CHAPTER 25

Tuesday

There were two things that Keeley Fox was certain of. No, three, she amended, taking point two to its logical conclusion. Number one; this was the strangest children's birthday party she had ever been to. Number two; she would never be able to think of or look at Christian Grey in quite the same way again, and number three; how was she going to get through the next couple of hours without dragging her boyfriend David off to the nearest room with a lock on it.

The first point was easy to explain. She had never before been to a children's birthday party given by people who were rich enough to buy the venue. Especially when the venue was a sports stadium. But yet here she was. Standing on the touchline watching twenty-two ten year old boys have their own private game of soccer on the pitch, watched by their families, club officials and several specially invited members of the media. David was enthusiastically cheering on Ted's team, while Keeley's eyes kept finding their way to the birthday boy's father.

She was a woman of the world, she knew that these situations existed and being a Detective brought her into contact with far seamier things and people than Christian Grey. The revelation of having had previous sexual experiences that he didn't like to broadcast to the nation, was not uncommon. It was almost a cliché in the realm of the rich and famous. Harry Marsh had told her that his wife knew all about it. But how many other people knew about the women before Ana Grey? David was a close friend, did he know? What about Christian Grey's parents, his brother and sister who were also standing on the touchline cheering on the blue team; did they know? She was damned sure the media didn't. There'd be no way he'd have gotten away with parading his family before the cameras without them contrasting it to his previous life as a sexual deviant. Up until last night she could have imagined all sorts of things about Christian Grey, what he used to do and more importantly, why he did it. That was before she lost every second of sleep to reading White Tower.

It had started innocently enough. She'd finished her current book and not being disposed to get out of bed to select another one, she'd reached instead for her tablet and the ebook that still languished in her email account from Sunday. So Beth rated it highly enough to sneak away to read it and disobey a direct order from Marsh? She'd read it for a half hour.

Or an hour.

Perhaps two.

Maybe another chapter?

Can't leave it there.

Five from the end.

Keeley Fox read through the night and into a dawn that would never be the same.

It was completely coincidental, she knew, but she now couldn't separate the character of Stephen White from Christian Grey. She knew that there was no way that Grey would have had such a traumatic start in life, or allowed himself to be so completely dominated by a woman – and a close family friend at that. The guy was your classic case of a rich and powerful man exerting that power over women for his sexual gratification. But yet, there was something in the disturbingly natural prose of White Tower that made it feel to her that she wasn't so much reading a work of fiction as having accidently been sent someone's personal diary.

With sleep temporarily banished by the ingestion of enough caffeine to power the sun, Keeley made it into the office and started work again on the old case files, pausing now and then to reassure herself that Stephen White wasn't anyone in Seattle. It was a matter of convenience that she'd started with Christian Grey. After all, he was slightly connected to the Silvestri case so a little poke around in his past during Police time could legitimately be seen as doing a thorough background check. Just as long as nobody pointed out that they'd already done it and ruled him out as a suspect. It was there that her unease started. Grey was adopted, just as Stephen White had been. He was in trouble as a teen, just as Stephen White had been. He'd started a successful business at the age of 21, just had Stephen White had, although she dismissed the idea that the money had come from his Dominatrix, who, feeling her hold on him slipping, was trying anything to keep him in her grasp. Keeley stopped there, struck by the increasing similarities and concerned that digging into the official records of Christian Grey's adoption might yield information that nobody other than him, his wife and close family should know.

Tuesday had been a very long day. She'd tried to concentrate on her work, but found herself slipping away to the ladies' room to read passages of White Tower again. With her Psychology training, her head wanted to read again the descriptions of what was done to White and how that affected his view of himself and distorted his relationships with people. She wanted to understand that aspect of him as much as other parts of her body were craving a different type of understanding. The experience of spending the day in a state of sleep deprived arousal over a book was a new one on her and it was a state that had to have a resolution or she would self-combust. Then David had called to invite her to his friend's kid's birthday party of all things and the blessed relief that she didn't have to make a booty call mercifully resolved itself. Attending a rich kid's birthday party aside, Keeley had determined that three things needed to happen. Firstly, she needed David to fuck her to an orgasm. If he could do it right here on the pitch, all the better. Secondly, she needed a very long sleep and thirdly, she needed to find a brain surgeon to sever the neural pathways that kept linking Stephen White to Christian Grey. All sense dictated that it couldn't be him, but her brain had already decided that what she'd read last night bore every hallmark of authenticity and was looking to apportion it to a real person. With the three things that had matched up with Christian Grey her brain had unhelpfully joined the rest up and now she couldn't stop staring at him. Worse, his wife was on her way over!

David laughed. "My big sister's coming to see you."

