Aftermath (Dividing Line #6)

by Heather Atkinson

  “Because you were there.”

  “No, it’s because you’ve changed inside. The scared little boy has gone. I think you laid him to rest when you told her to get out of Manchester.”

  “Perhaps. Terry Maguire is Jules’s dad. Unbelievable. Maguires just keep popping up, don’t they?”

  “They do,” she sighed. “What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know yet and I certainly can’t think in this position, it’s too distracting.”

  “I’m sure someone walked past us and heard everything.”

  “Then they would have got a thrill,” he said, sitting up and fastening his trousers, crooking his head so he wouldn’t bang it on the roof. He smiled down at her. “Damn we’re good.”

  “I know,” she smiled dreamily, shrugging down her skirt. “You ripped my blouse.”

  “Sorry sweetheart, I’ll get you another one out the back.”

  “You need to do it fast or we’ll miss our flight.”

  They’d decided to stop by Estelle’s and catch a plane from East Midlands Airport for Mikey and Amber’s wedding in a Scottish castle in Aberdeenshire. They’d intended to bring the kids along too but Rachel’s parents had kicked up such a fuss they’d given in and left them with them just to keep the peace. They didn’t want them anywhere near the Maguires again. Her dad hadn’t even wanted her and Ryan to go but Mikey was like her little brother and she was damned if she was going to miss his wedding day. Rick had seemed doubtful but she’d managed to convince him she wouldn’t be kidnapped again. He’d retorted that anything could happen when Maguires were about.

  Her mum and Leah still didn’t know what had really happened during those lost days when they’d fought against Alex Maguire. She’d explained away the scar on her throat as the result of an operation she’d had due to an injury she’d sustained in the fire that had burnt their home to the ground, a fire that had been started by Alex. He was dead at Ryan’s hand, his remains secretly buried in Frank’s grave. His absence had naturally been noted in Manchester and, after the police had found his severed hand in an alley, they’d wasted no time launching an inquest and the coroner had been very pleased to declare him dead at the insistence of senior police officers who’d investigated his disappearance. No one mourned his loss.

  Her mum and daughter had accepted her explanation about her scar, although occasionally she did catch Leah staring at it, attempting to puzzle out what had really happened. Rachel swore she would never know that Alex had slit her throat.

  She took the black lace choker she used to hide the scar out of her handbag and replaced it around her neck. Looking at it no longer filled her with horror, she’d just accepted it was a part of her now. To her it represented what she’d endured and was a constant reminder that those you loved and trusted most could easily turn on you. She’d never fully trust anyone again except her husband. The scar was also very useful as an intimidation tactic. People saw it and she knew they were thinking this woman survived having her throat cut, so what else was she capable of? It just added to the hard bitch image and she used it to her advantage.

  “Will this do?” said Ryan, climbing back into the driver’s seat clutching a white blouse.

  “Fine. Close the door, you’re letting in a draught.”

  He handed her the blouse and shut the door.

  “Anybody outside?” she said, readjusting her seat to its original position.

  “No, all clear.”

  Hastily she sat up, removed the ripped shirt and pulled on the fresh one, Ryan watching with a smile.

  “What are you grinning at?” she said.

  “Just thinking of the eyeful anyone driving past will get.”

  “Thanks to you and your excess of testosterone. That was one of my favourite tops.”

  “Worth it though.”

  He leaned across to kiss her, undoing the buttons she’d just fastened up.

  “Will you please stop it, we’ve got a plane to catch,” she smiled, half-heartedly batting his hands away.

  A knock on the passenger window made them both freeze, Rachel tilting herself towards Ryan and frantically fastening up the rest of the buttons. “Oh shit, who’s that?” she said.

  “The police,” he sighed.

  “What do they want?”

  “My guess is someone saw us.”

  “Crap. I knew I heard voices.” She smoothed down her shirt, ran a hand through her hair then wound down the window, putting on her best casual smile. “Is something wrong Officer?”

