by Jade Winters
‘Keri, that night was a one off. There isn’t going to be a repeat of it.’ Astrid hoped that would be enough to shut down any further advances. They’d had their moment. And she never went back. Not that she would even if she was tempted.
‘Because of Snowflake?’
‘No not because of Snow … Callie. I’m here to work. That’s it.’
‘Who are you kidding?’ Keri called over her shoulder as she led the way to her car. ‘I saw the look Snowflake gave you when she saw us talking. She looked heartbroken. Betrayed.’
‘She’s not that soft.’
‘That’s what you think. The woman is smitten. And too naïve to realise what sort of woman she’s dealing with. She couldn’t handle you. Not like me.’
‘Is that right?’
Keri climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car, revving it in quick succession. ‘Yes, it is and you know it.’
‘Sorry to disappoint you, but I disagree.’
‘Time will tell.’ Keri punched in the address of the B&B into the integrated sat nav.
They drove away in silence. Keri, concentrating on the road ahead. Astrid caught up in her own thoughts. She needed to figure out her next plan of action. Her mind was muddled. She didn’t know why but she felt a sense of loyalty to Callie, in a way that she hadn’t felt before. For anyone. She thought about calling Callie as soon as she got some time alone. And tell her what exactly? They weren’t in a relationship. They’d slept together once. She didn’t owe Callie an explanation about her previous sexual partners.
So why do I feel like I do? That I’ve betrayed her in some way?
All Astrid could put it down to was lust. It had turned her mind to mush. The next time she spoke to Callie, if she asked about Keri, she would tell her the truth. Like an adult. But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but worry that Callie might think there was still something going on between them.
Damn Callie for making me feel like this. For making me feel something full stop.
Without realising it, they had arrived at the B&B. Keri turned off the engine and unbuckled her seatbelt. She turned to face Astrid. ‘Do you fancy coming to my room?’
‘Let me think. Do I want to come up to your room?’ Astrid said with a small shake of her head. ‘How about no. The kitchen will be fine.’
Astrid looked heavenwards as she got out of the car. Are you punishing me for my past sins?
Dragging her feet, Astrid followed Keri into the building and shut the door behind her. A few steps in and the kitchen door flung open and Elaine appeared.
‘Oh good you’re back,’ she said, her attention focused on Astrid. ‘I heard the police found something down by the youth club. I’ve been trying to get hold of Callie but her phone goes straight to voicemail.’
‘It was Lexi’s bag,’ Astrid said.
Elaine’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no.’
‘I’m sure it’s nothing. She most probably left it somewhere and someone found it and dumped it,’ Astrid said as she trailed Keri into the kitchen.
‘I do hope so. I really do.’
‘We’re going to have a few beers. You can join us if you like,’ Astrid said praying Elaine would take her up on the offer.
‘No, I want to catch up with the news. See if anything else has come to light.’
Damn. ‘If you change your mind …’ Astrid pressed.
‘Thanks for the offer. You two make yourselves comfortable.’
‘We will I’m sure, won’t we Astrid?’ Keri said smirking as she opened the fridge door and took out a couple of beers.
Elaine disappeared down the hallway.
Shit. Now it’s just the two of us.
Astrid hooked her bag on the back of the chair before slipping onto the seat. She took the beer Keri held out to her. ‘I’m just going to have one,’ she said snapping the lid back and taking a mouthful.
‘Am I really that boring?’ Keri dropped onto a seat next to her and propped her feet up on a chair opposite.
‘It’s not that. I want to have an early night. I need to be functioning tomorrow to chase some leads,’ Astrid said the first excuse that came to mind. ‘Work comes first.’
‘Yes, I remember. It was work that interrupted us last time …’ Keri slowly skimmed her fingers along Astrid’s thigh.
Astrid put her hand over Keri’s to still it. ‘Stop it!’
‘Why?’ Keri put a finger over her lips before Astrid could speak. ‘You weren’t complaining a few days ago. In fact, if I remember …’
‘Well I am now.’
