Grin Read online

  Dani was sitting on her bed, legs crossed, typing away on her pink laptop. The blue glow illuminated her face as her brown eyes, full of concentration and guile, stared at the screen. Dennis gazed around the room and grinned.

  Over the years, the room has gone from a kid’s domain with pictures of ponies and cartoons, to posters of the latest pop stars, X Factor rejects, or whatever movie hunk was popular that month. Now, artwork adorned the walls, the shelves devoid of Lego and replaced with module books and research material. Dennis never really understood his daughter, but he’d raised her on family values and as a result, she had a deep sense of discipline and respect. He trusted his daughter to put family and career before anything else, including boys, and he was one of the few fathers who knew his daughter would honour that.

  He smiled, proud.

  Dennis gazed at Dani, her pink pyjama legs riding her calves to reveal dark, olive skin, a gene from his own family tree. Her white t-shirt only contrasted against her smooth arms, again dark with an Italian heritage; one he rarely discussed but knew existed. Her hair was in a towel, a single wet lock hung over her left ear, damp from a recent shower. The smell of her candy shower gel, a recent birthday present, still lingered in the air.

  Dani looked up, still typing. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Hey.”

  “Everything alright?”

  “Yeah, just saying goodnight. It’s been a long day.”

  “Night.” Dani broke eye contact and returned to her work.

  Dennis gulped, but didn’t move. Dani, aware of his presence, continued typing. “What?”

  “I’m so proud of you,” Dennis said, feeling a little foolish. He walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “Sure.” Dani smiled. She looked up at her father. The radiance from her innocent smile sent a warm tremble of pride through Dennis’s heart. “I know you are, Dad, you tell me all the time.”

  “Well, it’s because I am. So much.”

  “And I’m proud of you.”

  “Why?”

  “For bringing me and doucheface up.”

  “Your brother’s name is Teddy.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I said, doucheface.” Dani chuckled. “You brought us up; you married the coolest woman in the world. You have reason to be proud too. I know people whose parents combined didn’t possess one parental gene. You’re awesome, Dad.”

  “Good. I’m glad you know that.”

  “I do.”

  A silence settled between them. Dennis stood up, kissed Dani on the forehead and walked away. He paused, turned back and held out his hand. “Here, I want you to have this.”

  Dani looked up, frowning. “What is it?”

  “It’s my key. To the BMW.”

  “What?”

  “I got a spare made. I want you to learn how to drive…at some point. When you pass, the car is yours.”

  “Seriously? You’re giving me a BMW?” Dani took the black fob with the blue and white logo on it and twirled it between her fingers. She smiled, her eyes widening in bewilderment.

  “You earned it.”

  Dani leapt from her bed and hugged her father. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  “You’re very welcome. Just remember, you earned it.”

  “Coolest father ever!” Dani returned to her bed, a huge grin on her face.

  “Don’t be up too late.” Dennis turned away and left the room. Dani watched him go, biting her lip in excitement. After a second, she climbed back on the bed and returned to her work. She glanced at her clock. It was a little before midnight. She checked her phone.

  Still no text from Ben.

  Arsehole. She placed the BMW key beside her phone.

  “One more hour.”

  Dani resumed typing.

  FOUR

  Ross Rhodes sat at his expensive oak desk, his feet up and crossed, watching the wall mounted TV that sat above his grand fireplace. The remote was in his hand, aimed in no particular direction. His dark eyes were on the headline that was flashing across the bottom of the screen.

  BREAKING: Multiple gunshot victim survives assault.

  According to the graphics, a plucky, redheaded reporter, with too much Botox and not enough cleavage, was interviewing a Detective Inspector Scott. Her forehead was enormous and her technique brash and naïve. The DI was revealing minimal details about the crime. All he knew was that the victim, a talented Italian chef from Soho, survived a shooting attempt, leaving him paralysed, but alive. He also suffered traumatic injuries to his face and body. A huge amount of rehab was expected and no further details were available. After a moment, he sidled away as the reporter turned to the viewers and signed off.

  Rhodes turned off the TV with a click on the remote.

