Chapter 33

The dusk had come earlier than usual. Thick clouds full of lead were quickly filling up the sky above, hiding the last rays of a setting sun.

"What's the time Billy?" She turned and asked the man next to her.

You could hardly make their silhouettes from the distance. They were both dressed in black from head to toe. They were hiding within the trees of the Grandchester estate, right on the borders with Hampstead Lane. They stood opposite the beginning of Compton Avenue. Since it was a one-way street, their hiding spot was ideal for observing who was coming in and out. The street had gone quiet for the last couple of hours. Alice and Billy had paid particular interest in that actor. He had stopped for a good fifteen minutes, staring across the grounds intently while he was smoking a cigarette. Having been tailing Christian for a couple of weeks now, she had also came to know that man who was sitting inside the car with a frozen stare on his face as he kept looking at the Grandchester mansion. She had found him enigmatic. Despite being someone who had practically just arrived in the London scene, he behaved as if he was acting according to his own agenda, albeit a hidden one. He also seemed at ease going through London's streets. Her well-honed instinct was telling her that he was someone they should pay attention to. In this instance though, she had more crucial plans to follow.

"It's ten." He said as he glanced at his pocket watch. She looked up at the dark sky. The wind whooshed through the thick foliage of the oak trees above them.

"You think we'll get the rain before we make a move?" She asked him.

"P'raps..." He replied, scrunching his nose, smelling the air that had turned cooler.

"When did that copper make his round?" She asked again.

"T'was half an hour ago." He said again. "It'll be another hour and a half before he shows up again"

"I should be in the house right after" She said while repeating the details of the plan in her mind.

"Let's hope it won't burst into a downpour" Billy said back, his eyes scanning the pregnant sky once more.

"Let's hope so" She repeated his concern.

—

The evening was well underway inside the residence of Sir Edward. Everyone was in conversation with whomever was in the little wells of guests that had been formed. A continuous hum of chatting and loud laughter was floating in the air, the champagne was flowing equally uninhibited.

"Who knows...we may entice Mr. Graham to pursue his career in London..."

Terrence smiled politely to Sir Lewis. His stare fell on Candy chatting away with Marion in the distance. Their eyes met for only briefly before she turned her head back to Marion. He thought she looked annoyed. He pressed his lips, controlling the frustration he felt inside. He turned his stare back to Sir Edward.

"However attractive that may sound Sir, I'm afraid by now, life for me is in New York." He commented. It was true he thought. Was there anything for him here...he seriously had started to have doubts.

"What is it with English actors moving to the States?" Lord Wooster commented, taking a sip from his champagne flute.

"Who else did?" Sir Edward asked him, looking surprised.

"Don't you remember? Eleanor Baker? Amazing actress. A goddess she was. Still is!" Lord Wooster said, his cheeks turning redder by the minute. "Do you know her Mr. Graham?"

Terry paused for a second. Had a sip of his drink.

"I know of her..." he said but he sounded hesitant. The name of his mother picked his interest. He wasn't keen however, to continue this conversation. In all honesty, there wasn't much to say anyways. His relationship with Eleanor had been kept a secret still. Initially so due to Eleanor's career, and then due to his career, Terry being keen not to be labelled as the son of...so and so. He wanted to make his own name from the ground up. Having changed his surname as well, he was well and truly on his own. With no ties to any Dukedom in England, or the Queen of Broadway.

"She's American, you fool!" the other man exclaimed.

"Is she?! I thought she was British!" Lord Wooster raised his voice.

"No . American through and through." Sir Edward said back to his friend.

"Wasn't she living here for some time though?" Richard asked again, still not believing he was wrong about Eleanor.

"She was...she was Grandchester's girlfriend if you remember.", The man explained further.

"That's right! Yes!" Lord Richard said as if a light bulb went bright inside his head, lighting up his eyes. "Say what's happening with that old chap?"

"I believe he has retired up in Scotland for the summer." Sir Lewis informed his friend, and he turned his eyes back to Terry who kept being present in this conversation which was veering to another subject, as most casual conversations do.

Whatever thoughts were passing from Terry's head while being witness to this conversation, he kept inside. The banter between the two elderly men on the other hand, had his attention. He turned to Christian who was standing next to him and shrugged his shoulders, feinting an amused look. He too looked just as attentive to what was said between the two men. Terry's stare broke his focus. Sir Edward Lewis and Lord Richard Wooster turned to face both young men.

"Well, at least the arts are looking good with all this young talent here!" Lord Wooster said with enthusiasm, looking at both the Terry and Christian.

