‘A bed and breakfast?’ He chuckled. ‘In this neighbourhood?’
‘I’d sooner sleep under a motorway bridge than somewhere I’m not wanted.’
‘Forget it. That rumpus was about something else.’
‘Don’t get on with her, eh?’
‘There’s a history there. But it’s nothing for you to worry about.’
‘I’m not exactly worried, Heck. But I’m surprised. Perhaps you don’t know how lucky you are.’
‘Come again?’
She eyed him coolly. ‘To have a sister you can still talk to. I’m guessing you’ve never lost anyone close.’
He returned her gaze for a long moment, and said simply: ‘You’re wrong.’
Then he carried his holdall into Sarah’s bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Lauren didn’t see him for another hour. First, she had a long soak in the tub, which was just what the doctor ordered. Once she’d put some fresh clothes on – a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, she checked her room out; it was neat but basic. Before going downstairs, she peered from the window.
Rows of rooftops led off in all directions, beneath tangles of television aerials. Immediately below, there was a small paved yard with a brick outhouse next to the gate, which had probably once been a toilet. Over the other side of that lay a narrow backstreet cluttered with council wheelie-bins. Again she was reminded of Leeds, this time specifically of Chapeltown. And like Chapeltown, this place was a relic; a throwback to an era that was now forgotten. Hearing movement on the landing, she stuck her head through the door. The bath was running again, and Heck, stripped to his shorts, was standing by the airing cupboard, helping himself to some towels. Like hers, his lean, pale body was bruised all over. He looked tired and sallow-faced. When he finally went into the bathroom, he was limping. He was hardly the heroic knight of medieval fable, she thought as she went downstairs – suddenly feeling warmer towards him. But at least he was doing something to help her.
In the living room, Dana was seated in an armchair. She’d cleaned the remnants of her meal, turned off the television, and was reading an evening paper.
‘Sorry we just turned up like this,’ Lauren said from the door.
‘I’m glad you did.’ Dana folded her paper and stood. ‘I don’t see enough of Mark.’
Lauren remained at the door. ‘There’ll be no comeback for you, if that’s a concern. No one’s going to follow us here, or anything.’
‘Never entered my head that they might. But if you guys are in trouble, maybe there’s more I can do to assist than put a roof over your head for the night?’
‘We’re fine, honestly. This whole thing actually looks a lot worse than it is.’
Dana shrugged. ‘Well, Mark’s a police detective and a pretty good one, so I have to trust that he knows what he’s doing.’
‘I think he does.’
An awkward silence followed. Then Dana produced some car keys. ‘I haven’t got much food in. I mean, I wasn’t expecting anyone. But I can always nip down to the supermarket …’
‘You mustn’t go to that trouble.’
‘You need to eat.’
‘Is there a take-away round here?’
‘Two or three.’
‘That’ll do, I’m sure.’
Dana pocketed the keys. ‘I’ll go and put the kettle on for you, at least. You must be desperate for a brew.’
‘Yeah … that’d be great, thanks.’
Dana smiled and went out into the hall. A short while later Heck came down, clad in a blue tracksuit. Lauren had now moved to the mantelpiece. An old-fashioned clock sat in the middle; at either end there was a framed photograph. The first portrayed a pretty young teenager with a pixie-like grin; no doubt this was Heck’s niece, Sarah. The second showed an elderly couple, both dressed smartly as though at a wedding. The man was burly, with granite features and dark, slicked hair. The woman was pretty but mousy, grey curls jammed under her tidy little hat.
‘I suggested we get a take-away for tea,’ Lauren said. ‘Save your sister cooking.’
‘Sure. Tim Chan’s is just round the corner. It’s always been good.’
‘You know your way around here?’
‘I ought to. I was born here. This is the family home, or the closest thing we ever had to one.’
‘Dana seems nice.’
‘Most of the time she is. Stunning to look at when she was young. Phone never stopped ringing for her.’
‘She’s not so bad now.’
‘Bossy as hell, though. That hasn’t improved with age.’
‘That’s a big sister’s prerogative.’ Briefly, Lauren sounded wistful. ‘So … where’s Mr Dana?’
‘Gone. Long ago.’ Heck grabbed the newspaper. ‘And no one’s missed him.’
Lauren nodded. ‘I seem to remember Genene always had some useless idiot in tow.’
Heck didn’t comment, but flicked through the paper. Family matters were clearly more than just a minor problem for him.
Lauren indicated the snapshot of the elderly couple. ‘This your mum and dad?’
‘Yeah. Before you ask, both dead. Mum a few years ago, dad a few years before that.’
‘Ahhh … sorry what I said about you not having lost anyone. Stupid comment.’
‘It’s alright. Older people die, don’t they. It wasn’t them I was …’ He shrugged, waved it away. ‘Perhaps we should focus on the situation at hand?’
But before they could, Dana came in with a tray on which there was a teapot, three china cups, a small jug of milk, a bowl of sugar and a plate of biscuits. In the midst of all this chaos, it was so dignified a gesture – so like something Lauren’s mother would have done – that it nearly brought a tear to the ex-army girl’s eye. The two women sat, but Heck stood by the window, watching, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Dana eyed him as she poured. ‘You get kicked in the pants as well?’
‘What?’
‘Why don’t you sit down and join us?’ Almost reluctantly, Heck sat on the sofa. His sister handed him a napkin. ‘You’ve got blood on your lip,’ she said.
He wiped it away. ‘Couple of teeth got knocked loose.’
‘Should get along to a dentist.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘Sure you will. If you don’t mind having a mouth like a chimpanzee.’
Heck glanced at Lauren. ‘What did I tell you – about how bossy she is?’
‘Like I said,’ Lauren replied tartly, ‘a big sister’s prerogative.’
This broke the ice a little. They made idle chat – about the weather, about world events. And okay, it was only small talk, but at least it was talk. Fifteen minutes later, Heck announced that he would go to the Chinese and pick up the take-away. Once he’d gone, Dana took the empties through to the kitchen-diner to wash up. Lauren went through to help her, but when she got in there was surprised to find that the kitchen table had already been laid for two, and that a candle had been lit. A bottle of wine and two glasses sat on the nearby sideboard.
‘You shouldn’t have done this,’ Lauren