  “We’ve had a report of indecent exposure,” replied the stern-faced bushy eyebrowed man.

  “As you can see we’re fully clothed,” replied Rachel in a light, carefree voice.

  “We were informed a couple in a vehicle with this licence plate were engaged in…intercourse,” he ended with a frown, as though the word offended him.

  “At the side of a road Officer? I mean really, do we look like we can’t control ourselves? I admit we had a quick kiss but that was all.” She hoped he didn’t stick his head further into the window because the car reeked of hot, frantic sex.

  “You two married?” he glowered.

  “Yes.”

  “To each other?”

  “Yes.”

  He spotted the torn blouse on the back seat and his eyebrows knitted even tighter, resembling a pair of grey caterpillars butting heads. “I’d like to see some ID please.”

  “Certainly,” replied Rachel with a smile while beside her Ryan sighed in irritation and made a show of looking at his watch.

  They both handed over their driver’s licences and he studied them suspiciously, eyes flicking to the wedding bands on their fingers.

  “That seems to be in order,” he said, handing back the licences.

  “Thank you,” replied Rachel.

  “Now if you’d follow me back to the police station I can formally interview you.”

  “You just said everything was in order,” she retorted.

  “I’ve established who you are but a complaint has been made and I must investigate.”

  “We’re catching a plane in two hours, we don’t have time for this,” said Ryan.

  “Then I suggest you cooperate. The station’s not far, unless you’d like me to arrest you?”

  “That won’t be necessary, we’ll follow you,” interjected Rachel, throwing Ryan a warning look.

  “Shall we just do one?” said Ryan as the officer returned to his car. “This motor can outrun his.”

  “Oh yes, a police chase, how sensible. Let’s just do what he wants. At most we’ll get a slap on the wrists, possibly a fine, then we’ll be on our way. Don’t go causing trouble because I am not missing Mikey’s wedding.”

  “You’re making a mistake,” he said, fastening his seatbelt and starting the engine. “This bumpkin won’t have had such a juicy pull in years. He’s going to drag it out.”

  “Stop worrying. You’ll see.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Rachel stared at the clock with dismay. Three thirty. Their plane would be taxing down the runway.

  “I hope you’re happy. We’ve missed our flight,” she muttered.

  The arresting officer, who was ironically named Sergeant Payne, shrugged. “That’s what you get for committing lewd acts in front of innocent people.”

  “It wasn’t like we were dogging,” she exclaimed.

  Payne gave another of his disapproving frowns. Rachel sighed inwardly. It seemed they’d been stuck with a puritanical police officer.

  “Please don’t use language like that Mrs Law.”

  “You mean dogging?”

  That look again. “You’re not helping yourself.”

  “Where’s my husband?” she demanded, her tone becoming more standoffish.

  “Being interviewed by my colleague. Just own up to what you did and we can move things along.”

  “What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal is that one of those ladies you exposed your filth to w
as my wife. She was enjoying a quiet walk with her best friend, who it happens is a local councillor and well-respected humanitarian.”

  “Oh.”

  “They are intelligent women who know exactly what they saw, which was unabashed pornography.”

  Rachel decided it was probably time to come clean, he wasn’t going to release them until they did. “Look, it was like this. My husband was upset. We’d just learnt some shocking family news. We pulled over so I could comfort him and things got heated. We thought we were in an isolated area and if we offended anyone I’m truly sorry, we didn’t mean to. Haven’t you ever got caught up in the moment?” she said with a conspiratorial smile.

  His expression remained stony, the caterpillars above his eyes practically snogging now.

  “Obviously not,” she sighed.

  “So, are you admitting to having sexual relations in a public place?” When she hesitated the caterpillars relaxed. “The sooner you admit it the sooner you can go. You’ll probably be in time to catch the next flight.”

  “Fine, we did it.”

  “Are you admitting to having sexual relations in a public place?”

  “Yes. Can we go now?”

