Scaderstone Pit (The Darkeningstone Series Book 3) (13 page)

“Cally, you’re going to be on TV tomorrow. I think that’s pretty exciting. And you must be pushing the boundaries a bit or the government wouldn’t be trying to interfere with your work. Me—I turn up to an office every day. I read emails about the correct use of the parking bays. I make PowerPoints about financial reports. On a really good day, I get to go on Facebook when no one is looking. And that’s it.”

“I’m sorry,” Cally said. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

“No, it’s fine. But I don’t want your sympathy, Cally. I want you to take care of yourself, all right? Please, just take a bit of extra care. For my sake. If anything happened to you I’d never forgive myself.”

Cally looked at me in silence for a moment. “All right. I’ll be careful. And I’ll text you, Jake. When I get up to my room. Then you can reply to let me know you got back.”

I gave her a smile. “Thanks, Cally. I appreciate it.”

“That’s all right.” She looked over my shoulder toward the hotel’s front door. “I think that’s your taxi.”

I half turned toward the door, and when I looked back at Cally, she took a step closer and leaned toward me to kiss me on the cheek. The touch of her lips sent a thrill right through me. Her hair brushed very gently against my skin, and the warm fragrance of her perfume made me dizzy. “It was nice to see you, Jake,” she said. “Take care.”

“Sure,” I said, my voice hoarse. “You too.” I turned away from her and walked straight out onto the street.

I put my hand up to touch my cheek. Cally’s kiss had only been a formality, an affectionate gesture between friends. Even so, my heart raced and my mind was a whirl.
Let them come now
, I thought.
I’ll punch their teeth out
. But although the dark saloon was still parked along the street, I was no longer afraid. And the only person in sight was the taxi driver. I walked up to the taxi and bent down to speak through the open window. “Pardonnez moi,” I said. “I don’t need a taxi after all. Sorry. My mistake.”

The driver shook his head in confusion. “You don’t want taxi?”

“No, sorry. I’m going to walk.”

The driver glowered at me, muttering under his breath then put his car into gear and drove off.

I smiled to myself, squared my shoulders and walked down the dark street with my head held high, and just one thought in my mind:
Cally kissed me
.

Chapter 17

1919

STANDING ON THE SITE
of the proposed quarry, Trevor stifled a yawn and glanced at Mr. Grigson, wondering if his employer had noticed.
I reckon I got away with it
, Trevor thought.
The old duffer wouldn’t bat an eyelid if I fell down dead
. Trevor allowed himself a wry smile and tried to concentrate on what Grigson was saying. The old man had the bit between his teeth; he’d spent the last ten minutes pointing out the various features of the site and delivering an endless stream of unwanted advice. Trevor was doing his best to appear interested and attentive, but each time he looked around the place, he thought of the lonely wail of a baby crying in the darkness, and the hiss and whisper of strange, unearthly voices.

“You do understand that, don’t you, Mr. Marley?”

Trevor snapped out of his daydream. What had he missed? The old man was looking at him, waiting for a response. “Oh, yes,” he said. “Definitely. This is a very important project.”

Grigson gave him a humourless smile. “Yes, well, you’d better wake yourself up a bit.” He raised his eyebrows. “I believe I’ve just heard the dulcet tones of our latest client.”

Trevor looked back over his shoulder. Grigson was right. Mr. Matthews was marching across the mud, looking for all the world like a general making ready to address his troops. Trevor let out a quiet, contemptuous snort. Who did Matthews think he was? The man had kept them waiting for at least thirty minutes.

Trevor made a point of looking at his watch, but when he saw the look Grigson was giving him, he stood up straight and presented Mr. Matthews with a broad grin.

“Now then, how are we doing?” Matthews called. “Everything ready for action?”

“Certainly, Mr. Matthews,” Grigson said. He stepped forward and extended his hand for a shake. Trevor followed suit, but while Matthews shook Grigson warmly by the hand, he scarcely glanced in Trevor’s direction.

“Good, good,” Matthews said. He turned his back on Trevor and looked out across the pit, casting his eye over the place as though he were counting every pebble.

Trevor stared at the man’s back and seethed, restraining the urge to tap Matthews on the shoulder and set him straight about a few things. Instead, Trevor covered his embarrassment by raising his hand to cover his mouth and clearing his throat as loudly as possible.

Matthews still did not turn to look at him, and Grigson, sycophant that he was, followed the great man’s lead.
I don’t believe this
, Trevor thought. This was supposed to be a big moment for him. He was supposed to be in charge of this survey. Really, there was no need for Grigson to be here at all.
It’s all going wrong,
he thought
. Matthews snubbed me deliberately
. Trevor ground his teeth together, but he couldn’t think of a single thing he could do to turn the situation around.

“Right then,” Matthews said. “Come on, Grigson, show me how you’re going to tackle this job.”

“Please, come this way,” Grigson said, gesturing with his outstretched arm. “I’ll show you my proposed plan of action.”

Matthews nodded. “And let’s talk about what workers you’ll need. You must use reliable men. And even then, you’ll need to keep an eye on them or they’ll rob you blind.”

“I can assure you that I’ll pick the team myself,” Grigson said. “I maintain a directory of good men, all with valuable experience in this work. I’ll make sure you get the very best men for the job, Mr. Matthews.”

“Good, good,” Matthews said as he started walking away. But then he hesitated and turned to face Trevor, looking him up and down. “Even so, you’ve got to make sure your
junior
keeps them in check. We don’t want the idle sods slacking on the job and expecting overtime to line their pockets.”

