Closer to the Heart (The Heart Trilogy Book 3)

by Unknown

"Gladly" he said. A knock interrupted them as she was given another bouquet. She looked at the card and smiled.

  "It's from Mum, James, Sarah, Chris, Pam, Peter, Darren and Sophie"

  “I bought you something more useful” Zach said. He gave her the package and she opened it to find a silver dress.

  “Beautiful” she whispered, it shimmered in the lights. Charlotte found a hanger and hooked the dress over the door.

  “Fifteen minutes to curtain” a voice shouted from the corridor.

  “I’d better go and see if our guests have arrived”

  “Wait” she implored, grasping his hand. On tiptoes she coiled her arms around his neck and touched her lips lightly on his.

  “Thanks for everything”

  “Thank me when we have her” he smiled, but his eyes were dark as midnight.

  Letting her go, he watched her sit at the vanity unit and re-touch her eyeshadow and lipstick before he closed the door. Trying to stay calm he strolled into the now heaving bar and found Daniel and Felicity. There was no sign of Matthew/Mitchell and his girlfriend.

  "Zach, never had you down for such a long term relationship, Casey must be one hell of a fuck"

  "Mmm" Zach didn't reply as all he wanted to do was punch his best friend again.

  "Matthew and Maya have gone to find their seats" Felicity said, taking small sips of her champagne. Zach ordered and gulped down another JD and then let her hook her arm through his.

  He hated the feel of her claw like hand as he led her into the auditorium. It was sold out and as Felicity and Daniel took their seats he glanced round and found his sister and brother-in-law a few rows back.

  "What's she doing here" Lexie hissed, as she kissed his cheek.

  "Unlucky coincidence"

  "What her walking in on your arm? What are you playing at?"

  "I'll tell you after the show"

  "Oh Zach, please be careful"

  He nodded and grinned.

  "Lexie, just sit down and enjoy"

  On the way back to his seat next to Felicity he looked up into the box nearest the stage and saw Stephanie. He ignored her wave and hoped that the others hadn't noticed.

  I looked at the curtains on the stage and tapped a quick message to my daughter.

  "Good luck honey, pretend we're not here and you'll be fabulous"

  "Thanks Mum, can't wait to see you later"

  Switching my phone off I looked down into the audience and saw Zach, I waved but he didn't notice as he slipped into a seat next to a woman with dark hair studying her nails. In an instance she looked up and I shrank back when I saw her cold steel eyes. It was Felicity, what was she doing here? I nudged James and he saw the panic in my face. He gripped my hand in his, holding it tightly in his lap.

  "She'll be fine, she'll be brilliant" he whispered.

  "It's not that, she's here"

  "Who?"

  I motioned and James peeped over the balcony and saw the unmistakable form of his ex-wife.

  "What the hell?"

  "She sitting next to Zach and her partner Daniel who I believe is a friend of his, perhaps that's why?"

  James pulled his phone out, this opportunity was too good to miss.

  "I'll be two minutes" he whispered, before leaving the box. Outside in the hallway he called Rob.

  "Felicity is back in the country, is there anything you can do?"

  "How do you know?"

  "She's here in the theatre about to watch the show"

  "I'll give my mate Sargent Peters in the Met a call and see if they can at least follow her at the end of the show. We might not have enough time or evidence to arrest her"

  "Oh, well thanks Rob" James replied, slightly deflated by the response.

  "Keep faith, if she has something to hide then we will find it"

  The call ended and James returned to my side.

  "Well?"

  "We'll have to wait" he whispered as the lighting dimmed and the glare was on the stage as the curtain lifted.

  I reached for James' hand and held it tightly as I caught the first glimpse of my daughter. The well-known storyline unfolded and I forgot it was Charlotte that I watched. Her dancing was captivating and she delivered her lines with all the ability of an actress. The crowd giggled and shared her embarrassment over the watermelons as she clapped eyes on the dancer playing Johnny. From our box he was a poor substitute for Mitchell and Charlotte far outshone her leading man. By the close of curtains on the first half I was wiping tears of joy from my cheeks. James, Chris and Peter went to collect our interval drinks from the bar so Sarah slid into the chair next to me.

