Grinning to himself, Alex waved. This was even better. He could come out of Mark’s house and into the van and no one would know it was him. It was the best alibi ever.
14 SHADOWS IN THE DARK
Dante ran upstairs to the living quarters, bubbling with excitement. ‘Dad, can I go to Scotland with George? He’s asked me to go along with them and I think it would be great fun.’
Sat reading his paper, Alex looked at his son over the top of it and gave him a knowing look. ‘Nope,’ was the only answer he gave before looking back at his paper.
Dante stood there defiantly, hands on hips.
‘Nope,’ Alex answered again, without looking up.
Maggie came through from the kitchen. ‘What’s up with you Dante, and you Alex, what have you done?’
‘Dad won’t let me go with George to Scotland. He’s just mean. I never go anywhere.’
Casting a furtive glance at Alex, Maggie leaned forward and pulled his newspaper down. ‘Tell him the truth, Alex. He can’t go because the police would never agree to it. We can’t go walking off away from each other. I’m sorry Dante, it’s just not possible.’
Standing up, Alex walked towards Dante and put his arms around him, hugging him tightly. ‘Well, personally, Dante, I’m saying no because I love you and that bloody van is a death trap. It’s got no safety certificates and it’s still licensed as a transit van not a camper van, which means it has no real insurance. If Mark wants to kill his family, that’s his business, but me… definitely not. He drove it around the block the other day and the wheel fell off! I like Mark, he’s a gentle giant with a big heart, but he has ideas above his station. I love you Dante, and if you’re going to be maimed and killed it’s not going to be by his hands.’
Dante hugged his dad back. ‘Sorry Dad, I love you too.’
Maggie took a sigh of relief, and Alex looked across at her.
‘Talking of Mark, he’s asked if I can take the calls for his mechanic business while he’s away.’
‘What, he wants you to answer the phone like his secretary? Can’t he do that on his mobile?’
Alex hadn’t told her he might do the odd job for Mark. He wanted that to be kept under his hat, so she wouldn’t be involved in any way.
‘We’re mates and I said I’d help him out.’
They were interrupted by Deana walking in nonchalantly and slumping down on the sofa beside Alex. Deana attempted to pick up Alex’s newspaper but he swatted her playfully.
Maggie looked around her nicely furnished lounge, full of warmth and her family and she couldn’t have felt happier. She had given herself the night off, which felt like the first night off since they’d arrived. The pub was open and being run by Phyllis and Pauline excellently. Chef and the kitchen staff all knew their jobs and had slipped into a routine. For the first time in a long time, Maggie felt like her life was running smoothly. She was happy. Looking across at her handsome husband, she felt herself almost bubbling over with love for him. He was her rock and always backed her up with whatever she wanted. He was the love of her life and always would be.
Reaching for her purse, she took out two twenty-pound notes and handed them to her kids. ‘One for each of you to go out and amuse yourselves. Don’t rush back.’
‘Thanks Mum.’ Dante grinned. Almost snatching it out of her hand, Deana stood up. ‘Come on Dante, it means they want some together time!’
Looking across at Maggie, Alex smiled, showing a perfect row of white teeth. ‘So Mrs Silva, what do you have in mind?’ he asked when they kids had left. ‘Do you intend using and abusing my body for your own gratification?’
Standing up, Maggie took his hand. ‘I most certainly do, Mr Silva. First, we’re going to take a soak with some wine in a hot bubble bath, while I massage you and you do likewise. Then, we will see what happens. Come on big boy.’
Sinking into a warm bubble bath with a cold bottle of wine, they chinked their glasses together. ‘Here’s to you Maggie. You have turned this place around and made it a success. Cheers!’
Seeing his slightly tanned body and the dark hairs on his chest, made wet by the soapy water, Maggie admired her husband. His muscular body and his well-shaped arms stirred something inside her. Taking a sip of her wine, she watched how his strong hands swept his wet wavy hair from his face. His dark eyes, with long dark lashes, seemed to swallow up his whole face.
‘You’re bloody sexy Alex. I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you of late.’
‘Nothing to apologise for Maggie. Although I think I should tell you that isn’t my big toe you’re toying with.’ He smiled. As she leaned forward to meet his lips, she could feel his own body harden to her touch. The warm steaminess of the bathroom was nothing in comparison to their love making which followed in the bedroom. They felt like naughty teenagers considering everything that was going on downstairs in the pub. Each time their damp bodies met and locked together in rhythmic pleasure, their need for each other grew more and more until they both reached their peaks. Gasping for air, Alex lay beside her, both of them breathing heavily.
