Chapter 31

26 June 1925 (Friday)

Constable Melvin Grable entered the Highgate district police station that late Friday afternoon and closed hurriedly the door behind him, shutting the high wind alongside with other flying debris from the road outside the building. His ears were still buzzing with the constant crackling sound of the leaves as he was walking to the station, watching them branches scratching and scraping one another as if the trees had drawn their swords under those strong winds which had descended, battering London since noon that day.

He took his hat off, straightened his messed up hair and proceeded towards the desks occupied by his colleagues. He was to report for duty. It wasn't his turn to patrol the Highgate village but one of the constables on the evening patrol rota had called in sick. His wife, Bertha wasn't particularly happy about this eventuality but Melvin didn't mind. In fact he was rather excited. He had joined the force dreaming of adventures, mysteries, police chases and the pinnacle of his achievements was a chase once of a pickpocket whom he caught because the guy had complained of bad knee as he had managed to grab him and escort him to the police station. So a night time patrol suited him fine. Who knows? If he was lucky, he could come face to face with the Raven...should he decide to show up after a long hiatus in his activities. There had been no sign of the Raven for months. The Police Commissioner had decided to relax the evening patrols. He even thought that perhaps the Raven had decided to retire...but no one was saying that for certain.

—

I'm doing it alone, she said with a defiant confidence colouring her husky voice.

Then you are way more stupid than I thought, he said back. His grey eyes weren't moving an inch from her as she paced up and down his living room.

She had appeared unannounced in front of the entrance of his flat, at noon. The woman was not only insane, she was dangerous as well, the way she behaved without any concern. Had she been followed? Did she ever think that his woman may have been with him? Or whether he had any visitor for that matter...

Relax, she had said nonchalant. I've been watching you. And me followed...what do you think I am? Some girlie who gets hot playing cops and robbers?

She smiled a hard smile, a thin cigarette hanging from her deep red painted lips.

The thought of being watched by MacDonald's henchmen and his broad in particular, creeped him out. Made him being uncomfortable in his own skin.

It's the perfect moment! Those toffs will all be at Lewis' house. Tonight..., she pressed on. She looked excited as she kept walking, leaving rings of smoke behind her, growing larger as they floated to the ceiling like ripples in a pond.

He felt impatient. Her constant moving made him feel even more so. He grabbed her wrist as she passed in front of him for the umpteenth time. Like a coil she was pulled back. Her face swung towards him. She looked surprised.

I - Say - No

He said the words one by one, keeping his eyes into hers which turned more annoyed by the second. Why did they have to dump that woman to him? He felt the air sour around her from the moment he met her. Her arrogant smirk, her cold deep set eyes. Not letting anything escape. You wouldn't know what she felt, whether she spoke the truth or not. You'd be swimming in the dark with Alice Diamond for you knew zero on what she thought or where you stood with her.

Do you think I care of what you say? Or whether the boss does? Her eyes had turned to slits and her lips twisted in a wicked smile. Cornering him with a threat, making him submit to her.

It would be impossible however for him to follow her. He had to be with Rose that same evening. Edward Lewis, Marion's father was throwing a low key party for the Stratford troupe. There were only three days remaining till the big opening of Hamlet and it was unheard of having the great John Barrymore in London and not having organised a bash in his honour.

He released her wrist from his grip.

You do understand, there'll be patrols in the area, he said.

Final plea of sanity.

Pff...

He took a deep breath in. He was tired. Ten days had passed since he had lied to Rose. The thought of her made his stomach squeeze. The lies...he hated them. How could he come clean however? Confess he was a thief? That he rubbed shoulders with London's thugs? The most notorious of them all, in fact.

I wash my hands Alice...Let the dice fall where they may. Billy may had said it here in this room last time, but I don't remember MacDonald telling me to my face to follow you or anyone else. Our agreement was for me to do a few more jobs for him. That was all.

He sounded stern. He sounded final. But she was having none of it.

You keep them occupied darling. I'll do what I know best, and you do your smooching, she replied to his words.

