Change of Harte (Harte, #2) (Harte Series) (14 page)

Chapter 31

It was cold. By far the coldest day of the year so far. By far the coldest day Eva could remember. The type of day where the wind grew claws and ripped against your face leaving icy scratches. She was still wearing the clothes she’d burst out of her apartment in last night, mortified that Julian hadn’t let her change. Her grubby outfit was hidden under the coat she’d borrowed from Mrs. Cartwright. And even though it was two or three sizes too big, it kept the wind out of her bones.

Anthony waited patiently on the runway beside her. She was more than a little disappointed when he’d returned without Julian, whose meeting had dragged on, Anthony explained.

‘Can I get you a coffee, Eva? You look positively frozen,’ Anthony said cutting into a silence that had rested between them for almost an hour.

‘No thanks, Anthony. I’m just anxious. I hate flying,’ Eva lied.

She didn’t hate flying, but she was anxious as hell. She’d tried calling Shelly at least twenty times since Julian left earlier, and Shelly’s phone went straight to voicemail without even ringing. She desperately needed to explain what was going on with her friend. Even though she doubted she’d know now. She wasn’t entirely sure herself what had happened in the last twelve hours. She was still reeling from the news of her father’s death, and she knew going back to Dublin with Julian now—right this moment—was running away. But she was okay with that. She even knew she deserved it. People did crazy things when they were grieving. And even though Eva wasn’t sure if grief was the horrible, all-consuming emotion eating away at her inside, she knew the only person she wanted to be around was Julian.

‘Do you know what time we’re supposed to leave, Anthony? Has Julian given you a rough idea? It’s just that if it’s going to be ages, I could just wait for him and we could fly out together. I don’t mind waiting, in fact, I’d prefer it. And it would give me a chance to swing by my apartment and pick up a few things. I feel really stupid wearing this.’

‘He didn’t say how long he’d be, Eva. But I know he’d like you to fly on ahead... I can’t make any changes to that plan. I don’t think Mr. Harte would be very happy if I tried. They’re just refuelling. It won’t be long now. In the meantime, let me get you that coffee, yeah?’

Eva nodded reluctantly. She knew Anthony was only doing his job, but it didn’t help her feel any less apprehensive about the whole situation. It was all a bit clandestine, but in spite of her concerns, she had to smile. It had Julian written all over it.

She really didn’t want coffee, but Anthony looked like he needed a distraction. She’d never seen him so disorientated or worried or something; it was the oddest thing. She wanted to ask him if he was okay, but she knew she’d get a generic answer. So it was a pointless exercise and she didn’t want to make either of them feel more uncomfortable than they already did.

She was relieved when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Shelly’s name appeared on the screen and Eva sighed. Before she had time to answer, she heard Shelly’s voice shouting from behind her.

‘There you are. Jesus. What are you doing out here, it’s freezing!’

Eva’s jaw twitched and her feet shuffled on the spot. ‘Just waiting.’

‘Waiting? Out here?’ Shelly squeaked.

Eva pointed to a private jet waiting on the runway. Shelly shook her head and rolled her eyes.

‘Yeah, I see the plane. You know big, white, metal yokes are kind of hard to miss, but that doesn’t explain why you’re out here freezing your arse off.’

‘I’m going back to Dublin for a couple of weeks, Shell. I’m so sorry. It’s all come up so suddenly, and I tried to call you many times, but your phone wasn’t working or something. Please don’t be mad.’

‘What? Why would I be mad? I’m delighted you’re coming back for a while. I’m just a bit surprised that’s all. I hope you’re doing this for you and not just because Julian thinks he can tell you what to do.’

Eva ignored the dig at her messed-up relationship. She was in no mood for a round of twenty questions. ‘You’re going back to Dublin, too? Now like? Like today?’

Shelly nodded contently.

‘And Nathan is coming back, too?’

Shelly rolled her eyes at the mention of his name, and Eva didn’t push it any further. ‘Now who’s the one doing what Julian tells them to.’

‘Haha. Well, he is my boss, you know.’

‘But you’re on vacation. You only just got here. God, I feel awful. Like I’ve ruined your break.’

‘Sure, I only came here for you. Going back early is no big deal.’ Shelly was beaming; her genuine excitement was dancing in her eyes. ‘It’s much better this way anyway. Especially the way things are with Nathan.’

