Beyond Life (16 page)

‘Come on, let’s go home,’ said Raphael and he had that look about him that she already recognised and that meant they’d have some fun when they were back in Cherussola. Claire was so grateful for Raphael. Jay had been the love of her life and she never thought she’d experience lovemaking again. Death was getting better than it was cracked up to be and she knew she’d be with Raphael until one of them was sent to heaven for eternity. Claire knew that this wouldn’t be for a long time, she didn’t know how she knew, but was absolutely certain that Cherussola was her home for the foreseeable future. Perhaps it was something to do with her ever-increasing powers but she wasn’t going to dwell on that at the moment. She looked at Raphael and took hold of him. He could travel much faster than her and she knew that she was in for one heck of a ride, or possibly two she laughed as they shot through the universe like the Enterprise on Warp Factor 10.

*****

Val and Marion met at the coffee shop by Victoria Station again to walk to the HQ and start their pre-deployment training. They hadn’t seen each other for almost two weeks and Val looked tired and drained.

‘How are you?’

‘I haven’t heard from Gary. I’m worried about him.’

Oh heck. Marion knew Val would think her false if she expressed concern for him and callous if she didn’t – a no win situation.

‘I’m sorry to hear that, Val. Can you contact anyone else?’

‘You’re not sorry at all are you?’

Marion didn’t want an argument within seconds of meeting her nor did she want one in public. ‘You know how I feel, Val but you must also know that I’m concerned about you.’

‘I’m sorry, Marion. It’s just that I’m tired. He’s probably not in a Wi-Fi zone so can’t FaceTime me. It’s still worrying though.’

‘I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s a capable and versatile man and he managed to get to forty something without your help,’ she gave Val a gentle nudge and they both laughed.

‘Yeah, you’re right. Come on, let’s get cracking. I wonder who’s taking the training?’

‘Gail.’

‘How do you know that? The letter didn’t say.’

‘She told me when you were in the loo after that meeting. I just forgot to mention it, that’s all,’ Marion couldn’t see a reason why Val would check that with Gail so hoped she’d got away with the lie.

They walked on in silence, Marion worrying about Val and Val worrying about Gary.

*****

Val and Marion were staying overnight in the hotel and Jim and Fiona had invited Tony and Libby for dinner

It was Tony and not Libby who picked up on the atmosphere as soon as they arrived at his former flat, though it wasn’t long before Libby sensed that something was going on. While the hosts were in the small kitchen Libby nudged Tony.

‘What’s going on? It’s like they’re hiding a big secret or something.’

‘Act normal and don’t say anything,’ said Tony, wanting their hosts to crack first.

Fiona entered the lounge and he gave Libby a warning look. She handed Libby a glass of white wine.

‘Nice glass,’ Libby lifted it to the light and swirled the wine around. ‘Is it new?’

‘Engagement present, took them out of the box earlier. Thought we’d get the good stuff out tonight.’

‘And very nice they are too.’

Fiona looked from one to the other. ‘Beer, Tone?’

‘Please.’

‘They’re not biting at all,’ Fiona said quietly when she was back in the kitchen. ‘It’s not natural.’

‘We’ll drop a few more hints during the starter, they’re bound to be curious then.’

Fiona nodded and Jim followed her with their drinks as she took Tony’s beer through to the lounge.

They spoke about Val and Marion for a while, expressing their concern about Val’s involvement with Big Ed, and hoping that the police would arrest and charge him before the women returned from Romania in a few months.

‘They’re back at the end of October,’ said Jim. Fiona looked smug when Jim imparted this knowledge but Tony just said
oh really
and Libby looked down without saying a word.

Their behaviour was unnatural thought Fiona who decided to try a different tack.

‘I wonder what the weather’s like in Spain in November?’ she asked.

‘Oh it’s lovely,’ said Libby. ‘I’ve been there in the late Autumn and it got up to the low twenties during the day but it can be chilly at night,’ she had fond memories of her girls’ break and started regaling them with stories of what they’d all got up to. ‘Of course that was a few years ago now, but I don’t think it will have changed much…’

‘Sounds great. Do you want to go to the table and I’ll bring the starters. Give me a hand, Jim.’

