“It doesn’t matter about the money. We’ll soon build the business back up.”
“I can’t get time back though, Pete. Sion Edwards has cost our Tony his son. My brother will be a stranger to that little boy, by the time he gets out.”
Peter peered at his old uni pal over his expensive titanium frames.
“Then, what about the girl?”
What about the girl? He’d forgotten about her.
“Kevin told you that this Sion was smitten. Came every evening to see her. Was always asking her out. But she stayed.”
“Yeah. She’s still working in the pub.”
“Get on her socials. He might get in touch. He’s only got to make one mistake and you’ll have him.”
He’d obviously dumped her. Buggered off. Cut the rope. Still, Pete was right. Claire Williams was worth keeping an eye on.
And right now, she was the only link to Sion Edwards he’d got.
???
“Jase, mate!”
Jac embraced his friend, as both Claire and Annie stood behind him with their bags.
“This is Annie.”
Jason was dark-haired, tall; and he had an airline pilot’s air of calm authority that put her immediately at ease.
“Annie. Great to meet you at last.”
“Jac’s told me a lot about you.”
“All good things. Nothing incriminating, I promise,” Jac grinned. “And this is Claire.”
Jason embraced her too, his eyes hovering on her neck as he moved away.
Thankfully, she didn’t notice.
“You’re off travelling, I hear?”
“Yes,” Claire beamed, “Eurostar to Paris, day after next. This is my first time in London though, so while these two are gettin’ inked up, I’m gonna make the most of it and be a total tourist.”
“I’m off tomorrow. D’ya wanna guide? Free of charge?”
“That’d be great.”
Jac thought Jason’s two-bedroom flat was surprisingly spacious. And like him, he liked to keep it organised. Old military habits die hard.
Much to Claire’s embarrassment, Jason insisted that she take his bed, while he took the couch.
“But that’s not fair.”
“Believe me, I’ve slept in worse places. And doing a job like mine, you learn to sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. Any pillow.”
They spent a couple of hours in the pub around the corner. Chatting, Jason getting to know Annie and Claire.
It was a pity Sion wasn’t there too, Jac thought. But who could tell what would’ve happened with him and Claire? She rarely mentioned him now, and her life was about to open a new exciting chapter. She’d need to have her wits about her. But, she was a survivor, he could tell. Still, it was a shame about her and Sion. She would’ve been good for him. Her no-nonsense sparkiness suited him, somehow.
Later, they got a takeaway. The girls drank Prosecco, as Jac and Jason reminisced over a beer about their time in the military together.
Annie put down her chopsticks and pushed her bowl away. She sighed and loosened the top button of her jeans.
“This is my guilty pleasure.”
“I’m not gonna lie, if there’s one thing I miss about London, it’s the food. And I’ve eaten way too much of this.”
“Certainly beats airline grub,” Jason agreed.
“Must be so glamorous, though,” Claire added wistfully, “Flying everywhere. Seeing new places.”
“I see a lot of airports. And airport hotels. Sure, I do get to go to exotic places, but it’s not much fun on your own.”
Later on, Annie and Claire turned in and left the men to catch up. They sat on the sofas, both a little mellow, and Jason cracked open a bottle of malt whisky.
“So, what d’ya think?”
“The girls? They’re great.”
“No. You don’t need to tell me that, ya idiot. Annie’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I meant about Sion?”
Jason said nothing.
Jac shook his head as Jason poured them both a finger of the amber liquid.
“Just me in the dark, then?”
“He told me too.”
Claire spoke out from across the room.
“The night before he went.”
They both turned towards the open bedroom door.
“Come and join us.”
Jac held up his glass.
“Wanna short?”
Dressed in pyjamas, Claire shuffled up next to Jac on the sofa and Jason got her a glass of whisky.
Between them, they patched together Sion’s story for Jac. In turn, he sat there quietly; listening, taking it all in, feeling more than a little bruised.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He wanted a safe space,” Jason explained. “Where no one would suspect him. That’s why you were out of the loop. He only told me the bare minimum, too. Said it was safer, that way.”
“He was right about that,”
Claire unconsciously touched her neck.
“He only came clean with me at the end, when he wanted me to go with him.”
“But you stayed?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Claire took a sip of the peaty liquor; it burned the back of her throat.
“At the police station, he claimed he was innocent, and he didn’t kill Annie’s dad. And I told him that I didn’t believe him.”
Jac looked at her horrified.
“Claire? Why? If Sion said he didn’t do it, then, he didn’t do it. He would never lie to you.”
She stared at Jac intently.
“You so sure? After everything you’ve heard tonight?”
Jason poured them more whisky.
“How d’you explain the rope, then?”
“What? You think Sion strung Glyn up and killed him?” Jac muttered, “Never mind the practicalities of that, why would he do it? He barely knew Glyn Evans. Or, do you agree with Ellis Roberts, and think that we hired him? To get the farm.”
“No! ‘Course not.”
Claire put her hand on Jac’s arm.
“You’d never do that. God! Is that what the detective said? I was so mixed-up about it all. I still am.”
Covering her head with her hands, she sighed.
/>
“I couldn’t have gone with him then. And now, I’m never gonna see him again.”
“If we hear from him, we’ll get in touch.”
Her eyes met theirs.
“Promise?”
CHAPTER 29
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“Who’s going first?”
“Me.”
We’re both sitting opposite Matt on the distressed leather sofa. It’s all very hipster here. It’s probably best I do go first, because I’m certain that sitting watching Jac having it done will wind me up even more.
“Completely sure you wanna have it done?”
It’s the umpteenth time he’s asked me.
“Okay, then,” Matt announces, “Let’s get started.”
I take off my shirt and lie face down on the retro leather dentist chair, while Matt sets up and gets things ready.
Jac holds my hand as I wait for the buzz of the needle to begin.
“Relax and keep still. Close your eyes, if it helps.”
The noise starts and Matt carefully begins scratching into my skin.
I smile bravely at Jac, trying to be tough, biting my lip, bearing the pain and discomfort of the needle cutting into me.
It’s sustained and irritatingly painful; but as time passes I begin to relax, even chatting with Jac.
“You’re doing great.” Matt says as he works, finely etching away until the swallow takes shape. Its wings sweep upwards towards my shoulder, the head and body cover the deep indentations I don’t want ever to see again.
When it’s all done, Matt leans back and I rise from the chair and gaze long and hard into the full-length mirror on the wall. It’s a little swollen, but already I can see that it’s another amazing work of art from Matt.
“It’s incredible. And you can’t see the dents at all, now. Thank you.”
I’m relieved beyond words. Jac is too.
He comes over and studies it closely.
“I love you, Annie,” he whispers as he kisses my neck.
My cheek heats up when I notice Matt discreetly looking away. He’s tidying up his kit, making like he’s not seen us.
“Let’s get you covered up,” Matt calls over. “And I’ll go through the aftercare with you both, though Jac knows the drill.”