Shafted Read online

  Hearing the sound of cheering floating up from the wine bar directly below the apartment, he stepped up onto the bottom rung of the railing and leaned over to see what was happening. There was a birthday party going on, and the man of the moment was being presented with a cake, the top of which was decorated with a circle of flashing sparklers. Smiling when the man started dancing with his cake, almost falling into the canal with it, Larry was about to step back down when a woman sitting alone at a table off to the side of the party caught his eye. It was the almost blue gleam of her dark hair under the lights which rang a bell; that, and the fluffy green scarf wrapped around her throat, which was identical to the one the woman who’d fallen over at the studio had been wearing. But how could it be the same woman? What were the chances of her having been there at the same time as him and now here?

  Unless she was a stalker.

  But no, that was ridiculous. She would have to have followed Larry, to know that he would be here, and that would have been impossible, because she’d been heading in the opposite direction when they’d left the studio. And she’d been walking, whereas he’d been in Georgie’s car. It had to be a coincidence.

  Creeping up behind him just then, Raine put her hands on his lower back and gave him a gentle push, whispering, ‘Gotcha!’

  Jumping, Larry slipped down off the railing and turned to face her. ‘Christ, Raine, you frightened the bloody life out of me. You could have pushed me right over.’

  ‘Never,’ she purred, the smell of alcohol ripe on her breath as she pressed herself up against him. ‘You don’t really think I’d let you fall, do you? Not unless you’re falling for me, of course, because that’s entirely different – and utterly allowable.’

  Aware that she was teetering on the delicate line between tipsy and outright drunk, Larry was nervous that they might both fall over if she carried on leaning against him like that. It wasn’t the most solid of railings, and it was a hell of a drop if it went.

  ‘Look, let’s move back towards the doors if you want to talk,’ he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and trying to gently ease her away.

  Resisting him, she said, ‘No, I like it here – in the shadows where no one can see us.’

  ‘Please, Raine, it’s not safe,’ Larry said, increasing the pressure.

  Shivering, Raine bit her lip. ‘Oh, your hands feel so good on my skin. So soft, yet so masculine. I’d like to feel them all over my—’

  ‘Oh, damn!’ Larry squawked, cutting her off. ‘My phone!’

  ‘I can’t hear anything,’ Raine said, looking up at him blearily. Then, smiling again, she slid her hands down over his buttocks. ‘Oh, I see . . . I bet you’ve got it on vibrate, haven’t you? Shall I find it for you and switch it off?’

  ‘It’s gone through the railing,’ Larry lied, pushing her firmly back a few paces. ‘I was checking for messages before you came out, and I mustn’t have put it back in my pocket properly, because I just felt it go.’

  Saying, ‘Oh, well, never mind,’ Raine advanced on him again.‘We’ll get you another in the morning – after breakfast.’

  ‘I can’t,’ Larry yelped, horrified at the thought of waking up beside her and seeing her without her camouflage. ‘It’s too important. I’ve got numbers in there that I can’t afford anyone to get hold of.’

  ‘It’ll be in the canal by now.’

  ‘Can’t take the risk.’ Shrugging, Larry smiled as he edged his way around her. ‘I’ll just go and see if I can find it before someone picks it up. Shouldn’t take too long.’

  ‘Mmm, well, make sure it doesn’t,’ Raine said petulantly. ‘I’m not happy with you; you’ve been avoiding me all night.’

  ‘Rubbish,’ Larry scoffed, reaching the sliding door and stepping back into the lounge. ‘See you in a minute.’

  Rushing out of the apartment, he tapped the button for the communal elevator, then changed his mind and went for the stairs instead. Running down them so that Raine couldn’t catch up with him if she took it into her head to follow, he reached the ground floor and pushed his way through the heavy outer door. Glancing around to get his bearings, he realised that he was on the wrong side of the block and ran towards the pathway separating it from the neighbouring one. Racing right the way around, he skidded to a halt just before he ran straight into the canal. He shook himself to regain his composure. Then, hand in pocket, he strolled casually along past the closed shop units until he reached the wine bar.

