Chapter 68
HARPER
Iflag down a cab as soon as I hit the street.
Slumping into the back seat, I give him my address and stare blindly out of the window.
Hold it together. You’ve survived worse than this.
But even after everything I’ve been through in the past year, nothing compares to this. My heart is being squeezed. The pain in my chest is unbearable.
We pull up outside my apartment building. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve been back. Given how much time I’ve been spending with Alex, we’ve practically been living together since our night at the museum.
I pay my fare and head towards the entrance.
A hand grips my elbow.
I turn around, breaking their hold, only to be grabbed again.
“Hey, it’s okay, it’s only me.” Mitch’s voice breaks through my fog.
I sink against the door.
“God, Mitch, you scared the crap out of me,” I say, trying to control my breathing.
“I called your name multiple times.”
“Sorry, I was miles away,” I admit.
“I could tell. Is everything all right?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head, my eyes welling. Only then do I realise he’s here and not at work. “Why are you here?”
“Let’s go inside. I was about to come to the office, but I saw you leaving, so I grabbed the next cab and followed you.”
My heart sinks, but he smiles instead.
“Don’t look like that. For once, we have good news.”
We make our way up to their apartment. Dan is already waiting.
“That was quick.”
“She was heading out anyway.”
I leave my bag by the door.
“News?”
Dan grins, the gesture taking years off his face.
He motions to a set of photos he has laid out on their table.
I move towards them.
SEVEN YEARS EARLIER
We move past the two burly bouncers at the door.
“Well, at least we’ll be safe from gate crashers,” Carolyn says, eyeing them up as we pass.
“Show some class,” Becca hisses.
“Oh, don’t be such a snob. Don’t tell me you’d turn it down if it came knocking,” Carolyn retorts.
Before I can say anything, Jasper appears out of nowhere. “Harper, you made it.”
I smile. My heart rate picks up at the sight of him.
Jasper Peregrine is a six-foot-tall rugby player. He’s one of the newest players selected for the England Under-20s. He’s blond and gorgeous. A girl could easily get lost in his piercing blue eyes, and according to my friends, he’s into me.
“We did,” I say, trying to act cool, despite the sweat pooling in my palms. “Thank you for inviting us. You know Becca and Carolyn.”
My friends grin like Cheshire cats over my shoulder.
“Welcome,” Jasper says. “Free bar in the kitchen, help yourselves.”
He steps to one side, letting us pass. I open and close my mouth, but Becca pushes me forward.
“Don’t seem too keen,” she hisses next to my ear. “Let him do some of the chasing.”
Becca and Carolyn have both had serious boyfriends. I’ve tried to date, but most men are intimidated by my siblings, which is not surprising when Eli is six feet six and built like a tank. If he wasn’t my brother, I’d be scared of him, but because he is, he’s little more than a pain in my arse.
We move deeper into the house. I can’t believe his parents have let him have this get-together. I wonder if they’re around, hiding in a dark corner in case something goes wrong, but then my mind wanders back to the two giants on the door.
I sip my drink and make small talk with some of our classmates. Becca and Carolyn were right, everyone who is anyone is here. I’m glad they convinced me to sneak out.
It’s about eleven when the party really gets started. Unlike my friends, I pace myself. I like a drink, but only in moderation. That’s probably from watching my siblings suffer through hangovers over the years.
“Hey, beautiful,” an older guy says, slinging his arm around my shoulder.
I sidestep.
“Oh, don’t be like that. These parties are about letting your hair down.” He slurs his speech, making it obvious that’s what he’s been doing.
“I have a boyfriend,” I say.
“Your loss.” He huffs, sauntering away.
“Please tell me that’s a lie,” Jasper says, appearing at my side.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and stare up at him.
“Who wants to know?”
He leans his shoulder against the wall, giving me a smile that sets a kaleidoscope of butterflies loose in my stomach.
“As I invited you here, that would be me.”
“Really?” I say, turning my body and mirroring his pose.
“Really.” His hand comes up and cups my cheek. “Our parents, I’m sure, would love us to get together.”
I step back, frowning.
“Is that why you’re flirting with me? For fuck’s sake, Jasper, I’m seventeen.”
“Hold your horses. Of course I’m not, babe. You’re beautiful, one of the hottest girls in your year group.”
