by Susan Lewis
Wilbur waved a hand. ‘I’ve just come …’ He glanced briefly at Laurie, ‘I need to take back the computer,’ he said.
‘What now!’ she cried, thinking of all the information she’d so painstakingly re-created and hadn’t yet backed up.
‘Actually, I was supposed to have done it a week ago,’ he told her.
‘But you’re surely not going to take it right now, this minute.’
He looked at his watch.
‘I’m afraid a few sushi dinners doesn’t buy back the computer just like that,’ Elliot informed him. ‘She needs time to copy and erase. You’ll get it when she’s done.’
Wilbur nodded. It was clear to them all that he’d been told to give no notice of the retrieval, for the very purpose of acquiring whatever information she had stored. In the end, he said, ‘Have it in my office by ten in the morning.’
Laurie looked at him, wondering what that might cost him, and praying it wouldn’t be too much.
‘You’ll need to clear out your desk at the same time,’ he said quietly.
Since she was surprised not to have received that instruction long before now she said nothing until he reached the door. ‘If you can wait half an hour,’ she said, ‘I can let you take it tonight with certain selected documents still on it.’
He looked at her, obviously embarrassed, then came back into the room.
Her eyes went to Elliot, who winked, telling her she’d done the right thing.
Her smile was small as her chest grew tight with emotion. It was so like Elliot not to bear a grudge, to carry on as though her earlier insensitivity hadn’t even happened. It was, perversely, what made it so hard to be around him like this, for it only made her want him all the more. And now he’d admitted that he’d once had feelings, there was going to be no controlling the urge to do whatever she could to make him overcome the confusion he’d developed between her and Lysette.
Theo was in his car, crawling through West Hollywood towards Beverly Hills. He’d just come from a meeting with a writer he’d hoped might take on Carlotta, but it hadn’t worked out. The man didn’t have the right attitude. It needed sensitivity, subtlety, qualities the guy was so short on it was no wonder he was offering to do a first draft on spec – no one in their right mind would pay him to write.
‘It was a waste of time,’ he said to his agent, when Kurt’s voice finally came down the line. ‘Did you get anywhere with the other names I gave you?’
‘No one’s taking any calls,’ Kurt told him bluntly.
Theo’s heart sank, though he couldn’t say he was surprised. It wouldn’t take long for Kleinstein to put out the word, and it sure seemed to be out there from the way his phone had stopped ringing.
‘I’ve had Mitzi’s lawyer on,’ Kurt said. ‘She wants paying for the work she did.’
‘I know.’
‘I’ve had some reporter on from London too. She wants to talk about the story.’
‘What about it?’
‘Dunno. She left a number, said to call any time.’
‘OK. I’ll get it from you later. I’m in the car right now.’
There was a pause, then Kurt said, ‘I’m sorry, man.’
Theo clicked off the line, then turned off Santa Monica where the road was torn up, and headed up Sweetzer to Sunset, though the traffic wasn’t much better there. He stopped at Starbucks, got himself a coffee, then returned to the car and called Beth.
‘Hi, honey. It’s me. Are you going to pick up …?’
‘I’m here,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I was waiting for your call. Are you on your way home?’
‘In about thirty minutes,’ he answered. ‘The traffic’s pretty snarled up. Did anyone call? Any messages?’
‘No. No one. Just Georgie.’
‘Did you talk to her?’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s good.’ He smiled. ‘You must have put her mind at rest.’
‘I think so. How did it go with the writer?’
‘Pah, forget it. The guy’s a moron. We could make a better job of it on our own.’
‘Shall we try?’ she said. ‘If you bring home lots of screenplays I can read them, get some idea of how they’re set out, and whatever else I need to know.’
‘It’s an idea,’ he said. ‘We’ll talk about it. Did you take your medication?’
‘Yes.’ Then, after a pause, ‘I missed you. I don’t like being here alone.’
‘I know. I’ll be home soon.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m putting too much pressure on you.’
‘It’s OK. You’re doing great. This is the first time you’ve been on your own since, so you were bound to be nervous.’
