Tainted Souls

by Alice J Black

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Well, it looks to me that it’s about time we get Vaughn to rehearsals.” Luka glanced at his watch.

  “If I haven’t been kicked out of the play for being this late,” Vaughn said.

  “Do I detect a hint of remorse?” Luka grinned as he stood up. “Make way! Romeo coming through.”

  “Romeo?” Roan laughed. “You missed that last part.”

  “Convenient.” Justin grinned.

  Vaughn groaned and headed towards the front door. I followed, sneaking up behind him.

  “Don’t let it get to you,” I whispered as he stepped into the street.

  The centre loomed just in front of us.

  He reached around and squeezed my hand. “It’s hard not to, at times.”

  “This will all be over soon.”

  There was a ruckus as the rest of the guys stepped out of the shop and into the street. Roan’s voice being the loudest.

  Vaughn turned to face them. “Guys, one question.”

  “What’s that?” Luka tipped his head.

  “How do we get the key to get in tonight? Tom will never give it up for a second night.”

  “You need to get a hold of them.” Delta jogged to catch up and placed his hand on Vaughn’s shoulder. “Get them to us, then distract him so we can go get a spare set cut.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” Vaughn sighed.

  “You can do it.” Luka clapped Vaughn’s shoulder.

  As I watched them railroad Vaughn across the narrow road and onto the roundabout, I really felt for him. This whole thing was riding on him and it wasn’t fair. Yet it was our only plan, and if we wanted to get back inside after the centre had closed, this was the only way.

  I peered up at the building’s spires and stained-glass windows illuminated in the sun’s brilliance. When I saw the clock tower, a ripple shot down my spine and I took a sharp intake of breath, recalling the way we’d spent our night. The way Vaughn had pulled me into his arms. Our first kiss. It had been perfect. I glanced at him just as he entered the doorway and wondered whether I’d get another.

  I was close behind Vaughn when I saw Tom as marching towards him, his face red, wagging his finger.

  “Where have you been?” he asked. “I’ve spent the morning doing what I could, but without the star of the show there was no way rehearsals could be productive.”

  “Sorry.” Vaughn dropped his head.

  “If this is the thanks I get for the favour I did, then—”

  “It wasn’t like that,” Vaughn said. “We’re here as tourists, Tom. We came to see all of Bridgendale, and so far, all I’ve seen is the inside of the community centre.”

  Tom dropped his arm, and his jaw flapped opened and closed. It was the first time I’d seen the man speechless.

  “It’s okay.” Tom shook his head. “I just think a bit more notice in the future would be good. I’ve set the date for the performance now. We should be in top form and selling tickets right now.”

  “Let’s get to it, then,” Vaughn said. “Wouldn’t want to waste any more time.” He put his hand on Tom’s shoulder and steered him towards the back of the hall.

  I watched them go, already deep in conversation.

  “So now that Romeo is out of the way,” Roan clapped his huge hands, “what’s the plan?”

  “Now we wait,” Delta said.

  “We wait?” Roan’s voice was deadpan.

  “There’s nothing more we can do,” Delta said.

  “Apart from look for this basement?” Luka said.

  “Well, I figure if we’re hanging around, I’m going to at least get a coffee.” Justin reached for his wallet.

  I shook my head as I threw my hand out and grabbed his wrist. “Not here.”

  “Is he really that bad?”

  “Go and see for yourself if you want.” I dropped my hand.

  “I might have a wander, and if you’re right, I’ll head out and buy. Where is it?”

  I pointed behind the stage, then followed Justin and paused at the point when the kiosk came into view. Pete was standing there, his eyes already on me before I had a chance to disappear. They were blacker than usual. I gulped as my glare wandered over him. His hair was greasy, pushed back behind his ears. His skin was sallow, his jowls deeper and stubble darker. The sagging facial skin looked as if he’d put on an enormous amount of weight and then lost it in a short time span. The tops of his arms were on show—his chef whites had probably been too dirty to put on that morning—and he wore a once-white tank. Rolls of fat around the top of his arms billowed over the fabric and sweat stains ringed the area under his armpits. He didn’t blink. Not once.

