Dark Heart Surrender (14 page)

Luca looked shocked and paler than ever.

‘People say things,’ he said quietly. ‘When they’re upset they just want someone to blame.’

‘But it’s outrageous. Ade has told her a pack of lies.’

‘I don’t know. Maybe he does see me as hostile.’ Luca looked defeated.

‘But he provoked you all night.’

‘Yes.’ Luca hesitated, before turning to look me in the eyes. ‘But the truth is that from the moment I saw him I felt this aggression, this defensiveness. He didn’t need to open his mouth. It was already there.’

‘Oh.’ I stared back at him. ‘Well, maybe your senses told you he was a jerk. And you were right.’

‘No. It was more than that. It was deeper. It was … animal, almost.’

‘Animal instinct,’ I murmured.

‘I don’t trust myself around him. What I am capable of … Things I don’t even realize I am doing.’

‘What are you trying to say, Luca? Are you saying you did have something to do with Pete’s accident and you just kind of forgot about it until now?’

His eyes were heavy when he answered. ‘Honestly … I don’t know.’

‘T
here’s post.’ Mrs Jonas appeared in the kitchen doorway. ‘Mostly junk and bills, but there’s one for you, Luca.’ She handed him a formal-looking white envelope.

‘Thanks.’ Luca took it, confused. ‘I’ve never received post before – well, not here anyway.’

She smiled, dumping the rest of the letters on the table and looking up at the clock. ‘I have to run, I have some errands to see to. Jack is away all day. Can you make sure you lock up before you go into work?’

‘Of course. I am not sure whether I’ll be going in to work, anyway,’ he told her, the events of the day before – at the hospital – still fresh in his mind.

‘I’m sure Pete will need things doing. How was he when you looked in yesterday?’

Luca hesitated. He and Jane had decided not to say anything when they’d got back to the house. The subject had run dry between them. They had been lost in their own thoughts. A little shocked.

‘He’s fine,’ Luca lied to her now, not wanting to get into it. ‘I’m going back in again today.’ He smiled weakly, frankly not sure what he would find if he did go there. ‘He could be home soon.’

‘That’s great.’ Anna picked up her bag and her keys. ‘Give him my best when you see him.’

The door slammed behind her and Luca was left alone in the house, the envelope still in his hands. He forced himself to open it.

Luca

Given the circumstances, we feel it is best that you do not continue to work at Pete’s yard. If his condition deteriorates further we will be seeking legal advice on closing down the business and possibly a private sale.

In addition, we will be seeking advice on investigation into any part you played in Pete’s accident. If the accident proves to be fatal, you realize the consequences for you will be serious.

In the meantime, please post your keys through the yard door.

I will be in touch in due course.

Lydia Ellis (Henshaw)

Luca felt strangely relieved and heavy-hearted at the same time. He didn’t ever have to go back to that place. But he was also being accused of something he would never do. Not if he were in his right mind, anyway.

He looked at the phone, desperately wanting to talk to Jane, but thinking it was better not to drop this news on her when she was at college. It was tricky enough for her there as it was.

Instead he had a long bath, trying to empty his mind, listening to the soothing sounds of the trees rustling and the birds outside. When he dressed afterwards something fell out of the pockets of his jeans as he pulled them on.

It was the small plastic bag, with the necklace still inside it. He crouched, holding it in his hand, and all the good work that the bath had done disappeared.

The necklace. The sounds in the hut. Pete’s accident … and Ade’s intent on proving him guilty somehow. It was all connected. He was sure of that.

But it was Luca’s words – his unique sense of danger – against Ade’s accusations. It didn’t look good for him. The only person who believed in him, who knew he wasn’t capable of deliberately and maliciously hurting anyone or anything, was Jane.

Unless Ade worked his sinister magic on her, too.

I
 was determined to keep it together at college. Keep my head down and concentrate on getting on with what I was there for – my coursework. I just hoped Polly would be off, on compassionate leave or whatever. She was the last person I wanted to face.

As soon as I arrived I made a beeline for Ashley and Emma, who were chatting by their lockers.