"What?" Keeley's distracted head scrabbled back into the moment.

"Ana. She keeps an eye on me and of course, anyone I'm with." He grinned. "Are you familiar with the Spanish Inquisition?"

"Not personally." Keeley looked at the glamorous and gorgeous woman picking her way along the touchline to them. "Is this where I get warned not to fuck around with you?"

As she looked, David's eyes lost all amusement. She was astute enough to understand that he'd been hurt before and this was probably the warning that if she did the same thing then hell would be unleashed.

Anastasia Grey smoothly got through the introductions and disentangled Keeley from David, sending him off to chat with Christian.

"I'm so glad you could come," she said.

"It's a pleasure," said Keeley. "We got called in on Sunday, so I had a few hours in lieu. Although, this is by far the most bizarre kid's birthday I've ever been to." Both women turned to watch Ted Grey tearing down the pitch to the goal posts, the ball kept skillfully close to his feet.

"Come on Teddy!" Called his Mom. They kept with the action and Ana Grey's arms shot into the air as her son made it past all the defenders and slammed the ball into the back of the net.

"Is that two now?" Keeley was unsure of how many goals she'd seen.

"Three," said Ana, smiling at her. "Walk with me."

Keeley glanced over at David. He wasn't looking her way, he was still cheering Teddy's goal with Christian, while between the two men Darcey twirled trying to get their attention. The older girl, Phoebe, was stood a little to the side fighting an imaginary opponent with a plastic sword. Neither girl was interested in the soccer successes of their brother, birthday boy or not. The baby was being cooed over by his Grandmother. It was all a very domestic and very happy life, a far cry from the images of submissives and abuse that her brain had linked him with.

The birthday game was being played on half the pitch and the rest of it was empty, affording privacy for Ana Grey to issue her warning.

"David tells me that you're a Detective and that you're working on the Faye Silvestri case. How's it going?"

"We're making progress." It was all she could say without compromising herself.

"I know that you've spoken to my husband about it."

"Mrs Grey, his movements that night are all accounted for by witnesses and the time stamps on security cameras."

"I know. I was thinking more along the lines of what speaking to him uncovered. The nature of his relationship with Mrs Silvestri and the others, I mean? That information isn't widely known and certainly not by his family or David, for that matter." Ana stopped walking and turned to face her. "It's a lifetime ago and Christian would like it to stay that way."

"Ma'am…I."

"Call me Ana, please. Addressing me as Ma'am makes me feel old."

"You can be reassured that the information will remain confidential."

"Thank you. I know what the press would be writing if they knew. But while they may revel in sensationalist headlines and sordid tales, the truth of that time is underpinned by a number of deeply personal issues that Christian has worked very hard to overcome. I don't want it thrown back in his face when people can't get past what he once was, to the reality of what he is now. Labels stick, Detective Fox and there's no label stickier than that of 'abuser.' Especially if it's tossed around without explanation of what are defined sexual practices between consenting adults and true abuse."

Keeley's heart skipped a beat as another link between Stephen White and Christian Grey was made in her head.

"You have my word. It won't get out."

"I hope not, Ms Fox."

Keeley looked over to Christian Grey. "But he's very happy and successful, now."

"He was always successful. He works hard and he has a good head for business. The happiness was harder work, but he's there." She gave a small smile. "That's why he does things like this. He's determined that our children's memories will contain nothing other than the very happiest moments and the very best that our love for them can provide. Money isn't an issue, Ms Fox. Parents quickly learn that children get more pleasure in doing things with the carton, than they do from the expensive gift that was in it." She gestured to the stadium. "Same principle here. Ted doesn't care about investments, expansion plans or profitability. All he wants to do is play in a stadium-shaped carton."

Keeley Fox looking around at the very notion of the huge stadium being likened to a cardboard carton. Ana Grey turned away to continue their walk.

"He's not the only person who's had a difficult few years and I'm sure as soon as I walked over you knew that I might say something like this."

"I did," she admitted.

"Christian and I have known David for just over seven years, ever since he took the apartment beneath ours in Escala."

"He told me that it's where you met."

"This didn't happen a lot back then, so you need to understand how unique it was, that he and Christian got on and I encouraged it. Christian didn't have many people he could call a friend, so I was so pleased that he found someone in David that he could do things with; sailing, fishing, going for the occasional beer, etc. We know him well, we know the pain that his leg gives him from time to time and we also know the pain that his heart gives him." Keeley looked at her blankly. "Oh," continued Ana. "I take it he hasn't mentioned Alice?"

"No." Keeley didn't know how to proceed.

"I'm sure he will do, in time."

"It's only been a week," said Keeley, trying to speculate who Alice was. "Did she break his heart?"

