‘Go and see then,’ said Lorna. ‘Go and see if you’re worried.’
‘I didn’t say I was worried, Lauren.’ Marianne’s voice was wheedling, shaky. ‘I just asked if you were sure.’
‘Can we get the TV?’
‘I really don’t think we have room for it.’
‘We’ll need it for London though. Won’t we?’
‘Well, we won’t have a flat first thing, I mean, we’ll have to stay in a hotel or something first.’
‘What about that friend of yours?’
‘What friend?’ Marianne’s voice was closer now, as if she was already halfway down the steps.
‘Your friend. The one who’s the dancer. In Islington.’
‘I think it’s Edmonton,’ Marianne said absently. ‘Not Islington. Edmonton.’
‘Her, then.’
‘I’ll make some phone calls, Lauren.’
‘If we can’t take this TV, can we get one in London?’
‘Yes.’ Marianne was at the door now. Claire heard her nervous, quick breathing. She cleared her throat, as if to announce her presence. Funny thing to do, Claire thought, considering she thinks I’m dead.
The door opened, but Marianne didn’t approach her. Her breathing was ragged.
‘What are you doing?’ Lorna asked. She was close now, too. They were both at the bottom of the stairs.
‘I’m . . . looking,’ murmured Marianne. She stepped forward. One heel crunched on the gritty dirt of the floor. Claire held her breath. Marianne came closer. The familiar smell of cigarettes and Angel perfume drifted down. She heard Marianne’s breath catch. She sensed a ringed hand reaching out to touch hers.
‘Auntie May.’ Lorna’s voice was childlike, now. ‘I’m a bit scared. Is she . . .?’
Marianne’s hand froze. Claire heard her straighten up, cough, try to get her voice level. ‘Yes. She’s dead. She’s gone. Don’t be scared, poppet. I’ll . . . I’m coming back up now. You just go back to the kitchen. I’ll be right behind you.’ Lorna scampered up the stairs, and Marianne backed away, heels tapping quicker now, and walked back to the kitchen, leaving the door open.
Claire stayed rigid on the ground, straining to hear.
‘. . . blame you . . .’ she heard Marianne cooing. ‘Not at all . . . been through . . . defending . . .’
Lorna was sobbing. ‘Horrible . . . safe . . .’
‘You are.’ Marianne’s voice was steadier now. ‘Are. I promise.’
The conversation went on for some time, but Claire couldn’t pick up any more distinct words.
They were upstairs for a long time it seemed. Claire heard kitchen cupboards being emptied, trips upstairs, the slamming and re-slamming of car doors.
‘. . . Benji . . .?’ Marianne said.
‘. . . leave . . . be OK . . . beach . . .’ replied Lorna.
‘. . . nice home?’
‘NO! You know why!’ Lorna’s voice was loud. Marianne’s reply was a low rumble of reassurance. ‘She made me . . .’ Lorna’s voice trailed off into sobs.
‘I know, I know poppet. We’ll leave him.’
‘Maybe we can get a kitten? A little ginger kitten?’ Claire could picture Lorna’s dewy eyes, her trembling mouth.
‘A kitten! And we’ll call him Carbonel!’ Marianne trilled.
‘What?’
‘The King of Cats! Haven’t you read Carbonel? Oh, we’ll get it as soon as. It’s all about a clever, talking cat who was taken by an evil witch. It was one of my very favourites!’
‘I want to call it Marmalade,’ Lorna said sullenly.
‘How about Carbonel Marmalade?’
‘That’s just silly.’
‘Well, anything you’d like, poppet, anything you’d like.’
* * *
An hour or so later, they seemed to be ready to leave. By now, Claire’s left side was completely numb, but she daren’t move in case one of them came back downstairs. The car door slammed again, the engine revved, the front door shut. Claire tried to stretch out one foot. It felt like dead meat. And then the front door opened again.
‘Benji!’ Lorna’s voice was syrup itself. ‘Benji, inside, inside now.’
The dog let out a gentle whine. Claire heard the jangle of the lead.
Lorna came down slowly, pulling Benji behind her, to the cellar door. Claire could smell bubblegum, the cloying remains of Marianne’s perfume, and fresh sweat, as Lorna came closer. She poked Claire in the ribs with one foot. Benji whined, and Lorna yanked viciously on his chain until he choked. Then she bent down and stroked one of Claire’s ears with infinite gentleness, scraped one bitten nail down her neck and then wiped her fingers on her jeans. Then she was quiet, so quiet she might not have been there at all. There was just the smell of her.
‘Lauren!’ Marianne must be back in the kitchen. ‘Lauren, sweet? It’s late now. We need to go.’
‘All right. OK.’
‘Are you down there?’ Marianne kept her voice lower.
‘Yes.’
‘Darling. Don’t upset yourself!’
‘OK.’
‘Darling?’
‘OK. I’m coming up.’
She stroked Claire’s face again, and kicked indifferently at her shoulder.
‘Did you let Benji out?’ called Marianne.
‘Yes. He went towards the beach.’
‘You’re right, he’ll find a nice home. Listen, poppet, we really have to go.’
‘I’m coming.’
Claire felt Benji nuzzle into her knees. Lorna giggled. ‘You like her so much, you stay here.’ Claire heard her dusting her hands, heard her pull the door to with a little grunt, heard her run up the stairs, slam the front door. Marianne backed up the car at great speed. And they were gone.
* * *