‘It helps having the gun,’ she assured him.
‘Good. Just go careful with it. Now, I’ve got another call coming in, so I’ll see you when I get home.’ After switching lines he said, ‘This is Theo.’
‘Theo, it’s Georgie. I’ve just spoken to Beth.’
‘She told me. What did you think?’
‘She sounds sad, and afraid, but it was a relief not to hear her stoned out of her mind. She didn’t like you being out of the house.’
‘If you saw what they did to her, you wouldn’t blame her,’ he responded, slowing for a red light at Doheny, where a producer and director he knew were waiting to cross the street. He didn’t bother to alert them to his presence, merely watched their animated exchange and wondered what their project was as they passed right in front of him.
‘Do you think they’ll be back?’ Georgie said.
‘God knows. But more importantly, she thinks they will.’
Georgie sounded emotional as she said, ‘I’m sorry I can’t come over there. I really want to, but –’
‘It’s OK. I don’t blame your husband. There’s something nasty going on with all this. You’re better out of it.’
‘Has she told you any more?’
‘No. I don’t want to push her. If we can, I’d rather just let it go.’
Georgie hesitated, but then seeming to think better of cautioning him, which was what he’d expected, she said, ‘I really appreciate the way you’re taking care of her. Especially when you hardly know her.’
He thought of how he dressed and undressed her, bathed her, assisted her with the toilet, and had even, for the last two days, helped her deal with her time of the month. She so hated having to rely on him for that too, that he was going to stop by the market on the way home to get her some towels. They’d be easier to manage than tampons, so she should be able to do it herself.
‘She says you’re a very special man,’ Georgie told him.
‘She’s special too.’
‘I’m glad you think so,’ Georgie said, the affection audible in her voice. ‘How’s it going with the script? Have you found anyone to replace Mitzi?’
‘I’m still working on it. Listen, I’ve got to go, I’m heading into the canyon now, so I’ll probably lose you.’
‘OK. But just quickly before you go, there’s a reporter here who’s keen to talk to you. Her name’s Laurie Forbes.’
‘I think she’s already spoken to my agent.’
‘Probably. She wants to talk to you about the book, or script, so I was thinking, maybe the publicity will help generate some more interest.’
‘It could,’ he confirmed.
‘So can I give her the number of your mobile?’
‘Sure. Tell her to call the house as well, if you like.’
‘Well, actually, it might be best if you don’t tell Beth about it because I’m not sure she’d welcome the idea.’
‘No secrets, Georgie,’ he said. ‘I’ll discuss it with her, and if we think it’ll work out, we’ll do it. If not we won’t.’
When he pulled into the drive twenty minutes later, Beth was waiting to greet him.
‘Hi,’ she said, holding the front door wide for him to enter. ‘It’s a lovely evening, I thought we could barbecue some steaks.’
‘Sounds good,’ he responded, looking down into her eyes. ‘Are you OK?’
If she guessed he was checking for the telltale signs she didn’t mention it, merely held his gaze as though to show him she was clean. Then blushing slightly, she said, ‘I wanted to put on something nice, but this was all I could manage.’
‘You look great,’ he told her, smiling at the way his big white shirt engulfed her. ‘There’s a gift for you in the bag.’
When she opened it and saw the towels she started to laugh, then cry. ‘Can you imagine, getting so emotional over something that doesn’t even sparkle,’ she laughed.
‘Who says there’s no sparkle?’ he challenged.
Surprised and curious, she looked in the bag again, then pulled out a card. Hanging from the front was a tiny fake diamond. The message inside read: ‘This is what you get for being an independent woman.’
‘Oh God,’ she spluttered, ‘I don’t think anyone’s ever …’ She caught her breath and looked up at him. ‘Thank you,’ she said, laughing again. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘I’m glad you like it,’ he said softly. ‘So how about we go do something about those steaks?’