‘You two still not talking, then?’

Shelly scrunched her face. ‘He’s a total arse.’

‘Maybe that’s a good reason for you to stay. Time alone together to work on things?’

Shelly shook her head hard. ‘Nah. It’s past that, I think. Anyway, I want to spend some time with you, you eejet.’ She knocked her shoulder playfully against Eva’s. ‘Especially now, with everything you’ve got going on.’

‘Julian told you, then?’

‘Yeah. Are you okay? I really thought you’d flip out, to be honest. I think I would have?’

‘I think I’m okay, yeah. It’s all just so weird. Not really sure how to feel. Think that’s why I’m just so desperate to get away from here now. Maybe I should never have come back.’

‘No. Coming back was a good thing. Maybe Julian wouldn’t have found her if you weren’t here, too.’

Eva’s mind was miles away. Her thoughts were already in the air, staring down at the clouds. It took her a few moments to realise that what Shelly had said made no sense.

‘What? Found who? Shelly, you’re talking about my father’s death, yeah?’

Shelly’s face fell. ‘Oh God, Eva. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry to hear that... I know you had your problems and all, but he was still your dad. God, that’s shocking, just shocking. But at least you have Melissa again now.’

Eva’s heart fell into her ankle. She swallowed hard, like the words might choke her. ‘Melissa. My sister, Melissa. Shelly…I…I…’

‘Christ, Eva, are you okay? You’ve gone really white. Anthony, Jesus, Anthony…help.’

Eva saw Anthony’s blurred figure drop takeaway coffee cups and race toward her before everything faded to black.

Eva opened her eyes slowly. She was staring at a dusty air vent in the ceiling overhead. Her vision was still a little blurry, but she could just about make out enough to know that they were in the VIP longue. The ringing in her ears had stopped and she could almost hear properly again. Shelly was berating Anthony over something. Poor Anthony was doing his best to pacify her. Julian’s name was mentioned a few times and Nathan. Eva sat up and rubbed her temples, hoping to ease her killer headache. Shelly came rushing toward her and sat her back into the chair, refusing to let her stand.

‘Here, take a sip.’ Shelly passed Eva a bottle of still water and she guzzled some.

‘Jesus, you went down like a tonne of bricks there, Eva. You okay now.’

‘Yeah. Yeah. I’m fine. Dunno what happened. I never faint, really. Just been a crazy few hours.’

‘Shock, I’d say. Do you know what happened to him?’

Eva closed her eyes again. She hadn’t asked.

‘And I didn’t help with my big mouth. God, Eva. I’m so sorry.’

‘Shelly, do you know something that I don’t?

Eva opened her eyes again and studied Shelly expression. Eva could smell shit. Shelly was terrible at keeping secrets. Her voice always raised an octave when she was bullshitting and she couldn’t make eye contact after for at least five minutes. Right now, Shelly was staring at her boots like the answer to world peace was engraved in the leather.

‘Okay, Shell. Forget about it,’ Eva said, still perplexed by the sudden mention of Melissa but it was outweighed by relief that Shelly didn’t want to dredge through her family history. Especially not today, of all days.

‘I didn’t realise we’d all be flying home together,’ Shelly said, and Eva was grateful for the change of subject.

‘It’s cool and all. I just wasn’t expecting it. Julian didn’t say anything in his text. Just a time to be at the airport. He didn’t even tell me about your dad. Typical.’

Eva was desperate to set Shelly’s crossed wires straight and let her know Julian wasn’t coming yet, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Anthony. He was on the phone. Pacing. Worrying. Panicking. Something wasn’t right. It was Julian. Anthony was worried about him. No matter how much he tried to hide it with professional decorum, Eva could see the concern all over his face. She felt like she might be sick. Maybe it really did have something to do with Melissa. Maybe that was very, very wishful thinking.

‘Is everything okay,’ Eva called out as Anthony hung up and moved away.

He turned back and smiled. ‘Yes, Eva. Everything is fine. I’m on my way to pick up Mr. Harte now. I won’t be long. You should get yourself on board in the meantime, love. You’ll be taking off soon. He’ll be right behind you. So, stop your worrying, okay?’