I force some of the tension from my shoulders.
“Sorry, force of habit,” I mutter.
Getting hit on because of our family’s wealth and prestige is something I’ve watched my siblings battle for years. Jasper’s family are in the same league as ours, but something feels off and I’m beginning to wish I’d never snuck out.
“Don’t I know it. But Harper, don’t you think your dad would be happy if you dated me?”
“To be honest, probably not. He told me not to come tonight. He doesn’t know I’m here. I snuck out.”
“Snuck out?” His eyes glisten. “Naughty, naughty, Harper Frazer, I didn’t think you had it in you. You always give off such a goody-two-shoes vibe.”
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” I fire back.
Jasper might be smooth and gorgeous-looking, but now I’m here talking to him, that initial attraction is waning fast. Describing me as annoyingly well-behaved, virtuous and rule-abiding makes me wonder what game he’s playing. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s more brawn than brains.
He moves closer, his eyes locking on my lips.
“I better go and find my friends,” I say, pushing off the wall, not waiting for a reply.
As soon as I leave, one of the burly bouncers from earlier takes my spot and starts talking to him.
I make my way into the kitchen where Becca has her tongue down some guy’s throat, and Carolyn is deep in conversation with some girls in our year group.
“Harper,” Carolyn shouts over, waving her arms frantically as I make my way through the crush of people.
“Hey, you having fun?” she says.
“Ish,” I admit. The fact that I snuck out is not sitting well with me. Maybe I am a goody-two-shoes, regretting that I let my friends talk me into this. “I think I’m going to call a taxi and head home.”
“Really? I thought you were hoping Jasper…” She waggles her eyebrows.
I grimace and shake my head.
“Really?” she says. “But he’s hot.”
“No, I’m not feeling it,” I admit.
She pulls a face. “You’re never going to lose your V-card at this rate.”
Where Jasper is concerned, the kaleidoscope of butterflies has turned into ten tonnes of concrete in my stomach.
“Plenty more fish in the sea. I’m only seventeen,” I say, nodding in Becca’s direction.
“She needs it if she’s ever going to get over Alistair.”
I’m not so sure, but as the least experienced in our group, I’m not going to argue. Alistair was her boyfriend of two years. He left for university last September and hasn’t been back since, breaking our friend’s heart in the process.
“Can I get you beautiful ladies a drink?” a guy asks as he and a friend approach.
I recognise them, although I don’t know their names. I only know they’re friends of Jasper’s older brother, Ollie.
Carolyn nudges me and winks.
“Yes, please,” she says.
They grin, and one disappears, reappearing a moment later carrying a couple of cocktails.
“One for you, and another for you,” he says, taking a bow as he hands them over.
I take a sip, grimacing.
“Wow, it tastes like paint stripper,” I say.
The guy who handed it to me scowls and looks like he’s about to say something when his friend nudges him. He frowns but follows his friend as he moves away.
“Do you have to scare all the good-looking ones away?” Carolyn grumbles, taking another sip.
“Don’t tell me you can actually stomach that?” I say, waving my drink around.
“Hand it over. It’s not that bad,” she says with a slight slur before grabbing it and chugging it down in one.
I shake my head.
A few minutes pass before her hand flies to her mouth.
“I don’t feel so good,” she says, her eyes glazing over.
She staggers into me, and I catch her around the waist.
“Let’s get you to the bathroom.”
“H, I don’t feel so good,” she says, her voice slurring badly now.
“I’m not surprised. You just downed that cocktail, and I hate to think what else you’ve drunk tonight.”
I manoeuvre her through the crowd and towards the stairs.
“We take it as collateral,” I hear someone mutter.
“Don’t be a fucking idiot. I’m not. You’ve lost your fucking minds. You’re not dragging me into this. This is my party! If anything happens, who do you think they’re going to point the finger at?”
I manhandle Carolyn up the stairs and into an empty bathroom, just in time.
She empties the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl as I hold her hair.
When she’s finished, she lies on the cold tiles, groaning.
“I don’t feel good, H,” she mumbles.
“It’s okay,” I say. “Don’t worry. I’m here. I won’t leave you.”
After she retches for the sixth time, I decide enough is enough.
