Behind A Twisted Smile (Dark Minds Book 2) (14 page)

He grinned. “Yeah, well, so I am, but if I’d known Moya was coming, I might have changed my hours. I’m sorry I’m going to miss hearing all about Antigua and your luxury hotel. What was it called again? Oh, I remember now. The Inn at English Harbour.”

My face paled and my skin grew tight. How on earth had the creep found out? I never told anyone the name of the hotel. He must have remembered me saying I was going to a five-star hotel near Nelson’s Dockyard. I suppose it wouldn’t have been difficult to check out hotels online. Even so, why go to that bother? He freaked me out. Why the hell couldn’t he leave me alone? I stayed absolutely still, not trusting myself to answer. Evie looked from Martyn to me, a frown between her eyebrows.

“How…how did you know that, Martyn?” she asked in a small voice, before slumping down in her chair.

“Moya told me. She rang from the airport just before her plane left. Anyway, as it happens, I must dash, got to see someone before work. Catch you later, Moya, and we’ll have that chat over a drink. Bye, Evie, my sweet. I must say, comparing you to a lusciously sun-tanned and fit-looking Moya, you are looking a little peaky this morning. Not coming down with anything are you? I hope not, I’ve got plans for later on.” He gave her a lewd grin, which he made sure I couldn’t miss, bent down, gave her a peck on the cheek and without waiting for an answer left the room.

Speechless, I listened to the door slam. I noticed he had taken Evie’s money with him. I turned towards her, ready to deny I had told him anything and for the first time, got a good look at my sister. She looked very different from the last time I had seen her. My sister’s hair was lacking its usual lustre, and her skin appeared pallid, almost putty-coloured. Her movements seemed slow and laborious, and when she lifted her listless eyes to me, I wondered if Martyn was right. She did seem off-colour. What the hell had been happening while I was away?

Chapter 18

“How about some coffee?” I asked brightly. “No, you sit still, I’ll make it.”

I knew where Mum kept the coffee capsules; she hadn’t changed a thing since Dad died. Selecting a ‘dolcemente’ capsule for Evie and a stronger ‘intensamente’ one for me (I believed I needed it), I switched the coffee machine on and waited for it to heat up.

“So, how are you?” I asked eventually as I stole another glance her way, thinking she looked dreadful.

Evie ignored my question. “What’s going on, Moya? How come you rang Martyn—
my fiancé
—from the airport and let him know which hotel you were staying in?” Her eyes blazed at me while her pale and pinched lips matched her pallid face.

I shook my head. “I didn’t. I swear to God, I never rang him. Why would I?”

“Why, indeed.”

“Honestly, Evie. He was making it up. Like he does so many things.”

“Don’t start that again. I think Martyn’s right. You’re jealous. You’ve never got over him.”

“Rubbish, and you know it. It’s you he’s marrying. Soon, you’ll be Mrs Cousins, with a ring on your finger, a brand new house and off on honeymoon. Did you get those flights you were after to Hawaii or are they still on waitlist?” I said, hurriedly wanting to change the subject.

“Economy was all sold out, and Martyn said to be certain of getting there, we’d better go club class.”

“Club! Wow! Nice. So you’re booked. All paid up I guess.”

“Yeah, I had to use my credit card, as Martyn’s lost his and the replacement hasn’t come through,” she replied lethargically.

I took a sip of my coffee. Why wasn’t I surprised?

“Do I really look like Martyn said I did? Peaky?”

I cocked my head to one side as if weighing up her question. “No. You’ve lost more weight, and you’re a bit pale, but then everyone looks white at this time of year. You’ll knock him dead once you’ve got a tan.”

“Suppose so.” She suddenly wandered over to the refrigerator and examined the contents.

“What are you looking for?”

“My tonic. I’ve got a multi-vitamin one, which Martyn says will do wonders for me. I haven’t taken today’s yet.” She fished out a plastic container, removed the cap and filled a glass with the fluid. “Martyn suggested I mix it with fruit juice to get even more vitamins inside me.”

