The Darkness Visible

by Tori de Clare

  ‘Camilla,’ Henry was saying in a forced whisper. ‘Camilla!’

  There was no response. Naomi leapt from her bed and got a sharp pain in her head. She ignored it and made it to the bedroom door. When she opened it, Camilla was staggering down the stairs with a suitcase. Henry was hanging out of his bedroom door.

  ‘Mum? Where are you going?’

  Camilla looked over her shoulder. Her eyes were red and swollen. ‘Ask your father.’

  ‘I’m asking you.’

  Her eyes filled. ‘I can’t stay here, Naomi. I’m going to the other house for a while.’

  ‘You’re crying, Mum.’ Seeing it was a first and a shock. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Ask your father.’

  Naomi looked at Henry, who looked ready to collapse into tears himself. ‘Come on, Mum, it can’t be that bad. I’ve just got out of hospital and you’re leaving? What’s happened to this family lately?’

  She descended another two steps. ‘Good question.’

  ‘But I thought the other house was almost empty.’

  ‘There is one room I haven’t touched. I’ll be forced to sleep in there, but it’s preferable to being here.’

  Lorie’s! It didn’t need saying.

  Naomi looked at Henry. ‘Dad, say something. Don’t let Mum leave like this.’

  Henry’s lips trembled. He shook his head.

  Camilla turned. ‘It’s all been said, Naomi. There’s nothing more.’

  She continued down the stairs, took her keys from the hall table and thundered through the front door.

  <><><>

  Solomon had taken a shower, then a pill, then a rest. His alarm – set to the lowest volume – had woken him at five. His sleep had spanned six hours. His headache had cleared. It felt like a new day and not a fresh chapter of a well-established one. His body clock was in ruins. Nothing new there. He slept when he couldn’t work anymore; his mind never gave in. Migraines threatened often and nailed him occasionally. He combated them with sleep.

  Solomon checked his phone. No missed messages or calls, at least not from anyone important. He climbed out of bed without a stitch on, and wrapped himself in a black robe. Then he went to the kitchen and made more coffee, ate two eggs, two pancakes and two halves of a huge grilled tomato, all of which he arranged symmetrically on his plate.

  He spent two hours cleaning and polishing an already immaculate house – he didn’t trust cleaners, and had never met a single one who did a satisfactory job – then he went upstairs to choose his clothes. He stepped into grey trousers, charcoal socks and soft Italian-leather shoes – also grey, and put on a new cream shirt which had a small collar with rounded tips. He left the top button undone and stood in front of a full-length mirror at seven-thirty, fastening his cufflinks.

  By seven fifty-five, he’d drifted to the lounge and was standing, hands in pockets, peering between the slats of his new shutters, with light filtering in from the hall. Three minutes passed in perfect silence. Then he heard a car and saw the spill of dipped headlights on the road. The sound and the light increased. The car swung onto the drive, which irritated him slightly, then the engine died and the lights went out and Solomon checked his watch and walked to the door.

  When footsteps approached, Solomon opened the door and glanced up the street, then down the other side of it. It was dead and dark, which was just the way he liked it.

  Solomon stepped aside. ‘Welcome, brother.’

  Joel strode past him. ‘Up yours.’

  34

  ‘Drink?’ Solomon slid behind the bar and pulled two glasses from a shelf. Joel wandered around the room restlessly.

  ‘Mineral water, chilled.’

  ‘Why don’t you have a proper drink with me? It’s been a while since we got together.’

  ‘I’m driving, plus I don’t want Annabel to smell booze on me when I’m supposed to be visiting my sick aunt.’

  Solomon smiled, though Joel wasn’t looking at him. He poured himself a gin and tonic and added ice, then he took a bottle of water from the fridge and opened it.

  ‘Shall we go in the lounge?’

  ‘Wherever.’

  Solomon handed Joel a bottle of water and a glass and led him through the hall to the lounge. The door was still unlocked. Solomon allowed Joel to enter the room first, then he followed. Joel slumped down on the sofa opposite the fireplace and began to pour his drink. Solomon sat on a nearby chair and waited.

