One thing was clear: this was real. These woods were full of people.
After ten minutes of cautious progress the trees thinned and they found themselves heading up a steep slope towards open ground. Raj had warned them about this section – there was no way to hide here.
His solution to this problem had been simple: move fast.
Crouching low, they burst from the woods, accelerating their pace until they were pounding up the hill. Although they kept the requisite distance apart, Allie was always conscious of where Carter was, how quickly he was moving.
In fact, she was so focused on him that it took her a moment to realise they’d crested the hill. She skidded to a stop as the view took her breath away: all of London sprawled out below them. Like a galaxy of low stars, stretching to infinity.
Overlooking it, all alone, was one woman.
Her hands were laced behind her back as she gazed out over the city. A neat shock of platinum-white hair caught the glimmer of the city lights and shimmered. She stood very upright.
It struck Allie that she would have recognised her grandmother anywhere by her posture alone.
She wore expensive trousers and an expensive trench coat. Any passer-by would have taken her for a Hampstead doyenne out for a late-night stroll.
Allie ran to her side. Carter dropped back, staying a respectful distance away.
‘Lucinda … Grandmother …’
At the sound of her voice, Lucinda turned serenely.
‘Oh good. You’re here. I must say I very much admire your promptness, Allie. I’m afraid I was rather early. Carter.’ Including him in her enigmatic gaze, she held out one self-assured hand.
After a brief hesitation he walked up, shaking her hand with careful deference.
‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Lucinda said. ‘In many ways, you’re one of the reasons we’re here today. You are what we’re fighting for.’ Her eyes swept across him with a sceptical look. ‘I do hope you’re worth all of this.’
Before Carter could ask what she was talking about, Allie stepped forward. ‘Where’s Jerry? I thought he was with you.’
‘He’s here.’ Lucinda’s tone was dry. ‘I can assure you of that.’
It was clear she wasn’t going to reveal more. Allie let it go but worry twisted inside her.
Turning a wrist, her grandmother glanced at her watch. ‘Your timekeeping may be good, but I wouldn’t say much for Nathaniel’s …’
‘Oh, Lucinda.’ Nathaniel’s familiar voice came from behind them. Allie and Carter spun round to see him walking along the hilltop path in their direction. ‘Must you be so critical?’
His tone was sardonic. Familiar. He looked utterly comfortable, strolling along the lip of the hill, hands casually in his pockets.
Not for the first time, Allie marvelled at how normal he looked. How unthreatening. He was a little shorter than Carter with a medium build. His thick dark hair was neatly combed. His dark grey suit and crisp white shirt looked expensive but not flashy. He wore no tie and that made him look even more ordinary. But everything about his appearance was far too precise to be normal.
Her heart began to race but she forced herself to stay still. Look calm. Next to her, Carter hadn’t moved a muscle.
She scanned the surrounding woods for any sign of Raj or his team but found nothing.
They were alone with him.
‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda admonished, ‘you should announce yourself. Did I teach you nothing?’
She spoke in tones of mild irritation, as if he’d turned up late for dinner at her club. Allie could see no sign of discomfort in her expression or stance. Instead, she actually looked pleased – her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. As if he’d done something amusing.
She likes this, Allie realised. The game. The high stakes. This is her world.
‘Always the professor.’ Nathaniel laughed, and it was not an unpleasant sound. He brushed his left sleeve twice. And then his right sleeve. His movements were identical in both cases.
She was reminded of Katie’s belief that he had OCD.
He strolled up to them, as if they were friends about to have a picnic in the park.
Suddenly he turned to look at Allie, his eyes clear and interested. ‘Allie. You look well.’
She’d been this close to him only once before, and that time he’d held a knife to her throat.
Her mouth went dry and she couldn’t seem to speak.
Carter took a deliberate step to his right, placing his body between them.
Clearly intrigued, Nathaniel cocked his head to one side. ‘And who might you be?’
‘I don’t think I’m required to tell you anything.’ Carter didn’t attempt to hide the dislike in his tone.
