Two Years After ; Friends Who Lie ; No More Secrets

by Paul J. Teague

  ‘But that’s just it, isn’t it? Nobody wants to feel like they’re accepting charity. Really all that everybody wants is to get their hands on the money for themselves. It just creates jealousy. I should have kept my mouth shut.’

  ‘I was right about Wes though, wasn’t I? He was straight in there with Becky. Talk about an opportunist.’

  ‘Well, if it takes the heat off for Matt and Harriet, it’s probably not a bad thing. At least it gives Matt some moral high ground. What a mess, Gina. I don’t know how we’re all going to move on from this.’

  ‘Well, let’s get started by having a shower and getting ourselves lost for the day. I’ll show you some of the sights. What do you think?’

  ‘Yes, let’s do that. I can’t think of a better plan than Kasey and I have no appetite to see Terry or Naomi at the moment. Besides, they were all pretty pissed. There’s no point talking with hangovers. I think Kasey came up with the best plan. He says in his text we have to be out by 8.45 at the latest. He’s sending Wes off next, he doesn’t want any of us to see each other. Best thing, I reckon.’

  Caitlen and Gina took turns in the shower, they left the apartment door ajar so that they could hear if there was any movement along the corridor. Everything was quiet, they slipped out at half-past eight and Caitlen texted Kasey to let him know that the coast was clear.

  ‘You alright in my T-shirt, I think we’re pretty well the same size?’

  ‘I think you’re being kind, Gina, I’m sure I’m two sizes up from you and this is one that you use as a nightshirt. But thank you, yes, this is great. Better than the one I had on last night.’

  After such a terrible night, Caitlen was surprised to feel so enthusiastic about the day. There would be the reckoning at the evening meal, but that was twelve hours away. The sun was burning fiercely already, the blue sea was sparkling and the long sands looked like a path of gold. The sky was an invigorating blue and she had her new friend with her, there was no baggage to worry about for the time being.

  ‘You are going up to the cross before you leave, aren’t you?’ Gina asked.

  ‘I think we might be burying a few bodies up there before the week is done!’ Caitlen laughed. ‘How about Terry for starters?’

  ‘Shall we have breakfast here?’ Gina asked, ‘It’s a great view of Peacock Island.’

  They pulled up wicker chairs at one of the free tables and ordered a couple of fresh orange juices and a couple of fry-ups.

  ‘You know, I know what Terry did must hurt. But it’s for the best in the long run. It gives you the upper hand now, you can move on.’

  ‘Yes, but with Emmy? I thought she was a friend. I thought all of them were my friends. I suppose it makes sense though. They’re always running into each other on crime scenes. They always got on well. I just can’t believe it was happening under my nose. Still, what is it they say about people in glass houses?’

  ‘You haven’t, have you?’ Gina asked, intrigued.

  ‘I haven’t been totally honest with you. In fact, I haven’t been totally honest with anybody. I’m as bad as all the rest of them.’

  The orange juices arrived and Caitlen took a long sip.

  ‘There’s nothing like freshly squeezed orange juice to wash all the morning crap out of your mouth.’

  ‘Carry on’ Gina said, ‘You can’t leave me hanging like that.’

  ‘I cheated on Terry a couple of weeks ago. Only once. Well, twice in one sitting actually. But you know what I mean, it counts as once.’

  ‘You’re kidding?’ Who with?’

  ‘You know the guy I bought the bitcoin with? Luke. I met up with him to see if he still had his $100 purchase. He had. We used to be an item. What do they say on Facebook? It’s complicated? Well, turns out it’s not complicated for me and Luke. We’re almost bitcoin millionaires between us and we’ve still got a good thing going on. As soon as I sort out the Terry situation, we’re going to give it another try.’

  ‘Hellfire, Caitlen, you’re all as bad as each other. I used to watch EastEnders when I lived in the UK, you lot make it seem like a cosy drama by comparison. I can’t believe you!’

  The fry-ups arrived. Caitlen dipped her bacon into her egg and put the first forkful into her mouth.

