Survivor

by Roberta Kray

  It was probably a bad sign, talking to himself. Or did everyone do it in the privacy of their own home? As the word ‘home’ entered his head, he glanced up at the four dingy walls of his bedsit. If he ever wanted to get out of this dump he’d have to get a proper job. There were two application forms on the table, one for a store detective and the other for Securicor. Neither prospect filled his heart with joy but beggars couldn’t be choosers; he needed to address the problem of his shrinking bank balance before it disappeared into the red.

  Nick returned his attention to the file. He thought about Teddy Heath for a while, more convinced than ever that Stanley had underlined the name for a reason. And hadn’t Mal’s responses been a little too rehearsed, a little too casual? Maybe, but it was hard to say for sure. His gut instinct at the time had been that he was lying. And perhaps that explained why Mal hadn’t thought to warn him about Lita and the doubts relating to her mother; the man had been too preoccupied with covering his own back.

  ‘Teddy Heath,’ he said out loud. ‘What the hell do you have to do with all this?’ Well, Lita had confirmed that Angela had mentioned him. That must mean something. He had tried calling Equity but drawn a blank. If Teddy was still alive, he was either working under a different name or had ceased to tread the boards long ago.

  Nick bent his head and quickly read through the notes Stanley had made on his conversations with Brenda Cecil, Maeve Riley, Ma Fenner, Calvin Cross and Lolly (as Lita had been then). The other loose thread, apart from Teddy, was Billy Martin. It was questions about Billy – Angela’s ex – that had given rise to an unwelcome visit from Joe Quinn. Still, that was one thing Nick didn’t have to worry about. The old gangster was dead and buried, gone for ever. His threats were as meaningless now as the vicious reputation he’d once had.

  It was this thought that prompted Nick into action. The sun was shining and it wasn’t the time to be cooped up in a rabbit hutch. Kellston might not be everyone’s ideal destination for a hot summer’s day, but that was where he was headed. If in doubt, return to the scene of the crime. Perhaps with Joe out of the way, people would be more prepared to talk.

  47

  Twenty-four hours, including a restless night’s sleep, had done nothing to improve Lita’s mood or quell her sense of indignation at being wrongly accused. How was she supposed to defend herself against an accusation that was so monstrous, so appalling as to be almost beyond comprehension? The more she protested her innocence, the guiltier she was likely to look. And all because of a stupid button she had plucked from a drawer five years ago. She cursed herself for leaving it on the bedside table in clear view of Mrs Gough’s suspicious eyes. It was the equivalent of leaving out a bullet for her enemy, a bullet that had then been loaded into a gun and fired directly back at her.

  Lita’s thoughts were running riot. She paced up and down the path by the lake. But Mal trusted her, didn’t he? She couldn’t bear to think of even a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. He had been her saviour, her white knight, her protector. He had taken her on when no one else wanted her and offered her a future. Yet only a week ago she had been wondering if she could trust him. Now the tables had been turned. Would the two events drive a wedge between them, create a barrier they couldn’t overcome? She shuddered at the very idea of it.

  And today she had something else to stress about. Jude would be here soon and she had no idea how Esther would react. What if she threw his script back at him, laughed in his face? What if she refused to introduce him to the movers and shakers who could change his life? Lita stopped walking, sat down on the bench and immediately stood up again. It didn’t bear thinking about – and so of course she couldn’t stop thinking about it. There was no reason for Esther to help Jude. Why would she after everything that had happened?

  Lita heard the sound of a car coming down the drive and hurried back towards the house. Already six of the weekend guests had arrived, three expensively dressed business types with their glamorous wives in tow. Surely this had to be Jude. She sent up a silent prayer – Please God – that Esther wouldn’t spoil everything.

  By the time she got to the front of the house, Jude was just getting out of his car. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He was wearing a light summer suit with a white shirt, and with his dark hair and eyes he looked almost Italian. She slowed down, not wanting to give the impression of being over eager. As she sauntered towards him, she was still trying to decide whether or not to warn him about Esther – but where to start?

  In the event, the decision was taken out of her hands. They had barely said hello, barely exchanged smiles, before Esther appeared and came down the steps to greet him.

  ‘Ah, Jude. So you’ve finally arrived!’

  Jude glanced down at his watch. ‘I’m not late am I?’

  ‘Not so late that we can’t forgive you for it,’ Esther said. ‘We know what you creative types are like – no sense of time whatsoever. But Mr Leighton is an impatient man so we shouldn’t keep him waiting.’

  ‘Claud Leighton?’

  ‘Who else? And unfortunately he’s brought that terrible little wife with him so we’ll have to rely on Lita to keep her occupied while we discuss that excellent script of yours. That’s if she doesn’t mind.’ Esther turned to Lita and flashed a bright, false smile. ‘Do you mind, darling? It’s a huge favour, I know, the woman’s a dreadful bore but I’m sure you can think of some way of distracting her for a couple of hours.’