‘We’re having starters?’

‘Yes, Tony. Well it is a special night.’ Fiona’s tone of voice indicated that she felt it was anything but special. She was surprised when Tony and Libby burst into fits of laughter and, like Margot out of the Good Life, failed to get the joke.

They put her out of her misery as soon as the laughter was spent.

‘Do you want to tell us what’s going on now or during dinner?’

‘Actually, I don’t know what you mean.’ They weren’t getting it all their own way.

‘Sorry, Fi but it looked like you were fit to burst. And you, Jim. What’s going on?’ Libby put a friendly arm around Fiona and gave her a squeeze. ‘Come on then. How do you know when Mum and Marion are coming home on leave and what’s the Spain connection?’ as Libby asked the question Jim walked to Fiona’s side and they held hands. Either expecting or getting married thought Libby, and knowing how Fiona felt about her career, she guessed which one.

‘Is it safe to say you’re getting married in Spain in November then?’ Tony got up and hugged his brother and future sister-in-law.

‘Well done, Sherlock,’ said Jim as Tony and Libby congratulated them both.

‘There is more actually. But I think we’ll keep that until the main course.’ Fiona was determined to have the last laugh as she disappeared into the kitchen.

Curious to discover the rest of the news, Tony and Libby rushed through the salmon starter wondering what was coming next.

Libby helped Fiona take the plates to the kitchen while Jim recharged the glasses. The plates loaded with steak and chips, Fiona sat down with the eyes of Tony and Libby boring into her.

‘Right. Help yourselves to the salad, please,’ she pointed to the bowl and it was Jim’s turn to be amused now. He avoided his brother’s eyes.

‘Enough, Fi,’ Libby put down her cutlery and leaned forward. ‘You’ve made your point. Now what is it?’

A look passed between Jim and Fiona and he spoke. ‘We wondered if you wanted your blessing to take place after our wedding ceremony?’

‘And we thought it was a cracking idea so we’ve arranged it,’ added Fiona. ‘But I can easily cancel it if we’ve been too presumptuous…’

‘What a brilliant idea, thanks guys,’ Tony looked to Libby. ‘What do you reckon, Lib?’

Libby was wiping tears from her eyes and nodding her head. ‘This is going to put things right between Mum and me and your family will be there already so that’s not a problem. I’ll have to make sure I can get time off work. Plenty of time to get a dress and there’ll only be a dozen or so people who we’ll have to invite separately and...’

‘Whoa,’ said Fiona. ‘I’ve made a list.’ She passed Libby a piece of paper full of names, some with ticks and some with question marks at their sides. ‘We thought you might have twenty or so people you may want to invite that we might not know about. It’s not going to be that big and we were planning on having a big party for the ones who can’t come and the not so close friends and family when we get back off our honeymoon. Can I take it that’s a yes?’

‘Yes, yes, most definitely yes!’ Libby was laughing now and Tony was well happy. He could show off the woman he loved to his close family and friends and also be a big part in his brother’s special day. He wondered if he could be a groom and best man on the same day. As usual, Jim’s thoughts were in tune with his own.

‘You’ll still be my best man of course?’

‘But of course.’

‘Your father’s going to be there too.’

‘I would hope he’d be invited, Fi.’

‘I don’t mean that, Tone. He’s already going to be there. There’s some big competition he’s in…’

‘European weightlifting championships,’ added Jim. ‘He’s getting really serious about this and damn good as well.’

The rest of the night consisted of wedding talk and both Tony and Jim were glad when the evening came to an end. There was no doubt that they loved their ladies, but wedding planning wasn’t their favourite pastime.

They agreed that they’d give the good news to Marion and Val before seeing them off at the airport later that week.

‘Bit of good news for them to take with them and something else for Val to think about rather than that awful man.

‘How did you find out about their leave,’ asked Tony. ‘They’ll only be away for just over two months. They usually don’t have a break until at least the three month point.’

‘I phoned the charity and they put me through to the trainer,’ said Fiona looking smug again. ‘The woman’s name was Gail and when I told her what the plan was she sounded nearly as excited as I was. Apparently she’s quite close to both your mothers and thought it was a fantastic idea.’