  The party had moved inside but the woman was still sitting at her table, although she’d changed chairs by now so that she was in semi-darkness, with her back against the bar’s wall. She didn’t notice Larry as he approached because she was gazing out at the water, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

  Checking to make sure that Raine wasn’t leaning over the balcony watching him, Larry walked right up to the woman and said, ‘Sorry . . . don’t mean to disturb you, but are you following me?’

  Snapping out of her trance at the sound of his voice, she glanced up at him confusedly. ‘Sorry?’

  Smiling, Larry said, ‘I asked if you’re following me?’

  Looking utterly mortified, she put her glass down on the table and snatched her handbag up off the floor. Edging out from behind the table, she waited for him to move out of her way.

  Sensing that he’d offended her, Larry held up his hands and said, ‘Hey, I was only joking. I just thought it was funny that we should be in the same place twice in one night, that’s all. You don’t have to leave on my account. You haven’t even finished your drink yet.’

  ‘I’ve had enough,’ she murmured without looking at him. ‘I was about to leave anyway. I was waiting for someone, but . . .’

  ‘Date?’ Larry probed when she left the rest of the sentence hanging. Groaning when she immediately frowned, he said, ‘Oh, shit, I’m not doing too well here, am I?’

  ‘With what?’ the woman asked, looking up at him now with a challenging lilt to her chin.

  Struck by the intensity of her dark eyes, Larry gave a sheepish shrug. ‘I’m not really sure, to tell you the truth. I’m knackered, and I’ve just escaped a really boring party, so I’m not back in the swing of things yet. I just saw you sitting down here and thought . . . well, I don’t know what I thought. I guess I just wanted to say hello.’

  ‘You saw me sitting down here?’ she repeated slowly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. ‘From where?’

  ‘Up there,’ Larry admitted, motioning upwards with his eyes towards Raine’s apartment. ‘I was on the balcony.’

  ‘I see,’ she said, sounding as if she didn’t know whether to be flattered or scared.

  Flapping his hands, Larry said,‘Look, I honestly wasn’t spying on you, but I was looking for an excuse to get out of there, so when I saw you I thought it’d be nice to come and say hello. But you don’t need to worry; I’m not a weirdo.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re not,’ she conceded.

  Exhaling with relief, because she seemed to be thawing, Larry said, ‘Right, well, thank God we’ve got that cleared up. I was starting to feel a bit stupid there.’

  ‘I guess I didn’t help,’ the woman admitted. ‘But I was in a world of my own, so you kind of took me by surprise.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Larry apologised, thinking how beautiful she looked when she smiled. ‘Hope you weren’t annoyed with me for not signing your programme earlier, by the way, but my agent was rushing me.’

  ‘Programme?’ She gazed back at him blankly.

  ‘Yeah, for the show.’

  ‘Sorry . . . I don’t know what you mean.’

  Peering down at her, Larry frowned. ‘Raine Parker’s chat show. I was the guest. How’s your knee, by the way?’

  A spark of realisation flaring in her eyes, she said, ‘Oh, right . . . You were at the TV studio. Er, yeah, my knee’s fine, thanks. But I think we’ve got crossed wires here, because I wasn’t there to see the show; I was just walking past because I was supposed to be getting picked up at the cor
ner, but then I fell over. I did wonder what all those women were doing there . . .’ Her voice trailing off, the woman gave an embarrassed little shrug. ‘Guess I’d made enough of a fool of myself by then without asking, though.’

  ‘They’d been in the audience and wanted my autograph,’ Larry told her, wondering if it were possible that she didn’t actually know who he was, when his face had been splashed across every newspaper after Dex Lewis got sentenced, followed by numerous TV and radio interviews. Not to mention how well known he’d been before all that.

  Studying his face hard now, the woman suddenly put a hand over her mouth, and said, ‘Oh, God, you’re Larry Logan, aren’t you? I’m so sorry. You probably really did think I was following you, didn’t you?’

  ‘Not at all,’ he said, laughing softly. ‘I just thought it was a coincidence – a nice one, though.’