The expression on her face dared Astrid to contradict her. ‘We both know you don’t mean it.’
‘Jesus, Keri, can’t you take no for an answer?’ Astrid pushed her chair away from the table, standing so abruptly, Keri leant back in surprise.
‘Where’s the fun in that?’ She rose to her feet and drew Astrid to her by tugging the waist of her jeans. ‘You know what they say about all work and no play making Jackie a very dull girl.’
Keri released one hand from the small of Astrid’s back and brushed a strand of hair away from Astrid’s forehead. The contact surprised Astrid. She felt nothing. Not like when Callie touched her. When it was Callie, Astrid’s heart tremored, her pulse raced, butterflies danced in her stomach. Keri, standing there, undressing her with her eyes did absolutely nothing for her.
Before she could disentangle herself from the embrace, the door opened and Elaine walked in, stopped when she saw them, then backed away. ‘Oops sorry, I …’
‘It’s okay. I’m going up to my room,’ Astrid said tugging Keri’s hand from her waist. She scooped her jacket from the back of the chair and brushed past Elaine.
‘What about dinner?’ Elaine called after her.
‘I’ll have it in my room if you don’t mind.’
With a puzzled look Elaine said, ‘Sure thing.’
Astrid mounted the stairs, two at a time. When she reached her room, she fell back against the door. Her puffed out chest deflating like a balloon. That’s just great. Caught in the act. No matter how innocent.
Astrid knew for sure that Elaine would tell Callie what she had seen in the kitchen. To an onlooker it would seem more than it was. She ran her hands through her hair. Why the hell do I care what Callie thinks? Astrid didn’t know. All she knew was that she did.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Still sitting at the kitchen table, Keri played the whole scene with Astrid in her mind. She went over the dialogue again and again and cringed each time. If it had been for real; trying to get Astrid into bed, she would have been insulted by the rejection. How could Astrid go off me so fast? Just a couple of nights ago she couldn’t get enough of me! Then she thought about Snowflake. Astrid and Callie.
Speaking of which, what the hell was she going to do about getting a story back to Tyler. Since Keri had arrived she’d spent most of her time with Helen. She needed to get her arse in gear and sort something out. Fast.
What had Astrid found out about the missing girl? Something juicy she bet. It seemed Astrid was a natural when it came to finding out people’s secrets. If Keri had been on the ball, she would have kept closer tabs on her. So she might not have scooped the big one this time but there was still time.
Keri swapped the beer for wine. She popped the wine cork and poured herself a glass. She swirled the rich red liquid around in semi circles before devouring a mouthful. Delicious. One glass of wine, gone. She poured herself another. Then another. Her mind searching its deepest recesses looking for answers or a solution to the problem her dad faced. Before she knew it, the bottle was nearly finished.
It was tempting to open another bottle. She was wrecked already and was sure another glass wouldn’t make much difference. Using the chair in front of her to pull herself to her feet, her fingers ran over the top of a bag. Astrid’s bag. The one she had come in with earlier.
Without any real interest, she slowly unzipped it. Cocking her head, she listened out
for footsteps. The first thing she felt when she dug her hand inside was the thickness of a large book. Frowning, she pulled it out. A notepad. Keri opened it and began to read. She stared at the words. Her legs trembled with excitement. She bit her nails until she gnawed into the flesh of her thumb and winced in pain. Dozens and dozens of notes were scribbled on every page. Most were observations on things Astrid had seen. Others were snippets from interviews. It was the last page that caught her attention. Several paragraphs written about a teenager called Darren.
Keri read and re-read the notes over and over again, her heartbeat accelerating, a smile curving her lips. This is exactly what I need, what a coincidence that I noticed it.
‘Oh my,’ she said aloud.
This was it. Lexi Palmer had run away because she was pregnant. She fell onto her seat. This was just the story she was looking for. Tyler was expecting something from her. Why not this? It would be a front page story. Plus, it would show Astrid that Keri could give her a run for her money.
