To Murder Matt (19 page)

“Yes?”

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes why?”

“Just thinking of the events of the wedding.” Her whole body shifted in discomfort. “You have to admit, the whole affair by the lake was rather strange.” She said nothing, and he wasn’t sure whether to continue. “After all, it was his wedding and I find you acting like a wild cat at the lake. And the open threats-”

“So?”

“It’s just that you don’t seem yourself since we came back, and I was just checking if everything was ok.”

“Yes everything is ok. I was just surprised that’s all. I knew him before. I wanted him out of my life, never to see him again. I wouldn’t have attended if I knew he would be there.”

“How well do you know him?”

“Too well. And you?”

“Just through business, and Ellen is a long time friend.” She nodded, and returned to her work.

“If I can do anything for you Dean, I would recommend that you stay away from him, and your friend Ellen should too.”

“Is that a professional or personal opinion of him?”

“Both.”

“I wish it were that easy. With Ellen marrying him, he is now inextricably linked with my family and my business.”

“If that is the case Dean, I will have to resign with immediate effect.”

“That doesn’t make sense. You don’t just resign because of that.”

“It’s more than that, but I don’t want to go into it.”

“My business doesn’t do that much with him, I could assure you that you won’t meet him again, not through business anyway.”

“No, I can’t take that risk.”

“Risk?”

“I am not prepared to discuss it further.” Her eyes flashed with anger and Dean recognized the same look that Ellen had when he ever tried to broach any subject that she didn’t want to discuss. He backed down immediately.

“Well. I’m sorry, but if you do want to discuss things further just let me know.”

They worked the rest of the morning in silence. Dean tried to put the conversation out of his mind, but every time he thought of Matt, he got annoyed, and now, looking at Veronique, it irked him that Matt had also been involved with her too; he was surrounded by women who were, or had been involved with Matt. Whatever Veronique knew about him, he wanted to know it too.

Several weeks later, Matt called Dean to arrange a meeting. It was nearing the dates for the Monaco Grand Prix.

“Priscilla, Matt is coming to the office. You may wish to take the day off, or you can work from home.”

“I will take the day off, if you don’t mind.” At the end of the day Dean noticed that she looked immensely tired, and also more than a little tense. “I’ll see you on Friday.  Please let me know when he has gone.”

“Of course, but have you thought it might actually be easier to resolve your issues with him, whatever they are? Instead of all this skulking around.”  She gave him a dark look, and walked out of the office before he could continue.

The following morning, Matt arrived promptly, and they began to work. He opened his briefcase and took out a copy of his contracts. “There are a few details that need finalizing.  My clients have raised a few
concerns
.”

“Really?  Do continue.”

“Firstly they will be flying over in their own jet, and arriving at this location, at this time.” He handed him an itinerary. “This is the route they would like to sail and they have decided not to use your hostess.”

“Ok I shall inform my staff.”

“They will inform your captain directly if they have additional changes they wish to make.”

“As they wish.”

“Good, that was it. Where is your colleague? Priscilla.”

“Oh she had the day off.” He looked at Matt, everything they had discussed could have been done by email, Skype and fax. He didn’t need to drive down to see him.

“Why?” Matt asked.

“Why? I don’t pry into my staff’s private lives. How was your...honeymoon?”

“Oh, you know, lots of sex, eating, lots more sex, eating. Normal honeymoon.”  Dean had flinched at the first mention of sex, and Matt saw this, so added a few for good measure.

“Very nice I am sure. When did you get back?”

“A couple of days ago.” Dean nodded.

“Good, anything else?”

“No.” Matt picked up his papers and placed them inside his briefcase before clicking the locks shut. “I might just look around the area before I leave.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Oh, a little bird watching maybe.”

“There are plenty of local species around here.”

“I am looking for something a little more exotic, French perhaps, and by the name of Priscilla.” Dean tensed, his jaw visibly clenching. Matt had just married his best friend, and now he was already looking away from home. He was disgusted.

“Ms. Harrison is not a bird to be watched, Matt.” Without even thinking, Dean had just given Matt her surname.