  As if on cue, Bradley, his right hand man, entered the large office. The former boxer, with bulging muscles squeezed into a six-foot-three frame, was all controlled rage and confidence. His suit was tight with a daily gym routine and a balanced diet. His hair was clipped short, his face chiseled in all the wrong places, giving him an air of menace. He stood silently at Rhodes’ desk, awaiting instruction.

  Rhodes tossed the remote across the room and it hit the wall with a thud. He glanced up at Bradley, who didn’t move. Rhodes laughed. “You know, Bradley, I saw this day coming. I should have gone with my gut and done it myself.”

  “How shall I proceed, sir?” Bradley asked, his grizzly voice belying a degree in sports science and an IQ of one hundred and forty six. His chiseled arms crossed against his barreled chest.

  “Kill the chef. I’ll teach him to cut me out of any protection. Cunt. He’ll be in hospital somewhere, probably St Barts. Get Sanchez on it, he can blend in and become a doctor for a few hours. In and out, keep it quiet.”

  Bradley blinked, as if capturing the instruction for later. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, kill the shooter. I don’t accept liabilities.”

  “Dennis?”

  “Yeah, he couldn’t even kill a fucking chef. What sort of reputation does that give my organisation? Kill him, him and his fucking family.”

  *****

  The southern rectory provided Dani with a relaxing shortcut, a quicker way to make it home. In bad weather, or if she wanted to avoid someone in particular, she preferred the isolated trip it guaranteed her. The path was nothing more than a dirt track covered in mulch, shrouded by elegant, whispering trees, and flanked by manicured lawns and expertly shaped foliage. However, it provided more peace and quiet than the winding roads that cut between multiple businesses, abrupt concrete behemoths and noisy homes.

  More importantly, it kept her away from other people.

  Despite her class potential as a nerd, Dani didn’t fit into any cliques at school. Bullies didn’t gravitate towards her, but nerds didn’t see her as one of their own either. In reality, people didn’t bother her. This continued into college and she was thankful for it. Blending in made life simpler and less of a distraction. She liked her alone time.

  Teddy was staying behind for football tonight and would be an hour or two behind her. She knew her mother was collecting him anyway, so it gave her the chance to walk out of college, fast, and head straight home. Alone.

  Avoiding people wasn’t an issue. Until today.

  Right now, she was avoiding one person.

  Ben.

  Avoiding might be a strong word. You’re pissed at him is all.

  Dani sighed, head down. Her footsteps gathered pace.

  She hadn’t received a text or call from him in three days. Whether his phone was charged or not, three days was no excuse. She couldn’t remember the last time someone her age hadn’t worshipped a mobile phone.

  Nowadays, a mobile phone was a teenager’s sole method of existence in the palm of their work-shy hands. They did everything through it. It irked Dani a little; herself brought up differently, to respect people somewhat, she preferred an actual conversation, human interaction. Most of her friends
– the few she could actually class as such – lived by the mobile. Conversations took place via shortened, grammar offending text messages or visual telephone calls. Once, she’d seen two girls ‘face timing’ one another from across the room, when it would have been simpler, and cheaper, to stand up, walk three feet and say hello. Conversation of the most basic kind seemed lost on youth today. Technology really was eroding the cerebral potential to evolve.

  She was looking forward to finishing her book when she got in. The mobile phone would be the least of her concerns this evening. Dani gazed up, looking through the trees, and realised dark clouds had formed overhead. A chilled wind rippled her trouser legs. The first droplet of rain exploded on her cold cheek. She hiked up her collar and turned the corner, into the rectory. Four minutes more, and she’d emerge by Kambo’s and seconds later, cross the road to home.

  Not long now.

  Her eyes levelled and she stopped in her tracks. Squinting, she observed the park before her. The lush green grass wavered in the ever-increasing wind. Beyond the greenery, several trees swayed, their leaves taking flight and curling to the ground slowly. Three houses stood idle, one inhabitant standing on his front porch, sipping from a beer can. His white fence, the only house to possess one, was creaking and wobbling before him. He glanced at it with disdain and vanished into his abode. Several kids rode by on bikes, their faces heading into the biting wind.

