boasting about Ana, but immediately he realized his mistake – he’d confessed to a murder in front of Kit, who’s hated him most of his life.’

  ‘What did Andre do?’

  ‘I should imagine Kit’s expression gave him away. He demanded to see Kit’s phone, and when Kit refused he had his bodyguard snatch it. He pocketed the SIM, then smashed the phone. But the hidden mic was still transmitting to me in the next street. I’ve got the conversation here on a USB.’ He patted his pocket dramatically. ‘We’ll make a copy, give one to Terri and the other to the police.’

  ‘Right. I think it’s time we talked to Terri.’

  Eliza rang down to make sure she was there, and they headed to the lift.

  ‘Terri,’ said Eliza, shutting the door behind them. ‘Will’s . . . um, he’s helping us with . . . ’ Where do I start?

  ‘Shall I take it from here?’
said Will.

  ‘Please the fuck do,’ said Terri. ‘You’re rather better with words than Eliza.’

  ‘I can’t deny it. Right. Kit told Eliza something rather mind-blowing yesterday – something he’d kept hidden from her until now.’

  He paused for effect.

  ‘Get on with it, Will,’ said Eliza.

  ‘Kit is Andre Sokolov’s son, and he’s going to help you nab Sokolov for Ana’s murder.’

  For once, Terri was speechless.

  ‘It’s true,’ said Eliza.

  ‘What the fuck?’

  ‘And this morning Andre confessed,’ Eliza continued, ‘to Kit. He and Will recorded the conversation. Terri – we’ve got him.’

  Terri sat back down heavily. ‘For real? Kit’s Sokolov’s son? You couldn’t make this up.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘And . . . he confessed to killing Ana?’

  ‘He did,’ said Will. He handed the USB to Terri.

  ‘After all these years . . . ’ she said quietly.

  ‘Finally, justice for Mum.’ Eliza gave her a hug.

  ‘Wait a minute. I thought I saw . . . ’ Terri swivelled her chair and brought up her email window. ‘There’s something here from Kit. It’s flagged urgent. It’s to me and you, Eliza.’

  Will frowned. ‘What does it say?’

  She read out, ‘No phone. Tell Will not to come home yet. Think I’m being followed.’

  Eliza felt a stab of fear. ‘Email him back, Terri. Quickly.’

  ‘Shit.’ Will stood up, white-faced.

  Terri typed in:

  Understood. Please reply immediately.

  ‘We need to go,’ said Will.

  ‘I’ll get you a taxi,’ said Terri. ‘What’s the address?’

  Will told her.

  ‘Keep refreshing,’ said Terri, as she made the call.

  ‘Maybe you should stay here,’ Will said to Eliza.

  ‘No way.’

  When there was no email response, Eliza and Will ran out the door.

  They said little as the taxi sped towards Dalston. Eliza gripped Will’s hand, dreadful thoughts tumbling in her head.

  She scanned the street as they ran to the front door, but saw only a woman with a buggy.