Beautiful Creatures

by Lulu Taylor

  Vicky muttered impatiently, and pushed the printouts towards him. ‘But haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said? Flora Beaufort hasn’t received any of your emails. Here they are, I’ve printed them all out. Don’t you think that’s odd? She hadn’t even opened them.’

  Nick Falcon stared at her for a moment longer, the emotion in his black eyes unreadable, then said, ‘I don’t have any proof that you are who you say you are.’

  ‘Well, no … I suppose I’m asking you to take my word for a lot.’ Vicky thought for a moment and then said, ‘Okay. Let’s start again. Imagine I’m a brand new client. I’ve got this interesting case for you. My cousin Flora, who is also my employer and extremely rich, has gone off to Germany with her husband, and none of us has seen her since.’

  ‘But she’s been in touch?’

  ‘Yes – but from an entirely new email account, and in a voice that doesn’t sound completely like her own.’ Vicky shrugged. ‘There’s nothing I can exactly put my finger on, but it’s just a slightly different tone. And she’s not seen her sister – her twin sister – since her wedding day. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?’

  Falcon frowned and moved the mouse on his desk, flicking his gaze over to his computer screen. ‘Mmm. I’ve met the sister. For a moment.’

  ‘Have you?’ Vicky was surprised.

  ‘Yeah, she came in here one day and I naturally thought she was Flora. I may have put my foot in it somewhat as I inadvertently gave away the fact that Flora was looking for their mother.’ He looked uncomfortable. ‘But no one’s ever mentioned it since, so I let it go.’

  Vicky blinked at him. ‘But that explains the row they had! Just before the wedding. That’s why Octavia hasn’t tried as hard as I would have expected to see Flora.’ She sat back in her chair, sighing with frustration. ‘Oh, God, it’s all turned out to be such a mess.’

  Falcon frowned, and twisted his pen in his hands. He seemed to be struggling with himself. Then he looked up at Vicky. ‘Listen, what you’ve said is worrying, I’ll admit that. When I met Flora … Miss Beaufort … Mrs von Schwetten … I got the impression that she’s not as tough as some of the girls out there.’ His eyes softened. ‘I mean, she’s no weakling. It takes guts to look for a parent. But something about her made me think she’d been hurt.’

  Vicky nodded. ‘I know what you mean. Flora’s vulnerable, probably because of her crazy upbringing. That’s why I’m so worried about her. She’s sweet and caring and loving, and the way she’s acting just isn’t like her.’

  Nick thought for an instant more then fixed Vicky with a flashing dark gaze, setting his shoulders in a businesslike fashion. ‘Okay. What exactly do you want me to do, Miss Staunton?’

  Vicky was full of relief. He was going to help her.

  ‘I want you to look into Flora’s whereabouts and, more importantly, the man she married, Otto von Schwetten. Octavia and I looked him up before the wedding but he seemed to check out okay.’

  ‘Where’d you look?’ Falcon shot her a sardonic look. ‘And don’t say Wikipedia or I’ll kill you.’

  ‘Well …’ Vicky stopped, embarrassed, and flushed.

  ‘Oh my God.’ He turned his eyes to heaven. ‘You might as well have read the guy’s CV. He probably wrote it himself.’

  ‘Okay, maybe we should have looked harder. My guess is that’s what Octavia had in mind when she came here, but she got distracted by Flora’s search for their mother. But something odd happened recently. I was sure I’d seen Otto on the street, and sent a message to Flora asking her about it. I was instantly sacked by her – through her new email account – which is totally out of character. I’m beginning to suspect more than ever that von Schwetten sacked me, and that he is using Flora’s email account. But why would he do that?’

  Falcon looked concerned and intrigued. ‘Okay.’ He picked up a pen and jotted down some quick notes on his pad. ‘I appreciate the fact that you’ve settled my bill, and offered to pay me to do this further investigation for you. But, you see, the thing that’s bothering me is that you’ve opened the confidential files I sent your cousin. I don’t like that very much.’