  Dani took a step back.

  Her eyes weren’t on the houses, or nature’s contribution to the rectory, or even the reckless kids speeding towards an open public road that ran parallel to the rectory itself. Her eyes were on the bench beneath the trees, a black, iron monstrosity built in honor of some old person who’d helped the community for several decades.

  On the bench sat Ben.

  He wasn’t alone.

  Dani looked for something to hide behind. She was standing on the longest pavement in the rectory; its exclusive surrounding was the kept grass. She reckoned diving to the ground might attract some attention.

  Instead, she just stood there. Ben didn’t see her, he wasn’t even aware of his surroundings; much less his girlfriend who’d stumbled on his deceitful secret. His lips were too busy kissing the blonde woman perched on the bench beside him. Every few seconds or so, he would come up for air, stroke her cheek or push her wind ruffled hair aside. She smiled, lost in the moment. They were simply two teenagers in love.

  That’s how Dani realised this wasn’t just a fling.

  The body language spoke of a familiar relationship, comfort born from a long-term coupling. Comfort born from a sexual relationship. There was no sexual edge, no petting above the clothing, no urge to take the woman to his house for a quick fuck. He was simply enjoying the public display of affection for what it was – a stopgap until the next time they had sex.

  Dani felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. Instantly, she rubbed them, refusing to shed a tear for this bastard. The quick movement of her hand caught the blond haired girl’s attention. She glanced at Dani, her eyes looking through her, recognition not imminent. Within seconds, Ben noticed and followed her gaze. The smile dropped from his face.

  No time like the present, she thought.

  Her father’s voice echoed in her mind. Men are a distraction. You have to go through a lot of shit before you find a diamond. You’re too young to know what love is.

  As she stepped forward, she nodded, agreeing with her father for the very first time. His wisdom had seemed like social venom in the past. She didn’t let on about her true feelings. Now? From this moment forward, her father was the most sensible man on the planet.

  Her eyes were on the path that led out of the rectory. She was minutes from her home. Instead of following it, she ambled right and arrived before the young couple, on instinct, as if guided on autopilot. Dani had to settle this. The blonde girl smiled. “Can I help you?”

  “Hello…I don’t know…Ben?”

  Ben shuffled uncomfortably. He sheepishly looked at his companion and stood up. “Hi, Dani.”

  Dani said nothing, her vehement glare speaking volumes.

  “Ben, who is this?” The blonde girl stood up beside him, clutching his arm.

  “I’m his girlfriend,” Dani blurted.

  The smile disappeared from the blonde-haired woman’s face. She released his arm, backing away. “Noooo, I’m his girlfriend.” On that note, both women stared at Ben.

  “I can explain.” Ben looked from one woman to the other. “I can explain…”

  “You have thirty seconds,” Dani said, her voice controlled. Her stomach was doing backflips, and she was on the verge of vomiting, but she retained control. Her father had taught her better.

  “Dani, this is Chantelle. Chantelle…Dani.”

  They nodded at one another.

  “Dani…Chantelle has been my girlfriend for six months.”

  “You’ve been dating me for three,” she replied.

  Chantelle gasped, her hands shooting to her mouth. Within seconds, she buckled and sat on the iron bench, nearly missing the seat edge. Dani looked at her and felt a shot of regret, a shred of pity. She thought it funny, considering her own emotions were on the verge of pushing her to a breakdown.

  Ben sat beside her. “I’m sorry, Chantelle. I never aimed for you to find out this way.

  Chantelle nodded, her jaw jostling in anger. She stood up on wobbly legs. Ben reached out for her and placed his hands on her arms. “You’re the one I love…”

  “Is that because she lets you fuck her?”

  Ben and Chantelle both glared at Dani. Dani, her eyes still stinging from the prickle of tears, crossed her arms. “Well, was it?”

  Chantelle narrowed her eyes. “Wait, you didn’t fuck her?”