I poked Emma in the back.

‘Hey,’ I said. ‘Long time no see.’

They both turned around.

‘Hey! We thought you’d dropped us,’ said Ashley good-naturedly. ‘You’ve been distant lately.’ She put her hand on my arm. ‘Is everything OK?’

‘Of course,’ I said brightly. ‘And I’m sorry. I kind of got caught up in my own stuff and Mrs Connelly keeps on at me about my mentoring.’ I shook my head. ‘I think it all got a bit much.’

‘No probs.’ Ashley closed her locker and ran a hand through her hair. ‘But we heard you fainted.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘We were worried.’

‘Stress, I think.’ My tone was dismissive. ‘But enough about me. What’s been happening with you two? Any gossip to report?’

Ashley and Emma exchanged a secretive look.

‘Spill,’ I said sternly.

‘Ashley’s got a boyfriend,’ said Polly.

‘Really? Who?’ My eyes flew from one twin to the other. ‘Anyone I know?’

‘Well, yeah,’ Ashley said coyly. ‘It’s Ade.’

My mouth hung open for a few seconds, before I recovered. ‘But, I thought …’

‘Yeah. He was a pig that night. But he explained that he gets nervous and it comes over as … like … just a bit rude. But he doesn’t mean to be. And honestly, he’s been so amazing. Treating me like a princess.’ Ashley’s cheeks were flushed with excitement. ‘I think I’m in love.’ She stopped talking and both girls looked at me expectantly.

‘That’s great.’ I fought to hide my shock. ‘I’m glad he’s treating you well. So he should.’

Ashley smiled. ‘Thanks for hooking us up. I know it didn’t seem like such a good idea on our first date. But you know, I’m hoping we can spend time with you and Luca again. Ade really wants to get to know him better.’

‘Really?’ This time I couldn’t stop my eyes narrowing. ‘Is that so?’

Ashley stopped fiddling with her hair and crossed her arms over her chest. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Well, if Ade wants to be friends with Luca, he’s got a funny way of showing it.’ I sighed. I really hadn’t wanted to think about the odious Ade today, but I wasn’t going to let him pull the wool over Ashley’s eyes.

‘Look.’ Ashley glanced quickly at Emma. ‘I like Luca and all. But you know he is kind of intense and moody.’

‘He’s not—’ I stopped. Hadn’t I heard Dot say exactly the same thing the day before? ‘He doesn’t mean to be like that. He’s just serious. And thoughtful.’ I tried to smile at Ashley. ‘He’s a very good person.’

‘If you say so.’ Ashley looked at her watch. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘Me too,’ Emma said, looking uncomfortable. ‘It was nice seeing you, Jane.’

‘You too.’ I tried to make eye contact with Ashley but she was avoiding it. I pushed my bag higher on my shoulder instead and exhaled. ‘Well, let’s do something. The three of us. A movie, or—’

‘Cool,’ said Emma, biting her lip awkwardly.

‘Yeah, cool,’ Ashley echoed, brushing past me. ‘If you can get down off your moral high ground, that is.’

‘Ashley!’ But she already had her back to me, linking arms with her sister, on her way to her next class.

I watched them walk away for a few seconds, before I moved towards my locker, robotically unlocking it and taking out some books. It felt like everything I thought was right was wrong.

Was Luca wrong too?

I sat through Art barely taking anything in. I couldn’t get rid of the heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I drifted zombie-like to History, only coming to when my phone rang from my pocket.

‘Hey.’ It was Luca. ‘How are you doing?’

I glanced at the crowd of students squeezing through the door to the classroom and turned away from them, retracing my steps down the corridor. ‘You know … a little shaken up from yesterday and tired. But I guess I’m OK.’

‘You seem weird,’ he said, and he sounded anxious. ‘Are you freaked out?’

‘I’m not freaked out, exactly. It’s just so unfair, what Ade said yesterday. And it looks like he’s got Ashley in his thrall now too.’

‘What do you mean?’ Luca’s voice sounded tight.

