Someone Like me (16 page)

chapter 31

Malika was sitting in the kitchen, frowning at her phone.

‘What’s up?’

‘I’ve just been talking to Maman. She said Papa’s coming to England on Friday. He said he’s going to be really busy and won’t have time to see me. He’s staying in a hotel.’

‘Did she say which one?’

‘No. She didn’t seem very interested. She said she can reach him on his mobile.’

‘He obviously doesn’t want us to know where he’s going to be – interesting don’t you think?’

She looked upset. ‘I don’t want to believe that he’s doing anything wrong.’

   ‘Don’t look like that. I’ve still got plenty of money left that Mum gave me for Paris. Let’s book ourselves into the
Metropole on Friday night – he has to be staying there, and even if he isn’t we can ask around about Nora.’

My mobile started to ring.

‘Hi Mum,’ I said.

‘Hi darling, is everything alright? I’m sorry I wasn’t home to meet you, but I’ll be back on Saturday.’

‘That’s great, Mum. I’m taking Malika to visit her aunt tomorrow.’ It was kind of true. ‘But we’ll be  back for your return and then you’ll get to meet her.’

She rang off. I looked at the clock. ‘I’m meeting Fiona at the park. Do you want to come?’

She pulled a face. I laughed. ‘OK, I won’t be long.’

Fiona was waiting for me on the swings. She wasn’t scowling which was a first.

‘What’s up with you?’ I asked.

‘I copped off, didn’t I? At the party. Not that you were in a fit state to notice.’

‘No way!
Who with?’

‘Jason Bletchley. He used to be a couple of years above us. Tall, mad black hair…’

A picture popped into my mind. ‘I know him,’ I said. ‘So does that mean you’re over Khaled now?’

‘Who’s Khaled?’ she grinned. She looked different when she smiled.

‘I suppose that means you won’t want to be in my detective gang any more. It’s a shame because I wanted to ask your advice about some stuff, before we go away.’

‘You’re going away again?
Where to this time?’

‘To
Amersham, on Friday. Malika wants to try and track down her aunt.’ I filled her in on the background. ‘We’re going to spend a night at the hotel. I’m not sure that her aunt will be there, or even that Michael will turn up, but I promised Malika.’

‘How do you know you can trust her?’ asked Fiona.

‘Malika? Why do you say that? She’s an angel!’

Fiona smirked.

‘Why are you looking like that?’

‘She may come across as Little Miss Butter Won’t Melt but you were so out of it at the party that you have no idea what she was up to, have you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘She spent two hours talking to Khaled. Don’t look like  that,  I  timed  her,  for  your  information.
Then  I started talking to Jason and lost interest. But I did notice them smooching on the dance floor, just before you stole the show.’

‘
Malika and Khaled! I don’t believe it.’
Why hadn’t she said anything?

‘I didn’t think you would so I took a photo. Here, look.’ She clicked through the photos on her phone until she came to the right one. There was no doubt about it.
Malika had her arms around Khaled. I noticed Mark was in the background looking glum. I couldn’t remember him even being there. I felt a pang of guilt.

‘Can you send it to me?’ I asked, feeling even guiltier. She nodded and seconds later my phone pinged. ‘They’re only dancing,’ I pointed out, ‘it doesn’t mean anything.’

‘Seems like you’re not as close as you thought,’ she said, sounding more like the Fiona I was used to. ‘Jason said they definitely looked like an item.’

‘What does
Jason
know?’ I said, irritated now. ‘He’s probably just making sure you’re not still lusting after Khaled. You’re not are you?’

‘Of course not!’ she said, getting up off the bench. ‘I’m with Jason now. Isn’t it about time you got yourself a boyfriend,
then maybe you wouldn’t be so uptight? See you around.’

Malika was in the kitchen when I got back.

‘I’ve told Mark we’re going away,’ I said. I’d passed him on the way in.

‘Mark likes you,’ Malika said, ‘he spent ages yesterday asking questions about you. Why don’t you want to go out with him?’

‘He’s Tess’s brother,’ I said, ‘that would be so wrong. Anyway, forget me, what about you? You looked pretty
friendly with Khaled at the party.’

‘I just like talking to him and I danced with him because he asked me – I danced with Des, too. It doesn’t mean anything.’

‘Well if you talk to Khaled again then at least try and find out something more about him.’

‘I have,’ she said. ‘He’s told me all about his foster family. I like
him, I don’t think there’s anything strange about him.’

‘Did he say anything about Miriam and all that stuff?’