“Thank you. I must go.”

Outside in the car, Matt phoned the phone service for direct enquiries.

“I am looking for Priscilla Harrison. Hamble or near to there.”

A few seconds later, his mobile beeped with a text giving him her phone number. He dialed it immediately. He had no idea what he would say if she answered, and at the same time he wondered whether she would answer. She wouldn’t know he had her number. He would say nothing. He decided he wouldn’t say a word. He would tease her. She would know it was him anyway. He was the one person in the world she didn’t want to see.  The phone gave the busy tone.  He would ring again later. He hung up; annoyed that she hadn’t answered and was busy.  He was so close to her.

In the office, Dean watched Matt sit in the car park, and make his call. He was also trying to reach Priscilla.  She answered on the second ring.

“Hi, It’s me. He just left.”

“Thanks, you didn’t tell him where I lived, did you?”

“Hell no. I didn’t say anything.”

“Did he ask about me?”

“Only if you were in and when you were next in the office.” He heard her gasp. “It’s ok, I didn’t tell him.”

“Oh God, It’s starting again.”

“What is?”

“Dean. I can’t tell you, but I need to take some time off, starting immediately. Please understand. I’m due some holiday, and I can work from home as well, but I can’t return to the office for a while, not whilst he knows where I work.”

“Why?”

“Please don’t ask. I need you to respect my privacy on this. Please, under no circumstances must you visit me either, in case he follows you here.”

“Ok, but I don’t understand.”

“Thanks, Dean. Don’t tell him anything, I beg of you.”

“Ok. Ok. You have my word” He replaced the phone receiver and looked out of the window. Matt was still on the phone and there appeared to be no conversation. He saw him hit the steering wheel, and then he drove away.

Dean picked up the phone and rang Ellen’s home number. It just rang and rang. He would try again later. Several days later, he still hadn’t managed to reach her, but it was always like this between them and besides, just back from her honeymoon, she would have a million and one things to do.  He called her office to leave a message for her there.

“I’m sorry Dean, but she left work a few days before she got married. She won’t be working here any more. I think she is thinking of having a family.”

“Thank you.” He couldn’t believe what he had heard. It didn’t sound like her to give up the career she had worked so hard for. “Is it possible to speak to Sarah, her p.a.?”

“Sarah, hasn’t been her p.a. for ages now. Would you like me to put you through to her last p.a.?”

“No, It’s ok, I will call her at home.”

The phone rang, and rang, and rang, and then just as Dean was about to hang up he heard a quiet voice at the other end.

“Hello Ellen?”

“Yes.”  Her voice sounded flat, lifeless, and dull.

“You ok?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been calling you everywhere; trying to reach you, even your work. You didn’t tell me you were leaving.”  He thought he heard a muffled sob.

“Are you all right?” The phone hung up.  He looked at the silent phone. He called back.

“Ellen, please don’t hang up on me. What is going on?”

“Nothing. I just need time.”

“Time? You have never needed time to speak to me before. Are you worried about Matt?  What he’ll say?”

“No! Look I can’t talk. Leave me alone.” She sounded desperate. The phone clicked as she hung up again.

It took him three hours to drive from Hamble to Kensington. Traffic was heavy, and he cursed several drivers for their lack of driving ability. Now he was sat outside her house. He wanted to go in, but now he was there. He felt foolish. He was behaving like a lovesick teenager. She had every right to tell him to leave her alone; she was now a married woman, after all. He turned the key in the ignition, and was about to drive away when her front door opened. She was coming out to do something. He was shocked by her appearance. She looked dreadful; on her face she had a massive bruise.  He could see that she had tried to hide it, with makeup, and her hair. He switched off the ignition. He was right. Something was wrong. He got out of the car, and ran up across the path towards her.

“Ellie, my God. What had happened?” She recoiled from him, and hid the bruised side of her face away from him. She looked down the street checking to see if anyone could see her talking to him, afraid that the neighbors may see them together.