Colour returned to Anthony’s cheeks and his eyes were brighter, too. Whatever it was, whatever Julian was up to, it was over now. Maybe Eva would ask Shelly about it on the plane. Or maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe she’d just curl up and sleep and look forward to being back in Dublin again. Back in Dublin with Julian.

Chapter 32

The VIP lounge looked smaller since Anthony left. Stuffier, too. Like the air inside was trying to be as drastically contrasting to the air outside as possible. Eva couldn’t stop thinking about what Shelly had said. It was all a little weird, bringing Melissa up so randomly. Her heart was telling her to pump Shelly for any information no matter how frivolous or useless, but her head was telling her not to torture herself. For once, she listened to her head.

Shelly was watching every breath Eva took. It was beyond irritating. Shelly had attempted to strike up a conversation numerous times between mouthfuls of smoky bacon chips and fidgeting with her phone, but Eva ignored her. Eva’s brain was stewing, and talking about anything right now was like turning the heat in her head to boil. She found herself constantly checking her phone for word from Julian. There was none.

‘I’m sorry for putting my foot in it,’ Shelly said eventually when the silence was becoming unbearable. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

‘No.’

‘But she’s your sister.’

‘I do know that, Shell. Thanks.’

‘But Eva. You just asked me if I know something.’

‘I did, and you said you didn’t. Let’s leave it at that, okay? Shell, please. I really don’t want to talk about this.’

‘That’s because I wasn’t supposed to say anything. He asked me not to.’

Eva flicked her eyes to the ceiling.
He? Julian.
She knew Shelly was trying to spark a reaction, and unfortunately, it was working more than Eva wanted it to.

‘But what kind of a shit friend would that make me, eh?’ Shelly continued. ‘I have to tell you.’

‘So, what’s the first thing we’ll do when we get back to Dublin?’ Eva paced the room. ‘I’d love to go back to that little pub in Temple Bar. Do you remember the one with the great cocktails? I say we go straight there from the airport, yeah?’

‘Stop changing the subject. Eva, this is serious.’

‘I wonder if Nathan and Julian would like to come. Could be a good chance for you and Nathan to work things out.’

‘Why don’t you ask Nathan yourself? He’ll be here in a few minutes with something to tell you.’

‘I thought you weren’t talking to him,’ Eva snapped.

‘I’m not,’ Shelly snorted. ‘But he texted me there while you were giving me the silent treatment. Anyway, what does it matter? This is important, Eva. I’m okay with talking to him for your sake.’

Eva dragged air through her nose and puffed out her chest. She didn’t like Shelly’s insinuation that Nathan, who she hadn’t even spoken to since he arrived in New York, was about to reunite her with her long lost sister. Her life wasn’t an episode of Jeremy Fucking Kyle.
Thank you very much.

‘Look,’ Eva said, trying to hide her emotion as she turned to face Shelly. ‘I’ve tried to contact Melissa a few times since I’ve been back. I even thought we could maybe take the trip out to New Jersey together. But she was having none of it. Told me to stay the fuck away. She even got her creepy Latino boyfriend to warn me to stay away from her. He told me he’d happily strangle me if I called again. I took the not-so-subtle hint. There’s just too much water under the bridge. I’ve dealt with it, okay?’

‘I don’t think he’s her boyfriend, Eva.’ 

‘Well, whoever he is, he’s a creep.’

‘He’s her pimp, Eva,’ Nathan said, appearing in the doorway.

Eva turned around to face Nathan. Her face soured and her eyes narrowed. ‘You could have started with hello.’

‘Sorry. That was a bit blunt but…’

Eva snorted. ‘Yeah, just a bit.’

Shelly looked like she wanted to gouge out Nathan’s eyes with the corner of her chips packet. The tension in the room was torturous.

‘I think you’ve picked this up wrong,’ Eva added. ‘Melissa is an exotic dancer. And yes, before you say anything, either of you, I know how bad a rep dancers have. But she’s not like that. She wouldn’t sell her body. Okay. See, Shelly. This is exactly why I didn’t want to talk about this.’

‘A dancer in Vertigo?’ Nathan asked. Although it sounded a lot more like an accusation than a question.

Eva nodded. ‘Yeah, yeah, I think that’s the place. Does it matter?’

‘And have you ever been in Vertigo, Eva?’ Nathan continued.

