Bloodstains

by Andrew Puckett

  ‘Don’t give me that crap,’ he muttered.

  A weight shifted in my brain and I knew who had telephoned me last Tuesday.

  My eyes hard on his face, I said, I’ll buy you another.’

  He slowly looked up. He read my eyes and was terrified.

  ‘I’ll buy you another,’ I repeated, then turned back to Adrian. ‘Your girlfriend was looking for you just now.’

  His face shadowed for an instant, he turned and looked to where she was sitting, then back at me.

  ‘Get fucked,’ he spat.

  I shrugged. ‘Perhaps I will.’

  He hesitated, then incredibly started walking over to her.

  ‘I didn’t think he’d fall for that,’ I said conversationally. ‘You and I have got to talk.’ ‘Same terms as before.’

  ‘I can’t,’ he whispered.

  I leaned towards him. ‘I promise you immunity from prosecution. Think about your wife.’

  ‘That’s just it,’ he whimpered. ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘Think about it,’ I said, and made for the bar.

  Pete had been watching me. He gave a solemn wink. ‘Bad company you keep,’ he observed, then moved away with a tray of drinks.

  I was quickly served and turned back to David, who was lighting another cigarette with shaking hands.

  ‘Take it.’ I proffered him a glass, then saw Adrian returning. ‘I’ll see you later,’ I said, and walked away, making sure that I crossed Adrian on the open floor. But all he did was say, ‘Funny boy, I’ll be seeing you later.’

  That makes two of you, I thought.

  I was still trying to convince Holly that Adrian must have been mistaken, when a man in a crumpled suit clambered on to the stage and announced, ‘Grub’s up,’

  We trooped out through the corridor to the waiting buffet, the usual collection of bits and pieces to be balanced on paper plates and consumed with plastic cutlery that snapped at the slightest pressure.

  But I wasn’t thinking about the food that we took back into the hall. I was wondering how to get David Brown on his own.

  The door at the far end of the hall flew open and a huge Negro swaggered in. He wore an off-white cowboy suit with fringes, a cowboy hat and a shiny silver star. Spurs clicked faintly on his boots as he strode across the floor with a supreme arrogance, then leaped on to the stage and seized the microphone.

  ‘Ladies ’n’ gennulmun, preepare yuhselves fo’ the bes’ show in town!’

  The hall fell black, there was a roll of drums, a peal of guitars, and then lights of all colours boomed into the darkness in time with the music.

  ‘C’mon, you people, move!’ he shouted over the sound of the record, ‘C’mon on, if yuh don’ know how, ah guess ah’ll hef t’ show yuh.’

  Slowly, as the beat of the music deepened, he began, small movements at first, but graceful and in perfect sympathy, widening as his teeth glowed in an ecstatic smile.

  Somebody cheered and there was a ripple of applause. From the corner of my eye I saw a girl in a loose white trouser suit tugging at her partner, with a reluctant smile, he rose and followed her jiggling figure into the centre of the floor. She faced him, and, grinning provocatively, moved from side to side in time with the music.

  ‘Tha’s betta. C’mon, you folks, join togetha!’

  Another couple joined them, another, then more, all catching the fever.

  I glanced at Adrian and David, wondering how to get them apart. There was only one way, and that was to make Adrian jealous.

  I leaned across to Holly. ‘Come and dance with me,’ I said in her ear.

  She looked up at the dancers and then back to me with a smile.

  ‘Alright.’

  I made our excuses to the Wickhams and led her to the floor.

  Her feet moved with the beat, but her body hardly at all — she wasn’t infected yet.

  The record finished, and she smiled at me self-consciously as the black man bawled at us like a fairground hustler and the music grew louder.

  We danced and laughed and gradually her body became more supple, revealing itself in the contours of her dress.

  ‘I haven’t done this for ages,’ she shouted.

  ‘Neither have I.’

  ‘Liar!’

  The music stopped.

  ‘You dance really well,’ she said.

  ‘I started young.’

  More records, more people, coloured lights like heartbeats, like fog lamps; savage guitar riffs, wailing saxophones and the unchecked laughter of people glad to be together.

  She caught my arm. ‘I’ve had it, Tom, buy me a drink.’