I nodded. “Vitamins are good, especially if the right trace elements are included. Have you tried the pseudo-cereal, quinoa? It contains all the essential amino acids like lysine and good quantities of calcium, phosphorus and iron. Everyone needs a top-up from time to time, especially as we get older. That reminds me…how’s Darcy been while I’ve been away? Has she been her usual sassy self or has she behaved herself for once?”

“So so. Ignores most of what Mum and I say, but Martyn has her eating out of his hand. They’ve been swimming twice in the week, and Martyn picks her up at night to save her catching a bus home when she’s been out with friends. He’s ever so good with her—seems to understand where she’s coming from, and nothing’s too much trouble for him.”

As I listened, Evie’s words didn’t bode well for some reason. Darcy was very pretty and sixteen going on twenty-six. I felt my insides churn. If he as much as laid a hand on my little sister, I swore I would kill him.

I didn’t know what to say. If I came straight out with what was going through my mind, Evie would have had a blue fit. If I kept quiet, heaven only knew what would—or could—happen between Darcy and Martyn. I didn’t trust that scaly lizard. This wasn’t the first time I was convinced he preyed on women.

“Is that a good idea, Evie? She might get the wrong idea.”

Evie’s eyes narrowed, and she licked her dry lips before tossing her head. “What do you mean? Honestly, Moya, you have a filthy mind sometimes. How dare you accuse Martyn of something like that?” I didn’t think I had ever heard so much venom in her voice.

I all but flinched. “All I’m saying is, she’s young and impressionable. I’m not accusing anyone, but Martyn’s good-looking if you like your men tall and dark. You’ve seen her around boys of her own age…she’s an incorrigible flirt. Think what effect an older man might have on her. Please don’t think I’m stirring things up, but she—”

“Enough!” she shouted, holding up one hand and lurching from her chair. “Martyn warned me you’d say something. I think you ought to shut up and leave.”

Shocked at her newfound vehemence, I sat back. Gone was the washed-out, wan woman of a few minutes ago. “Evie, I think there’s something you ought to know. When I was away, I met a woman—”

She leant forward, one hand on the table, the other pointing an accusatory finger in my face. “I said, shut it. Hold your tongue and go. I don’t want to hear any more of your lies. You’ve got an over-imaginative and nasty mind. I’d appreciate it if you left right now. I don’t want to hear any more. Understand?” she hissed.

“No, you listen first. I’ve told you over and over again. Martyn means nothing to me and never has.
I
finished with
him
, not the other way round. And another thing…he’s dangerous. He graphitised my walls with the filthiest of stuff, and I believe he’s been in my flat while I’ve been away, stole some of my underwear and moved my things around.” I wasn’t going to mention the scrawled words written on the bathroom mirror, as I didn’t want to completely freak her out.

“More bloody lies. How easily they come to you. Why would he go into your flat? And how could he unless you gave him a key. For Christ’s sake, fuck off, why don’t you!”

I didn’t know how he got into my flat. Maybe he had my keys copied—it seemed the logical conclusion, but I couldn’t imagine Evie believing that.

“Entering someone’s home is relatively easy, apparently. Don’t you watch Crime Scene? But more to the point, do you know he was engaged before? Engaged to someone who died in mysterious circumstances?”

“If you’re talking about Sally, then Martyn’s already told me. He said he was so distraught when she was forced off the road by some boozed-up
road-rage
driver, he almost had a nervous breakdown.” She sighed, her eyelids flickering and ran a hand wearily through her hair. “Moya, why do you keep doing this? Trying to create a rift between Martyn and me? He is such a lovely man. Kind and loving. Look how is with Mum and Darcy. He can’t do enough for them.” She flopped back down in her chair and stared at the floor between her knees.

I thought of my young and vulnerable sister and my gullible but very wealthy mother. No, of course he couldn’t do enough for my family. The snake was perfectly capable of corrupting both or either of them for his own ends. He was gradually worming his way into my family, and I loathed the idea.