  ‘Actually …’ Vicky sat up straighter and fixed him with her stare ‘… I didn’t open those documents. These printouts are just your emails. Flora’s secret is still safe.’

  Falcon returned her gaze for a long moment. Then he said, ‘Okay then. You’d better give me some details. We’ll get to the bottom of this in no time, I can promise you that.’

  Amanda signed her name with a flourish and pushed the document back across the mahogany desk to the lawyer. ‘There,’ she said. ‘Finished.’

  She had thought that perhaps she might start crying when it was actually done but instead she felt a weird excitement and a sense of a burden being lifted.

  ‘Thank you,’ said her lawyer. ‘Your brother has also signed his copies. That brings to an end the Radcliffe association with Noble’s. After quite some time. A hundred and fifty years, isn’t it? You’re a direct descendant of the original Noble, aren’t you?’

  No need to rub it in, for Christ’s sake, Amanda thought crossly. ‘Yes,’ she said briskly, putting the top back on her Mont Blanc. ‘Now there’s the small matter of the money.’

  ‘That will be wired across to your account, probably within forty-eight hours of receipt of these documents.’

  ‘Then there will be the accountant to talk to.’ Amanda made a face. ‘Yuk! Capital gains tax and God knows what else.’

  ‘There’ll be plenty left after all that,’ the lawyer said with a reassuring smile. ‘So, what’s it to be? A new dress? A fast car? A holiday in the sun?’

  ‘No.’ Amanda stood up and picked up her Mulberry bag. ‘None of that. Business. That’s what I’ll spend my money on.’

  She turned on her heel and marched out.

  It really was bizarre, but Vicky had dreamt about Flora all night and the same thing kept happening each time. She dreamt that she was on the phone to Flora, begging her to tell them the truth about what had happened with Otto, but all her cousin would say in return was, ‘I need a new bicycle. I need a new bicycle.’

  She woke up feeling frustrated and unhappy at the memory. She’d wanted so much to help. Why wouldn’t Flora tell her what they needed to know? She heard the soft voice again saying breathily, ‘I need a new bicycle.’

  The house was almost unbearably quiet all day. The staff had their day off, and Vicky had scaled back some of the hours for the cooks now that Flora had gone and Octavia was often out. She spent the day doing some odds and ends of work, swimming and watching television, and was about to go down and make herself some supper when the front door opened and Octavia came in, hauling a couple of weekend bags and a dress bag.

  ‘Oh, hi. Aren’t you at Ethan’s?’

  ‘Obviously not,’ said Octavia, puffing slightly. ‘I got back a while ago and decided to get a cab from the heliport. It’s just across the river.’

  ‘Are you staying for supper? I was about to make some. Molly’s off tonight.’

  Octavia nodded, brushing a hand over her hair. ‘Yes. I’m going to stay here for a while. No particular reason. I just felt the need to be home, that’s all.’ She smiled up at Vicky. ‘Hope you don’t mind some company?’

  ‘Are you kidding? I’d love it.’

  They sat together in the den, eating a light supper of lentil salad and cold chicken. Vicky listened to Octavia as she told the awful story of what had happened to Iseult, all the time wondering at the back of her mind if she should confess to her about the emails, the document containing the whereabouts of Diane Beaufort and the fact that she herself had put Nick Falcon on Flora’s trail.

  But Octavia seemed wholly taken up with the fate of her friend and her need to be on the spot when Iseult came round, even though she would probably be sedated for some days yet.

  I won’t tell her, Vicky decided. There’s no need to add to her worries right now. Perhaps if something comes of it I will, o
nce Iseult is out of immediate danger.

  But the following afternoon, as she sat in the office doing some household admin, she saw an email arrive in her inbox. It was from Nick Falcon.

  Hi, Miss Staunton

  Could you get over here urgently? If possible I suggest you bring Flora Beaufort’s sister with you. I’m available at any hour, so let me know when you can make it.

  Thanks.

  Nick Falcon

  Vicky stared at it. The moment of confession had come sooner than expected. She jumped to her feet and went to find Octavia.

  Falcon’s office seemed dingier and more messy than ever, and smaller, too, with all of them in it.

