the desk and laid her hand on Lena’s arm. ‘But you’ll take care? Promise me you will.’
‘I’m always careful, hon.’ Lena bent and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Thanks for letting me know. I’ll call you, huh? I’ll see you soon.’
She walked out with her shoulders back and her head held high. Her face was an impassive mask. She walked over to the car as if Cato was watching, as if his eyes were drinking in every facet of her face and every step she took. She walked with a swaying insouciance as if she didn’t give a damn.
After climbing into the MG, Lena glanced across at the office. Through the window she could see that Delia was still standing by the desk. In that moment, her old friend looked as old and regretful as the grey stone angels that were scattered around the cemetery. She bent over the wheel, feeling a dull, dark pain in her chest.
Quickly she reached for her cigarettes. She lit one, sucked in the smoke, started the engine and drove off. Instead of doing a U-turn, she headed for the exit on the other side. Her gaze flicked in the direction of the Lucy Rivers grave, but it was out of sight, the path hidden by the group of weeping willows.
Once she was away from the office, Lena pulled the car into the side of the thoroughfare. She needed some time alone, time to think. She opened the window and stared out across the cemetery. Hadn’t she always known that one day Cato would try to get his revenge? She imagined him in that prison cell, the minutes slowly ticking by, the walls gradually closing in. He’d had years to dwell on what she had done and now it was payback time. He had loved Lucy Rivers and Lena had destroyed her.
While she sat and smoked, she contemplated her next move. She had to stay calm. She had to try and still the fear that was gathering inside her. Although she didn’t underestimate her enemy, the game was far from over yet. She was Lena Gissing and that meant something. She had power and she was going to use it. Reaching into her bag, she took out her mobile and dialled. It was answered after the first ring.
‘It’s me,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a job for you. Find out everything you can about a girl called Maddie Layne. That’s L-A-Y-N-E.’ She read out the phone number from the list that Delia had given her. ‘She’s local, lives somewhere in Kellston. And make it quick, huh? Get back to me as soon as you can.’
Lena dropped the phone back in her bag. She flicked the ash from her cigarette on to the grass that edged the path. The thick evening air stole into the car, hot and humid. She closed her eyes, feeling the heavy drag of memory. There was, she knew, no escape from the past. Like a dark assassin, it came creeping up when you least expected it.
5
It was after six thirty before Maddie left work and started to walk home. It had been a strange, discomfiting kind of day. The evening was warm and sticky, the air tainted by traffic fumes. Despite the heat, she kept up a brisk pace, not wanting to be late picking up Zac. Alisha and Winston would never complain – they loved their grandson and would do anything for him – but they weren’t spring chickens and she didn’t like to take advantage.
As she made her way along the High Street, her gaze took in her surroundings. Even at the height of summer, Kellston managed to retain a depressing greyness that seemed ingrained in the very bricks of the buildings, in the road and the litter-strewn pavement. On the horizon loomed the three tall concrete towers of the Mansfield estate, a constant reminder of the sister she had lost.
Maddie stared up at the towers. Even from a distance they could be seen to be crumbling, weather-beaten with rusting balconies and broken windows. Some of the flats were boarded up, unfit for human habitation. She quickly dropped her gaze again. Kellston was said to be up-and-coming, but from where she was standing there were no significant signs of it. Squashed between Bethnal Green
‘I’m always careful, hon.’ Lena bent and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Thanks for letting me know. I’ll call you, huh? I’ll see you soon.’
She walked out with her shoulders back and her head held high. Her face was an impassive mask. She walked over to the car as if Cato was watching, as if his eyes were drinking in every facet of her face and every step she took. She walked with a swaying insouciance as if she didn’t give a damn.
After climbing into the MG, Lena glanced across at the office. Through the window she could see that Delia was still standing by the desk. In that moment, her old friend looked as old and regretful as the grey stone angels that were scattered around the cemetery. She bent over the wheel, feeling a dull, dark pain in her chest.
Quickly she reached for her cigarettes. She lit one, sucked in the smoke, started the engine and drove off. Instead of doing a U-turn, she headed for the exit on the other side. Her gaze flicked in the direction of the Lucy Rivers grave, but it was out of sight, the path hidden by the group of weeping willows.
Once she was away from the office, Lena pulled the car into the side of the thoroughfare. She needed some time alone, time to think. She opened the window and stared out across the cemetery. Hadn’t she always known that one day Cato would try to get his revenge? She imagined him in that prison cell, the minutes slowly ticking by, the walls gradually closing in. He’d had years to dwell on what she had done and now it was payback time. He had loved Lucy Rivers and Lena had destroyed her.
While she sat and smoked, she contemplated her next move. She had to stay calm. She had to try and still the fear that was gathering inside her. Although she didn’t underestimate her enemy, the game was far from over yet. She was Lena Gissing and that meant something. She had power and she was going to use it. Reaching into her bag, she took out her mobile and dialled. It was answered after the first ring.
‘It’s me,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a job for you. Find out everything you can about a girl called Maddie Layne. That’s L-A-Y-N-E.’ She read out the phone number from the list that Delia had given her. ‘She’s local, lives somewhere in Kellston. And make it quick, huh? Get back to me as soon as you can.’
Lena dropped the phone back in her bag. She flicked the ash from her cigarette on to the grass that edged the path. The thick evening air stole into the car, hot and humid. She closed her eyes, feeling the heavy drag of memory. There was, she knew, no escape from the past. Like a dark assassin, it came creeping up when you least expected it.
5
It was after six thirty before Maddie left work and started to walk home. It had been a strange, discomfiting kind of day. The evening was warm and sticky, the air tainted by traffic fumes. Despite the heat, she kept up a brisk pace, not wanting to be late picking up Zac. Alisha and Winston would never complain – they loved their grandson and would do anything for him – but they weren’t spring chickens and she didn’t like to take advantage.
As she made her way along the High Street, her gaze took in her surroundings. Even at the height of summer, Kellston managed to retain a depressing greyness that seemed ingrained in the very bricks of the buildings, in the road and the litter-strewn pavement. On the horizon loomed the three tall concrete towers of the Mansfield estate, a constant reminder of the sister she had lost.
Maddie stared up at the towers. Even from a distance they could be seen to be crumbling, weather-beaten with rusting balconies and broken windows. Some of the flats were boarded up, unfit for human habitation. She quickly dropped her gaze again. Kellston was said to be up-and-coming, but from where she was standing there were no significant signs of it. Squashed between Bethnal Green
Similar Books
