“So, when are you proposing to do this thing?” said Lauren.
“When I’ve got a plan,” said Eva. Meaning, when she felt able. “And when I know he’s home.”
“When he’s home? That part is easy,” said Lauren. “All I have to do is tell him I’m coming back, and he’ll be right there waiting.”
Eva felt a wave of nerves hit her chest. “Yes, I suppose he will.”
“I can call him now if you like. I could text him, tell him I’m coming home.”
“Wait,” said Eva. “You’re safe with me. We’ve got all day, remember.”
“But…”
“Just give me a little time to work on my game plan. That’s all.”
The door opened and Eva looked up, eager to see Dan or Mark walking in. But it was neither of them. Joanne walked into the office, her face curious as she found Eva and Lauren behind Eva’s laptop while Mark and Dan were nowhere to be seen. The girl’s eyes scanned the room, but she didn’t pass comment.
“Morning, Joanne,” said Eva.
“Morning,” said the girl. She flicked her fringe from her eyes.
“I don’t suppose you know what’s happened to Mark this morning?” said Eva.
Joanne blushed but she maintained her poise. “No, as a matter of fact I don’t.”
“Oh…” said Eva. The subtext was clear enough. They hadn’t spent the night together. Eva drew her own conclusions.
“You’ve not come to say goodbye, have you…?” said Eva.
The girl shifted on her feet. “Why would I come in to say that?” Joanne folded her arms across her chest as Eva noted she was wearing another chic little office dress.
“No reason. Just hoping any problems between you and Mark might not cause you to disappear on us?”
A faint smile broke across Joanne’s face and her body language softened a little. “No. I won’t disappear. But I might take a short break. You know how it is with relationships.”
“That bad is it?” said Eva.
“I think so,” said Joanne, shooting a defensive look at Lauren. “Actually, this is about Mark… Have you got a moment? I was hoping for a spot of advice on something…”
Eva looked at Lauren. “Two minutes, okay?”
Lauren looked disappointed, but Eva was only too grateful for a moment’s change of scene. Eva nodded towards the kitchen door. As the back door was barely tied to the kitchen window, Eva untied the rope and led Joanne out into the backyard. It was a spartan place with a few weeds dominating the concrete. There were five empty wine bottles nestling together like skittles beside the back door. Eva saw Joanne’s glance land on the bottles and coughed into her hand.
“You’re looking great again by the way, Joanne. Nice dress. So, let me guess. There’s a new man in your life?”
“Erm, no. Actually, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like? You and Mark were both doing so well?”
“I thought we were too. But some things just build up suddenly, don’t they? I mean, Mark seems to be jealous of me about stuff. Not that I’m being boastful, or arrogant or anything, but I try to be good at this investigation work because I want to be. I want to do what you do. You and Dan.”
“I know,” said Eva.
“But Mark… he just sits there. And when I try to do things off my own back, he complains, or acts all moody… so in the end I just stopped talking to him… about any of it.”
“You really want to work in this field, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Good on you, Joanne. You’ll get there. But let me give you a word of advice. It’s a hard job, you’ve seen that for sure. Sometimes you get brilliant days, the case goes well, and you’re flying. But other days, a lot of days lately, you wonder why the hell you got yourself into this thankless job in the first place…”
“The last two cases have been tough, Eva and that woman is stressing you out, I can tell.”
“It’s not just her. It’s the situation she’s in. I’ve got to get her out of it.”
“You know, you don’t have to do that. If she’s bothering you, you could just quit. I know that’s not your style, Eva, but sometimes I think the toughest decisions turn out to be the best.”
Eva nodded once. “Dan said something similar. But it’s too late for that. There’s a tough decision coming no matter what I do.”
Joanne nodded. “What would you do if you were in my shoes, Eva?” she said.
“With Mark?”
“All of it – including Mark.”
Eva remembered Joanne’s secrecy.
“But I don’t know all of it, Jo, do I?”
The girl’s eyes twinkled at Eva and she blushed again.
