The Girl from Lace Island

by Joanna Rees

  ‘And now he’s gone and his father is found dead,’ Chan said, his insinuation hanging in the air.

  ‘You can’t honestly believe that,’ Bibi said. ‘Rasa loves Vijay. He would never do something like this.’

  ‘Well, sometimes you never know what people secretly feel,’ Chan said, his gaze suddenly turning and focusing on Leila. ‘Isn’t that so, Leila?’

  She turned and pushed her way through the crowd, desperate to get away, panic threatening to choke her. Because this was all her fault. If she hadn’t told Vijay about what she’d found in the lighthouse, then he would still be alive.

  ‘Leila,’ Bibi called.

  ‘Leave her,’ Leila heard Chan say. ‘She’s upset. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.’

  She ran away fast then, her feet pounding with her heartbeat, panic fluttering inside her like a trapped bird.

  Chan’s face filled her vision.

  He knew.

  He knew exactly who had murdered Vijay. Maybe he’d even done it himself. With his own hands. Leila certainly wouldn’t put it past him. If he’d known Vijay was on to him. And on to what was going on in the lighthouse.

  And now Chan was going to frame Rasa for it.

  She stopped at the top of the hill, leaning on a tree, gasping for breath, trying to think, a choked, horrified sob escaping her.

  She had to leave. She had to leave and find Rasa. And she had to get Bibi to safety. Tonight.

  No matter what it took, she would force Bibi to face the truth about Chan.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Kerala, present day

  ‘You didn’t tell her, did you? Kareena, I mean?’ Jess asked, as she and Suresh walked up the path behind the spa buildings at the far end of the resort’s complex and the gate that led out towards the main road. It was later on in the afternoon and Jess had been looking forward to this walk to the temple ever since she’d left Suresh this morning. She wondered if he could tell that she’d already changed three times, furious at herself for even caring what she looked like.

  He was wearing khaki shorts and hiking boots and a canvas hat, which made him look like an intrepid Boy Scout. She had opted for shorts too and trainers, but she shouldn’t have bothered with make-up, which now felt slick on her face in the afternoon heat. She took a swig from the water bottle she’d brought, then offered it to Suresh, who accepted it gratefully.

  ‘No,’ Suresh admitted. ‘But she would never do something like this. Go on a trek, I mean. Or have an adventure that might involve getting dusty or dirty.’

  He grinned at her and swallowed some water, before handing back the bottle. Jess felt butterflies dance in her stomach as they stepped onto the road. Because he was right. This did feel like an adventure.

  She knew she was telling herself that it wasn’t a big deal that she’d so readily agreed to spend time alone with Suresh, but the truth was that she didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to take in some sights. As much as Kareena wasn’t up for this, Jess certainly was.

  She thought momentarily of Blaise and felt a pang of guilt. What would he say, she wondered, if he could see her now, walking beside this stranger? But it was safe, she reminded herself. They were new acquaintances and both engaged. What was wrong with them wanting to explore? It was safer than Jess exploring on her own.

  At this time of day, the road was busier than Jess had expected, rickshaws and mopeds – some of them with whole families on board – competing with lorries and buses.

  ‘Come on. The turning up the hill is just over here,’ Suresh shouted, grabbing Jess’s hand and darting across the road.

  They walked on past a lumbering elephant and a huge hoarding advertising a brick company, the picture showing a beautiful girl in a sari next to a very new wall.

  ‘She looks a bit like you,’ Suresh said.

  ‘Thank you very much,’ Jess laughed.

  ‘Seriously. Maybe one of your relatives is from India?’

  Jess stopped in the street and Suresh had to grab her to pull her out of the path of a bus that suddenly overtook a tuk-tuk on the other side of the dusty road, narrowly missing a lorry going the other way. Jess fell a little way into the ditch on the roadside, the smell of the rubbish making her eyes water.

  ‘Oh my God,’ she laughed, clutching on to Suresh. ‘You weren’t kidding that this was going to be an adventure.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Look. There it is,’ he said, pulling her upright and pointing to a small gate and a tree-lined path disappearing between the fields at the side of the road, towards the mountains.