Without another thought she called Tyler.
‘What you got for me?’
Trying not to slur she said, ‘A massive scoop. I told you I’d come through with something big.’
‘Let me be the judge of that.’
‘Lexi Palmer is pregnant.’
She could hear excitement mixed with caution in his voice. ‘Who’s the source?’
‘The father,’ she blurted out. She assumed this Darren person was the father. If he wasn’t, it didn’t matter.
‘Great stuff. Your dad was right about you. He said you’d bring home the goods.’
‘Thanks.’ That was as close as a compliment she’d ever heard her dad say. Pity he couldn’t say it to my face.
‘See if you can get the lad to give you a sit down interview. Offer him a couple of hundred quid.’
‘Will do. I’ll get onto it now.’
After a few more demands of what he wanted covered, she finally hung up. She was in the mood to celebrate. If only Helen lived nearer. Or she hadn’t drunk so much. A half an hour drive and she would have been wrapped in her arms.
Keri helped herself to another drink and took it upstairs.
She had her phone. Helen had a phone. Until they could meet up again, phone sex would have to do.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Callie rebuked herself. Internally she raged like a volcano, ready to explode. Two things were bothering her. The first was Astrid and the blonde. She should have confronted Astrid and asked her why she had slept with her if she already had a girlfriend. On top of that, she had been obsessing over Roxy’s comment for the past few hours. What did Roxy’s comment about Robert mean? About him having no respect for women. Was it a throw away remark, made out of frustration? Or was it how he truly felt about women in general or just Roxy? And God forbid, Lexi.
Had Robert been hiding his true colours all of this time? Playing the adoring father and husband in public but a misogynist bastard behind closed doors. Though it would have surprised her that he could be that good an actor, she couldn’t rule it out. Loads of people hid their true colours behind a bright smile, a kind word or action. Drawing you into their world before pulling the rug from beneath you and turning your life upside down. Why wouldn’t Robert be capable?
Before she jumped the gun she needed to hear the full explanation from Roxy. But the timing for that conversation hadn’t been right when they had arrived earlier. Not when Roxy was mentally impaired by alcohol. Callie wanted their talk to be calm and logical. She was hopeful that Roxy would wake soon and they could talk in earnest. Callie prayed Robert didn’t return anytime soon and interrupt them. He still hadn’t arrived back from the youth club.
Eventually at eight o’clock, Roxy staggered into the front room, clutching her head between her hands.
‘You look like you need a couple of aspirin and a few litres of water,’ Callie said.
Roxy spoke in hushed tones. ‘I just need a coffee. Do you mind?’
‘Of course not. Sit down and I’ll make a cup.’
Roxy gingerly lowered herself onto the sofa and let out a gentle sigh. ‘I feel like I’ve been hit with a sledgehammer.’
‘I feel for you, I really do,’ Callie said before leaving the room and heading to the kitchen.
She heaped a large spoonful of coffee into a mug and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Once the kettle was boiled she finished off the drink and took it in to Roxy, who by now was sprawled out on the sofa. Callie laid the coffee on the table in front of her.
‘We need to talk, Roxy. Before Robert comes home.’
Roxy’s eyes opened into slits. ‘About Lexi?’
‘No, what you said about Robert.’
‘Robert?’ she asked, dazed.
‘Yes. You said something about him hating women.’
Roxy frowned. ‘Did I?’
‘Are you saying you don’t remember?’
Roxy rolled onto her side and reached out for her coffee. Slowly bringing it to her mouth she took a sip. ‘I remember.’
‘Was it true?’
‘Oh, what’s the point?’
‘The point is that his daughter has gone missing. And if you think he has something to do with it, the police need to know.’
Silence.
‘Roxy, please talk to me.’
‘I can’t,’ her voice broke. ‘Please, Callie, don’t push it.’ Tears rolled down her cheeks and Callie rushed to her side, taking her hand in her own.
‘Come home with me, Roxy. We can leave before he gets back. Please, you’re not safe here.’
‘Why isn’t she safe?’
