“Yes, I think I have.”
“Who?”
Rachel was stunned when Sabine pressed her lips to hers.
“You,” ended Sabine, taking her hands. “I love you Rachel.”
Rachel was thrown but only for a moment. “I love you too Sabine, but not like that,” she quickly added when Sabine’s eyes lit up. “You’re like my little sister, but nothing more. Oh please don’t cry,” she added when Sabine’s lip wobbled and her beautiful bright blue eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry, I make big fool of myself. Please forgive me.”
When she tried to run away Rachel grabbed her arm. “Don’t go, there’s no need.”
“Yes there is, I have humiliated myself and I’m in love with Ryan’s wife, the man who saved me from that awful brothel.”
“Sabine, you’re not in love with me. It’s just a crush.”
“What is crush?” she said, unfamiliar with the term.
“You find me attractive but it won’t last long and you’re certainly not in love with me. You might love me like I love you, like a sister. One day you’ll meet a woman you truly love and it’ll be much more fulfilling than what you’re feeling now.”
Sabine’s face crumpled. “I’m so sorry.”
Rachel hugged her tight. “It’s okay.”
“I have betrayed Ryan.”
“You’ve done nothing of the sort, don’t worry about him.”
“You are being so good about this but what will the others say?”
“You mean Tracey and Daina?”
“And Dolores too.”
“I can tell you right now Dolores won’t care and neither will the others. Tell them, you might be surprised.”
“I don’t dare.”
“I’ll be right with you and I can guarantee that once you do, you’ll feel much better.”
“I don’t like this idea.”
“Sabine, you’ve been in torment, we’ve all noticed. It’s why we arranged this evening out, because we’re so worried about you.”
“You did that for me?”
“Yes because we all love you.”
Sabine started to cry again. “I don’t deserve so much love.”
Rachel inwardly cursed Alex and all the men who had traumatised this poor girl and made her think herself so worthless. “Yes you do. Tell them and put their minds at rest, especially Daina, you don’t want her worrying in her condition, do you?”
“No, is not good for the baby.”
“Exactly. Come on, I’ll be right with you.”
“I’m still not sure.”
“It’s got to be better than carrying on like this, being so sad and frustrated all the time?”
“I suppose.”
Rachel linked her arm through hers. “Come on, we’ll tackle it together.”
“Thank you Rachel, you are always so kind. I wish all the stupid people who read the newspapers and judge you could meet you, then they would see how wrong they are about you.”
“I gave up caring what people think of me a long time ago.”
“You good kisser too,” smiled Sabine.
“So I’m told,” she replied with a wink. “Come on girl, let’s do this, get into your power.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means be who you want to be and don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks.”
“Yes, I like this. It is strong.”
They walked out of the toilets arm in arm, Sabine walking tall and confident, falling in on herself again the closer they got to their table.
“You can do this,” Rachel told her.
“I…I can’t, I’m too embarrassed.”
“Don’t be, this is who you are, be proud.”
Sabine gritted her teeth and nodded. “I am.”
“Good.”
“There you are,” said Tracey. “We were starting to think you’d fallen in.”
“We just had something to discuss, didn’t we Sabine?” encouraged Rachel.
Sabine swallowed nervously as the three women looked up at her expectantly. “Yes.” She was tempted to ignore Rachel’s elbow in her ribs but Rachel was a woman it was impossible to ignore. “I have something to tell you all.”
“Go on love, it’s alright,” said Dolores encouragingly when she went silent.
“I like women,” she blurted out.
“And?” said Tracey.
“That is it. Isn’t it enough?” said Sabine.
“Aw, bless your little heart,” said Tracey, patting her hand. “I clocked onto that ages ago when you couldn’t take your eyes off a very attractive client of ours.”
“I saw you eyeing up that blond who walked past us earlier in the invisible skirt,” said Dolores. “Honestly, I can’t believe the way some women dress these days. It’s not as if we live in a tropical climate.”
Sabine looked to Daina, who was the only one who appeared surprised. “And you?”
“I had no idea,” she said, wide-eyed. “This is why you have been so sad?”
Sabine nodded. “I just wanted to be me but I thought I couldn’t.”
Daina dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. Thanks to the hormones the tears were always close to the surface. She exclaimed something in Latvian before getting to her feet and hugging her friend. Sabine clung onto her and they cooed to each other in their native language, the others looking on.
Finally Sabine released her friend. “So this not bother any of you?”
“Course not,” said Tracey. “I might be a couple of years past thirty…”
Dolores sniggered.
“I’ll ignore that,” continued Tracey. “But I’m not a dinosaur.”
“Me neither,” said Dolores. “Be yourself love, no one will bother.”
“Thank you, you are all such good people,” said Sabine, filling up again. “Now I don’t need to be sad anymore because I’m not living a lie.”
“Sit back down and tell us which woman you fancy in here, maybe we can sort you out a date,” said Dolores.
“Dee, give her a break,” said Rachel.
“No, is alright. I like this,” said Sabine. “I have been lonely too long.” She squeezed Rachel’s hand. “Thank you. I am sorry for before.”