‘No. Nathan,’ Eva snapped, uncomfortable with this sudden twist in conversation, ‘why would I be in a place like that?’

‘A place like that. Exactly. A place where dirty old men take young, helpless girls upstairs and fuck them for a pay-by-the-hour rate.’

‘Nathan, stop it. That’s a disgusting way to say it,’ Shelly scolded. ‘Eva, are you okay?’

Eva sat back down, chewing on her inside lip. She didn’t want to believe it but suddenly a lot of the pieces were fitting together.

‘Eva, you’ve gone very pale again, do you feel faint?’ Shelly asked wrapping her arm around Eva’s shoulders.

‘I’m fine. Okay. I’m fine.’ Eva shrugged herself free.

‘Are you only just finding all this out now, seriously?’

Eva’s head hurt. Maybe she was going to faint again.

‘Did you really not know? I thought you just didn’t want to talk about it, to be honest. Kind of thought Julian would tell you, too. He was being all dickhead about it and didn’t want me to say anything. Typical Julian. But then when I saw you here and you said you were coming back to Dublin, well, I just thought he’d told you. Honestly, Eva. I wouldn’t have sprung it on you like this if I’d known. And especially with your dad and everything.’

Julian. What did that have to do with Julian?
Eva’s stomached heaved and she was sorry for sipping so much water as it swished around inside her stomach like a washing machine on spin cycle.
More fucking games. Shelly was wrong. She had to be wrong. Please, please.

‘Vertigo. Vertigo.’ Eva ran the name over in her head, processing the new familiarity. ‘Actually, I know that place. I was near there yesterday. It’s really classy. It’s nice. It’s just a dance place. They wouldn’t have prostitutes in there.’ Eva looked at both her friends for reassurance. ‘They wouldn’t, Shell. Would they?’

Tears streamed down her face. And the ache in her head was threatening to burst out through the back of her skull.

‘Eva, it’s okay.’

‘Oh, my God. It’s not. It’s so not. Jesus, I should have read the signs. I should have helped her. I was so busy obsessing over being independent since I got home; I didn’t even bother to care enough.’ Eva doubled over in her seat now, acid burning its way up her throat, and she had to concentrate on her breathing to not be sick.

‘Eva, none of this is your fault,’ Shelly reassured, rubbing Eva’s back. ‘She’s safe now. She must be coming back to Dublin with us; that’s probably where Julian is now. He’s gone to sort it all out. This is good. I’m really excited for you.’

‘What? That’s crazy. Really? Oh. My. God!
Oh, my God.’
Bubbles of excitement popped inside Eva’s belly like someone had shaken a can of soda and opened the lid.
Julian. Julian must have done this. Why didn’t he just say so?

Nathan was shaking his head and Shelly’s smile was instantly wiped.

‘What?’ Shelly said, her voice shaky and worrying.

‘I don’t think she’s coming to Dublin,’ Nathan said.

Eva sank back against her seat. She knew it was too good to be true.

‘Nathan, where is she?’ Shelly’s concerned voice was changing to borderline panic, and the switch in tone pulled Eva’s body upright like a puppet on a string.

‘Gone.’

Eva could actually see the huge gulp of air plummet down Nathan’s throat. Shelly was on her feet immediately. Her hands tossing her hair and her feet tapped the spot. Agitated, freaked out.
Not fucking good
.

‘What? Shelly, tell me? What’s wrong?’ Eva could literally see the colour in the room change.

Eva watched as Shelly eyes glassed over and Shelly turned away.

‘Where is she now, Nathan? She was with Julian,’ Shelly stuttered. ‘Has he…

Nathan shook his head. ‘Julian handed her over to some guy. I saw it with my own eyes last night. A big guy. Pretty rough looking, too. They didn’t know I was watching, obviously. Jesus. It looked like some sort of a deal or something. I think Julian is mixed up in all this. I think he was giving her back to her pimp.’

Shelly backed away, holding her stomach like she might throw up. She was shaking, maybe even as much as Eva. Eva could see it in her hands, the same restless twitch that she had. It hurt a bit.

‘I think he was bullshitting you, Shell, and you fell for it. Fuck, it wouldn’t surprise me if Julian owned that seedy club. I know he has financial interests over here, but his accountants are unreal at creating a paper chase. It’s like a minefield trying to find shit,’ Nathan continued.

