Adam was devastated. He clenched his fists and squashed them into his temples, his eyes shut tight. “Equatorial Guinea! Equatorial Guinea!” he kept repeating as he began pacing around the room. He shook his head in despair. “It’s not there! It’s not there!”
Adam opened his eyes and quickly ran to retrieve the list Chrissy had discarded. He snatched it off the floor and stared at it. Then he scrunched it up in his hand, a tortured look on his face.
“The ekpwele!” he exclaimed through clenched teeth. “The damned ekpwele!”
Chrissy ran back into the lounge. She was ecstatic, but as soon as she saw Adam’s face, her enthusiasm faded. He looked so sad. The smile left her lips and she grew calm. She walked slowly up to him.
“I beat you,” she said breathlessly, still panting from running and jumping about.
He sighed and slowly nodded. “Yes, my dear. You have beaten me.”
Charles appeared in the doorway behind them. He was still fastening his jacket. “Is it true, Sir?”
Adam smiled weakly. “Yes, Charles. Chrissy is victorious. It is now eight to two.”
Charles immediately smiled. “Well done, Miss!”
Chrissy glowed with her success. “Thank you, Charles!”
Adam’s spirits seemed to lift a little. He smiled more brightly at Chrissy. “I fear those kisses have cost me dearly.”
She shook her head. “It wouldn’t have mattered; it would have been my last go anyway.”
“So it was. You have won as you said you would. Now the game is over and the penalty must be paid. So, my dear, what will be your choice? A fast car, maybe? Your island dream in the sun? Or maybe the Swiss bank account you were talking about?”
Adam seemed to have recovered quickly, but Chrissy stunned both him and Charles with her answer. “I want your mother’s wedding dress.”
Adam looked completely shocked. Shocked and confused. “Bu-but why? It is of no great value. Surely there is something else?”
Chrissy was relentless. “Dreams of the unattainable? Remember?” she reminded him. “I told you I was unforgiving. I told you that this was going to be bloody. No, I want your mother’s wedding dress. It’s the most valuable thing you possess. And what you wanted from me was no less valuable.”
Adam stared at her. He seemed stunned. Finally, he nodded.
“As you wish. Charles, please have my mother’s wedding dress packed in its box. Then bring the car round to the door. Miss Davis is leaving.”
For the remaining few minutes that Chrissy was in his house, Adam was polite but abrupt. It was obvious that her request had hurt him, hurt him far more than she had imagined. When she was in the car and he said goodbye to her, she could see the pain in his eyes. Even Charles was displeased with her. All the way back to Stretford, he never spoke a word.
Chrissy looked at the large and faded white box on the seat next to her. She suddenly felt terrible. When Charles drew the car up outside her house, she could stand it no longer.
“It was a mistake wasn’t it?” she asked Charles.
Charles switched off the engine and twisted round in his seat. He looked back at her sadly, and nodded. “It was, Miss. I gather that you must have worked out how attached Mr Campbell was to his mother.”
Chrissy nodded. “It wasn’t difficult. Do you think he will forgive me?”
“No, Miss. What you did was pretty heartless. I doubt if even that American woman could have come up with something so cruel.”
There were suddenly tears in Chrissy’s eyes. “You better take it back to him,” she said, and quickly opening the door, she got out and slammed it behind her.
Charles wound the electric window down and called after her as she ran up the drive to her house. “What shall I say to him, Miss?”
“Tell him to ring me tomorrow night,” Chrissy called back. Then she opened the front door and hurried inside.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Monday
“Why is it that I’ve spent three nights at your flat and only slept in my own bed once?” Victoria remarked over breakfast.
“That’s not quite true,” Louise replied as she munched on her toast. “The first night you spent half in my bed and half in your own.”
“Oh, well, that makes it alright then.” She ran her fingers through her hair, which was all loose again and fluffed up after her shower.