“It’s forgotten. Just be happy, please. It’s what I want and what Laila wanted too.”
Sabine nodded and retook her seat before talking with an animation that had been absent for too long. Rachel watched her, relief settling over her. Sabine would be fine.
“Hello beautiful,” said a voice.
She turned, ready to give the interloper a gobful, until she realised it was Troy who owned the club they were in. He looked like something the Eighties had spat out with his Flock of Seagulls haircut, shoulder pads and brilliant white teeth but Rachel thought he was a sweetheart. Ryan thought he was a prat but a harmless prat so he tolerated him.
“Hi Troy,” she smiled.
“Thank you for gracing my humble establishment. Another girlie night out?”
“Yep. We all needed a blow out.”
“It’s good to see so many lovely ladies having such a good time,” he said to the table.
“You old flatterer Troy,” grinned Dolores.
“The magnificent Dee,” he smiled, dazzling them all with his white teeth. “How can Vince bear to let you out of his sight?”
“Get away with you,” she giggled, flushed with drink.
“Enjoy your evening ladies. Next round is on the house.”
They all cheered and raised their glasses, even Sabine.
“Rachel, could I have a quick word please?”
She was shocked by how sombre he looked. “Course Troy. Something wrong?”
“I really need your help. Can we talk in my office?”
“Sure.” She turned to her friends. “We’ve some business to discuss, I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll try not to keep her long Ladies,” Troy called cheerfully as he took Rachel’s arm and led her through the c
lub to his small office at the back. Unlike most club owners, who decorated their offices to impress with extravagant, contemporary furniture on which to entertain the most attractive clientele, Troy treated his more as a retreat, a little cubbyhole where he could sit and read the newspaper and enjoy a cup of tea.
“Take a seat please Rachel,” he said, gesturing to a plastic orange chair in the corner.
She removed the pile of newspapers balanced on the chair, put them on the floor then perched on the edge of the chair while Troy flopped into his faithful old leather armchair behind the cluttered desk. Rachel was concerned by his behaviour. Troy was usually like a living cartoon - brash, full of noise and life and colour. Now he looked defeated and somehow grey, despite the colourful clothes.
“What’s wrong?” she said.
“We’ve not known each other very long Rachel but I like and respect you.”
“I like and respect you too.”
“Ryan doesn’t, he thinks I’m an idiot.”
“He’s a genius so he thinks everyone’s an idiot, except Stephen Hawking. Don’t take it personally.”
“I’ve got a dilemma Rachel and I don’t see anyway out short of murder.”
“Jesus Troy, what’s going on?”
“Seven years ago my daughter was sexually abused by a neighbour. She was four at the time.”
“Bloody hell. I had no idea.”
“It was before your time here. The bastard who did it got nine years, but he’s only served six because he was well behaved inside,” he said sardonically. “Apparently it’s okay to abuse little kiddies if you act the good boy in prison. It makes me sick. The bastard who did it is going to be released in a week’s time and he’s coming back to the area.”
“And naturally you don’t want him to.”
Troy nodded. “His family’s rich and connected, more so than me, so I have no power to get rid of him. If I wasn’t my daughter’s only carer I’d be waiting outside that prison on his release day with a gun, I’d do anything to protect my little girl but I can’t leave her all alone.” Troy’s wife had died of cancer three years ago. “I’m reaching out to you here Rachel because I don’t know what else to do,” he said, eyes filling with tears.
Jesus, this was supposed to be a fun night out and everyone kept bursting into tears on her. “You want my help?”
“I read about who you were, what you’ve done and it doesn’t matter to me, really but I thought you might be the one to help me.”
“Because you want this guy gone the non-legal way?”
“I don’t want him dead. Actually I do but I wouldn’t ask that of anyone. What I want is for someone to persuade him to move far away from my daughter.”
“I get it.”
“I hope I haven’t offended you, I just don’t know what else to do. I’m desperate.”
“I’ve got three kids myself, I can only imagine what you’re feeling and I want this creep far away from here too. What’s his name?”
“David Hughes,” he spat. “A fucking scumbag.”
Rachel paused before answering. First the Hallidays asking for a favour, which had turned out to be a very dodgy request to say the least, and now this. She thought Troy was genuine but she was still going to err on the side of caution. However this wasn’t unprecedented, when she’d run the Maguire businesses alongside Danny they were continually being asked for favours from the public, they’d become quite the vigilantes. Was it surprising that now everyone knew who they were it was happening again? “I’ll speak to Ryan.”
He dragged in a shaky breath. “Thank you.”
“If we do this there will be certain conditions.”
“I can pay you.”
“We don’t want or need your money. If Ryan agrees I’ll run through them with you then. Now if you don’t mind, I need to get back to the girls.”
“Yeah, sorry to keep you so long.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’ll be in touch.”
Rachel exited his office feeling a bit down. She was never going to be the legitimate, law-abiding woman she wanted to be because everyone would always see the past. When a man smacked her on the behind she grabbed his hand and twisted, making him cry out. What the fuck, it was time to be who she really was.
