A Class Apart (69 page)

“In my diary.”

Conrad walked across the room and picked up her handbag which she had thrown on the floor as she had run into the flat.

But no, Keith wasn’t at his mother’s, and no, Mrs Mayne didn’t know where he was. She thought he was still in New York. Ashley didn’t explain why she was calling, she just asked Mrs Mayne to have Keith call her at her flat in London, should he get in touch.

Conrad handed her a cup of coffee, and taking her by the arm he led her over to a chair.

“What do we do now?” she said, looking up into his face.

“Is there anyone else you can call? Anyone else who might know where he is? What about your friends?”

Ashley shook her head. “Oh my God! Kate!” she said, suddenly remembering. She covered her face with her hands. “Dear God, what’s happening? Why is everything going so horribly wrong?”

“Hey, hey there,” he said, putting his arms round her. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry, I promise you we’ll find him. But for the time being we’re just going to have to wait.”

“But where is Alex? What if . . .” Her voice trailed off as she began to cry again.

“What about your folks?” Conrad suggested. “Do you think he might have taken him there?”

“No. But maybe I should ring them, just in case.” She went back to the phone. She was half through dialling when Conrad took it away from her.

“No,” he said. “No. We don’t want to worry them yet. If he’s not there, then they’ll want to know why you’re in London. There’s got to be a better way of contacting them.” He took her back to the chair again. Then walking back to the phone he picked it up and dialled a number. “Julian?”

“Conrad,” said Julian. “At last. Any news? Candice told me everything. Was the car waiting for you at the airport? How’s Ashley? Where is she?”

“She’s here. We’re at her apartment in Kensington.”

“Is she all right?”

“Yes, at least she will be. Look . . .”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“That’s just what I was going to ask you. Get on the phone to Ashley’s folks. Don’t tell them anything about what has happened. Just ask if Alex is back from New York yet because you’ve got a birthday present for him, and then ring me back here. I take it you’ve got the number.”

Julian allowed himself a quick grin at the irony in Conrad’s voice. “Yes, I’ve got the number. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”

Conrad walked back across the room to Ashley, and pulling her up into his arms he led her across to the settee, where he sat down with her for what was going to be a long night.

It turned out to be the longest night of all of their lives. Ashley, Jenneen, Ellamarie, and Kate.

Ellamarie sat on the floor, clutching the telephone to her breasts and moaning quietly. In her worst nightmares she had never known anything like this. She had to speak to someone, please God there had to be someone out there who would listen. Where were Kate and Jenneen? Why didn’t they come? But in her heart she knew that there was only one person left now to whom she could turn.

Wiping her hand across her eyes she dialled the number. When the voice at the other end answered, in a halting voice she explained that she must speak with Bob McElfrey. It was very important.

It was a long wait, but she didn’t hang up. And eventually he was there.

“Bob,” she whispered.

There was a pause before he answered. “Ellamarie.”

She fought to keep her voice steady. “Bob, I must see you.” The tears were streaming silently down her face now. “I have to see you.”

“Ellamarie, I thought we’d said all there was to say.”

The tears threatened to drown her voice. “We said so little,” she stammered. And when he didn’t answer she cried: “Oh Bob, why did you walk away like that?”

He sounded impatient. “Look, I can’t talk now.”

Ellamarie looked down at the letter that was lying on the floor beside her. She picked it up and turned it over in her hand. “I saw the interview,” she said. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me find out like that?”

Bob glanced over his shoulder and saw that Linda was coming towards him. He thought quickly. “Look, meet me at the mews house,” he said, thinking that if he said the mews house he could arrange for Linda to ring him there, which meant he could get away quickly.

“What time?”

He looked at his watch. “In an hour,” he said. “It won’t take long will it?” He shook his head to show his exasperation, then smiled as he slipped an arm around Linda.

“No,” said Ellamarie, “it won’t ta . . .” but he had already rung off.

The time was passing slowly. At regular intervals Ashley rang Keith’s number in Surrey, but there was no reply. Once her phone had rung, but it had only been Julian reporting back after his telephone call to Ashley’s parents. Her mother had told him that Alex wasn’t going to be home until late the following week.