Ana shook her head. "No."

"Is she his daughter?"

"I shouldn't have said anything. You need ask him about her." She rolled her eyes. "Listen to me. Imploring you not to expose Christian's past and then glibly exposing David's. I'm a hypocrite." Ana looked at her. "It's nothing…" she sighed. "No, I mustn't say more. It's for David to tell you. It's probably best if you don't let on that you know. I'm sure he'd be upset with me. Anyhow, what I should say is that Christian and I have his back, so don't…"

"Fuck with him?"

They stopped walking.

"Well guessed, although I shouldn't be surprised," said Ana. "David needs some love and some honesty. He's not had much reason to trust people, lately. I hope being with someone who professionally searches for the truth means that she seeks out that same truth, privately."

A roar from the crowd and the celebrations from the players indicated that someone from the blue team had put another one into the net. Keeley couldn't tell at this distance whether it was Teddy Grey again.

"Let me give you something to cling to," said Ana. "When I met Christian, it became clear very quickly that he was a complex man who I felt like I'd gotten in over my head with. A friend, who could see a bigger picture, told me that he was a good man. In spite of the difficulties that followed, I held to that and found it to be true. Now I'm saying the same to you. David Brannigan is a good man. He just has a few issues."

"Alice?"

Ana Grey gave a laugh. "If only."

Just then from the corner of her eye a familiar figure caught her attention and Keeley Fox spied Harry Marsh striding down the touchline towards them. "What's he doing here?" she wondered pulling out her phone and seeing the four missed calls. She'd switched it to silent. "Oh fuck," she muttered.

"Problem?"

Keeley sighed. "There will be." This couldn't be anything other than bad news.

Marsh didn't miss a beat, launching straight in with his tirade at fifty yards out. "Why do you people have cell phones if you don't fucking answer them?" His anger was visible, all the more so because he'd gotten a haircut, a shave and more of his red skin was on show.

"Sir, this is a children's birthday party."

"I know what it is, but we have to go."

"But you gave me the time off."

"Well, this is me un-giving it to you because murderers don't observe your vacation time. Your presence is requested at a crime scene, Detective Fox."

"Can't Sparshott go instead?"

"He's already there."

There was something Marsh wasn't telling her and she knew him well enough to know that it wasn't just because there was someone with her it was because of who that person was.

"Yes sir." She turned to Ana.

"I'll let David know you had to go."

"Thanks," said Keeley. "Tell him I'll call him."

Marsh gave an audible huff and set off back down the edge of the pitch. Keeley stared at him for a moment.

"Thank you for the warning and the advice," she said to Ana. "I promise, I won't hurt him."

"Thanks. I hope to see you again soon."

"Me too," she said and took off after Marsh.

xXXx

She bent her head under the tape that was crossed over the doorway and entered the neat bedroom of the apartment where a similar sight to one that she had been met with only ten days previously met her eyes. Ryan Sparshott was standing by the window looking out, his hands encased in plastic gloves were clasped behind his back.

Marsh and Fox stood silently at the foot of the bed, feet covered with plastic protectors. They were noticing same tying, the same gagging the same disarray under the woman that suggested a struggle, but her legs were splayed out neatly. Placed into position after death.

"Pretty much identical," said Marsh, pressing the gloves more firmly into the spaces between his fingers. "Right," his voice was a sad sigh. "She's known to us, but just to start things off correctly, what do we know?"

"Ola Marjek, that's spelt M-A-R-J-E-K. Thirty six years old. Born September 26th 1987. Discovered by her sister, Kamila, who had just returned from the hospital. No sign of a forced entry on the apartment door."

"And this is definitely the same woman who was part of the group with Silvestri?"

"Yes, sir," said Ryan. "I interviewed her myself."

Fox looked at the woman lying inert on the bed. Her eyes were open and her long, brunette hair was fanned out over the pillow. She pretty much knew what the next words out of Marsh's mouth would be.

"Get Grey in." Yep, there it was. "And his wife."

"What?" Keeley was taken aback.

"His wife," he repeated. "Two of his former submissives are now dead and you think we're not going to question his wife?"

"She was in Australia ten days ago and for fuck's sake, you just saw her at her kid's birthday party!"

"That doesn't mean she doesn't know something about it. And I notice that you were there. So from this moment onwards, until we can adequately explain the deaths of these women, you will not contact or associate with the Greys."

"Fine," she snapped.

"Or anybody they know."

"What the…"

He pointed. "You will not contact or go anywhere near David Brannigan."

Behind Marsh, Sparshott winced. He knew how much that would hurt her. There really weren't words for this.

"OK," she whispered. "OK," she repeated, vowing to work day and night to solve this case.