  "Breath taking she has even improved since the London dance competition" Sarah exclaimed.

  "Yes, but I miss Mitchell" Pam lamented over my shoulder "He should have been up there"

  As the curtain closed Zach glanced across the row towards Matthew. He had been staring intently at the lead dancer, so much that he had let go of Maya's hand after five minutes. Zach watched him stand and flee the auditorium as soon as the lights brightened. He hesitated and wondered if he should follow him but Felicity caught his arm instead.

  "This is truly wonderful, I hope they tour in America as your girl Casey can certainly move"

  "Thanks, would you like a drink?"

  "Zachary that would be lovely, my usual" she murmured, standing to stalk off to the Ladies room. Daniel had moved into the seat next to Maya and was trying to chat her up in the absence of Felicity and Matthew. Zach stood up and stretched, he had been entranced through the entire first half. Charlotte was something else on the stage, she was the only one he watched as she eclipsed the other dancers around her.

  Outside in the lobby Mitchell bought a programme and then hurried outside into the fresh air. The female lead was so spellbinding and as he looked at the cast list his heart did a backflip. It was Charlotte, his Charlotte? Or was she really with Zach now pretending to be Casey? Did she know who he was, had she guessed over dinner in New York? Closing his eyes the images of all their dances jostled for position in his mind. Rubbing away the tears of joy that were threatening to spill down his cheeks he was back down to earth with a bump. If he went to her at the end of the show then what would Felicity do? How was Maya going to feel after all she had slowly started to fall for him - a mere shadow of his real self. He was only with her to appease his mother's incessant matchmaking ever since they had landed in the States.

  Back inside he walked to the bar and bought a lager, downing it in almost one gulp. His throat was suddenly dry and his head was aching with the possibilities. Could he make a run for it? Escape and turn himself in at the nearest Police Station? If he went now he could do it, but that would leave Charlotte to the mercy of Zach. With shoulders slumped he saw the lights start to dim and he slunk back to his seat, trying not to catch Maya's eye. He tried to look around the rest of the audience, surely his Dad and Charlotte's Mum would be here? The only seats he couldn't see were the ones above in the boxes to either side of the stage. Was his real family literally feet away from him?

  Whilst both Felicity and Mitchell had been away Zach had pulled out his phone, slipping into the small corridor that led backstage. He dialled the number for the local Police Station.

  "I'd like to report a found missing person, who I believe is being held against his will"

  After Zach had recounted the details the officer paused.

  "I'm going to put you through to someone more senior"

  "Detective Sargent Andrew Peters speaking" the voice said. Once more Zach recounted the evidence he had, waiting to be told it was fanciful as that's how it sounded to him.

  "When does the show end and will Charlotte be able to identify this person?"

  "In about an hour and a half, we're at the Adelphi Theatre"

  "We'll be there" Andrew replied, putting down the phone. He picked it up again straight away and rang his mate Rob back. This was all very weird indeed and if Rob had more evidence that he could email over then they
might just stand a chance of an arrest.

  Zach was shaking and went to the bar for his usual and Felicity's Champagne. Walking back down the aisle he felt cold sweat dripping inside his shirt and he almost dropped the glass when he saw Felicity gazing around the audience. He hoped that she hadn't seen Stephanie or her ex-husband James as that would surely arouse her suspicion. Instead she turned her full smile on Zach as he presented her with the glass.

  "Thank you Zach, I'm so glad you're going to be back with us tonight, it's been so long since we last had the chance" she let her finger run up the inside of his trouser leg, waiting for the brief twitch of response. Zach shut his eyes hoping his smile would not vanish into a grimace at her touch. Her poison burned him even through the material, the scar on his back started to tingle and itch.

