The Braille Club (The Braille Club #1) (30 page)

Chapter 57

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: The Assignees feel a fist in their hair as the Patron tugs back their heads one by one. Hearts racing, acutely aware of the linked cuffs, they are anxious not to be the one to ring their bell and end the session. There are no sensory suits or devices on offer. It’s just the Patron, her skills and, of course, the chair.

London, 2014

Siena

Opening night at Caligo finally arrived; the birth of the twins and the ensuing court case had delayed it by several months but it only served to heighten the anticipation. The restaurant was fully booked, offering a special opening night taster menu and accompanying wine selection.

Filled with fresh lilies, the lounge looked spectacular, the wonderfully scented candles glowing invitingly around the room. The bar gleamed as staff moved around, checking stock and cleaning already immaculate glasses.

Diners would be arriving from seven p.m. onwards and other guests from eight. The entrance through a locked gate to the side of the building was a temporary measure, the front of the building still out of commission due to renovations. All guests received the door code by text; it had a five hour expiry. Exclusive to guest list members, any sharing with unauthorised personnel would lead to termination of their own membership. Staff manned the entrance; cameras and mics were positioned all around for Guy and his security team who would monitor all the visual and audio recordings.

People began to arrive, with many Braille members amongst them. Some guest’s hands received a stamp with a little bell, only visible under ultraviolet light. The DJ was on the far side of the room, his music a clever mix of old and new. Waiters circulated with complimentary champagne, seating guests around tables or directing them to the restaurant. The room filled with laughter and the distinctive pop of champagne corks. There were four evenly spaced pillars on the floor, creating a medium sized space which had two rows of strange looking chairs facing each other on the floor. Many of the members registered on the guest list were awarded drink tokens, redeemable at the bar.

Siena sat observing the scene; her creation had come to life before her eyes, although she was nowhere near the club. The twins had remained in hospital for seven weeks. Siena’s body had gradually recovered from Nick’s brutal attack and the trauma of childbirth. Refused bail, he remained in custody, the only thing that allowed Siena to sleep at night.

She realised it was Benedict’s love that had set her free. It had broken Nick’s hold over her and at last she could see him clearly. It had started with waking up in the hospital in Marbella, with her feelings conflicted; her apparent love for Nick just didn’t compare to how she felt about Benedict. Slowly she grew to hate her husband and his demands while falling hard for Benedict.

Nick’s legal team had been relentless in their demands for a DNA test. He would need to wait. The prosecution assured Siena their case was strong. The charge of attempted murder was a serious one, but of course Nick had anticipated this, entering a not guilty plea on grounds of ‘diminished responsibility.’ She knew how she would be painted; her character assassinated in the trial as they tried to expose her affair and subsequent pregnancy. They would argue she had deceived Nick and of course they would be right, but they would need to prove it.

Nick’s ex-wife had been very helpful to their case, and had agreed to be a witness; it was compelling testimony.

During the attack in the hospital, Siena had used every ounce of her strength to resist Nick’s hypnosis. Like any mother she’d played along to protect her children, their lives depended on her, and it had worked until Nick had seen the police.

She rubbed her tired eyes and looked at the other monitor showing two sleeping babies and her heart dissolved. She knew she should be sleeping as well but didn’t want to miss the club’s opening night. Her parents had been wonderful. In fact, they all had, Alexander and Ava popped round to see them regularly, their love still new and fresh. Ellie had been a little put out at first; she didn’t like the idea of competition for her brother’s affections but she quickly became smitten with the twins. Lastly was Benedict’s hesitant father, ready to leave at any minute should Benedict change his mind. Appalled, Siena made him explain his actions. She listened, her heart breaking for the lost boy he had been and the failings he had endured.

She begged him to reconcile with his step-mother, saying how hard it must have been for her too. Benedict was still considering this, his step-mother visiting the twins in his absence, but it was a start.

The twins and Benedict were the only things that kept her sane. They were closer than ever, the assault and the birth having forged a special bond. Busy with the twins, she had little time to dwell on the attack. Surviving on a few hours’ sleep a day made her crave it. She thought she would be haunted by Nick, by his fingers squeezing the life out of her, but felt relief when she fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillows. The only thing to wake her was the cries of her babies.

Her parents had been helping her with the twins for the last few weeks as she worked with Benedict to get the club finished. Her mother instinctively gave Siena her place, never questioning her decisions and following methods which were often different than her own without query.

Siena, Benedict, and Guy thought long and hard about where to hold their first Braille session. She looked back to the club monitors, amazed at how busy the room was already. People moved on the dance floor, and it filled rapidly, dancing around the chairs placed in the centre as the DJ played a popular tune. Time passed quickly and then she saw the glass begin to move and felt her heart beat a little quicker. Staff gently cleared the area until the four glass walls locked into place. It would take twenty minutes for the room to cool down to comfortable levels. Siena could see Guy standing beside the glass door of the cube. He quickly flashed the UV light on the hand of their first Braille member before she stepped inside and took a seat. More followed as the people on the floor watched while they danced until the room was full.