They had awoken that morning still in one another’s arms. Louise had felt marvellous, and when she told Victoria, Victoria had pushed her out of bed and started a pillow fight, proclaiming that Louise was a hussy and that she had taken advantage of her –again. They had screamed and laughed, and when they were both out of breath, it was a quick shower each, clothes and breakfast.
“You enjoyed it then?” Louise asked her.
“Do you mean the pillow fight this morning or the sex last night?”
“You know what I meant!”
Victoria smiled. “I do, and I did. I’m quite comfortable about it, so don’t worry, Louise. And at least I was sober this time.”
“I’m glad,” Louise said going slightly red. “I enjoyed it too.”
“I know, you told me. And I think I noticed last night.”
Louise went redder still, and Victoria laughed. “You’ll have to do better than that! One question from Angie and you’re going to turn into a tomato!”
Louise smiled. “You’re not really going to kill her today, are you?”
“No, but I’ll get even!”
They got to class early, a first for Victoria. Angela was already there, and as soon as Victoria saw her she threw down her hold-all and chased her around the desks, finally catching her and pinning her down, and threatening her with a ruler.
“If you say one word, Angie! Just one word! You and this ruler are going to get to know one another in the biblical sense! Do you get my meaning?”
Angela nodded, laughing. “I promise! I won’t say a word!”
It was all very light-hearted, and Angela obviously didn’t feel threatened at all. All three of them were laughing most of the time, and it took them a while to calm down. After that the conversation returned to Friday night. Angela wanted to know everything that happened, but she was out-numbered two to one, and she found herself telling Louise and Victoria about her date with Andy instead.
The other students in their class began to arrive. Most of them smiled and said hello as they came in, and every so often, Victoria would glance towards the door. It was very noticeable, and eventually Louise asked, “Are you looking for Chrissy?”
Victoria nodded. “She’s going to hate me, I’m sure she is.”
Angela said, “Oh, don’t worry! You and Chrissy have known each others for ages. She’s bound to let you off. But I wouldn’t let her get hold of that ruler for a while.”
Victoria smiled, but didn’t look convinced. And Louise said, “I told her exactly the same thing. I’m sure Chrissy will forgive her.”
“Yeah! Don’t worry, Tori!”
As the last of their class mates began to arrive, but Jo and Chrissy still hadn’t turned up, Victoria could wait no longer.
“I’m going to find her,” she said getting up. “Wish me luck!”
As soon as Victoria had left, Angela grabbed Louise’s arm and asked in an eager whisper, “Well? Did you or didn’t you?”
Louise instantly began to blush. “I’m not going to tell you that!”
“That’s what Tori said! But you can tell me, Louise. I promise I won’t breathe a word to anyone!”
“I know you won’t,” Louise replied. “But Vikki’s thinking about things, and I don’t want to say or do anything to upset her. So I’m not going to tell you, one way or the other.”
“Then why are you going red?” Angela asked, smiling brightly.
“I am not!” Despite her protests, Louise could feel her face flush.
“Yes!” Angela exclaimed, making a fist. “That’s good enough for me!”
“Angie!” Louise s
aid in embarrassment, quickly glancing around. The other students were too busy talking to one another to even notice what Louise and Angela were talking about. They didn’t know of course. It was just that Louise felt as if they did.
“Keep your voice down!” she told Angela.
“Oh, don’t worry, Louise! My lips are sealed!”
When Victoria returned, she came to sit down behind Louise and Angela. She looked really sad. “Chrissy still hasn’t forgiven me,” she said. “She told me I was a stupid cow and to get lost.”
Angela remarked, “Well, at least she’s talking to you!”
Louise elbowed her. “Did you try to explain?” she asked.
“Yes, I did! I told her how I was sorry, and how I got beaten up, but she didn’t seem to care at all. She said it was all my own fault, and that it probably served me right. I told you she wouldn’t forgive me. I’ve blown it. Will you talk to her, Louise? You promised you would.”
Louise nodded. “I’ll do my best.” She got up and headed for the door. “Where is she?”