  Ben looked from Dani to Chantelle and shook his head quickly. “No, no, I didn’t. She meant nothing. She’s frigid as hell.”

  A solitary tear slid down Dani’s face. The taste of vomit was rising in her throat. A burning anger was slithering through Dani’s veins. Leave now, she thought. It can only get worse.

  “If you didn’t fuck her, that’s not cheating.”

  Ben did a second take. “What, wait…huh?”

  “You only kissed her? That’s nothing. Kissing don’t count. You didn’t stick your dick in her, that’s fine. You’re forgiven.”

  Ben’s face lit up. He stepped closer to Chantelle. Dani shook her head. Chantelle smiled, licked her lips and looked at the dejected woman. “You hear that, skank? He chose me. He didn’t even stick his cock in you, which says it all. You can leave now.”

  Ben nodded. “I think that’s best, don’t you, Dani?” He was unsuccessfully attempting to hide a smug smile.

  Dani, her soul shattered, her veins on fire and fists clenched, turned and walked out of the rectory. As she went, she shouted back. “You deserve each other.”

  Ben and Chantelle didn’t give her another look.

  Dani rounded the fence at the entrance and walked into the street. Placing her hand on a lamppost, she breathed out heavily and wretched. Vomit splattered the pavement at her feet. No one stopped to assist her. After a moment, she stood up and wiped her mouth.

  The short walk to her house was a blur. The street, vehicles, and people before her passed in slow motion, their faces non-descript, their noises indecipherable in her emotionally shredded brain. Her vision wobbled from side to side. People laughed and pointed, probably at the acidic mess on her chin, but she paid it no heed. After what seemed like an hour, she arrived outside Kambo’s. The smell of confectionary brought on an instant wave of nausea and she vomited again, this time splattering her shoes.

  Why, Ben? Why did you do this to me?

  She remembered Ben leaving her yesterday, heading back the very way she’d just stumbled. She’d been blissfully unaware, delightfully happy. Her mind started to piece together the untruthful pieces of his dark deceit.

  When did it start?

  How many times?

  Did he
kiss her before kissing you?

  Did he go down on…

  Dani closed her eyes and shook the thought away. Wiping her eyes, she crossed the road, holding out a hand in case a car was nearby and her vision prevented her from seeing it. She reached her front door, pushed it open, and wobbled up the stairs.

  She kicked off her vomit soaked shoes and tossed her bag and coat on the floor. Dani staggered to her bed, lifting her vomit-caked sweater over her head, and fell forward, rolling as she did, landing sideways. The plush duvet swallowed her broken body. Dani wrapped it around her, seeking its protection. Only when she laid her head on her pillow did she let out the emotion.

  Dani screamed into the pillow. Then, the tears came. The floodgates opened.

  Teddy walked past the door, saw his sister, and stopped. He remained silent.

  FIVE

  Sanchez slipped a stick of raspberry gum into his mouth and began to chew slowly.

  His steely blue eyes, concealed behind a pair of dark shades, darted back and forth, watching the entrance to St. Barts, the local general hospital. Despite the biting winds and the drizzle in the damp air, he stood alert, rooted to the corner of the street by an empty, graffiti-decorated bus stop. The battered brown coat that kept him warm, coupled with his disheveled look, gave him the appearance of a typical Londoner, a person no different to the next seventy people who walked across the average line of sight.

  Blending in.

  Sanchez did it better than anyone.

  Observation was boring and conclusive. In thirty minutes, he’d seen six nurses, seven doctors, more than a dozen patients, two pizza deliveries, and a hobbling, drunk clown.

  But not one security guard.

  Sanchez wasn’t convinced, knowing that the wannabe police officers probably made a beeline for the break room for coffee and potential doughnuts rather than fresh air and social interactions with smokers and bored taxi drivers. As his gaze returned to the entrance, he saw one such driver flip off a patient in a pink dressing gown and drive away. That rage, coupled with the dark blood splashed across her shoulder, and her distracted state, indicated a head wound, a loss of equilibrium and lack of a tip, a tip that would have paid for the cleaning of any spilt bodily fluids from her journey.