“No. I don’t want to waste their time but I am changing the locks.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to waste their time; I didn’t trust the police or want to draw any more attention to myself than necessary. I still wondered why I had received strange looks at the store.
“Okay, but think on calling it in. At least it’s on record if anything should happen again.”
“I will. For now I just wanted you to know.” In fact, I wasn’t even sure why I wanted him to know.
“Have you told Beau?”
“No, he’s away, I think. I won’t worry him with this.”
“Be careful around him, Charlotte. I’m sure you realize, he’s a little unstable at the moment.”
I assumed he was talking about Beau’s grief but still found it a strange comment to make.
“I will, thank you,” I said, not sure how to respond.
“I should have some information for you in a couple of days. Now I have your cell number, I’ll call to arrange a meet up.”
I thanked him again and said goodbye. I was due at the diner that day so decided to head in an hour earlier and ask Rose if she knew of someone to change the locks. I also wasn’t sure on telling her someone broke in or that I’d lost my key. I didn’t want to lie to her but she’d only worry about me.
I didn’t get the chance to lie, or otherwise, to her. When I arrived at the diner, Kieran was running around in a panic, and Kacy was behind the counter.
“Hi, I’m Charlotte,” I said, holding out my hand to her.
“Hey, I’m glad to meet you, finally. And am I glad you’re here. Rose is off sick again and I really need to get going. I can come back later and help out, though. Just got to pick the kiddo up and drop him to my friend.”
She seemed friendly enough. “You go, I’ll start now,” I said.
I wouldn’t have said the diner was overly busy, but I didn’t get a break to even pee for a couple of hours. Kacy came back and between us, we had it all covered. I enjoyed working with her and I could see why Rose liked her. She was a bundle of energy, singing away to whatever song she could hear on the radio. When the lunchtime rush had died down and we’d cleaned tables, she pulled off her apron.
“Maybe we could get together, grab a pizza or something, one day,” she said.
“Yeah, I’d like that, thank you.”
I hadn’t had friends before, and although I was cautious, it was nice to even be invited to join her. I managed the afternoon shift and even offered to stay on.
“No, you’ve done enough. I’m just going to close up this evening,” Kieran said.
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.” I helped power down the kitchen and prep for the following day.
“Do you know how I can get the locks changed at my apartment?” I asked him.
He looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. “I don’t want to worry Rose, but I think someone broke in. Well, I say broke in, nothing was damaged, but someone was in the apartment.”
“You sure it wasn’t Beau?”
“He told me he was away, and it happened during the day while I was shopping. Nothing was taken, which is strange, but I know a couple of things were moved around.”
“Charlotte, I don’t like the sound of that.”
“I told Paul. I just think if I get the locks changed for now, I’ll be happy.”
“Why did you tell Paul?” he asked.
“Because he’s my lawyer, obviously.”
“I thought he had just sorted out your…troubles. I didn’t realize you were still using him.”
“He’s kind to me. He’s hoping to get my grandmother’s house back for me.”
“Just be a little careful, Charlotte.”
“Why?”
“Paul and Beau really do not get along, you don’t want to get stuck between those two.”
Beau and I don’t get along, most of the time, but I didn’t tell Kieran that. Beau was telling me to be careful around Paul, Kieran was telling me to be careful around Beau and Paul, Paul was telling me to be careful around Beau. Maybe I should just be careful of them all.
Kieran knew a guy who could change the locks and he decided to call him straight away. I guessed he was a little perturbed as to why I wasn’t in the panic perhaps I should have been. I headed on home to wait for the locksmith.
“All done,” the locksmith said. He handed me a couple of sets of keys. I guessed I would have to give one to Beau, as he technically owned the property.
“That’s great. How much do I owe you?”
I wasn’t sure if the seventy-five dollars was good value or not, but for peace of mind, it was a small price to pay. I would make a point to remember to bolt the main front door as well.
Paul had called and arranged a meeting. We decided on the diner as I could then start my shift straight after. I was seated in a booth and sipping on a Coke when he rushed in.
“I’m sorry I’m late, something came up,” he said, sliding in opposite me and ordering a coffee from Rose, who seemed a little frosty with him.
“That’s okay, I only just got here myself,” I said.
“I found some documents that prove the house was left to you so the next step is to approach the court for an eviction order.”
“Will they contest that?”
“Of course, but I guess they didn’t know who owned the property initially and more foolish of them for not actually finding out. I also know there is a lot of utility debt, seems your tenants weren’t paying the bills. Which poses a problem. The bills are in your name.”
“So I’m responsible?”
“Technically, yes, I’m afraid. I’ll work on that, though.”
“How are the bills in my name? I was a minor when that house was left to me.”
“I don’t know, I guess Damien had them changed at some point. Forged your details, perhaps?”
“Then ask them to cut the utilities off.” It seemed the most logical solution to me.
Paul nodded and wrote on his pad. I’d been out of the house for a year, I thought, so wondered how the hell the debt had been allowed to accumulate.