“She’s waiting for Jo by her locker. You better hurry up, though, we haven’t got long.”
“Okay,” Louise called back as she left the classroom.
Angela looked at her watch. “It’s unusual for Jo to be late. I wonder where she is.”
Louise found Chrissy standing by Jo’s locker as Victoria had said, but there were now two other people with her. One of them Louise recognised as their course tutor, Mrs Thorne. The other man she didn’t know. He was dressed in a smart suit and he was very tall. Mrs Thorne was talking to Chrissy, and they all looked very serious.
As Louise walked up to them, Chrissy suddenly dropped her ruck-sack, put her hands to her face, staggered, and fell back against the lockers. She cried out and looked terribly shocked. She burst into tears.
Louise hurried forward as Mrs Thorne began to comfort Chrissy, hugging her and patting her back.
“Chrissy! Whatever’s the matter?” Louise asked, reaching out to hold on to Chrissy’s arm.
Chrissy was so much in tears that she couldn’t speak. Her head was buried in Mrs Thorne’s shoulder. It was Mrs Thorne that replied.
“Jo Henshaw’s been murdered,” she said tearfully. “You better get back to class, Louise. Detective Shawcroft and I will follow you with Chrissy. He wants to talk to you all. Afterwards you can all go home. There won’t be any classes for you today. Go on, now.”
Louise heard the words but didn’t take them in. It was as if they were spoken in a different language. She was so stunned that afterwards she couldn’t even remember what she said, or if she cried. All she could remember was walking back to class with Mrs Thorne and the policeman following her with Chrissy, and all the way there Louise could hear Chrissy sobbing and wailing.
As soon as they got to class all the other students knew at once that something bad had happened. Louise saw Victoria’s face as she and Angela stood up. She wanted to run to her and hug her, but before she could move, Chrissy suddenly screamed out and broke away from Mrs Thorne.
“It’s your fault Jo’s dead!” Chrissy screamed to a stunned Victoria. “You killed her!”
Before anyone could move, Chrissy hurled herself at Victoria, and the two of them fell among the desks and chairs, scattering them about. Everyone had to get out of the way, and there was sudden pandemonium in the classroom as Chrissy did her best to strangle Victoria while Mrs Thorne and Detective Shawcroft tried to pull them apart. By the time they succeeded, Victoria was in a worse state than she had been on Friday night. But now she was also in tears, crying as much as Chrissy.
Louise rushed forward to help Victoria as Shawcroft began to drag Chrissy away. He had to hang on to her tightly, as Chrissy was still trying to reach Victoria, kicking out at her and struggling madly.
“You selfish bitch!” she screamed hysterically. “You killed her! It was your fault! You useless slag! You should have died, not her! You killed her! Bitch! I hate you! I hate you!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Recriminations
Detective Constable Shawcroft interviewed everyone in Jo’s class in alphabetical order. He was very patient and gentle with all of them. All of the girls, and even some of the boys, were very tearful, and he was careful not to upset them further. What he wanted was a clear statement of the facts, and he couldn’t get that while they were in hysterics. But it was Jo’s three friends who were with her on the night that she died that interested him the most.
Chrissy Davis’s outburst and accusation had been totally out of the blue. And she continued to show every sign of wanting to attack Victoria Kenyon again if she got the chance. Because of this, they both had to be kept separated as they waited for their turn to be interviewed.
Chrissy’s statement was eagerly awaited, and Shawcroft wasn’t disappointed. It had taken Chrissy a while to recover, but she was still just as angry as she was sad.
“And Victoria does this all the time?” Shawcroft asked after Chrissy had told him the course of events on Friday night up to the point where she stormed off.
“Yes, she’s a slut,” Chrissy said coldly. She kept dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief.
“And why do you think she was responsible for Jo’s death?”
The mere words seemed to make the tears well up in Chrissy’s eyes. “Because she broke us up!” she snapped angrily. “I would have stayed with Jo if it hadn’t been for her! It was her fault!”