He could tell, she was buzzing by the thrill the prospect of burgling a mansion made her feel. He had felt it too, the first time he had done so. Perhaps that is why he had kept at it for the time he had. It had been like a drug. Made him feel euphoric afterwards. But he had to stop. He wanted to, now that Rose was in his life. He may had to bow under MacDonald, give in and become his pawn for a little while longer but he wasn't going to risk his life for mad Alice, regardless of her being the boss' girl.

He kept silent when she crushed the cigarette she had just lit in the full ashtray after just a couple of drags. She kept in constant motion, looking restless. Fever had glazed her eyes. She put on her cloche hat and walked to the door. He got up and followed her. He should feel relieved she was leaving but he couldn't dismiss the wave of concern that was rising inside him. What if she got caught? Could she rat on him when pressed under police interrogation? She could swap him to the police for letting her free in exchange. While his mind was occupied by all the things she could do to him, he almost fell on her as she stopped and turned back at him. Just before she was to open the door, she fixed her eyes on his face..

Actually, it's better that you stay at that soiree tonight...

Friendly advice...you keep an eye to that actor. There is something between him and that Yankee lass you have there. Us women can tell those things, she said to him, her face completely deadpan.

She seemed to enjoy pushing his buttons. He clenched his fists in response, digging his fingernails inside his palms. He had grabbed her neck twice before and he was very near of making it three time lucky. He refrained with everything he got.

No need to worry of my affairs. You keep the hell out of them, he whispered between his teeth.

You have nothing to worry about...she replied as if they were sharing a secret, as long as you got my back, Christian my love. She pursed her lips, looking all wide eyed and innocent for a moment and then she turned her back and left. He heard her laughter as she went down the stairs.

Laters, Feather boy...

...

Standing in front of the upright mirror, Terry kept fiddling with his bow tie, trying to adjust it to sit straight. The more he tried, the more his fingers were becoming unable to do the job right. With a temper that was rising by the minute, he pulled the bow tie apart and grumbled.

He wasn't in a particularly good mood to start with. He stood for a minute, looking past his reflection in the mirror. All through the ten days since he had received Candy's note, he walked through a haze of thoughts.

His days, he spent keeping busy with the preparations for the play. He may not have an acting role as such but he was still Barrymore's understudy. And even if he didn't even have that, to watch such a legend rehearse and see him prepare for this iconic role, was one of the best acting workshops a young actor could have. The way John was able to shut everything out, and immerse himself into the role it was awe inspiring. It was as if the man was becoming possessed. He would come in the morning, being John Barrymore, go straight in the changing room and come out being Hamlet. Even when they would be stopping for a break, but were still in costume, John kept being Hamlet. With a stare that carried a storm brewing, he would say only a few words, the absolutely necessary. Only the very skilful could manage to keep inside the role and not break the spell, even while being on a break, in the way he could do it. Terry had compared him to a deep sea diver, a pearl fisher. Reaching to the bottom of the ocean in one breath and keeping it as long as he could in search of the treasure. Terry was indeed grateful for those lessons. Not only he learned a lot, but he had even managed to keep the turmoil of his private life locked too for at least those few hours every day.

Marion kept pestering him with showing up to the theatre for lunches. He actually had come to like her. If nothing else, the girl was persistent. Not one to give up easily. He would pretend to be busy.

Oh! Poppycock! Busy, shmizy. You can spend an hour away from your love, she would say and pull him out of the dressing room by grabbing his arm. Practically dragging him out of the theatre.

He couldn't help but smile in the end. He would roll his eyes to seeing the expression on Robert's face. He had been interrogated of course but had kept information to a minimum. After all, to have Robert on his case too, it was one thing too many for Terry.

Once Marion and he were out in the sunshine, she'd take a breath and turn to see him.

See! Isn't it better to let your beautiful self be seen by the sun? Being hiding in the dark all day.

They would grab lunch and she would talk nonstop. Ask him questions.

How did he end up an actor?

How was life in New York?

Did he like London?

Some questions were left unanswered. She could tell by the shadows casting over his stare, she wasn't to push further.

Why did you leave London in the first place?

Do you still have family here?

But she didn't linger at anything for long. Like a bee, she buzzed from topic to topic, keeping him entertained, not to mention, he had to muster all his attention, to keep up with her.

