Page 29

Chapter 28

Anna

I reach my driveway and am searching my jacket pockets when I realise I’ve left my keys on Margot’s kitchen table.

I turn, ready to knock on her door, when I notice I didn’t close it properly. I push it open and am about to call her name when I overhear her upstairs, talking to someone. I think the other person is on her phone’s loudspeaker. I can’t stop myself from quietly eavesdropping.

‘I don’t understand,’ Margot snaps. ‘What do you mean they reached out to me and I turned them down?’

‘Their lawyer claims Billy contacted you directly by email and asked if you were interested in returning to the band,’ a woman’s voice replies. ‘You told them absolutely not and never to contact you again.’

‘That’s a lie!’ Margot protests. ‘I’ve not spoken to any of them in fifteen years.’

‘That’s not what they say.’

‘When was this supposed to have happened?’

‘Soon after Christmas.’

‘No, I’m absolutely sure of it. It didn’t happen. And how can they market this tour as “featuring the original line-up” when I’m not in it?’

‘Small print,’ the woman replies. ‘Original line-up means they aren’t replacing you with anyone else.’

‘Can we take legal action? Stop them using the band’s name? They can’t be allowed to do it without me. You wouldn’t expect the Rolling Stones to perform without Mick Jagger, would you?’

‘The remaining six own the trademark to the Party Hard Posse’s name, so I’m afraid they can.’

‘They own it? As of when?’

‘They put in a joint application late last year.’

‘Behind my back. The conniving bastards.’ There’s a pause, and I think Margot might have hung up.

‘Are you sure it’s not too late for me to rejoin?’ she continues suddenly, now more than a trace of desperation in her tone. ‘Just think how well ticket sales will do when they announce I’m returning after all.’

‘Hun, I’m sorry, but as of an hour ago, the whole tour sold out, along with an extra eleven dates.’

This draws a puffing sound from Margot, as though she’s just been punched in the stomach. ‘Just call them, Geri,’ she says, her voice cracking. ‘You’re Geri Garland. You created Star People. You made Lightning Strikes the biggest band in the world. People don’t want to piss you off. They do what you tell them.’

‘That’s sweet of you to say, Margot, but I just spoke to their new manager before you called,’ she says. ‘They’re adamant there’s no room for you now it’s all been announced.’

‘But they could make room, couldn’t they? Please, call them again. Please. I ... I ... I need this.’

‘Look Margot,’ Geri says, her tone softening, ‘reading between the lines, I don’t think they really wanted you anyway. They still blame you for what happened at Glastonbury, then for the band splitting up. I was told off the record that it will be, and I quote, “a less toxic environment without her”.’

‘Toxic?’ she repeats, aghast. ‘I carried those talentless idiots for years.’

‘You also have to remember there’s still a lot of negative energy attached to your name after what happened to Nicu’s ex.’

‘That fucking woman made my energy negative!’ shouts Margot. ‘Before her it was positively positive! She’s been rotting in the ground for ten years, so how is she still able to twist the knife? I’ve lost my career and now I’m raising her fucking kids. What more does she want from me?’

The caller tries placating her and I think the conversation is concluding. I pad softly into the kitchen, grab my keys, turn, and have just reached the front door when Margot speaks again.

‘I know where the bodies are buried,’ she says. ‘If they don’t let me back in, then perhaps I’ll start digging.’

‘Margot,’ says Geri slowly. ‘You really need to think about this. I’ve stepped over the line many a time myself, it’s par for the course in my job. But it could reflect badly on you if anything negative ever came out and was traced back to you.’

‘I have nothing to lose. I’m already toxic, remember?’

When I hear her making her way downstairs, I slip outside and shut the door behind me.