“So when you left Jo, who was with her?”
Chrissy sniffed. “Angela and Louise, and Max and Andy.”
“What about Scott?”
“He came after me.” Chrissy then told Shawcroft about their discussion, and how she had left Scott on King Street.
“And you didn’t see any of the others after that?”
“No.”
“Where did you go?”
Chrissy now told Shawcroft how she was knocked down by Adam Campbell’s taxi and what happened after that. If Shawcroft was surprised by any of her story, he didn’t show it.
“And you got home after five o’clock in the morning?”
Chrissy nodded.
“Do you have the address of Mr Campbell should we need to talk with him?”
Chrissy nodded again and took the pen and paper Shawcroft offered her and wrote down the address.
If Chrissy was forthright in her statement, Victoria Kenyon was practically silent. Shawcroft could hardly get anything out of her. When he called for her, she was sat in the arms of another girl, Louise Taylor, and she didn’t want to get up without her. She was still in tears, completely unintelligible, and in dire need of a doctor. The only thing she did manage to say was, “I killed her…” echoing Chrissy’s accusation. She kept repeating it. Shawcroft quickly gave up on her.
As it turned out, the statements provided by Angela Stevens and Louise Taylor filled in most of the gaps anyway. And judging from the description they all gave of Victoria Kenyon’s condition on the night in question; there wouldn’t have been much she could have added anyway. What was of interest was that Louise Taylor had been relatively sober and she was the last of Jo’s friends to see her alive.
“Can you tell us anything about the boy she was with?” Shawcroft asked after Louise had finished her statement.
Louise racked her brains. What was his name? Jo had said it, she was sure of it. Oh, what was his name? This was important, but her mind was filled with worry about Victoria. Mrs Thorne had brought the nurse, and Angela was with her, but Louise was still sick with worry. Then she remembered.
“His name was Mike,” she blurted out.
“What did he look like?”
“Oh, God!” Louise moaned. She could hardly remember him at all. It had all been so dark, and her mind had been on other things. She remembered Jo and the boy standing together, kissing. “He was about the same height as Jo,” she said hesitantly. “His hair was fair…and…oh! I can’t remember!”
Shawcroft saw that she w
as losing control. “That’s alright,” he said quickly. “We have a name, height and hair colour. It’s a start. Now, where did they go?”
“Jo said they were going for a curry.”
“Did she say where?”
“No.” Louise’s voice rose in panic. “Oh, God! I should have gone with her, shouldn’t I! It’s my fault, isn’t it? If I had gone with her she wouldn’t have been killed! Oh, shit! Shit!”
Shawcroft got up and came around the desk to comfort her. “Take it easy, love. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know what was going to happen, and you were already looking after the other girl, Victoria. Now calm down. There have been a lot of accusations thrown around, but there’s only one person who is ultimately responsible, and I’m going to do my best to find him.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Choices
Victoria was beyond help. She kept crying and crying all the time, mumbling that it was all her fault. Louise didn’t know what to do. Mrs Thorne and the Nurse told her to take Victoria home. The Nurse had given her a sedative and they had arranged a taxi, paid for it and everything. Louise hadn’t argued. She was still in shock.
Angela had stayed with Victoria along with Mrs Thorne and the Nurse while Louise had been interviewed, then she had gone home. She had also been very upset and tearful. She had known Jo since school. Chrissy had left earlier. Louise hadn’t seen her leave.
All the way home in the taxi Victoria cried on Louise’s shoulder like a baby. Louise was also crying. She hadn’t known Jo for that long, but all she kept seeing in her mind was Jo in that short dress, smiling at her. “Live a little!” she had said in the club on Friday night. Louise could still see her dancing.
Oh, shit!
Why hadn’t she gone with her for a curry? But what could she do? Victoria was throwing her guts up, and she couldn’t leave her. But she had seen the boy with Jo. Mike. They had their arms around one another as they walked away. How could she have possibly imagined what was going to happen?
The Look of Love Page 19
