Billie laughed out loud, and that wasn’t fake either because she’d only bloody gone and done it, found physical proof that Kelly was a bona fide blackmailer. All she had to do now was put the last piece of the puzzle into place.
‘No way am I going anywhere, and you can pour me one of those. My headache has suddenly disappeared, in fact, I think it’s party time.’ No sooner had she said the words than Kelly had poured some wine into a glass and passed it over.
When they clinked glasses, Kelly looked extremely pleased with herself as she downed her drink in one. Billie did the same, if only to steady her nerves because it wasn’t quite over, not yet. There were two more items on the agenda: the identity of the poor sod who’d handed over the money, and a black iPhone that was literally inches away. Billie intended to get them both.
37
They were both a teeny bit merry now, Kelly more than Billie who had been sipping rather than glugging in between taking selfies of themselves for the album they were going to post on Facebook. Billie had also managed to take some of the pile of money, the shot had Kelly in the background, her back turned, filling the kettle.
Kelly was literally jabbering away now, showing Billie photos of where she wanted to go on her iPad in between filling the coffee pot. ‘We could even go backpacking, you know, do the whole Australia and the Far East thing. How fab would that be? What do you reckon?’
Billie was uploading a selfie to Facebook and tagged Kelly in it, knowing that Aiden would also see it and hopefully get the hint from the big thumbs-up she was doing in the photo.
‘Oi, what are you doing now? Will you put that bloody phone away and pay attention!’
Kelly’s tone made Billie jump so doing as she was told, she placed her phone back into her top pocket and then accepted the mug of coffee she was offered. ‘I’ve posted a photo of us, to show Davey I’m out and having fun, and that I mean business. He won’t like it but I really don’t care anymore. We’re over. It’s the end of that sad little story.’
‘Hallelujah to that. So we need to go to yours one day this week and get your stuff, preferably when he’s out.’
‘Mmm, that might be tricky, but we can sort that out tomorrow, I’m more interested in where you got this money from. So come on, who’s this bloke? You can’t only tell me half a story, not now we’re flatmatesandbest friends of course…’ Billie was expecting the usual resistance but this time, Kelly didn’t miss a beat.
‘Oh him, the loser. He works for Stan, or used to. I bumped into him one night in the boozer on the corner, near the plumbing yard. I was looking for Stan so stayed and had a few drinks with Eddie who was drowning his sorrows, big time. Biscuits, that’s what we need, do you want one? I’ve got some Penguins.’ Kelly then stood up and went to fetch some.
Billie knew she was trembling on the inside and prayed it wouldn’t show on the outside, so clung onto her mug in case her hands gave her away. Eddie… It was Eddie. Good guy Eddie who’d worked for Stan, the man he’d trusted the firm to while he was inside, who he’d probably confided in about Billie and their split. They worked side by side and had been mates as well as colleagues. It was all making sense now, how pillow talk had been stored up and used by Kelly when she needed it. By the time the biscuits were on the table, Billie had got her act together.
‘But how did you manage to get all of this out of him… surely a few nude photos didn’t do it?’
Kelly huffed. ‘The man is a complete mess, sex-starved, stressed out and once I had the photos, he was desperate and shitting himself.’
‘I don’t get it.’ Billie played dumb.
Kelly rolled her eyes. ‘While he was knocking back the scotch, he told me all about the IVF his wife was having and that he was on rations in the bedroom department… They save the sperm up or something? The details were a bit boring to be honest. Anyway, one thing led to another and we ended up in a taxi and then in bed. I have to tell you, though, all that stored up testosterone or whatever it is led to a very satisfactory session. He’s quite cute, for an older guy, not like that knackered-looking thing of yours, and we hooked up a few more times. Like I said, I could tell Stan was losing interest and I suspected he was cheating so I thought,Sod it. Eddie was good in the sack and it was fun. He also had loose lips and told me all sorts about Stan, you know, about his perfect ex and why she dumped him. Then his wifeactuallymanaged to get pregnant and he wanted to call it a day but no way was I letting him get away with that. It was bad enough that Stan had cooled off so some old fart wasn’t going to do the same. That’s when I told him I wanted the money, otherwise I’d tell his wifeandStan, then he’d lose his family and his job.’
‘So where did he get the money from?’
‘I reckon he had his hand in the till. I really don’t care. It’s so not my problem. Luckily, I managed to get three lots of five grand out of him before he lost the plot and went on the sick so there’s no point hassling him for more. Well, for the time being anyway.’
Billie’s stomach was swirling, nerves causing havoc with her insides. It was like all the most terrifying, gut-clenching experiences rolled into one, but now she had a name, so almost pooing her pants would be worth it.
‘Surely he’ll get caught though, by his firm when they notice the money and stuff is missing.’
Kelly tutted before she replied. ‘Like I said, there’s absolutely nothing to tie me to him so even if he did mention my name I’d deny it but I doubt he’s that stupid, do you? His wife will find out he’s a cheat and an embezzler so it’ll be bye-bye Daddy Eddie.’ Kelly made a sad face, sticking out her bottom lip as she waved goodbye.
‘Well remind me never to mess with you. I’m glad you’ve not got a chest freezer, because it would be full of the bodies of all your dead lovers. I wouldn’t put it past you.’ Billie took the jokey route as she checked the time. Forty minutes before they needed to head out so surely Kelly would go and get changed soon, then Billie could grab that phone and clear off.
‘Ha, no dead bodies, not yet, which reminds me. We need to take some photos of your bruises in case Davey becomes a problem and we need to get rid of him.’
Billie laughed nervously, not quite sure what Kelly meant. ‘I thought you said no bodies. But you’re right, he might be hard to shake off and that’s a worry. He’s not going to like being dumped and he scares the crap out of me. The more I think about it the more I get cold feet.’
‘Don’t you dare chicken out now. Anyway, if he proves to be a problem I know how to get him out of the way, at least until we can bugger off abroad. It’s not like he can track us down in Thailand, is it.’
There was something about what Kelly said that made Billie’s skin prickle, and when the question popped into her head for a millisecond she was too scared to ask it, then her lips took over. ‘What do you mean, “get him out of the way”?’
Kelly hesitated, and her expression was a bit sheepish then she looked away while she answered. ‘Nothing, forget I said it, I was joking.’
But Billie couldn’t let it drop and instinctively placed her hand on Kelly’s arm and said the first thing that pinged into her head. ‘No, I mean it, Kelly. I’ve taken enough good hidings from Davey so if you know a way to keep him away or teach him a lesson, I want to hear it. Or are you exaggerating?’
‘You thought that about the money and I proved you wrong so it’s about time you started believing me, don’t you think?’ Kelly looked annoyed and met Billie’s eyes. It was more of a challenge than a question.