The occupants of the room were either seated or standing behind the narrow backed chairs as their anticipation grew. A curious buzz surrounded the cube as people looked inside, wondering why some entered while others were turned away. The tension continued to build and at the stroke of midnight the glass turned opaque, making those inside and out gasp in surprise. Those seated followed Guy’s instruction to reach down the side of their chairs and pull out the heavy silk hoods, the charged air electric as they slipped them over their heads, plunging the wearers into the dark…in order to see the light.

Epilogue

THE BRAILLE CLUB

London, 2014

Nick

Nick Waters sat in his cell going over the same fantasy in his head and smiled. He was thinking of Siena; he was always thinking of Siena. On remand since his arrest, his bail denial gave him long hours with nothing to fill his mind except his need for revenge. His Q.C. had been skilled, but the prosecution’s photographs of Siena’s battered face and damaged neck were damning, the finger mark bruising on her delicate skin telling the story better than any lawyer, and it had hurt his case badly. The legal battle over their divorce was still ongoing.

The endless medical evidence detailing the damage the assault caused to the victim was hard to ignore. From her bruised windpipe to her fractured cheekbone, they’d left nothing to chance. More photographs followed for the jury to pore over. He felt the case was like a giant set of scales, dipping one day in his favour and the next day in hers.

The jury was shocked and sympathetic to learn he had not known of the pregnancy, concerned Siena had not informed her lawyers of her condition throughout their divorce proceedings. The prosecution’s expert witness’ testimony that, in her opinion, the brutal attack carried out on the victim most definitely contributed to the onset of premature labour, thus endangering the health of the victim and her unborn babies had the scales tipping again.

The prosecution showed premeditation, as traces of the drug he had administered were found in Siena’s bloodstream, the damage to the babies unknown. The scales dipped further in Siena’s favour.

His legal team battled on, presenting him as a highly successful professional who had experienced a moment of insanity as a direct result of his wife’s betrayal. They refused to accept the divorce was legal until the paternity results had been ascertained. This was the centre of their defence. Nick wasn’t interested if the babies were his or not; he strongly suspected they weren’t but he needed the proof. This evidence would show Siena to be an adulterer and a liar, reinforcing his plea of ‘diminished responsibilities.’ What husband wouldn’t react to that kind of betrayal? It would damage her credibility, tarnish her clean cut image, but most of all, it would scare her.

He wanted to scare her; hurt her, it’s what kept him focused. She couldn’t be certain that he wasn’t the father, a thought he enjoyed and the law would make her comply with the DNA tests. It was his legal right, he reflected with satisfaction.

He sensed the way to hurt Siena and that bastard Harrison was through those kids. They were the key, and he would use any weakness they had to his advantage. His first wife’s testimony enraged him, although his team had disclosure on all the prosecution’s witnesses, they had underestimated the damage she could do.

She appeared fragile and petite, nervous, her voice filled with emotion as she told the jury about their life and how it had fallen apart when she couldn’t get pregnant. A tear rolled down her face as she told of her increasing fear of her husband’s moods and unreasonable behaviour. How he refused to consider even going to a fertility clinic. She became exhausted and frightened by Nick, and it all came to a head when she asked for a divorce. Her face twisted in fear as she recalled that night, stating quite clearly she thought he was going to kill her.

His Q.C. was on his feet, his objection loud in the devastating silence of the courtroom. She was right, of course. He had thought about killing her, the temptation had been almost overwhelming, in fact. Squeezing the life out of the stupid bitch would have been so easy, but he hadn’t.

He regretted that now; she should have stayed away, but no, here she was poking her nose into his life. He’d make her pay; after all, he had time to think and time to plan. His mind drifted as he fantasized about doing it. He saw himself crossing the courtroom, climbing into the witness box, and putting his hands around that fragile neck, felt his fingers tighten and squeeze as he saw the panic in her eyes and felt the power of her life in his hands. He squeezed harder, enjoying the frantic pleading in her eyes until he saw the light in them dim and fade as sheer euphoria enveloped him.

His face showed no emotion. All those years of training not to react to his patients’ confidentialities had paid off. He only had two faces now, placid and remorseful, and he used them with skill throughout the trial. His Q.C. did as much damage control as he could. The witness must stick to the facts; there was no evidence to support her statement. Although the prosecution had already withdrawn her question, he felt the scales tipping over.

He thought about Harrison and his face twitched. He now knew he was a twin and things finally made sense; his gut had been right all along. It took self-control to keep his explosive hatred of this man hidden when he saw him in the public gallery. He would be giving evidence against him soon. This would perhaps be the most damning testimony as he was a witness to the actual crime in question. He had been the hero dragging Nick away…before, the prosecution would argue, he killed Siena.

His defence had been pressing for the DNA results. They needed this information to prepare for the cross examination of the prosecution’s star witness, but they remained elusive. Nick’s legal right to request a DNA test was challenged by Siena’s lawyers. A separate court battle was now raging, and Nick’s team were requesting a motion for continuance until the matter was settled.

But as it transpired, Siena’s legal team lost, and she was compelled to carry out the tests by the courts. The results arrived simultaneously to both parties. Nick Waters’ lawyer pulled at the contents and scanned it quickly. He smiled and punched the air.

***

Siena

Siena’s hand shook as she slipped her fingers beneath the seal, holding her breath as her heart hammered loudly in her ears. She slowly pulled the sheet of paper out and started to read. She gasped…the results would play a huge part in setting both parties free.

COMING SOON…

The Braille Club II