  Lita, who had already seen the flush of excitement appear on Jude’s cheeks at the word ‘excellent’, could hardly say no – not without coming across as someone who didn’t give a damn about his future. But she wasn’t happy about it. She knew she was being sidelined, deliberately manoeuvred into doing exactly what Esther wanted, and although she inwardly railed against this manipulation she couldn’t see a way of avoiding it. ‘Well, okay, I’ll try.’

  ‘You’re a dear,’ Esther said as she linked her arm through Jude’s. ‘Anna’s in the garden. We’ll see you at lunch.’

  Lita watched the two of them walk up the steps. She waited, half expecting Jude to turn around but he didn’t. He had forgotten she was even there. As they disappeared inside, she felt two conflicting feelings – relief and resentment. At least Esther wasn’t venting her anger on Jude – that was good – but maybe she had a more devious plan.

  Lita found Anna Leighton on the lawn, sunbathing on a striped lounger with a glass of something long and cool beside her. She introduced herself and sat down. Anna was a striking brunette with wide brown eyes and a sulky mouth. She was in her thirties and had the confident air of a woman who knew how attractive she was.

  Anna fanned herself with her hand. ‘God, it’s so damn hot. Is there a pool here?’

  ‘No, only the lake, but no one swims there.’

  ‘Well, they wouldn’t would they? I hate the country. It’s so bloody boring. What do people do with themselves all day?’

  Lita shrugged. As soon as the woman had opened her mouth, she had recognised the accent. ‘You’re from London, aren’t you?’

  ‘Chelsea,’ Anna said. Then she gave a low husky laugh. ‘Not really. I was born in Mile End. Common as muck, me. Still, I haven’t done too badly for myself.’ She stopped fanning and held out the hand palm down. On her wedding finger were a gold band and an engagement ring with a huge sparkling diamond. ‘The price of love,’ she murmured with a cynical smile.

  Lita, who knew a bit about diamonds, could tell it was a good one – and worth a fortune. ‘It’s lovely. Stunning. I grew up in Kellston. That’s not so far from Mile End.’

  Anna nodded. ‘We’ve both done all right then, haven’t we?’ She paused before adding, ‘Depending on how you look at it.’

  Lita wasn’t sure what to say to that. She wondered how Jude was getting on and wished she was inside with him instead of stuck here trying to make conversation.

  Anna leaned back and yawned. ‘Jesus, I’m so bored.’

  Lita, who couldn�
�t help but take offence at the woman’s attitude, decided to match bluntness with bluntness. ‘Why are you here if you hate the country so much?’

  Anna arched her eyebrows. ‘What, and let Claud come on his own? I don’t think so. Do you have any idea how many women want to get their claws into him? I know what these weekend parties are like. It all starts off perfectly civilised but after a few drinks… And he’s not the type of man who likes to say no, if you get my meaning.’

  ‘I think this is more of a business type thing.’

  ‘Oh, they’re all business type things,’ Anna said with a dismissive wave. ‘At least that’s how they start off. Plans for this film or that, movie talk, location talk, money talk. It’s so damn tedious. And before you know it, they’re all pissed as newts and looking for a little fun.’

  Lita rolled this information around in her head. From across the other side of the lawn, she could hear the sounds of a game of tennis being played, the thwack of the rackets, the gentle pock of the balls, the occasional exclamation. It must have been the other two wives. Were they here looking for a little fun too? ‘My friend Jude has written a screenplay. Esther invited him down to meet your husband.’

  ‘Jude,’ Anna repeated. ‘I don’t think I’ve come across him before.’

  ‘He’s a writer. Well, obviously. Anyway, Esther said the script was excellent. It’s a sequel to Dark Places. Didn’t Claud direct the original version?’

  ‘Yes, back in the day.’

  ‘I’ve never seen it. Have you?’

  Anna gave a groan. ‘God, yes. I’ve had to sit through that bloody film more times than I care to recall. Past glories, you see. Claud got his only Oscar for it.’

  ‘And Esther.’

  ‘Yes, of course. And Esther. He says she was a nightmare to work with although that didn’t stop him screwing her.’ She smiled and lit a cigarette. ‘Oh, you’re not shocked are you? There’s a lot of screwing goes on in the movie business. I’m surprised they ever find the time to make any films.’

  Lita couldn’t imagine Esther with the balding man she’d seen arrive in the Rolls Royce. ‘I guess that was before she was married.’

  ‘She might have been single but he certainly wasn’t. Wife number two, or was it three? I’ve lost count of how many he’s had. He has to keep on making films just to pay the alimony. Those greedy bitches want every penny he earns.’

