How to Kill Men and Get Away With It(52)

Grotesque.

‘We certainly are. Would you like to join us, beautiful?’

I fake hesitancy. ‘I’m not sure. I’m trying to find my friends. They’ll be worried.’

‘Come on. You can ping them your location from here and get them to come along too. The more the merrier.’ I chew on my lip, pretending to mull it over. ‘Come up and have one drink at least while you call them. It’s not safe for you to be wandering about on your own in the dark.’

‘Okay, that’s sweet of you.’ I smile up at him like I’m the most grateful ever.

‘Wait there, I’ll come and get you.’

Two minutes later he emerges from the boat. He’s tall, easily over six feet. Muscled. Black hair, dark eyes and dark skin. He’s wearing a pink polo shirt (Ralph Lauren) and a pair of ecru chino shorts. There are white Birkenstocks on his feet. He lollops lazily over to me and holds out a huge hand.

‘Theo,’ he says, accent unmistakably London.

‘I’m Kitty,’ I reply, shaking his hand.

‘You coming aboard then?’

I nod and he leads me up the gangway onto the boat.





43


ARCHIE’S YACHT, MYKONOS PORT

We climb an awkward spiral staircase of about three steps before we’re on the main deck. Two other men are sitting on the white leather seats, drinking Champagne. There’s a table in front of them with a bottle of Veuve chilling in an ice bucket and a few lines of what I assume is coke chopped up.

‘This is Kitty,’ Theo says, introducing me. ‘This is Archie. And Freddie.’

If Theo is a wolf, then Archie is a spider. A venomous monster, waiting for something to land in his trap.

‘Welcome to my humble abode, Kitty, would you like a drink?’ He holds out a glass of Champagne to me.

‘Thank you.’ I take the glass, obviously with zero intention of drinking it.

Archie has slightly thinning red hair, a face full of freckles, a Rolex and is wearing a navy Ralph Lauren polo and cream chinos. Freddie is ridiculously handsome, dark hair (lots of it on his head, arms and poking out of his green Ralph Lauren polo), eyes so blue they are almost navy. I smile at them. Friendly, friendly.

‘Chin-chin then,’ says Freddie, raising his glass.

I pretend to take a sip of my drink.

‘Is this your boat?’ I ask Archie. ‘It’s lovely.’

‘Yeah, just bought it with this year’s bonus.’ Ah. A City boy. ‘Do you want me to show you around?’

‘Yes, please!’ I might need to dial the enthusiasm down a bit. I sound like a kids’ TV presenter.

‘Then step this way, little lady.’ Archie stands up and grabs his glass. He checks that I’m still holding mine.

I follow him, like a good girl, first across to the little cabin where the boat’s controllers are.

‘This is the captain’s quarters. If you’re lucky I’ll take you out for a spin later.’ He laughs. He’s not unattractive, but the privilege is dripping from him, twisting him into something ugly. ‘Now this way.’ He leads me down the little staircase again and we’re below deck. There’s a living area, with white leather seats that look like they’ve never been used.

‘There’s a hot tub up on the deck,’ he gushes. ‘And look at this.’ He leads me over to a bar area and puts his drink down so he can show me how the mini fridge-freezer can dispense ice. ‘Cool, right?’

While he’s fiddling around with the fridge, I switch my glass with his, dropping a pill of my own into his. This is a special one, for later. He doesn’t even notice that his drink has miraculously refilled itself while he was playing with his toy and takes a long gulp.

‘Now for the best bit.’ He puts his hand on my lower back and steers me towards the stern. Where the bedrooms are. There are two of them, equally luxurious, with walnut interiors, en suites and huge beds. I feel him peering at me. ‘Let me know if you need a lie-down or anything. In case that goes to your head.’ He nods at my glass before glugging down the rest of his.

‘I will.’

‘Drink up then!’ His eyes are on me as I down about half the drink.

Archie leads me back up on deck and Theo is immediately on me.

‘Got a line ready for you, babe,’ he says, handing me a rolled-up banknote like it’s the Eighties.

‘No, thank you. I don’t do drugs. Sorry. Boring, I know. My friends will though.’

‘Another drink?’ Freddie offers.

‘I’m fine, honestly,’ I say.

‘Have you pinged your friends, doll?’ Theo says. ‘Not much of a party, is it?’ He’s getting frustrated. I’m clearly not as much fun as he was anticipating.

‘Oh, yes,’ I say, taking my phone out of my bag and pretending to text.

Meanwhile Archie is starting to look a little worse for wear. He’s sweating, his face shiny with the effort to not fall down.

‘You all right, Arch?’ Freddie asks.

‘I’m actually not feeling too great.’ Archie’s wheezing now. ‘I might go and have a lie-down.’ He tries to move to the stairs, but stumbles, clutching at air. Freddie leaps up to help him.

‘Fuck sake. How much have you had to drink?’