  “That’s Pete?” Justin whispered.

  “Yeah.” I gritted my teeth.

  Pete watched us, unmoving, unblinking, until we neared the kiosk.

  Justin stood a foot away, eager not to get too close. “Hi, mate. Just wondering what food you’re serving today?”

  “Bit of everything,” Pete grunted and shrugged. “Got some nice bacon in yesterday.”

  I peered around Pete’s bulbous frame, to the skillet at the back of the kitchen but felt his gaze burning into me. Did he know that I’d been back there? Maybe there were cameras. Maybe he had set traps. I wouldn’t put it past him.

  I saw bacon on the grill, pink in its raw state. I tried to hold back a grimace, but I wasn’t sure it worked. When I dared to meet Pete’s eyes again, his scowl seemed to have deepened.

  “Something wrong?” he asked. His voice was gruff, like he’d been smoking forty a day his whole life.

  “N-no. Just not sure I fancy bacon today.”

  “Me neither.” Justin shook his head.

  “Can I interest you in anything else? Going to whip up a batch of chilli for the cast later. They’ve been working so hard.”

  My stomach dropped. I had to warn Vaughn.

  “No, thanks. Maybe later.” Justin offered a wave and a quick smile before turning.

  I turned around also and hurried to keep up with Justin as we scurried back around the stage.

  “Geez, you were right about him.” Justin blew out a stream of air, pushing his hand through his hair. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “He’s worse.” I shook my head.

  “What do you mean?” Delta asked.

  I looked at him. “He’s worse than I’ve seen him. He looked…withered. Deflated. But he just kept staring. There’s something seriously wrong with that guy.”

  “Well, hopefully we’ll figure this whole thing out tonight and you won’t have to see him again.” Luka smiled.

  “I certainly hope so.” I shuddered.

  “I think we need to spend the day looking for this basement,” Luka said. “It’s the only place that hasn’t been checked.”

  “Me, too,” Delta said. “So everybody, get looking and try not to make it too obvious.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Wandering around while trying to make it look like I wasn’t looking for something was harder than I thought. We started in the main part of the centre since it was the quietest. I searched between pews and around them. I investigated the stage, moving around it methodically and stomping on certain areas to make sure there were no trap doors. Nothing.

  At the back of the stage we marched the floor, staring at it like it was the most interesting thing in the world while drawing a blank.

  “Well, this room is out.” Justin stretched.

  I copied his movements. My neck was aching, and my back had been stooped for so long it was beginning to retain the position.

  “What next?” I asked.

  “There’s the hall, but they’re rehearsing.” Luka pointed towards the room at the back. “And the offices, too.”

  “We can’t get through there.” Delta shook his head.

  “But that’s the only other place it could be.” Luka splayed his hands.

  “Or,” my gaze drifted to the café kiosk, “it could be in the
kitchen.”

  Everyone turned towards the café. Pete was in the back somewhere, so we were lucky not to catch his eye, but the thought of going in there, whether he was there or not, was too much for me.

  “We need a distraction,” Luka said. “We need to get him out of there, and then we can check it out.”

  “Count me out.” I shook my head.

  “I think Roan might be able to do it,” Justin said.

  “Me? Why me?” Roan put his hands to his chest. “I don’t want to talk to a creepy guy like that.”

  “Maybe not, but we have to get a look in there somehow.”

  “And what do you want me to do? Twirl my hair around my finger as I skip and bat my eyelashes?”

  “Whatever works,” Delta said. “Go on, get over there and order something. We’ll hang about and try to get a peek inside when he’s busy.”

  Delta moved towards the side of the hatch and positioned himself so that Pete wouldn’t be able to see him.

  “I’m not ordering any food. No way am I eating there,” Roan mumbled as he trudged over to the kiosk, feet slapping the floor.