  Lita heard the resentment in her voice and quickly tried to change the subject. ‘So what’s it about, Dark Places?’

  Anna took another long drag on the cigarette. ‘It’s about beauty and greed and sex. It’s about a woman who can’t stand the sight of her husband any more and gets her lover to murder him.’

  ‘And does she get away with it?’

  ‘Of course not. It’s the men who control the movie business, darling. They don’t let women get away with anything.’

  Lita found herself thinking about all those films she’d watched with Jude, most of them with similar stories, most of them conveying the message that strong, clever, beautiful women were always destructive. ‘Is Claud interested, do you think, in making a sequel?’

  ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘He’s not said anything?’

  ‘Oh, he never stops talking. I just don’t listen to what he says. To be honest, I wouldn’t get your hopes up; you can’t trust anyone in this business.’

  ‘Esther says she likes the script.’

  Anna gave her an enigmatic smile. ‘Are you sure it’s just the script she likes?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Nothing, nothing at all.’ Anna yawned again. ‘Do you know, I think I might have a nap before lunch. I feel quite worn out.’

  48

  There were ten of them in all at lunch and Lita found herself seated next to Mal at the opposite end of the table to Esther and Jude. Although she tried to dismiss it, Anna’s insinuation was still firmly stuck in her mind. She watched them surreptitiously while the chatter and gossip flowed around her. It couldn’t be true – the woman was just stirring – but even if it was, Jude wouldn’t be interested. Esther might still be beautiful but she was so much older than him. He couldn’t possibly…

  But she didn’t like the way Esther leaned in to whisper in his ear, or the light flush that rose into Jude’s cheeks. And she didn’t care for the way he looked at Esther either, a look she had seen once before when he’d been infatuated with Amy Wiltshire. Or was she just being tired and emotional? It had been a rough few days and she wasn’t thinking straight.

  The wine flowed freely, and only Lita and Mal stuck to water. She wanted to keep a clear head. Mal made some small talk but for the most part he was quiet; he seemed distracted, solemn, in a world of his own. Had he talked to Esther about the business with the button? Even if he had, she wouldn’t believe him. She would choose to think the worst of Lita, just as she always had.

  The lunch seemed to go on for ever. It was a quarter to three before everyone finally rose from the table and drifted off in different directions. Lita grabbed the opportunity to have a word with Jude on his own. They went out into the garden and wandered down past the empty tennis court. She could remember the state of it when she’d first come to the house, but since then all the weeds had been destroyed, the court resurfaced and a new net put up.

  Eventually they found a shady spot to sit under the canopy of an old oak tree. She could smell the booze on him as he talked, and he talked non-stop, unable to contain his excitement. It was mainly about the script and what Claud had said to him and what he’d said back, a sentence-by-sentence recitation of the morning’s events.

  It was only when he paused for breath that Lita was able to ask, ‘So has he read it already?’

  ‘Well, no, not the whole thing, but he’s read the treatment – and he likes the idea. That’s the main thing. The rest is just detail. It’s amazing, isn’t it, Lolly? I can’t believe it. Claud Leighton actually wants to work with me.’

  Lita smiled, not wanting to rain on his parade. This wasn’t the time to urge caution. He was too caught up in the thrill of it all. ‘It’s amazing. Well done.’

  ‘And the three of us are meeting up in London next week. Esther says —’

  ‘Esther’s going to be there?’ she asked sharply.

  ‘Yes, of course. This is going be her biggest part since she started making films again. I mean, she’s going to want some input when it comes to the script. It has to be right, exactly right.’

  Lita tried to make her next question sound casual. ‘What do you think of her, of Esther?’

  Jude stared into the distance for a moment. ‘She’s… well, she’s one of those women, isn’t she?’

  ‘Those women?’

  He gave a soft laugh. ‘Oh, you know, beautiful and dangerous, selfish to the very core. The type who always get what they want, whenever they want it.’

  Lita was reminded of something Jude had said long ago. ‘Like Amy Wiltshire, you mean?’

  Jude’s head snapped round, his face instantly darkening. ‘Jesus, what are you bringing her into this for? What’s the matter with you?’

  Lita shrank back. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to… I just…’

  ‘Why are you trying to spoil everything?’

  She stared at him, wishing she could take it back, wishing she hadn’t spoken.

  Jude’s jaw was set, his faced twisted. His eyes flashed brightly although whether it was with anger or tears she couldn’t really tell. He was quiet for a while, staring down at the ground, before slowly lifting his gaze to look at her again. ‘Shit, sorry, I shouldn’t have… It just brought it all back for a second, finding Amy like that and then the police and everything. It was such an awful time. A nightmare. I don’t ever want to think about it again.’

  Lita, still stung by his response, said nothing.