  ‘There’s nothing quite like a fry-up, even when you’re abroad. You can’t beat it. I don’t feel happy about what I did with Luke. But it felt right and we both want to try things again. I half did the decent thing. I told him it mustn’t happen again until I’ve sorted things out with Terry. We did have sex one more time after that, but as I say, it doesn’t really count as it was on the same day.’

  ‘Wow, and I came to Benidorm for a quiet life,’ Gina smiled. ‘I’m not judging by the way. Sometimes life events occur in the wrong order, even though they’re right for you at the time. I get it. As you said, let she who is without sin and all that. Are you alright there? You look like you’re having bra trouble?’

  Caitlen was feeling around under her T-shirt, she was so frantic a group of young guys sitting across from them had noticed and were watching to see if the T-shirt was going to come up any higher.

  It did. Caitlen pulled it right up, revealing to anybody watching her cleavage and bright blue bra. She moved her hand around her breasts, her face white now.

  ‘I’ve lost it. I’ve lost the bloody bitcoin thing!’

  ‘You’re messing around aren’t you? It was taped inside the cup wasn’t it? Here let me check.’

  Gina leaned over and put her hand up Caitlen’s T-shirt feeling all around the cup. There were cheers from the table of lads.

  ‘I’ve paid to see worse sex shows than this!’ one of them jeered.

  After a few minutes of frantic searching, Gina stopped and looked at Caitlen.

  ‘Damn, Caitlen. It’s not there. That thing has almost half a million dollars on it. Think, Caitlen, where could it be?’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Becky and Wes: June

  ‘Look at them, they’ve parked me with you and now they’re quite happy to piss off into the night and leave me. Some friends they are!’

  Becky sipped her coffee and wiped the tears from her eyes.

  ‘I bet I look a mess don’t I? Has my mascara run?’

  ‘You look just great,’ Wes said, taking a packet of tissues from his pocket and handing one to Becky.

  ‘Here, take this. Just wipe under your right eye, then you’re fine’

  She started to dab in the wrong place.

  ‘Here, let me,’ Wes said, gently taking the tissue and wiping away the blotch of mascara.

  ‘There, good as new!’ he smiled. ‘That was some show your boyfriend put on up there!’ he said, deciding to tackle the Matt-sized elephant in the room. They were sitting outside the cafe-bar, watching their friends heading back into the nightlife after one of the biggest bust-ups Wes could ever recall seeing.

  ‘I don’t want to interfere, but he was well out of order doing that in front of all those people. What an embarrassment for you.’

  ‘He’s my fiancé,’ Becky sniffed. She blew her nose on the tissue and repositioned herself in her chair. ‘I’m furious with him. What a humiliation. I feel worn out by everything, I just feel like I want to crawl under a rock and sleep forever.’

  ‘It takes it out of you, a row like that.’

  ‘I thought they were my friends. When we were up there on stage, doing the Spice Girls thing. Did you see us? It was great fun. Then – all of a sudden – Matt does that.’

  Wes moved his hand across the table to touch her arm. Becky was so self-absorbed that she barely noticed it. He was a good listener, Wes. She thought his sensitivity probably explained why he was so good with music.

  ‘What will happen now? With Matt, I mean. Do you think he’ll make it up with you?’

  ‘No, the little rat always loved Harriet. I should have known it. I thought I could win him over, but she’s like a rash. Once you’ve got it you can’t get rid of it. I could kill him,
honestly I could.’

  ‘Relationships, eh? Can’t live with them, can’t live without them!’

  ‘What about you Wes? What’s your story? We know very little about you other than that you play guitar and move around a lot. Is there anyone in your life?’

  This was uncomfortable ground for Wes. He preferred to talk about other people. It kept the spotlight well away from him.

  ‘I’m a free spirit,’ he smiled. ‘There was someone special ... but, well, that didn’t work out for me. And so I’m a wanderer, I travel the globe and wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home.’

  ‘You were good on stage tonight. Being a performer must be handy for meeting people?’

  ‘Yes, it’s great. You meet all sorts of people doing what I do. Some of them good, some of them trouble, if you know what I mean.’