Candy? He had seen Candy, oh yes. They kept up appearances. She was Marion's friend, after all. Dancing the evenings away. But since that note, it was as if something had changed in her.

She had kept her distance. Emotional, more than anything else. Everything between them was polite. Typical. Void of any deeper meaning. But then it was kept so superficial from her side, he couldn't but think whether she put up an act. Moments later, he would scold himself of overthinking things. He should try with whatever he had in him to get over Candy. She was with someone else. Wasn't himself who gave his "blessing" to Christian? He was also courteous to him. Friendly banter. Not much substance. His eyes showed he was preoccupied with something. They shifted, looked around a lot. Were searching in the distance.

And here they were. Marion's father hosting a soiree in honour of the Stratford Troupe and John Barrymore as the guest of honour. Three more days till the premiere. Terry was getting tired. His head hurt by trying to read signs. Process movements, words.

He poured himself a drum and downed it straight. He had caught her stare sometimes. Only briefly, he had seen melancholy inside it. Archie in a few private words had assured him, she hadn't got over him. But Archie was Archie. Always jumping the gun. Not to mention, he was swimming in the bliss of new found love. For a moment, Terry wondered what would happen to Annie back home. How things had changed...

Put the bow tie back on. This time his fingers knew how to do a good knot. He was almost ready to leave and travel back home. But having swung like a nonstop pendulum between thoughts and actions, he had decided this. Candy deserved to listen to him. He owed it to whatever the two of them had in the past. Love, you may call it. Youthful enthusiasm. Grasp to someone in a time of need. She needed someone to forget Anthony, he needed someone to believe in him...Whatever they had, he had to tell her. What he still felt. Put his heart in black and white in front of her. And then go. Ready to continue life whatever her reaction would be.

He came out on the street and looked at the jet black Amilcar, a lending gift from Archie of all people.

Nonsense, he had exclaimed. A friend should help a friend. I'm not giving this to you anyways. I'm lending it to you as long as you are here.

Terry in passing had said he was looking for renting perhaps a car to get about London. Perhaps drive a little on the outskirts. Get some fresh air. The next day, Archie had stopped by driving this.

For all times shake old chap, Archie had added and threw the keys in the air towards Terry.

He was full of surprises his old adversary, and now friend...Perhaps he needed to love and be loved by a woman the way that French girl had done so after appearing in his life. For him to mellow down. Terry chuckled. He looked to the sky. The winds were exceptionally strong for summer. A storm was brewing. The tree tops swayed back and forth like bells in a church, while the clouds raced and rolled above his head. He sat in the car, put the key in the engine. He knew Highgate well enough. One of the Grandchester mansions was there. Used by his father when he studied in St. Paul's. He wondered how he was going to feel, driving through his old "neighbourhood". The engine roared, the wheels spun on the road. He was off.

—

As it was expected the news of Edward Lewis hosting a soiree in honour to Barrymore and the theatre troupe spread like bush fire through the fashionable circle of London and everyone who had gossip column inches under their names wanted to attend. Sir Lewis had found it difficult to reign in Marion, his daughter in particular as she kept adding guests, acting as if it was her party. Having said that, it was her idea...to arrange this shindig for the theatre troupe although being cunning as she was, she designed the whole thing as if it was her father who had suggested it in the first place.

Sir Edward Lewis was a very busy man, keeping His Majesty's Treasury in order and a very responsible man to that which was all very well for his high position in the government but when it came to family, he struggled to keep his daughter in line. Most often than not, his and Beth's, her mother's actions were more in controlling the damage from whatever crazy thing their daughter had put in her mind to do. In any case, this time, they had taken onto themselves to organise this event and he put his foot down. It was going to be only a few of her friends, and behave respectably.

A taxi was speeding up through Camden on its way to Marion's house. Christian knew that area only too well for reasons he only kept to himself. Being a village up till the Victorian era, Highgate was now one of the richest areas of London, with the mansions of the aristocrats and the ultra-rich, competing on the scale of impressive and ostentatious.

