Chapter 57 Revenge
The first icicle of the new year hangs from the guttering of the Grove Café.
I’ve spent the morning with a doctor discussing my fertility.
The nurse took more blood than seems decent, as I pretended my marriage is not on the rocks.
Although it’s not pretence, it’s determination.
A baby is just what’s needed to save it.
Tor is huddled into a parka, her hands wrapped around a hot chocolate. Although the temperature has dropped to below freezing, we’re sitting outside with rugs over our knees, as the Italian owner swoops from table to table, singing operatic arias and spreading joy.
‘How are you bearing up?’ I ask.
‘Nothing like the terror of being exposed as an adulterous slut to add a little spark to your life.’
‘You haven’t heard anything about the tape?’
‘Zac is ghosting me. Completely. I’ve no idea what’s going on.’
‘What an inconsiderate bastard.’
‘I know, I fucking hate him, but I’m also having severe withdrawal symptoms.’
‘Well, choose your outlet more carefully next time.’
‘It’s all shit at the moment. Even the pool house is on hold.’
‘Why?’
‘The foundations haven’t set properly. One of them is completely cracked and they’re going to have to dig it out or something.’
‘Poor you,’ I say, wanting to ask more but fearing that too much interest in her concrete will appear odd. Another problem I have to solve as it won’t help anyone if the builders find Mercer’s body.
Aisha arrives at the end of a run, and sits, panting. ‘How’s things?’
‘Bloody marvellous,’ says Tor. ‘And talking of shitshows, how’s your move abroad going?’
‘Ranni’s still convinced it’s best for us all. Isn’t it clever of him to know what we all need and feel without asking a single question? I’m just in awe of the man’s intuition.’ She opens her water bottle and drinks.
‘Cut up his passport,’ says Tor.
‘But leave it till the last moment so he can’t get a replacement,’ I add.
Sophie appears with a huge smile on her face. She pulls back a chair, throws herself down, and lets out a long breath.
‘Scandal afoot!’ she says. ‘Of the best possible kind.’
‘Where? Spill the beans,’ I say as Aisha tuts.
‘Well,’ says Sophie, leaning in. ‘I’ve just been speaking to the other mums, and do you remember that saucy picture someone posted online before Christmas?’
‘The one on Facebook?’ I say.
‘Yeah, well, someone’s posted it again, with a challenge. It says – “Guess Who I Am. You have twenty questions. I will answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to one each day.” The mums are like a gaggle of schoolgirls!’
‘What picture? I didn’t see anything,’ says Tor, her paralysed frown lines desperately trying to reanimate.
‘It’s a picture of the back of a woman facing the crotch of an impressive young man with beautiful abs!’
‘And those women are playing twenty questions with someone’s life?’ says Aisha.
‘Yes, and as much as I deeply disapprove, it’s quite intriguing,’ says Sophie.
‘It could be some awful man who wants to shame his wife or girlfriend,’ says Aisha. ‘I’ve read all about revenge porn, and it’s absolutely horrible.’
‘Let’s see it,’ I say, with a glance at Tor, who’s looking uncomfortable.
There’s an enjoyable frisson around the table as Sophie takes out her phone and finds the latest post.
Sophie turns her screen to us. There’s a sculpted male torso and hairy thighs, framing the back of a woman’s head.
‘He’s got a six-pack so it’s definitely not someone’s husband,’ I say.
‘It’s just a complete wind-up and obviously fake,’ says Tor, who is leaning back and looking into the clouds above.
‘Unusual earring though,’ says Aisha, pointing to a pair of mother-of-pearl and diamond earrings.
I’m not looking at the phone. Instead, I’m watching Tor’s face turn so pale that it looks as if someone has just given her an electric shock.