  Becky didn’t know what he meant, but she dismissed it as a figure of speech. There was an awkward silence. Neither of them had really thought things through beyond her calming down and getting away from the immediate stress of the fight in the street.

  ‘How’s your head? It looks sore, we should get that looked at. Does it hurt?’

  Becky felt the back of her head.

  ‘Ooh, there’s a bump. Is it bloody, it feels a bit wet back there actually?’

  Wes, gently placed his fingers on her head and moved them gingerly through her hair.

  ‘That feels nasty. Any double vision or anything like that?’

  ‘It was a bit of a crack when I fell on the pavement, it’s nothing a paracetamol or two won’t sort out. There’s one of those green, flashing crosses at the end of the road, can you see it? That’s a pharmacist isn’t it? Shall we see if it’s open?’

  ‘Good idea,’ Wes said. ‘Maybe we can get some antiseptic there too, and I can clean it up for you?’

  ‘Thanks Wes, I appreciate it. It comes to something when the people who are supposed to be your mates abandon you with someone you’ve barely met and you turn out to be the kindest one out of the lot!’

  ‘It’s my pleasure,’ Wes smiled, ‘Anything I can do to help.’

  They drank up their coffees and Wes left a five euro note tucked under his cup.

  ‘Thanks for paying,’ Becky said, ‘I haven’t got any money on me. Cait’s paying for everything.’

  ‘Well, they paid me in cash this evening after I’d done my session. It was good money actually, so my treat.’

  Wes held out his arm as he stood up to leave. Becky took up the offer and placed her hand on his biceps.

  ‘Blimey, you work out!’

  ‘Ha, yes, I have to keep in shape for my stage work.’

  Wes was pleased that she’d noticed. He picked up his guitar case with his left hand and they made their way up the street, towards the pharmacy.

  ‘What’s the deal with Caitlen?’ he asked. ‘She’s very generous, but why is she paying for everything? Has she won the lottery?’

  ‘Something like that!’ Becky laughed, feeling the tensing of his biceps as they established a steady walking rhythm. She didn’t normally go for guys who worked out, but she liked it, it was new and quite exciting to her.

  ‘Have you heard of bitcoin?’ she asked.

  ‘A bit. I don’t know much. I know some people have got very rich from it. Why?’

  ‘She has bitcoin. She bought it several years ago, and now it’s worth a fortune.’

  ‘Wow, lucky Caitlen. How much is she worth?’

  ‘Almost half a million dollars – or pounds – I can’t remember which.’

  She felt Wes’s biceps tense hard when she said that. For a few seconds, it was rock solid.

  ‘Either way, it’s a lot of money. This holiday was supposed to be a big treat for us all. Look how it turned out.’

  ‘How do you even spend bitcoin? Do you keep it in your wallet?’

  Wes was immediately interested in the topic.

  ‘I know very little about it. Other than that it’s not like real money. The reason we’re all here is that she shared out her passwords with us. I’ve got two words to remember, pasta and shipwreck. It’s crazy stuff, she had this big master password made up of lots of random words. And that’s how she gets her hands on all that cash. Oh, and she has some USB drive or bitcoin gadget which she keeps all the digital money on. You can’t get at it unless you have the full code. It’s crazy if you ask me. Your money is much safer in the bank!’

  ‘Wow, it seems mad, I know nothing about it. So, I assume those two words that you have are useless without everybody else’s, is that right?’

  ‘Yes, but here’s the thing. Can you keep a secret Wes, I’m not proud of myself for this?’

  ‘Yes of course I can, Becky. You’ve had a tough enough night already, I’m not going to make it worse by sharing your deepest, darkest secrets.’

  ‘When Matt and I were going to get married ...’

  She stopped dead in the street.

  ‘I guess that’s not happening now is it? The bastard!’

  Sensing that Becky was about to head off at a tangent, Wes diverted her.

  ‘Look, the pharmacy is shut, but there’s a supermarket across the street there. They’ll stock some basic first aid kit. What were you saying about the bitcoin?’

  They continued walking towards the supermarket.