“Quite so,” Grigson said and he gave Trevor a stern look.

Trevor felt the blood drain from his face.
That’s it
, he thought.
It’s all over
. He looked down at the ground. He couldn’t bear to see Matthews gloating for another moment. The pompous idiot was clearly taking a delight in belittling him, and Grigson was obviously determined to take all the credit for the survey.

He listened as Matthews and Grigson walked away, scarcely believing the way they were talking to each other as if they were firm friends. But then, the two men were both members of the same class. Grigson had his family connections and his expensive education, while Matthews had his money and clout in the town council. Trevor had nothing. And he’d never felt so excluded in his life.
The only way they’ll mention my name
, he thought,
is if anything goes wrong
. He smiled sadly. Despite all his plans and his efforts, his golden opportunity had come to nothing after all.

Chapter 18

2021

CALLY WATCHED JAKE
until he started talking to the taxi driver then she turned and crossed the hotel lobby.
He’ll be all right now
, she thought. She headed for the stairs, ignoring the way the receptionist was watching her every move. She was tired and the wine she’d had with dinner was catching up with her. Her legs were heavy with fatigue and her mind was buzzing with a hundred niggling doubts.
I need a damned good sleep
, she told herself. But as she opened the door to her hotel room and flicked the light on, she was suddenly wide awake.

She held her breath and stood on the threshold, scanning the room. The place was in chaos. Papers and books littered the floor. Her clothes had been pulled from their hangers and thrown onto the bed. She’d left her laptop on the small writing desk, and now the desk was bare. It was possible that the laptop had been tossed onto the floor, but she doubted it. It was a good one and almost brand new—probably the only thing worth stealing in the whole room. “Bloody hell!” she hissed. “Why me?” She leaned in through the doorway, listening. There were few hiding places in the small room, and she was almost certain the burglar had long gone, but even so, it would be foolish to take unnecessary risks. She closed the door firmly then hurried back to the stairs. She’d insist on calling the police, and she’d give that receptionist a hard time too. Didn’t they have CCTV or something?

But at the bottom of the stairs, she hesitated. The stairwell was separated from the lobby by an open archway, and she could hear the receptionist muttering darkly. There was something furtive and urgent in his tone and it made her skin crawl. She edged slowly toward the archway, staying close to the wall and keeping out of sight.

“Elle seras ici d’ici une minute,” he said. “Que voulez-vous que j’y fasse?”

She’ll be right here in a minute, what do you want me to do?
Cally thought.
He must be talking about me!
She was certain of it.

She hurried back up the stairs. She needed help, and Simon’s room was on the third floor.

***

Cally bit her bottom lip and knocked gently on Simon’s door. She heard feet shuffling across the carpet. A moment later, the door opened a fraction and Simon appeared, leaning against the door so that his body filled the gap. He was wearing a bathrobe and his hair was damp and sticking up in clumps. “Cally, what’s the matter?”

“Simon, I need you to do something for me.”

Simon smirked. “Darling, I thought you’d never ask. Although you have caught me at a rather inopportune moment.”

“I have to call the police,” Cally said. “Right now.”

Simon tilted his head back onto his shoulders. “That’s a bit of an overreaction. I only meant…”

Cally took a step toward him and put her hand against the door. “Let me in. This is important. Someone’s broken into my room. I’ve been burgled.”

“Oh my god.” Simon stepped back and ushered her into the room. “You poor love. Naturally I’ll help if I can, but, erm, it’s a bit awkward.”

Cally followed Simon into the room. Simon seemed anxious, looking nervously around the room as though seeing it for the first time. Cally followed his restless gaze, taking in the two glasses of wine on the bedside table, the ruffled bedding. And when she listened carefully, she could hear the shower running even though the bathroom door was closed. “Oh, I see,” she said. “Like that, is it? I presume that’s Imogen in the shower.”

Simon visibly started. “We were just having a late meeting, about the script, and—”

“Don’t bother with your pathetic excuses, Simon,” she interrupted. “We all know about you and Imogen, and I’ve had just about all I can take this evening.” She ran her hands through her hair and let out a growl of frustration.

Simon adjusted his bathrobe. “
Everyone
knows?”

Cally fixed him with a look. “I don’t care about your private life, Simon. I just need some help. And if you want me to go on this trip first thing in the morning, you’d better pull your finger out and do something useful.”

“All right, Cally, love. Calm down. Tell me what you need.”

Cally took a breath. “I can’t go back to my room. I won’t feel safe in there.” She held up her hand to prevent Simon from interrupting. “And I don’t want to book another room. I don’t want the hotel staff to know where I am. I can’t trust them—especially that receptionist. I think he was involved, and he may not be the only one.”

“What? You can’t be serious,” Simon said.

“I’m not going to explain it now, Simon. Just take my word for it. I want you to call the police and report the burglary. And I need somewhere to spend the night.”

Simon nodded. “All right, I’ll make the call. And you’re welcome to stay in my room.”

“No,” Cally said. “But listen, I presume Imogen is going to spend the night.”

Simon half shrugged. “Well, yes, if you must know.”

“Fine.” Cally held out her hand. “Give me her room key. I’ll take her room for the night. I’ll go to Grand-Pressigny tomorrow, but by the time I come back, I want you to have found me another hotel. And since you’re the producer, I want you to deal with the police and the insurance people. And I want you to find me another laptop.”