by Ada Haynes
She shrugged. “I just wanted to cut my hair short. It’s hot in here.”
Debbie pinched her lips. She probably recognized a lie when she heard one. But after a short moment of reflection, she obviously decided not to pursue the questioning. “Okay. You’re lucky we have Rose in the house. She is good with a pair of scissors. Let’s see if she can do something to fix your own attempt. Because I don’t think that you want to stay like this. Or do you?”
Shona shook her head, then followed Debbie obediently.
That woman’s patience was amazing—that was all Shona could think, and not for the first time.
*
Two days ago, after Shona had run away from Maire’s place, the pouring rain and her hurting naked feet had at some point forced her to get out of her frantic desperation.
She needed to rest and think. But without money, except the odd pence she’d found in her pockets, pubs were not an option. And the shops were closed. Running out of options, she entered a telephone box. Not the best place to rest, but at least she was dry there. Among the sex ads, she spotted the sticker encouraging abused women to call the National Domestic Violence Helpline. Offering a safe place.
She only hesitated a minute. This was a bit of a stretch, of course. She would have to lie to get refuge. She knew she should go back to Maire’s place. Maire would probably bicker a bit, but she had never let her down.
Still, Shona finally took the phone receiver and placed the call. Lying proved quite easy. She just had to tell things she had actually experienced, but only not that recently, and to pretend confusion. Hell! That she was not pretending—she was confused!
Two hours later, she rang the doorbell of a safe house. Debbie was expecting her. A single look at her face, her drenched clothes and bare feet had been enough. Shona had been admitted. No questions asked. A room for herself. Dry clothes. Some warm food. Just what she had needed.
She had kept much to herself during the past two days. Only coming into the shared kitchen when she felt really ravenous. If there was another woman in the kitchen, she just ignored her and fixed some sandwiches and a drink before going back to her room.
If there was a woman with children, Shona just went back to her room and tried later.
She was not strong enough yet. Talking to unknown adults was enough of a challenge. Ekbeth’s party had been a test. She had managed it, no matter what Jeffrey and Maire thought about it. Children, though, brought back her worst nightmares. Reminded her of her loss. She just could not face any of them yet.
Keeping to her room had brought Debbie to her. Debbie did not push for answers, but did have some questions. Obviously she wanted to help Shona. Shona did not have to pretend that part either, of being in need of help. She did not get mad. She just started crying when the questioning became too oppressive.
So Debbie stopped asking questions. But she kept an eye on Shona—just as Maire and Jeffrey did. Only Debbie was different. She was not aware of Shona’s past. She was not afraid of Shona. She only saw her as another victim, though there was no pity in her.
Shona was glad she had found that place. She knew, of course, that she could not stay forever. She had never been one to chicken out of trouble. But the pause was welcome.
*
Rose was a very small woman. Debbie and Shona found her praying next to a self-created altar in her room. But she interrupted her prayers as soon as she saw her visitors, and smiled at them welcomingly.
Shona had rarely seen such a warm smile. Then she noticed the burns on the woman’s arm. She did not ask. She did not need to. She had borne a few of those marks on her skin as well, a long time ago.
“Rose, this is Shona. Shona is visibly not cut out for becoming a hairdresser, as you can see. I was hoping you could try to salvage her latest attempt.”
The smile never wavered. Rose offered a chair to Shona. Then, after Shona had installed herself on the decrepit straw chair, Rose examined Shona’s head for a moment, before giving her verdict, in heavily accented English. “It will be short. But I can do something.”
Debbie nodded. “Good! I’ll leave it to you then.”
Rose proved to be well equipped. She produced a very sharp razor. It took all Shona had not to run out of the room. She closed her eyes, but she could not hide her tension.
“I won’t hurt you, Shona.”
“I know, Rose. I just have trouble with cutting objects, especially when I’m not handling them myself. Just ignore me. I’ll manage.”