  Chapter 36

  The lights dimmed and the action began again on the way to the Sheldrake Hotel. Charlotte had been sick in the interval and as she reapplied her make-up she thought about the show. The first half had been almost too perfect, all her steps flowed, Lucas kept up and she had remembered all her lines. Rubbing her bump before slipping into the more glamourous dress for the start of the second half she realised that the baby had been still for most of the performance. Normally it was quite active during any form of music or dancing but not tonight. Perhaps it was somehow aware of the serious nature of the occasion. Pushing all her worries to the back of her mind she took to the side of the stage and looked up. She could just make out the figures of her family in the box above the far side.

  With the music controlling her Charlotte revelled in the dance as the storyline progressed to the climactic scenes. Sitting in the seat at the corner table she felt the first stabbing pain, at the base of her bump. She gasped and took a deep breath, it was almost all over now she couldn't ruin the show. Reaching beneath the table she stroked the top, sending calm thoughts as the pain subsided. She smiled as Lucas approached the table and uttered the now famous words

  “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”

  Another sharp pain nearly floored her as she tried to stand. Looking down she felt wet between her thighs, beads of sweat formed instantly on her brow and the stage set around her started to sway. Everyone was talking slowly now and Charlotte tried to speak but then a veil of heavy blackness pulled her down. The pain was tugging and relentless inside her and Charlie succumbed to it.

  The crowd gasped in collective shock as the star of the show fell towards the floor, only stopped by her quick thinking co-star. I was on my feet and running with James right behind me. I struggled to push through the crowd but when I got to the stage I could only stop and gasp. James bumped into the back of me.

  “Fucking hell” his words as his fists rubbed his eyes. Kneeling beside my daughter was one familiar figure in the shape of Zachary King. I saw his pale face almost matching hers. He had his phone pressed to his ear I guessed ringing 999 for an ambulance. The second figure had bleached blond hair and his back to us, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Arlene recognised us and ushered us onto the stage and it was at that point that James uttered a single word.

  “Mitchell” it echoed across the vast auditorium, strangled and tipped with emotion. The blond man looked up and I saw the ghost of James' son.

  “Matthew, it’s time we were leaving” a shrill, imperious voice cut through the hubbub. James turned to stare at his ex-wife and I saw his hands clench into fists. His face started to recoup the colour that had left it only moments before. His blue eyes burned bright with pure hatred. He took a step towards the edge of the stage.

  “Who the fuck is Matthew”

  “My son” she screamed, starting to lose her cool.

  “You only ever had 2 children, Darren and Mitchell! We thought he was dead but it appears not”

  “Mitchell is DEAD, I came to his funeral remember, this is Anthony's son. I am his legal guardian” she spluttered. The conversation ceased as the ambulance men rushed to the stage, a stretcher in hand. I closed the gap as Zach and Mitchell stood up. Neither could bear to take their eyes off the still figure. I pushed past them both at the same time as the paramedics arrived and took her hand in mine.

  Charlotte was moaning; her eyes squeezed shut and one hand resting on a small bulge beneath the flaring of her dress.

  “Help her please” I pleaded, as they lifted her onto the stretcher to carry her down the steps to the waiting trolley. James and Felicity were locked in a glaring battle across the bewildered audience. Some had started to file out when the next commotion took place. Four policemen rushed in, weaving their way towards the stage. Zach saw them and so did James.

  “Felicity Carmichael-Astaire you're under arrest” the leading officer demanded. He followed Zach's finger as he pointed her out. It was the only time I had ever seen Felicity look shaken. Daniel had moved aside slightly with Maya looking bewildered beside him.

  “Daniel, you're coming with me” she declared, reaching to grasp his hand. She looked at the edge of the stage finding the other man in her life

  “You too, Matthew”

  “Who are you?” a second officer asked.

  “I'm Mitchell Cooke and if it’s ok I'd rather go in the ambulance”

  James walked across the stage to him, placed an arm around his shoulders and nodded at the officer.