Ashley was much calmer now, though her face was white, and haggard with worry. Whenever she looked at Conrad it made his heart wrench to see the look in her eyes. It was as if she were asking him, almost begging him, to make it all right. He went to sit beside her and took her hand.

“I had a feeling,” she said, after a minute or two. “I knew something was going to happen. And then I thought, when you told me about Mercer Burgess, that that was what it had been – the feeling. That that was what was going to go wrong. But now . . . Oh Conrad, where do you think he’s taken him? Where are they?”

“I wish I could answer that,” he said. “But we’ll find them, I promise you, we’ll find them.”

“You don’t really think . . . Keith wouldn’t . . .” and she started to cry again.

He wiped the tears from her cheeks, and kissed her. “No,” he said, “no, he wouldn’t. He loves Alex.”

Ashley felt so tired, but she mustn’t sleep. What if Alex needed her? She must be there, she must stay awake. But Conrad’s hands were so soothing, and his voice so calm. She listened to him breathing, and tried to breathe in time with him.

Conrad looked down at her and saw her eyelids flickering as she fell into a doze. He bent his head and brushed his lips against her hair, then laid his head back against the cushions. He stared up at the ceiling knowing that there would be no sleep for him. This was a position he had never found himself in before, where something was beyond his control, and he didn’t like it. The feeling made him uneasy, and the frustration made him angry. He couldn’t understand a man who could do this to his own son.

Suddenly the telephone crashed into the silence. Ashley sat up with a start and looked at Conrad. He was watching her face, and he could see that she was afraid.

“Would you like me to answer?”

She shook her head. “No. If Keith knows that you’re here, then . . . no, I’ll go.”

She got up and walked to the phone. Her hand was shaking as she reached out to pick it up.

“Hello.”

“Ashley.”

“Keith, where are you?”

“I told you not to come.”

“Where’s Alex? What have you done to him? Where is he? Is he all right?”

“Yes, he’s all right. He’s here, with me.”

“Where are you?”

“Not far,” he said. “I have to give you credit for getting to London so quickly, Ashley. My mother told me you’d phoned.”

“Your mother? Is that where you are?”

“No.”

“Then where are you, Keith? Please, tell me where you are.”

“Did you read my letter?”

“Yes, I read it. You don’t mean those things, Keith, you know you don’t. You can’t hurt him, he’s only a baby. You can’t use him like this. Please, tell me where you are. Let me come and get him.”

“I told you, Ashley, you’re not having him back. You’re not taking him to New York.”

“All right,” she said. “All right. Anything. If that’s what you want, I won’t take him to New York. He can stay here, only don’t hurt him. Please, promise me you won’t hurt him.”

“He’s my son, Ashley, something I seem to have to keep reminding you of.”

“Then you didn’t mean all those things you said in the letter?”

“I meant them. If you try to take him back with you, then I’ll do it.”

“But I’ve already said, I won’t take him away. I’ll do anything, Keith, anything, only say you won’t hurt him. Where is he? Can I speak to him?”

“He’s asleep right now.”

“Has he asked for me? Oh Keith, how could you do this? How could you do it?”

“I’ve done it because I love him. Because I care about him and what happens to him. Because he’s my son, and I want him here with me.”

“I understand how you’re feeling, Keith, believe me I do. I know you love him, and he loves you. But he’s my son too, I wouldn’t do anything to harm him, you know I wouldn’t. I only want what’s best for him.”

“And I think it’s best for him to stay here in England, with me. You’ve got a career now, Ashley. You chose that career. No one asked you to go to New York. No one asked you to give up your son and go to New York. It was your decision, and now you’re going to have to pay the price. I told you, I want my son, and I’m going to have him.”

“But Keith . . .”

“You’re no good as a mother, Ashley. You failed, a long time ago.”

“Oh Keith,” she cried. “Please don’t do this to me. Please stop. Just let me see him. Just let me see that he is all right. I won’t try to take him away, I promise. I just need to see him. Tell me where you are, please. I’ll come right away.”