  Thanking him, she said, ‘Well, I’d better go and let you get back to your party.’

  ‘You don’t have to,’ Larry told her. ‘I mean, it’s your choice, obviously, but I’m not planning to go back to the party, and I was hoping you might join me for a drink. You’d be doing me a big favour,’ he added sincerely. ‘You’ve already been better company than that lot up there.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she murmured uncertainly. Then, looking up at him and seeing the hopeful smile on his lips, she nodded. ‘Okay, why not?’

  ‘Great!’ Larry said, rushing round the table to pull her seat out for her. ‘What are you drinking?’

  ‘Black Russian. But I really don’t need another one. I’d only just got this one when you came over.’

  ‘Okay, well, just let me get myself one and I’ll be right back.’ Turning to go inside, Larry hesitated when he reached the door and said, ‘You’re not going to run away, are you?’

  Smiling, the woman shook her head.

  Pushing his way through the revellers inside, Larry felt giddy as he made his way to the bar. He wasn’t sure if it was because the drinks he’d already had at Raine’s party were starting to affect him, or that it was such a pleasant change to meet a woman who genuinely hadn’t recognised him – and hadn’t immediately started flirting when she did. Either way, he wasn’t complaining, because she was way more attractive than any of the available women at the party.

  Ordering another Black Russian for her, and two double Scotch and sodas for himself, he carried them out and placed them on the table, saying, ‘Hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d better get you another one, because they’ll be closing soon.’ Sitting down across from her, he exhaled loudly as if he’d been running a marathon, then reached into his pocket for his cigarettes.

  Shaking her head when he offered her one, she said, ‘No, thanks. I don’t.’

  ‘Sensible,’ Larry said, lighting up and blowing his smoke into the air away from her. Looking around then, he said, ‘I’ve never been here before. It’s nice, isn’t it?’

  Murmuring, ‘Lovely,’ the woman gazed out at the water, seemingly deep in thought again.

  Sitting in silence beside her, Larry felt the tensions of the night evaporate. It was so nice to be with a female who didn’t feel the need to chatter incessantly to keep his interest. She was obviously shy, but not the awkward kind of shy that turned him off, and there was an intriguing aura of aloneness about her, as if she’d have been content to sit here all night with or without him.

  ‘I love being near water when it’s dark like this,’ she said just then, as if she was unaware that he’d been looking at her for the past few minutes. ‘There’s something really soothing about the sound of it lapping against the wall. That’s why I like this bar. It’s not so busy that you can’t hear yourself think, but not so quiet that you feel unsafe sitting outside on your own.’

  ‘You wouldn’t have been on your own if your ride had turned up,’ Larry reminded her, liking the soft huskiness of her voice, which was more of a bluesy jazz-singer type than the dirty-sex kind of husky like Jooce’s.

  ‘I’m used to it,’ she told him quietly, blushing as if she was embarrassed to be talking to a stranger about her personal life. ‘My, um, fiancé has a habit of getting distracted and forgetting that he was supposed to meet me.’

  ‘Fiancé?’ Larry glanced at her fingers. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise. You’re not wearing a ring.’

  ‘No,’ she murmured, slipping her hand into her jacket pocket. ‘Apparently it’s too traditional.’

  ‘Interesting,’ Larry said, thinking the man was obviously a cheapskate. ‘Is he likely to turn up any time soon?’

  Shaking her head, she said, ‘Not a chance. Wherever he is, he’ll be far too busy enjoying himself to think about me. Probably won’t see him till tomorrow now.’

  Peering at the woman when she sighed, Larry wondered what kind of fool her boyfriend must be to leave her hanging around like this, not knowing where he was or what – or who – he was doing, or even if she could expect him to come home tonight. Larry had only known her for a few minutes, but he already knew that she didn’t deserve to be messed around like that. Serve the guy right if she had a little fun of her own in his absence. And not just with some nobody like he was probably shagging while she sat loyally waiting for him, but with a star. That was revenge with a capital R.

  ‘What’s your name?’ he asked now, settling back in his seat.

  ‘Stephanie.’

  ‘And is that what people call you, or do they shorten it to Steph?’

