9

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UPSTAIRS, DIANE OPENED her eyes and saw Emily sitting in a wingchair next to the bed. ‘Ems?’ she murmured through parched lips. Her guest jumped up and grabbed the bottle of water from the bedside table and held it to her friend’s lips. Di took a few sips followed by a long swig. Emily removed the bottle and resumed her seat.

‘I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see you again,’ Diane regarded the other girl sombrely. ‘Do your parents know you’re here?’

‘Yes,’ Emily shifted uncomfortably. ‘I told them I urgently needed to speak to you, and they reluctantly allowed me to leave the house. I can’t stay all day because I don’t want to worry them. Mum’s only just started sleeping through the night again.’

‘Do you really need to talk to me, or was that an excuse?’ Diane remained impassive in the bed.

‘Oh, Di,’ Emily promptly burst into tears. ‘You’re not going to believe the stupid thing I did last night.’

This uncharacteristic display of emotion had the desired effect and, with a stiff arm, Diane reached for one of the pillows from the other side of her bed. She tucked it under her head so she could get a better view of her friend. ‘Did you do cocaine?’ she asked.

‘Worse than that,’ Emily sobbed. ‘I had sex with Deco.’

‘The fuck you did,’ Diane replied very slowly. ‘Were you drunk?’

‘No,’ Emily sniffed piteously as she dug a tissue out of her pocket. ‘I went around to the apartment to collect some more of my things, and while I was there he knocked at the door. It’s as if he knew I was in the building.’

Diane grunted and decided to keep her thoughts to herself. She knew Deco had very likely been tipped off by whoever was monitoring the surveillance cameras in their apartment, but as Emily was already upset, did not want to exacerbate the situation.

‘Then what happened?’ she asked. ‘Did he jump you?’

‘No,’ Emily dabbed at her eyes. ‘He helped me fill two boxes and one suitcase and offered to carry them down to the car for me. Then my dad called and started freaking out because I was at the apartment on my own. I told him Deco was with me and he calmed down.’

‘Men are weird,’ Diane ventured.

‘They surely are,’ Emily gulped. ‘Deco got on the phone and promised my dad he wouldn’t leave me alone until I was safely back in the car, and my dad almost smiled. He didn’t actually smile because I think he’s forgotten how, but he was almost chilled. After that, we thought we may as well relax and have a cup of coffee, seeing as how the crisis had passed.’

‘So you and Deco had a cosy cup of coffee and ended up doing the nasty on the couch?’ Diane hazarded a guess.

‘Not exactly,’ Emily sighed deeply. ‘Oh, Di, do you know about the second recording?’

‘What second recording?’ Diane reached for another pillow and propped herself up even higher. She also drank more of the water.

‘Dylan had one of Roy’s gadgets pinned to his jacket,’ Emily sounded distraught. ‘It’s not a fancy yoke like the spy glasses, but it was enough to capture what happened in that room.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Diane frowned at her friend. ‘Dylan used Roy’s craft knife to cut the ropes and then beat the crap out of Carlos. That’s what Josh told me in the hospital.’

‘Yes, but he didn’t tell you about Carlos groping Rosa and telling her all the things he was going to do to her,’ Emily began to cry again. ‘And he didn’t tell you that Carlos stripped me naked and was just about to rape me when Dylan bulldozed into him. That’s how Dylan got the jump on him. Carlos was too busy with me to notice.’

‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph,’ Diane’s eyes went wide. ‘So while Dylan was tying Carlos up, you were lying there stark naked and unconscious. Rosa knew what was going on but she was tied up as well.’

‘That’s right,’ Emily nodded. ‘As soon as Dylan restrained Carlos - and by the way, Di, he kicked the shit out him while he was doing it, I doubt Carlos has any ribs left intact - he freed Rosa and she put my underwear back on. Then Dylan helped her dress me. They were hoping I’d never find out.’

‘What about me?’ Diane leaned forward slightly. ‘Did he do anything to me?’

