The Chrysalid Conspiracy (36 page)

“Oh, come on, Amelia. Wake up,” she commanded herself. As she stood up she saw the dining room table strewn with sheets of screwed-up A4. She must have written that riddle out a dozen times, only to be none the wiser.

Her mind shifted gear abruptly when the front door opened and three zombies staggered in.

“Good heavens!” gasped Amelia. “It’s gone ten o’clock in the morning. Where have you been?”

“Long story,” mumbled Nigel. “Tell you later.”

“Much later,” added Molly as they headed for their bedroom. “And I won’t even ask about the coffee table.”

“Rayn? I thought you were going straight home this morning?” Amelia asked.

“I was,” she said. “I even changed in the car. But Antonio’s car was parked up there. Thought I’d better not disturb them.” She didn’t seem to mind a bit. “I need somewhere to sleep though, desperately,” she finished.

“Tell you what,” Amelia said. “I’ll take the boys home for breakfast, you can use my bed and Molly and Nigel can get some worry free sleep, and we’ll see you all later. How’s that?”

“Good thinking,” said Molly. “And thanks.” She gave her sons a hug. “I’ll see you later and tell you about the greatest rock show ever.”

While they had been talking, Amelia had picked up all the stuff she had left on the table and shoved it in her ruined bag. She had to hold it closed.

When they were walking back across the green she noticed the clear blue sky and the powdery little snow drifts. Thinking Rayn wouldn’t be much interested at that particular moment, she asked about the concert.

“That must have been a hell of a do. What happened?”

“Tommy,” mumbled Rayn, oblivious to the usual January cold sunshine.

“Tommy who?”

“Tommy Gerard, Nigel’s brother. He was doing security work there. He took us to the backstage party after the concert. Oh Amelia, I met them all! All my idols in person. You know Shaglet, the drummer with Leslie and the Lesbians? She tried to chat me up. You should have seen her face when Tommy told her how old I was. At least she was nice enough to apologise, anyway.”

“Tommy’s Nigel’s brother?” reminded Amelia.

“Yeah. There’s a couple of weird things that might be of interest to us, but I can’t think at the moment. Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” said Amelia, wondering how she would take the news about the riddle. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. That was the object of the exercise, wasn’t it? Oh, and happy birthday.”

“Oh, thank you Amelia. You’re the first today. Tommy told everyone last night at the party. Just think of it – everyone who is anyone in music sang happy birthday to
me
! I think I’ve got a Porsche and a swimming pool on the way, and one of the managers wants me to do a studio test; but I could feel there were some strings attached to that one. Tommy warned him off anyway.”

Once inside the shop, Amelia packed Rayn off to bed, reminding her there were cigarettes and matches in her desk. She was also pleased with herself for resisting the urge to tell her not to burn the house down.

She was surprised to find George asleep on the sofa so she made the boys some breakfast and sat them in the kitchen while she looked in on her mother. She was still asleep so she left her where she was.

Making George a coffee she woke him gently. He was awake and alert instantly. The habit of a lifetime, Amelia supposed. When he was up he joined them in the kitchen.

“Morning boys. What have you got there?” he asked them.

“Egg and bacon and toast,” they told him.

“Would you like some?” enquired Amelia.

“If it’s not too much trouble,” he replied.

As she prepared his food he remained quiet, so she ventured to enquire about last night. “How was the evening?”

“I don’t know when I’ve had a more relaxed and pleasant one,” he said. “Antonio is a really nice guy. He had us in fits with his stories. Anyway, when he and Bridie made their excuses I couldn’t leave your mother on her own, so we sat and got rather drunk. I put her to bed and decided to stay over and keep an eye on her. Is she all right?”

“Oh yes,” Amelia reassured him. “Thanks ever so much. You really are a nice man, you know.”

“But you’ve stopped trusting me, haven’t you?” His question momentarily rocked her but she recovered quickly.

“It’s not a matter of trust. Of course I trust you. It’s just that…”

“It’s just what?” encouraged George.

“It’s just that I’ve come to realise that there is more to you than the man I thought I knew,” Amelia finished quickly.

George laughed. “That happens as you grow older,” he said. “You see things and people from a different perspective.”

Change the subject,
she thought to herself.
He’s digging.
“I don’t suppose you have an old coffee table lying around, do you?” she asked.