With a flute of champagne between her fingers, Candy had been staring at both Terry and Christian who were standing side by side, looking engrossed in their conversation with Lord Wooster and Marion's father. She had been standing there, without realising for how long, looking at both men. In the near past, Archie had threw at her his opinion that she had been dating a Terry lookalike. Back then, she had dismissed him on the spot, feeling angry even. Right now, Archie's words did not seem that farfetched. If she didn't know either of them, she could say they looked like brothers. The same mannerisms, similar enchanting smiles, intense stares...

"Oh my...he's a bit of a wow isn't he?" she heard Marion swooning, while she came next to her. Her gaze broke.

"Wow...?" She asked her with a brow raised, turning her face to her who kept looking at Terry.

"Well yes, you know. Tall, dark, saturnine...", Marion described Terry to her friend with a voice carrying her dreams. She turned, to gaze back at Terry too. Her heartbeat quickened all of a sudden, while keeping Marion's words in her mind.

"I'll be damned if I don't steal a kiss from him tonight..." Marion continued, talking to herself.

The words arrived in slow motion in Candy's ears. The moment she realised them, she turned her eyes away from his. They fell back on Marion's. "Don't you think it is rather early to the chase Marion?"

Immediately, she bit her lip whereas regret hit her like a lightning. She had managed so well for all that time...

Marion was taken aback. "What do you mean...I shouldn't try to kiss Terry?" Her voice tittered on the verge of annoyance.

"I'm sorry Marion. I worry too much for the wellbeing of my friends...I don't want to see you hurt." Candy apologised immediately, though staying to the point. There was no use turning back.

"Rose, if it came from anyone else, I'd have walked away offended on the spot, but coming from you, I know you mean well" Marion said and the trust in her voice made Candy feel even guiltier. "So please don't fret...I know what I'm doing."

"He's an actor for Chrissakes" Candy added in a last attempt to turn her mind out of heating up her relationship with Terry.

"Rose..." Marion turned to her, took her by the arm, and walked the both of them further away from the main crowd. "If there is any reason for me not to try kiss Terry that has a valid point, please tell me now...", she said in a serious voice, searching deep inside her friend's eyes. The corners of Candy's eyes moistened. She was cornered and that was it. What was she doing anyways? Had she lost her mind?

"Not as far as I can see Marion", Candy replied, with every word making her feel more deflated.

"Super!" Marion exclaimed. "So we're good..."

"We are!" Candy repeated, clutching Marion's hands in hers.

Sir Edward's voice climbed above all chatter inside the room. "Could you all please follow me. Dinner was ready."

Christian and Terry turned together with Lord Wooster and started walking towards the table.

"Lord Wooster, where is your charming wife? I haven't seen her." Christian turned to Richard, just before reaching the dining table. "I wanted to thank her for such a glowing review of my paintings."

"Oh, my dear Christian, I will definitely pass your thanks. Unfortunately Ophelia is unwell, she suffers greatly from hypersensitiveness to pollen, poor woman, it makes her feel completely ill. She had to stay in bed."

"I see..." Christian said, the storm clouds outside the window on the dark sky, having descended into his eyes. "Well please pass my wishes for her quick recovery." Christian caught Candy's side, having reached the table. So had almost everyone else. Terry and Marion, were further up closer to the troupe, while himself, Candy were sitting further down, having Archie and Isabel, opposite them. He felt the room warming up when he arrived next to her. Candy seemed preoccupied, but he didn't have the luxury to ponder into her matters. Right now, it was imperative to stop Alice, who was going to enter Richard's mansion when the dark had fell.

—

It was 10.30 at night. Only half an hour had passed since their prior conversation with Billy. Alice had started to feel impatient. In her line of theft, pickpocketing, stealing gold pendants and pearls from jewellery shops required speed, thinking on your feet. Precise. "Listen" She turned and saw Billy. "I have half an hour to get from here to Lord Wooster's mansion. I go in, pick the safe, take the stash, and wait as quiet as a mouse till I hear your whistle."

"It's not time yet Alice" Billy said feeling cautious. He never had veered off plan with Christian.

In the gentle darkness, Alice's eyes were wide as a cat's. She exhaled before she whispered again. "Billy trust me." Her voice was calm within the wind that had grown stronger. "Besides, I think it's going to burst open any minute now, and if we're caught in the rain before going in, the whole thing is off."

Billy was still hesitant but she was right. He nodded weakly. "We'll go together," she instructed him, "once there, you'll cross the road quickly to have a clear view of the house and I'll go in from the side window. The path isn't that wide to the back and the fence is high enough to hide me completely in its shadow.