  The caterpillars danced with glee, rushing up into his hairline when he smiled triumphantly. “After you’ve been charged with indecent exposure.”

  Rachel released a groan and rested her head on the tabletop.

  “Four hours,” seethed Ryan as they drove to the airport in the gathering twilight. “If it hadn’t been for our solicitor that puritanical little prick would have tried to put us on the sex offenders register.”

  “We really must thank Lauren properly, send her a bunch of flowers or something.”

  “For doing her fucking job? No way.”

  “Please calm down, it was your anger that landed us in that situation in the first place.”

  He couldn’t respond to that so he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel instead.

  “Don’t go breaking the speed limit,” she added. “We don’t want to get arrested again.”

  He eased off slightly on the accelerator, scowling at the road, raising an eyebrow when Rachel giggled.

  “I find nothing remotely amusing about the situation,” he said.

  “Laughing’s better than sulking. Cheer up, it’s done with now. We paid our fine and we’re on our way to the airport.” She rested her hand on his thigh. “We’ve got a nice weekend to look forward to in a Scottish castle, which is more than that turd with the eyebrows has.”

  She smiled when he released a chuckle. Ryan raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “Jez and Mikey will want to know what we found out about Jules,” said Rachel. “They’ll want to know if she’s a threat.”

  “I’d say she is, whether she’s my sister or not. We killed her club. Jesus, what a life,” he sighed.

  “It’s not all bad, is it?”

  He gave her a wink. “No, not by a long way.”

  The next flight to Aberdeen was at eight thirty that evening, so they were in the granite city by ten. A taxi took them to Abercraig Castle. An hour later they were wending their way up the steep drive, dense woodland surrounding them on both sides, heading towards the massive sixteenth century building. Even though it had once acted as a fortress it was almost fairytale with its soaring towers and hundreds of windows that glowed with cosy, welcoming lights.

  Exhausted, they dragged themselves into reception with its odd contrast of old stone floor and massive electric chandelier hanging over their heads. After checking in their luggage was taken up to their room and they headed straight to the bar - which was jammed full of stuffed animals’ heads and books - for a well deserved drink. Mikey, Amber, Jez, and Riley were all sat together at a table and they stood and raised a cheer when they entered.

  “About bloody time,” beamed Mikey, pulling Rachel to him for a hug. “You were supposed to be here hours ago.”

  “Sorry Mikey, I hope we haven’t put a dampener on the celebrations,” she replied.

  “You’re here now, that’s what matters.”

  She smiled and held onto him. The new king of Manchester, respected and feared throughout the city, but he would always be the little brother she never had. To her delight he still made her feel better when he hugged her.

  “Riley, I’m so glad you could make it,” she said, hugging him next. There had been some doubt as to whether his regiment would let him have more time off.

  “I’ve only got four days then I have to go back,” he replied.

  “So what held you up?” said Jez, embracing his brother, patting him manfully on the back.

  “Car trouble,” replied Ryan in a tone that indicated that was the end of the conversation.

  “Really?” said Mikey, studying Rachel.

  “Really,” she replied. When he continued to stare at her she couldn’t prevent her lips from twitching up into a smile.

  “That’s strange because I heard it was a charge of indecent exposure that held you up.”

  “What?” said Riley and Amber in unison. Judging by Jez’s smirk he already knew.

  “Why ask if you already knew?” sighed Ryan.

  “Let me have my fun,” he grinned. “You two just can’t keep your hands off each other, even at the side of a road.”

  “Is that what happened?” teased Riley. “You pulled over for a quickie?”

  “And we got caught by a miserable bastard copper whose never had any fun in his life,” replied Rachel.

  “I bet he’s having a good old wank over it now,” added Mikey.

  “Don’t make me punch you the night before your wedding,” said Ryan.

  “Don’t, think of the photographs,” exclaimed Amber.

  “Ryan’s only joking,” said Rachel. “Aren’t you?”

  Ryan just shrugged.

