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Adele watched in alarm as the dark-haired girl collapsed after making her speech. Nick helped carry her away. Who was she? The scruffy latecomer rushed forwards to join them. Moments later, Jordan was back on the dais, introducing the next speaker. Adele reached for her phone and flicked a text to Nick.
Hi Nick. Saw your friend collapse. Is everything ok? Can I help?
There was no reply, but he was probably busy. She lifted her head to see Karl squeezing into a gap next to her. “Hey,” she said. “Did you see that girl down there with Nick?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s Lara’s friend. The one I met at the station that night. Nick said she used to work for TM-Tech. She must have been here then.”
“Poor thing. She didn’t look good.”
Karl and Adele looked at each other and spoke together.
“Do you—”
“Should we—”
Adele chuckled. “You go first.”
He ducked his head. “I wondered if you fancied going out after we’re finished here.”
“Yes. Definitely. It’s very serious here. Too many unhappy people in one place. How about we go somewhere lively and noisy, and get wasted?”
“Yeah.” He grinned back at her. “Sounds like a plan.”
They watched Marcus Reeve and Thaddeus Merrill take the stage and speak a few words each, then Jordan announced there was a buffet and a bar in the main conference room.
Adele touched Karl’s hand to get his attention. “Let’s get out of here.”
There had been too much upset today. Too much grief. Adele felt the need to breathe fresh air and celebrate the fact that she was still alive, and Karl said he felt the same.
They stopped to say hello to Marcus on the way out, and he asked if he could have a quick word with her. Karl went to speak to one of his colleagues, and Adele stepped into a meeting room with Marcus.
“This is a little awkward.” His relaxed posture suggested it was anything but. “We’re having a reshuffle in Houston, and there’s a new position coming up. I’d like you to take it.”
“Why is that awkward?”
“We want to fill it quickly, and it would mean your coming back to the U.S. just after Christmas. I know you planned to be here until the end of September.”
She digested this information. “Have you mentioned it to Jordan?”
“Yes. He’d be sorry to see you go, but wouldn’t stand in your way. The new role is Global Brand Manager. You’re an ideal candidate, but how would you feel about moving back so soon?”
It sounded fantastic. “I’m interested. Very much so. What happens next? How do I apply?”
He smiled, brilliant white teeth gleaming in his handsome tanned face. He looked like a Californian surfer, with over-long shaggy, blond hair and golden skin. “Thaddeus has already approved the new position, so the paperwork is a formality. I’ll give you the full job spec when I have it, but I won’t hold you to the role until you’ve seen that. Until then, keep quiet about it, please.”
She nodded, excitement unfurling inside her. “Thanks, Marcus. It’s a great opportunity.”
He shrugged. “You’re our first choice for the role. Jordan is used to me poaching his best people. He nabbed you for this role, and I’m claiming you back.”
Adele had to laugh at the idea of these two high-powered movers and shakers arguing over their staff. They shook hands, she promised to have a coffee with him before he flew back to Houston, and then she went in search of Karl.
She found him chatting to some people in the foyer while he waited for her. “Come on.” Adele smiled at him and reached out to take his hand. His eyes widened, but after a moment’s hesitation, he tangled her fingers with his. Thoughts of the promotion swirled in her head. What an unexpected surprise to round off such a sombre day. It was a shame she couldn’t share the news with Karl, but she could certainly celebrate with him.
****
Nick dropped the others at the main entrance to A&E, and then went to find a parking space. By the time he got back, Lara waited for him in a state of anxiety.
“They’re examining her now. Alex is with her, and because he knows so much about the drugs, they think he gave them to her.”
“That’s crazy.” Nick held her. “Where do we go now? Is there somewhere we sit and wait?”
Lara led him to a corridor with hard plastic chairs along one wall. “They’re in that cubicle.” She pointed to a curtained-off area. “All we can do is wait.
Nick’s phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a text from Adele. He showed it to Lara, and then tapped out a quick reply.
I’m at the hospital now with Lara. Waiting to hear if Sylvie is OK. Thanks.
Adele’s reply was quick.
Sylvie – is that Lara’s friend? Sorry to hear. K & I are leaving now. Let me know if we can do anything.
Jordan arrived soon after and joined them in the corridor. They talked about the service, but mainly waited for Alex to reappear. Lara went to the bathroom. Jordan went outside to phone Kate. They regrouped and waited some more
When Alex emerged from the cubicle, he looked dreadful. A faint smile flickered across his face, but it was touch and go.
“Come here.” Lara wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.
He looked surprised, but then returned the gesture. “Thanks,” he said, his voice low.
Jordan ushered Alex to sit and stood behind him, a hand on his shoulder. “What can you tell us?” he asked.