“Go away Dean.” She turned around, and tried to get back inside the house, but fumbled for the keys inside her bag. He stood by her side, his arms at his side. Even without touching her he knew she was crying.

“I can’t do that Ellie” His voice was soft and gentle “I can’t walk away from you, not when you need me, not when you are upset like this.” He put his hand on her shoulder, and she flinched and gasped in pain, her face grimacing.  He took his hand away and looked at it, as though it was burning, and hurting her intentionally. “What’s happened? I want to know.”

“I can’t say anything.” She opened the door, and went in, and turned to shut the door behind her, but he put his foot in the door.

“I’m coming in. Don’t fight me. I love you.”

He looked at her with such tenderness, that she sobbed, and stepped back to let him in. She stood inside the main foyer of the house, and pulled her coat around her protectively. She shut the door, and then turned to face him fully. He took her in his arms, felt her trembling next to him. He could smell her perfume; feel her hair on his face. They fitted so well together. For an instant, he was taken back to the yacht, when he had first held her this way. It seemed like an eternity passed before either of them spoke.

“You have to go, Matt mustn’t see you here, mustn’t know you were here.”

“Why? I am an old family friend. We go back years.”

“He wouldn’t like it.”

“Has he said this to you?”

“No. I just know.” She stepped back, and dried her tears and then walked down the hallway so that he couldn’t see her shame. The phone rang and she jumped. It stopped after a few rings and she looked back towards Dean, fear in her eyes.

“Is he...? Did he...?” He wanted to ask if he had been hitting her, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. They were words he didn’t want an answer to.

“No I had an accident, I fell over”

“Oh.” Dean felt silly, the fact he had been imagining the worst solely because he didn’t like Matt. He felt relieved he had been wrong. He stepped forward and took her in his arms again. He couldn’t get enough of holding her, and she seemed to need the comfort of his arms. This time she didn’t pull away, or fight him; she just looked up into his eyes with such trust and love.

“If you need anything, you just let me know. Even if it’s just to tell me what a shitty day you have had.” He was about to kiss her when they heard a key in the door. They jumped apart suddenly.

Matt eyed them suspiciously, and saw that Ellen had her coat on to go out.

“I was just on my way out and Dean arrived to see us both.” Matt nodded curtly.

“This is a surprise Dean.” He watched him intently, “Anything I can do for you?”

“No I literally just arrived.”

“I know. I was looking for a parking space when I saw you at the door.” Ellen stood still.  ‘
What had he seen? Heard? How long had he been there? How long had he been listening outside?’

“Ellen, darling. Go get Dean a drink.” He put his arm along her shoulders, and she flinched at his touch. She edged away, and went into the kitchen. Matt turned to Dean and held out his arm.

“This way Dean, do come and sit down. I guess you know this place better than me.”  Dean went into the drawing room. “You didn’t say you were coming up to me the other day. We could have met at my office.”

“After you left, a client asked me to come up, I just popped in to see you both, on the off chance.” He lied badly and his eyes darted about the room as he tried to think of a thousand excuses. He knew Matt was no fool. Matt also knew he loved Ellen.

“Nice. Very convenient.” Ellen came back into the room with a tray of coffee and tea, and placed them shakily on the table in front of them. Her hands shook badly as she poured the tea into the delicate porcelain cups. “Ellen you really must relax more. You look like a nervous wreck.” She looked up at Matt and then returned to her task. “And where were you going darling?”

“Just out.” She appeared nonchalant, but her eyes didn’t meet his glower.

“Anywhere nice?”

“No just for a walk.”

“I wouldn’t have thought you would want to go out at all looking like that. That awful ugly bruise on your face.” Matt looked at Dean. “Yes a terrible thing. Ellen was mugged the other night. Terrible business. They took her purse and phone.”

Dean looked back to Ellen, and she blushed furiously. Dean stood up; suddenly realizing what had really happened, anger in his eyes, he started towards Matt.

“No Dean, I’m sorry I was mugged. I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to worry. I felt so foolish.”  He eyed her with disbelief, his instincts all screamed she was lying, but he saw the fear and pleading in her eyes, and he stepped back.