Underbelly (53 page)

“
Let me guess; Nimrod?” Audrey said with a sigh.

“
I don’t know what that means.”

“
The man who’s been hassling me about the Whitlows.”

Germaine nodded. “He’s trying to save you. He doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t want your actions to be undone.”

“
And you do?”

“
I understand loss, and hate. My mother and sister were killed in front of me shortly after we discovered my father’s remains.”

“
I’m sorry,” Audrey said sincerely. “You’re here to represent him though, aren’t you?”

“
I’ve already made one mistake when I confided his secret and I swore I’d never do it again, but I think you’ll believe me because you know that supernatural things can be real. He’s a medium and the men you put on that list won’t leave him alone. That isn’t the only reason he can’t forget it; it’s his nature to help, but it’s causing him suffering and that’s why I’m here.”

“
I can’t ask them to accelerate it because I’m not eager to bear the consequences. What you just said makes sense. He said something odd about one of them and I did wonder how he knew,” Audrey said, thinking over her words, far more open with her than she was with her husband.

“
I’m Germaine by the way,” Germaine said, offering her hand, which Audrey shook limply, not especially keen to make her acquaintance but finding her harder to ignore than Grey was.

“
I have nothing against your husband – he might believe that I detest him but I don’t – and if my actions are causing him pain then that’s unfortunate. I don’t know anything about mediums to advise you how to solve it. Might moving further away help, is there a way he can turn it off?”

“
He won’t give up.”

“
Neither will I. I didn’t make my decision lightly. I stand by it. As far as I’m aware there isn’t even an option of taking it back and if there was I wouldn’t.”

“
Just out of curiosity, how does vengeance feel?” Germaine said, her interest genuine and her approach completely different to Grey's, far less preachy.

“
Cathartic. It alleviates my pain at my loss, to know that those that wronged Earl and myself have paid a price.”

“
Okay. I’m not judging you, because I don’t know what I’d do in your position. I don’t want to harass you at work if you’re uncomfortable with it but may I come and see you again, if not here then at your home? I just want to sort this out because I’m worried about my husband because I know he won’t let this go. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come and see you again if you’ll see me,” Germaine said, trying to strike up a dialogue, hopeful of eventual negotiations.

“
I think I’ve already made sure he won’t come and see me again. I’m prepared to see you again, though I doubt we will get anywhere. I’m intractable on this.”

“
I don’t know what that means either. I’m guessing it means determined. I’m not trying to influence you to do anything, I’m just trying not to lose my husband and because of your loss I think you can understand my concerns.”

“
Completely. I was the dominant one and if I put my foot down he would bend to my wishes. I’m guessing you’re not, so you can’t make him walk away.”

“
Not over something like this, no.”

“
I’ll help you as long as you bear in mind that the Alieus and the Whitlows aren’t relevant to this. They’re involved in their own dealings that have to be carried out to completion. Our agenda is making your husband see the light and leave town. Do you agree to that?” Audrey said cautiously, thinking that she’d read this girl well, remaining a little suspicious in case she was just an agent of her husband on a mission of mercy.

“
I agree,” Germaine lied convincingly.

I’m so sorry
, Larry said penitently.

What for, Larry?

I gave you up. They wanted to know why they’d dug up the ground and I said it was because of you.

It’s okay, Larry. I don’t blame you. They’re torturing you; you don’t have a choice.

They’re furious with you. Because I told them she says they’re going to end my suffering soon. I daren’t believe her because she’s said it before.
Grey knew he meant Adelaide, the talkative and taunting one of the sisters, the other said to be silent save for grunts and the occasional word.

This time they might mean it – not out of mercy, just because you came close to getting rescued. Where does your son live?

You can’t save him and you can’t save me
, he said pessimistically.

I’ll try my hardest. I’m sorry that I’m not better at this. I have a friend who might be able to help.

Who?

I can’t say in case they force it out of you. I don’t know where this person is at the moment, unfortunately.

When will you see him next?

I don’t know
, Grey said.
If you give me Allan’s address I’ll watch out for him.

Larry just had time to give his son’s address (assuming he still lived there) before he returned to his tortured body. Grey updated Germaine, who neglected to tell him that she was in communication with Audrey, and he vigorously insisted that it was time for her to return to New York. He would have to watch over Allan Whitlow and would possibly come into contact with the demons; this situation was potentially very dangerous and she had to go back home.

“
I’d be frantic with worry which wouldn’t be good for the baby. At least here I know what’s going on.”