“She’s overloaded on amphetamines. They wanted to know how many she’d had and how long she’d been taking them. I couldn’t tell them anything.” He paused, his face a picture of pain. “I knew from Lara that she’d had two capsules this morning, but that wouldn’t have put her in shock to this extent, so she’s obviously had more. They’re sedating her now. They’ve injected a barbiturate to slow down her body’s responses, and they’ve put her on a saline drip. It doesn’t look as though she’s been eating properly, and she’s very dehydrated.” He ran his hands across his face. “All they can tell me is that we need to wait for her to wake up when the sedative wears off. Six to eight hours. She’s going to move to a private room in a few minutes. They’re just getting her ready to go.”
Nick glanced at his watch. It was almost five.
Alex noticed and flapped his hands in a weary gesture. “You guys go home. There’s no point in you staying.” Nobody moved. Alex sighed. “I mean it. Go home.”
Nick shrugged. “We’re Sylvie’s friends. We’re going nowhere.”
Jordan leaned back against the wall, looking every inch in charge. “Sorry, pal. I’m staying. Someone’s got to keep an eye on you.”
This drew a smile. He looked at them and nodded. “What can I say? Thanks guys.” He stood and stepped up to Nick, holding out his hand. “I owe you. Your crazy dash here may well have saved her life. Thank you. If I can ever repay you, you have to tell me.”
****
There were several things Alex wanted to do, and they revolved around finding out who supplied Sylvie with the pills, and making them pay. It had to be Frankie, but he needed proof.
In the meantime, he had to hold himself together while he waited for the next eight hours to pass. And if he could spend the time in the company of others, it might help.
He took a deep breath, squashed down the murderous yearnings, and turned back to Nick and Lara. “So tell me, how did you meet Sylvie?”
Lara spoke first. “We worked together for a large IT company in the city. Nick worked there as well, but he left for TM-Tech soon after we started seeing each other. That would be... maybe four years ago?”
Nick picked up the story. “You came to work for TM-Tech a couple of years later, and then Sylvie joined us. We used to hang out together, and with her boyfriend at the time, Chris.” He chuckled “Do you remember that waster?”
Lara snorted. “He was a dick. Mister can’t-make-up-his-mind. I was so glad when she dumped him. Then she met Rico, and—well—you know the rest.”
Alex managed a smile. “You’ve known each other a while. I’d like to think we can be friends too.”
Nick grinned. “I thought we already were. Any friend of Sylvie’s is a friend of ours.”
“So,” Lara continued, “Sylvie and I worked together at TM-Tech all the time she was there. We used to go to the pub after work, meet up with Nick and Chris, and plan our futures. I’m pretty certain she never mentioned marrying a rock god though.”
“Her big dream was to drive across the U.S.A., coast to coast,” said Nick. “She was forever saving up, remember?”
Lara laughed softly. “Yes. Then she’d have a crisis of some sort and end up spending her savings. Like when we got the chance of tickets for Glastonbury.”
Nick’s cheerful face became serious. “We weren’t there on the day of the bombing, and when we saw it on the news, we rushed over to see if there was anything we could do.” He tugged Lara to her feet and coaxed her to sit on his knees.
Alex thought about the people who died that day and how close he came to losing Sylvie. He wished with all his heart that things were different—that she sat with him now, as opposed to fighting for her life on a hospital trolley.
He listened to Lara and Nick, tried to concentrate on what they were saying, and worked hard to block out the rising waves of panic that threatened to engulf him. Their chatter flowed around him, undemanding and distracting.
Sometime later, a porter arrived, and the nurse popped her head out of the cubicle. “We’re moving her now, Mr. Hamilton.”
Alex leapt to his feet. The others joined him, and they followed the trolley through a series of corridors and up several floors in the lift. Alex walked alongside Sylvie, unable to take his gaze off her pale face and the two spots of bright colour on her cheeks. He wanted to hold her, but one hand had a drip running into the back, while the other was tucked away out of sight.
Jordan stayed at his side, quiet and reassuring, a steadying presence if Alex needed him. Alex reflected on Sylvie’s friends as they moved through the hospital. He liked Lara, and despite his initial impressions of Nick, he liked him too. Everyone made mistakes, and as far as Alex was concerned, Nick had more than redeemed himself through his actions today.
When Sylvie was settled in her room, Alex took the seat next to her bed and finally held her hand. He was going nowhere until she woke up. However long it took.
****
Adele and Karl agreed they wanted to go clubbing, but only the two of them, rather than with a large crowd. After some soul-searching, Adele suggested they go back to the place with the mosh pit. She wanted to put a fresh and good memory in place of the bad one there with Jason. She also wanted to rescue her coat, if it was still in their cloakroom.
She went back to her apartment to get changed, and then they went for a curry together.
Dinner was good, and she relaxed. She had a new job offer to celebrate tonight, and Karl would keep her safe.
The club was dark and crowded, and the memories of the last time she was here tried to swamp her, but Karl took charge. He took her hand firmly in his, and led her to the bar, where he ordered two bottles of beer.
He toasted her with his drink. “To new memories.”