  ‘Sometimes.’

  ‘Which do you prefer?’

  ‘Either’s fine.’

  Thinking about it for a moment, Larry said, ‘I like Stephanie.’

  ‘It’s nice when you say it,’ she murmured softly.

  Their gazes met and held for several long moments. Then, breaking away, Stephanie gazed out over the water again, racked with conflicting emotions – the strongest being guilt, because she shouldn’t have been doing this.

  Guessing that she was thinking about her inconsiderate dick of a boyfriend, Larry surprised himself by not making an immediate move on her. It was the perfect opportunity, and he’d usually have been going in for the kill round about now. But something was holding him back. Apart from the fact that he’d already nearly scared this woman away once tonight – so she’d probably bolt if he took her by surprise again – she obviously had problems and he wasn’t really in the agony-uncle mood. He was too knackered for tea and sympathy.

  Finishing his cigarette in silence, he flicked the butt into the water and was just on the verge of drifting off to sleep when the waiter came out to clear the empties from the surrounding tables. Sitting up straighter when the man told them that the bar was closed and they’d be taking the furniture inside in a minute, he downed both of his drinks and handed the glasses over. Glancing at his watch then, he asked Stephanie how she was getting home.

  Finishing her own drinks and thanking the waiter, Stephanie said, ‘Taxi, I guess.’

  ‘Me, too,’ Larry said, reaching into his pocket for his mobile. ‘Where are you going to?’

  A flicker of a frown crossing her brow, Stephanie reached for her handbag. ‘It’s okay. I’ll just flag one down out on the road. That’s what I usually do.’

  Telling her that he had to call one for himself anyway, Larry scrolled through his menu to find the company he used when Georgie wasn’t around. Pressing ‘call’, he looked up at her. ‘I just need to tell them where you’re going to.’

  ‘Fallowfield,’ she lied, not really wanting him to know where she lived.

  Ordering two cars, Larry pushed his chair back and stood up. ‘They’re busy tonight, but they reckon at least one should get here soon.’ He held out a hand to help her up. ‘We’ve got to wait outside the gates, though, because they won’t drive in.’

  Reaching for his hand, Stephanie gasped when a tiny crackle of static leapt between their fingers. Blushing, she jerked her hand away and, looping her bag over her shoulder, kept her eyes to the floor as they made their way round to the ro
ad fronting the apartments.

  It was ten minutes before the first taxi arrived.

  Turning to Stephanie, Larry said, ‘You take this one.’ Then, inclining his head, he kissed her on the cheek, saying, ‘Nice meeting you, and I hope your boyfriend makes it up to you for standing you up. But tell him thanks from me, because you’ve been good company in my hour of need.’

  Telling him that she’d enjoyed herself too, Stephanie climbed into the car when he opened the door for her. Dipping his head, Larry asked the driver if he had any idea how long the next car would be.

  ‘You’ll be lucky if it’s in the next half-hour,’ the man said. ‘Don’t know what’s going on in town tonight, but we’ve been rushed off our wheels for the past couple of hours.’

  ‘Typical.’ Larry tutted, swaying slightly as the alcohol he’d just downed rushed to his head. Steadying himself with a hand on the roof of the car, he looked at Stephanie and shrugged. ‘Oh, well, I’ll just have to wait, won’t I? See you later.’

  Looking up at him guiltily as he moved back to close the door, Stephanie said, ‘Look, why don’t we share?’

  Hesitating, he peered in at her. ‘Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting.’

  Shaking her head, she said, ‘No, that’s silly when this car’s already here.’ Sliding further across the seat to make room for him now, she smiled.‘Please. I’ll feel really guilty if I leave you standing here.’

  Thinking it over for a moment, Larry flapped his hands and climbed in beside her.

  12

  ‘Oh, Larry, that wasn’t nice,’ Georgie scolded, shifting the phone to her other ear to continue rifling through the paperwork littering her desktop. ‘I know she’s a pain, but you shouldn’t have walked out on her party – not when she threw it especially for you. The least you could have done was wait until everybody else had gone.’