  Joel said, ‘Don’t you ever fancy a day in your pj’s and slippers and eating takeaway pizza and leaving crumbs and bottles all over the floor?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You need to relax a bit. Seriously.’

  ‘I disagree.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Joel pushed both hands through his thick hair and then they locked eyes.

  ‘You must get that hair from your mother,’ Solomon said.

  Joel swigged his drink. ‘Yep.’

  ‘My father had thin hair.’

  ‘Our father,’ Joel said. ‘Our. Father!’

  ‘But you constantly deny you are my brother. I thought you’d prefer it if I disassociated you with my father too.’

  ‘And mine,’ Joel shouted. ‘Get it? My. Father. Just because I don’t think of you as my brother doesn’t mean I don’t think of our father as my dad.’

  ‘No need to get excited.’

  ‘You’re always trying to wind me up. Let’s be clear, we don’t like each other or trust each other, but we admired our father and that’s why I’m here. OK, he was a womaniser and a crook, but he was the only father we had, and we’re part of his legacy and his blood runs through our veins. Let’s get on with the business so I can get back to Annabel.’

  Another half smile. ‘You like her don’t you?’

  ‘What’s not to like? She’s hot, she’s funny and she’s interesting. She’s not the bimbo I thought she was going to be. We get on well, it’s all good.’

  ‘Has she got her inheritance money?’

  ‘Ages ago. Camilla put it in her account when Naomi came home after the wedding. It’s sitting in her bank account gathering dust and interest. One point one million and she never even talks about it. She works in a freaking clothes shop. Would you want to work with that much in the bank?’

  Solomon smirked. ‘One million is peanuts. And some people actually enjoy working you know.’

  Joel sipped his drink. ‘I know. It’s weird.’

  ‘Are you short of a few quid at the moment?’

  ‘Don’t wind me up. I don’t need any money from you, I’ve told you over and over. I’m looking forward to helping myself to the Hamiltons’ money, but I’m not touching yours. In any case, it’s dirty.’

  Solomon downed his drink in one. ‘Your choice. So, how are future Mummy and Daddy-in-law?’

  Joel smirked and said nothing. Solomon sat up straighter. Joel had news.

  ‘Camilla left him today. Annabel and I sloped off to the shops and when we got back, Naomi was there with Henry, and Camilla had gone. She found out Henry had been a naughty boy and it dredged up all her insecurities. She’s taken a case of stuff to the house in Alderley Edge with no plans to return.’

  Solomon smothered a smirk. ‘That’s a turn up.’

  ‘Yep.’ Joel swallowed some water and put his glass on the floor. ‘Annabel’s been upset. She’s been texting her mum all day. Women!’

  ‘And Naomi?’

  ‘Very quiet. She’s barely left her room. She’s probably gutted because I wiped the sound off her little recording.’

  ‘And why did you do that?’

  ‘So you could build some trust in me, Vincent. I think it’s needed. I’ve told you what was said between them. She wants her annulment. She had money ready for him and has promised him more if he’ll meet her on the 30th. They’re meeting at nine. Fingers crossed. She’s told no one about it, not even Annabel.’

  ‘That’s all great news, Joel, but if Naomi had that recording, voice and all, the police could have
nailed Nathan, no question.’

  Joel yawned and stretched. ‘Oh dear. I’m sorry about that.’

  ‘See, I don’t think you are.’

  ‘Well, quit having me followed and I might play a bit more nicely. Don’t think I don’t know that Charlie’s been tailing me. I don’t appreciate it, and I don’t need a babysitter. I’m getting on with the job. I’m the model boyfriend.’

  A long pause. ‘Charlie is my assurance, Joel. I need assurance and certainty.’

  ‘You’re an obsessive control freak, that’s what. Get off my back. And stop ringing me to check up on me. You might sleep better if you’d let go more. Don’t make an enemy of me.’

  ‘Enemy? Is that a threat?’

  ‘No, it’s a request, a polite one at this point. I’m not one of your minions. I’m not part of your game. We’re brothers, remember? Or half-brothers at least. That means we’re equals. I might be more forthcoming with information if you’d keep Charlie away from me and stop ringing me for updates. I’ll remind you that I’m the best source you’ve got.’

