The Club (18 page)

‘And who would this person be?’

‘One of my customers – Tony Allen.’

‘I see. And I don’t suppose you’d have any idea
why
he’d like to speak with Leonard?’

‘None whatsoever,’ Jenna admitted. Then, ‘Look, I’m really sorry. I probably shouldn’t have bothered you, but he did say it was important. So, if you’d like his number . . . ?’

‘I suppose so.’ Avril sighed audibly. ‘Just give me a moment to find a pen.’

Apologising again when she’d passed the number on, Jenna put the phone down and shook her head. Avril Drake had sounded so unfriendly, but Jenna could hardly blame her. Your home was the one place where you should be able to relax without people you barely knew disturbing you.

Groaning when the phone began to ring again, she closed her eyes, praying that it wasn’t Tony Allen calling back already. What was she supposed to say? That she didn’t want to give him the Drakes’ number, but had passed
his
number on to them? It seemed quite insulting put like that.

Reaching for the receiver, she was about to say hello when a deep male voice hissed, ‘I’ve been watching you, and I hope you’re ready to die, cunt, ’cos I’m gonna slice your fucking throa—’

Slamming the phone down as if it had burned her, Jenna stared at it when it immediately began to ring again, at exactly the same time as somebody knocked on the door.

Vibes was smiling when he popped his head in, but soon stopped when he saw the expression on her face. Coming in, he closed the door.

‘Hey, what’s up?’

Jenna shook her head. ‘Nothing. It’s all right.’

Frowning, Vibes looked at the still-ringing phone. ‘Aren’t you going to answer it?’

‘No.’ She shook her head again, and folded her hands together in her lap.

‘Want me to get it?’ he offered, wondering even as he said it if he ought to be interfering. What if it was her boyfriend, and they’d had an argument?

‘Would you mind?’ Jenna gazed up at him, her cheeks flushed now, sure that he must think she was acting like a silly little girl.

‘Course not.’ Still frowning, Vibes snatched up the receiver and barked, ‘
YEAH?
’ There was a moment of silence at the other end, then the dial tone. Shrugging, he hung up. ‘No one there.’

‘Good.’ Releasing a jagged breath, Jenna stood up and came around the desk.

Reaching out when she tripped on the wastepaper basket, Vibes peered down at her. ‘Hey, you’re shaking. What’s going on, Princess?’

Conscious of the musky scent of his aftershave and the warm strength of his solid arms as he held her, Jenna gave a nervous laugh. ‘Nothing. I’m just being stupid. It’s not the first time I’ve had a malicious call, and I doubt it’ll be the last.’

‘Malicious?’ A spark of anger flared in Vibes’s eyes. ‘Who was it? What did they say?’

‘No idea who, but he didn’t say anything I haven’t heard before.’ Embarrassed for making so much out of nothing, Jenna sighed. ‘It took me by surprise, that’s all. But I’m fine now. Honestly.’

‘Sit down,’ Vibes said, pushing her gently but firmly towards the couch. Perching beside her then, he nodded towards the now-silent phone. ‘Looks like my voice did the trick, anyway.’

‘Thanks. Saves me having to waste the police’s time – like they haven’t got enough to do without chasing round after silly women who get freaked by stupid phone calls. Anyway, forget about it.’ Flapping her hand now, Jenna sat back. ‘What brings you in at this time of day?’

‘I came in to pick something up and saw your car out back,’ Vibes said. ‘And I had a favour to ask, so I thought I’d best see you now before we get too busy.’ Giving her a sheepish smile, he said, ‘I know it’s a liberty, but is there any way I could leave some of my gear here when I go? Only, there’s no room back at the house, and I don’t want to leave it in storage ’cos it’ll get wrecked. I’ll find somewhere else if you haven’t got the space, but—’

‘It’s fine,’ Jenna assured him. ‘You can leave it in here.’

‘You sure?’ Vibes asked. ‘There’s a couple of decks, and a whole heap of CDs. And you don’t even want to
know
how many albums.’

‘Will it fit back there?’ Jenna indicated the space between the back of the couch and the wall.

Glancing over, Vibes shrugged. ‘I guess so. But it shouldn’t be in your way too long. I’ll send over for it as soon as I know what’s happening.’

‘It won’t be in my way. Take as long as you need.’

‘Thanks. You’re an angel.’