‘He licked your face and touched you all over, but he didn’t take off any of your clothes. He was telling me all the things he was going to do even though I was unconscious. I guess he was trying to wind Rosa and Dylan up as much as possible. He was lucky Dylan didn’t shoot him in the head. Why do you think he restrained himself? He was as mad as a bull. You should have seen him going at Philip.’

‘I don’t know,’ Diane frowned thoughtfully. ‘But something tells me Carlos won’t live to see another Christmas.’

‘Really?’ Emily instantly perked up. ‘Do you think they have plans for him?’

‘We had better not discuss it,’ Diane decreed firmly. ‘Suffice to say, if Carlos touched Rosa, it’s safe to assume he will live to regret it because Keith will have his pound of flesh. The best thing we can do is sit tight and act innocent when we hear about it on the news. Maybe even try to look a little shocked.’

Emily smiled through her tearstains. ‘Good plan. I’d feel a lot better if he was neutralised. What a sleaze. I feel sick every time I think about it. I was hysterical last night. Poor Deco didn’t know what to do with me.’

‘He seems to have solved that problem by banging your brains out,’ Diane remarked drily. ‘What the hell was he thinking, showing you the recording anyway? He must have known how much it would upset you.’

‘I made him show me,’ Emily hunched her shoulders defensively. ‘He was behaving very strangely, and when I asked him what was wrong, he started crying.’

‘Deco cried?’ Diane sat up a bit straighter. ‘He hasn’t cried since the time he broke his wrist when he was ten.’

‘He’s been bottling it all up for a week. It was a terrible day for the boys, and Deco can’t really talk to anyone about it. When he saw me, it sort of sent him over the edge.’

‘Why can’t he talk to Josh?’

‘Josh hasn’t been himself for the past few days,’ Emily shifted uncomfortably. ‘He’s withdrawn into himself and he’s...’

‘He’s what?’ Diane leaned forward. ‘What the hell has he done, Em?’

‘He’s shaved his head,’ her friend replied sadly. ‘And all his facial hair, even his cute little moustache and goatee. All his piercings have gone as well and... ’

‘What?’ Diane gripped the duvet cover as a feeling of dread crept over her.

‘He bought a set of blue contact lenses,’ Emily brushed away a tear. ‘He says brown eyes make a person look soft. He even turned Shelly down, that’s how bad he is.’

‘Shelly?’ Diane looked shocked. ‘Shelly was all set to do the dance with no pants with Joshie?’

‘She thought it might cheer him up,’ Emily nodded miserably. ‘He told her he has bad blood running through his veins and is no good for any woman. Then he thanked her politely and sent her away. None of the lads can get over it. I guess you know he’s changing his name to Lyle by deed poll? It hardly takes any time at all. Your mum arranged for him to see her solicitors.’

‘I never thought about doing that,’ Diane said slowly. ‘It’s not a bad idea. I wouldn’t want us to have different names. I can’t believe this is happening. This time last week we were looking forward to viewing the house. It was only a week ago, wasn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ Emily nodded. ‘Your dad was buried on Wednesday, do you remember?’

‘No,’ Diane shook her head. ‘I guess somebody must have told me, but it’s all a blur. Did I miss anything else?’

‘Rosa pretty much lives here now. Roy had severe bruising and lacerations to his head and chest, but he’s feeling much better and he’s back at work. Dean was cremated yesterday in a private ceremony. Luckily for the family he has left, the press didn’t take much interest in it. Megan wasn’t very happy because she was refused permission to attend. She’s incarcerated in the Dochás centre at Mountjoy.

‘She jumped bail on the Met so they’re not best pleased, although they’re happy for her to stand trial here. The chances of her getting bail are slim because she’s a major flight risk. The same goes for her brother. Viv is due to be cremated on Monday, and your ma is totes freaked out. Amy is refusing to come over from France, but your ma thinks she’ll regret it later if she doesn’t say a proper goodbye. She was seriously considering going herself, but changed her mind after she saw the media circus you da’s funeral became.’

‘How do you know all this?’ Diane was looking bemused at the onslaught of information.

