Pinstripes (45 page)

Chapter Forty-four

As soon as they got back, Clara sprang into action. She called Gavin and they decided that Thursday would be a good night: Oliver had given her the phone number of someone who could install the video equipment, so Clara rang it and made an arrangement. Then she called Gavin again to tell her when it would be fitted. Gavin asked when she would get her money. When they had the tape, Clara told her.

“
What money?” Virginia asked, as Clara put the telephone down.

“
You don’t think he’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart, do you?” Clara said.

“
I suppose not. But how much?”

“
It doesn’t matter. It’s on me.”

“
I wish I could contribute,” Virginia said.

“
You have. You did the Declan thing when Ella and I couldn’t. You did a fantastic job, so it’s my turn.” Clara smiled.

“
But you’ve done more than any of us for this one,” Virginia protested, still thinking that Clara had done too much.

“
We’ve all done our bit. And I’d better call Liam now.”

“
Liam? Why?”

“
We’re going to need him to make sure everyone sees the videotape, and I’ve got to put him on standby.” Clara went to make the call, leaving Virginia alone. She missed Ella, and didn’t know how she would cope without her.

***

“Liam, it’s Clara.”

“
Hang on, I need to move away from my desk.” Liam took his mobile into a quiet corner. “OK, we’re clear.”

“
Liam, something’s happening on Thursday night. On Friday you’ll receive a videotape and I need you to make sure that everyone sees it. I can’t tell you what’s on it but I’ll have it delivered to you.”

“
Clara, you know we only have a few conference rooms with video-recorders in them and people will be stuck at their desks. Can’t you send it on e-mail?”

“
E-mail?”

“
You know what e-mail is don’t you?”

“
Of course I do. How do I get a video on to e-mail?”

“
I’ll get you the number of a man I know who’s a computer whiz. He owes me a favour. He’ll help you. But if you’ve got something everyone should see I can e-mail it to the whole floor. Have you got a computer?”

“
I’ll buy one from your man. We can really do this with e-mail?”

“
Yes. But what about sound? Most of us don’t have a sound facility, do we need it for this?”

“
It’s visual.”

“
OK. Well, send me a videotape as back-up.”

“
Liam, won’t you get into trouble e-mailing whatever I have to everyone?”

“
Clara, I’m not a total idiot. I’ll do it from Johnny’s computer.”

“
God, that’s a fantastic idea! Liam, you’re a hero.”

“
Well, whatever I’m doing it’s for Ella – no, for all of us. If we don’t get rid of Johnny soon, we’ll all go fucking mad. Just make sure Ella knows that. I’ll call you back with that number.”

With Ella out of the way, Clara took charge. This meant that she barked orders at Virginia. While Clara called Johnny to ask him out on Thursday, Virginia had been told to make coffee. The date was arranged. The coffee was made. Later, after Liam had called again, she outlined to Virginia the e-mail idea, called Liam
’s contact and arranged for him to bring a computer round to her flat.

When Clara had finished organising, they sat down together.

“Do you really think this is going to work?” Virginia asked.

“
Of course,” Clara said indignantly, although she was beginning to have doubts.

“
I miss Ella,” Virginia said.

“So
do I.”

“
What’s happening to us, Clara? We all seem so fragile, you, Ella and me. I sometimes feel we’re all teetering on the brink and I’m scared we’ll fall off.”

“
We might fall off, Virginia, but we’ll get back up. This won’t destroy us.”

Virginia hoped she was right.

That night, as they were paging listlessly though some magazines, Clara asked suddenly, “Virginia, what’s your story?”

“
What story?”

“
Your life story. We know Ella’s, which is freaky, but we don’t know yours.”

“
Maybe I’m too boring to have a story.”

“
Maybe it’s because you have a story that you’re boring.”

“
What’s got into you? First you fall apart and promise to give up the coke, then you tell us you’re seeing a counsellor, then we find out you lied and you get arrested and now you’ve gone all nice and interested and even intuitive.”

“
I don’t know, really,” Clara answered truthfully.