Though bending was still difficult, and the acts of sitting down and standing up had to be undertaken slowly, her movements were becoming more fluid now, so she insisted on preparing the salad while he supervised the steaks. And though it hurt like hell she managed to pull a cork from a bottle of red wine, which she set tentatively on the table next to the pool, not sure if he would drink it.
But he did, and much later, after they’d finished eating and were sitting side by side, watching the fading orange rays of a sunset that was still washing the mountains in a warm, golden glow, he said, ‘I’ve got to tell you I’m real proud of the way you’re pulling this together.’
‘I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you,’ she whispered, looking down at her half-glass of wine. Then as he reached for her hand and held it loosely on his knee, she said, ‘Before, I thought … I don’t know what I thought, but you’re different to the way I imagined.’
Smiling, he squeezed her hand.
‘I don’t think I’ve felt this calm since … well, since the day my husband was arrested.’
‘It’s been a rough road,’ he said.
‘If I’d known you were at the end of it I might have handled it better.’
Raising her fingers to his mouth he kissed them gently, then picked up his wine and drank.
‘Theo,’ she said after a while.
‘Mm?’ he responded, watching the lights of the planes as they glided steadily in and out of the Burbank airport.
‘I’d like to ask you something. Well, two things, actually.’
Realizing she wanted his full attention, he turned his chair so he was facing her, and took both her hands. ‘Shoot,’ he said gently.
‘The first is …’ She laughed self-consciously. ‘Well, ever since that night at Kleinstein’s I’ve been terrified of a lot of things, and one of them was of being pregnant. It would have been too cruel of God if I had been, because I’ve had such trouble in the past … But I know I’m not now, and … I don’t really know how to say this …’
‘Just say it,’ he whispered.
‘Well, I was wondering if, when my time is over in a couple of days … I know with all these scars and things I don’t look very good, and you probably don’t want to anyway, I was just hoping … You see, I don’t want that monster to be the last person to … but it’s more than that –’ She stopped as he put his fingers over her lips.
‘If you’re asking me will I make love to you, the answer’s yes,’ he said.
Her eyes gazed deeply into his, and though the swelling emotion in her heart was pushing her to the verge of tears she managed to hold back, as he touched his mouth tenderly, lovingly to hers.
‘Second question,’ he prompted as she looked down at their joined hands.
Her mouth trembled with laughter, as tears filled her eyes. ‘Will you call me Beth?’
Lifting her chin, he kissed her again, gently because of her injured mouth, but with such feeling she could feel it tightening in her chest like a fist. ‘My darling Beth,’ he whispered.
Laurie raced down over the thinly carpeted stairs, across the tiled hall where a resident was checking his mailbox, threw open the heavy front door and dashed across the street to where Stan, her very own bodyguard-cum-chauffeur, was waiting. Leaping into the car she told him to drive while taking out her mobile to speed-dial Elliot.
‘It’s me!’ she cried, looking back at the white stucco house, with its deep bay windows and black iron railings. ‘Where are you? Can you talk?’
‘On my way to a café in Montmartre,’ he responded. ‘What’s all the excitement?’
‘I’ve just made the most amazing discovery,’ she said breathlessly. ‘God, you aren’t going to believe this.’
‘Where are we going?’ Stan broke in.
‘Wandsworth Prison, and we’re already late. Elliot?’
‘I’m still here.’
‘I’ve just left Sophie Long’s building,’ she told him. ‘Remember, I was coming back to talk to the neighbours again? Well, it turns out that the old Czech who lives upstairs, Mr Karowski – the one who’s partially deaf and hardly speaks English? – has a wife.’
‘Good for him. Did he just get married?’
‘No! They’ve been married for years and his wife – who speaks perfect English – has not, until today, ever been interviewed by anyone, either from the press or the police, regarding Sophie Long’s murder.’
‘That’s not possible,’ he stated.
‘You might think so, but it happens to be true, because the day before Sophie was killed Mrs Karowski got a call to tell her that her sister in Prague was very ill, possibly dying. So she immediately booked a flight for the following day, leaving at five in the afternoon, by which time all hell had broken loose in the flat below. So, knowing she wouldn’t be allowed to go if she came forward with what she’d seen, she slipped off before anyone could talk to her, and only came back a week ago. Honest to God, she had her coat on ready to go to the police when I turned up.’
