‘May I?’ he asked, nodding towards Donna, obviously a gentleman, despite the gymslip.
‘May he?’ Nathan enquired.
‘He may.’ Donna laughed, and gracefully accepted.
Ten seconds later she was doing a sort of soft-shoe-shuffle with Daniel, when he asked, ‘Was I boring you?’
‘No, not at all.’ Donna smiled warmly and felt a bit bad for giving him the slip. The poor soul probably had a history of boring people to death.
‘Good.’ Daniel smiled back, and Donna decided he was actually quite sweet.
And she, she realised, as she went over on one spindly-heel, then the other, might just be getting ever-so-slightly tipsy.
Daniel provided her a steadying hand as she swayed, but not in time to the music. ‘You okay?’ he shouted.
‘Never better,’ Donna assured him, then in true Madonna persona, did a virginal strut across the carpet, to which Daniel reciprocated with a pouting Mick Jagger strut of his own.
Excellent therapy. Donna was having a ball. Inhibitions? Her? Never.
She was Sandy, bouncy curls, pert bum and all. Daniel was Travolta. Simon, Nathan and Alicia were Pink Ladies, and they were all hot to trot. Move over Dame Edna Everage. Or not.
Dame Edna refused to be sidelined, so Donna had a quick strut with him, too. Or her? Donna squinted cross-eyed, then decided on male when Edna trod on her foot. Undaunted, Donna had a quick Saturday Night Fever pointy-finger pose with Alicia, followed by a dizzying fling with Braveheart, who promptly declared undying love and threw himself at her feet.
Wonderful. Donna stopped for a quick drink break. She could quite get into this good-time-girl stuff. She was having a whale of a time. Or she was, until Braveheart decided to have a little breather, perched his posterior on the window ledge, and fell through the window.
Which might not have been so bad, Donna suspected, had the window been open at the time.
‘Bloody hell!’ Simon stopped halfway through a Hey Margarita and flew to the front door in pursuit of the flying Scotsman — followed smartly by a houseful of revellers.
‘Didn’t feel a thing,’ Braveheart said from his spread-eagled position on the front lawn. ‘Anaeshthetished,’ he slurred, then, to the immense relief of everyone, caught hold of two helping hands and heaved himself up.
Alicia gave his rather large kilted rump a pat, as he steadied himself on his feet. ‘That’ll be the padding, honey.’
‘Sorry about the window, Simon,’ Braveheart apologised, as soberly as he could.
‘Me too.’ Simon eyed the missing lounge window forlornly. ‘Ah, well, never mind. Hopefully, the insurance will cover it. I suppose we’d better get some of the glass off the lawn though.’
‘I’ll help,’ Donna offered.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Simon said as Donna and Alicia carefully picked up some of the bigger shards.
‘Single glazing.’ Daniel shook his head, and pitched in.
‘I’ll get something to tape over the window,’ Nathan said, turning back towards the house.
‘There’s some cardboard in the garage, I think,’ Simon called after him. ‘And turn the music down, while you’re at it, Nathe, or we’ll have the neighbours complaining.’
‘I think they already have.’ Daniel nodded at the approaching patrol car.
‘Oh, no.’ Donna shrank in her blood-red stilettos, literally, they being spiked in the mud.
Alicia came to stand side-by-side with her sister. ‘You all right, hon?’
‘Perfect.’ Donna straightened her shoulders, pulled in a breath — and puffed up her polystyrene cups.
****
‘At least it isn’t him.’ Alicia said as the WPC addressed Simon.
‘Thank God for small mercies.’ Donna breathed a sigh of relief. Whether or not she was obviously wearing fancy dress this time, she didn’t think her velour bodice and pointy breasts would go a long way to clearing the air between Mark and her. ‘Everything, all right, Simon?’ she called.
‘Yes, thanks, Dons,’ Simon assured her. ‘The officer’s just taking a few details. You go on in and pop the kettle on, why don’t you? And then we can all have some nice chocy biccies. Would you like one?’ He fluttered his eyelashes at the woman police officer.
‘At least it isn’t who?’ Daniel asked
‘Donna’s ex,’ Alicia informed him. ‘The one Simon had a little run in with. He’s a policeman.’ She circled her own eye, with a sad sigh.
‘Your ex gave him the black eye?’ Daniel asked, looking at Donna shocked.
