The Villain’s Daughter (39 page)

Iris took the hand and lightly shook it. The fingers were dry and cool.

‘So you’re the mysterious Iris,’ Serena said. She didn’t wait for an invitation, but sat down in the seat recently vacated by Guy. She took a sip of the drink she had carried over, something transparent with ice and a slice in a long glass. It might have been water. Perhaps she never drank anything but water - it would account for that smooth, unblemished skin. Models probably couldn’t afford the luxury of hangovers.

‘Mysterious?’ Iris said.

‘Well, you have been seeing Guy, haven’t you?’ She didn’t wait for a reply. ‘And as he hasn’t bothered to introduce us, I’m presuming you’re more than just a passing fancy. He tends to become rather secretive when he’s getting involved.’

Iris stared steadily back at her, unsure as to how to respond. Yes, she felt a tiny thrill at that word ‘involved’ - it was true that she and Guy had grown closer, there was no denying it - but she was also alert to the slight edge in the other woman’s voice. There was something almost proprietorial about it. Or was her imagination running riot again? The evening had been an emotional one, and her judgement, as Vita could easily testify, had flown out of the window hours ago.

‘You’re not his usual type,’ Serena said, looking her up and down.

Iris bristled. ‘Really.’

‘Sorry,’ Serena said. ‘I didn’t mean that to come out sounding like it did. You’re just . . .’ She stopped and smiled again. ‘Am I being disgustingly nosy? Only Noah never asks Guy anything. It’s that weird male thing. I don’t think they have a curious bone in their bodies.’

Iris relaxed a little. Serena was Noah’s girlfriend and was probably, in her own individual way, just trying to be friendly. She would have liked to have asked what Guy’s type usually was, but didn’t want to seem too concerned. Instead she gave a small casual shrug of her shoulders. ‘Well, it’s early days . . .’

‘So how did you two meet?’

‘Through work,’ Iris said. She paused, thinking back to that fateful afternoon at Tobias Grand & Sons. Lizzie Street, through her death, had been the catalyst for almost everything that had happened since. If it hadn’t been for her, she and Guy would never have met. It was a disconcerting thought. She could see that Serena was waiting for her to go on and wondered how much more to tell her. She didn’t want to seem evasive, but wasn’t prepared to be too forthcoming either. Guy might not appreciate her revelations. ‘It was just one of those chance encounters.’

‘So what do you think of him?’

‘What do you mean?’ Iris said, although she knew exactly what she meant. She was starting to feel uncomfortable again. Serena and subtlety were clearly strangers to each other. And she sensed something sharp and brittle underpinning her questions, something more than mere curiosity.

‘He’s complicated, isn’t he? You never know what’s going on in that head of his. Is it serious between the two of you?’

‘Maybe you should ask him that,’ Iris retorted, wanting to put an end to what was beginning to feel like her second interrogation of the night. She glanced around but couldn’t see him. ‘I don’t think he’ll be too long.’

Serena parted her lips and expelled a noise that was partway between a sigh and a snort. ‘I wouldn’t count on it. The number of times I’ve heard that
I’ll only be five minutes
line. Once Tommy Holland digs in his claws, it’s damn near impossible to get away. He likes to click his fingers and have everyone come running.’ She smiled. ‘Although personally I don’t jump through hoops for any man.’

Iris could well believe it. When you looked like she did, hoop-jumping would never be one of life’s requirements. ‘I guess its part of the job. If you run a place like this, you have to cater for all the egos, inflated or otherwise, that come walking through the door.’

Serena’s smile wavered. Perhaps she was trying to decide if Iris was having a dig. She lifted her glass again and stared at Iris over its rim, one of those close assessing looks that females tend to practise when they’re weighing up the opposition. Except they weren’t in competition, were they? Iris was with Guy, and Serena was with Noah.

‘So what about you?’ Iris said, deciding to remind her of this fact. ‘How long have you and Noah been an item?’

Serena threw back her head and burst out laughing. ‘What?’ She had tiny diamonds in her ears and they sparkled as they caught the light. ‘Whatever made you think that? God, no. He’s not my other half - he’s my brother!’

