Warhol's Prophecy

‘What else did she tell you?’

Caroline shrugged. ‘What happened between you at your house,’ she explained.

Walker sipped his coffee, his gaze never leaving her.

‘I didn’t force her into anything,’ he said. ‘I don’t care what she said to you.’

‘Look, I’m on your side.’

She sat down beside him.

‘Then help me,’ Walker said.

‘How?’

‘Get her to speak to me.’

‘She won’t listen to me, Adam.’

‘You’re her best friend, aren’t you?’

She gazed at him for a moment, then looked away almost guiltily.

‘What do you want from her?’ Caroline asked.

‘I just want her to listen. All I wanted to do was apologize for what happened. I didn’t intend all that to happen. I thought it was what Hailey wanted. She was the one who was always going on about what a bad marriage she had. I wanted to be her friend. I never wanted to start an affair with her.’

‘Not even if she was willing?’

He smiled. ‘Well, maybe.’

They both laughed.

‘I just don’t know why she’s become so hostile,’ he said finally. He then told Caroline about their meeting in the car park of SuperSounds.

She listened intently.

‘Well, I wouldn’t have turned you down,’ she said, smiling.

‘I don’t need your pity, Caroline,’ he replied flatly.

‘I’m not giving it.’ She looked directly into his eyes.

‘I shouldn’t have come here,’ he sighed. ‘This isn’t your problem. I just thought that if you spoke to her, told her how I felt, then she might call me back. That’s all I want her to do. It sounds pathetic, doesn’t it?’

‘And if she does call you back, what do you think she’s going to say? “Everything’s all right, Adam. Sorry I wouldn’t speak to you. Tell you what, let’s go ahead and have that affair.” Is that what you want her to say?’

He didn’t speak.

‘Let it go, Adam,’ Caroline said quietly. ‘I don’t normally give advice, and if you told me to mind my own business I wouldn’t blame you, but for your sake forget about Hailey.’

‘It’s not that easy.’

‘Oh, come on, you’d only known her for a couple of weeks. It’s not like you were life-long friends, is it?’

Walker looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly, and Caroline saw something behind those eyes.

Something like rage.

It vanished as rapidly as it had appeared.

A smile again creased his features.

‘You’re right,’ he said finally, slipping from the stool. ‘But when you see her again, tell her I said hello and tell her I understand.’ He put down the mug. ‘Thanks for the coffee.’

‘Adam, wait. I was just about to have some lunch. Nothing fancy: something out of the microwave. If you’d like to join me . . .’ She allowed the sentence to trail off.

‘Thanks,’ he said, still smiling. ‘But I’ve taken up enough of your time. Besides, I’m stopping you working, aren’t I?’

‘Any excuse is welcome.’ She grinned.

‘How’s the new book coming along?’

‘You don’t want to know.’

‘No, you’re wrong. I do want to know. I really respect what you do. And, by the way, I finished your other book. I thought they were both excellent.’

‘Thanks very much. Why don’t you tell me how brilliant I am over lunch?’ She pointed towards the microwave.

They laughed and Walker sat down again.

62

4.07 P.M.

Hailey glanced at the dashboard clock as she drove, guiding the Astra with one hand, holding the mobile phone with the other.

She finished her conversation with Nicholas Barber, confirming their meeting for the following day. The local MP seemed a little less pretentious and self-important than some she had encountered, but nevertheless Hailey wasn’t relishing the meeting. Still, she reasoned, it couldn’t be any worse than her encounter with Water-hole.

They were to meet for lunch the following day to discuss final details of the charity concert that Barber was to attend.

He said his secretary would be on hand to take notes. Hailey assured him this would be unnecessary, but, despite her protestations, he insisted. She thanked him for his time and switched off the mobile, swinging the Astra around a corner.

Up ahead she could see her home.

There was over an hour before she had to pick Becky up. The little girl was playing a game of rounders after school. Hailey decided she had time to shower and change before she set out.

She was pleased with the way preparations for the charity gig were progressing. Jim Marsh too was delighted with her work.

Even Rob had been asking her about it. His interest seemed genuine, too, she mused.

They had gone through too much during the past year for everything to return to normal soon, but they were making more progress, she felt. They had agreed to suspend their Relate counselling sessions for a time.

Just see how things go.

Hailey smiled to herself.

And there’d been no further calls from Adam Walker.

No calls. No flowers.

No contact.

Just as well.

She had been stupid. She knew that. But at least things hadn’t got out of hand.

Not quite.

She shuddered when she thought how easily the pair of them could have become involved.

How easily she could have become involved with this man whom she hardly knew, but felt she understood so well. And who understood her.

Better to have ended it when she did.

She brought the car to a halt outside the house and sat behind the wheel for a moment, glancing up at the sky – at the dark clouds gathering.

With a sigh she slid from behind the wheel, picked up her briefcase and headed for the front door, fumbling in her jacket pocket for her keys.

Rob had called her at work that afternoon to say that he’d be coming home late. Something about having to meet a customer for a drink. He and Frank Burnside were going along to meet the man together.

When she had asked him what time he’d be back, it had taken a supreme effort not to ask him if it was really Burnside whom he was going with. If it was really a customer he was meeting.

The spectre of Sandy Bennett still remained, like the dying vestiges of a bad dream.

In the end she hadn’t asked. He promised her he’d be home around seven, and she’d believed him.

Perhaps she’d ring the pub later.

Just in case.