Robert’s enraged voice startled her. Callie hadn’t heard him come in.
‘Are you going to answer me? What’s she been telling you?’
‘Nothing. Honestly,’ Callie said pushing herself to her feet. She had to think fast. He began walking towards her, his face twisted in anger. In all the time she’d known him, she’d never seen this side to him before.
‘Roxy thinks she might have been the target. That Lexi was kidnapped because someone wants to get to her,’ Callie said.
Did that sound plausible or like the ramblings of a nutcase? Callie didn’t care much at that stage she just wanted to get Roxy out of there.
Robert stopped. ‘Don’t be so bloody stupid. I’ve already told her that theory doesn’t hold water. If she’d been kidnapped, we would have had a ransom note by now.’
Relief shot through Callie’s body. So it was something Roxy had feared herself. At least her argument had sounded authentic. ‘I still think she could come and stay with me for a few days. This is all getting a bit much for her.’
‘She’s my wife and she will be staying here. With me. Got it?’
‘But,’ Callie started to protest.
‘But nothing. Go home, Callie. There’s nothing for you to do here.’
Callie was going to mount another argument but was distracted by the vibration in her pocket. Soon it was coming every second. She pulled it out and glanced down at the screen.
Her eyes scanned the tweets coming in thick and fast. She glanced up at Robert through narrowed eyes.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘There’s a breaking story about Lexi.’
‘Saying?’
‘Saying that she is pregnant.’ She saw the flicker of guilt, then fear in his eyes before he looked away.
‘Christ, Robert. Is it true? Is Lexi pregnant?’ Callie said.
He sank onto a chair nearby and held his face in his hands. Through a muffled voice he said, ‘Yes, and all of this is my fault. It’s all my fault,’ and he began to sob.
Chapter Thirty
Ross’ voice was deceptively calm. ‘Astrid.’
‘Yeah,’ she said hesitantly. Had she missed something? She’d been checking the newsfeed about Lexi every fifteen minutes. Nothing new had come up so she’d taken a long shower to relieve the knots in her shoulders. Surely she hadn’t missed something. I couldn’t
have.
‘What the fuck have you been doing?’
Now this was the Ross she knew. The hot head. The man who blew steam out of his arse when he was angry.
‘Didn’t you get my piece about the evidence that was found?’
‘Are you talking about the useless piece of shit that every other news outlet is running? Yes, I got that. But,’ his voice started to rise, so much so, that she had to move the phone away from her ear, ‘what I didn’t get was the piece about Lexi being fucking pregnant.’
Astrid took a deep breath and closed her eyes. How did someone find out? Who did Darren talk to?
Her eyes flew open and she frantically looked around the room for her bag. In a split second, she knew who had broken the story. Keri.
‘I’ll call you back,’ she said into the mouthpiece before disconnecting the call.
Roughly pulling on a pair of jeans and a vest top she marched out of her room and down stairs to the kitchen. She found Elaine sat there alone.
‘Where’s Keri?’ she barked.
Elaine looked up at her startled. ‘In her room, I think. Is something the matter?’
‘Yes something’s the matter.’ Fuming, Astrid turned to go before catching sight of her bag on the back of the chair. She strode across the floor, yanked it off the back of the chair and unzipped it. Her notepad was there. Not that she wasn’t expecting it to be. She pulled it out and flicked through the pages. On separate sheets, her notes about her interview with Darren were disorganized. She had a system where she put the questions in level of importance. It was the confirmation she needed. Keri had obviously not noticed.
Slamming it shut, Astrid stuffed it back into her bag and took to the stairs. By the time she was outside Keri’s door banging on it she was crimson and out of breath.
‘Whoa, where’s the fire?’ Keri opened the door, a large glass of red wine in hand.
Astrid could tell by the glazed look in her eyes that she’d already had a few.
‘Astrid, darling, so you came? I thought you would.’
Keri reached out to lay a hand on Astrid’s shoulder. In one swift movement, Astrid slapped it away.