“We need to get help,” I tell my friend, smoothing her hair back from her face.
“No, my mother will kill me.” She moans, clutching her stomach.
In all fairness to Carolyn, she’s probably not wrong. Her mother is strict and very pious.
“I’ll call my dad,” I say.
I know I’ll have to face the consequences of sneaking out, but right now my friend’s health is more important than being grounded for life.
Carolyn has passed out by the time I next look down.
I dial my father’s number.
“Dad,” I say.
“Harper? Why are you calling me?” he asks, his voice confused.
Shit, he still thinks I’m upstairs.
“Dad, please don’t freak out, but I snuck out and came to the party,” I say quietly.
He sighs.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I know it was a bad idea. I can see that now.”
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice full of concern. “Has something happened?”
“I’m fine, but Carolyn’s not. She’s had too much to drink. She’s not in a good way, and you know what her Mum’s like…”
“Where are you?”
“In an upstairs bathroom at the Peregrines’ house.”
“I’m on my way.”
“I’m really sorry, Dad.”
“We can discuss this later. Stay where you are and lock yourself in. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
* * *
I didn’t even say “I love you.”
But I hadn’t stayed there. Instead, I’d gone downstairs to get Carolyn a glass of water.
* * *
“Is everything okay?” Jasper asks as I’m heading back upstairs.
I grimace. “Carolyn is ill, too many cocktails. I’m just taking her some water.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” His concern is surprisingly genuine.
“No, it’s fine. She just needs to sleep it off,” I say, knowing Carolyn will be embarrassed enough in the morning. “Dad’s coming to collect us. Can you let me know when he arrives?”
“Of course.”
But Jasper never came because Dad never arrived.
He was run off the road and died instantly after hitting a tree, according to the coroner’s report.
He died coming to rescue me and my friend from a party he’d asked me not to attend.
If I’d listened and stayed home, he would never have been on the road that night. The drunk driver would not have…
* * *
I press my finger to the photo.
“These are the two men who spoke to Carolyn and me that night,” I say. “The ones I also overheard arguing with Jasper earlier in the evening.”
“You’re sure? And you’re saying they were friends of Oliver Peregrine? It was seven years ago,” Dan asks.
I nod. “Positive. I’m good with faces.”
The two men exchange a look.
“I’m taking it that this is a good thing?”
“Do you know—”
“Dan,” Mitch cuts across him.
“She deserves to know.”
Mitch shakes his head.
“What do I deserve to know?” I ask.
Mitch harrumphs, and I expect Dan to speak, but instead it’s Mitch who motions to the chair.
“Montague Peregrine. Do you know him?”
“It was his son Jasper’s party,” I say. “I went to school with Jasper. He was the year above me.”
“Anything else?”
I shake my head.
“He’s a successful businessman who ran in the same circles as my father. I think he came to Dad’s funeral.”
The final words are like a hit to my solar plexus.
I shake my head. “No.”
Dan squats in front of me.
“The two guys you’ve pointed out, one was killed a couple of years ago in a kidnapping plot gone wrong. The other works for Montague Peregrine. The evidence increasingly points to Montague Peregrine as the head of the syndicate, although he rarely gets his hands dirty.”
“But…”
“What I’m about to tell you…” Dan says.
I sigh. “I know. It can go no further. I appreciate you guys and your honesty.”
“There’s a rumour amongst the soldiers. To get ahead in the syndicate, you’re expected to carry out a task.”
I close my eyes.
“Their task was to take Dad out of the game?”
Dan squeezes my hand.
“They knew your father was onto them, although he was still trying to ascertain who was at the top of the pyramid when he died.”
“But surely this is circumstantial at best,” I say.
Mitch smiles. “In isolation, but think Crawley, your dad’s files, evidence from other cases previously not linked, and now this photo… This is the missing piece of the jigsaw, Harper. It ties Montague to the syndicate.”
“There’s more you’re not telling me,” I say.
“The paint.”
I close my eyes, knowing what they’re about to say.
“The paint on Dad’s car from the accident?”
Mitch nods.
“Belongs to—”
I draw in an unsteady breath that turns into a sob.
Dan squeezes my hand harder, offering me his strength. I’m not sure how long we sit here.
“What now?”
“Now you can go home,” Dan says.