‘Oh, I think you are, actually.’ Nathaniel’s gaze sharpened. He didn’t look so nice any more. ‘This is my party. I set the rules. Your name.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘What is it?’
‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda interceded. ‘May I introduce Carter West? Carter? Nathaniel. Now can we get on with what we came here for?’
But Nathaniel wasn’t ready to move on. He studied Carter with new interest. ‘So you’re the famous Carter West. How intriguing. I’ve heard so much about you. Somehow I’d expected you to be … I don’t know. Bigger.’ He paused, stroking his thumb across his cheek thoughtfully. ‘Actually, haven’t we met before?’
Carter didn’t reply. He just stared at him with icy contempt. He betrayed no fear but Allie saw a muscle twitch in his jaw.
The last time Nathaniel had seen Carter was the night Gabe nearly killed him.
‘Now I remember.’ Nathaniel straightened as if the memory had just occurred to him. ‘It was at the castle. I am sorry about that. Gabe went too far … again. He is so difficult.’
Still, Carter said nothing. Allie admired his self-control, but she didn’t share it.
‘The last time I saw you, you stabbed me in the arm,’ she said, taking a step towards Nathaniel. ‘Remember that?’
‘Allie,’ Lucinda said reprovingly. ‘Remember your promise.’
Unexpectedly, though, Nathaniel looked apologetic. And when he spoke, some of the cockiness left his voice.
‘That was truly accidental, Allie,’ he said. ‘You moved too quickly for me to pull the knife back in time. I had no intention of hurting you. I’m very sorry it happened.’
Allie stared at him in mute surprise. If there was one thing she hadn’t expected from him tonight it was humility.
‘I was glad to hear you were not badly injured,’ he continued. ‘That night did not go as expected.’
It looked like he intended to say more but Lucinda made an impatient gesture.
‘Enough, Nathaniel. Surely you haven’t arranged this elaborate parley solely so you could apologise to my granddaughter for the unforgivable act of gravely injuring her?’
He turned back to her, his smile almost nostalgic. ‘Oh, Lucinda. I have missed sparring with you. Despite everything.’ Before she could reply, he continued quickly. ‘So, we are here to do business. Such unfortunate circumstances. Such bad business indeed.’
Suddenly Allie’s nervousness heightened. This didn’t feel right. His demeanour was out of character; the location felt odd and vulnerable.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Something was wrong.
She glanced around at the dark heathland. They should be keeping an eye out. Anyone could be hiding in the dark.
She nudged Carter. When he looked at her, very subtly she tilted her head at the heath that sprawled out behind them in the protective shield of darkness.
Getting the message, he took a careful step back to get a better view of the land behind them. And whoever might be hiding there.
Allie was comforted by the thought that somewhere nearby Nicole and Zoe were hiding. They might be watching them now.
‘Have you brought my prize?’ Nathaniel said.
He seemed to have forgotten about her for now – all of his a
ttention was focused on Lucinda.
‘If by “prize” you mean “Jerry Cole”, then yes,’ Lucinda said. ‘He’s nearby. And you can have him as soon as you agree to our conditions.’
Nathaniel rocked back on his heels, warm brown eyes betraying nothing but curiosity. His tone was challenging. Even playful.
‘And what might those be? Come on, Lucinda. Surprise me.’
Her grandmother’s hesitation was only fractional but Allie recognised it. She was finding Nathaniel’s behaviour confusing as well. He was almost … jovial.
‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda stepped closer to him, ‘let’s end this. Let’s find a compromise. A way to go forward without destroying the organisation. If you want me to step down from the Orion leadership, I will. We both know I’m finished there anyway. If you want someone else to take over Cimmeria, fine. Isabelle and I will compromise on that, too.’
Allie heard Carter’s breath catch, and she stared at Lucinda in disbelief.
None of this had been mentioned before.
This was what we came here for? For Lucinda to give Nathaniel everything?
She wanted to argue, but she’d promised not to interfere. She’d promised to trust her.
So she bit her tongue and waited.
Nathaniel widened his eyes in apparent surprise. ‘Why, Lucinda, how magnanimous! I’m swept away by your generosity. Are you saying you would be happy for me to take over the leadership of Orion and to pick the new leader of Night School? Because if you are, then at last we are getting somewhere.’