Rose did not ask questions. She started working, humming to herself while working. It had a soothing effect. Shona felt herself relaxing bit by bit.
“So. I think I can’t do more than that. Have a look!”
Shona’s hair was now reduced to a short crop. But it looked fine. She thanked Rose.
The small woman shook her head. “No thanks. Want a cup of tea?”
Why not? The least Shona could do was to show a little politeness.
8
The ‘Just Ask’ office was located in a quiet part of London. One of the most expensive parts, reflected Ekbeth, while studying the simple red stone two-story building. His own London-based apartment was just two streets away from there. The irony of the fact was not lost on him.
He felt Kalem’s impatience, though his bodyguard did not say anything. Ekbeth knew how exasperated the man was. If he had allowed Kalem to handle this his way, they would already have the jewels back. So Kalem thought, at least. However, Ekbeth personally thought this required more subtlety than Kalem was capable of, and had insisted on meeting this Maire Kincaid himself. This had created some delay, as Ekbeth had not been able to find a space in his agenda before this morning.
Yes, Kalem was irritated, but he knew who was the boss and kept his thoughts to himself.
Ekbeth looked at his watch. He only had one hour to handle this. And three more days to get his hands on the jewels. Enough lost time.
He started walking towards the office entrance. Kalem followed behind him. The door was answered by a small blonde girl, who viewed them with some puzzlement.
Ekbeth produced his most charming smile. “Good morning. Would it be possible to see Ms. Kincaid?”
He was submitted to a quick inspection. The girl visibly recognized a potential customer, but still did not let them in. “Do you have an appointment, sir? Because, if so, I’m afraid I’m not aware of it.”
“I had no time to schedule this. I’m not often in London, but I’d really like to discuss a little project with Ms. Kincaid. Can you please tell her Ekbeth na Duibhne wishes to see her?”
She recognized the name, apparently, and opened the door to let them in.
The entrance hall was painted in white, with marble floor and stucco decorations on the ceiling. Simple and expensive.
“If you can wait in the next room for a moment, sir. I’ll check with Ms. Kincaid.”
Ekbeth nodded and walked inside another room, this one with silk wallpaper and a view onto a neatly arranged garden. Kalem pretended to concentrate on one of the rose bushes.
“Mr. Na Duibhne? This is an unexpected surprise. What can I do for you?”
Ekbeth had not heard the woman enter the room, which was surprising as the small Eurasian woman was wearing stilettos. Apparently she had managed to master the trick of moving without making noise. He shook himself mentally. He was not there for this kind of nonsense.
He extended his hand. “Ms. Kincaid, I suppose.”
She nodded. He sensed the guarded hesitation behind her smile. He also noticed the blonde girl behind the door. “Is there a place where we can talk in private? I don’t have much time, but the matter I want to discuss with you is quite confidential—the reason I came in person instead of calling.”
Maire Kincaid hesitated just a moment before agreeing. She led them to a meeting room on the second floor and closed the door carefully behind her.
She offered them coffee, then placed herself in a plush seat before saying, “I don’t think you’re
here because of my hiring of your niece, Alyasini, Mr. Na Duibhne.”
Ekbeth shook his head. “Not directly, no. Though I must say I don’t really care for the way you’ve misused my niece’s eagerness, miss.”
She managed a smile, somehow, which told a lot about her as Ekbeth was sensing her panic. Oh yes, this woman was involved, no doubt about it.
“The job offer is genuine, sir. Your niece is very talented and I’m very glad she’s agreed to work for me.”
“Is Shona also one of your employees?”
Maire Kincaid’s smile did not waver, but the panic went just a notch higher in her head. “I don’t understand…”
Ekbeth sighed. “Miss Kincaid, I’m expected for an important meeting in less than one hour. Can we please stop the pretending? I know my niece arranged for two people to come to my party last Saturday. Because she wanted to show you what she could do, I suppose. The little problem is one of these two people stole something from me. Something I want back. Now.”