“But the one thing I do know is that sometimes some of the best advice, is actually the stuff we already know. What did you say, Joanne, Sometimes the toughest decisions turn out to be the best? Maybe you already know what to do.”
Joanne’s lips crumpled into a mirthless smile. “Yeah. Maybe that’s true.”
Eva looked back towards the office. “I have to go. Lauren is in a bad way.”
“I understand. Duty calls, right?”
“It always does. Now don’t be a stranger on account of a boy, will you? A long time ago one girlfriend left me high and dry. I don’t need that happening again.”
Joanne smirked. “Don’t worry. I’m not that kind of person.”
“I sincerely hope not,” said Eva.
“Any words for Mark if I see him?”
“I don’t think so. Actually, he did okay yesterday. He played the hero and he was good at it. When he trusts himself and gets his butt out of that office chair, he’s not as bad at this stuff as he thinks he is.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him you said that, Joanne.”
“Just don’t tell him too soon.”
Eva nodded. “Bye, Jo.”
The girl walked away through the side gate of the backyard, and Eva took a moment to look up at the sky. But Lauren soon appeared to find her, and despite the promise of a dry summer day, Eva felt a distinct chill as she looked at Lauren with a forced smile.
“Okay then. I suppose we’d better push the button too,” said Eva. She walked into the kitchen and closed the door behind her, tying off the back door, before steering Lauren into the office. The decision was made. “So, here’s the plan,” said Eva. “You call him. Tell him you’re going to be back home. You want to see him about lunchtime and you’re not taking no for an answer, and if he won’t come then, then he won’t see you again for days.”
Lauren gave Eva a look. “Go with it,” said Eva. “It’ll work, trust me. We need him to bite and I want him ready to do whatever it is he’s got planned.”
“Then what?”
“We’ll be there well before that. You get me inside your apartment block, and I’ll take it from there.”
“What are you going to do, Eva?”
“I’m going to tell him how things are.”
“I said that won’t work!”
“That’s just for starters. And then I’m going to do whatever it takes. It ends here, Lauren. This mess… the threats, the violence, the heartache – all of it. It has to end here.”
And Eva couldn’t wait. They had been friends once a very long time ago, but after this episode was over, that was it. Eva didn’t, couldn’t be friends with Lauren ever again. There was too much water under the bridge and the latest flow had been tainted by Lauren’s need to push her towards the darkest outcome. Killing a man had never been Eva’s first choice, and it never would be.
But in difficult times, in the heat of the moment, choices can fade from view.
In the end, sometimes there is no choice at all.
Twenty-four
It was eleven thirty, or thereabouts. Eva and Lauren reached the outskirts of the smart Hawksale residential tower block at the upmarket outer end of Basildon. The Alfa Romeo had been parked out of sight around the corner, and the neighbouring streets ha
d been checked to make sure they were alone. There were always a few roguish characters around, even here. This was still Basildon after all – a new town filled with thousands of likely lads matching the attitude of the toughest cookies in Southend. A few baseball-capped teens wandered about, dodging jobs or avoiding school. Before the day was out a good few of those would no doubt break a law or two. Not far away on the main drag, a group of women of all ages waited at a bus stop as they watched the traffic pass them by. The day was still sunny, but it was the kind of day where everybody seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Even the old women at the bus stop seemed pensive. Eva and Lauren had walked quickly. They had no intention of Blane seeing them together – nor the man who Blane had met at the Perryman. The cars parked immediately below the tower block were all safely empty. But the windows of the local buildings, including the block itself offered plenty of possibilities. Every window seemed like the perfect vantage point to watch their approach. Eva felt her throat tightening. She almost wished she had been able to bring a gun for their protection. She remembered Dan had kept one for a time. He’d told her he had gotten rid of it, but Eva suspected that he might have hidden it somewhere for a rainy day. And despite the sun shining up above, today felt like the rainiest possible. Yet the last thing Eva wanted to do was stoke Lauren’s thirst for a final solution. There was going to be no killing. Not today. There would be an ultimatum. A warning which would leave Blane in no doubt what would happen if he did not back off. If Lauren got nothing more than her freedom back, and a guarantee of her family’s safety, Eva would count that as job done. The only outcome that mattered was the one she had been hired for. To protect Lauren and to get her out alive. Anything else was a pure fantasy.
