‘You’ll go with Beefy’s story. Don’t give them the slightest excuse to put you away.’ I take his hand in mine. ‘We’ve spent enough time apart, Dan. Boyd’s not going to win.’
Chapter Twenty
I roll my head and flex my shoulders. I have no idea what time it is. I’ve been here for hours, curled up on this sofa, staring out at the black slick of the river. But now, the first signs of dawn are showing in the sky, a weak grey glow, diluting the darkness and gently nudging the city back to its senses. Determined to stay awake, I yawn, blink, rub my eyes, decide it’s time, yet again, to sort through last night’s events in my head … but exhaustion’s finally clouding memory. The sequence has begun to fray and merge.
I’m held in his arms, aware of more bodies in the desolate space around us. They’re asking questions. So many questions. I hear the crackle of a radio, see the flash of a police uniform. And now he’s gone. I’m in a car with a stranger; I’m sitting at a table in a tiny room, struggling to answer more questions; I’m crying, sobbing, letting out all the pent-up anger and frustration and loneliness. Another car. This time, with Beefy. He brings me back home, to Lambeth.
And Dan’s still not here …
‘There you go.’ Beefy holds out a mug. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Tired.’ I take the mug from him. ‘Scared,’ I add. ‘I’d feel better if Dan was home.’
‘He won’t be long.’
Somehow, I can’t believe that, because nothing ever seems to go right in our world.
‘Will they charge him?’
His eyes flicker.
‘Only if the silly bugger says the wrong thing.’ He sits next to me. The cushions dip beneath his weight.
‘Is he on his own?’
‘Clive’s down at the station.’ He sips at his tea. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, believe me. Foultons are helping with enquiries. I’ve told the police what I saw. Carl’s been arrested …’
‘What?’
‘He did what he did, Maya. There’s no ignoring that. But he’ll be fine. As long as he sticks to the official story, we’ll make sure he’s treated with leniency. We’ll look after him.’ Another sip of tea. ‘The evidence stacks up against Boyd. The stalking, the attacks, the threats, what happened last night. Plenty of witnesses too.’ He sucks in a breath. ‘There’s only one possible glitch. And that’s all down to Dan.’
And I can only hope he doesn’t let his conscience get the better of him.
‘You know,’ Beefy muses. ‘I’ve been with him ever since the accident, spent a lot of time with the man, one way or the other. I’ve worked in protection for a while now, met a lot of rich types, and most of them have got their heads up their arses. But he’s alright. I like him.’ He lifts his mug in the air, as if he’s making a toast. ‘He’s got morals.’
‘That’s what I’m scared of.’
‘He’s also got you. He’s not an idiot. He won’t jeopardise his future. He’ll be home.’
We sink into a calm silence, both of us gazing out of the windows. The sun’s risen now, bringing with it the beginnings of a harsh, blue winter sky, scratched by a few lonely wisps of cloud.
‘Sorry for being a prick the other week,’ Beefy says. ‘In the nightclub. I didn’t like doing that.’
‘You knew what was going on?’
‘Of course, but I was under strict orders to play along.’
‘You did pretty well.’
He raises the mug again.
‘Don’t know what I’m doing in protection. I should be an actor.’
We laugh quietly, and suddenly I’m overwhelmed by the urge to say something personal.
‘I’ll miss you.’ Those words feel strange on my tongue. After all, the first time I ever set eyes on Beefy, he gave me a serious case of the willies. ‘Now Boyd’s gone, I suppose you’ll be moving on.’
He shakes his head.
‘Actually …’ His thick lips curl upwards. ‘You’ll be seeing a lot more of me. I’m coming to work for Dan.’
‘You are? Doing what?’
‘Security, of course. I’ll be heading up a small team.’
‘Team?’
‘He’s a rich man and once he’s sold the company, he’ll be a stinking rich man. It’s prudent to have a little protection on hand.’ He notices my unease. ‘You’ll get used to it. You’ll have your freedom. I won’t be shadowing your every move.’ He pauses, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ‘I heard what you did to my colleague.’
‘Oh?’
‘You know?’ He mimes a throwing action. ‘I’m quite attached to my mobile. Don’t fancy having it chucked in the river.’ He laughs again. ‘To be honest, I need something a bit more relaxed, a bit more local now we’ve got the baby … and a second one on the way.’
Bloody hell, he’s been busy. I gawp at him for a few seconds, trying to imagine this mountain of muscles gently rocking a baby to sleep. And then, out of the blue, my brain’s ambushed by visions of Dan doing exactly the same.
‘Babies.’
‘What about them?’
‘Well …’
It’s no good. I can’t keep it to myself any longer. I need to tell someone and at this particular point in time, Beefy seems to be the perfect sounding board.
‘I’m pregnant.’
I catch him part way through a gulp of tea. He swallows, chokes and coughs.
‘Congratulations,’ he splutters, wiping dribble from his chin. ‘Does Dan know?’
‘Not yet.’ I wince. ‘It wasn’t planned. I cocked up with my pill … and everything else.’
‘You should have told him last night.’
‘It didn’t seem like the right time.’
He nods.
‘I take your point. Are you happy about it?’
I nod back.
‘It was a shock at first, but I want it. I’m just scared Dan’s not ready.’
He chuckles.
‘Nobody’s ever ready