That worked. “New memories.” They delicately clinked the bottles together and drank. It was okay. She could do this. They danced and argued happily about music, and Adele almost enjoyed it. Baby steps.
The club filled, and soon punters were three deep at the bar. She was dancing with Karl, when something jogged her attention, and she faltered.
No, no, no, no, no.
That looked like Jason getting served.
It couldn’t be. The bastard was dead.
Adele froze, the blood turning to ice in her veins. She stared at the familiar profile. Was she mistaken?
Karl wrapped his arm around her. “Adele?” he asked, his voice urgent. “What’s the matter?”
She pointed towards the end of the bar.
“I saw Jason.”
“What?”
“Jason.” Her earlier bravado was gone. Adele wanted to curl up in a ball with her arms over her head. Either that or run in the opposite direction. Her feet didn’t get either message. They could have been stapled to the dancefloor, for all she could move.
Karl bounced on his toes. “Holy fuck. It’s him. He looks different. The sidies are gone. The goatee too.”
The other clubbers carried on dancing, as though nothing happened. To Adele, the world shifted beneath her feet. She didn’t imagine seeing him outside her apartment block. The fucker was alive. How?
Karl grabbed her hand and tugged. They pushed their way through the dancers and squeezed up to the bar. By the time they got there, he was gone. Fuck.
Apologising to the people in front of them, Karl shoved to the front of the line and tapped the barmaid on her arm. “The guy you were serving a minute ago—which way did he go? Cropped dark hair and black T-shirt.”
The bartender glared at him. “I’m not a bloody traffic warden. I didn’t see him.”
Adele squeezed next to Karl “Please. It’s really important that we find him. Have you seen him here before?”
The barmaid paused a moment, and then shrugged. “I’ve seen him before, but that’s all I can say. It gets busy in here. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” Adele hauled Karl back from the queue, and they found a seat close to the bar. She needed to feel his arms around her.
“How can this be possible?” Karl sounded as staggered as she felt. “Does he have a twin brother or something?”
She’d cling to any possibility that she was wrong, no matter how slim the chances were. Anything was better than thinking Jason was still alive. “We need a picture of him,” said Adele. “Something to show the bar staff. Where can we get one?”
“If you know someone who can connect to the TM-Tech network from home, they could text you his staff photo from the global directory.” Karl paused. “How about Nick?”
“Brilliant.” Adele leaned forwards and kissed Karl’s cheek. Nick was the perfect choice. His phone could have been surgically attached. The only time Adele had seen him without it was when they played squash.
She tapped the message and sent it.
Nick. URGENT! K & I are in the club with the mosh pit. We’re sure we saw Jason here a few mins ago. Can you pls log on to the TM-Tech network and text us his staff photo? We want to show it to the bar staff. Thx
****
Kate came to visit Sylvie. She hugged Alex fiercely and kissed his cheek. “Jon and Anita are at our apartment, and they’re looking after Poppy, with Daisy, your nanny.”
Shit. How did he manage to forget about Callum? What could he do? He couldn’t leave Sylvie. Panic loomed, but Kate squeezed his arm.
“Breathe,” she said. “It’s all under control. I know you’re supposed to pick up Callum tomorrow but I phoned your Social Worker to tell her Sylvie has been taken ill. She sent her best wishes and suggested that you give her a call this week, with a view to collecting Callum next weekend.” She paused, then said gently, “I took the number from the paperwork Sylvie had. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind? I’m stunned you thought of it. Kate, what have I done to deserve you all as friends?”
She smiled, gave him another squeeze, and pulled up a chair next to Lara.
Time passed. Alex dozed but never let go of Sylvie’s hand. Various people pressed cups of disgusting coffee into his other hand. He thought about phoning Frankie, but that could wait. Kate had also called Charlie and Mick, and passed a message to Frankie.
Jordan insisted that Kate go home, and walked her outside, to the taxi rank. Lara dozed in her chair, leaning against Nick. Alex watched her sleeping and remembered how Sylvie slept against his arm on the flight down to Heathrow. He wanted to have the chance to do that again, many times.
He needed Sylvie to get better. He had important things to tell her. How much he loved her. How stupid he was, to have turned away from her. How he wanted to get back together, if she’d still have him.
Sometime much later, Nick’s phone buzzed. He stared in astonishment at the screen, apologised to Lara for disturbing her, grabbed Jordan, and left the room.
****
At first Jordan couldn’t understand the garbled tale Nick was telling him. Lara and Adele both saw Jason Farnley? How? There had to be a rational explanation.
If anyone could find out more information, it would be Aiden Bradley.
Jordan found a quiet room where they used the speaker on his phone, so Nick could join the conversation. He agreed that Aiden would print a picture of Jason as he was when he died, then another with his goatee and sideburns removed. He’d text them to Jordan and Nick and also visit the club with hard copies. Nick would go with him, while Jordan stayed at the hospital with Lara and Alex.
Aiden’s next call would be to check with the police if there was any chance it wasn’t Jason who went under the train.