  Solomon paused to think. ‘I can’t let go. The stakes are too high.’ He brushed a speck of dust off the chair arm. ‘Nathan’s crossed me for the last time.’

  ‘I don’t care about Nathan. He’s nothing to do with me. You and I both want the same thing, right? It’s in my interests to get the job done. But I’ll do it in my way.’

  A pause, which also meant a concession. ‘Ok, I’ll tell Charlie to back off.’

  ‘You’d better.’

  Solomon sighed and smoothed his trousers. ‘So, tell me, where are you up to with the wedding plans?’

  ‘There aren’t any. She doesn’t want to get married. She isn’t the married type.’

  ‘Turn her into the married type.’

  ‘No can do, at least not easily.’

  ‘It’s simple isn’t it? Who’s in charge of birth control?’

  Joel’s eyebrows raised. ‘I am.’

  ‘May I suggest that a little accident might help your case?’

  The beginnings of a smile appeared on Joel’s lips. ‘You may.’ A pause. ‘Actually, it isn’t one of your worst ideas.’

  ‘Of course not. You see, it pays to think as deeply as I do.’

  ‘It also costs. Look at you, man. You look wrecked.’

  ‘I have things on my mind.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Where to start?’ Solomon’s eyes searched the ceiling. ‘Well, Dan’s a real concern.’

  ‘Dan’s a nobody.’

  ‘A nobody or not, he visited Naomi at the hospital this morning.’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘Charlie’s on the job. Dan was out of the picture, which was perfect. Then suddenly this morning, he made an appearance. I immediately asked him to call me, but he ignored my request.’

  ‘Because Dan refuses to be intimidated. He has some guts and some decency, which is why he wants nothing to do with you.’

  Solomon glared at Joel. ‘You’re doing nothing to calm my mind.’

  Joel grinned. ‘Maybe you weren’t polite enough with him, bro. You can be a bit abrupt.’

  ‘I don’t need lessons in manners.’

  ‘Maybe you do. See, Dan is a very smart lad.’ Joel tapped the side of his head. ‘You need to be careful of him.’ Joel put his glass down and wagged a finger in Solomon’s direction. Then he swung his legs onto the sofa and lay back against the sofa arm, hands behind his head. ‘Ah,’ he grinned. ‘Really comfy, this. I could see myself falling asleep on here.’ Solomon looked at Joel’s dirty shoes against his expensive leather, and found that his body had turned rigid. Joel laughed out loud. ‘Relax, would you? What is your problem?’

  Solomon drew a couple of deep breaths through his nose. ‘I’m going to have to pay Dan a visit and turn the screw. I think it’s time you were on your way now.’

  ‘Nah. I’m quite settled actually. I’ve only just arrived, Vincent. Where are your manners, brother? Go on then, I’ll have that drink. Annie will never detect a G&T. And get yourself another while you’re there and we can chat some more. Any pizza places around here?’

  Solomon glared at Joel then gripped the chair arms and stood up. His limbs felt stiff and uncooperative as he walked through the lounge door, with the image of Joel’s grin emblazoned on his mind.

  <><><>

  Naomi was pulled sharply from sleep. Her phone was brightly lit by the side of the bed. It was vibrating against a wooden cabinet. She snatched it up. Dan was calling.

  Without thinking, she swiped the screen to answer. ‘Leave me alone, Dan.’

  She cut him off and turned over in bed. Her phoned buzzed immediately. She ignored it for a few seconds until she was properly awake, then she angrily snatched it up and swiped the screen again. This time Dan began speaking urgently.

  ‘Naomi, listen to me. This is important.’

  ‘Why should I listen to you?’ she hissed.

  ‘Your life depends on it.’

  Naomi fell silent. The anger drained away. Her muscles turned to mush.

  Dan, ‘Are you still there?’

  ‘Mm.’

  ‘Are you alright?’

  She didn’t know what to say to that, so she just breathed.

  ‘Naomi, listen. I need to see you right away.’

  ‘I don’t trust you, Dan.’

  ‘I don’t blame you, but you’ve got this all wrong. Look, I’ve worked out what he wants.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Solomon.’

