Unbound (The Braille Club #2) (10 page)

Chapter 18

The Braille Club, London, One Year On: The Braille Chair was the jewel in the crown for both patrons and assignees. The rewards for the patron were of power and control. The rewards for the assignee were often bittersweet but delicious.

London 2014

Benedict

By the time the DNA results were revealed as forgeries, the damage was done. Nick’s defence had done the impossible and won sympathy for their client. When confirmed in court Nick was
not
the father of either of the twins, Benedict looked at him and saw him smirk. A burning hatred was mirrored in both their stares.

Benedict had underestimated Nick. He didn’t know how he forged the DNA results, he just knew he had. A full police investigation began to find out how this could happen. The lab who had handled the test had issued the first results but it was only when they issued the second and genuine results that the forgeries were discovered. Benedict would never forget the day the letter arrived. Puzzled, he picked it up and ripped it open. His shout brought Siena running as he read that both the twins were his. Siena’s face changed from shock to utter delight. They hugged one another and their babies as they rejoiced, their happiness restored before the anger dawned as they realised they’d been duped.

But every dog has his day and when Benedict took the stand, the air in the courtroom was dark and brooding. His description of the attack was brutally recounted. His eyes blazing as he looked directly at the jurors one by one, his horror transferred to them as they sat transfixed. It was perhaps his compassion that dealt the deadliest blow.

His voice broke as he described pulling Nick Waters away from strangling his pregnant partner. He tried to compose himself as silent tears slipped down his cheeks. With effort he told of the premature labour and delivery of the twins.
His twins
. Anguish displayed clearly on his face at the unknown danger the drug Nick Waters administered to Siena could have on the babies. The courtroom was silent when he stepped down and returned to Siena’s side. The session was adjourned. The next day would bring both parties’ closing arguments but Benedict felt they had regained the ground they had lost over the DNA fiasco.

Nick Waters’ defence argued passionately that he was a loyal husband
betrayed
by his wife. Shocked to discover she was pregnant, he’d experienced a moment of
madness
. Temporarily out of his mind, he deeply regretted his actions and would do anything to turn back the clock.

The prosecution disagreed, stating it was a premeditated attack resulting in not only the attempted murder of Siena, but also her unborn children. They argued there could be no justification for such a deplorable act.

Summing up completed, the jury retired. They returned a unanimous verdict of
guilty
in a few short hours. Nick Waters was sentenced to seven years in prison. The trial was over.

Benedict’s mood sobered as he looked at Siena. Her face was pale and strained as she moved around the kitchen. Her eyes were tired as he wrapped his arms around her. Trembling, he hugged her tight as she rested her head against his chest. He couldn’t see her tears. She was his harbour; his emotions like a storm ripping through him, and he was hers.

The sentence Nick Waters received was a joke. When he smirked at Benedict, it took all his control not to react. He seethed inside, revenge and rage at the forefront of his thoughts. Nick Waters had threatened everything Benedict held dear, not once but
twice
, and he would pay. Again he didn’t know how he would get to Nick but he would. He wouldn’t stop until he was dead; that was the only way he could guarantee his family’s safety. Waters would come for them and he must be ready when he did.

Chapter 19

The Braille Club, London, One Year On: There was a buzz around Elysian members as the newest Braille Zone was announced. It was aptly named The Stoicum Zone. Stoicum is Latin, and by definition means
seemingly indifferent to, or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive. This was yet to be experienced by Braille members. This new zone promised to deliver a different element—pain.

London 2014

Ford

Ford had been very busy with the Braille Brief, as he liked to think of it. Since that initial meeting, the project had consumed him. He knew everything was time sensitive, hence the meeting with Guy and the others to discuss his progress. They all sat round the conference table, the room humming with excitement.

“Let’s start with the hood,” said Ford, placing one down in front of Benedict, Siena, and Guy.

“Can you please indulge me by putting them on?” he asked, smiling.

Siena looked at Benedict. “Go ahead,” he said.

“I don’t have the hair compartment area inside yet—not enough time—but I wanted to show you the audio function as soon as possible. Are you all ready?”

Benedict and Siena couldn’t help but smile at each other; Ford’s grin of excitement was infectious.

They nodded, and Ford waited until the hoods were in place. He spoke into a small mic.

“Can you hear me?” he asked.

They jumped in surprise, then laughed as he told them a quick joke. Guy pulled the hood off, his smile disappearing as his face turned serious.

