Storm and Stone (28 page)

‘Raven?’ Joe called.

She swung round.

He appeared to be having a moment of clarity. ‘I don’t think he’s here.’

‘What?’

Joe dropped Hedda’s arm and sank down on a stone step. ‘I’m not feeling great. I’m confused. He said something to me last time we met but … ’

Hedda hauled Joe back to his feet. ‘C’mon Joe. You need to get inside. You weren’t ready to come back so soon. You’ve hardly started the treatment—you need more help. When I was on the course I remember feeling happy and relaxed in the first week, not like this.’

‘Joe, where’s Kieran?’

‘Ignore her—she’s just white noise, remember? Block her out.’ Hedda managed to get Joe to stumble a few steps.

‘Minute. Something wrong. Yeah.’ A memory flickered across his face. ‘No wait, what … he’s not good, Raven.’

‘That’s enough, Joe. You’ve had too much to drink.’

Hard to do as alcohol was banned. ‘Let him speak, Hedda.’

‘He’s said enough. Joe, you’re going inside.’

‘Get away from him.’ Raven tugged Hedda’s arm, squashing her corsage.

Hedda swung her purse at Raven. ‘Leave him alone. Why are you always making trouble?’

‘There will be if you don’t let him talk to me!’

‘Is there a problem here, ladies?’ Mrs Bain arrived in time to see Raven snatch Hedda’s evening bag and throw it in the bushes.

‘You’ve got to do something about her, Mrs Bain. She’s out of control!’ Hedda pointed an accusing finger at Raven. ‘She just stole my bag!’

‘I only want to speak with Joe!’ said Raven.

‘Joe’s not feeling well. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.’ Hedda circled Joe’s waist. ‘Hey, Joe, lean on me. We understand you’re not feeling yourself.’

‘Not myself,’ echoed Joe.

‘Take Mr Masters inside, Hedda.’

Toni ducked under Joe’s other arm and helped Hedda lead him in. Raven tried to follow.

‘Oh no, you don’t.’ Mrs Bain stood in her path.

‘But I have a ticket.’

‘And I have just rescinded that ticket. You are not to set foot inside.’

If Raven thought she could get away with tackling the head teacher, she would have been delighted to give it a go. ‘I have a date.’

‘With whom? I’ll tell him you are unable to come.’

‘Kieran Storm.’

‘That’s all right then. Mr Storm is unwell. He isn’t here.’

‘Toni said he was.’ Raven wanted to scream. She tried to see past Mrs Bain but she couldn’t spot Kieran anywhere in the crowds gathering to watch their confrontation.

‘She was mistaken.’

‘And Joe’s “unwell” too. Don’t you find that strange?’

‘There must be something going around the manor.’

Raven wondered if she could sprint past the head teacher and go ask Joe a few more questions. She tensed, ready to make a try.

Mrs Bain blocked the path. ‘Don’t even think of it. Go back to the cottage and pack your bags. I don’t want to see you on my school premises ever again, Miss Stone. Your behaviour is a disgrace—picking a fight with other girls, stealing from them, bag snatching. You were a poor bet when I graciously took you on after your last school threw you out.’ That wasn’t how it had gone down but Mrs Bain was clearly OK with rewriting history too. ‘You’re lucky I’m not calling the police.’

Raven folded her arms to stop her from shivering. ‘I wish you would.’

‘Would what?’

‘Call the police. I think something really sick is going on and you know what it is.’

‘You have until tomorrow morning to get off Westron land. I’ll tell your grandfather he must find somewhere else for you immediately.’

‘You’re all heart, Mrs Bain. I’m sure the local paper would love to hear about this. I think I’ll send them a photo—the dress,’ she picked up the skirt, ‘that’d make a good image. Old hag headmistress chucks out orphan for trying to go to the ball. I can see them running with that.’

Mrs Bain took a step towards her and grabbed her upper arm. ‘If you so much as breathe a word to anyone, then I will make it my priority to destroy both you and your grandfather. He can kiss goodbye to his pension and you your future in any place of education. All I have to do is share your school record and you’d be sunk—drugs, sexual misconduct, thieving—yes, I think that covers it.’