‘Oh,’ Iris said, feeling like an idiot. She frowned, thinking back to her earlier conversation with Guy. It was true, come to think of it, that he hadn’t actually said that Serena was Noah’s girlfriend.
She
was the one who had made the presumption. But he hadn’t put her right either. ‘Sorry, I just saw you together and . . .’

Iris was saved from any further explanations by Guy’s timely reappearance. Despite Serena’s pessimistic prediction, he’d only been gone for ten minutes. His blue eyes narrowed on seeing who she was sitting with.

‘Serena,’ he said, giving her a small nod.

‘Guy,’ she replied with the same level of coolness. ‘I thought I’d keep your poor friend company while you were sucking up to Tommy Holland.’

‘How very . . .
considerate
of you. Still, don’t let us keep you. I believe Noah’s back at the bar now.’

But Serena made no attempt to move. Indeed, she even settled back a little in the seat. The message was clear: she would leave if and when she wanted to.

Iris looked from one to the other. She was trying to work out if their animosity was down to genuine dislike or if they shared one of those odd, sparky attractions that was only ever expressed through a constant pretence of mutual loathing. The former she hoped, not relishing the thought of having Serena as a rival.

‘Come on,’ Guy said, holding out a hand to Iris. ‘I’ve had enough of this place for one night. Let’s go upstairs.’

Iris didn’t need to be asked twice. Taking his hand, she got up and stood beside him. Aware of his closeness, she felt a sudden quickening of her heart. ‘Bye then,’ she said to Serena, not wanting to appear too hostile. She had enough enemies already without adding to the list.

‘Bye, hun,’ Serena said, arching her perfectly plucked brows. ‘Have a nice evening and . . . good luck.’

Iris was still thinking about that ‘good luck’ as they climbed the stairs. They were almost at the top when Guy asked, ‘So what did the delightful Serena have to say for herself?’

Iris could hear the barely disguised irritation in his voice. ‘Nothing much. You know, just small talk.’ Was he worried that Serena might have been badmouthing him? Or warning her off? ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was Noah’s sister?’

‘Does it matter?’

Iris, walking in front, looked over her shoulder. ‘Just curious,’ she said, trying to sound as if she didn’t really care.

Suddenly his mouth broke into a grin. ‘Hey, it’s not what you think. We had a brief fling, but that was years ago. That’s not what this is about.’

Iris was a step above him, which put them almost at the same height. Gazing straight into his eyes, she said, ‘You don’t need to explain.’ She wanted him to tell her, but at the same time she didn’t want to come across as one of those needy, jealous women who demanded to know every detail. She had a horror, especially after being dumped by Luke, of coming across as in any way desperate.

‘I want to,’ he said. ‘You’ve got a right.’ Wrapping his arms around her waist, he turned her around and pulled her closer. ‘Truth is, she’s not too pleased about the company I’ve been keeping recently.’

‘Ah,’ Iris murmured. ‘I presume that means me . . . or am I being oversensitive?’

‘She thinks you’re going to get me into trouble.’

‘So she knows about my dad?’

Guy shook his head. ‘Not the details. Only that you’re searching for him, and that I’m helping you. Oh, and that Terry Street’s quite keen to have a word with him too.’ He pulled a face. ‘She’s not too keen on the Terry Street angle. Everyone knows him round here, and what he’s capable of.’

‘I suppose she’s just looking out for you and Noah.’

‘Serena never looks out for anyone other than herself. She lent her big brother some cash so he could buy a share of the business. Now she’s worried that we’ll have the Streets on our backs. She’s just stressing about her investment.’

Iris opened her mouth to ask another question, but Guy quickly put a finger to her lips. ‘Enough,’ he said, smiling. ‘Let’s not waste our time talking about things we can’t change. Serena isn’t important. It’s just you and me now.’ He swept back a strand of her hair, coiled it between his fingertips and gazed solemnly into her face. ‘You know how I feel about you, Iris O’Donnell.’

Iris held her breath. ‘Do I?’ Had she said the words aloud? She wasn’t sure. There was a tiny fluttering at the base of her throat.

‘Yes,’ he whispered.

As he bent to kiss her, Iris closed her eyes.

