With a flourish, he picks up one of the phones.
‘Oh no, wrong one.’ He squints at it. ‘That’s the one Carl called me on.’ He chucks it into the gloom. I hear it skid across the floor. ‘Don’t need that any more. No, no, no. This one.’ He picks up the second mobile. ‘The Babbage phone.’
In disbelief, I stare at my undoing, raking back through every single thing Lily told me. She’d gone back to men. She’d met someone. Hot in bed. Don’t tell Dan. Shit. After the fiasco with Sara, I should have known Boyd was the mystery man, that there was never any high-tech magic at his fingertips. All the time, he was simply tapping Lily for information. And like a complete idiot, I gave him everything.
‘Where is she?’ I ask.
‘At her other place … asleep.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘A few sleeping pills.’
‘Have you hurt her?’
‘No, no, no, no. Honestly, I’m not that bad.’
Jesus. Not that bad?
‘You tried to kill Dan,’ I remind him.
He pulls a face, as if I’m splitting hairs.
‘And you threatened everyone. Everyone I know.’
‘Aye, well. I never meant it. Well, I meant to have him killed. Obviously. The man’s a prat, swanning around like he’s God’s gift to the vagina. And okay, I poisoned his dog, but we’ve been over that. I don’t go around killing everybody. It’s not like I’m unreasonable. I didn’t kill the teenage pothead, did I?’ He straightens his suit. ‘Miss Babbage is perfectly fine, don’t you worry. She could do with a rest after all that sex. I tell you what, it’s nearly worn me out. She’s got a big appetite on her for a skinny madam.’ He tosses the phone back onto the workbench. ‘I don’t know how she does it. Barely eats a thing. Fucks like a randy demon. Anyhow, in between all that she fills me in on her life, her friends, their little problems … including your Mr Foster.’ He clutches both hands to his chest this time, acting out the scenes for me. ‘Oh no, he’s had an accident and he’s going to die. He’s in a coma. A coma, I tell you!’ He rubs his hands together gleefully, then shakes his head, pouting like a clown. ‘Oh, but thank God, he’s woken up. He’s going to live! He’s going to live! Oh, oh, he’s split up with his girlfriend. What am I to do?’ He changes to an overly deep voice. ‘Go and see her, Lily. Make sure she’s alright. Get them back together.’ And now he’s Lily again. ‘Oh, I’ve done it, and it didn’t work.’ He catches his breath, evidently done with the play-acting. ‘She wasn’t convinced, by the way. That meeting in the coffee shop.’ He waves a hand. ‘And neither was I. But when Mr Swanky Pants got his marbles back, he did a better job than you. He managed to convince Lily he’d had enough. And I almost believed it too … until Gordon the moron turned up. So I sent in that other one. What’s her name? Clarissa?’
‘Claudine.’
‘Whatever. That did the trick.’
Because I called Lily.
‘I was with her, Maya. Right by Miss Babbage’s skinny little side, all sweaty and naked and post-coital, listening in on your blathering.’
He raises his head, pinning me down with those flint-like eyes. Serious now, he lowers his voice.
‘Now, I’ve asked you before … and I’m asking you again … did you enjoy New York?’
I won’t give him the pleasure of a response. Seeing as he already knows the answer, I don’t see any point.
‘Lost for words, eh?’ He leans back. ‘You should have told me the truth. I don’t like it when you lie to me. It’s very hurtful.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to wait, of course.’ He frowns at me. ‘For Mr Swanky Pants.’
‘What?’
‘He’ll be here soon.’ He points at Lily’s phone. ‘I didn’t just trick you with that thing.’
He wanders off, checking the plastic sheeting, eyeing up the contents of the room, leaving me to deal with another bout of shock and tears. I should have known it. I’m in his grasp again, but that was never going to be enough. No. Boyd won’t rest easy until he’s eliminated the threat, and he’s clearly determined to do it in front of me. In a split second, the life I should have had disintegrates into dust, shock gives way to grief, and my heart breaks for Dan, for his unborn child, for everything that’s good in this world.
‘I’ve had this place in mind for a while.’ Boyd returns to me, kicking at my foot and demanding my attention. ‘Perfect location for a showdown. Lily Babbage, she’s got more money than sense, that girl, and she’s picky too. I thought I’d never hear the end of it, all those plans.’ Ignoring my tears, he goes on as if he’s chatting to his best mate. ‘She’s always over here, you know, demanding personal attention from the boss. Oh, I’m not sure about the lighting. Maybe I should change the bathroom. No, no, no, that kitchen’s never going to do. And that window’s not right.’ He points at the plastic sheeting. ‘How can a window not be right? I ask you.’ He shrugs. ‘Anyhow, she wants to see him again … tonight. She’s sent him a text, as usual, and she won’t take no for an answer, as usual. Well, I say she sent him a text. I mean me, of course.’
He checks his watch.
‘So, here’s what happens next. Mr Foster arrives downstairs, probably with that big chunky bodyguard. He’s greeted by the night watchman, who’s actually my night watchman, your driver … and a gun. The bodyguard’s held at gun point, Swanky Pants takes the lift to the top floor, otherwise, bang, the chunky fella’s dead. And then