‘God, that was good,’ Maggie panted.
Raising one eyebrow, Alex smiled. ‘Really? Well, I haven’t finished yet.’ Turning towards her he playfully flicked her nipple with the tip of his tongue. His hand traced her long slim body. ‘You’re beautiful, absolutely perfect. You’re like one of those marble statues and better still, you’re mine.’
Turning towards him, Maggie mounted him and slowly moved her body on top of his, feeling his thrusting manhood. She felt dizzy with excitement, until a slow moan escaped from her lips and she cried out in pleasure. Lying in each other’s arms afterwards, they both drifted off into a contented sleep.
The next morning, Maggie felt an extra skip in her step, especially as she thought about the morning’s encore of love making. A smile crossed her face as she counted out the float for the cash registers.
‘Phyllis put everything in the safe last night Mum, and I helped her lock up. She said you must be really tired, and that it was time you put your feet up, considering what you do for everyone else. That’s nice isn’t it?’ Deana smiled and kissed her on the cheek. ‘She is right though. You always help other people out without a thought for yourself.’
Puzzled and suspicious at Deana’s mild-mannered way, Maggie waited for the punch line. ‘Okay Deana, what do you want?’
‘Nothing Mum. I was just talking to Phyllis last night. She makes a lot of sense. You deserved a night alone with Dad. You don’t get much time together, and it’s only right that you do. Sometimes it’s easy for us kids to forget that you’re still a married couple who want to be alone. Even though it did cost you forty quid! I hope he was worth it.’ Deana laughed and walked away.
Biting on a piece of toast, Deana heard a knock at the back door. Opening it, she saw Percy standing there looking rather sheepish, with his roll-up resting on his bottom lip. ‘Whatever you need Percy, we haven’t got any. Haven’t you heard of supermarkets?’
‘It’s your dad I want,’ he muttered.
‘Dad!’ Deana shouted up the stairs. ‘Percy’s here again!’ Pushing past him, Deana flounced out as her dad arrived. ‘I’m off to Wendy’s.’
‘What can I do for you this early in the morning, Percy?’ Alex yawned and looked at his watch. It was only 8.30 a.m. and he didn’t remember getting a lot of sleep last night.
Furtively, Percy ushered Alex into the beer garden. Looking around to see if anyone was listening, Percy said, ‘Those people you told me about, who asked you to pass that message on. Well, it wasn’t for me, it was for some people who were storing some stuff at mine. So I passed it on and they’d like to meet.’
Alex’s ears pricked up. ‘Look Percy, I don’t know what this is about and I don’t want to get involved,’ Alex lied.
‘But you are involved Alex; you’re the middleman like me. My people are interested in buying back, or claiming back what they have lost, if you know what I mean.’
Alex knew he had to play this carefully. They were treading around each other tentatively. ‘If you want, I can pass the message on, Percy.’
‘Fair enough. But tell them that my people want to arrange a meeting.’
‘I’ll see what I can do, but I’m making no promises.’ Alex walked away, his mind working overtime. He wasn’t sure how to arrange this meeting. He couldn’t reveal his own involvement, yet he wanted to make a deal. While getting showered and dressed, he had an idea. ‘Dante, come here, son. I want you to write me a note.’
‘Why can’t you do it? I’ve got to go out.’
‘Because if it’s ever checked, I don’t want it to be in my handwriting.’ Handing him a pen and a piece of paper, Alex dictated the message.
‘Why don’t I type it and then we can print it out? That way it’s in no one’s handwriting.’
‘Fair enough Dante, let’s do that then.’ Alex waited while Dante typed and printed out the letter which was short and to the point. It was a big chance Alex was taking and he knew it, but it sounded like those Liverpudlians badly wanted their stuff back and he had to strike while the iron was hot.
I went to save old Percy, and while there I came across his gardening equipment. I have twenty plants that were saved. I can either sell them on, give them to the police or give them back to their rightful owner – for a price. Knowing the street price, I would say it’s a bargain at a hundred thousand pounds in cash. If you agree, I will leave them in a car in Chatham. There is a main supermarket there and I will give you the details and the time once the price is agreed.
Your friend