“
OK. Virginia Bateman has been a huge disappointment to her parents on every level. When I was little they sent me to ballet, piano lessons and Brownies. I had no co-ordination for ballet and the teacher told my parents I had no ear for music. The piano teacher told them that too. I didn’t get as many badges in the Brownies as my mother’s friend’s daughter, and the shame she had to endure every time I failed to become a pack leader has never left her. My parents pushed me. “Be the best, Virginia,” they always said. But I never was. I was just average. Average at school, with average looks. I was never good enough. My lower-middle-class parents from middle England couldn’t bear that I wasn’t a superstar. Even though neither of them was a high achiever that didn’t excuse me. I was told so many times I was a failure that I started to believe it. Then I went to university and started hanging around with the bright people – well, the people who were interested in economics rather than beer. I met Noel, who was average-looking, probably below-average in personality. I let him dominate me until we left. I got a below-average degree and only managed to get a job as a secretary. Nothing was the way my parents wanted it, but then nothing was the way I wanted it either. I didn’t
know
what I wanted. When I nearly got that job as a salesperson I was so proud of myself. I was almost a different person. It really hurt when it was snatched away.”

“
Virginia Bateman, you are
not
average. I know I always call you boring but you’re not. You’re very nice. I think you’ll do something special.”

“
I hope so.” Virginia tried to smile.

“
My life was the opposite of yours. My parents had no expectations of me – well, apart from finding myself a husband and learning to cook. Neither of which I have managed. James was the one they pushed. I was just a girl. My parents wanted me to become my mother. She is very thin with a huge collection of Chanel suits, matching shoes and handbags and expensive jewellery. She was beautiful, she still is, but she’s so dull. She sits and listens to my father talking and she doesn’t understand a word he’s saying. She does charity things, she has lunch, she goes to the hairdresser. Apparently that and being a wife is a full-time job. So when I protested that I had a brain and a personality, they pretty much ignored me. My father always says to me, “I didn’t send you to finishing school so you could get a job. I sent you there so you could learn to cook.” He says it nearly every time we meet.”

“
Parents have a lot to answer for.”

“
Yours put all their ambitions on to you when they should just have loved you. They gave you low self-esteem. Mine did the same by belittling everything I did. I do love James but I’m as jealous as hell of him.”

“
I don’t have anyone else.”

“
You do now. I know it’s not much but you have me.”

The new Clara went to bed and slept well; the new Virginia lay awake thinking about James and sex.

Chapter Forty-five

When Virginia woke up Clara informed her she was going out.

“Where?”

“
I’ve got to meet this video guy at Gavin’s flat,” Clara said.

“
Do you want me to come?” Virginia asked.

“
Well, you don’t exactly approve of the plan or him ...”

“
I’d like to come.”

Gavin lived in Highgate, in a large white flat.

“God, darling, I wouldn’t have thought this was your type of place,” Clara said, looking about her. Its plainness didn’t suit Gavin, somehow.

“
It’s not mine. I look after it for a friend.” Clara decided not to ask any more questions. Virginia stayed quiet: Gavin was scowling at her, which made her nervous.

“
Gavin, why are you dressed as a woman now?” Clara asked.

“
Because sweetie, I’m getting into character.”

“
I thought you always wore women’s clothes,” Virginia said.

Gavin rolled his eyes.
“Darling, I only dress like this when someone’s paying.”

“
Where’s this guy?” Clara asked. “He was supposed to be here ages ago.”

“
He’ll be here, darling,” Gavin said, and went to make iced tea.

“
When Mr Spyman, as Clara called him, finally turned up, they were sitting on white cushions on Gavin’s floor drinking the iced tea. Clara and Gavin were smoking.

“
Hello Mr Spyman,” Clara said, shaking his hand. The big fat black haired man that stood in front of her was so mesmerised by the sight of three lovely women he didn’t even bother to correct his name.

“So
what can I do for you lovely ladies?” he asked. Virginia groaned inwardly, but Gavin and Clara giggled.

“
We need a hidden camera in here, facing the bed.” Clara took him into the bedroom.

“
The wardrobe’s the best place. We’ll have it set up in no time.” Mr Spyman laughed.

“
It doesn’t sound very technical,” Clara said.