They crossed the car park on a diagonal and headed for the atrium of the main entrance. The cars in the front car park were all executive cars, expensive accessory cars for well-off women, or Chelsea tractors for the discerning mum. There were no bangers in sight. Every car was empty. They walked to the glass doors, but Lauren stopped short, and waved Eva back.
“Wait a sec,” she said.
“Why?” said Eva, looking at the glass and checking the windows all around.
“Because the guy in there – the concierge – I know he’ll take a break any minute. He always does around this time. I don’t think he’s supposed to, but I’ve seen him wander out back to get a snack or something.”
Eva considered the idea. “You mean you could let me in while he’s not there?”
“Yes, because Jamie could ask at the desk if they’ve seen me. It’d be better if he doesn’t mention you. You need to be a surprise.”
Eva nodded and looked towards the very top of the building. The tower seemed enormous from below, looming up as tall as any building she had ever seen. Eva stepped past the edge of the building and peered into the glass-fronted lobby. The uniformed concierge was still present, but already the man was out of his chair, his back to the main window. He leaned over the counter and seemed to be reaching for something left on the other side. Eva and Lauren pulled out of sight before he could turn and see them.
“He’s still there,” said Eva. “But he’s not at his desk.”
“Then he’s about ready for his break,” said Lauren. “Eva. Are you sure you don’t need me? I could help you… If Jamie turned violent, together I think we could subdue him. By yourself, he might, well… you know…”
Eva shook her head firmly. “No,” said Eva. “No, thank you.” Lauren had the air of a woman burning with righteous anger. Who knew where it would end if she got close to Jamie Blane with her blood up and the end in sight?
“No, I’ll handle this, Lauren. That’s what you’re paying me for.”
Lauren nodded. “If you’re sure… And when you’re done, you’ll be certain he can’t pose a threat ever again?”
“I’m going to talk to him. Put him in the picture and if that doesn’t work as well as I’d like, then I’ll do what’s necessary.”
“Just like you’ve done before,” said Lauren.
Eva pursed her lips and refused to answer. She edged past the edge of the dark wooden cladding and peered through the glass. The lobby was empty.
“The concierge is gone. I should go now,” said Eva. “Right now.”
Eva held out her hand and Lauren handed across her door card and key.
“is there anything else I need?” said Eva.
Lauren shook her head. “No. I told you everything. If you have to do anything drastic, you’ll find what you need in the kitchen.”
Eva’s eyes narrowed.
“I’d better go. Keep out of sight, okay.”
“Eva. I trust you. But when he’s in front of you please remember everything you’ve seen. Remember the threats, the intimidation. Remember what he said about pushing the button. Remember the bruises. Remember the threats. He’s going to kill me, Eva.”
“I know, Lauren. I know,” said Eva, her brow tightening. “Now go and get safe before you’re seen. Here are my car keys. Go and hide in the car. If you see anyone except me approach, don’t wait, just drive off.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll look out for me. Right now it’s about you, okay?”
Lauren nodded. The women took one last look at one another, then Eva turned away. “Now go,” said Eva. She walked away and climbed the steps.
Lauren snatched a breath, turned, and hurried away from the tower block, her heart pounding, a gleam of excitement in her eye. She cast her eyes up to the gleaming glass peak of the tower and smiled. The bastard had always been a smooth talker, that was how it had started in the first place. But with the evidence against him, Jamie would never know what hit him. There was no way he was going to talk his way out of this one, but because she wanted her money’s worth, Lauren hoped he might try. As Lauren turned onto the side street she saw Jamie’s Mercedes streak past the end of the street, sunlight flashing across the bonnet. She hoped he had been driving too fast to see her. But Lauren couldn’t take chances. She jogged the rest of the way to Eva’s Alfa Romeo, hastily opened the car door and jumped inside. From now on all she could do was wait.