Fiona went on to explain that the first phase of the Romanian deployment was helping with the light stuff in respect of the building of the orphanage, and getting things ready for the orphans who were currently in dilapidated accommodation that should have been condemned years before. They’ll move them in on phase two, take a bit of leave, then go back and run the place for a while leaving the duo who are currently there to start a new project elsewhere.

Despite recent developments in their relationships and the worry about Val’s friendship with a fugitive from justice, the twins and Libby were inordinately proud of their mothers. It was remarkable how the ladies had turned around their lives since the death of Val’s husband and Marion’s daughter, and also the disintegration of her marriage.

Before Tony and Libby left, Fiona and Libby told the twins that they would take a long weekend to Spain to meet the coordinator and to ensure the venue was as beautiful as Fiona said it looked on the Internet.

The date set, the couples said their goodnights, the women looking forward to carrying out the planning during the next few months and the men looking forward to the actual day.

Chapter 12

Even though they’d bribed some of the officials they were told that the girls still had to be hidden.

‘The customs deputy is a Christian with a large family who he dotes on,’ said Captain Saul.

‘But I thought my money was used to bribe the Chief?’

‘It was, but the man is bloody minded enough to risk losing his job by putting me away. On top of that his wife is championing the cause against child sex and slavery. She’s even got her own website and Facebook page, damn woman.’

‘You have Facebook here?’

Captain Saul gave him a strange look. ‘We’re not all tribesmen who live in the bushes you know. The 21
^st
century has arrived in Africa.’

Gary hadn’t witnessed much of the 21
^st
century on this continent where the usual laws of life and death seemed savage, even by his warped standards.

‘We sail tonight at 11 pm. The ship gets inspected at 9 or as near as dammit. That means that we will need to put the girls in the last container that’s loaded. I’ve already told the customs that we’re expecting a late delivery. They’ll inspect it, I’ll get it into the crate and the girls will get in before it’s loaded. As soon as we sail I’ll get them out of there.’

‘What cargo are you carrying?’

‘Scrap metal, cheap sweatshop clothes and handbags.’

Gary raised his eyebrows and Captain Saul smirked. ‘Times are tough, Gary. If that indeed is your real name? I take the business where I can get it.’

‘Don’t ask stupid fucking questions, Saul, or I’ll take
my
business elsewhere,’ he emphasised the my and Saul acknowledged the comment by holding his hand out to shake. Gary accepted the gesture; no more would be said about his identity.

‘Now, is there such a thing as a decent computer shop here? I need something a bit specialised.’ Gary explained his needs.

‘I told you we’re civilised. You can buy just about anything you need here. I know a reliable source. I’ll make a call to see if he has what you want and one of my men can take you,’ Captain Saul smiled his most disarming. ‘Don’t barter with him. He knows to give you the best price or I’ll kill him and his fucking wife.’

So much for them not being savages thought Gary. ‘Thanks. Will he be able to deliver it to Europe and can I trust him to do so?’

The captain nodded.

Arrangements were made and shortly after a dusty indiscriminate vehicle pulled up. Gary raised his eyebrows.

‘Too flashy and we draw attention from unwanted sources.’

Fair enough he thought. ‘I’ll be back to board the ship at 8.30 ish. And, Saul, be careful with the cargo, they’re worth a lot,’ he was about to get into the back of the car and turned to face the captain. ‘Especially the girl Mary, she’s very talented and I don’t want to hear that anyone’s messed about with her.’

‘Don’t worry, my men like real women and just in case they were tempted, Daniel’s already put them in the picture,’ the captain leaned into the car with a serious expression on his face. ‘You may want to see a doctor while you’re in town and get him to check you over.’

Gary was pleasantly surprised to hear the comment about Daniel but the pleasure turned to annoyance on hearing the captain’s final remark. He must actually look as bad as he felt. He decided to ignore the comment.

‘Move it,’ Gary gave the driver a rough poke in the back and the man looked to his captain who nodded. The car pulled off with Captain Saul making a mental note not to share anything with Gary or the girl Mary, that would put him at risk of catching whatever it was. He suspected the worst and would also tell his men to ensure they knew the score.