Raven curled her nails into her palms. ‘You can’t do that. None of it’s true.’

‘Just watch me. Now get out of here before I call my security team.’ Mrs Bain pointed Raven firmly towards the cottage. ‘I don’t want to see either you or that trashy red dress again.’

Raven put the corsage in the fridge to preserve the roses, stripped off the red dress and put it back on the hanger. It hadn’t been trashy; it had been fabulous. But without Kieran to see her in it, what was the point? Needing comfort clothes, she pulled on a pair of black leggings and a long jumper. Maybe Mrs Bain was doing her a favour stopping her going to the prom? She would have been a wallflower all evening without her date. Not that stupid things like that mattered when Joe was acting really weird and Kieran was a no show.

OK, Raven, what now?
She paced the kitchen, unable to decide the most effective course of action. She had her marching orders but she didn’t care about that. Mrs Bain could kick her out tomorrow, broadcast the lies about her, but tonight, Raven had to get to the bottom of what had happened to Kieran. Her future didn’t matter if his was in jeopardy. Joe was incoherent and barricaded in by her enemies; Kieran wasn’t answering any texts or calls. That left the mysterious Isaac. Kieran had given her instructions to phone him only in an emergency. He had meant if she was in trouble, but Raven was more than happy to reinterpret the orders to apply to the situation she now faced.

She took out her phone and selected the contact. Her thumb hovered. It felt strange calling a complete stranger, but still … She pressed the green button.

‘Hampton here. Who is this?’

‘Is that Isaac?’ Feeling really awkward, Raven stirred the crumbs by the toaster that sat on the kitchen counter.

‘Isaac Hampton, yes. Who is this and how did you get my number?’

‘Mr Hampton, my name is Raven Stone.’

‘Let me guess: Kieran gave you my mobile number.’

‘Yes.’

She thought she heard him sigh. ‘What can I do for you, Miss Stone?’

‘You are some kind of guardian to Kieran, is that right? His godfather.’

‘Correct, but I’m afraid I can’t share any personal details about him if that is why you are calling.’

‘No, no, it’s just that I’m really worried about him—and Joe.’

‘Why would that be? I’ve heard from Joe regularly this week. He and Kieran have been on a course. I thought you would know that, even if Kieran has cut contact with you since you and he split up.’

‘Yes but … but we didn’t really split for long. It’s kinda confusing but we were in touch at the beginning of the week—in touch a lot. You know, texting, that sort of thing.’

‘He didn’t end his relationship with you?’ Isaac’s tone was ice.

‘We made up. He was sending me texts then nothing. And Joe’s not OK either. You wouldn’t say he was if you’d seen him tonight, sir. Joe’s really weird. It’s like he’s drunk or ill.’

‘He’s at Westron?’

‘Yes, he’s come back for the prom. And Kieran was supposed to be here too but he didn’t show up. He didn’t send word and I was his date.’

‘I see.’ She could hear a pen tapping in the background. No prizes for guessing that Isaac really didn’t approve of her.

‘Are you near Joe at the moment, Miss Stone, so I can have a word?’ Clearly he didn’t trust her.

‘I’m afraid not. I’ve been chucked off school premises. Mrs Bain is keeping me away from the other students. Look, sir, I don’t know what Joe told you but I think he hasn’t seen Kieran for days. He was upset when I pressed him for details and seemed to remember something and he said Kieran was “not good”.’

‘Thank you, Miss Stone. You’ve been really helpful.’

Raven clenched her fist on the counter. ‘Is that it? Aren’t you going to do something? I think this situation’s out of control.’

‘I hear you.’

‘But you’re not listening. Can’t you understand? I’m trying to tell you I think Kieran might be in danger. I know there’s some arrangement between you—some job he’s doing for you. It’s gone wrong and I’m worried.’

‘Contrary to your assertion, I do understand.’ His voice was like a whip crack warning her she had gone too far with the sass. ‘But your part in this is over. I’ll take it from here.’

‘With respect, sir, screw that. I’m going over to the manor and demanding to see Kieran. I can’t go to bed trusting that you’ll fix it. I don’t even know you and it was you who sent him on that course.’