  ‘In a minute.’

  People bumped into each other and laughed, trod on each other’s toes and laughed, they even collided and fell on the floor and it didn’t matter.

  And then the music stopped, and our black host was telling us to ‘Take a lil’ breather.’

  I took Holly’s arm. ‘Let’s get that drink.’

  ‘I need it,’ she said feelingly.

  As we walked towards the bar, I looked around, yes, there they were, Adrian glaring balefully. But when would he take the bait?

  The press at the bar was two bodies deep by the time we got there, then the large body in front of us turned and revealed itself as Steve.

  ‘Tom! What would you like to drink?’

  I told him.

  ‘OK, hang on and you can help me back with them.’

  Holly spotted Pete, who was sitting at a table nearby with two women and went to join them.

  Steve obviously had ‘Positive Bar Presence’, because he was served almost immediately — or perhaps it was just the sheer size of him. He handed me two drinks and carried the others back on a small tray.

  ‘Tom, this is my wife, Anita,’ he said when we had sat down. A striking-looking girl with bold eyes said hello and smiled. He turned to the other, who was older and had an air of permanent indignation about her. ‘And this is Eileen, who has the misfortune to be married to Pete.’

  The latter grimaced horribly and stuck out his tongue. Steve raised his glass to him and said ‘Cheers’, Pete did likewise, and I suddenly perceived an affinity between them. They were so different, yet there was a bond, intangible but definite.

  ‘How much respite do we have before that horrible noise starts again?’ demanded Eileen.

  Steve said, ‘It isn’t that bad.’

  ‘No, it isn’t,’ agreed Holly, ‘I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for ages.’

  ‘Your partner may have something to do with that,’ said Pete. ‘Quite a groover, is that the right word?’

  ‘About ten years out of date,’ I said. ‘Like me.’

  ‘You could have fooled me. Your enthusiasm was certainly apparent.’

  ‘Trying to recapture my lost youth, I expect.’

  ‘Pete was born in London, too,’ said Holly.

  ‘Whereabouts?’

  ‘Highgate.’

  ‘Shades of Karl Marx,’ said Steve. ‘Ugh’

  ‘Don’t you knock old Karl,’ said Pete. ‘Not all his ideas were bad.’

  ‘Re-distribution of wealth, you mean?’

  ‘Well, it’s better than your filthy capitalist philosophy. One for one and all for one, eh?’

  ‘Oh, do shut up,’ said his wife. ‘Whereabouts were you born, Tom?’

  ‘Paddington.’

  ‘Always conjures up the image of bears, that word.’

  ‘Obvious really, I suppose. Does it make you think of bears, Holly?’

  ‘N-no.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘To me it’s a gateway…’

  ‘That’s because you’re not a mother yet,’ said Pete, ‘unlike my old trouble and strife here. Talking of which—’ he lowered his voice — ‘I think some may be on its way.’

  I glanced round as Adrian materialized beside Holly.

  ‘Hello, Holly,’ he said with the clarity of a drink too many. ‘I was wondering whether you have the next dance or two free.’

&nb
sp; ‘Why, thank you kind sir,’ she said with an attempt at lightness. ‘But there doesn’t seem to be anything to dance to at the moment.’

  ‘It’s starting again any minute now.’

  ‘God save us,’ muttered Eileen.

  ‘All right,’ said Holly, ‘that would be nice. The next dance.’

  ‘Thank you.’ He turned and walked away. Good, I thought, sitting very still.

  The short silence was broken by Steve. ‘I wonder how it feels to have so many admirers.’

  ‘Oh, shut up! It’s not funny.’

  ‘Yes, shut up, Steve,’ said his wife.

  ‘Sorry.’

  Pete said, ‘I wonder what’s happened to his little mate?’

  ‘Search me.’ David? I tried to look round casually.

  I thought I saw you counselling him earlier on,’ Pete continued.

  ‘Oh, he was moaning about how unbearable life’s become, nothing new. Gone away to sulk somewhere, I expect.’

  ‘He certainly has become a master-whinger, hasn’t he? He was on to me yesterday about all the pressures—’

  ‘Why do you two always end up talking about work?’ demanded Eileen.