  Soon, they were safely on the small lane, the insanity of the road forgotten as they became surrounded by trees and lush vegetation. Jess picked the head off a tall piece of grass, marvelling at the intense bright green of the paddy fields through the trees.

  ‘You know, maybe you’re right,’ she said to Suresh, walking beside him. They climbed over a gate, following the makeshift wooden sign pointing up through the trees to the hill. ‘What you said back then. Maybe I do have Indian heritage. I’d never thought of it before, but I could have. I certainly feel connected to this place in a way I never have to anywhere.’

  ‘Don’t you know?’ Suresh asked. ‘What about your parents?’

  Jess filled him in on what little she knew, even about the crucifix that had gone missing from her apartment.

  ‘I’ve thought about looking for my parents for so many years,’ she said.

  ‘Why haven’t you?’

  ‘The time, the expense. And to be honest, I’m a bit scared of what I’ll find out.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘I just don’t want to discover that my mother didn’t want me,’ she said, feeling more emotional than she expected to.

  ‘Well, I understand that.’

  ‘It’s never really bothered me that much, but when I think about it – as I have done since I’ve been here – I can’t help feeling weird that I’m committing myself to another person when I’m not really sure where I come from,’ Jess said.

  ‘Can’t Blaise help you? You gave me the impression he’s wealthy. Maybe he could pay someone to find out.’

  Jess sighed. ‘I don’t think he’s that interested. He’s happy for things to be as they are. And I guess it’s convenient not to have much family hanging around. He’s keen for us to get married. He wouldn’t welcome any distractions now.’

  ‘Well, I can’t blame him. Kareena’s family are a nightmare,’ he joked. ‘Well, all families are, to be honest.’

  As they walked on, she listened as Suresh opened up about how his and Kareena’s families tried to control them both and wanted a say in every decision to do with the wedding. No wonder the engagement had already lasted for two years.

  They climbed higher and soon Jess was out of breath as the path rose steeply upwards through the trees, but with the birds singing all around and the sunshine glinting through the thick trees, it felt magical.

  But it wasn’t just the walk that was magical. It was being with Suresh. As they walked and talked, Jess found herself opening up to him about so many things. She told him about what had happened with Angel and how much she missed her.

  ‘That is a very sad story, Jess. I’m so sorry. There is nothing worse than losing a friend. I lost my best friend in a car crash when I was twelve. It still hurts to this day. I really am sorry for your loss.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, feeling so touched that he understood.

  ‘She’ll always be with you, though,’ he said. ‘I believe that, anyway. I bet she’s looking out for you right now.’

  ‘I hope so. It’s such a relief to talk about her,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t chat like this to Blaise.’

  It felt like a big admission and she looked away.

  ‘You can’t talk to him?’

  It was a direct question, but the answer that should trip off her tongue stalled.

  ‘It’s just . . .’ She blew out a breath, her eyes filling with sudden, unexpec
ted tears. ‘It’s just all gone so fast. I don’t think I really know him well enough.’

  ‘Maybe it’s good to find out his faults over time. Then you can change them one by one.’

  ‘I don’t want to change him. Not really. I don’t think that’s fair.’

  ‘Kareena wants to change everything about me.’

  ‘Why? You’re lovely as you are.’

  Suresh looked down at the ground, not meeting her eyes. ‘You’re the first person to say so in a long while.’

  They walked on, the cool damp green of the thick trees suddenly giving way to intense sun as the path climbed from the treeline upwards towards the rocks. Jess tried to figure out exactly what it was that had passed between them as she walked around the large boulders. Because it felt as if her opening up had formed some kind of unspoken bond. Why did it feel so easy to trust him? she wondered.

  ‘Tell me more about this Blaise of yours,’ Suresh asked, as the path widened out so that they could climb upwards side by side. Wild cacti, with their purple flowers, sprouted between the rocks. Above them, a bird of prey circled. ‘What does he do for a living?’