“I told you, he’s sleeping.”

“I won’t wake him. I won’t even touch him, I just want to see him. Please, Keith. I’m begging you, please, please let me see him.”

“Who knows about this? Who have you told?”

“No one, I promise you, no one.”

“Are you alone now?”

“Yes. Please, please say that I can see him. Give me the address, I’ll come straight over.”

“No.”

“Keith!” she called. “Keith, please. I am begging you. Please! I just want to see that he’s all right. Nothing else, nothing more. I just want to see him. Please, Keith, please . . .” She began to sob.

“I’m at my brother’s flat in Fulham,” he said at last. “Make sure you come on your own. You haven’t told the police, have you? It will only be the worse for you if you have.”

“No, I haven’t told the police. I’ll come alone. I promise. What’s the address?” Conrad was beside her with pen and paper.

“Are you sure there’s no one there with you?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she answered, looking at Conrad.

“This doesn’t mean that you are taking him away with you tonight, you understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I understand. I told you, I only want to see him. To see for myself that he’s all right.”

“Tomorrow I will get a court order that says he remains in this country, at least until the whole thing is settled. So there’s no point in trying anything fancy.”

Her heart lurched, and she fought hard not to cry again. “The address, Keith. Give me the address.”

As he spoke she wrote quickly. “I’ll be over right away. And Keith.”

“Yes?”

“You will be there, won’t you?”

“We’ll be here,” and he hung up.

She put down the receiver and pressed her hands to her cheeks. “The car,” she said, not looking at Conrad. “Can I use the car?”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No. He said I must go alone.”

“I am not letting you go alone. Here, put your coat on.”

“No. Conrad, please. I promised him. I said I would go alone. Wait here for me. Please.”

“You can go in alone. I’ll wait in the car, somewhere along the street if necessary, but you’re not going alone, Ashley. Now put your coat on.”

She didn’t argue further, she would only be wasting valuable time.

It was a dear night, and the roads were practically empty. It took them no time at all to get to Fulham, though to Ashley it felt like a lifetime.

Keith’s brother’s flat was at the top of an old Victorian building, with no intercom system. Ashley pushed the bell and waited. Finally she heard Keith’s footsteps coming along the hall, and then he was opening the door. Pushing past him she flew up the stairs. Keith turned and ran after her, only managing to overtake her as she was going into the flat.

“Where is he?” she cried. “Let me see him. Let me go to him.”

“Mummy!” Alex called.

Ashley turned round and saw her son standing in the hall. “Alex!” she gasped, and ran to him. “Oh Alex! My darling. My baby. Are you all right?”

“Sure I’m all right, Mum,” he said, bewildered and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Oh darling, so am I.” So am I. She looked up at Keith. He was still standing in the doorway, watching them. “You know none of this was necessary,” she said. “You didn’t have to do this to him.”

Keith turned away and walked into the sitting room. Ashley took Alex’s hand and they followed him inside.

Outside Conrad got out of the car and began to walk up and down the street. He glanced up at the window from time to time, but the curtains were pulled and there was no sign of life.

Keith was standing with his back to the window, his arms folded. Ashley kept her arm round Alex and looked at him.

“So it’s all over, Ash,” he said, very quietly. “At last, it’s all over.”

She shook her head. “What do you mean? What’s over?”

“You, me, Alex. It’s over.”

“You mean you’re going to let me take him?”

“I mean that you lied. I mean that Conrad Frazier is down there in the street. Conrad Frazier, all the way from New York. You lied to me, Ashley. Did you really think I was such a fool? I saw you pull up outside. You think you’re going to take him with you, don’t you? You think you’re going to take him away and back to New York.”

“No,” she cried. “No. I told you, I just wanted to see him.”

“You’re a liar, Ashley.” His voice was still calm. “I might have believed you, but Conrad, here in England, only confirms what you intend to do. What you think you intend to do. It might have been all right, Ashley. It might all have worked out. But you cheated on me. You said you were alone, when all the time you were with him.” He began to shake his head. “Why did you have to lie?”