Chapter 29
JADE
The air smells fresh and clean as I take Sebastian’s hand and step from the limo onto a red carpet. A stout middle-aged doorman is holding open the car door for us. His blue uniform has shiny gold buttons, and he’s wearing a peaked cap.
I gape at the mansion in front of me, which is a massive three-storey brick house with stately white columns.
Red-carpeted steps lead up to a tall glass-fronted door.
Wow, this is where Tommy Rains lives? I knew my dad used to be rich, but this is impressive.
It’s a far cry from my parents’ shabby semi-detached in Brixton. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Kiki arrives on the carpet beside me and tugs at her denim cut-offs. ‘Do you think they have any spare evening gowns?’ she whispers, and I huff a laugh.
She’s right, though. I’m mightily glad I dressed up, even if my corset top looks a bit slutty.
I have no idea where we are, but from the rural feel of the place, we must be somewhere in the countryside. I’m glad of my leather jacket anyway as it’s chilly.
‘Where the heck are we?’ I mutter, looking around at the carefully raked driveway and the topiary bushes.
‘We’re in Elstree, just north of London,’ confirms Sebastian.
Kiki blinks. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Sebastian’s got an excellent sense of direction since he’s a courier,’ I tell her quickly.
She nods. ‘My brother is a bit freakish like that.’
‘Ah, good evening, sir,’ the doorman says in a plummy accent as Leo emerges from the limo.
I lift an eyebrow. Sir! OK, now I really feel like I’m in Downton Abbey.
‘Y’all right, Fenton?’ Leo replies in his South London accent, which sounds so incongruous with the doorman’s it makes me want to laugh.
‘Yes, thank you, sir. Will you be needing the limo again tonight?’ Fenton intones.
‘I’m sure we can find somewhere to bunk down,’ Leo mutters, and I stiffen when I catch that. Too bad if this place has twenty bedrooms. No way am I leaving Kiki alone with Echo Ministry’s drummer; he’s testosterone on legs.
‘Very well, sir. Enjoy the party,’ says Fenton, and I grab Kiki’s arm tightly as Leo leads us up the red-carpeted stairs.
‘Stay close to Sebastian and me,’ I tell her in a low voice. ‘Once we find Rach, we’re getting out of here.’
‘Oh, not even a dance? Leo said there’s a disco in the ballroom.’ She sounds disappointed, and I remind myself this is a big deal for her. Being invited to a pop star’s mansion doesn’t happen every day. It could be the story that she rolls out to impress her grandkids.
I relent. ‘OK, one dance,’ I say, and she brightens.
‘Yay, thanks, Jadey. And don’t worry about Rach. She’ll be fine. I’m sure Tommy is as much of a gentleman as Leo.’
Hmm, I sincerely doubt that—despite the fancy house and posh-speaking doorman!
The front door must have quadruple glazing because we’re assailed with a wall of music and chatter as soon as Leo pushes it open.
There are people everywhere, milling about in the entranceway or draped over the central staircase balustrade, drinking and smoking.
The smell of dope and something sweeter hangs in the air.
I can’t help gawping at all the garish make-up, shiny tracksuits, wide shoulder pads, and tall hair. And that’s just the men. But the women aren’t wearing ball gowns; it’s more lace, leg warmers, and Lycra miniskirts. So Kiki and I blend in pretty well with our outfits.
Leo is greeted with cheers and slaps on the back and congratulations: ‘Epic concert, man’ and ‘You guys rocked it’.
I study the first-floor landing, wondering if Rach is up there. Hopefully not as there are probably a shit ton of doors.
Ash sees a girl he knows and stops to chat with her. ‘I’ll catch up with you soon,’ he says, waving us on.
Great, he’s no help!
‘Party’s this way, guys.’
Leo leads us down the hallway, and the pulse of synth and bass intensifies.
We enter an enormous room filled with a jostling crowd illuminated by neon pinks and electric blues; the air is heavy with perfume and sweat.
There are mirrored columns, crystal chandeliers, and the walls are draped in shimmering gold lamé.
A DJ with a bleached afro and oversized headphones is grooving away to a breathy-voiced male singer.
‘Ooh, “Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo. I love this song!’ Kiki bops up and down next to me.
‘Can you see Rach?’ I yell, and she shakes her head, earrings jangling.
‘No, but she must be here somewhere. Let’s mingle!’
Kiki doesn’t wait for my reply. She grabs Leo’s hand, and they plunge into the crowd as the intro to ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ starts, and the crowd goes wild.
Women are shimmying around two good-looking young men leaning against the bar, trying to get their attention, but they don’t seem that interested.
They’re both extremely tanned and wearing matching white suits.
One of them tosses back a shot glass of amber liquid and says something to the other with a grin.
‘Oh my god, is that...?’ I screech.
‘Yep,’ says Sebastian in my ear. ‘Wham! There are a few big-name celebs here tonight. Tommy Rains is well connected.’
I suck in a hopeful breath. ‘Madonna?’
‘No, she’s on tour in the States.’
‘I can’t believe I’m in the 1980s, and I don’t even get to meet Madonna!’ I say with a pout. ‘Can’t you magic her here for an hour or something?’
Sebastian laughs. ‘No!’ He takes my elbow and tugs me along the wall. ‘Let’s focus on finding Rach. I’ve spotted one of my devil friends already, so we should keep moving.’
‘Who?’
He leans in close. ‘Best if you don’t know,’ he says, his lips brushing my ear, and I get a whiff of his musky smoke aftershave.
My stomach dips. Oh, why does he always smell so good?
With an effort, I push aside my desire to hump Sebastian against the gold lamé, even if I get the feeling he’d be up for it. No, Jade, we’re here on a mission!
I can’t see either Rach or Tommy in the crowd, and I’m being diligent. But I do get a bit distracted when I spot Boy George and the girls from Bananarama, which is a bit thrilling.
Then when we’re halfway around the perimeter of the ballroom, I feel a strong presence at my side.
I turn to find a guy in a billowy white satin shirt and leather drainpipe trousers skulking next to me.
He looks like a vampire poet: deathly pale, scarlet lipstick bleeding into the edges of his mouth, straggly black hair teased like a halo around his head.
‘Wanna dance?’ he slurs. ‘It’s “Tainted Love”.’
‘No thanks!’ I step back quickly. He’s obviously drunk or high on drugs from the way he’s swaying.
The guy flinches like I’ve wounded him deeply, then shrugs. ‘Suit yourself.’ He melts away behind a mirrored column.
‘Jesus,’ I say, collecting my wits. ‘What a freak.’
I turn back to find Sebastian shaking against the wall.
‘What?’ I demand. ‘Why are you laughing?’
‘That was Robert Smith from The Cure!’ he chokes out. ‘He’s, like, really famous.’
I shudder. ‘I don’t care who he is. He’s off his white-foundationed face. And did you see his hair?’
Sebastian gives a gasping snort, his eyes streaming.
‘I’m glad I amuse you,’ I say, half laughing myself. ‘But we’re here to find Rach, remember? And I don’t think she’s in the ballroom. I bet Tommy’s lured her into one of the bedrooms upstairs. It’s the sort of thing he’d do.’
Sebastian shakes his head. ‘You really don’t have a high opinion of your father, do you?’
‘He tried to seduce his own daughter. So no, I don’t. Let’s go.’