Lucinda’s smile was lupine. ‘Now, Nathaniel, you know you can’t take over Orion. Whatever you’ve been promised by your friends on the board, if I step down, you know they won’t really give it to you. A promise isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. The Rules are inviolable and, technically, you’re not even a member at this time. But there are many existing, long-term members whom I’d be happy to support.’
Nathaniel’s gaze narrowed. ‘Oh, I have no doubt there are people you would support. I know about your pathetic puppets. The handful who still cling to the hope that you’ll come back from your defeats and give them all power once again.’
He took a step back, as if he couldn’t bear to be so near her.
‘How disappointing. I must say, I so hoped you were serious this time. That further unpleasantness could be avoided. Instead I see we’re right where we started. Playing games as you try desperately not to lose control of the organisation.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘This is beneath you, Lucinda. You, more than anyone, should know how to let go.’
Lucinda didn’t react to this. Instead she stood tall, unflinching. She looked, Allie thought, quite magnificent, with London at her feet. Her thin raincoat fluttered like a cape as she shrugged.
‘You cannot have Jerry Cole, Nathaniel, if you do not compromise. And I know how much he means to you.’
Nathaniel barked a delighted laugh. ‘You figured out who he is, then? Or who he was, at any rate.’
Lucinda inclined her head.
Looking back and forth between them, Allie frowned. Neither she nor Isabelle had said anything about determining Jerry’s true identity.
When did that happen?
‘Gerald Barlow-Smith.’ Lucinda pronounced the name with precision. ‘Your manager when you first came to my offices. He was your mentor. He was fired for stealing.’
‘He was wrongly terminated,’ Nathaniel said. ‘By you. Because of a personal disagreement he had with one of your assistants.’
Lucinda looked exasperated. ‘Oh please, Nathaniel, he diverted hundreds of thousands of pounds from the corporate account. The evidence was clear.’
‘The money was his,’ Nathaniel began angrily, but then he seemed to change his mind. ‘I don’t intend to quibble over this. At any rate, it’s beside the point. I don’t need you to give Jerry to me. I’ve got him already.’
Lucinda froze.
It was the first time Allie had seen her caught off guard tonight.
Nathaniel waved a hand towards the trees behind them.
With a slow sense of dread, Allie looked where he pointed. She was conscious of Carter stepping in front of her, his body angled as if to block a blow. That was when she saw Jerry step out of the woods. Gabe stood at his side. Each held a gun pointed right at them.
38
Thirty-eight
Jerry looked rumpled, as if he’d been in a fight. His hair stood on end and one sleeve had been ripped off his shirt, baring a muscular arm. Allie could see a bruise and a bloody scrape on his cheek.
However he’d got loose, it had involved a fight.
Gabe, on the other hand, looked fresh as a daisy. His tawny hair was longer now, hiding the scar on his scalp, and artfully tousled. He looked like Allie remembered him from the days before Nathaniel – a handsome young psycho killer.
She couldn’t breathe.
Every person complicit in Jo’s death was right in front of her. Nathaniel arranged it. Jerry opened the gate. And Gabe. Who thrust the knife into her.
For so long she’d wanted her revenge. Now, at last, here they all were. And she was terrified.
She wanted to tell Carter to step back. To stand beside her, not in front of her, but her lips had gone numb.
She forced herself to take a breath. And then another. Somehow her lungs kept working. It wasn’t easy but, luckily, no one was paying any attention to her.
Even Carter’s gaze was fixed on the gunmen.
‘Gerald, I could ask how you unshackled yourself but I suppose it’s quite evident,’ her grandmother said dryly.
Then, to Allie’s horrified astonishment, she turned her back on him, as if he didn’t matter a bit. As if, even holding a gun – with life and death in his hands – he was insignificant to her.
Jerry stiffened. His grip on the gun tightened and he took a step towards them. Gabe pulled him back.
‘Not yet,’ he said.
The sound of Gabe’s voice made Allie’s skin crawl.