  At this moment the hall darkened again, and the Negro reappeared, exhorting us to ‘Git to our feet.’

  ‘It’s too much,’ she groaned.

  Adrian re-materialized, and without a word Holly rose and they joined the other dancers. I looked round again. Where the hell was David?

  ‘That’s the last you’ll see of her tonight,’ prophesied Pete gloomily.

  ‘I hope not, she’s supposed to be giving me a lift.’

  Steve raised his voice over the noise. ‘You know, I’ve always thought she still has a secret soft spot for old Adrian. Can’t say I admire her taste.’

  ‘I can’t stand any more of this!’ shouted Eileen. ‘Come on, Pete, home! Nothing personal,’ she added to the rest of us, ‘the baby-sitter calleth’

  Steve had put his hand on Pete’s arm, there was a momentary lull in the noise and I caught the words ‘… see to it, will you?’ I couldn’t hear Pete’s reply.

  He stood up. ‘Love you an’ leave you and all that,’ he shouted, ‘Enjoy yourselves.’ They wound their way to the exit.

  I turned to Steve and Anita. ‘Would you two like a drink?’

  ‘No, thanks, Tom, we’ve got to be going soon.’

  ‘I think I will, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Feel free.’

  I made for the bar, not because I particularly wanted a drink, but for a new vantage-point.

  He wasn’t there, so I scanned the hall. It was difficult with so many people, the writhing crowd on the dance floor swelled and lurched as though it were an animal in search of prey. A strobe light strayed over it at random picking out Holly and Adrian, and giving their movements a graceful togetherness. She smiled at him.

  I turned abruptly to the bar and demanded a whisky. I wasn’t jealous, just fed up.

  I swallowed it, then wandered, apparently aimlessly round the perimeter of the hall.

  No sign of him. Sulking in the corridor? More likely gone home, but I checked anyway.

  Hell, hell, hell! Why hadn’t I watched him more closely? What now? Find his address and pounce on him tomorrow? There was nothing more to be done tonight.

  As I re-entered the hall, I realized they had all gone: Trefor, Pete and Steve, as well as David.

  Where was Holly? Had she disappeared too? No, there she was by our table with Adrian, looking around. I hurried over.

  ‘There you are,’ she shouted above the noise. ‘I thought we’d lost you.’

  Adrian obviously wished they had. ‘I was getting Holly a drink,’ he said with difficulty. ‘D’you want one?’

  ‘Thanks, I’ll have a pint.’ As he made to turn away, I said, ‘D’you know where David is?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Nothing. We were going to have a talk that’s all.’

  I sat down quickly next to Holly to let that one stew. He made for the bar.

  I grinned at Holly and said, ‘Enjoying yourself?’

  ‘Mmm.’ She nodded reflectively.

  ‘D’you have enough energy left for another turn with me?’

  ‘I think so. But we’d better have this drink with Adrian first.’

  ‘OK.’

  A moment later he returned.

  ‘What do you want to talk to David about?’ he demanded as he handed me a beer.

  I said, ‘A personal matter.’

  He looked baffled. ‘Is it about work?’

  ‘You could say that, yes.’

  He was dying to press me further, but didn’t, and we sat in silence for a few moments.

  Holly finished her drink.

  ‘Ready?’ I said to her.

  Her eyes flickered fractionally to Adrian, then she said, ‘All right.’

  As she stood up, he called out, ‘Don’t forget the dance you promised me, I’ll be along in a minute.’

  She appeared not to notice. As we walked away, I said in her ear, ‘Holly, what is it with him? He’s like the Old Man of the Sea, he never lets up.’

  ‘He’s got a problem. Tell you some other time.’

  She moved to the music in a constrained, almost lethargic way, her face abstracted.

  I followed her movements and waited, made no attempt to speak or smile.

  Then a record was played that must have taken her back to the past. Her face softened into a smile that was completely for herself and her bittersweet memories. Her body became more fluid, her face animated, she caught my gaze and we both laughed.

  More records, then, like an insect in a dream, another noise, discordant, insistent. On impulse, I caught Holly’s wrist and drew her to the tall window overlooking the main entrance to the hospital.