***
The concierge desk was still empty when Eva got into the elevator. The top floor button read ‘Penthouse Suite’. The only apartment on the top floor. Clearly the recruitment business had served Blane well. On floor seven the lift stopped, and the door opened. A small bald man looked at Eva. He was wearing the same kind of uniform she’d seen on the concierge. “You’re going up?” he asked. Eva nodded. She watched the old man’s eyes flick to the glowing button of the penthouse suite. The man looked back at Eva and his mouth tightened, as if he didn’t know what to say.
“I’m going to see Jamie Blane,” she said.
The man nodded and gave Eva the once over as he stepped away from the lift door.
“I’m going to reception. I’ll go up take the lift back down,” he explained. He got into the elevator and the doors closed. Eva stepped away from the man to give herself room and time to think. But the older man’s eyes tracked to hers in the mirror. “You know, I don’t think Mr Blane is in at the—” he began to say, then he saw the white plastic door card and key hanging from Eva’s hand. Eva offered a smile, like everything was okay. A a coy half-smile.
“He’s been expecting me,” said Eva.
“Oh… I see,” said the man. He poked his spectacles up higher on the bridge of his nose and turned away. The elevator doors opened and Eva stepped out and blew out a long breath. She turned to look at the man in the elevator as the doors closed across his face. “Damn it,” she said.
The permutations of what had just happened ran through her head. If the man saw Blane, or told his colleague, Blane would be warned that he had a visitor. Judging by the look on the bald guy’s face, her visit was at least remarkable, either because it seemed sordid, or because she was a stranger with an entry card and key. Either way, it was too late. she had to press on. The pressure was
on. Eva looked around the plush upper hallway. A wide wall of windows overlooked a bright view of the sprawling town – it was greener than she had imagined. But because of the angle, Eva had no useful view of the world directly below. She gave up trying and walked to the door. There was a hotel style electronic lock with a card reader, and beneath it, a standard key lock, Yale style. Added together with the concierge service, the apartment had triple security. Lauren had failed to mention any alarms to be turned off upon entry, so she hoped there would be none. She slid the card through the slot and a red light turned green, but the door stayed locked. Eva’s heart started to thud harder as she slid the key home and turned the key in the lock. The door clicked and Eva opened it into a bright airy corridor that smelt of shower gel, soap and aftershave. Beyond, at the end of the hallway, the apartment opened out to end with another vast window with the sun streaming in, casting shadows from the furniture across a room of gold and brown. Eva took one final breath of freedom then stepped inside and shut the door behind her. She walked further into the apartment and looked around. There were three long, deep leather sofas with a thick, deep lustre set in a wide U-shape. There was a glossy coffee table made of layered, chequered wood which Eva guessed cost more than a grand, and halfway across the room, the carpet gave way to shining white kitchen tiles. Open plan living for a modern wealthy couple. It was a dream many would have aspired to. But then there was the small print. The gloss of success came with plenty of accompanying stress, and when the numbers weren’t playing ball, or when the game plan wasn’t working, all that pressure had to go somewhere. Beneath the slick show home, Eva could almost see the trouble. Behind the clean surfaces and empty worktops she sensed the unhappiness. This place didn’t feel loved or lived in. It felt… glamorously functional. Totally skin deep. And she felt no envy whatsoever. In fact, she couldn’t wait to get out and breathe some genuine fresh air. Eva walked down the hallway, her shoes tapping loudly on the dark wooden floor. She noticed small pieces of art, some no bigger than postcards – but also a total absence of photographs. She retreated to the living room. The room widened on her right, the living area eventually giving way to a dining table, but the large clinically clean kitchen space, shiny, white, perfect, caught her eye most of all. Her eyes traced over the handle-free cupboard doors, the drawers beneath the hob, the chrome stools for the breakfast bar. Here, she thought. This is where it would have to happen… The conversation.
Cuts Both Ways Page 31