With quick moves, having checked the road, they run as quickly as they could. There was a narrow path behind all the back gardens of the great mansions on Compton Avenue. Lord Wooster's was fifth in line.

With hunched backs, they started walking fast, covering the distance with as quiet steps as they could. Fat drops of water sounded smashing on the trees and shrubs of the lush gardens. "Quicker" she whispered. They only had minutes even if that.

They reached their target. Its windows were dark. It had started to rain, but was light still. They looked at each other. Billy knew what he had to do. He lowered the brim of his hat, down to his eyebrows. Kept his eyes down, hands on pockets. Glanced quickly on the empty street, and passed on the other side. A moment after, he was completely invisible. She took out of her trouser pocket a pencil thin tool, with a diamond tip. She drew a circle on the clear glass. Thankfully it was still dry. When the circle was complete, she tapped only lightly at the bottom of the circle. A round glass disk fell on her hand leaving a hole on the window, enough to put her arm inside and unlock the top lock of the big double hung sass window. Soon enough, her silhouette moved silently inside the house.

—

The dinner was coming to an end. The look of everyone's face was one of merriness. The one provided from good food, constant supply of fine wine and interesting company.

"Is everything ok, Terry" Robert turned and asked him. With the premiere of the play looming, Robert knew he had neglected keeping informed of what Terry was doing. He was a big help during the days, but having two women visiting him...it had made him feel anxious, although he shouldn't be. Terry was nearing thirty for goodness sake. It wasn't like last time when he had just been at the end of his puberty years. Still, if Candy was one of the two women...that was a big thing. Robert knew all about the dedication Terry had shown to her face. For him to liaise with another woman and not get his wires hot because of Candy...that was the one thing he worried about.

"Yes, Robert" Terry turned, lowering his head towards his boss. His question caused him surprise at the least. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh...nothing. Everything is ok with you...and you know who..." Robert whispered, and glanced at Candy who was in conversation with Christian and Isabel.

Terry turned to see her. He still couldn't put his finger but she didn't look right since the moment he had laid eyes on her, while she talked to Marion. He felt desperate to know what happened. With that thought, he turned back to Robert.

"Yes, everything is good Robert.", Terry reassured him, "Everything is under control."

"You can tell me anything you know that Terry..."

Terry smiled at him. He preferred to spare Robert from his life's craziness. His private life was his, and as long as it didn't affect his professional life, then everything was fine. Just as he had said to Robert.

They got up. Edward led his guests back to a brandy in the dance room they had been before. Terry got up first, before picking Marion's chair, pulling it back for her to get up. His eyes fell on some books as he glanced at the book laden shelves behind the glass. "The Great Gatsby", he remarked, "That only came out in April.

"I know" Marion said, feeling proud, "First edition signed by the man himself." "Have you met him?"

Terry looked around. They had remained alone in the room. "Francis you mean? Yes, I have. Interesting fellow, throws smashing parties with Zelda his wife. They drink a lot, I don't as much these days."

"Boring Terry..." She teased him. "Oh, wait!" she exclaimed, with a new thought rising in her head. "You should see this book...Shakespeare rare edition", she said as she rushed to the other side of the book covered wall. She opened the glass leaf. Stepped on the short library steps, to reach a rather old looking book on the thirst shelf. She tiptoed, without realising towards where she was tiptoeing to. She grabbed the book and turned. The moment she did so, her toes were left on the air, throwing her balance off course. Terry grabbed her by her waist. He could have seen this coming, but he let it happen. He was lowering her down before she caught his lips midway.

Terrence Grandchester wasn't a man that was easily caught off guard but her lips on his, bold, playful...was as off guard as it could get. He let her feet touch the ground. Put his hands gently on her shoulders, and pushed her back till her body touched the bookcase, wanting to put some distance. Enough to see the excitement in her stare.

"I don't particularly fancy women who are that forward..." he said with a low voice to be heard just by the two of them. A wicked smile dawned on his lips. "I prefer that I do the moves." He kept her eyes on his. He understood very well she was his. Could he step over that line? Should he step over that line? "But not now or here." He added and lowered his face towards her, feeling his heart beating strong.

Footsteps were heard behind him. And then silence.

"Excuse me!" He heard Candy's voice behind him and his breath stopped. "Didn't know someone was still here." "I forgot my bag."