  Naomi wiped her eyes. Her hands were trembling in the darkness. ‘I saw his message on your phone.’

  Dan ignored the comment. ‘He’s been here to see me. I’ve read between the lines and I know what he wants now and I have to speak to you in person. We’re playing right into his hands.’

  Naomi said nothing.

  Dan continued, ‘Do you know where Hartshead Pike is?’

  ‘That monument near Ashton?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘I’ve never been there.’

  ‘Do you have a sat nav?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I’m just Googling the postcode now. You have to turn up a very narrow lane. Don’t miss it. It becomes a dirt track further up. It’s steep near the top. Keep going and going. You’ll pass a couple of farm houses. Dip your headlights until you pass them and meet me near the top.’

  ‘Why there?’

  ‘Because it’s the highest point for miles and it’s completely deserted.’

  ‘It’s miles away.’

  ‘Fourteen for you, sixteen for me. I want to be miles away. I want to make certain it’s just us. I’ve just pulled over, but I’m already on my way. Nothing’s tailing me. Make sure you’re not followed.’

  ‘You’re scaring me, Dan.’

  ‘It’s necessary.’

  ‘I don’t know about this.’

  But Dan was insistent. ‘Set off now and not a word to anyone. Bring your phone. Meet you there asap.’

  Dan hung up. Naomi lay still, in shock. She questioned whether or not she was dreaming until a postcode appeared on her screen a few seconds later.

  She swung her legs out of bed, threw on the nearest clothes, jammed her phone in the first pocket she found, and left the house at two-forty in the morning.

  <><><>

  The roads were empty; the night was still and mild, and not a breath of wind. As she glided down the M60, even the sat nav was silent. She kept checking her mirrors. Nothing at all. She left the motorway and allowed the sat nav to guide her through Ashton centre and out onto minor roads. Even with the sat nav, she almost missed the final turn. It was as inconspicuous as it was narrow.

  She turned and began the ascent and kept the revs as low as possible until the climb became steeper and steeper. There was no sign of life as she passed a scattering of houses, dimming her lights as she went. Then the road became rough and stony. She lowered into second gear and screeched to the top of the lane. There was
a flashing light ahead. The road opened slightly and there was a flat grassy bank where Dan was blinking his headlights.

  She pulled in next to him and cut the engine. Dan got out of his car and appeared at her door on the other side of the window. He opened the door and held out his hand without speaking. Naomi tentatively took it. Dan pulled her to her feet, took her in his arms and lifted her off the ground. His arms were strong. His body was warm. Naomi held on to him, which seemed to strengthen and weaken her at the same time.

  ‘How’re you feeling?’

  ‘A lot better.’

  ‘Good. Good. I could kill Nathan for what he’s done to you.’

  ‘I know, Dan.’

  ‘I’ve been an idiot,’ he told her as he pressed her to him.

  Too choked to respond, she buried her face into his shoulder and tried to swallow past the painful lump in her throat. His heart pulsed against her. All intentions of asserting herself and keeping him at a distance flowed away down the hill.

  Eventually, Dan set her down and took her face into both his hands. ‘Don’t be upset, baby,’ he said, pulling her forehead to rest against his.

  ‘What are we doing here, Dan?’

  He hugged her again and held her tight. ‘I’m never going to leave you again.’ Then he took her hand. ‘Come with me.’

  Dan led her to the dirt track on foot and splashed light on the ground with his phone. They switched course and he took her across a covering of long grass. In the weak beam of light, she saw buttercups and daisies and ugly thistles and large boulders. Dan guided her towards the summit where the slim monument had stood, immovable, for hundreds of years. It was in silhouette now, black, as majestic as a king, thinning to a point at the top, jabbing a star-flooded sky.

  They stopped a few metres from the building. Dan spun her around to face a breath-taking, panoramic view of tiny yellow lights. He stood behind her in silence, his arms locked lovingly around her. She felt his lips against the side of her neck and closed her eyes.

  ‘Want to see more lights?’ he whispered, and she nodded.

  Dan took off his jacket and laid it on the ground.

  ‘Lie down.’