“Not another one already?” he said to them. “Is the old one repairable?”

“Afraid not. It’s no longer fit for purpose, completely trashed,” she told him.

“Never mind. I think I can find something a bit stronger than the others, aye boys?” He laughed again.

George stayed until Lucy was up and declared fit for duty.

Amelia had managed to clear the living room of bottles, glasses, plates and ashtrays, tackled the kitchen and followed through with a quick tidy up round the house while George kept the twins enthralled with his stories of when he was a pirate.

She had the boys back home by late afternoon and both she and Molly were pleasantly surprised when the twins said thank you to Amelia without any prompting from their mother.

As she passed the church on her way back, encouraged by the absence of the Vicar’s car, she popped in again to speak to the sisters. An idea was beginning to formulate in her head.

***

When she got back Bridie had shown up looking positively radiant. “Hi, Bridie. Talk about bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. You look great,” remarked Amelia. Bridie couldn’t keep a straight face and kept breaking into an enormous grin.

“Thank you Amelia. Actually, I do feel good,” she replied. “Is Rayn here? I got a bit worried when she didn’t come home last night.”

“Yes. She’s crashed out in my room. She, er, thought it prudent not to disturb you?” Amelia deliberately framed her response as a question in order to put the onus on Bridie to elaborate.

“Isn’t she a dear?” Bridie wasn’t taking the bait. “Antonio had to work today. I’m afraid I slept in.”

“I’ll do dinner for four of us then,” replied Amelia, not giving Bridie the opportunity to argue. “Rayn will want to tell us about her concert and I need some back-up.”

Bridie nodded, still grinning. “Where’s Lucy?” she asked.

“In the greenhouse, I think. Go on in, I’m sure she’ll want to hear all the sordid details,” said Amelia laughing.

“There’s nothing sordid about it, my girl, as you’ll find out one day.” smiled Bridie.

Amelia took a cup of coffee up to her friend who eventually shimmered into the kitchen. “Feeling any better?” she gently probed.

“Hmmm,” was all the poor girl could utter.

Amelia looked at her friend and felt the warmth of compassion. She was a mess. Her clothes looked as though they were holding her body together. Her eyes were misty, as if she were gazing out at some alien landscape, and her mind was definitely on another planet. “Hey, wake up. Your mum’s here,” she said more sharply.

“Oh turdles,” Rayn muttered as she dragged herself off to the living room.

Dinner went well. Amelia got a vote of thanks from her mother. Bridie gave her a B+, Rayn just ate. Amelia watched her friend and thought
Look with your eyes, see with your stomach.
She smiled at her own humour. No one mentioned Antonio. With a hot meal inside her, Rayn had returned to earth and launched into her experiences.

“It was amazing,” she enthused. “Absolutely wicked. The music was so loud. Nigel’s brother Tommy was there. He was doing security for someone with some of his men. He took us to the backstage party. Poor old Nigel kept getting hit on by gay men. Lorraine sorted them out. She’s really good.”

Just then Rayn’s face changed to a frown and she continued in a quieter voice. “Isn’t it strange how things are never what you’re led to believe?” She left a pause and Amelia wondered if it was intentional.

She took the opportunity to glance at her mother and Bridie. They had looked up suddenly at Rayn’s remark, and then looked at each other.

Rayn dived in again, filling the slight glitch in the mood. “The noise and bustle of the party was crazy. Some girls arrived with champagne and people were waving glasses and spilling drinks everywhere. Snakebelly jumped up on a table and did one of her sexy dances. All the press and photographers were there, flash bulbs popping nonstop. Tommy kept me out of sight in a corner, and then one of the champagne girls got up and started stripping. She got down to her bra and thong and I told Tommy to get me out of there. He just said not to worry, it’ll be okay. And it was. Moondog turned down the music and kicked all the reporters out.”

Lucy listened with a disapproving look on her face, but Rayn continued unperturbed. “After they’d gone, the stripper got dressed and she and the champagne girls left. They turned the music off and they drifted out to change into their street clothes. It was bizarre. They were just ordinary people, and I realised that no one had been drinking. It was all an act for the press.”

“Did you believe they weren’t just people? What were you expecting?” said Bridie. “Some super computer simulations brought to life for your entertainment. Creatures they can turn on and off with a switch?”

