Robyn was heartbroken. She'd read the paper that morning to see if that horrible killer had struck again. There was nothing reported, but in the entertainment section was an article that turned the day sour and dark for her.
"CALEB KNIGHT TO QUIT UK FOR UNITED STATES"
Caleb Knight, the famous ex West End star, has today announced his intention to accept an offer to play the Phantom of the Opera again in the sequel to the show, "Love Never Dies". Knight finishes his stint at Holby New Theatre at the end of this month and then, he has announced, he will be travelling to the USA where he will be living for at least the next two years. His last week at Holby is a complete sell-out."
He never said a word to me, she mourned, he must be trying to escape from our relationship. I knew it was too good to last, somebody as gorgeous as him wanting me…
She managed to keep working with her full attention throughout her shift; the patients didn't deserve her anger. But when she saw Ethan arriving, she made a beeline for him with the paper.
"Did you know about this?"
"No. I didn't!" replied Ethan in genuine shock.
"That makes two of us then" replied Robyn grimly.
As soon as his break came, Ethan was over to the New Theatre. Cal had just gone on stage. That meant an hour and a half before Ethan got a chance to speak to him. Well, at least he could make Cal aware of how annoyed he was with him.
The 'Phantom of the Opera' duet began. Marsha was surprised to see a boatman sitting there, usually it was the Phantom who ferried her across the lake. Cal was even more surprised. But, when Marsha's back was turned and unseen by the audience, Boatman Ethan was holding up a piece of card with "What's all this about America, you little shit?" on it. Cal missed a couple of notes and forgot his exact lines.
As he slunk off stage, knowing by the look in the producer's face that he was in for a lecture, Cal vowed to pay back his rotten Roundhead brother for this.
Ethan went back after the show and cornered Cal before the latter could slink away.
"America? Really? Robyn's been sobbing her heart out because of your rotten plans!"
"Why?" said Cal, deliberately being awkward, "Doesn't she want to go?"
"What?"
"When she comes to the show this Wednesday night, I'm planning to ask her to come with me."
"You'll ask her tonight, Caleb, I'm not going to have her in pieces for a couple of nights. Get it?"
"Ooh, my baby brother growing a pair! Well… okay. But I did want to make the big announcement in The Satin Lounge."
"Den of iniquity! Oh… that reminds me" said Ethan, "Either there's a copycat killer out there or Jack the Ripper's followed Ben through time."
He said it as casually as if he'd said "By the way, Charlie wants to borrow your Spiderman DVD."
"I hope not. Oh Ethan, I hope not for Ben's sake!"
The producer had a word with Cal next day and Cal fabricated a convincing enough story about it being a crazed fan who'd played the unnamed boatman and that he could assure the producer that nothing like that would be allowed to happen again. His personal security was on to it. Because of Caleb Knight's status in the musical theatre world, no more was said on the subject.
"Robyn – please hear me out and don't put down the phone."
"Well, seeing as this is likely to be our last conversation, okay. I'll be burning my ticket for Phantom, though."
"Please don't. I had a big surprise planned for you after the show on Wednesday but Ethan's convinced me I should tell you straight away."
"Oh I know about your big surprise, Caleb. Off to America, are you?"
"I was hoping it might be two of us going to America. I was going to ask you after the show in two days but Ethan won't let me keep you on a string till then."
Silence.
"Robyn? ROBYN?"
"There'll be documents to sign. A Visa. All kinds of red tape."
"I can sort all that out. You can have an entry document without going through any of that."
"No, Caleb."
"You're turning me down?"
"I'm turning down the shortcut. If I start applying properly and legally from tomorrow I should still have time. I want to do this properly."
"All right… that sounds fair. But will you promise me if your application's turned down or lost in the post, you'll let me cheat a bit?"
"I should say no but…. Oh Cal, I'm so happy!"
Max and Zoe cornered her after she finished her shift.
"We're under orders. You're not to go home alone. We've arranged to start our shifts a little later, but we're taking you home first."
"Because of that serial killer guy?"
"Lily and Ethan saw him last night. They managed to scare him away but he'll be back again."
Robyn shuddered.
She shuddered even more when her stepmother Greta called her the next day.
"I got your text. Fancy thinking you can run off to America, Robyn! You can't even look after yourself properly over here, let alone in another country. You're not going."
"I am! I'm old enough and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"I can refuse to sign essential documents…."
"You've never wanted me to be happy since you split from Dad! Other people will sign for me."
"You want a fight about this trip to America, you'll get one!"
"You keep out of my life, Greta. And incidentally, I'm not going on a trip. I'm going to live there with Caleb."
"I'm coming over to this hospital right now to make you see sense."
Much as she loathed Greta's interfering way Robyn had to try to warn her:
"If you have to come, take a taxi. Don't walk through the streets. It's after ten."
"Taxi! No wonder you've never any money to spare."
Robyn heard the phone switched off abruptly.
Greta was stalking though the park, barely taking time to enjoy the sight of the street lights which had been arranged so they illuminated the branches of the trees, or the flowerbeds by moonlight. She came to the deserted playground and snorted, remembering how Robyn would never try anything more adventurous than the swings.
"Are you going somewhere, Madam?"
Greta turned round. Some idiot student in fancy dress trying to bar her way.
"To see my daughter. Please let me pass."
"Now let's not be hasty…"
Greta saw the Gladstone bag in the 'student's' hand.
"Of all the sick costumes to choose. Jack the-"
Her voice choked off on a scream as the knife went into her gut.
A/N Well what can I say? Never before have I been lucky enough to discover a truly obnoxious character who's also helped me to find a much -needed plot link.
"No… it's not safe for people at the moment.
(