Chapter 39
The storm continued to rage outside as I sat at my desk, a library of books open in front of me. I was always hopelessly disorganized, and that always made revising for exams a real nightmare.
Right now, setting my mind to the task was even harder. Funnily enough, after seeing a man struck through with a f*cking dagger, I was finding it hard to focus. I don't think I was only me who might struggle with such a thing.
Despite everything, however, I needed to get my head down and work. I'd prided myself in the past on being able to shut things out, block out any disturbing realities in my life and focus on whatever priority I'd set myself. OK, so I'd never seen a dead man before, but the principle was still the same.
As the afternoon drew on and the skies began to darken further, I managed to make steady progress. I'd locked the door to avoid intrusion and put Enya on in the background to sooth my mind. I don't know what it was about her ethereal tones, but they always helped me study. Since I was in high school, I'd listened to her whenever I needed to work.
By early evening I'd almost almost forgotten about Kyle and his mission. It wasn't until the phone buzzed on the desk in front of me that everything came crashing back into my mind.
I looked straight at it to see a text message flash up on the screen. It was the number he'd used to contact me with before.
“Alice, I need to see you urgently. Come to the club and I'll see you there.”
My heart leapt as I read the words. It sounded like something was wrong.
In the blink of an eye I was throwing on some clothes and darting to the door. As I reached the main entrance to the halls at the bottom of the stairs I was hit by a realization. Damn it, my f*cking car.
The weather was still crashing down outside as I reached into my purse and dialed for a taxi. The phone rang and picked up quickly.
“Zero Taxis.”
“Hey, I need a cab asap.”
“From where miss?”
“Erm, Dulwich Halls at the college campus.”
I could hear the woman typing away at her computer. “And going to?”
“Pine Street, halfway down.”
“OK miss, I can have a car there in 10 minutes.”
“Fine, thanks.”
“And the name?”
“Alice.”
I shut the phone off and went back up to my dorm, moving to sit by the window to keep an eye out. I took my phone out again and began writing a text.
“Car out of commission. Just waiting for a cab, be there in about 25 minutes. What's going on? Should I be worried?”
I kept one eye out the window and one on my phone for the next 10 minutes as I waited for my cab to arrive. By the time I saw a pair of headlamps round the corner over to my left and pull up outside the halls my phone had remained inactive, no response yet given.
I quickly downed the stairs and jumped into the back seat of the car. “Pine Street please,” I said on autopilot. He already knew where I was going.
A response to my text continued to allude me as we went, the windscreen wipers working overtime to make the road even passably visible to the driver. It didn't matter. I was about to arrive anyway and then I'd get all my answers.
Upon arrival I handed the driver a 20 and stepped quickly from the car, rushing towards the safety of the club to escape the deluge. Mace was there, as always, standing guard like a titan. He didn't look best pleased with the weather though, cowering in the doorway to stay as dry as possible. Poor guy, he was a real sweetheart under all that muscle and gristle.
I made the usual trip towards the bottom of the stairs and down the corridor to Kyle's office, knocking on the door as I arrived.
“Come in,” I heard from inside. He sounded weird, more throaty and gruff than normal.
As I opened the door I realized why that was the case. Before me, sitting in Kyle's usual spot behind the large desk, was a middle aged man, dark hair neatly positioned on his head. His sideburns were flecked with grey, and his face roughly covered with speckled grey stubble. He had dark, narrow, eyes, and a strong, square jaw. His body, covered in a dark suit, looked to be in good shape for a man of his age, his dimpled cheeks and chiselled chin testament to that.
I stopped in my tracks as I entered, the door hanging open behind me.
“Shut the door please Alice,” he said, his eyes narrowing on me, his voice gravelly. I thought I recognized it from somewhere. I was sure I'd heard it before.
I turned and shut the door, closing it with a click as the sounds of the club down the corridor faded away.
“It's nice to finally meet you for real,” the man spoke, “you truly are a vision.”
I bowed my head slightly, sheepishly. “Thank you.”
“Do you know who I am?” he asked.
I had an idea but shook my head in ignorance.
“My name is Charles Logan. I'm Kyle's father.”
I could feel my heart rate stepping up a gear in my chest but tried to maintain my breathing, keep my composure. He must know about me and Kyle. Where was Kyle?
“Nice to meet you Mr Logan,” I said, trying to stay as relaxed as possible.
“Do you know why you are here?” he asked, staring deep into me. His eyes burned, but I kept my gaze to his.
What should I say? Plead ignorance, say no? I'd come at the request of a text from Kyle's phone, or one of his phones. Mr Logan clearly knew that something was going on. Had he made Kyle send the message? Had he taken the phone and sent it himself as a trap? Was this all about Michael Cooper? Perhaps it had nothing to do with me and Kyle.