If it was on Christian's hand, he wouldn't have followed Rose. And he tried to tell her from the start. Making a trip through the richest houses in London wasn't the best idea when he was almost certain that his moves would be reported back to McDonald. He had proven right in the end. Alice's visit in his house the same day, had unsettled him, even if he hid it well enough. To think MacDonald's reaction to his refusal to go with her...he had resisted to that. His original plan was to act on the evening of the premiere, when everyone would had been in London. Not now in Highgate. He was certain the local police would have been on alert. The Raven hadn't shown up for quite some time. Billy had reported back to him that the patrols had been relaxed but could he risk it?

Those ten days had been probably the hardest ten days of his life.

Why won't you let me help you, Rose had asked him several times. And every time he refused. Some of those times, they even quarrelled just to make up again a while after. It was as if they were on a boat riding waves through a silent storm.

It felt already long since the night of their confessions. They should have also brought them closer, but instead, a distance full of silences had started to stretch between them. Despite his willingness to come forth, he had lied to her. He found an excuse for his beaten up, bruised body. Owed money to people. MacDonald would say he owed to him much more than that. His own life, and hers even. Unless he obeyed him. Become one of his posse. Christian was trapped. Between a rock and hard place, don't they say? Balancing on a tight rope. That's what time felt to him during those last days. One move wrong and he could lose everything, her most of all. Couldn't relax. He buried himself with work. Meetings with sponsors, clients for commissions. Stayed at the gallery till it closed. Everything to avoid the questions, and the worry he felt she tried without much success to push behind eyes, forced smiles, planned moves.

His stare filled with her image, sitting next to him at the backseat of the taxi. Quiet, as she happened to be all that week when it was the two of them. Alice's words rung in his mind. Beware of the actor. Something went one between Rose and him...He did feel intrigued but under the circumstances he had found himself, those last words from Alice were put at the back of his mind. There were more pressing things to worry about.

She was thoughtful. Gaze escaping elsewhere, looking outside the car window. The wind swished inside the car, messing up their hair. His mind went back to Alice. A summer storm could be good and could be bad as the continuous swooshing of the wind could mask not only the noise she would make by breaking and entering, but also the noise others would make too. In essence, it gave a false sense of security and that was dangerous. He could smell moist grass in the air. It wouldn't be long before rain could come pouring down. Despite that, it was a warm evening and it showed on his lover's flushed cheeks, and the green in her eyes, that sparkled and stirred like green waters under the sun. It was such a cliché but she did steal his breath when he looked at her.

You look beautiful...

To the sound of his voice, she turned. Inside the moving car, she met with the grey dusk of his eyes. The morning after that dramatic night before flashed in her mind.

She had awaken inside his arms and taken in the warm scent of his body. She was home. When she opened her eyes, and faced the bruises, dark and menacing with their edges spreading over the sides of his chest, fear squeezed her insides so hard, she had stopped breathing. Declaring her love to him had come with a dark bruised cloud. That image she found hard to shift, all through the week.

She smiled back at him, a smile carrying all the thoughts she strived to silence. She had hoped to be able to lighten up. She really had looked forward for that evening but when she saw Christian's face when he arrived to pick her up...He was there only physically. His mind, she was sure, had been stolen again by God knows what.

Christian wasn't as eager to follow from the time she had announced the invitation to him but in the end, she had made her wish clear enough. They needed to lighten up. Not that they kept inside. On the contrary. They had been out almost every night. Some of those nights, Terry was there too with Marion. Seemingly enjoying himself. Marion draping herself on his arm whenever she found the chance. She had eyes only for him. But under Archie's stare, Christian's presence and Terry's occasional looks, Candy had kept her cool. She had written that damn note and intended to keep to what she had said in there. Terry's private life was not of her business. They were not a a couple and he was single and free to do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted.

Instead, she had thrown all her attention to Christian who had pushed her back since he revealed to her the source of his troubles. He refused all her efforts to persuade him to let her help him.

A chill rose up Christian's spine. Made him take her hand into his and rub his thumb over the soft skin of her knuckles. He broke his stare and brought her hand to his lips, caressed her slender fingers. He turned his head to her again, came close and took her lips in a tender kiss. If only he could drink her worries away. A faint sigh left her mouth when he pulled his head back. He let his body fall to the car seat. Closed his eyes while he pressed his lips together, feelings of frustration staring to shimmer behind them.