“Did you have a good night?” said Ryan pleasantly, putting the book aside. The topic this month was the ancient Egyptians.
“Yep. How were the kids?”
“Fine. The boys had their bath then went to bed with no complaints, but I was forced to watch that DVD with Leah and the girls.”
“And?” she said, amused, removing her jacket and laying it over the back of the couch.
“Hideous but Leah seemed to enjoy it. Tiffany didn’t watch much of it because she was too busy staring at me.”
“Understandable. Tonight was very eventful.”
“What happened?” he demanded.
“Nothing bad, don’t panic. It was just a night for revelations.”
He held his arm out to her. “Do tell.”
She sat beside him. “Thank you,” she said when he poured her out a glass of wine.
“Sure you’ve not had too much?”
“I’m not a lightweight,” she said, taking the glass from him.
“I don’t want you getting overtired or drunk, I have plans for you as soon as you’ve told me what occurred tonight.”
As she looked into his eyes Rachel was tempted to leave explanations until the morning, but she knew he wouldn’t relax until he knew. “Well, firstly Sabine told me she’s gay.”
“Really. So that’s why she’s been upset lately?”
“Poor thing was worried she’d be ostracised for coming out. Naturally everyone was fine with it, actually Tracey and Dee had already guessed. She kissed me.”
Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “Sabine kissed you?”
“Yep.”
“On the lips?”
“No, on my little finger. Yes on my lips.”
“Why?”
“Because apparently she finds me attractive.”
“I can understand that but did she forget you’re married to me?”
“No, in fact she felt incredibly guilty about it because you were the one who rescued her from that brothel. She’s just mixed up, that’s all.”
“So I don’t need to worry about her being competition?”
“Hmmm, that depends on how good a boy you are.”
His grey eyes pierced her body, making her squirm. “I thought you liked it when I was bad.”
“That reminds me, Troy also had a revelation.”
“Troy,” he said disdainfully. “The man’s a walking circus.”
“Don’t be rotten, he’s nice.”
“He’s a buffoon.”
“First Thane, now poor Troy. What have you got against these people?”
“They’re all fools.”
“Well this fool needs our help.” As Rachel explained Troy’s tale, Ryan listened thoughtfully.
“Alright, maybe he’s not such a fool after all,” he conceded.
“We have to do something about this.”
“As long as his tale can be proved. After the Halliday incident I’m reluctant to make a move without establishing all the facts. I visited Billy Whitelock this morning, he was cooing over some puppies in the animal shelter he volunteers at four times a week. It was sickening. I had to pretend I wanted a dog. One licked me,” he said with distaste.
“It’ll be easy enough to check out Troy’s story and the last thing we want is a paedophile in the area.”
“You’re right there. Okay, if everything tallies with what he told you then we’ll do it, for the sake of our own children as much as his.”
She kissed him. “Thank you. You’re going to get a nice reward for that,” she said, unzipping his jeans.
He pulled her onto his lap and slid his hands up her thighs. “I’ve been thinking about these stockings all evening,” he said. “Arms up.”
She obeyed and he pulled her dress off over her head. Ryan paused to admire his wife in just her black underwear. “Dear God, my fantasies didn’t even come close,” he said, unhooking her bra and casting it aside. “What proud beauties,” he said, gently stroking her breasts. “Why are you laughing?”
“Proud beauties?”
“I am trying to be romantic,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t want to be romantic, I want to be bad,” she said, sliding off his lap and onto the floor, pulling open his jeans and taking him in her mouth.
Ryan groaned loudly and let his head flop back onto the couch, his fingers sliding through her hair. “How can something bad feel so good?”
CHAPTER 12
Jake had been languishing in Manchester Prison for years. Mikey had always been acutely aware of his presence, had considered bribing someone in authority to get him transferred to a prison at the opposite end of the country to get him out of the way but he had never gone through with it. He got to hear what went on in Manchester Prison so he thought it wiser to keep him where he could keep an eye on him, not that he could get up to much behind bars, but being his brother offered him a high level of protection inside. Way down south he would be easy prey for his enemies.
As Mikey walked into the prison visiting room - he had forked out a lot of cash for a private meeting - he was taken back to that day when Jake had come to visit him at the mental hospital to gloat about how he’d set him up. Mikey imagined he’d looked much the same way Jake looked - institutional haircut and clothes, grey pallor, shadows around the eyes. Mikey adjusted his gold cufflinks and smoothed down the lapels of his Armani suit jacket. How their roles had reversed. He wanted Jake to look impressed but he didn’t. Instead he sat there with his arms folded across his chest, looking bored.
“What do you want?” were Jake’s first words.
Mikey didn’t reply, taking his time to settle himself into the uncomfortable grey plastic chair, letting Jake know who was in charge of this conversation. He looked to the prison officer standing sentry at the back of the room and nodded. The man nodded back before leaving. Mikey sat back in his seat to study his brother, drawing out the silence until Jake filled it.
Reckoning Page 10