‘I’ve got a feeling I’m going to like this,’ Elliot responded.
‘You are,’ Laurie promised. ‘Apparently about an hour before all the uproar started she saw a man coming out of Sophie’s flat who fits Marcus Gatling’s description to a T. And, wait for this, there was a woman waiting in a car outside who sounds like none other than Mrs Marcus.’
‘I knew it,’ he said. ‘I damned well knew it.’
‘Hang on. We’ve got no proof, and I need to talk to my contact at the Yard to find out if anyone else saw the mystery man and woman, and if they did, whether or not they’ve been identified. I don’t think they will have, though, because it would have surely come out by now. Stay on the Fulham Road,’ she advised Stan, ‘King’s Road’s always a nightmare.’
‘Of course, just because he was there, doesn’t actually mean he did it,’ Elliot said reasonably.
‘I know, but think what a difference this is going to make to Ashby’s defence. And imagine the scandal. Oh, thank God for stolen computers. I might never have gone back there otherwise.’
Elliot was laughing. ‘This is a major break-through,’ he told her. ‘Well done.’
‘Thank you,’ she responded. ‘When are you back?’
‘Tomorrow night. Tom Maykin flies in on Saturday so we should be in for a heavy weekend.’
‘OK. I’m going to ring off now. I’ve got more calls to make before I go into the prison.’
Hearing the line go dead she looked at her phone and said, ‘Why did I even bother to tell him? I should have rung off first.’
‘Do you want me to get you something to eat while you’re on the inside?’ Stan asked, as they sped along Wandsworth Bridge Road. ‘I only mention it because I’m starving.’
‘Get me whatever you have,’ she answered, dialling Bruce
’s number. To her frustration he was in a meeting, so she left a message and tried Giles Parker. He was in court, so she called Chilton at the Yard. After divulging her new information, and extracting a promise that he’d get back to her by the end of the day no matter what, she tracked down Rhona, who’d offered to go and pick up her new laptop from a shop on Tottenham Court Road.
‘You owe me two thousand four hundred pounds,’ Rhona told her. ‘Half my life savings.’
‘You’ll get a cheque tonight,’ Laurie assured her, ‘for my entire life savings. And I’m unemployed, remember?’
‘OK. You win that one, but I’m withholding the sympathy since Elliot offered you a job and you turned it down. Just tell me this, if things were working out between you, I mean in a romantic sense, would you have accepted him then?’
‘No,’ Laurie answered.
‘Very wise, it would only ruin it in the end. So how are things progressing on that front?’
Laurie’s heart contracted. ‘They’re not. Nothing’s been mentioned since the night I told you about.’
‘You mean you’re managing to play it cool?’ Rhona cried incredulously.
Laurie had to laugh. ‘Only because I haven’t worked up the guts to confront it again,’ she confessed.
‘Then don’t. Let him come to terms with Lysette, or whatever’s bothering him in his own sweet time, because if you go trying to force the issue you’ll just complicate it further.’
Laurie sighed. ‘But what if he ends up discovering he’s over us both?’ she said.
Rhona laughed.
‘I’m glad one of us can see the funny side,’ Laurie commented sourly. ‘Anyway, I have to go now, I’m at the prison. See you around seven at The Grapes. Gino and Flaxie are joining us, so are Murray and Gail, and Stan, of course. Do you want to stay the night?’
‘If Stan’s going to be there how can I resist?’ she drawled.
Laughing, Laurie flipped off the phone, stashed it in the glove box then, checking she had the phone cards and cigarettes Bruce had advised her to bring, she left Stan to go and feed himself while she hurried to join the small, ragged group that was just being ushered through to the visiting room.
When she got there she spotted Ashby right away, seated at the same table as before, though his head remained down as the visitors spread out to sit with their various friends or relatives.