Their gazes met, and Jenna was conscious of her heart thudding noisily in her chest. She knew it was so very, very wrong, but she just couldn’t help herself wondering what if . . .

The phone began to ring again.

Spell broken, Vibes jumped up and rushed to it. Snatching it up, he yelled, ‘
WHO IS THAT?
’ Then:‘Oh, sorry, sweetheart, didn’t mean to shout. Just a minute.’ Turning to Jenna, he grimaced guiltily. ‘It’s Kalli.’

Passing the phone to her when she came over, he glanced at the clock on the wall behind her. It was almost six-thirty, and he still had tons to do back at the house. Mouthing for her to call him if she needed him, he backed out of the door.

Waving, Jenna sat down, aware that she was shaking again.

‘Is everything all right?’ Kalli asked, concerned because it was so unusual for anybody else to answer Jenna’s phone – and even more unusual for Vibes to shout.

Exhaling slowly to calm herself, Jenna said, ‘Everything’s fine. What can I do for you?’

Not sure whether she believed her, but aware that it was none of her business, Kalli decided to let it go. If Jenna wanted her to know, she’d have told her.

‘Can Vibes hear me?’ she asked now.

‘No, he’s just gone,’ Jenna said. ‘Why? What’s up?’

‘Nothing, really. Well, apart from him
leaving
– which is just the worst thing ever.’

‘He told you?’

‘Yeah, he rang this afternoon.’

‘I see,’ Jenna murmured, biting down on a sudden twinge of jealousy. Why
wouldn’t
he call Kalli? she asked herself sharply. They got on really well, and Vibes had actually known her for longer than he’d known Jenna, so of course he’d want to tell her something like that.

‘I wanted to get him a going-away present,’ Kalli was saying now. ‘But I’ve been looking for ages, and I still haven’t found anything. I wondered if you might have some ideas?’

‘I’m sure he’d love anything you chose to give him,’ Jenna assured her. ‘But don’t spend too much, because I’ve already got him something – from all of us,’ she added, deciding that it was probably best to keep it impersonal. Especially so, after that little fit of green-eye. ‘But please don’t tell anyone, because I want it to be a surprise.’

‘I won’t tell a soul,’ Kalli promised. ‘But can I ask what it is, only I’ll be dying of curiosity if I have to wait to see it.’

‘It’s a watch,’ Jenna told her. ‘And I’ve had the club logo engraved on the back.’

‘Oh, he’ll absolutely love that,’ Kalli said approvingly. ‘It’ll remind him of us every time he looks at it.’

‘That’s what I thought. Anyway, I was thinking we should present it at closing time on Sunday.’

‘I can’t wait to see his face,’ Kalli said softly. ‘He’ll be so p-
pleased
.’ Giving a tiny sob then, she said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, but I’m going to miss him so much.’

‘We all will,’ Jenna murmured, biting her lip as tears flooded her own eyes. Blinking them back, she pinched herself hard to snap herself out of it, then said, ‘Right, well, I’d best get on.’

‘Me, too.’ Kalli sniffed softly. ‘Any idea what I can get him?’

Thinking about it for a moment, Jenna said, ‘The other DJs have been putting together CDs of their nights, and I know Vibes likes Marky Day, so why don’t you see if you can get something of his?’

‘He won’t be in till Wednesday,’ Kalli pointed out disappointedly. ‘That’s too late.’

‘You should be able to pick one up at that white-label place at the back of the Corn Exchange,’ Jenna told her. ‘I’m sure someone said they’d been selling them from there.’

‘That would be brilliant,’ Kalli said, sounding a lot happier now. ‘I’m still in town, so I’ll nip over there now. See you later.’

Hanging up, Jenna dropped her face into her hands and rubbed at her eyes. She would hold it together if it killed her, but it was going to be harder than she thought to say goodbye to Vibes. And she’d have to deal with it alone, because she couldn’t let
anyone
know that she’d allowed herself to like him as much as she did.

Snatching her jacket off the back of the chair, Jenna slipped it on and picked up her bag – just as the phone started to ring. Sure that it was the malicious caller again, she rushed out, slamming the door much harder than she’d meant to behind her.

In his own office along the corridor, Fabian had just laid out a thin line of coke on the mirror. Thinking that someone was kicking one of the doors in when he heard the bang, he swept the incriminating evidence into his drawer and grabbed the little rubber cosh he kept under the desk.