  ‘Oh yes, I was saying, I’m not proud of it, but I took a photo of all her passwords. We were at her house and she was sharing them out privately. And she just left this big list of them out on the table. I couldn’t resist it. I was angry with her at first, I wanted her to offer to chip in for the wedding. Well, I don’t need to worry about that any more. I can’t believe I actually suggested to Matt that we should steal some of it. Can you believe that? I must have missed my meds that day.’

  ‘You mean you can actually get your hands on all that cash with just Caitlen’s USB device and the list of passwords?’

  ‘Yes! It’s remarkable isn’t it? She’s terrified she’ll lose it all. Who the hell wants to buy bitcoin if it’s that unsafe? I’ll stick with the banks thank you, at least you know where you are with them. What’s the occasional financial crash between friends?’

  They entered the supermarket. It was quiet, they were able to locate what they were after straight away.

  ‘Here, cotton wool, disinfectant and plasters. Everything we need.’

  ‘You sure you’re okay to pay for it, Wes? It seems a shame to spend the money you just earned on something as stupid as that.’

  ‘It’s no problem, Becky, honestly. I’m really enjoying our time together. Do you still have that photo?’

  ‘Yes, it’s on my phone.’

  Becky touched the pocket of her jacket, instinctively checking that it was there.

  ‘I should delete it really, I shouldn’t have taken it. Poor old Cait thinks she’s created her own Fort Knox and here I am wandering around with the keys to the castle. It appeals to the devil in me though. All those fuckers desperately trying to remember their bit of the password to protect Caitlen from some Russian hacker or massive heist, and here I am with the key to all of it. It’s ludicrous, Caitlen should know better. Talk about misplaced trust. I reckon if push came to shove, we’d all steal her money if we could.’

  ‘Don’t delete that photo for now,’ Wes said, paying for the first aid kit at the counter. ‘We should show it to Caitlen, maybe give her a fright. It might encourage her to take more care. I mean, at least she can trust you. Imagine if it fell into the hands of someone that she couldn’t trust?’

  Wes seemed keen to change the subject after they left the supermarket. He got her talking about Matt again and the anger was back straight away, all thought of the bitcoin and the photograph long gone.

  As Becky raged about Matt’s treachery and described in detail the things that she’d like to do to punish him and Harriet, Wes’s mind was elsewhere completely. All he could think about was Caitlen and her incredible good fortune.

  Chapter Twenty-Five


  Benidorm: June

  ‘Where have we been? Do you think it slipped out of my bra?’

  ‘You had it taped in didn’t you?’

  ‘How important is that device? Can I still get my money without it?’

  ‘Yes, but you need that big code word. I hope you trust all of your friends, because you’re going to need those passwords back now. The full set of codewords is the only thing that can recover your money if you’ve lost the device. It’s a lot easier with them than without them.’

  ‘The only time I left my bra ... damn, it was hanging off the back of your sofa while I was showering. I took it off last night before I went to bed. I didn’t even think to check it, my mind was elsewhere.’

  ‘Well, I haven’t got it, it was perfectly safe in my apartment. Maybe it fell onto the floor?’

  ‘I’d have seen it, surely? And we left the door ajar too didn’t we? Just in case there was any movement from the others out in the corridor.’

  ‘Surely nobody could have found it in that time, Caitlen? I was getting dressed in the bedroom while you showered. It can only have been unattended there for five minutes?’

  ‘Well, I sure as hell need that password from everybody now. But will the buggers let me have their secret words after everything that’s happened? They probably hate me so much, they’ll deny me just to be spiteful.’

  ‘We should retrace our steps and make sure it didn’t fall out in the street. Is there any chance of that, do you think?’

  ‘Hello darlin’, can uzz get yooz both a coffee?’

  One of the guys who’d been entertained by the bra searching had come over to chance his luck.

  ‘Fuck off!’ Caitlen screamed at him.

  ‘Jesus luv, I didn’t know yooz were both lezzers!’

  Caitlen stood up, furious now and stared angrily into his eyes.

  ‘Shut the fuck up with the luv stuff. Just because I don’t want to shag a spotty, greasy dickhead of a man who thinks a woman checking her bra is a come-on to everybody with a pair of balls does not make me a lesbian. Alright?!’