Page 82

Chapter 81

Anna

I’m anxious and I don’t like it. Liv and I haven’t spoken since she followed me to the building site where I was scouting for Drew’s burial spot and she showed me what was on her phone. It’s been a deliberate lack of communication from my end, and I assume hers too.

I’ve been tempted to forewarn Margot of what Liv knows, but I’m scared of stressing out her and the baby. She’s already being monitored for high blood pressure and she’s not helping herself with the number of work commitments she’s taken on. She won’t listen when I suggest she needs to cut back. She wants to capitalise on this renewed interest in her. But I fear what she’s about to hear is going to make things worse. It’s up to me to protect that baby.

After all the terrible things two people could have done to one another, she and I have forged an unconventional alliance. Do I think she would sell me down the river if push came to shove? I believe it would need to be a pretty hard shove for that to happen. But we are always going to be wary of each another. Keep your friends close and Margot closer. And while our relationship is more honest than what I had with Drew, I haven’t confided in her about my passengers, past and present, or where my brother is now.

He’s been pretty vocal lately about how much he disapproves of the understanding Margot and I have. When she and I are together, I can hear him tutting and huffing and cursing under his breath. As much as he still wants her dead, he also knows that while she’s pregnant, her welfare is my priority.

‘Hi, hi, come in, come in,’ Liv enthuses as she opens the door. ‘Look at the size of you!’ she gasps, and pats Margot’s stomach. I can see her try to suppress it, but it’s clear how much Margot hates that.

As Liv moves to hug me, I’m sure I see something darker hiding behind those sparkling blue eyes. Or perhaps it’s my own reflection.

Behind us, the sound of an engine catches my attention. I turn to see an estate agent’s van parking outside my house. They’re about to hammer a ‘To Let’ sign into the front lawn. My offer to buy a turn-key, three-bedroom, end-of-terrace cottage a few streets from here has been accepted by its redeveloper. Unlike Drew, I didn’t blow my inheritance on drugs. I also have enough to put towards renting a unit I can use as a studio and take on an apprentice. For the first time in years, there’s a future ahead of me that doesn’t involve the deaths of others.

‘Let me take your coats,’ Liv says, and hangs them up by the door before leading us into the kitchen, where we take our seats around the island. In the centre are bowls of croissants, pains au chocolat, fruit and muffins. This is the first place we all sat together, I remember, just over a year ago.

‘How are you both?’ Liv asks, looking to us both in turn.

‘Forty-one, knocked up, and still a little crispy,’ says Margot. ‘In other words, still living the dream. I’m just unsure whose dream it is.’

‘Well you still have your sense of humour,’ Liv says.

‘Just not my figure,’ Margot adds as she unwraps a raspberry and white chocolate muffin.

‘You should book some personal-training sessions with Brandon after the baby arrives,’ Liv says. ‘No one leaves unsatisfied after a one-to-one with my husband.’

Neither Margot nor I are sure if Liv is referring to the last time Margot tried to have one-to-one time with Brandon. And neither of us asks.

‘The three of us haven’t been together for so long,’ continues Liv, ‘not since after my accident.’

Margot is too preoccupied by the pastries to notice Liv staring at her.

We make polite chit-chat for a while, Liv asking me about new jewellery designs and Margot discussing her packed filming schedule.

‘And the police are no nearer to finding who tried to kill you?’ Liv asks.

‘No,’ Margot says with an actress’s aplomb. ‘The case is still open.’

‘If it was me, I’d be frightened they might come back and try and finish what they started.’

For a fleeting moment, Margot’s gaze reaches mine before returning to Liv. ‘No,’ she says confidently, ‘something tells me I’m safe.’

I have wondered if Margot suspects that my brother is dead. If she does, she hasn’t asked. She only knows for certain about Ioana and the others.

‘How’s the studio doing?’ I ask, keen to change the subject.

‘Not great,’ Liv admits. ‘These are challenging times.’

Her honesty catches me unawares. ‘Sorry to hear that. Why?’

‘I was out of action for much longer than I thought I’d be, then we lost a member of staff and we haven’t been able to get back to where we were.’

‘Things will pick up though, won’t they?’ says Margot.

‘They will with your help,’ Liv says, beaming. ‘It’s why I’ve asked you over for brunch. You’re both going to be my new investors.’