Jessie Keane - Ruthless

Max had a horrible thought. ‘You don’t think he’s knocked her up, do you?’

‘Oh God,’ sighed Annie, leaning back on the pillows.

‘What? What? Well he could have. Couldn’t he? That does happen.’

‘I doubt that she’s pregnant.’ And if she was, she’d give you a grandchild you’d dote on forever, thought Annie. Would that be so terrible?

‘Thank Christ for that.’

‘I think Alberto would have been careful.’

‘Don’t! Don’t even go there.’ Max was furious.

‘Max.’ She caught his hand.

‘What?’ he snapped.

‘Please – don’t have a go at her. She’s heartbroken as it is. She was already in bits over losing her friend, Precious. She’s had enough. Don’t hurt her any more.’

And there’s Layla downstairs, wondering if her mother loves her, he thought.

His little girl, Layla. Now she was a woman. And she had chosen Alberto, but he’d run out on her. Annie was right. Layla would need them both to be strong for her.

He leaned over and kissed his ex-wife briefly on the lips. ‘Just rest now,’ he said, and went to the door on to the landing. When he opened it, Layla was standing there.

‘Can I see her?’ she asked her father.

Max glanced back at Annie, who was smiling.

‘Don’t tire her out, that’s all,’ he warned, kissing Layla’s cheek and going off downstairs.

Annie opened her arms. Layla hesitated, then ran across the room and flung herself on to the bed, hugging her mother fiercely.

‘I love you, Mum,’ she said, and started to cry.

‘Hey, don’t. Don’t! What’s all this for?’ said Annie, feeling tearful too. She kissed Layla, gathered her into her arms. ‘Shh, don’t cry.’

‘I thought I’d lost you!’ Layla sobbed. ‘I’ve been such a complete cow to you ever since you split with Dad, and I thought I’d lost you, that it was too late, that it would never be all right between us.’

‘It is all right between us.’ Annie pushed Layla back a little. ‘Look. I’m here and I’m fine. See?’

Layla wiped shakily at her eyes. Her face was soaked with tears.

‘I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life,’ she said, shivering as she thought of it all. ‘I don’t know how you got through it, I really don’t.’

‘Well, I did. And so did you,’ said Annie, smoothing back her daughter’s hair with loving hands and smiling into her eyes. ‘I like your hair down like this, it suits you. And that lipstick’s nice, what shade is that?’

‘Hot pink. I suppose it’s all over my face now, and I bet my mascara’s shot.’

‘Just a bit,’ said Annie.

Layla managed a laugh at that. She scooped a tissue from the side table and tried to compose herself. ‘I’m such a wimp,’ she sniffed, looking at Annie lying there, who had been through hell but seemed so composed. Her mother was strong as a rock, she admired her so much.

‘Dad told you about Alberto?’ she asked.

‘Yeah. He did.’

Layla clutched at her mother’s hand. ‘I don’t know if I can stand it. Him being gone. I really don’t.’

Annie said nothing as Layla started to cry again.

‘I’m in love with him, Mum,’ she managed to get out.

‘I know.’ Annie pulled her back into her arms and held her tight as she sobbed.

Abruptly, Layla pushed herself free. ‘You know ?’

‘Honey, it was obvious.’

Layla wiped her eyes. ‘I’m never going to see him again. Am I?’

Annie compressed her lips, shook her head slowly. ‘No. None of us are.’

‘Only,’ Layla gulped, ‘I don’t see how I can live without him.’

Annie hugged her again.

‘You’ll live without him,’ she murmured against Layla’s brow. ‘You can do it. And you know why you can do it?’

Layla shook her head.

‘Because you have to.’ Annie wished she could take Layla’s pain away, but she couldn’t. She was going to have to work through this, learn to bear it. ‘I’m still here, and so’s your dad.’

But he’ll be going soon.

Annie didn’t say it. She didn’t even want to think it. But she knew that it was true.

Layla’s eyes drifted over to the connecting door lying there on the carpet. She started to smile. ‘Dad, right?’ she said, looking back at Annie.

‘Got it in one.’

‘Do you think you and he…?’ Layla hardly dared hope.

‘No. I don’t.’

The police called by a couple of days later.

‘Just a courtesy call,’ said DCI Hunter, when he and Annie were settled in the study at the front of the house. From her seat behind the leather-bound desk Annie could see out of the window. The black van that had been there for weeks was now gone.

‘Where’s DI Duggan?’ asked Annie.

‘Other duties. I thought I’d drop by to check that you’re OK,’ he said.

‘As you can see, I’m fine.’

‘What was it all about?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

Hunter looked at her sceptically. She looked right back at him. He was a handsome man, but so dour-faced.

‘Tell me something,’ said Annie.

‘Go on.’

‘Did you ever get back with your wife? I notice you don’t wear a wedding ring any more.’

‘No, I don’t. And I didn’t. The job, you know. It makes married life difficult.’

‘Shame.’ He looked like a man who needed some lightness in his life. She pushed away from the desk and stood up. ‘Well, it’s nice of you to call, DCI Hunter, but I have to go out, so if that’s all…?’

‘Yes, I think that about covers it,’ he said, and stood up too. ‘And Mrs Carter…?’

‘Hm?’

‘Your stepson. Alberto Barolli.’

‘Yeah, what about him?’

‘No idea where he is right now, I suppose?’

‘None whatsoever,’ said Annie.

Hunter gave her a sceptical look. ‘That’s exactly what I thought you’d say. Well… try to keep out of trouble in future. If you can.’

Tony drove her to the Palermo, where Dolly was downstairs checking the bar takings.

‘Hiya, sweetheart,’ she said, greeting Annie with a distracted smile.

‘How’s tricks?’ asked Annie, hauling herself on to a bar stool.

‘All fine. You?’

‘Great. I’m officially returning your driver and your car.’

‘Oh?’ Dolly’s blue eyes were shrewd on Annie’s face. ‘You sorted out your bother then?’

‘Think so.’

‘Max still here?’

‘He is.’

‘Staying?’

‘Shouldn’t think so.’

‘If you asked him to stay, I bet he would.’

‘Well, I’m not asking. He’s got his life, I’ve got mine.’

‘Yeah, but you ain’t got much of a life, have you?’

‘Meaning?’

‘Meaning all you ever do is spend money and do lunch.’

‘Maybe I’ll open another club. Another Annie’s. Here in London.’

‘Well, if you need a manager -’ Dolly winked – ‘call me. OK?’

Leaving Tone and the company Jag to Dolly, Annie took a cab on to the Shalimar to see Ellie.

‘Hey!’ said Ellie, hurrying forward to give her a hug. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine,’ said Annie, as Ellie ushered her into the kitchen. They sat down at the table.

‘And Layla? I sort of miss having her about the place.’

‘She’s fine too.’

Ellie’s smile faded away. ‘Terrible business about Precious, wasn’t it? Poor girl. It’s the funeral on Friday.’

‘Ellie, I want you to fire Junior’s arse.’

Ellie looked taken aback, then she shrugged. ‘If you say so. He hasn’t shown up for days and I don’t think he’s going to, so it’s a bit of a moot point.’ Ellie stared at her old mate’s face. ‘You don’t think he was involved in what happened to Precious, do you?’