Ignoring her earlier demand that I leave, I swallowed the rest of my coffee in one gulp and while thinking about what to say next, stood up and refilled our coffee cups with fresh hot coffee from the machine. While we were on our own, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass, even if it did mean pissing her off well and truly.

“Have you ever met any of his friends?” I said as I slid the coffee cup towards her.

She looked at me suspiciously, a sneer hovering over her top lip. “You still here? What are you about to accuse him of now?”

“Well, have you? I mean, there’s naught to Martyn, have you ever noticed? He’s nothing…just a shell. What do you
know
about him?”

“He said he’s lost touch with his friends over the years when he was ill…after Sally. I plan to change all that. Anyway we don’t need other people, he says. We’ve got each other.”

We were so lost in our argument, neither of us had heard the front door open, nor realise someone was listening to our row.

I bent my head near hers. “I don’t suppose he told you about Sally’s cousin?”

A noise in the doorway had us both swivel our heads towards it.

“Martyn!” Evie gasped.

“What’s she been saying?”

“Nothing that isn’t true,” I said springing up from my chair. “I’ve been explaining a few things.”

“What are you on about?” His eyes widened, and I don’t believe it was completely from surprise. Could I have finally alarmed him with something I knew?

“I met Sally’s cousin.”

Martyn’s eyes flickered from me to Evie, who was holding her breath.

“So? Why would you do that?”

“She told me about Sally.”

He shook his head in puzzlement.

“But why? I don’t understand. My poor darling Sally was killed. I never knew her cousin. Never even knew she had one.”

“She filled me in on lots of things. Like you not telling the truth about her death, how she met you that night and—” As I spoke I felt the room closing in.

He shrugged. “I’ve no idea what you’re on about. If anyone wanted to know about Sally, all they had to do was ask. Anyway, I’ve told Evie everything about that terrible episode in my life. I don’t really want the wound re-opening again. It’s too raw a subject.”

“You’re lying. Everything about you is a lie. You might deceive Evie and my mum, but not me.”

“Moya, Moya. Calm down. I loved Sally with all my heart. She was special to me…until I met Evie, of course. I couldn’t believe I could ever find happiness again or discover real love a second time. I’ve never deceived you or anyone in this family. I love you all too much for that. Even you, Moya. I love you like a much-valued sister.”

“Liar! What a load of rubbish. You do it all the time,” I screeched taking a step forwards.

He calmly shook his head, a sardonic smile playing around his sensuous mouth. “No Moya, I never deceived you.” He flicked a glance across to a white-faced Evie before continuing in a deceptively soft voice. “I don’t deceive, it’s not in my nature, but you do, don’t you?”

The room suddenly seemed overly hot and oppressive. Martyn’s face took on an expression which reminded me of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland,
mixed with the devil. I shuddered. Outside, I could hear traffic moving past, the wind making the tiles rattle on the roof. The clock in the next room suddenly chimed.

“You deceive many people. You can’t help it. Look how you betrayed Evie.”

My glance flicked across to my sister. Her jaw dropped and she blinked.

“What?” Apprehension flashed in her eyes. “What do you mean, Martyn?”

“It was a long time ago now, but I bet you haven’t forgotten, have you, Moya?” He switched his stare to Evie. “You know, darling, I’m talking about your sister sleeping with your husband, Evie. I’m sorry to drag this up, my sweet, but you see how she is?”

“What?” she croaked. “What are you talking about? Martyn, tell me.”

“When you were first married to Michael. You remember how Moya was obsessed with him? You know how she gets with her fixations. I suppose she couldn’t help it, but she couldn’t leave him alone, kept setting little honey traps. Poor guy, he was only a flesh-and-blood male, after all. How could he resist a sweet, pretty teenager who kept throwing herself at him? She scored when you were working nights at the hospital. Turned up at your house and spent the night shagging him to death. The first of many such times.”

Evie’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, a strangled sort of noise emerged somewhere deep from within her throat.

Speechless, I couldn’t move. I felt the blood drain from my face.