‘Deco told me. He’s in with all the guys.’

‘Did he tell you before or after he nailed you?’ Diane enquired slyly.

‘It was while we were in bed,’ Emily blushed. ‘We were both really upset and we started kissing and one thing led to another and we ended up in bed. I’ve just told you the pillow talk.’

‘What was it like?’ Diane enquired curiously. ‘Was he any good?’

‘Yep,’ Emily replied airily, and looked as if she might not say any more.

‘Did you derive any satisfaction from the interaction?’ Diane teased.

‘Yes,’ Emily said shortly.

Diane regarded her friend levelly. ‘Emily Duncan,’ she said sharply. ‘Are you seriously telling me that Derek Moynihan made you come?’

‘Twice,’ Emily coughed and blushed. ‘He’s super-thorough. Truth be told, I was shocked myself.’

Diane literally bounced in the bed. ‘I do not believe this,’ she cried. You had a Timberdick moment.’

‘Please don’t say such things, Di,’ her friend begged. ‘I’m freaking out here.’

‘My bad,’ Di did her best to look serious. ‘So how did you leave things?’

‘That’s why I came to see you,’ Emily hung her head. ‘After all the sex and pillow talk and everything, I had to go home because I knew my parents would be fretting. Deco walked me down to the car park and that’s when he got all weird and started saying stuff about us being together.’

‘Merciful Jesus,’ Diane gasped. ‘He asked you to be his girlfriend.’

‘Exactly,’ Emily nodded miserably. ‘I didn’t know where to put myself, Di. I know I led him on by having sex with him, but I didn’t expect him to take it as a sign we’re going to have a great romance. Can you imagine me and Deco as a couple?’

‘Absolutely not,’ Diane said firmly. ‘What did you tell him?’

‘I said I’d sleep on it and then I jumped into the car and took off,’ Emily said guiltily. ‘After everything that happened last night...’

‘And the two orgasms,’ Diane interrupted.

‘Yes,’ Emily looked shamefaced. ‘I didn’t have the heart to upset him, so I bottled it and ran. I have to face him this morning, Di. He’ll be here soon and I can’t put it off. I have to be honest with him and tell him I’m not interested in a relationship.’

‘Deco and Josh are on the way over?’

‘They’ll be here in an hour,’ Emily nodded sorrowfully. ‘I feel like such a bitch. I won’t get through this without you, Di. I know I’m self-absorbed, but I can’t face him without your support. Please get out of bed and help me through this.’

Diane’s face tightened with suspicion. ‘Is there something you’re not telling me?’ she enquired in a tight voice.

‘Deco didn’t just ask me to be his girlfriend,’ Emily confessed in a voice full of self-loathing. ‘He says he loves me.’

Diane grabbed a handful of duvet and flung it back. ‘Girl, you are in so much trouble,’ she said, as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. ‘Josh will probably blame me for this, the blue eyed baldly fecker. Will I wear jeans?’

‘I’ll find you an outfit,’ Emily leaped to her feet in delight. ‘A dress will cheer you up. Hop in the shower and wash your hair. I’ll style it for you and slap on a bit of makeup. You don’t want them all to see you with a snow-white face and lanky hair.’

‘Am I in a hideous state?’ Diane frowned.

Emily put an arm around her friend and pulled her tiny frame against her own.

‘You’ve been through a nightmare,’ she said kindly. ‘It would be strange if you looked like a beauty pageant contestant. Don’t worry, I’ll make you presentable.’

‘You’re super-brave, Ems,’ Diane told her as she jogged to the en-suite. ‘That video of creepy Carlos must have made scary viewing. And then you saw Deco naked.’ She switched on the shower.

‘I refuse to allow one douchebag rapist to ruin my life,’ Emily called in response. Then she pulled open the doors to the wardrobe and began to rummage through it. ‘And for your information, Deco has an incredibly fit body.’

Diane did not hear her friend, as she was too busy scrubbing her hair and mulling over her brother’s decision to change his name.