The Marriage Act(94)

78


Jeffrey




Jeffrey’s head turned sharply as the front door swung open, hitting the wall with a thud. He knew who was there before their eyes met.

Noah was breathless, his cheeks a dark crimson colour. He stopped at the entrance to the lounge when he caught sight of Jeffrey sitting on the sofa. Jeffrey wore only his underwear.

‘So you got my video?’ Jeffrey asked. ‘I wasn’t sure because you didn’t reply.’

The clip had lasted a minute. It was of Luca lying face down on his and Noah’s bed and Jeffrey on top of him, smiling to the camera as he rocked back and forth.

‘Why?’ asked Noah.

‘You gave up on your marriage. Did you expect Luca to wait around?’

‘I needed space.’

‘And look where that got you. But based on everything I’ve seen and heard over our time together, your marriage was over long before I arrived or you walked out. Luca was never going to be enough for someone like you and he knew it. So he wasn’t going to waste any more of his life.’

‘We are DNA Matched. We belong together.’

‘So why have you been looking for a divorce lawyer? I’ve seen the search history on your work computer.’

‘Because we were happier before we got married! If we get divorced then we can start again; go back to the way things were.’

‘Well, as you can see, it’s too late for that. You’ve lost him. He and I are together now.’

Noah’s eyes narrowed. ‘Is that what you told the others, Jeffrey?’

‘What others?’

‘The other couples you’ve sabotaged and picked apart and forced to split up even though they wanted to stay together? And what about the others who didn’t survive your intrusion? Those who ended up dead like Harry and Tanya Knox? Or disappeared like Mickey Richards or the Armitages?’

Jeffrey’s body tensed. How could he know their names? Then he recalled catching a glimpse of Noah talking to someone at the Freedom for All meeting. Could they have been colluding?

‘Freedom for All has built a substantial case against you,’ Noah continued, confirming Jeffrey’s suspicions. ‘Every couple you split up, each client you were supposed to counsel but instead created conflict for, the ones who rejected you and you ruined . . . we’ve all made official complaints against you.’

Jeffrey cleared his throat. ‘Sour grapes. Even if any of that is true, who’ll believe you? My employers know I choose more challenging cases than other Relationship Responders. Amongst the successes of course there’ll be failures and bitterness.’

‘You don’t “choose more challenging cases”; you pick on the vulnerable and, bit by bit, you chip away at them.’

‘And if you’re strong enough and meant to be together, you survive.’

‘What about Rosie Morrison? Or your brother Bobby? Were they meant to be together?’

Their names packed a punch. Sixteen years after this all began, someone had slotted the pieces together. Rage began to build up inside Jeffrey.

‘Has your supervisor been in touch yet?’ Noah continued. ‘He seemed very interested when a group of us went to meet him this afternoon.’

Jeffrey flinched when he remembered the many calls from Adrian he’d ignored.

‘And, while I remember, you should install better security measures on your tablet,’ added Noah. ‘Because before I left the house last week, I cloned everything on it. The friend I was staying with works in tech and helped me sift through every report you’ve ever written, drafts that contradict one another and blatant lies you’ve told. I even know you’ve made voice recordings of Luca and me having sex when you said the Audite was turned off. And, on the way here, I forwarded Adrian the video you sent me tonight. That in itself is enough to get you fired.’

‘Do or say what you want,’ Jeffrey replied. His anxiousness belittled the bravado of his response. ‘I have what I want now. I have Luca.’

‘And does Luca have any say in this?’ asked Noah. ‘Is he still upstairs?’

‘He doesn’t want to see you,’ said Jeffrey, quickly.

‘You don’t get to be the judge of that.’

Before Jeffrey could stop him, Noah ran up the stairs and disappeared out of sight. By the time he reached the bedroom, Noah was already halfway inside. Noah had stopped to take in his husband, lying face down in his bed, his head resting on his forearm, his naked back, buttocks and legs exposed.

‘Wake up,’ Noah began sternly but Luca didn’t budge. He raised his voice. ‘Luca, I said wake up.’

‘He’s drunk,’ Jeffrey said quickly. ‘He passed out.’

Noah inched forward. ‘When Luca’s drunk, he vomits. He doesn’t pass out.’

‘You need to leave.’

‘It’s my house.’

‘I’ll tell him you came by.’

‘Luca,’ Noah repeated but still no answer came. He turned to glare at Jeffrey, his face paling. ‘What have you done to him?’

Noah moved towards Luca but Jeffrey grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. With all his might, Noah shoved Jeffrey in the chest, but he was no match for Jeffrey’s strength. Jeffrey grabbed him by his right arm and, before Noah could release himself, it was twisted behind his back and his face slammed against the wall.