  Mikey looked at his bride-to-be. “I like how you think of the photos and not me.”

  “Of course I was thinking of you but I just want tomorrow to be perfect,” she said anxiously.

  He smiled and pulled her to him. “Help her out Rach, she’s really stressed over this do.”

  Rachel grasped her hand. “Everything will be fine, don’t worry. Where’s Beth?”

  “She’ll be arriving in the morning. She got held up with business.”

  It sounded strange but Beth had proved herself to be quite the businesswoman. Thanks to Alex’s original will - that Ryan and Rachel had made sure was enforced - she’d inherited all of Alex’s money as well as his legitimate businesses. She handled the workload very well, taking Mikey’s advice when she needed it.

  Ryan glanced at Riley when Beth’s name was mentioned and saw his eyes flare. It seemed he was still interested in kindling something with her. He thought Riley was probably ready for a relationship now he’d killed Jasper White in revenge for murdering his pregnant fiancée, but Ryan wasn’t sure Beth was ready. She’d lost her husband and lover in one fell swoop. That took some getting over.

  “And Cathy?” said Rachel.

  “Tucked up in bed fast asleep,” replied Jez with a fond smile. “She was knackered after the journey.”

  “Are the kids here?”

  “Nah, we left them with her mum and dad. We want a peaceful weekend.”

  “I’m gagging for a white wine,” said Rachel, heading for the bar. “Anyone else want a drink?”

  “I’ll have a double scotch,” said Ryan. “I need it after the day we’ve had.”

  “There’s dozens of whiskies behind the bar so you’ll have to pick one.”

  He accompanied her to the bar and studied the arranged bottles before launching into a detailed discussion about each one with the barman.

  “Oh for God’s sake, it’s late. Just pick one,” exclaimed Rachel.

  She went quiet when he slowly turned to look at her, eyebrow cocked. “The eighteen year old Glenfiddich please barman,” said Ryan without taking his gaze off Rachel.

  “I love it when yo
u look at me like that,” she said.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you want to throw me to the floor and have your wicked way with me, just to shut me up.”

  Gently he cradled her face. “Rachel, I always want to do that to you.”

  She smiled up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hard.

  “Someone call the police, they’re at it again,” called Mikey.

  They both turned to see Mikey and Jez sniggering together. Although he didn’t show it, Ryan was pleased. They seemed to be the best of friends, although it was hard to believe those two slightly tipsy young men ruled Manchester with an iron fist.

  “Something amusing?” said Ryan, leaning against the bar and taking a sip of whisky, enjoying the smooth velvetiness slipping down his throat.

  “Just considering myself lucky you’ve still got your clothes on,” said Mikey, causing Jez to burst out laughing.

  “Let the children have their fun,” said Rachel, giving Ryan a quick kiss, liking the taste of whisky on his lips and wishing she’d ordered one instead of a wine. “Where’s my little godson?” she asked Mikey.

  “He’s staying with Amber’s mum and dad tonight so we can get a good kip for tomorrow,” he replied.

  “We’ve got him a little pageboy suit, he’s going to look so cute,” enthused Amber.

  “He’s only thirteen months old. How’s he going to be a pageboy?” said Ryan.

  “He, well he…” began Amber.

  “Just ignore Mr Grumpy here. He’s still upset about being arrested.”

  “I think I’ve every right to be,” he retorted.

  “Not really. We were guilty, after all.”

  “I…” He closed his mouth when he realised her logic was impeccable and decided to take a sip of scotch instead.

  After one drink both Rachel and Ryan were stifling yawns. The others looked tired too, except for Amber, who was bordering on manic.

  “I’ll never sleep tonight,” she said.

  “Have a scotch, it’ll work wonders,” said Ryan.

  “I hope you and Mikey aren’t sharing a room tonight?” said Rachel. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

  “I’ve booked a single room for tonight while Amber’s in the bridal suite,” replied Mikey. “It’s all sorted.”