‘It was an accident,’ Alicia supplied. ‘He was a bit jealous, that’s all. As one would be when one finds one’s girlfriend in flagrante with another man.’
‘Ah, right.’ Daniel looked at Donna again, bemusedly this time.
Donna looked nervously towards the officers, wondering whether poor Simon was going to get arrested for causing a public affray or something, which really would put the kibosh on his birthday celebrations.
Oh, obviously not. She looked on relieved as the WPC munched on a chocolate biscuit supplied by Nathan, quite obviously won over by Simon’s charms.
‘Well, there doesn’t seem to have been any aggressive behaviour,’ she mumbled, stuffing the last of her biscuit in her mouth and accepting another.
‘We do have to issue a warning re noise nuisance though,’ her partner pointed out. ‘Just keep it down, okay?’
Simon cocked his head to one side. ‘Well, of course we will,’ he said. ‘We wouldn’t dream of deliberately causing a nuisance, but… Is that it?’
‘Yes. Pretty much. Enjoy the rest of your night.’ The WPC offered Simon and Nathan a smile in exchange for a third biscuit, then the officers turned to head back to their patrol car.
‘You on tomorrow, then, Rachel?’ The male officer asked as they approached Donna and company.
‘Not sure,’ the WPC answered, through mouthfuls. ‘Said I’d cover for Mark if he needed me to. His kid’s dog’s sick, apparently.’
‘His kid’s dog?’ The PC looked incredulous. ‘I’ve heard them all now.’
The WPC gave him a scathing glance. ‘The boy’s autistic, Gary. Give the man a break.’
Chapter Twenty
‘He must be really ill if Mark’s taking time off,’ Donna was talking to herself, rather than Daniel, who’d kindly offered her a lift home.
‘Who?’ Daniel asked, squinting through the wipers sloshing against a deluge of rain.
‘Starbuck.’ Donna chewed on her lip, worrying about the dog, about Karl, about Mark — and feeling irritated with Daniel, even though he’d considerately swapped his gymslip for his trousers and offered both Alicia and her a lift home. The thing was, all Donna wanted to do was get home. Go inside, on her own. Get sober and think straight.
‘Starbuck’s Mark’s dog,’ she supplied, though Daniel hadn’t asked. ‘My ex. His son’s dog, actually. He’s… Well, he’s quite an important part of Karl’s life.’ Donna stopped, chewing on a thumbnail now in favour of her lip.
‘I see.’ Daniel nodded. ‘Sounds like you and your ex were together for some time.’
‘No, not really.’ Donna sighed, long and hard.
Daniel went quiet.
‘Which house is yours?’ he asked, after a moment.
‘Sorry?’
‘Which house?’ Daniel smiled. ‘I’d prefer to make sure you get in safely, now I’ve driven you this far.’
‘Oh.’ Donna blinked, realising they’d reached her cul-de-sac. ‘Sorry. It’s that one. Just there.’ She nodded at her house.
‘Well, goodnight Donna,’ Daniel said, pulling up. ‘It was really nice meeting you.’
‘Yes.’ Donna paused, her hand on the door-handle. ‘Likewise.’
‘I would ask to see you again, but I suspect you’d rather be seeing someone else,’ Daniel observed shrewdly.
Donna hesitated. ‘I, um… I’m sorry, Daniel. It’s just that things are a bit complicated.’
‘Aren’t they always?’ D
aniel shrugged, good-naturedly. ‘Go on.’ He nodded her on. ‘Get yourself in. I’ll wait until you’re inside.’
‘Thank you, Daniel,’ Donna smiled gratefully. ‘You’re a gentleman.’
‘My biggest downfall,’ Daniel rolled his eyes.
‘No, it’s not, Daniel, trust me. You’re quite lovely. Someone not as ditzy as me will snap you up. They’d be mad not to. See you at the next party.’ Donna jumped out, beamed him a smile, then dashed towards her house, key poised.
What an extremely nice man. It occurred to Donna that she hadn’t once worried about any dishonourable intentions he might have had. Yes, Simon knew him quite well, but still… A very, very nice…
Donna ground to a halt on her doorstep, her brow knitted in consternation as she realised the door was ajar.