“Did you get the locks changed?” he asked.
“I did, yesterday. I got a couple of new sets of keys. I feel better about that, and I’m bolting the main front door as well. No one lives in the downstairs apartment so I don’t have to worry about locking anyone out.”
“That’s good. Have you given Beau a set of keys?”
“Not yet, I haven’t seen him.”
“Might be best to hold on to both sets. You just can’t be too sure.”
“Do you know if anything more has happened with the list?” I asked, diverting him away from Beau, or so I thought.
Paul laid down his pen. Sadness crept over his face and he sighed. “I don’t. Beau keeps everything too close to his chest. I just want to find my baby, Charlotte, but I’m not sure Beau is as keen.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess it’s no secret that we aren’t the best of friends since Rachel disappeared. Maybe he doesn’t trust me, I mean, he doesn’t actually trust anyone.”
I knew that feeling. “Maybe I can find something out for you?”
“No, I don’t want to involve you. Trust me, Beau can be an ass if he’s cornered.” He laughed at his statement.
“I want to help, though.”
“Well, just keep your ears open, but don’t probe him. I’m never sure if he’s telling me the truth, he’s so secretive.”
“But she’s your daughter.”
He sighed again. “I know. Enough about me, let’s get you sorted, shall we?” He gave me a broad smile and I reminded myself how lucky I was to have him on my side.
We chatted back and forth about the house and what I wanted for it. Paul told me he could arrange for the sale but I wasn’t to get too excited. The eviction process could be lengthy. We talked about my job at the diner and the fact I was a little worried about how I was going t
o pay rent. I assumed Beau would want to charge me.
“Maybe I can help with that. I might know of a job vacancy, let me check it out.”
“I don’t want to leave the diner, though.”
“This might be full-time, I don’t know. Leave it with me,” he said with a smile.
I hadn’t considered leaving the diner at all, but if Beau was to charge rent, and I couldn’t blame him if he did, I might need to find a full-time job.
Paul left and I started my shift.
“Good meeting?” Rose asked.
“Paul is trying to get my grandmother’s house back for me. My cousin lost it in a bet, or something, but I’m the legal owner.”
“That sounds good. Will you move back to it?”
“God, no. I’d want to sell it as quickly as possible, but it will certainly help me to have the money.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know. I mean, maybe I can buy a little house here, or at least rent somewhere.”
“Won’t you stay in the apartment?”
“I don’t know what Beau would want to do with it.”
“I’m sure he won’t throw you out,” she said with a smile. I wasn’t so sure about that.
Over the next few days I spoke with Paul frequently. I started to feel sorry for him, he just wanted to know what had happened to his daughter, and Beau didn’t seem to be letting him in.
I decided to see if I could reconnect with Beau. Maybe I could help both of them.
I know it’s the funeral tomorrow and wondered if there was anything you’d like me to help with, I texted.
All under control. Rose told me you’re going with them. Beau.
It still baffled me as to why he needed to sign off with his name.
I am, is that okay?
Why wouldn’t it be? Beau
You don’t need to sign off with your name every time; you’re the only contact in my cell.
I didn’t receive a reply and wondered if that ‘reconnecting’ might be a little harder than I’d expected. Before I could consider what else to do, Paul called.
“Hi, Charlotte, I wondered if you had a minute to meet up?”
“I can meet before my shift, if that suits you?”
“That would be great. In an hour?”
“Okay, I'll see you there.”
I didn’t think it was a conscious decision but I’d rather meet outside the apartment. There had been no more strange happenings, though, and I had begun to doubt myself.
The meeting with Paul wasn’t quite as I imagined.
“There have been some developments with the Philip Stanton case. My source tells me some new evidence has been discovered, in the bathroom. It could be a hair, I don’t know yet.”
I felt my heart start to race. “What does that mean?”
“Your details are on record, they could connect that to you. But I don’t want you to worry right now. We can always explain it away.”
“But you can’t lie to them, can you?”
“Listen, right now I want to help you. Just leave it to me, okay?”
“I don’t understand. They only just found it?”
“I’m not sure. They only just told me.”
“But…”
“Charlotte, please. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you. Leave it to me, it will all be okay, I promise.”
I felt scolded for being worried, but grateful that he would take care of it.
“I can’t go to prison,” I said, quietly.
“You wouldn’t, not for this. Like I told you, the police know Philip’s murder was more than just a break-in gone wrong. I want you to be careful, though. You haven’t given Beau any keys, have you? I’m wondering if I should have a set. If anything happened, I’d hate not to be able to get to you.”
“Do you really think Beau broke into my house?”
“I don’t know, sweetie, I just…you know. I just want to protect you.”
We were back to his daughter and I guessed he had felt maybe he failed her so was being overprotective with me. I smiled at him.
“I haven’t given anyone the keys. I’m actually wondering if I imagined the whole thing, to be honest. I could have moved those things while cleaning and just didn’t realize.”
“Well, think about giving someone you trust a set of keys.”