Marion's face showed behind Terry's back. "Rose..." she said but her friend had disappeared as quickly as she could, feeling her face on fire. Her breathing became shallow. She was hyperventilating. She couldn't see Terry, not now. Unfortunately, they couldn't even be excused. Sir Edward and Lord Wooster had asked the great John Barrymore to recite a famous Shakespearean soliloquy of his choosing. Archie saw her looking as white as a cotton sheet.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, I just need to get for a moment to the rest room Archie". A servant showed the way. Just before she disappeared, Archie let her know. Christian, had a bit too much to drink and went out to take some fresh air. As worried as Candy should have been at that moment, she hardly had any coherent thought in her mind. She felt her stomach churning. Terry having leaned over Marion...Was this the punch she felt on her sides, cutting her breath short? No, no, no...this should have not been happening.

—

Christian came out of Sir Edward's mansion. Lit up a cigarette. His mind was racing with a million turns, weighing everything. He had to get to Alice. That was certain. She was going to burgle a place with people in it still. It had started raining, just. It was 11pm. Flashes of light, lit the sky up, showing the extend of the storm clouds. There was not an inch of sky clear.

As he walked towards the main gate of the residence, he saw a lone figure disappearing on a side pass, between two houses, opposite Lord Wooster's mansion. Billy! That meant, that crazy woman was in the house. He dropped his cigarette, lifted his tuxedo jacket up to his ears and run as fast as he could. He reached the side window which was wide open. He took his shoes off and climbed over. He was in. Already acquainted very well with Richard's place, he moved with confidence around. The safe was on the first floor, next to the dining room. Their bedroom was above. He reached the study, and opened the door without making even a crick of a sound. He could just make Alice's silhouette, looking lean and nimble inside her dark fitted trousers and black light wool pullover.

With wide strides, he reached her. "Get away from the safe" he whispered and grabbed her left arm with one hand, placing his other over her mouth. "Don't say a word. Lord Wooster's wife is here." She turned her face towards his, side glancing him. He dropped his hand from her mouth.

"Let go of me" she demanded. "As much as I appreciate you coming here...I'm here, the safe is here so I'm taking the loot"

"We're not going to discuss it!" He ordered her.

"I'm going nowhere" she said. Turned her head and continued picking the lock.

"You're so bloody minded woman!" He said through his teeth, wanting to hit her so badly. His fists tightened by his sides. The safe was open. Alice started shoving everything she could see, inside a black bag. At that moment, she was in automatic pilot. Nothing could have stopped her. Till they heard a noise.

"Who's there?", a woman's voice was heard from the top of the stairs.

"Fuck! Ophelia!" They had no other way but to go from the front window. He locked the study's door.

"Is there someone in? I'm calling the police!" Lord Wooster's wife shouted, before rushing back to the bedroom where her husband kept a phone on the bedside next to his side of the bed.

Rain was coming down relentlessly, like whips snapping in the air. A loud thunder shook the windows.

"We have to go out now" she heard him say without an inch of negotiation available in his voice. She didn't bring any resistance this time. They opened the window. The storm was in full swing, the sound of the rain amplified all around them drowning any other noise. Including Billy's whistling. Deep within the shadows, he saw everything. Including what was unfolding.

The copper was on sight. He tried once more. This time Christian heard him. But it was too late for the both of them to escape. Apart from the street light, they were surrounded by darkness. A flash of lighting crossed the sky above, illuminated both the stares on their faces. They were getting soaked to the bone, wet hair strands glued on their faces. The mansion windows flooded with light. A police siren sounded in the distance.

Constable Melvin Grable was just about to appear in front of the mansion. There was commotion inside the house. The door handle of the study door rattled. There was no more time left. The cries of the woman inside became audible. Frightened sounding, asking for help.

"Stab me." His voice came from deep within him, sounded strange, guttural, as if it wasn't his.

"You're fucking mad!" She may have wanted to deny him, but there was no other way. Each moment passing, the panic kept creeping in. He was shivering. Flicked the blade open.

"Here..."

"No, no, no!"

"Damn you! Do it!" He covered her gloved hands holding the knife with his, and plunged the blade all the way low on the right side of his belly. She pulled the knife out. He gasped. He felt a sharp twinge, and the warmness of the blood sipping out, spreading like the watercolours on his canvas, turning the white of his shirt into crimson red.

"Go" he said with a restrained voice.

"I am sorry" she whispered to his ear, before she run at the back garden, disappearing into the darkness. She run as far as she could, blinded by the tears flowing inside her eyes.

Christian turned to meet with the Constable who had just missed Alice. Soaked to the bone, he only managed to do a few steps towards the man of the law, before collapsing on the pavement. Police sirens sounded in his ears before everything turned quiet...