“Oh, you know what I mean, Mum,” carried on Rayn, back in full flow. “The drummer, Crazy Kenny, once he’d taken off that tall wig and his built-up shoes he was quite small. He’s also nearly bald, and he runs his dad’s funeral parlour. And did you know that Chainsaw has a degree in electronics? Snakebelly was in a skirt and jumper and carpet slippers. Apparently, those big gold platforms she wears give her awful blisters.”

“Why on earth do they do it then?” asked Lucy, quite appalled. “There’s more to life than money or fame, surely?”

“They can’t stop,” said Rayn. “They’re all tied up with contracts and accountants and the tax man. Stop and they go to jail. Basically, they have to do as they’re told. Talk about creating a monster.”

“And do you still have dreams of being a star, then?” asked Amelia.

“No way. I spoke to all of them and they all gave the same advice.”

“Which was?” her mother anticipated the standard answer. “Be careful what you wish for?”

“No, actually.” Rayn said smugly. “It was whatever you do in life, have fun, but make sure you have the key to the back door. I think I’ll keep my dreams and just buy the CDs.”

She was treated to a round of applause by everyone.

“Welcome to reality, Rayn,” said her mother. “It’s not so bad, is it?”

“I’m not so sure, Mum. Reality isn’t what it used to be. Oops – sorry,” and she quickly stopped herself. Amelia knew that Rayn’s mouth had just fired without taking aim. “I went on a bit. But anyway, it was a fantastic experience. A real eye-opener. How did your evening go?” she said, back peddling like crazy.

Bridie said nothing. Lucy filled her in. “Oh, very pleasant. We saw the New Year in and George and I got very drunk. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

Bridie had that broad grin on her face again. Rayn faked a scowl at her and said “I have a pretty good idea how you saw the New Year in, mother, and I don’t think I want to know over breakfast.” And smiled back at her mum.

In response to Rayn’s enquiring look Amelia responded “I’m afraid babysitting doesn’t get much more exciting than drinking hot chocolate while watching Alien Teenage Ninja Pirates, the Return of, Part Four.”

Rayn groaned in sympathy. “Nothing else then?” she asked casually.

“Not really,” Amelia lied.

“Do you want to stay over?” Lucy asked Bridie.

“Yes please,” she said, as her shoulders dropped in grateful defeat. “The caravan’s a mess and I didn’t turn the heating on before I came out. I have no defence and thank you.”

“Could I infringe on you for a nice gentle massage, please Amelia?” said Lucy.

“Hey, wait a minute there,” Bridie broke in. “Amelia, you’ve just spent the weekend doing the most difficult and thankless task that life can throw at a woman, while I’ve been at the other end of the spectrum. Off to bed and let me pay for my sins. I’ll even wash up.”

Rayn smiled. “I notice no one is giving you an argument mum.” she said.

Jogging down to the caravan site the next morning Rayn was still trying to persuade Amelia that her idea wasn’t a good one. She’d noticed a subtle change in her friend, Amelia was much more self-assured and assertive in some way, and Rayn knew that all she was going to be able to do was register her objections.

The previous night Amelia had related the events of her weekend. She told her about the mysterious tableware the sisters had been cleaning and the story surrounding the discovery of the riddle. Leaving out Joe’s inadvertent advice she was also happy not to tell her about Claire’s outburst. When she’d handed Rayn a copy of the riddle they’d both been visibly shaking and their efforts to make sense of it all were unsuccessful.

“We need Claire,” said a reluctant Rayn.

“I thought that as well,” Amelia had responded. “But I didn’t want to offend you.”

“Hey, this is way out of my league. I’m not offended, but I will of course never talk to you again for the rest of my life.” Rayn grinned and once again Amelia was thankful for her friend’s sense of humour.

“Well, I’ve already arranged for us to meet up with them at your place.”

“What? Amelia, you could have waited for my input. Mind you, I haven’t been plugged in for a while, have I?”

The first thing Rayn did on reaching the campsite was to inspect the caravan. “My God, Mother. I hope it was worth it,” she exclaimed.

“Judging by the look on your mum’s face yesterday, I’d say it most probably was,” laughed Amelia.

The weather was most unseasonal. The sun was shining; there wasn’t a breath of wind or that bone-numbing coldness that comes with January.