She stepped closer to Carter. If this was about to get ugly they needed to be ready.
‘This is your plan?’ Lucinda said reproachfully. ‘I’m so disappointed in you, Nathaniel. You had such promise. More promise than anyone I’ve ever known.’
‘More than Isabelle?’ Nathaniel asked, and Allie could hear hurt beneath the acid in his tone. ‘It would have been nice if you said it once in a while.’
It was clear this was familiar ground. A path they’d trodden many times, never getting anywhere. All the while Jerry and Gabe stood still, their guns pointed at them, unwavering.
But neither Lucinda nor Nathaniel seemed to care about the weaponry. They were too intent on destroying each other.
Nathaniel was twisting one cufflink, Allie noticed, with quick, irritated movements. Once, twice, three times.
In her head she heard Katie’s voice. ‘He does this thing when he’s really cross. He twists his cufflinks three times …’
She wanted to warn Lucinda but she had a feeling she knew already. That she was doing this on purpose.
‘Pettiness is so unattractive.’ Lucinda shook her head. ‘Your jealousy has always been your undoing. If only you could have faith in yourself.’
‘Enough,’ Nathaniel roared in tones of cold fury. ‘I’m done with this. It isn’t fun any more. Lucinda, I’ve been very patient but my patience has run out. Today is the last day. Your allies will not help you because, even as we speak, each of them is receiving a visitor. A very convincing visitor, who is explaining why they cannot support you any longer.’ He glanced from her to Allie, feverish with excitement. ‘By the time this night is over your leadership of Orion will be through. It’s time for a new generation, Lucinda. We’ve tried it your way. Now we’re going to try mine.’
Allie wasn’t sure what he was saying – was he talking about blackmail? But Lucinda did seem to know. And she went pale.
‘Nathaniel,’ she said with quiet sadness, ‘what have you done?’
Triumph blazed in his eyes. ‘I’ve finished this. It’s over. You have no one to turn to now. Nowhere to go. There’s nobody left to run your little political games, to try and stop the inevitable progress of change. You’re done, Lucinda.’ He stepped back. ‘Take a bow.’
Lucinda seemed to sag under the weight of this and, for a moment, Allie thought she might fall. She took a step towards her, but her grandmother instantly held up a hand.
‘Not one more step, Allie.’ Her tone was commanding. ‘You stay where you are.’
‘Yes,’ Nathaniel said, turning to her. ‘Listen to your grandmother. You are here as a witness, not a participant. I want you to see what happens if you cross me. To understand why it has to be my turn to run the organisation. Not yours.’
‘Leave her alone, Nathaniel,’ Lucinda snapped. ‘She’s no threat to you.’
‘Oh, but she is.’ Nathaniel studied Allie shrewdly. ‘Her very name makes her a threat. She’s Lady Lanarkshire, after all. Your chosen heir. And who am I? I’m nobody. The bastard son of one of your cast-off husbands. Someone you were generous enough to involve in your life at one time but nobody could expect more of you.’
‘Nathaniel, stop,’ Lucinda insisted. ‘This is absurd.’
He rounded on her, stepping close until his face was inches from hers. ‘Don’t ever tell me what to do again.’
Lucinda didn’t back down but she lowered her voice. ‘I would appreciate it if you would not blame Allie for what’s happening. She is just a child.’
‘Yes,’ he said, stepping back. ‘But a very unusual one.’
He rubbed his hands together, as if he was thinking things through. Then he turned towards Allie again, only this time he kept his tone calmer.
‘I will need you to promise, Allie, that you will never seek to take control of the Orion Group while I am still alive. I will ultimately insist that you put this in writing but for tonight I’m willing to accept a verbal agreement.’
He took another step and Carter moved between them, one hand out in warning. Nathaniel shot him a cold look, but he stopped.
‘People will come to you, soon, I think, and ask you to join the organisation. To take a post on the board. To join their faction against me. I will need you to say no to them. No matter how many times they come back, you must always refuse. Is that clear?’ Nathaniel kept his gaze fixed on Allie. ‘Agree to that and we all go home tonight. And life goes on.’