  I hurried to catch up to Delta, keen not to get caught by Pete’s ogling. The man was somehow deteriorating. As the days had gone on, his demeanour had gotten worse, like he was wilting into the monster he truly was.

  “Hello there, mate,” Roan said, his thick accent punctuating the quiet.

  I heard something drop and a curse and then footsteps as Pete trailed over to the counter.

  “What do you want?”

  “What do you have on the menu today?” Roan slapped the counter and leaned on it, smiling at Pete like nothing was amiss.

  “Do you actually care?”

  “Well now, I came here looking for food. I don’t expect to be greeted with hostility.”

  “Your friends have been hanging around here every day and haven’t bought one scrap. But I’ve seen them eating and drinking. Think they’re too good for me, do they?”

  My stomach clenched, and beside me Delta slowly leaned in towards the kitchen.

  “No, not at all, friend,” Roan said, jovial. “The one that looks like he spends his whole life in the gym? He’s picky, that’s all.”

  Quiet for a moment. My gaze flicked to Luka, who looked like he could shoot daggers from his eyes should Roan walk around the corner.

  “Fine. I’m making chilli, but it’s not ready yet. There’s bacon, sausages. I can fix up some eggs.”

  “Hmmm. Give me some of that bacon over there. Looks well-cooked. And a coffee.”

  “Okay.” Pete’s tone had become lighter, and I heard him shuffle away from the counter.

  Delta was still peering around the doorframe as Pete went to the skillet. I could hear him as he fumbled about with something and used the hot water boiler. Then he moved back to the counter.

  “Here you go.”

  “How much is that, mate?”

  “Straight five.”

  “Okay.”

  Delta motioned for me to step away from the kiosk. We moved straight on to stay out of Pete’s line of sight until we reached the far end of the stage, and we curved around it. A few minutes later, we were joined by Roan and Justin and finally Luka, who’d taken an inconspicuous seat at one of the plastic tables.

  “What was all that about?” Luka said to Roan as soon as he walked around the corner. “Putting the blame on me. The guy is creepy enough. I don’t want him to target me.”

  “Relax.” Roan sliced his hand through the air. “After this, you’re never going to see him again.”

  “That’s not what bothers me.” Luka dropped onto the pew behind Delta, hands hanging over the back of the seat. “If he takes a disliking to anyone in particular, it’s going to be the one who he thinks doesn’t want his food.”

  “You’re a big lad. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

  “Anyway, Delta, did you see anything?” Justin asked.

  Delta nodded. “Right at the back of the kitchen, next to the storage room, there’s a hatch in the floor. It’s gotta lead into the basement.”

  “Bad place for it to be,” Justin said.

  “There might be another entrance,” Delta said, “but this is the only one we’ve got. For now.”

  “So what’s the plan?” I asked.

  Delta looked at me. “We get the keys off Vaughn, make a copy, and come back tonight once the place is empty. We go down there and get to the bottom of whatever is going on here.”

  “Literally,” Roan said.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  We didn’t see Vaughn again until the evening was drawing to a close. Though, throughout the day I’d heard much his voice coming from the rehearsal room. Even that was enough to melt my heart, and I wondered how many women he would win over during his performance.

  When he finally came to the main part of the centre, he looked tired. His eyes were red, and the skin beneath his eyes was darker.

  “Hey, guys.” He offered a slow wave and dropped down onto the seat.

  “Hey.” I smiled. “How’s it going?”

  “Brutal. We’ve done two full run-throughs, and he wants to do another.” Vaughn pushed his hand through his hair.

  I bit my lip. He looked just as gorgeous now as he had last night in the clock tower, and I wanted to lean over and press my lips to his, to feel his arms snake around me.

  “Did you manage to get the keys?” Delta asked.

  Vaughn shook his head. “No. He’s got them glued to his hand. I think maybe he regrets passing them to me last night after I turned up late.”

  “We need those keys.” Delta gritted his teeth.

  “Heads up,” Luka whispered. “Here comes Summer.”

  Vaughn groaned. “I can’t get two minutes peace.”

