Behind Closed Doors (44 page)

Lou was sitting on one side of the dance floor with her hand on the white cotton tablecloth, looking across to one of the tables on the other side of the room. Jason Mercer was sitting next to her dad, their heads together as if they were deep in conversation. Every so often Jason would look up and flash her a smile.

‘What on earth are they gossiping about?’ Jasmine said.

‘I have no idea. Dread to think.’

‘He seems nice… what is it? I know, darling, I know you’re tired. We’ll go home soon, I promise.’ Lou’s sister, Jasmine, cradled her youngest child, who was fractious and arching his back dramatically, his head dangling over the back of Jasmine’s knee.

‘He is nice.’

‘Serious, then, is it?’

Lou had had this question several times already from just about everybody in her immediate family and quite a few other people too, some of whom she wasn’t even sure she knew.

‘We’re taking it one step at a time.’ Lou had been thinking about getting these words printed across her forehead, and maybe Jason’s too.

Jason was crossing the room towards her. ‘Are you going to dance with me?’ he asked.

‘Why not?’

His arm went around her back, his fingers skimming the bare skin then coming to rest, his touch assured, firm. She held his hand and he brought it up to his mouth to kiss her fingers, then back to his chest.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘Absolutely,’ she said. ‘This is easier than I thought it would be.’

‘Sure it is. Things are only what you make of them. It’s all easy when you relax about it.’

‘What were you saying to my father?’ Lou asked.

‘Oh, that was your dad?’ he said. ‘I was telling him how we’ve actually been sleeping together for more than a year. I didn’t realise who he was.’

‘Oh, my God!’

‘Hey. I’m kidding. He was asking me how we met, that kind of stuff. Whether I’m going to do the right thing by you, whatever that means.’

That was no better.

‘You’ve tensed up,’ he said. ‘Louisa, it’s okay. You don’t need to worry. All he wants is for his beautiful daughter to be happy, and, funny as it sounds, that’s exactly what I want too.’

‘But you deserve to be happy as well,’ she said.

‘Sure,’ he said. ‘And right now I am.’

Lou shook her head, not entirely certain whether she should believe him. ‘I know they’re a mad bunch. You’ve been very brave.’

‘Well,’ he said, ‘you’ve got to meet my folks yet. That’s going to take “brave” to a whole new level.’

Shit
.

‘Mom’s looking forward to meeting you.’

‘You think she’ll like me?’ Lou asked, already dreading the prospect.

‘You kidding? She’ll love you.’

His hand was on her back.

‘Let’s get some fresh air, shall we?’ Lou asked.

Outside the air was still and cold, despite the patio heaters under the canopy that were keeping the smokers warm. ‘You want me to get your jacket?’ he asked.

‘No,’ Lou said. ‘I just wanted a minute. I wanted to ask you something.’

‘Okay,’ he said.

There was no point rambling about. No point trying to find a way to make it sound casual. ‘Well, I wondered if you wanted to move in with me. You know, see how it goes.’

He tried to keep his face neutral but he’d been drinking and so he couldn’t quite manage it. And she loved the big soppy grin and the way he hauled her into a bear-hug of suffocating pressure.

‘So that’s a yes?’ she said, not wanting to make assumptions.

‘Hell, yeah. So can we go back inside? Freezing my nuts off out here.’

‘Your nuts will be fine.’

‘They better be. I kinda promised your mother we’d make a start on grandkids before the end of next year.’

‘Oh, you are joking.’

‘Sure,’ he said.

But she wasn’t convinced.

Completing this book has felt like a real team effort (this is good: I am at my best working as part of a team). Whilst the story is mine, the finished version you’re reading now has been immeasurably improved by the contributions and assistance of a number of people.

Firstly my brilliant editors, Jennifer Barth at HarperCollins and Lucy Malagoni at Sphere, who moulded and shaped my plot into something very exciting indeed. My wonderful copy editor, Linda McQueen, checked everything far beyond the call of duty. Through the long process of editing I had great inspirational plot discussions with all three of these genius editors, for which I am most grateful. To the wonderful team at Sphere who worked so hard to make this book something I’m really proud of: Hannah Green, Thalia Proctor, Kirsteen Astor and Cath Burke, who provided early inspiration; you’re all amazing.

Thank you to my fabulous agent, Annette Green, who believed in Scarlett before she was even written down.

Scarlett’s story was inspired in part by Sarah Forsyth’s excellent book
Slave Girl
, based on her own experiences of sex trafficking. Whilst I’ve attempted to give some insight into the terrible things that are happening to victims of trafficking in writing
Behind Closed Doors
, violence, sexual assault, rape and slavery are still rife; not just in developing countries, not just in other parts of Europe, but right here in the United Kingdom. There are no easy solutions, but ignorance and denial are a big part of the problem.

Particular thanks are due to Jacqueline Chnéour and Jennifer Harknett, who both helped me with Scarlett’s character and made me love her even more.

I have tried to make the police investigation as realistic as possible, and my former colleagues have been incredibly helpful in answering my questions. In particular I’d like to thank Lisa Cutts, Mitch Humphrys, Janice Maciver, Mick Hayes, Claire Hayes, Colin Kay, Alan Bennett and Maxine Painter who helped with everything from how intelligence reports are phrased, to the provision of operation names, to procedures for helping a person in crisis. I’m very grateful for their generosity and would like to make clear that any mistakes in the book are definitely mine.

Thank you to Cat Hummel, Judy Gascho-Jutzi, Shelagh Murry, Jeannine Taylor, Bruce Head and my wonderful sis Heather Mitchell who helped me to make Jason sound Canadian, whilst Joan Gannij and Peter Out kindly checked my Dutch at very short notice. I’d also like to thank Chris Kooi for the explanation of why the rush-hour traffic around Antwerp is so awful, and Giles Denning, for explaining everything I needed to know about haulage across Europe. I’m sorry I had to make Barry into a bad guy, Giles. Thanks also to Peter Kessler and Sam Rowden-Knowles, who allowed me to use their names and gave me free rein as to the context in which they were used.

Behind Closed Doors
was originally written during November for National Novel Writing Month (
www.nanowrimo.org
) and I appreciate the invaluable support provided by the site and the wonderful participants.

Special thanks to my lovely friends Samantha Bowles and Katie Totterdell, for plot suggestions and encouragement. I could not have written this book without you.

Lastly my gratitude to my family, and my David and Alex in particular, who gave me the space to work and think. As always, you’ve been amazing.