She shook her head. ‘He’s worried about something though, I can tell. He looks like he has a big heavy weight on his shoulders.’

‘Probably Fiona!’
I smirked, ‘and you want to lift it off for him, don’t you?’

She nudged me in the ribs. ‘Stop teasing me.’ She stretched her arms out. ‘I need some fresh air. I think I’ll go for a walk. Do you want to come?’ I shook my head. At last I’d be able to have a look at Sadie’s diary.

My heart was fluttering a little as I opened the black leather cover of the journal. It wasn’t right to be looking at someone else’s stuff, but what if it contained a clue?

Sadie’s writing was bold and curly, squashed up as if she’d attempted to fit as many words on the page as possible. I was almost relieved to see that not many pages had been written on.

April 25

Dad’s brother turned up last night – an uncle we had no idea existed, and neither did Dad! Trevor, that’s his brother, had spent years trying to track him down and was about to contact one of those TV
programmes where they help displaced families find each other again when he got lucky.

He’s kind of attractive, in an old sort of way.
Designer stubble, leathers, a bit rocky. AJ is really getting on my nerves lately – he desperately wants to get in to Exeter to study photography and is working all the time. He never wants to go out and I get sick of it. Camilla and Alicia’s boyfriends take them out all the time. Trevor was teasing me this evening and Josh was looking at me as if I was some sort of despicable slug, but I couldn’t care less what Josh thinks. He’s so immature and I know it is just a laugh, a bit of fun and it has absolutely nothing to do with him. He’s just as bad, always playing that stupid guitar and going on about joining a band. He’ll be entering the X Factor next, and then I won’t be able to show my face in public.

1000 hits on ‘Sadiestyle!!!  That’s more than Margaret Beeston and her stupid photography site. She has so little talent I can’t believe anybody ever reads it.

April 31
st

Trevor turned up yesterday. I was the only one in so I made him a coffee and we had an intense conversation. He really seems to get what I’m talking about. He asked if I’d like to go for a ride on his motorcycle! He’s coming over next week.

May 5
th

Trevor took me out on his bike yesterday. Wind blowing through my hair, speeding so fast and close to the ground it was amazing, like I was in a film.
The best feeling ever. I think he’s really nice and Mum and Dad do too. I didn’t tell AJ about the ride – he doesn’t like Trevor much. And I definitely won’t show him the present he gave me – a lovely silver bracelet. I’d listed it on my site this week as a must have – what a coincidence!

May 7
th

AJ has an essay to write and is even more unavailable than ever.
Trevor asked me out for a drink – not like a date or anything, but he’s so understanding. His family story is fascinating as he was brought up in care but has really done well for himself. He works in graphic design and has some really good contacts. He loves my blog, even though it’s all girly stuff!

May 14th

AJ and I had a furious row this evening when I got back. He didn’t like me going for a drink with Trevor. He’s my uncle for God’s sake!

Actually, I think Trevor likes me a bit, it’s hilarious. He gave me another present tonight – a scarf.
Another recommendation from Sadiestyle. I’m not going to let on I know where’s he’s getting his ideas from! Mum asked me if I want to invite AJ to Ibiza this summer but I’m not sure. He’s getting on my nerves lately.

May 22nd

OMG, I kissed T. Why did I do that? I was kind of daring

myself but now I wish I hadn’t. Surely he’s not stupid enough to think I meant it? Afterwards I felt so guilty but I’ve made up for it – I told Mum I want AJ to come on holiday with us.

May 25th

Trevor is too creepy and I don’t want anything more to do with him. I wish I hadn’t agree to go for dinner with him this evening but I am going to make clear to him once and for all that he must stay out of my life. I’ve changed my hairstyle – that will really piss him off. I wish I didn’t have to go, but I’m too scared.

My fingers were like sausages as I tried to turn the page, desperate to see what came next but when I finally managed  to  peel  the  page  open  I  let  out  a 
sigh  in dismay; only a jagged edge remained where the rest of the pages had been ripped out. Why had she done that?

    The front door slammed downstairs and I closed the diary and put it back in my jacket pocket and shoved it in the wardrobe. My phone pinged and I looked at the screen. Tess.

     Josh’s family is back tonight so I’m on my way home. Fancy a pizza later?

I wrote straight back.

   
 
Margarita with extra chees
e
.

     I went downstairs to see if Malika wanted to come with us. She was in the kitchen with Mark, laughing at something he’d said.

    ‘Khaled and Des are coming over tonight for band practice. Mark’s invited me to watch.’ Her eyes were shining. ‘Will you come?’