“Good job, Ford, that is exactly the quality we’re looking for,” he said approvingly.

“It’s just a tester; adjustments will be needed,” Ford said, frowning as he fiddled with something inside the hood.

“Okay, are we happy with the cuff design?” asked Guy. They all nodded their heads as he lifted the pair nearest to him. “I’ve had the chain linking the cuffs strengthened, and the bells soldered on for extra durability.” He passed them around before he picked up the next pair of cuffs. “These are the rigid design. They have infrared motion sensors, sensitivity adjustment, and an automatic locking and unlocking function.”

The second style of cuffs was passed around, and between them, they tested its opening and closing ability, before testing the movement sensor.

“The cuff doesn’t make a noise,” said Siena.

“You need to put the ringer on,” said Ford, showing everyone. “The sensor inside the cuff will automatically shut everything down when the movement threshold is triggered, the bell alarm is optional.”

“I prefer them on,” said Siena. “With an open zone, it’s a good indicator to everyone in the group what’s happening around them.”

“Then I’ll incorporate this as a standard feature,” said Ford agreeably.

“No,” said Benedict. “Make two versions, we may use them both.” He had an intense look in his eye and turned to Siena and whispered, “No bells to wake the twins.”

Keeping her face neutral, she nodded. “I agree. I’m sure we can use both sets.”

Ford overheard but pretended he didn’t.

“Ford, how is the homework?” said Guy, changing the subject.

On Benedict’s instruction, Guy had delivered a Braille chair to Ford’s rented apartment, which he was also using as his temporary office.

“I’ve taken all your comments on board and this is what I’m proposing.”

They all looked at the prototype Braille Chair on screen.

“Members will sit in the chair and use their Braille Key to activate it.”

“Braille key?” Guy grinned, delighted.

“I’ll come to that in a minute,” said Ford.

“As I was saying, members will receive a Braille Key.” He clicked the mouse of his computer. The image changed to show a small black key, similar in design to a car key.

“This key will vibrate, signalling the start of members’ booking time. It will open the entrance doors into the changing room and beyond. The Braille Chair,” he flipped the screen back to the first image, “will only start once the key is inserted. I have designed a remote control for the chair that members can be trained on.”

There was a few seconds of stunned silence. Then everyone talked at once. Eventually Ford got through all their questions. The mood in the room was buoyant.

“All these prototypes need to be tested. Do I have any takers?” Ford asked, giving them his trademark grin.

Benedict looked to Guy; he was responsible for organising this element.

He cleared his throat. “I have approached a new Braille member with our proposals and she has agreed to the testing. If successful, we will ask for a cross section of Braille members to trial the new equipment and give us feedback.”

“Excellent,” said Benedict.

“Ford, I’m so excited by everything you have done so far,” said Siena.

“To be honest, it’s Guy that should get all the credit. His ideas are fantastic, I just make them happen.”

Guy looked uncomfortable as three sets of eyes settled on him.

“You dark horse,” said Benedict.

“It’s just a few ideas,” mumbled Guy.

“Yes, but they’re amazing, Guy, well done. Ford, you haven’t mentioned the sensory suit,” said Siena.

“Yes, you’re right,” he said. “Guy and I will work on that next after I have completed all the necessary changes required for these prototypes.”

“Of course,” said Siena, smiling. “Tell me more about this Braille Key you mentioned, it sounds interesting and exactly what we’re looking for.”

“Another of Guy’s ideas.” Ford walked back to his laptop. He changed the image on the screen and took them through the key’s functions slide by slide.

“I’m impressed,” said Benedict. “I like the fact it had several applications.”

“That’s got me thinking,” said Siena. “Members would need to carry it with them at all times?

“Yes,” replied Ford.

“Okay I will focus on how we achieve this.”

They all agreed the Braille Key would be implemented, and the discussions moved on.

“We should offer a carrying option if we are asking members to use a key,” said Siena.

“What were you thinking?” asked Guy.

“For the ladies, a locket that opens so that the key can be placed safely inside, for the men a key ring perhaps,” Siena mused.

“Sounds good, but if we want keys to stay hidden and not get lost, we should do it,” Guy concurred.

“Okay, I agree,” said Benedict, looking at his watch. “I have another meeting to attend.”

Guy reached over and switched off the recorder. The minutes would be typed and emailed to all the meeting recipients within the next twenty-four hours. “Good work, everyone, let’s schedule our next meeting for three weeks from today? Ford, is that enough time for you?”