“
It’s only a bleeding video love, you find these in many bedrooms these days. I’d like to know what you’re using it for. Some lesbian stuff is it?” Mr Spyman was getting a little sweaty.

“
No it isn’t,” Virginia shouted a little too loudly.

“
Suit yourselves. I’ll be about half an hour. When it’s done, I’ll call you and we can test it.”

They waited in the other room. Gavin and Clara giggled together, but Virginia kept quiet. Eventually the man shouted to them and they went in. He told Clara and Gavin to go and lie on the bed then gave Gavin a tiny remote-control button.
“Press this when you want to turn it on. It’s a VHS videotape as requested, and it’ll run for three hours. “I’ll be here on Friday at two to collect the equipment.”

When he had gone, Clara said,
“Right. Phase one complete. Now, Gavin, you bloody better make sure you know how to turn that video camera on. Now, I don’t have a photo of Johnny but he’s short and spotty and he’ll be the only short spotty boy in the bar. Make sure you talk to him as soon as you see him. And ask him his name to be doubly sure. He thinks he’s meeting me at eight. When you’re sure the tape has everything on it, call me and I’ll come and collect it. You have to get this right.”

“
I know I do, I need the money.”

“
What are you going to wear on Thursday?” Clara asked.

“
Sugar, I hadn’t thought. I’m going to Frontline which is trendy. I don’t have any trendy women’s clothes. Oh God.” Gavin looked stricken.

‘”
Don’t panic. Let’s go and look.” Clara went to his wardrobe.

“
It’s utterly hopeless, I have nothing,” Gavin wailed. Virginia shook her head.

“
Shush darling,” Clara said as she rummaged through the clothes. “I’ve got it.” She pulled out a short, plain black dress.

“
You think?” Gavin asked.

“
Put it on,” Clara commanded. Virginia sat on the bed and stared at the wall intently.

Gavin put the dress on. It was low cut but not obscenely so and it fell just above the knee. Clara then pulled out a cream cashmere cardigan and she ordered him into.

“It’s a bit boring isn’t it?” Gavin asked.

“
No. Johnny thinks he’s classy. He prefers the understated look. Now wear some black heels and some jewellery and you’ll look lovely,” Clara smiled, kindly.

“
What about my handbag? Is my handbag ok?”

As Clara put the finishing touches to Gavin
’s outfit Virginia longed for Ella. She was in an absurd situation and she had no idea how to handle it. Gavin was behaving more like a woman than any woman Virginia knew and Clara was behaving as if dressing a man in female clothing was the most natural thing in the world.

“
You look stunning darling.” Clara stood back and admired her handiwork.

“Thank
s sweetie. Gavin kissed her cheek.

“
Virginia, we’ve got to go and buy a video-recorder.”

“
But you’ve got one.”

“
I have to make two copies of the tape, so I need another machine and some leads. Come on.”

Outside Clara hailed a cab.
“Peter Jones in Sloane Square,” she instructed the driver, and they got in. “This is just like an espionage movie,” she said to Virginia.

“
What? Going to Peter Jones?”

“
You know what I mean.”

In the shop Virginia followed Clara to the electrical department where, she grabbed a salesman.
“I need a video-recorder,” she said.

The young man smiled.
“What sort, madam?”

“
How should I know? One that plays videos,” Clara snapped.

“
Well, we have an extensive range,” he said.

“
We’ll take the cheapest,” Virginia put in.

“
You’d be better off going for one of our top-of-the-range models, madam.”

“
She said we’d have the cheapest, and I’m in a hurry. Please just give me the cheapest one and some leads. Oh, and some blank tapes. About four.” The salesman hurried off.

“
Phase two all but complete,” Clara said, smiling.

***

When the computer man showed up that evening, Virginia was setting up the video-recorders. She was proving to be a bit of a technical whiz.

When the bell rang Clara opened the door and saw only a stack of boxes on legs.
“I’m Peter,” a muffled voice said. Clara led him through to the sitting room.

“
I’ve got more in the car,” he continued, putting his burden on the table.

“
Oh, Virginia will help you.” Virginia glared at her and followed Peter out.

“
You need to tell me what you want. Clara wasn’t very clear on the telephone so I brought everything I could think of.”