  “Hey, Vaughn.” She dropped down onto the seat beside him, resting her hand on his arm.

  I bit back the growl that formed in my throat.

  “Wasn’t that a blast?” she said.

  “Yeah.” Vaughn rubbed his face as if he was trying to wipe away the exhaustion.

  “Tom says we have ten minutes, then back to it. I might get a coffee from Pete. I’ve heard he’s made us a chilli, too. Want some?”

  Vaughn’s eyes widened, and then he looked at me. I gave him a subtle headshake.

  “No, thanks. I’m fine.”

  “Suit yourself. I’m going for some.” She stood up, bounding away and around the stage.

  “Something tells me she’s a dog with a bone.” Roan laughed.

  “She’s barking up the wrong tree,” Vaughn grumbled.

  My stomach flipped.

  “So Pete was nice enough to make food for everyone?” Vaughn asked.

  “Yeah,” Luka said. “Roan went over earlier to keep him sweet while we got a look into the kitchen, and guess what we found?”

  “What?”

  “The basement.” Luka grinned.

  Vaughn’s eyes widened again. “It’s in there?”

  I nodded. “I think maybe we didn’t see it because it was so dark when we searched.”

  “Maybe.” Vaughn nodded. “So what’s the plan?”

  “We come back tonight,” Delta said. “But we need those keys.”

  Vaughn shrugged. “They haven’t left his hand. I’ve got no chance.”

  Tom came rattling in from the back. His shoes clacked on the flagged floor, and his pocket jangled with the sound of his keys. He stopped just as he reached the pews we were taking up.

  “Vaughn, aren’t you getting something to eat?”

  “I’m not hungry.” Vaughn shook his head.

  “You need to keep your strength up. Acting is not an easy feat.”

  “Tell me about it,” Vaughn muttered.

  “Five more minutes, then back to it. We need to nail this by the weekend.”

  “No problem.”

  “And who is this?” Tom smiled while looking at Roan.

  “This is a friend. Roan,” Vaughn said.
/>   “And has he come to see the play?” Tom inched forward, holding out his hand.

  “I’ll be sticking around.” Roan nodded as he took the smaller man’s hand.

  Then he pulled Tom into a bear hug and patted him on the back with a meaty fist. When he let go, Tom looked flustered but happy.

  “Delightful. Just delightful.” Tom continued smiling absently for a few minutes, before coming to his senses. “Five minutes, Vaughn.” He strode away with a spring in his step.

  “Well, you certainly made an impression on Tom.” Luka raised his brow.

  “And he made an impression on me.” Roan grinned as he opened his fist to display a bunch of keys.

  “Great.” Delta cracked a smile. “Roan, you and Justin go and get a spare set cut and get them back here as soon as you can before Tom realises they’re missing.”

  Roan and Justin hustled out into the waning light of the evening.

  “So we’re on track now,” Delta said. “All we have to do is get the keys back to him and then come back when the centre is empty.”

  “The way it’s looking, we’ll be here till after dark.” Vaughn shook his head. “Tom isn’t giving up on rehearsals that easy.”

  “We’ll work around it,” Delta said.

  Summer appeared in my peripheral, waving frantically at Vaughn, a huge smile on her face.

  “It looks like you’re being summoned, Romeo.” Luka grinned.

  “She’s there again?” Vaughn asked.

  “Got it in one.” Luka said.

  Vaughn took a deep breath and stood up. “Better get back to it. Oh, and will someone please get me a decent cup of coffee? I’m wilting here.”

  “Sure,” Luka said. “I’ll head out. I’m feeling tired, too.

  “Okay,” Vaughn replied.

  “You guys want one?” Luka asked.

  “Please.” I nodded.

  “Double shot for me.” Delta pushed his long hair behind his head and held it there for a minute.

  “Won’t be long.” Luka strode towards the entrance.

  “See you later.” Vaughn turned and jogged to catch up with Summer.

  I watched them go. Watched as she inched closer to him, her hand swinging dangerously close to his. Then they were gone.