Gentleman Sinner(93)

‘Does it look like it?’ His frown turns into worry. Deep worry. ‘Fuck.’

‘I left him hours ago.’ I’m unable to control the growing trepidation. ‘So where is he?’

‘What’s happened? Between you two?’ Callum asks, pulling his phone from his trouser pocket and looking at the screen.

‘We had a disagreement. Haven’t you spoken to him?’ I ask as Jess hovers behind Callum, the silent, pensive observer.

‘Not since yesterday. And now his phone’s off. What did you argue about?’

‘He told me Penny’s attacker was released on bail.’ My voice rises a few octaves, and Callum’s wide eyes are the cause. ‘Oh my God,’ I whisper. ‘You didn’t know.’

‘No, I didn’t fucking know.’

Callum’s news takes my panic to another level. ‘Theo said he was going to hurt him. I asked him to promise that he wouldn’t, but he refused. He said he was going out with you. I left.’ My eyes drop and dart. ‘I thought you knew. I thought you’d be with him. You’re always there when he needs to see to business.’ Always there to stop him tipping over the edge.

Callum’s mouth twists, his eyes closing to gather patience. ‘Go get in the car.’ His worry, and now my own, too, is the only reason I don’t protest. Without Callum by his side, who knows what Theo will do. He won’t just hurt the man he’s hunting down. Jesus, he’ll be up for murder.

*

Callum is obviously uptight on the drive to Theo’s, not that I expect small talk from him, but any talk would be welcomed. The silence is leaving the empty space free for me to fill with thoughts of dread.

When we pull up under the canopied driveway, Jefferson is waiting and looking as worried as Callum. ‘Miss White,’ he says, sweeping his arm out, giving me the space I don’t need when Theo’s not with me.

I smile my thanks as Callum joins me, and we move into the large, empty entrance hall. ‘Make yourself comfortable,’ he says. ‘I have some things to see to in the Playground.’

I slow to a stop, watching Callum carry on his way, pulling the door open to the corridor that leads through to Theo’s club. ‘What? I’m supposed to just hang around sick with worry, waiting for him to come home?’

He stops, the door handle in his grasp, and turns towards me. ‘Yes,’ he says simply. A stoic face is the last I see before Callum disappears through the door.

‘Great,’ I mutter, pulling my phone from my bag and dialling Theo. It goes straight to voicemail, and I close my eyes, bringing the phone to my lips while praying that without Callum, he hasn’t found who he was looking for. Why would he go alone? Why?

‘Would you like a drink?’ Jefferson asks, startling me from my thoughts. ‘Or perhaps something to eat?’ His hands join in front of him, waiting for my answer.

‘I’m fine, thank you, Jefferson.’

‘Very well.’ He bows his head and backs away, and then I’m alone in the great big house with nothing to do but wait and worry.

‘Izzy, darling.’ Judy comes out of Theo’s office, seemingly relieved to see me. She hurries over, extending her arms and taking me in a hug. ‘Where’s Theo? Is he here? In the club?’ She breaks away, looking to me for an answer.

I shake my head, and her red lips purse. ‘I haven’t seen him since this morning,’ I explain. ‘We had a . . . disagreement.’

Her head tilts a fraction, making the perfect layers of her hair fall out of place. ‘About what?’

‘Penny.’

Her pursed red lips twist in disdain. ‘What about her?’

I sigh, building myself up to explain all over again. Why am I the only person who knows all this? ‘Her attacker. He got released on bail.’ She withdraws, a mixture of confusion and sheer aggravation splattering her lovely face. ‘I thought Callum would be with Theo,’ I go on, rushing my words to get them all out, and maybe even to defend myself. I shouldn’t have let him go.

‘Damn it,’ she hisses, stalking away, pacing up and down, thoughtful. ‘That little slut will be the death of him.’ She starts playing with her hands, her heels clicking on the floor as she walks back and forth.

My head retracts on my shoulders, her harshness cutting through me. ‘What do you mean, she’ll be the death of him?’

An over-the-top smile is plastered on her face in the blink of an eye. It’s an insult. ‘Nothing, darling. The girl is a troublemaker. That’s all.’ She comes forward to claim me again, but I move away, wary, making her pull to a guilty stop.

‘Judy, don’t treat me like I’m stupid,’ I warn her, facing Theo’s formidable mother head-on. ‘Theo told me she’s the daughter of a friend who died.’

She laughs, short and sharp. It’s cold and it’s heartless. ‘If only,’ she snipes.

‘Theo lied to me?’ I ask quietly, feeling hurt and confused. ‘Why would he lie?’ My imagination goes into overdrive, reeling off the possibilities. What woman would be worthy of such protection from Theo? An ex-lover? Girlfriend? ‘Judy, tell me who she is.’ I’m slowly going out of my mind, my breathing becoming strained and erratic.

Her eyes close and she inhales deeply, defeat coming out in an extended puff of air. ‘His sister.’