Please love...stop worrying, he said knowing well she kept staring at him with those big eyes of hers where she let everything she felt to show. "It hasn't been easy as it is over the last few days.'"

You seem preoccupied Christian...She confronted him once again.

Rose, this is not the time or the place...

She did not continue. He was right, she already knew that. She had to find it in her to go against her grain. She grew up helping others. This is what she did for her whole life Solving problems. Stepping in, managing crisis, taking blames, protecting. Then again, she had left everyone behind and came to London to help herself. This was to be her first big test. Learn to be selfish, to trust even that others could manage without her taking on their problems. Christian lived on his own before he met her and had built his life however he saw fit. She just had to trust him completely. Took a deep breath in. They were approaching Marion's house.

You are right Christian. Won't mention it again. I trust you.

Her last words carried the light of the first wide smile he saw shaping on her face since he picked her up. The clouds parted from his stare too. When the car came to a stop, he thought perhaps it wouldn't be a bad night after all. With some good luck and careful planning, he could even managed to get through this, without any harm coming to anyone's way, especially Rose.

They came out of the car, with Christian following her. Under the late light of the summer evening, the silver sequins on her light blue crepe de chine dress swayed and sparkled, following the movement of her body, the contours of which he could see under its see through fabric. He hurried up, grabbed her wrist before they would reach the door. Pulled her back, onto him. She turned her to face him. That moment, he would rather have her in his bedroom than spending the night with others. Before she managed to say anything, he took her mouth in a deep kiss, answering the question he glimpsed in her eyes.

You lovebirds!

Marion, stood at the door, acting shocked, but her whole body was moving to her laughing voice.

Damn, I was enjoying that...Christian whispered in her ear, before lifting his head to face her. Rose laughed and thought she never expected a chuckle before would unload such weight off her shoulders.

Darling Marion! The two young women hugged. She turned to Christian who was following behind, dressed in black tuxedo, looking his usual handsome self, albeit a bit tired if she had to describe him.

And the man of the hour, she exclaimed when he came in front of her. His exhibition was a smash hit success and London was still buzzing with his name.

Marion, you spoil me with the compliments, he said to her, before kissing her on the cheek.

Nonsense, darling. You deserve it, she came back and smiled.

A rather impressive Bentley, turned in the driveway and stopped in front of them. It was Archie and Isabel.

Great...can we go home? Christian turned and whispered to Rose who had a face of happiness at the moment.

Stop it Christian, she replied between her teeth. Laughing ensued between them two. The darks clouds had all but been pushed in the back of Christian's eyes, only showing up when his gaze followed the perimeter of the grounds of the mansion. He wondered where Alice and Billy would be. After she had left his flat, Christian had phone Billy and had explained the situation. By his friend's reactions, he knew he was shaking his head with disapproval, already thinking the boss' girlfriend was more than a headache than anything else. So he had agreed to go with her. Keep an eye on police patrolling.

Rose was more than surprised. True, she hadn't seen her cousin since the time he had driven her up the wall in his office with his behaviour yet again. His insistence to bad mouth Christian whenever he got the chance, was grating against her nerves. And to make him even more insufferable, since Terry showed up, it was as if he found his long lost buddy, his half-brother, breaking jokes with each other. If she hadn't known both, she could even say, they were flirting with each other. THAT close. In the few seconds, it took Archie to come out of the car he obviously had bought, having brought Isabel with him, she realised. She hadn't answered his question...

Archie never looked better. She could say he was even looking younger than ten days ago. London seemed that had transformed him just as it had worked its magic on her too a few months back. Archie and Candy were treading on similar life paths. Both following a fate they hadn't really any say about it. For long, they followed it blindly. Due to honour, due to expectations, the way things worked. She had denied herself of the one love she knew she wouldn't find again, because some other woman needed him more. Archie never pursued the one who loved, because another woman needed him more. Both had obeyed circumstances dictated by the needs of others. There he was. Away from the woman who needed him. Looking happy, eyes full of life following for a change, his needs. Because he needed Isabel in his life. You could tell just by looking at his stare on her. His total dedication to her. He was alive and present in every moment. Her cousin was in love...

—