“
Well, we need to get a video on to an e-mail format and e-mail it,” Virginia explained.

“
That should be easy. Does either of you know how to use a computer?”

“
Up to a point, of course. But probably not to achieve this.”

“
Fine. I owe Liam a favour so I’ll teach you.” Peter smiled at her. He was about thirty with long hair. They finished getting the boxes out of the car and went back inside.

“
Let me set up the computer first, then I’ll go through everything.”

“
Would you like a drink?” Clara asked.

“
Cup of tea, please. Milk, two sugars.”

“
Virginia be an angel,” Clara said. Virginia glared at her again but went to the kitchen anyway.

Peter set up a computer and a number of other pieces of equipment that Clara didn
’t recognise. By the time he had started to explain how everything worked, she had lost interest and was watching television.

“
Are you going to hook us up to the Internet?” Virginia asked.

“
Of course – otherwise you can’t do this. I’ve brought this Internet Explorer CD. I’ll set up your address. Who should I register it to?”

“
Clara Hart,” Virginia said.

“
No,” Clara said. They looked at her. “We don’t want this e-mail traced back to me. Can’t we make up a name?”

“
Sure,” Peter had no idea what they were up to, but he’d promised Liam he’d do this.

He got them connected quickly, then hooked up a number of leads and showed Virginia how to get the video from the tape on to the web. Eventually he was ready to leave.
“Are you sure you understand?” he asked Virginia.

“
Yes. Actually, it’s quite straightforward. I think I’ll be fine.”

“
Well, you’ve got my number if you need me.” And with that he saw himself out. They were on their own.

“
Christ, it all sounds very complicated,” Clara said.

“
No, it’s fine, I’ll be fine,” Virginia replied. ‘did you need to buy all this equipment, couldn’t we just hire it?”

“
It’s about time we got into the computer age anyway,” Clara said, showing absolutely no interest in it. Virginia spent the rest of the evening experimenting with the equipment until she was satisfied she could do it.

***

By Thursday the nerves had returned. Clara had taken some cocaine to calm herself but it was having the opposite effect. She called Johnny again to confirm their meeting, she called Gavin, she called Oliver and she called Liam. Liam told her he had primed Johnny’s computer ready for tomorrow. He had also found the e-mail addresses of Johnny’s father and his uncle an extra insurance in the destruction of Johnny’s life. They were ready to go.

“
Virginia, here’s the”
Yellow
Pages
. Find a courier firm and book a bike for first thing tomorrow morning. Actually, book two. They pick up here and deliver two tapes. One to Liam Rice at SFH, and one to Johnny Rupfin at SFH. I want them delivered separately.”

Then, while Clara had her second bath of the day, Virginia took the telephone into her room and called James.
“Can I speak to James, please?” she asked the female voice. Her heart was thumping.

“
May I say who’s calling?”

“
Virginia Bateman,” she replied. She was put on hold and had to endure some awful music for what seemed like for ever, until James was on the line.

“
I thought you might have called before now,” he said accusingly.

“
James, things have been manic. Ella’s ill and she’s gone away for a break. We’re about to finish the plans. The last one’s tonight. I wanted to call you before but—”

“
Good. So when do I see you?”

“
I don’t know. I can’t leave Clara until Ella’s back. But I do want to.”

“
All right. But as soon as this is over we’re telling Clara. I don’t want to have to wait for you to call me and I don’t like never seeing you. It’s not the best way to start a relationship.”

“
What
?
”

“
Well, I had hoped we were having a relationship.”

“
Really?”

“
Virginia, would you stop saying that? Yes, really.”

By Thursday evening, Clara and Virginia were watching television, drinking coffee and waiting.

“Perhaps we should go to the bar,” Clara suggested.

“
Are you
mad
?
”

“
Well, at least that way we could see if it was working. I’m fed up with waiting. We waited for Isabelle, we waited for Tim, and now we’re waiting again.”

“
Clara, don’t you think Johnny would notice if we turned up?”

“
We could go in disguise.”

“
What as, for heaven’s sake?” Virginia was incredulous.

“
Oh, I don’t know?”

“
We’ll wait,” Virginia said firmly.

“
I suppose we have to,” Clara replied, defeated.