     I pulled a face. ‘Tess has asked  me  to  go  out  for a pizza. I was going to invite you, but . . .’

    ‘It’s OK. I’d rather watch the band. You go out with Tess.’

     So Malika would be seeing Khaled again. She certainly looked happy, maybe Fiona was right. I was glad of the opportunity to see Tess on her own – I could ask her if she’d noticed anything and hopefully get an update on Josh and his family.

CHAPTER 32

I was fifteen minutes late arriving at the pizza place. Tess waved at me from a small table towards the back of the restaurant. She stood up to give me a hug.

     ‘Great dress!’ I said. It was covered in large red poppies, with a red belt and red ballet pumps to match.  Her pale face contrasted with the bright colours of the dress.

     ‘You look tired,’ I said.

She pushed a can of coke towards me.

‘I’ve ordered already,’ she said. I’d had the same
favourite pizza since I was little. ‘I’m so glad you could make it. I really need to talk to you about Josh.’

‘Were you there when his family got home?’

She shook her head, making her curls dance on her shoulders.

‘I didn’t think it was a good idea. Josh had told them about the party on the phone, and his uncle and everything. But it’s not just that, it’s Sadie. AJ rang Josh. He said Sadie’s had some sort of breakdown and they can’t wait to get back home.’

‘Breakdown?’

‘AJ said something hasn’t been right for a while. She seemed really happy that he was going on holiday with them, then told her a few days after they arrived that she was finishing with him. She’s closed down her website – she runs this fashion
blog  thing  –  Josh said  that  is really worrying because she’s got loads of followers and is so into it.  She wants to be a fashion journalist, and the site is really popular.’

Strange things were happening to my insides. A kind
of cold dread that Tess had no idea how much I knew about Sadie. Should I come clean? I sucked at the straw in my coke, hoping for inspiration, wishing I had never had the stupid idea to follow her round in the first place.

Tess was checking her phone. ‘He’s going to text me in a
bit, let me know how it’s going.’

A waitress appeared carrying our pizzas, and we spent the next few moments eating.

‘Fiona thinks there’s something going on between Malika and Khaled,’ I said. ‘Have you noticed anything?’

Tess opened her eyes wide.
‘Really?’ She thought for a moment, chewing slowly until her mouth was empty. ‘They get on well, I noticed that at the party. But I was a bit tipsy, you know, not as bad as you obviously, but . . .’

‘I’m giving up alcohol,’ I said.

‘Yeah, right.’

‘No, I mean it.
Malika doesn’t drink and I don’t want to end up like Mum.’ I put my head in my hands and groaned. ‘I keep thinking about that man’s shoes.’

‘Trevor.’ Tess put her fork down. ‘It was pretty spectacular. Why did he have to go and ruin the party? Josh had stopped worrying about Sadie for once and was really enjoying himself. He’s so down at the moment. I hope his parents aren’t too hard on him.’

We ordered ice cream for dessert and I filled Tess in on the Nora situation.

‘Why wouldn’t Michael tell Sara that he knew where Nora is?’ I could see what Tess was thinking.

‘I know. It’s suspicious isn’t it?’ I sighed. ‘I’d started to like him as well. And Sara is lovely. But I’m scared to get too close in case . . .’ I couldn’t put it into words. ‘Malika and I are booked into the Metropole hotel tomorrow night. We reckon Michael will be staying there too, and Malika’s hoping he’ll lead us to Nora. I hope she isn’t going to be disappointed, but I’m not convinced she’ll be there.’

A beep from Tess’s phone made me jump. She read the message on the screen. ‘Josh wants me to ring him, I won’t be long.’

By the time Tess came back in I had paid the bill and been to the ladies.

‘Let’s go,’ she said.

The cold air hit me as we stepped outside and I wished I’d brought my jacket. We started walking in the direction of Mark’s flat.

‘What did he say?’ I asked.

‘His parents weren’t too hard on him about the party – there wasn’t any damage to the house after all. But his dad’s furious that Trevor hit him. He’s going to ring him up and tell him to stay away.’

‘So is Josh feeling better about everything?’

‘Well, he’s relieved about the party, and that he won’t have to face Trevor again. But he’s still worried about Sadie.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He’s shocked by how awful she looks. She’s lost loads of weight and barely spoke to him. His mum reckons something’s happened to her, but she won’t talk about it.’

Guilt hit me as I  thought  about  the  diary.  Should  I

mention
it? But how could I explain what I’d done? I came to a decision. I’d have to investigate further, try and find some answers, then Tess would be more forgiving. My stomach was heavy as we let ourselves into the house.