The Other Side of the Door, Nicci French [new reading .TXT] 📗

‘Great,’ I said, at the end. ‘That was the best yet.’

‘Shall we go, then?’ said Joakim, putting away his violin, and snapping the clasps of the case.

‘OK.’ I tried to sound unconcerned. ‘No time like the present.’

Before

‘I’ve spoken to Liza, and you can stay here for the next couple of weeks as long as you water her plants,’ I said to Hayden.

‘Sure.’

‘I mean, really water them. Every day. Keep them alive. She’s very attached to them. They’re like her surrogate children.’

‘Right.’

‘And don’t make a terrible mess.’

‘You sound like someone’s mother.’

‘Only because you’re like a child.’

‘Am I?’

‘Yes. Here’s the key.’ He pocketed it. ‘She’s left a spare with the man upstairs.’

‘Why couldn’t he have watered the plants?’

‘Because she doesn’t trust him to. Don’t you want to stay here?’

‘Of course I do. It’s great. I’ll water the plants and vacuum the floor, and I’ll buy her a thank-you present before I leave.’

After

‘Odd little road,’ said Guy, as we turned into the lane leading to Liza’s flat. ‘It feels like something forgotten about. They could build some flats here.’

‘That’s what Liza’s scared of,’ I said. ‘There are only a couple of houses in it, and this garage.’ It was deserted, its shutters closed and its iron sign flapping at the hinges. It was nearly nine o’clock and the light was softening, giving even the scrubland a ghostly air and making the rather dingy little lane almost picturesque. ‘It’s the one at the end that backs onto the railway line.’

I could scarcely believe that I was standing at the front door once more. I pressed the bell and waited.

‘He’s obviously not going to answer,’ said Joakim. ‘Ring the other bell.’

I pressed it reluctantly, praying that no one would answer.

‘I don’t think anyone’s here,’ I said, after a few seconds.

‘Hang on.’ Joakim pressed the bell several times, leaning on it as if that would make the sound louder. ‘I think I can hear someone.’

Sure enough, footsteps were coming rapidly towards the door.

The man who opened it was young and dark-skinned, with huge glasses and a fringe. I had seen him before, but he didn’t seem to remember me. ‘Hello,’ I said. ‘Sorry to trouble you.’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m a friend of Liza’s.’

‘Liza’s away.’

‘I know.’

‘Have you got a key to her flat?’ Joakim broke in eagerly.

The young man transferred his gaze from me to him. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘We urgently need to get into the flat. Have you got a key?’

‘If I had a key, why should I let you in?’

‘Have you?’

‘My son isn’t explaining himself very well,’ said Guy. ‘A friend of ours has been staying in the flat and we’re worried about him. We want to check that he’s all right.’

‘A friend?’

‘Hayden,’ said Joakim. ‘Hayden Booth. He might be ill. He might need our help. He’s not answering the phone or coming to rehearsals. You have to let us in.’

‘Do you have the key?’ asked Guy.

‘How do I know you’re who you say you are?’

‘My name is Guy Siegel,’ said Guy, in a ridiculously pompous tone. ‘I’m a solicitor.’

‘Solicitor? What’s he done, this friend of yours?’

‘No, that just happens to be my job. We simply want to make sure everything’s OK.’

‘Bonnie is Liza’s friend,’ said Joakim.

‘Oh, are you Bonnie? Why didn’t you say?’

‘Sorry?’

‘You’re the one Liza left to water her plants. She told me about you. So you knew I’d got the key in the first place.’

‘Did I?’

‘She said she’d told you.’

‘Oh. Well. I must have forgotten.’

‘Can we have the key, then?’ Joakim was practically hopping from foot to foot, as if he thought Hayden needed to be rescued at once.

‘Sure. Wait a minute.’ He ran up the stairs and reappeared almost immediately. ‘Here you are. Just pop it back when you’re done.’

But Joakim hadn’t finished. ‘Have you see Hayden recently?’

‘I dunno. Has he gone? He was definitely here a few days ago. I think his girlfriend was staying for a bit.’

‘I didn’t know he had a girlfriend. Did you, Bonnie?’

‘Let’s go and take a look,’ I said, turning towards Liza’s flat entrance so they wouldn’t see my cheeks burning.

‘When was that exactly?’ asked Joakim, still not moving.

‘Let’s think. Five days ago? A week? More? I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying attention.’ A worried expression crossed his face.

‘It’s fine. Thanks for your help,’ I said. ‘Come on, you two.’

I put the key into the lock, pushed open the door and stepped inside. For a moment, like the last time, I half expected Hayden’s rotting body to be lying on the floor, blood puddling around his head and his arm outflung, his fingers curled. The burning in my chest made breathing painful.

‘Hello,’ called Guy, stepping into the room after me. ‘Hello? Hayden? Are you here?’

‘Hayden,’ echoed Joakim. ‘Hello.’

I couldn’t make myself shout his name. After all I’d done, it would only have been a small moment of hypocrisy but it wasn’t possible. I just waited, or pretended to wait.

‘No one’s here,’ I said.

‘Let’s have a look around, then,’ Guy said.

‘Look for what?’ I said, and then, at the very moment I was saying the words, I really did see something.

‘Maybe there’s a clue to show where he’s gone so we can call him up and shout at him.’

‘What?’ I said stupidly. I hadn’t been able to pay any attention to what he was saying because there, quite casually draped over the back of the chair by the wall, was my light grey cotton jacket. I was overwhelmed by a sort of madness. This was what madness must be like, when there seems to be no fit, no proper cause and effect, between the inner and the outer world. I could make no sense of what was happening. Possessions of mine from this flat had been delivered to me in a package and now this piece of clothing was here to incriminate me. Who was doing this to me? What was the point?

It took me a few more long seconds to remember that I was the person who had left the jacket there. I made myself concentrate