There was a cold, hard stone in the pit of Alice Avery’s stomach. She had spent over forty-eight hours dreading this moment and now it had finally arrived. As she walked behind Toby, stumbling occasionally, her heart was thumping in her chest. Beyond the reach of the streetlamps, the alley that ran along the back of Tobias Grand & Sons and its neighbours was pitch-black. She looked up. Even the night sky was starless. The only light came from the thin, wavering beam of Toby’s torch.

A skinny cat leapt out of the darkness and hurtled past them. Alice stifled a cry and her hand sprung out to touch the back of Toby’s jacket.

He gave a soft laugh as if her fear amused him. ‘Almost there,’ he whispered.

They could have gone in through the front door - who was likely to see them at this time of night? - but he’d insisted on this half-blind journey through the alley. She suspected that he liked the subterfuge, the idea of prowling around like a burglar. It was an unwelcome reminder of just how young he was.

Toby stopped suddenly and she almost crashed into him. She heard the jangle of his keys as he took them from his pocket. Then the beam of the torch sought out the lock. Seconds later they were inside and Alice breathed out a sigh of relief. The first part was over. Now they only had to descend to the basement, start the preparations and wait for Danny Street to arrive . . .

Twenty minutes later, everything was ready. Jenni Brookner had been removed from the refrigeration unit and was laid out on the table, her nakedness covered by a crisp white sheet. Alice had put on her scrubs and latex gloves. She was checking and rechecking her tools, trying to keep busy, to keep her mind off what was coming next - but her eyes kept straying towards the table. She shivered. Guilt, as bitter as bile, was eating away at her.

Alice embarked on yet another unwelcome battle with her conscience. There was still time to say no, wasn’t there? She didn’t have to go through with it. They could find another way of repaying the debt. But she knew it wasn’t just about the cash: Danny Street wouldn’t release his hold on them until he’d got exactly what he wanted.

Toby paced the floor, glancing impatiently at his watch. ‘Where is he? Where is he, for fuck’s sake?’

Alice thought about the first time they’d done this. How had she ever let Toby talk her into it? But looking at him, at his lean supple frame and shock of fair hair, she knew exactly why. Love made people do the most outrageous of things. Even ugly things. ‘He only wants to watch,’ he’d said to her. ‘You wouldn’t mind, would you? Only he’s fascinated by it, by the process, you know, of . . . er . . . embalming.’ And yes, Danny Street had been fascinated all right, but not in any way that could be described as healthy. She remembered his cruel dark eyes following her every movement, the lick of sweat on his forehead, the quickening of his breath as he watched her make the incisions. It was the thrill, the excitement he’d so clearly felt, that had filled her with horror. He hadn’t even touched the body, but that didn’t make a difference. It was what had been in his mind that revolted her.

No, she should never have agreed to do it again. But then she thought about the consequences of backing out. She recalled driving to Shoreditch and finding Toby battered and bruised; he still bore the scars from that beating. Sometimes, when she touched him, he flinched and pulled away. The idea of his being hurt again was just too much too take. Instantly, she made her decision. Removing the sheet from Jenni Brookner’s corpse, she gently began to massage the limbs. The sooner she got started, the sooner she could be finished. But she was still holding on to a glimmer of hope. Street was already late. Perhaps he wouldn’t turn up at all. Perhaps, God willing, something terrible had happened to him.

Toby swore again and continued to pace.

The minutes slowly passed.

The knock when it came sounded unnaturally loud. It seemed to reverberate, sending off a series of shocks that the whole neighbourhood must hear. Alice almost jumped out of her skin. Her heart began to thump and a trembling started in her knees. She wanted to run away, but even if her legs could have carried her there was nowhere to go.

Toby headed for the steps but then stopped, turned around and laid a hand on her arm. As if he guessed that her resolve might be faltering, his blue eyes gazed pleadingly into hers. ‘You won’t let me down, will you?’

She shook her head.

‘You swear?’

‘I swear,’ she croaked.

He bent and kissed her softly on the lips. ‘I love you.’

Alice watched him disappear up the steps. Her heart was still missing beats, but it wasn’t just from fear. It was worth doing almost anything to hear those three precious words. She thought of her mother and her cronies gathered in the flat at Valentine Court. It wouldn’t be long now before she could wipe those mocking smiles off their faces.

She heard Toby open and close the back door. This was followed by a murmuring of voices. She waited, but still they didn’t come down to the basement. What were they doing?