  ‘He’s in property. Actually, he’s investing in an island not far from here,’ Jess said. ‘It’s called Lace Island.’

  Suresh stopped on the path. His eyebrows shot up. ‘Lace Island?’

  ‘You know it?’ Jess asked.

  ‘Of course I do. There’s lots of stories about that place. About what happened before the fire.’

  ‘What fire?’

  ‘The whole place burnt to the ground, must be twenty years ago, no, longer than that. Before then, a family lived there. It was this exclusive resort. They said it was paradise. Kareena worked with a guy once who told her all about it. She was trying to get a news crew there, but everything was blocked. In the end, her boss dropped it.’

  Jess was astonished. Why hadn’t Blaise mentioned any of this to her?

  ‘What else do you know?’

  Suresh shrugged. ‘Not much. That’s about it.’

  ‘Can people go there?’

  ‘No. Not according to Kareena. Anyway, it’s a wilderness now. The ferry used to go there many years ago, apparently, but it’s not on the route anymore.’

  ‘Blaise says they’re going to develop it into a luxury resort.’

  ‘It’s about time, I suppose. I’m sure he’ll make a fortune,’ Suresh said, but he sounded uncertain. ‘It’s a fantastic location. Once, there was a landing strip there for planes, so I’m told. And I think there’s some coral reef nearby, so there could be diving.’

  Jess climbed up the steep slope behind him, her mind going over and over what he’d told her about Lace Island. She tried to imagine the overgrown wilderness that Suresh had described and the vision Blaise had for the island’s future. She couldn’t wait to go there with Blaise, but she wondered why Kareena’s efforts to investigate had been stopped. By whom?

  As soon as she got home, Jess decided she’d Google it properly and see what she could find out about what Lace Island had once been like.

  They climbed up and up, over the steep rocks, crude yellow arrows painted on the path to show them the way. Jess couldn’t believe how steep the path became in places and she had to press herself against the rock face and steel herself not to look down, over the thin ledge and the cliffs below. A goat bleated at them, scurrying up and away towards the deep blue sky.

  ‘Last bit of the path,’ Suresh called back down to her.

  She scrambled up the rock to the flat summit where the monks’ temple looked out over the Western Ghats. Suresh pulled her the last of the way and she laughed, out of breath.

  ‘Wow,’ she said, breathless but happy as she absorbed the astonishing view. ‘It’s like we’re on top of the world.’

  ‘No wonder the monks thought they were closer to God here. It feels amazing, the energy. Don’t you think?’ he said. ‘Although, I have no idea how they brought up all the materials to make the temple.’

  She shared her bottle of water with Suresh again, and they sat on the temple steps together in quiet contemplation of the view, the odd, distant buzz of a moped drifting up to them over the tops of the trees. But up here, it was as if they’d entered another dimension. Another world. Where nothing else mattered, and everything that did was far, far below.

  Jess felt a quiet sense of peace descending on her as she sat side by side with Suresh, looking out at the view, which stretched on for hundreds of miles. Maybe she’d answered her own question. Maybe her sense of unease was nothing to do with marrying Blaise. Maybe it was to do with her. About finding out who she was. That was the answer. Up here, her eyes stretching towards the distant, hazy horizon, she felt sure of it. She had to know the truth. And then she would be free.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Lace Island, 1990

  It was gone midnight as Leila paced in Bibi’s office, waiting for her mother to come back from Maliba’s house. She’d been gone for hours, comforting Vijay’s family and calming everyone down. But where was she? She must be home soon. Then Leila could tell her what she suspected about Chan. And Bibi would help her get a message to Rasa. Her heart ached for Rasa, for the dreadful knowledge of what she knew and he didn’t.

  Was it really true, as Bamu had said, that Rasa and Vijay had argued? She could imagine that they would have. Vijay must have been furious that Rasa was giving up on his studies when he was so bright. Or had Rasa told his father that he was leaving because of Leila, because he could no longer bear to look at her?

  The thought of it clutched her heart and made it hurt.