  Octavia was staring at the investigator with wild eyes. She’d been here once before, but had never expected to be back. Vicky had explained what she’d found in Flora’s untouched email account and that Nick Falcon had discovered the whereabouts of their mother; she’d also had to confess that she had asked him to investigate Otto von Schwetten.

  ‘I’m sorry if I overstepped the mark,’ she said finally as Steve whizzed them through the London streets in double-quick time.

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ Octavia replied swiftly. ‘I should have done it myself ages ago. I tried to once, but nothing came of it. I wish I had now.’

  They were both pale and nervous as they raced up the stairs to find out what Falcon had to say.

  It was much worse than they could have anticipated.

  ‘Wait, wait!’ Octavia felt simultaneously panicked and dazed as Nick finished his explanation. ‘Otto … he isn’t a baron at all then?’

  ‘Well, I suppose he could make a case for his being a baron, as he was officially adopted by the last Baron von Schwetten. The old man died last year, so if there is anyone with a claim to the title, it’s Otto Gestenholtz.’ Nick looked almost as worried as the two girls. The situation clearly bothered him a great deal.

  ‘This is awful,’ cried Vicky. She gripped the desk with white knuckles. ‘He’s a con man?’

  ‘Looks like it,’ Falcon said grimly, glancing down at a printed sheet in front of him. ‘I’ve traced a fair few of the women he’s been involved with and I haven’t been trying that hard. He’s also been married at least once before. He’s been before the courts too several times for fraudulent practices. No doubt his new surname helped him escape some of that record of petty theft and acquiring money through false pretences.’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Octavia was dead white. ‘Flora … I’ve got to get to her!’ She leapt to her feet. ‘She needs me. How could I be so stupid?’

  Vicky jumped up to grasp her arm and calm her down.

  ‘Hold your horses,’ Falcon told her. ‘We’re going to get her all right, but I’m afraid there is something worse to consider. It’s clear that none of the emails supposedly sent by your sister were actually written by her. I have a pet analyst who knows about this kind of stuff and she says there’s no way that genuine emails by Flora and the ones in the floravonschwetten account were written by the same person.’

  Octavia moaned softly, clenching one fist and pressing it to her mouth. She was even more agonised as she realised something else. ‘When she spoke to me … she spoke to me and … she stuttered. She stuttered like mad. I didn’t even notice it, but I was the only person she never stuttered with.’ She buried her face in her hands. ‘She must have been trying to tell me something, and I was completely deaf to her.’ She began to sob. ‘Flora, Flora, Flora …’

  ‘I need a new bicycle,’ murmured Vicky quietly, thinking, then a look of amazement and horror crossed her face. ‘I need a new bicycle!’ she shouted.

  The other two stared at her, Octavia through teary eyes. ‘What are you talking about, Vicky?’

  Her cousin spoke rapidly. ‘When Flora and I had a secret correspondence years ago, we had a code. A silly, simple thing where one sentence really meant another. We agreed in advance a whole load of meanings – you know, “I like lemonade” might mean “I hate my teacher.” That sort of simple stuff. “I need a new bicycle” meant … “They’ve locked me up.”’ Vicky closed her eyes and released a shuddering breath. ‘Flora wanted that one in. I never needed to use it, but then I was never shut away like she was.’

  ‘Did Flora say this to you?’ Nick asked, his expression even more anxious.

  ‘Yes,’ Vicky said. ‘I think she did. When she last called. But I never noticed at the time. I only remembered in my dream last night, and even then I didn’t understand.’

  Falcon looked worried but kept his businesslike air. ‘Okay, so this looks to me like constructive kidnapping. I don’t know if there is such a term, maybe I just invented it. Even though Flora married him of her own free will, she wasn’t in a position to make an informed choice as he concealed his true identity and past from her. It’s fraud, pure and simple. We can get her out of this, I promise.’

  ‘I want her back now!’ shouted Octavia, frantic. ‘Now!’

  ‘Hey, try and stay calm,’ urged Vicky.

  Octavia felt as though she was losing it. She could feel herself shaking all over and tears were pouring down her face.