‘Well, they’re going out.’ I sat down on one of the benches that lined the corridor wall. ‘He’s worked his magic on her somehow.’ As I said it I realized how appropriate that word was. Magic. Though good or bad, I didn’t know any more.

‘That’s disappointing,’ Luca said mildly. ‘Let’s hope he messes up and she dumps him.’

‘She seems really happy,’ I said, frowning at the sight of a familiar figure chatting to somebody at the other end of the corridor. ‘I suppose that’s a good thing.’

‘Listen,’ said Luca. ‘I have bad news.’

‘What?’ I tore my eyes away from Polly. ‘What’s happened?’

‘I got a letter this morning from Lydia Ellis. You know, Pete’s daughter. A very formal letter telling me that my services were no longer required at Pete’s yard.’

‘Oh no.’ I screwed up my face in sympathy. ‘I’m sorry, Luca. That’s so unjust.’

‘Yes. Though I suppose it makes sense in a way, seeing as Pete’s … well, that he’s not there.’ Luca’s voice seemed to be getting smaller. ‘But that’s not the bad news.’

‘OK.’ I hunched over. ‘Well, what is it?’

‘If Pete doesn’t recover … they’re going to have me investigated over his accident,’ went on Luca. ‘They’ve obviously fallen for Ade’s pack of lies.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ I said, raising my voice. ‘They have absolutely no proof!’

‘I have a feeling they’ll find some,’ Luca said dully. ‘I wouldn’t put it past Ade to rustle that up too.’

‘Oh God, Luca. This is awful,’ I moaned. ‘But you’re innocent. I know that, anyone who has any sense knows that.’

There was a few seconds of silence before Luca spoke again.

‘I don’t know any more, Jane,’ he told me quietly. ‘I just don’t know.’

‘Listen. I’m going to bunk class and come home,’ I told him. ‘I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

‘I don’t want you to miss school because of this,’ he said firmly. ‘Honestly. I’ll be fine. One of us should carry on as normal. I’ll see you later.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Absolutely,’ he said. ‘And, Jane, we’ll get this sorted out. One way or another we will.’

‘I know.’ I sounded a lot more convinced than I felt. ‘Well, I’ll see you later then.’

As I ended the call, I saw biker boots rooted in place in front of me, and long legs encased in dark-grey leggings that led to a leather micro-mini skirt.

I forced myself to look at Polly and saw the familiar supercilious expression on her face.

‘Trouble in paradise?’ she asked sweetly, swinging her bag girlishly.

‘No,’ I shrugged, getting up. ‘I’m late for my class, excuse me.’

‘What’s the matter, Jane? Are you wondering if you can trust your boyfriend?’ She opened her eyes wide and innocent. ‘Isn’t it awful when people you thought you could count on turn out to be so untrustworthy?’

‘Well, you’re in a better position to judge that than me,’ I told her. ‘I mean, you trusted your real parents, didn’t you, and look what happened to them.’ It was a nasty thing to say, but I felt no guilt, not even when I saw Polly’s face darken.

‘You have no idea what you’re talking about,’ she spat in a low voice.

‘That’s true. But something made you like this.’ I shook my head. ‘This malicious. What has Luca ever done to you and your brother?’

Polly’s face brightened alarmingly. ‘I feel sorry for you,’ she whispered. ‘You’re in way over your head.’ She smiled nastily. ‘If you really want to know the truth, then ask your boyfriend.’ She stepped aside and I moved past her; my whole body was shaking and that familiar foggy feeling was coming down over my senses.

‘Just ask yourself who it really is you’re involved with.’ Then she added, ‘When you think about it, you have no idea what Luca is capable of, do you?’

‘I know enough.’ I stopped, gripping my bag handle too tightly, as though I were trying to hold on to it and not be swept away. ‘And he is good and strong – and he doesn’t bear grudges.’

‘Uh-huh. I think you’re finally getting somewhere.’ Her tone was so annoying it was all I could do to force myself to walk on. ‘If you try really, really hard, your poor mortal brain will figure it all out – eventually.’