‘You’re wrong,’ Eva propounded, comforted to have found a hole in Nathan’s theory. ‘He’s a silent partner in HTK, that’s why he’s here. Not some club owner, jeez.’

‘What? HTK? So, you still work for Julian, then?’ Shelly sprung to life.

‘Yeah. Sort off. I guess so. But not really. Remember I mentioned Mia knew my boss, kinda? Anyway, it doesn’t really matter.’

Fuck.
That was not what Eva meant. She was just setting the record straight. Work was work, purely professional. Now Shelly was going to put some sort of a the-plot-thickens weird spin on it.

‘I thought I knew all of Julian’s interests overseas,’ Shelly said, disbelief and upset written all over her face.

Eva rolled her eyes. ‘I doubt anybody knows all of Julian’s interests. In anything.’

‘No. No way. This is ridiculous.’ Shelly glared at Nathan like she wanted to hurt him, or…like he was hurting her. ‘Okay, so Julian kept the silent partnership to himself. Fine, whatever. I still know all the ins and outs of his business. More than you, Eva. Sorry, but I do,’ Shelly said and Eva picked up on the genuine sincerity in her apology. But it did little to rub out the territorial sound to it. ‘And no matter what you say, Nathan, Julian isn’t like that. Why did he tell me who she was, then? He could have just said it was just some hooker, I wouldn’t have known. But he didn’t. He told me.’

‘He told you because he had to. You would have told Eva. And he knew that. He’s seriously smart, Shelly. He’s always two steps ahead,’ Nathan said.

‘But he didn’t tell me. It was his housekeeper…Mrs…oh…Mrs…’

‘Cartwright,’ Eva said lifting her head. She wished she could zone out and not hear all this. Or at least zone out and think it was all a load of bullshit. But the pattern was becoming too clear.

‘No,’ Shelly reiterated. ‘This is bollocks.’

‘How in the hell else would he know all he does, Shelly? I’ve been following this lead for three years. Three fucking years! Julian waltzes off a plane and suddenly knows more than I’ve gathered in all those years. My fucking arse he’s not involved. I reckon this is his biggest game yet.’

Shelly looked at Eva. Was she waiting for her to say something? What in the hell was there to say?

‘I’m so sorry,’ Nathan said, close to tears, as he turned to look at Eva.

Everyone was staring at Eva now. She sat rocking back and forth on the spot. She couldn’t tell if she was pissed off, upset, or just needed to throw her guts up.

‘So, you’re saying she’s back there. That he just used her, had a quick one and what? Handed her over like a dog to the pound? That doesn’t sound right,’ Shelly stuttered.

‘He sent her to hell, then,’ Eva added. Her blood was coursing through her veins like a runaway train. ‘Why? Why my sister? He could have any girl he wants. He has had before.’

If Julian could keep HTK quiet, maybe he kept Vertigo quiet, too,
she thought. She didn’t understand, but Julian had always seemed to know so much about her. She had too shy and timid to call him out on it before. But Nathan was right. Julian was a smart guy, anything she did ask he would have twisted anyway. She’d always known about Julian’s obsession with games, damn, it was probably one of the only things about him that he didn’t try to hide. But she’d enjoyed that on some weird level. The test of being a worthy opponent. The satisfaction of meeting his challenge to come out of her comfort zone and be the strongest person she could be. She even believed that she’d proved to herself over the last six months that she was the real winner. But this was obviously so much more than just a game to Julian. This was an obsession. And she had no idea what the hell his problem was. He’d really done his homework. Not just on her but on her whole family. It was all sorts of fucked up. And she was damn well going to find out why. She’d worry about making him pay, after. After her sister was safe.

Nathan nodded again. Shelly’s hand covered her face, as if she could read what he was thinking. ‘Oh, sweet Jesus.’

‘I’m meeting my source there,’ Nathan said.

‘Vertigo?’ Shelly squeaked.

‘We have to go get her. I have to get her.’

‘Your source, Nathan? You have to get Melissa? Or you have to get the story?’ Shelly snapped.

‘I have to get Melissa.’

Every millimetre of Eva’s body felt like someone had just beaten her up with a giant size baseball bat. Her whole world was spinning. Her father, her sister, Julian. It was such a mess.