Was he suggesting that I shouldn’t trust Beau? He’d kept alluding to that fact and knowing how Beau was with me, I wondered if Paul had a point. But giving Paul a set of keys? That was something I needed to think about.
Paul left and I started my shift. I was concerned that Rose seemed overly tired of late. She’d had a couple of days off, which I believed was unusual for her. I tried to take the bulk of the work so she could just manage the counter and cash register. The hours flew by, I didn’t take a break, and it wasn’t until toward the end of my shift that my bladder reminded me I needed the restroom some time ago.
I was mopping down the floor when Beau surprised me by walking in. He didn’t frequent the diner that often. He took a seat at the counter rather than sit in a booth.
“Hi, can I get you a coffee?” I asked.
“Yeah. Black would be good.”
He looked tired, dark circles framed his eyes, and his hair stood on end as if he hadn’t brushed it for days. I poured his coffee and slid a menu toward him. He glanced over it but didn’t order immediately.
“I had to change the locks at the apartment,” I said. Paul’s words rang through my mind but ultimately Beau owned it.
“Okay, why?”
“I thought someone had come in, I’m doubting myself now. But I guess I panicked a little and changed the lock. I wanted to ask your permission but you were away.”
“What made you think someone had come in?”
“A couple of things were moved, a tin in one of the cupboards. It doesn’t sound like much, and like I said, maybe I overreacted.”
“Was there anything taken?” he seemed to have perked up, as if he was genuinely concerned.
“No, that’s the strange thing. There was no break-in, so I didn’t bother to call the police.”
“You should have. You should at least have called me.”
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
He shook his head, his earlier concern gone and replaced with exasperation.
“You’ll need to make sure I have a set of keys,” he said.
“Of course, I can get them to you tomorrow.”
“In future, Charlotte, if anything happens, you call me.”
He turned his attention to the menu and selected a burger and fries. I wrote up his order and passed it back to Kieran. While I waited for his food, I continued to mop the floor.
Rose served Beau his meal and I watched him eat. He ate fast, as if food was just a perfunctory act and he gained no enjoyment from it. I wondered if he even tasted the food, it was chewed and swallowed so fast. When I’d finished cleaning, I pulled off my apron and stored it under the counter. Rose handed me my earnings and I said goodbye before heading for the door.
“Wait up, I’ll walk with you,” I heard Beau call out as I opened the door.
Although his truck was parked outside the diner, he started to walk alongside me.
“Did you manage to talk to Paul about that message?” I asked.
“Why would I?”
“She was his daughter.”
“He told you that?”
“Yes. I think he’s a little concerned that you’re not sharing information with him.”
Beau laughed, although I didn’t think it was in humor.
“Don’t believe everything he tells you.”
“If you don’t like him, why did you ask him to help me?” I know I’d asked that question before, but I wanted to see if he gave me a different answer.
“Because he knows those fuckers in Whiteling. I might not like him, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t the best man to help you.”
“Do you know those fuckers
in Whiteling?” I’d never asked Beau why he was on that road that evening.
He didn’t answer, just looked at me. “I know one or two people, it is the next town over, Charlotte.”
Yet again, his tone of voice and choice of words made me feel as if I’d just asked the dumbest question. He was quite belittling and I wondered if he realized that. There were times when I thought he had no idea how rude he came across, and other times when I felt he knew exactly what he was doing.
“Don’t get too close to Paul,” he said.
“He says the same thing about you,” I whispered.
Beau stopped walking abruptly; he grabbed my arm so I stumbled as I turned to face him.
“He said what?”
“Nothing. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“How many times have you met up with him? He was supposed to get you out of the police station, nothing more.”
“Jesus, Beau. The man is helping me, and right now I need a little help.”
“Charlotte, I mean it, stay away from him.”
Why? I thought. I didn’t think there was a point in asking him aloud. I wasn’t sure I’d get an answer.
“Can you let go of my arm?”
His hand dropped from my upper arm and although he hadn’t hurt me, I rubbed at it.
“Oh, and a thank you for doing your shopping might have been nice.”
He stared at me, as if he wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
“Watch my lips…Thank…You,” I said, exaggerating the words.
His lips twitched. “Go on, smile, or say the words,” I added.
He rolled his eyes. “Thank. You.”
I gave him a fake smile and turned on my heel. I heard his footsteps as he followed me.
The more I thought about what Paul said, what Beau said, the more confused I became. I felt as if I was caught in the middle of something that I had no knowledge of, yet I wasn’t entitled to that knowledge because I didn’t know either of them. I had a few supporters in town, but did I really? As I got to my main front door, I stopped and turned to face him. I guessed he wasn’t expecting that when we collided. I pushed him back.
“You know what? I’m grateful to you, to Cecelia, and Rose, and everyone wanting to help but I don’t know why. I don’t know why you and Paul tell me the same thing because there’s obviously bad blood between you, yet you both want to help me. I feel like I’m caught in the middle, and I’m not sure that I like it. That makes me feel guilty now, as if I’m being ungrateful.”
Harlot Page 15