She was certain he sighed this time. ‘You’re committed to this course of action, are you?’

‘Yes. I’m heading out right now. I was just phoning you as a courtesy.’

‘And how are you going to get there?’

‘Bike.’

‘Motorbike?’

‘No, bicycle.’ She felt foolish announcing she was going off on her rescue mission under pedal power. So lame, but she was hardly James Bond.

‘Then all I ask is that you wait for me by the entrance to the manor. I can be there in forty-five minutes. Is that acceptable to you?’

‘You’re close by?’

‘I have a helicopter at my disposal.’

She gave a hollow laugh. ‘Of course you do.’

‘I’ll see you in forty-five minutes. Do not go in on your own. I’ll call when I land. I’ll put down nearby and make my way from there. Do you give me your word you will follow my instructions?’

Raven frowned. ‘And if I don’t?’

‘I’ll tell Mrs Bain what you are planning to do. I’d prefer to know that you are out of the way, not running blind into danger, even if it’s her doing the restraining.’

‘Mr Hampton, you are a pain in the butt.’

‘If we’re working together, it’s Isaac. Or Colonel Hampton if you prefer.’

She was reserving judgement about how friendly she was going to be towards him until she met him. ‘I give my word, Colonel Hampton.’

‘Thank you. Wear black.’ He ended the call.

What kind of man has a helicopter? A useful one. Raven dug out a black denim jacket from the back of her wardrobe. Finding a set of lights for her bike, she started the long ride to the manor. It was much closer as the crow flies but she had to go round by the roads, not much fun in the long June twilight. The slog up Windmill Hill gave her plenty of opportunity to wonder if she was doing the right thing. She felt a bit more positive as she freewheeled down the other side. Kieran seemed to trust Isaac implicitly. She just had to hope this wasn’t another trap and that Isaac wasn’t involved in the madness going on at the manor and Westron.

Pedalling the last mile to the entrance, Raven thought how different she had imagined this evening was going to be. She had had dreams of whirling around the dance floor with Kieran, amazing all those who despised her with their elegance. No chance of that now.

By the gates to the manor, Raven stashed her bike under a bush just off the verge. She sat down to wait, watching the road. There was very little traffic. No one came or went to the manor and the other cars sped by without noticing her. She checked the time. Thirty-five minutes had passed since the call. She thought she had heard the throb of a helicopter a few minutes ago but had seen nothing overhead. Her impulsive side was shouting at her to get going, stop hanging around, and go find Kieran. Only the fact that she had given her word kept her seated.

The touch on her shoulder made her almost jump out of her skin.

‘Miss Stone?’ Isaac was standing a few feet behind her. He had come out of the darkness without a sound. ‘Sorry to startle you.’

Raven got up and brushed off the seat of her leggings. ‘No you’re not.’ She held out her hand. ‘I imagine you make a habit of it.’

‘Tough cookie, aren’t you?’ He shook her hand with a firm grip.

‘Try to be.’

‘Military father?’

How did he know that? ‘And one iron lady of a mother.’

He smiled at that. ‘OK. Let’s do this.’ He pulled on a pair of black gloves.

‘Do what?’

‘I thought you’d already decided to break in.’

‘But with you as Kieran’s godfather, can’t we just walk up and knock?’

‘I agree with your analysis that something sinister’s happening. If we declare our hand like that, I believe we won’t get to see him. I am not minded to ask.’

‘I’m with you there.’

‘The manor has surveillance but there’re gaps we can use. We’re going in over the fence a hundred metres that way and then I want you to follow me closely, doing everything I do.’ He began walking away from the gates.

‘How do you know this?’

‘We’ve studied this place for some time.’

‘We?’

‘My team. Kieran and Joe are inside because we believe there is something criminal happening here. They were collecting evidence for me.’

‘I was right then. You send your own boys to do your dirty work?’ She was rapidly deciding she didn’t like this man very much at all. ‘Why not do it yourself?’

‘It’s their job, Miss Stone. They work for me. There was not supposed to be any significant danger involved in this task.’

‘Got that wrong, didn’t you?’