Easing the door open, he peeped out into the corridor, dreading coming face to face with Tony Allen and the goon; terrified that they had found out about him and Melody and were hunting him down. Shaking with relief when he saw Jenna outside her door, struggling with her handbag, the strap of which seemed to be caught, he hurried towards her.

‘Need a hand there?’

‘
Shit!
’ she squawked, spinning around with a hand on her heart. ‘Do you
have
to sneak about like that?’

‘Sorry.’ Frowning, Fabian ran a trembling hand through his hair. ‘You looked like you were having problems, and I thought you might need—’

‘I’m fine,’ she cut him off testily, wrenching the strap free. ‘I just need to get out of here.’

‘Your phone’s ringing,’ he called after her as she abruptly turned and walked away.

‘Thank you, Fabian,’ she snapped without looking back. ‘But I
have
got ears!’

Staring after her, a glint of anger sparked in Fabian’s eyes. What the hell was
that
all about? He’d only been trying to help, but the moody bitch had practically bitten his head off. And if there was one thing he hated, it was women treating him like a prick!

Going back to his office, Fabian kicked the door shut and took his stuff out of the drawer to finish what he’d started.

Hissing, ‘Fuck!’ when his own phone started to ring, making him spill the powder onto the desktop, he snatched up the receiver. Hearing Melody’s voice, he narrowed his eyes nastily.

‘I can’t hear a word you’re saying,’ he told her, dabbing at the coke with a wet fingertip. ‘You’ll have to speak up.’

‘I
can’t
,’ she whispered urgently. ‘Tony’s in the shower, and he could come out any minute. I just wanted to see if you can get me something extra for tonight – only I want some to bring back here with me, because I’m stressed to the max.’

‘My guy’s out of town,’ Fabian replied coolly, taking it out on Melody because Jenna had pissed him off.

‘Can’t you get it off anyone else?’

‘Depends.’

‘Oh, come on, Fabian, don’t mess me about. Can you get it or not?’

Saying nothing, Fabian retrieved what he could of the coke and rubbed it over his gums. Sliding down in his seat then, he swung his feet casually up onto the desk.

‘All right, how much?’ Melody hissed. ‘If that’s what this is about, name your price.’

‘Did I mention money?’ he drawled, beginning to enjoy himself. She’d never offered to pay before; she
must
be desperate. ‘I just don’t know if I can get hold of anything right now, that’s all.’

‘
Please
,’ she begged, a note of hysteria creeping into her voice. ‘I
need
it, Fabian . . . Are you still there?’

Sighing wearily, he said, ‘Yeah, I’m here. All right, I’ll try and sort something out. But I’m not making any promises. And, seeing as you brought it up, I
will
need you to pay for it.’

‘Fine.’ She gave a relieved sigh. ‘How much?’

‘We’ll talk about it later.’

‘It had better be good,’ Melody said, hanging up.

‘Who was that?’ Tony asked, coming out of the bathroom with a towel slung loosely around his spreading gut.

‘Room service,’ Melody lied, the colour draining from her face.

‘Did you tell them the bar needs restocking?’ he asked, whipping the towel off and rubbing his hair with it.

Averting her eyes from his hairy nakedness, Melody shook her head. ‘No, I forgot.’

‘So what
did
you tell them?’

‘That I wanted a sandwich,’ Melody said, her eyebrows puckering together as she turned to look at him now – exactly as she would have done if she’d been innocent. ‘Christ, Tony, what’s with all the questions? Don’t you trust me, or something?’

Grunting, ‘I don’t trust no one,’ he strolled into the bedroom, dropping the towel en route. ‘I need a rub-down,’ he called back to her, the mattress springs complaining loudly as he threw himself down on the bed.

‘I’m busy,’ Melody muttered, reaching for a bottle of bright red nail-polish to paint her toenails. It was obvious what he wanted, and she
so
wasn’t in the mood.

She’d accepted that she would never escape alive unless Tony chose to let her go, or – God willing – died. And she was willing to play the game as usual, but no
way
could she bear the thought of him touching her right now. Her stomach was so tight, she might just throw up in his face.

‘Yo!’ Tony barked from the doorway just then, making her jump because she hadn’t heard him get up off the bed. ‘Am I talking to myself here, or what? I said, what’s taking so long?’

Biting down on her anger and resentment, Melody took a deep breath and said, ‘Sorry. I’m just getting ready for tonight.’

‘You got plenty of time for that. But this can’t wait. Look.’