“Kyle said he would try to find out what happened with Mr Cooper. I witnessed it, I found him there in the room. I suppose he was texting me to let me know what had happened.”
Mr Logan leaned forward and took a glass from the table, sipping casually on his drink. It looked like whiskey. Oh how I wanted to sink one myself right now.
“Yes, Mr Cooper. Terrible tragedy wasn't it.” He spoke almost with glee. “Such a shame you had to stumble upon an horrific scene like that.” There was a subtle sarcasm to his words.
I nodded but said nothing, dropping my eyes to the floor under his stare.
“I never liked the man,” he said after a brief pause. “He was so arrogant, so pompous and preachy. I've never have time for men like him.”
“But, then again,” he continued, his mind turning back, “sometimes you have to tolerate people you don't like for mutual gain. Regrettably for Mr Cooper, his use had begun to wane.”
My heartbeat missed.
“Yes, I see it in your eye. The dawning of a realization. It's OK, you can ask me, I can see it on the edge of your tongue, just waiting to topple.”
“You killed him?”
A smile spread over his face. “If you knew me at all you wouldn't sound so surprised. Yes, I had him killed, but not by my hand. Those days are long behind me.”
He casually reached for the bottle to refill his glass, letting his words sink in.
“I suppose you're wondering why I'm telling you this Alice. In fact, you're probably wondering a few things right now. I don't like to play games, I don't have time for them. So, in the interest of being clear, let me tell you what's happening here.”
I could hardly control my breathing now, my body throbbing all over, such was the force of the blood through my veins.
“I am well aware that you've been in a relationship with my son Miss Newton.” His words were stiffening, growing more cold.
“I hope you know how serious that is. I have reached the pinnacle of my world through a strict adherence to principles and rules. They are rules that, when broken, carry severe repercussions.”
My heartbeat was now to the point of explosion.
“I can see the fear in you Alice. It's not a look I enjoy, not on such a pretty face.” He stood and filled a second glass of whiskey. “Please, have a drink to settle your nerves.”
He placed the drink at the end of the desk and ushered me forward. My legs felt like they were about to give way as I walked, my hand shaking violently as I reached for the glass.
“Now, Alice, let me explain to you what is going to happen here. Your relationship with my son is going to end, immediately. He told me you wish to quit. Unfortunately, that is something I cannot allow. I've been receiving highpraise for you, and I'm not willing to see that disappear quite yet. If you think that quitting will allow you to start a proper relationship with my son, you'd be wrong. There is no chance of that, ever.”
I couldn't speak. I couldn't think. All I could do was listen as this man told me how my life would go.
“If you think you'll go to the police, you'd be wrong. You'll find them very receptive to seeing you Alice. It would be great for them to catch Michael Cooper's murderer so easily, and so fast.”
My eyes widened. “But I had nothing to do with it, you know that!”
“Ah yes, that. I had another girl arrive just before you to do the job. I can quite easily make you that girl.”
“No, how?” I was shaking my head. Jen had been right about this guy.
“I can pay the concierge to say that it was you who arrived first. The camera's aren't detailed enough to pick up intricate facial features. The first girl and you, you could have easily been the same person. All it takes is a little bribery to see that the concierge plays his role accordingly. If he fails to fall to financial incentives, I have other routes I can take as well.”
The tears were now welling in my eyes. I knew this man would not be moved by them.
“Believe me Alice, I have no intention of carrying out this threat. All you have to do is comply.”
“You did all of this just to punish me for seeing Kyle?” I croaked, my eyes streaming. “Why?”
“Oh God no. I have long planned to end Mr Cooper's life. The opportunity presented itself when he came here on business. I think the phrase is killing two birds with one stone.”
His face remained blank as he spoke. To him, this was all business. Killing a viral, setting me up as punishment for my relationship with Kyle, it was all nothing to him. To me, it would mean the end of my life. He held that power in his hand.
“And where's Kyle?” I asked. “You got me here through his phone, what punishment will he get?”
“Knowing you're still working for me, knowing he is unable to have you - that is punishment enough. But, if anything happens between you two again, you'll both find that I'm not so forgiving.”
“Your son? You'd make those threats to your own son?”
He stood up and leaned forward behind the desk. “You have no idea what I would do Alice. We all make our own choices in life. Anything that happens to Kyle will be down to his. I have no control over that.”
The guy was sick. He'd created his own world of retribution like he was a Roman Emperor, the punishment more cruel and callous than the crime itself. If anyone stepped out of line, if anyone broke his rules, justice would be swift. He was judge and jury, and hired people to act as executioner. Even his own son wasn't free from his wrath.
“So, Alice, do you agree to these terms?”
I could feel my world sinking around me, the pit of my stomach filled with sand and stones, dragging me down with it.
I didn't have a choice.