  Had Rasa found Vijay to say goodbye before he went to the ferry? And if he had, what had passed between them? Had Vijay said anything that might have indicated that he was in danger? Did Rasa know anything that might shed light on who would do such an appalling thing to his father? If only he was here and hadn’t left. She couldn’t blame Bamu for speaking up earlier and she knew how readily people on the island jumped to conclusions but, even so, she was horrified that anyone could possibly think that Rasa was in any way to blame for Vijay’s death.

  Chan was.

  Her own stepfather.

  Leila stifled a shuddering sob. If only she knew how to get the telex machine to work herself, but only Bibi knew how to connect the ancient apparatus. But even if she could work it, she had no idea where Rasa was staying in Cochin. There must be hundreds of car shops.

  She kept thinking of Rasa’s face when he found out that Vijay had been murdered. Would he blame Leila after what she’d told him? He would certainly believe her then about bad things going on at Lace Island. Bad things that Leila no longer had any idea how to control. Because what if Vijay had got word out to the police? What if the authorities were already on their way?

  ‘Leila, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you in bed?’ Bibi said, making Leila jump as she came into the room, uncovering her head, shaking out the raindrops on her yellow headscarf.

  ‘How can I sleep after seeing that?’ Leila said, and Bibi took her into an embrace.

  ‘I know. I know. It’s a terrible business,’ she said, kissing Leila’s cheek.

  Leila pulled away and paced for a moment.

  Bibi watched her. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

  ‘It’s my fault.’

  ‘What is?’ Bibi asked.

  Leila’s voice was shuddering as she spoke. ‘It’s my fault that Vijay is dead.’

  ‘Leila, calm yourself,’ Bibi said, with a sigh. ‘We’re all upset, but pull yourself together.’

  ‘No, Mummy,’ she said, raising her voice. ‘No. This time, you have to listen.’

  Leila grabbed Bibi’s arm and forced her into sitting down on the swivel chair. Then she rushed to the door, looking out for Chan before shutting it firmly and turning the key.

  ‘What is all this?’ Bibi asked, clearly picking up on Leila’s terror.

  ‘I know you don’t believe me sometimes, or the things I say, but you have to
know that everything I’m going to tell you is the truth. Promise you’ll believe me.’

  Bibi was listening intently, her hands in her lap. ‘Go on.’

  Still standing, Leila took a deep breath and told Bibi all about her discovery of the drugs in the lighthouse. How Chan and Shang were planning on shipping them to America with Adam’s help.

  Bibi stared at her, her eyes dark with fear. ‘It can’t be true.’

  ‘That’s what Vijay said when I told him what I’d found.’

  ‘You told Vijay? When?’

  ‘At Maliba’s party. He said he’d investigate and now he’s dead.’ Leila’s hands were shaking, and she saw now that Bibi had gone pale.

  ‘And you think Chan did it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Her mother was silent for a long while, then shook her head and sighed. ‘He’s capable of many things, Leila, but not murder.’

  ‘Well, if it wasn’t him, it was Shang, or one of those other men Chan is involved with. Vijay must have found out what they were planning. The point is that Chan knows what happened. And now he wants to pin the blame on Rasa. When Rasa could never, never . . .’ Leila covered her face with her hands, her tears overcoming her now.

  She felt Bibi’s arms going around her then. ‘Oh, Leila,’ she said. ‘Oh, my girl.’

  She stroked Leila’s hair, but Leila could tell Bibi was already trying to rationalize everything she’d heard. Already trying to find a plausible explanation. She pulled away and stared at her mother, clutching her arms.

  ‘We can leave,’ Leila said. ‘On Rasa’s boat. We don’t have to tell Chan. We can make a fire happen in the lighthouse. Make all the drugs disappear so that the island’s reputation isn’t destroyed. And then we can claim on your insurance and start again.’

  Bibi laughed a strained, horrified laugh, the realization that Leila knew about the insurance dawning on her face. ‘The insurance . . . ?’

  ‘I heard you talking about it. And what you said about Chan.’

  Bibi stared her in the eyes. Woman to woman. ‘Is that really your plan?’ Bibi said, her voice low.