  Someone pulled the curtains aside as, like a bird of prey, an ambulance swooped from the curling road, its tom-tom horns breaking up the music, deep blue lamps breaking up the disco lights as people gathered round to watch.

  The doors flew open and a stretcher was rushed inside.

  ‘A hospital never lets you forget,’ said Holly in my ear.

  The evening entered its final stage in slow crooning ballads. Some couples wandered away, others slipped into each other’s arms.

  ‘Come here,’ I called softly, and with a low chuckle she accepted my loose embrace. She settled into me, her dress as smooth as the skin beneath, as the room began to slowly rotate around us.

  We remained moving even as the records were changed. She settled deeper, her hair smelt of the hay in the fields, her body of flowers, and as I melted into her I wanted her, my body wanted and hardened and began transmitting its urgent signals.

  I breathed deeply, the room revolved, and Adrian slid into view. He caught my gaze and his face sharpened with hate.

  Then I did something stupid, I grinned at him. He started walking towards us.

  Holly must have sensed me stiffen. She looked up as I felt a tap on my shoulder.

  ‘I think it’s my turn now, mate.’

  Hard desire hardened into anger.

  ‘Oh, you do, do you? Why don’t you try next week if you want to dance with her?’

  He smiled a friendly smile. ‘No need for that, mate. Share and share alike, eh?’

  By this time, I had released her and stood facing him. She said, ‘Stop being silly, you two—’

  ‘Tom doesn’t mind, do you, Tom?’

  He put a friendly hand on my chest and gave me a friendly shove. Or it might have been if he hadn’t somehow slipped a toe behind my ankles.

  I crashed to the floor with a bone-jarring thud that knocked the wind from me.

  ‘I’m sorry, Tom, let me give you a hand.’ His face was all concern as he stretched out an arm. ‘You’d better come and sit down.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said groggily and reached for his hand. Steady now — I allowed my body to come up about a foot — God, he was strong — before snapping my bicep.

&
nbsp; I fell back with a crash as he loomed over me — steady now — gave a cry of pain and brought up my knee as hard as I could.

  His scream was so shrill as to be almost silent, like a finger on a windowpane.

  I wriggled out from beneath him and unsteadily gained my feet.

  ‘What happened?’ cried Holly as a small crowd gathered.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said helplessly. ‘I think he’s winded himself.’

  ‘He ain’t winded,’ said a gruff male voice in my ear. Adrian writhed and clutched his groin.

  ‘Give me a hand, will you?’ I said, and together we helped him over to a chair.

  ‘Tom, what happened?’ demanded Holly.

  Before I could reply, the bleep attached to her pocket gave off its shrill intermittent alarm.

  She snatched it up and switched it off. ‘Must be that ambulance,’ she muttered. ‘Tom, this could take a while, look after Adrian, will you? You’d better find a taxi home.’

  She sped for the door.

  ‘It’s all right, I’ll take care of him,’ I said to the gruff voice. He grunted and drifted away.

  I leaned over. ‘Adrian, can you hear me? I know all about you, and believe me, that was just for starters. Do you understand that?’

  ‘Get fucked,’ he wheezed.

  I don’t know why, perhaps because his fund of profanities was so limited, perhaps just because he was so pathetic, but suddenly I felt sorry for him.

  ‘Listen,’ I said, ‘after I’ve spoken to David, why don’t you talk to me about it? I can fix up the same deal for you as for him.’

  His face went completely blank.

  Chapter Eleven

  I took a last look round the hall for David, in case he’d come back, but he hadn’t.

  Another drink? No — had enough already, in fact I needed to shed some.

  I walked into the corridor and found what I wanted, then stood and stared for a moment out of a window at the main entrance of the hospital as it lay bathed in its own floodlight. The noise of the disco had faded like a memory, been replaced by the heels of nurses and stethoscope doctors criss-crossing each other’s paths. What a way for a job to end.

  Glanced at my watch — 11.30 — couldn’t face the thought of going back to the hotel. No, I’d find Holly.

  But what if she didn’t want to be found? I wondered as I hurried through the space walkway. A three-quarter moon hung over the distant moor and shed a dappled green light. Worry about that when it happened.