“Yes, I can work to that deadline,” Ford replied.

“Good,” said Guy.

Benedict stood, indicating the meeting was at an end.

Chapter 20

The Braille Club, London, One Year On: The powerful, talented, and beautiful sat rigid with anticipation. The Braille Club’s booking system had almost gone down when availability for their new Stoicum Zone was released. Elysian members used to their assistants making all their appointments were strangely nervous. This booking must be done personally. With no idea when the encrypted email would arrive, and with only minutes to respond, they were anxious. They only knew one thing, they wanted a place, and they wanted it badly. However, as an Elysian member…infuriatingly, they didn’t always get what they wanted.

London 2014

Niven

Niven had mixed emotions about her first sensory lesson, but did she expect that one hour would fix her? She knew she was damaged goods, and when Guy asked if he could speak with her, she assumed he realised that too. She thought she’d be thrown out and prepared herself accordingly. Used to disappointment, fear, and now, this new sensation of being watched, she was taken by surprise. Guy wanted her help. Flattered and somewhat relieved, she agreed.

After searching for her birth mother for almost six years, she was still no further forward. It had been an emotional roller coaster ride but ultimately every new lead ended in disillusionment. In those dark days and moments of her childhood, she prayed her mother would come and rescue her, but she never did. When she turned twenty-one and escaped she did a number of press interviews hinting she would welcome her birth mother into her life. Yes, there had been interest, but one by one their claims where discredited because they could not answer her question.

“What was my mother’s favourite verse?”

She was afraid there was a very real possibility her mother was dead, her secrets buried with her. Niven accepted she would never know where her genes came from and her family tree would start and end with her. She would be a founding member. Perhaps the only member…as she thought about part two of her life and felt her stomach roll.

She hadn’t known her adoptive father had a son from a previous relationship—Toby. He wanted them to be friends. She would become his sister. Toby needed a sibling. Suddenly Niven understood her adoption. She was a playmate for her father’s biological son. He just appeared one day at the house and when he looked at her, she instinctively felt frightened. His visits were infrequent over the years until he entered his teens. At 14, Toby Fraser was tall for his age. His body was large and strong even then. He was two years older than Niven, but people assumed the age gap was wider as she looked young for her age. Everything changed from that day on, Niven felt on edge. Toby would often turn up at the house unannounced and let himself in with the key his father had given him.

Niven noticed things in her room started to go missing, but not at first. At first she thought she had misplaced her favourite watch, searching high and low until, upset, she admitted defeat and wondered how she lost it. Her favourite doll was the next thing to disappear, and confused, she couldn’t figure out what was happening. Niven spoke with Maria and together they set up a trap. She picked a toy she disliked and made sure Toby saw her playing with it. The next week it disappeared. She didn’t know what to do. Her adoptive father was not approachable and her mother would never go against him, so she did what most children do in her position, nothing.

Maria was aware Niven disliked Toby, and she did her best to ensure they were out or busy when he was around. The problem was he was around all the time. Niven was in her room when Toby walked in. No knock, he liked to invade her privacy and smiled at her sitting on her bed. She sprung up, eyes darting to the door—her only escape route. He caught her, gripping her painfully by the arms, his face in hers; his breath foul as he laughed at her.

“Let me go, Toby,” she cried.

“Say please,” he said.

“Please, Toby, please let go of me.” Her voice trembled.

He leant in and licked her cheek as she recoiled in horror. “You taste so good…Niven. I could just…eat you up.” His eyes danced wickedly.

“Niven?” Clarisse called. Her voice rang out in the hallway and Toby released her. He put his fingers to his lips as he stared at her. Her mother strode into the room, alert at once.

“What’s going on, Toby?” she demanded.

He turned towards her. His look was insolent and aggressive, but he said nothing as he pushed past her out the room.

“Is he bothering you?” The queen of surface relationships actually picked up on the air of menace in the room. Her cold beauty was spoiled by the frown appearing between her eyes.

“A bit,” Niven hesitantly admitted.

With that she pivoted out of the room and Niven slumped on her bed, her body tense as she waited to find out the consequences of her admission. She rubbed her cheek repeatedly, trying to clean Toby away until it was red and sore. Her ears strained but heard nothing in the silent house. Slowly Niven got to her feet and went to find Maria. She burrowed deep into Maria’s arms, unable to articulate what had happened. She soothed Niven, her arms protective, and Niven felt safe. It was to be the last time she did.