Silly, she scalded herself, attempting to shake off the heebie-jeebies. It was obvious that Matt had come home and not closed it properly. But… she stopped before going in, feeling the tiniest bit wary… there were no lights on; and Matt wasn’t careless enough to go to bed and leave the front door open in reality.
It might not have caught properly, of course. They did have to give a good slam to close it, sometimes.
Okay, yes, that sounded reasonable, Donna told herself, stepping forth, then stepping back. So, where was Sadie?
Oh, God. ‘Sade?’ Donna inched the door open further, to see nothing but dark.
Sadie wasn’t there. The hall was bare. The whole place felt… empty. Her heartbeat escalating, Donna turned around to see Daniel driving off.
‘No! Don’t go!’ Donna flew back down the path. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it. ‘Daniel, wait! The door… Damn!’ she cursed, as he turned the corner.
Damn. Damn. Damn! Her legs quite shaky beneath her, Donna headed back, creaked the door wide, and peered tentatively inside. All was still. She tugged in a breath, took a cautious step in, and slapped on the light.
‘Matt!’ she shouted, taking the stairs two at a time, twisting an ankle. Kicking off her shoes. Damn, damn, silly shoes!
‘Matt.’ She hesitated for a split second, then banged his door open. No Matt. No bed slept it. Donna swallowed back sudden sweeping nausea. Where was? Oh, God, yes! Relief flooded through her. He was at Ed’s. Of course he was. He’d said. Ed’s was walking distance from the nightclub. He was safe.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Still, something was wrong.
Donna turned, her heart hammering now. Down again, thundering down, missing her footing, slithering down the last two steps, she flew to the kitchen.
Deep breaths, she commanded herself. Deep breaths, Donna. You have to keep calm.
She reached for the light, seeing immediately the missing glass in the back door, glass that crunched under her feet. The key was still in the lock.
Oh, dear Lord. She’d told Matt, how many times? Never, ever leave the key in the lock. Donna whirled around, taking in the chaos. The cupboards and drawers haphazardly open, blood-smudged contents smashed indiscriminately to the ground.
They must have cut themselves on the glass, she thought obliquely. Then swallowed hard. Shit! Where is she? ‘Sade! Sadie! Sweetie, where are you?’
‘Findus!?’
She took two careful steps forward to peer under the table. No rabbit. Cucumber crushed, green slime now underfoot, but no rabbit.
‘Shit! Findus?!’ Carelessly, Donna flew to the utility. He wasn’t there. The cage door was open. The cage was bare. ‘Oh, no. Please, God…’ Donna’s heart twisted inside her… not the little animals.
‘Findus!’ Terror vying with blind-fury, she turned to yank open the back door. ‘Fin… Oh, baby.’ Blinking hard against the rain, tears stinging her eyes, Donna padded across the soggy lawn, catching Findus mid-hop to pluck the disorientated bunny up.
Poor thing, he was shivering. Donna planted a soft kiss on his startled face. ‘A damp little puff-ball, aren’t you, sweetie, hmm? Poor baby. Poor little…’ Her voice cracked. She stifled a sob, failed to stifle a tear, which slid down her cheek to plop onto velvet-soft fur — and nestled Findus close.
‘Sadie!’ she called.
Nothing but silence for answers, Donna headed fast back to the house.
‘Sadie?!’ She flew back up the hall, peering out into the night, the only movement the flickering shadows of streetlights.
No scuffle of dog’s claws on paving stones. No dog.
‘Calm down.’ Donna said it out loud, trying to keep rising panic at bay.
She turned back. Went back inside. Needed to call the police. Needed to check the lounge.
She didn’t need to turn on a light. She could see from the dim light of the hall that there was no recognisable lounge.
Her stomach turned over, every desecration scorching her eyes like a flashbulb. She followed the red trail of blood around the room. Registered the armchairs turned upside-down. The cushions strewn around. Photographs wiped from shelves. Ornaments broken. Books and magazines splayed open.
The walls were moving. This time she could see them.
Donna tried to breathe but her chest was too full.
She walked back to the front door, faster down the path, quickened her pace, then ran, rabbit still in arms and shoeless through the streets. Park, she willed herself on, heedless of the grit cutting spitefully into her feet. If Sadie was anywhere, that’s where she’d be.
And on foot… three feet… this was the way she would go. Donna followed the route they’d taken when Sadie had four, good strong legs, through the trees that shielded the estate from the road.
The main road.