  “Yes this young man is my son, but we'll do what is necessary to your investigation”

  The policeman looked across at the Detective Sargent who was placing handcuffs around the slender wrists of Felicity.

  “Are you James Cooke?”

  “Yes”

  “Rob sent me the details so yes take Mitchell to the hospital. We'll send a couple of officers with you as we will need to take a statement”

  I watched as James and Mitchell rushed through the crowds left gawping at the spectacle that had ended the show abruptly. Then the three of us climbed into the ambulance and sat along the side as the paramedic connected Charlotte to various machines and inserted a drip. Just before the back doors closed I saw Zachary appear.

  “She's pregnant” he declared to the paramedics. I did a double take at his news, watching the doors shut him out. I looked again at Charlotte, now sedated and peaceful. It all made sense in my head, the sickness that James had told me about. Mitchell just sat in silence, shock paled his tanned skin, his green eyes frosted like sea glass. James placed his arm over my trembling shoulders. The silence stretched between us as the events played on loop in each of our heads.

  At the hospital I paced up and down the corridor as the white walls closed in on me. The memories of my Mum's recent visit and my own years ago merged into one nightmare that jostled in my mind. Mitchell sat with his head in his hands and James alternated between the two of us. The Doctor interrupted my tenth circuit of the linoleum.

  “She's resting now but we're going to keep her in for a day, maybe two. We're going to take her for a scan tomorrow but she's very underweight”

  “Can we see her?”

  “You can go in and see her for a few minutes but I'd advise just you tonight”

  James and Mitchell both nodded as I left them and followed the doctor into the small private room. Charlotte opened her eyes as I stepped in.

  “Mum” she cried, tears starting to spill down her cheeks. I pulled her into my arms, taking care not to get tangled up in the drip feed and the monitor connections. I hugged her tightly and let her sobs shake her shoulders until they stilled.

  “I'm sorry Mum, I really stuffed things up and now I'm pregnant”

  “It’s ok, everything will be fine” I wiped her hair from her skin, still as pale as the pillows behind her.

  “I ruined the show, I let everyone down but I just couldn't dance that final number without Mitchell” she started to cough, the sobs rising in her chest again.

  “Look, you need to get some rest tonight and I'll come back tomorrow morning”

  Charlotte nodded and tried a weak smile, closing her eyes as she sunk b
ack into the pillows. A nurse arrived and I took this as my cue to leave.

  “Night, sweetheart” I murmured, closing the door. In the corridor James opened his arms to me and I slid into them.

  “The police want to interview Mitchell and me so I've ordered you a taxi back to the hotel. We'll be back soon I hope”

  “Ok, I'll let the others know and if Mitchell comes back with you he can take the room we booked for Charlotte”

  Kissing me tenderly on the lips I looked into his eyes. The shade of sorrow had dispersed now that Mitchell was well and truly alive.

  I watched the police car pull away and waited for the taxi, emerging from the shadows I saw a familiar figure.

  “Mr King”

  “Mrs Cooke, how is she?” Zach asked.

  “Resting, no visitors until tomorrow”

  “Oh, I just wanted to check she was alright”

  “Is the baby yours?” I asked, watching in the streetlight the colour flood his cheeks.

  “It might be, or it might be Mitchell's” he shrugged, bowing his head and I guess expecting repercussions.

  I nodded and reached out my hand.

  “Thanks for everything you've done. You're a good guy and I'm sure Charlotte would like to see you tomorrow”

  He turned to walk away but hesitated and turned back.

  “She still loves Mitchell, I was only a comforting diversion”

  “I know my daughter Mr King, she found something in you to love”

  The words echoed in his head as he returned to his car, knowing he needed to get back to the flat.

  I walked into the hotel and found Chris, Sarah, Pam and Peter in the bar, looking worried and nursing drinks.

  “Can I get you something?” Chris asked, standing up and moving towards the bar.

  “Brandy” I said, as Sarah shifted across so I could sit down.