He had barely raised his voice on that last word, but she blanched a tiny bit. A reaction, at last. But her voice was still steady when she answered, “I don’t have it—whatever she’s stolen from you.”
Well, at least, Maire Kincaid was not denying his suspicions. He allowed himself to relax just a tiny bit. “But you know where it is?”
She pursed her lips just a tiny bit, then left her chair and made a move towards the door. Kalem put himself smoothly on her path.
She looked at Ekbeth. “I need to make a phone call. Believe me, I want this ridiculous situation solved as much as you do.”
Ekbeth nodded and Kalem made a side step. She went outside of the room.
“She’s going to call the police, Akeneires’el.”
“I don’t think so, Kalem. Why would she? I’ve not threatened her or anything. Let’s be glad she did not deny her involvement in this mess, Kalem. ”
Maire Kincaid came back five minutes later, a phone in her hand. “Someone is going to bring the stolen object here, sir. He should be here in four hours and will give it back to you. Is this okay with you?”
Ekbeth nodded curtly.
She started talking in the phone again, but it was not in English so he did not listen. She finally closed the phone and took her place again in her seat. “I offer my deepest apologies for what had happened, sir. It was never the intention to steal anything from you during the party. But then, the damn girl never sticks to plans.”
This time, he could clearly hear some irritation in her voice. He had to ask. “A plan? So attending the party was not only about my niece’s work, was it?”
She shook her head, but did not offer more, so Ekbeth pushed further. “Just out of curiosity, what was the original plan?”
That brought the first genuine broad smile on her face. “Ah. Well, I suppose I can tell you that. She was supposed to seduce your cousin. At least that’s what I understood.”
Not really the answer he had expected. “My cousin? You mean Lyrian?”
Maire Kincaid nodded. “Yes. Even that part, she changed her mind about at the very last moment. As I said, she never sticks to plans.”
He was confused. If the plan had never been to steal anything, just seduce someone, he was a more obvious choice. Why Lyrian? And why had she changed her mind?
Then Maire Kincaid added, “Please, just forget about this whole mess after we’ve given you your possession back, Mr. Na Duibhne. We’ll keep Shona in check. You won’t hear of us anymore, I promise.”
That was also his dearest wish. But there was the small matter of how Shona had managed to steal the jewels. If she was As’mir… “I want to talk to Shona once more, Miss Kincaid. Can you arrange that?”
She looked at him for a long time, as if trying to read his mind. Then shook her head.
“You don’t want to meet her again, sir. Believe me. Unless you’re looking for real trouble.”
At that he grunted. “She’s already brought enough trouble as it is right now.”
Maire Kincaid smiled, sadly this time. “Oh, this is nothing. Really nothing.”
Her mobile phone gave a little sound. She looked at it and apologized. “I have to leave. A customer is expecting me. Wedding. You can stay here if you want. I’ll have my assistant get you whatever you need.”
Ekbeth shook his head. “I have to leave as well, but Kalem here is staying. He will come with you.”
She eyed the bodyguard warily. “This is not necessary. The stolen goods are really underway. I’m not trying to run away, I can assure you.”
“Probably not, but then, I can’t take chances.”
Ekbeth turned to Kalem. “Whatever happens, Kalem, I expect you to behave. Take the jewels back to the safe. We’ll talk tonight unless something arise.”
Kalem just nodded.
Ekbeth looked at his watch and hurried off. He was going to be late.
9
Somehow, Rose succeeded where Debbie and all the counsellors had failed.
Sharing a cup of tea was a bit awkward because neither of them was talking. Until Shona noticed how Rose was discreetly scratching at her burns, which prompted her to speak.
“Have you tried vinegar?”
Her question received only a blank stare. Shona pointed at the burns. “On those. Vinegar compresses. It helps.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Let me fix one for you.”