Sadie wouldn’t sit.
Why would she, without Donna to tell her to. Damn it! Holding Findus tight to her breast, Donna tore savagely back at the branch that tore at her coat; sodden and wet and heavy with rain. Damn silly fancy-dress underneath. No shoes on her feet.
Useless, useless woman. She ran faster.
Down the bank and towards the road, blinded by the rain, the headlights. The sharp blue light, which flickered in time with the siren.
Donna kept running.
Alongside her now, the blue light again. The wail of the siren.
The headlights flashed and dazzled her as she searched for a gap in the traffic.
God, what about the pond? Panic clutched at her throat. Come on, hurry up. She willed the car on. A three-legged dog can’t swim.
The car passed, at last. The headlights, swerved.
The blue light danced in the distance, then stopped.
Was that her? Donna fancied she saw Sadie. There, across the road. A dog or a fox? Donna squinted against the rain. Too big for a cat. Three legs or four?
‘Sadie!’ She plunged forward — and an arm snaked its way around her waist, another around her ribs, yanking her back hard, as a car sliced past, mere inches from her bare feet.
Donna turned and buried her face hard in his chest, fear clawing at her insides and her heart thundering, in time with Mark’s.
‘Donna?’ He eased her chin up and searched her face, anger in his eyes; confusion.
Fear? Yes, fear. He was terrified.
‘What happened, Donna?’ Mark’s tone was terse. His face was tense. ‘Donna? Talk to me. Tell me what happened, Donna. Can you do that?’
Donna tried, but the words wouldn’t come. She felt so tired, suddenly. So very, very tired.
‘Donna!’ Mark shook her attention back to his face.
‘Findus.’ Donna held tight to the petrified rabbit and tried to focus her thoughts. ‘Sadie… She’s gone.’
She pulled in a breath. Breathed in hard. Then stiffened in his arms. ‘I can’t find her!’
Donna tried to pull away. She had to go. She couldn’t stand here in the street, in bare feet, doing nothing. ‘There’s… blood. On the floor. On the…’ she faltered. ‘Blood. Everywhere.’
Couldn’t stand here. Couldn’t stand. ‘I have to find her. I have to find her, Mark. Please let me…’ Donna
choked, the ground seemed to be shifting beneath her, a scream building inside her. She wouldn’t. She didn’t want to cry like a baby. She just wanted to find…
‘Come on.’ Gently Mark eased Findus from her to his waiting partner, then scooped her easily into his arms
Donna didn’t fight. She had no fight. It felt good to have him so close. Safe. To be held so close to his heart.
****
Mark’s partner was being really kind. Donna couldn’t drink the tea he’d made for her though. Her teeth kept chinking against the rim of the cup.
‘But what about Karl?’ she asked, again.
‘It’s all right, Donna,’ his partner eased the cup from her hands. ‘Like I said, Mark’s called his carer. Karl’s being looked after.’
‘But he has to go.’ Donna tried to stop shaking. Willed herself to stop, but her body wouldn’t comply. ‘Karl needs him.’
‘I think he’d rather be here, just now. Don’t worry about Mark, hey? He’s not about to do anything that might upset his son.’
‘No.’ Donna nodded. Of course he wouldn’t. ‘He’s a good man,’ she said, distractedly.
‘Better one than I am.’ His partner sat down beside her and tried to encourage Donna to take a sip of tea.
‘But what about Starbuck?’ Donna spluttered before the cup reached her lips. ‘He’s poorly. The lady police officer said…’
‘He’s fine. The vet came in to see him, and he’s doing — ‘
He stopped as Mark came back into the lounge.
‘All finished?’ he asked him.
‘Pretty much. Thanks, Phil. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate —’
‘Forget it.’ Phil stood up. ‘It’s what mates are for. I’d better get off though. I’ll sort the paperwork, and get Donna a crime reference number.’
Mark nodded. ‘Cheers, Phil.’
‘No problem.’ Phil placed a reassuring hand on Mark’s shoulder as he walked to the door. ‘Try and get some sleep, hey? You look about done in.’
‘I will,’ Mark promised.
Raking his hand through his hair as Phil left, he walked over to Donna. ‘Okay?’ he asked, crouching down in front of her.
Somebody to Love: Sigh With Contentment, Scream With Frustration. At Time You Will Weep. Page 24