“
I’ll have to watch over him 24 hours a day, and I can’t do it here in case that brings the demons to you, so whether you’re here or not I won’t see you. Picture the suite in the Overton hotel, the four poster bed, the marble bathroom, the quality of the food when I’m not on duty in the kitchen – that’s where you should be ,” he said, trying to tempt her to return.

“
No it’s not,” she said resolutely. “Not unless you come back with me.”

“
I’d love to but you know I can’t.”

“
I know, and I respect that. Respect my decision, please,” she implored.

“
I worry about you, that’s all,” Grey said, stroking her hair as he kissed her neck.

“
I’m going to ruin my appearance the amount I worry about you, James.”

“
Never. I’m sorry, Gem. I’ve got to be honest though, and admit that I don’t know how this is going to pan out.”

“
Between us we’ll think of something,” she said emotionally, feeling tears begin to trickle down her cheeks.

“
Please don’t cry. Your tears are the one thing that can set me off. Maybe I should have stayed in New York at Jemima’s beck and call. It doesn’t seem so bad now.” While Grey was still prepared to give Mrs Harding the benefit of the doubt, it proved easier to go along with Germaine’s instincts and accept her opinion on the matter. He had even given away her present, even though he had been quite taken with the watch, because it made Germaine uncomfortable.

Germaine wiped her face and smiled as she said, “It’s too many hormones. I’m staying, okay?”

“
For the moment, yes,” Grey said, still unsure that it was for the best. “I guess I should go and warn Allan. Wish me luck because I don’t know how to break the news to him.”

“
If he doesn’t believe you or becomes threatening, walk away.”

“
Of course,” he said. Germaine folded her arms and frowned at him, seeing through him, before she relented and allowed him to kiss her as he made his exit.

“
I’m transparent to you now, aren’t I?”

“
Yes, but I like that,” Germaine said affectionately.

Allan Whitlow lived alone in a small terraced house quite close to the hostel Grey and Germaine were staying at. He was out when Grey called around, his neighbour telling Grey that he was usually home by six, and Grey decided to wait. Allan saw Grey loitering by his door from a distance and approached him lackadaisically, asking him what he wanted.

“
Are you Allan Whitlow?”

“
Yeah. Is this about my dad?” he said, suddenly eager and excited.

“
Yes. I think we’d be better off talking inside.”

Allan unlocked the door, his hands still black from his job as a mechanic, his overalls pitted. He was tall and thin, having been forced to look after himself for the last year. He offered Grey a seat in the cluttered lounge and asked him what he knew about his dad.

“
I warn you now that this is going to sound crazy.”

“
If he’s coming back today tell me now and I’ll start tidying.”

“
No, he’s not. I know about Audrey and Earl Gaines.”

Allan shuddered at the names, his face seemingly frozen.

“
Do you want to tell me your side of it in case I’m misinformed?”

“
I was there but I didn’t do anything,” he said, breathing heavily. “God, are you with the police?”

“
No. The way I hear it you were the least involved. I know that you were only 16 at the time and pressured by the others.”

“
Do you know what’s happened to them?” he asked anxiously, running his hands through his hair.

“
Yeah, and that’s where this gets farfetched and disturbing. Your dad isn’t, but the others are dead.”

“
How?”

Grey grimaced and pulled several faces as he tried to think of a palatable answer to this question. “Have you ever heard of the Furies?”

Allan nodded vigorously. “It’s a bike gang, yeah?”

“
No – it might be, I mean from Greek mythology. I think there was three of them, so it’s a bit different – they sought vengeance basically, they were demons.”

Allan coughed and said, “What’s this…no, I don’t get it…go on.”

“
The Furies might not be real but there are two demons who are real, Adelaide and Clemence Alieu, and they’re after everyone who was involved in the crimes against the Gaines’. Even you, I’m afraid.”

Allan studied Grey for a while and said, “You’re not joking, are you?”

“
No, this is deadly serious.”

“
And my dad?”

“
They’ve got him at the moment and I’m trying to sort that out. I know this because I’m a medium. James Grey,” Grey said, reaching across to shake his hand.

“
My hands are filthy.”

“
It doesn’t bother me,” Grey said and Allan let him shake his hand, bamboozled and scared by what he was being told. “I’m here to help you.”

Allan stood up and left the room and returned with a lighter and some cigarettes.

“
Is that a good idea?” Grey said.

“
Don’t ask me any questions, I can’t think straight,” he said, lighting up.

“
I meant because of your hands, if they’re covered in oil.”

“
It’s all right, I’ve never gone up in flames yet. What you’re telling me is ridiculous but my dad’s friends all vanished, men who’ve never left their hometown, and my dad too. I’ve thought there was something weird going on for a long while. How sure are you of this?”