  ‘No, she’s right.’ Nick Falcon stared at them with earnest dark eyes. ‘I don’t want to panic you but I personally think the sooner we get Flora out of von Schwetten’s control the better. We don’t know what his game plan is, but I’ve got some financial investigators hard at work on his records and what they’re telling me doesn’t look at all good. It appears that he has got some kind of access to your sister’s fortune – at least, he’s swimming in money right now. I would advise that we get Flora back straight away.’ He pursed his lips and looked serious. ‘My professional advice would be to call the police and get them involved. My personal advice would be that we could maybe pull this off on our own if we face von Schwetten on his own turf and use the element of surprise.’

  Octavia wiped her eyes and tried to control her tears. She shook her head as she absorbed his words and stared at him, amazed. ‘You mean, turn up there? At his castle? And just take her away?’

  Falcon nodded. ‘Sometimes the simplest things work best. We might avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble and publicity that way. I’m sure you don’t want this coming out unless it really has to.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ breathed Octavia, suddenly calmer. She saw the prospect of having Flora back very soon, of going and getting her out of that place personally.

  ‘But how would we get to Bavaria?’ asked Vicky, torn between panic and fear for Flora, and excitement at the course Falcon was suggesting

  ‘We’ll charter a plane!’ cried Octavia, suddenly energised.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I guess that’s the only way. But we’ll have to find a suitable landing field and have a car standing by there for us too, so we can drive straight to the castle. With local arrangements like that, there’s a risk von Schwetten will somehow find out we’re coming.’

  There was a pause and then Octavia said firmly, ‘I know what to do. Leave it to me.’

  65

  ‘You have really been very co-operative,’ Otto said. He looked over the dining table at Flora and gave her what for him was a warm smile, his brown eyes less harsh than usual. ‘I’m pleased with you, Flora. You’ve been much more adaptable than I was expecting. A good little wife.’

  She smiled back, trying to look as though his praise meant something to her. Her opportunity to get away from him would come only if he trusted her. She had submitted to him in all things, letting him degrade her over and over again, asking for nothing. Now she wondered if she dared try her luck with him.

  She fiddled with her fork for a moment and then put it down. ‘Otto,’ she said in a meek voice, ‘you said that if I was obedient and did what you asked, you might let me have my telephone back.’

  He stiffened, looking wary. ‘Why do you want it? Aren’t you content as you are?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said hastily. ‘But I’d love to talk to my sister. I miss her, you know.’

&nbs
p; Otto turned back to look at the newspaper he’d put on the table beside him. ‘I know you do. But I don’t really want you talking to her. I’ve heard of the way that twins can communicate, sometimes telepathically. Only when I’m sure you completely accept your new life.’ He spoke dismissively. There were to be no arguments.

  Flora felt her spirits dive again. Would this nightmare ever end? How long could it go on before she would rather be dead?

  ‘But there is some good news for you,’ he said brightly. ‘The work on the western side of the castle is almost complete. I thought you and I could go shopping. Christie’s New York is having a sale of antique German furniture and paintings. It might be fun to go there and buy some pieces. What do you think?’

  She was astonished. From months of captivity here in the schloss to … a buying spree in New York? It was ridiculous. But surely this would be her chance to escape. ‘Y-y-yes, I’d like that,’ she said, trying not to sound too eager. ‘I’d love to s-see the castle brought back to its former glory.’

  ‘Would you, my dear? I’m so glad.’ Otto looked very pleased. ‘That means you are thinking of this place as your home. I shall arrange it. We will stay somewhere nice and make a little trip of it. A kind of honeymoon, perhaps. We might have some other treats while we are there – some of the more exotic pleasures.’ He gave her a thin smile. ‘Every whim is catered for in a big city.’

  She did not want to think about what that might mean.

  ‘We will leave tomorrow,’ he said decisively. ‘Yes.’ He folded the paper. ‘I shall go and book flights at once.’

  Octavia ran past the receptionist and burst into the lavish office with its view over St James’s Park. Max Northam looked up from his desk, surprised.