Shona found what she needed in the kitchen—some facial tissues and vinegar. She poured some vinegar on the tissues and handed them to Rose, who looked at Shona questioningly.
“You just have to put it on the burns.”
“Is it going to hurt?”
“Nope. I swear.”
Rose placed the tissue carefully on the worst part of the burns. Instantly, her eyes were shining with relief.
“Wow! It does help! How do you know about this?”
Shona hesitated, biting her lip, but then decided there was no harm to admit a few things.
“An old woman taught me that. I’ve used it more times than I can think of.”
Rose kept silent for a moment, and then asked, “Why did you cut your hair, Shona?”
“Massacre, you mean?”
Rose smiled. “If you want. You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”
Shona thought for a moment. It had been an impulsive thing, but she knew where the impulse came from. Saying it, though, was difficult.
“I was thinking about things I don’t want to think of. I just needed to do something. Anything to get those thoughts out of my head.”
Rose stared inside her cup, then, out of nowhere, she started laughing and shook her head. “You are crazy, you know.”
From anyone else, Shona might have taken offense at this remark. But not from this tiny woman, who so far had been utterly pleasant. She returned the laugh, though not as merrily. “You’re correct—officially crazy. Everyone would tell you that.”
Rose’s face took on a more serious expression. “Are those thoughts that bad, Shona?”
Shona frowned. How could she express in words what she was feeling inside every time she thought of Yeshe or her babies? It was… hurting.
She looked at Rose’s burns. “Did you hurt when this was done to you, Rose?”
Rose looked at Shona as if she was really crazy. “Of course I hurt! I was screaming my head off!”
“Well, those thoughts inside me—it’s the same. I used to scream. A lot. And cry. But that did not make them go away or lessen the hurt. So I just try to avoid them nowadays.” Shona passed her hand through her short hair. “And that’s what happens.”
Rose put her hand on Shona’s. “A piece of advice from another old woman, Shona. Avoidance is not helping.”
Rose showed her arms, her burns. “My husband is a violent drunkard. I have been finding excuses for his behavior for many years. We moved to England last year. I thought it would be better. It got worse. Still I was excusing him. Until he took
the iron and started hitting me with it.”
She put her arms around herself. “Suddenly I realized what a fool I had been all those years. I left him.” She looked straight at Shona. “But before that, I told him why I was leaving him. He was more or less sober when I did that. And you know what?—he listened to me! Something I was not even dreaming of.”
“He could have beaten you again, or even killed you! That was very brave of you!”
Rose nodded. “Yes. But I had reached the point where I did not care anymore. It was either confront him, or accept that I must keep suffering this miserable existence for my remaining years.”
Shona sighed. “It’s not the same, Rose.”
“It’s exactly the same, Shona! Those thoughts are making you miserable! This time, it was your hair. What are you going to destroy next time?”
Damn! The woman had no idea how correct she was. Shona had made a promise to Yeshe and it was the last thing that linked them, so she was doing her best, but the temptation was getting worse and worse by the day.
One single little shot… and her problems would be gone. Forever.
Only, every time a little voice in her head stopped her. Told her she had to be strong, that her time had not come yet. Yes, she had some damn strong survival instincts.
She shook her head. Looked at the other woman with a grim face. “That bit of advice sucks, Rose. If I let them in my head, I’ll get crazy for sure!”
“How is the saying…? You have to accept what you can’t change! Confront your fears. Maybe you’ll discover it was not so bad after all.”
*
Shona thought a lot about this conversation for the rest of the day. She could not sleep that night.
By morning she had made a decision.
Debbie was a bit surprised to hear Shona was leaving. “So soon? Do you have anywhere to go?”
“Yes. I can’t tell how thankful I am for your hospitality, Debbie.”
“Just doing my job, Shona. Well, if you’re sure—take care.”
Shona took the time to say ‘bye to Rose. The woman hugged her.
“You’re following my advice?”
“Yes. I hope to see you again, Rose.”
