‘Do you want me to come with you?’ asks Fen, obviously sensing my anxiety.
‘Would you? That would be great.’ I could really do with some moral support – especially when it might concern Jaxon.
Mum, who’s been listening to our exchange, says, ‘Go, Molly. We’ll be fine, won’t we, Eva? I’ll take her over to the swings in a bit.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ I bend to hug her.
Then, before we go, there’s one more person I need to hug.
I walk over to her. ‘Katja, I really don’t know how to thank you - ’ That’s as far as I get before the tears start again.
She pulls me quickly into a hug and murmurs, ‘Just get out of that place you’re in. That’s all the reward I need, Molly. To know you and Eva are safe.’
*****
Fen drives us over to the café and I search for Madison’s car but it’s not in the car park.
‘I’ll just nip in anyway,’ I tell Fen. ‘She might have told Hope what she’s up to.’
Fen nods. ‘I’ll wait here.’
The first thing I see when I walk in is Patrina going into the Ladies, bucket and mop in hand. I catch Bertha’s eye and she comes over.
‘No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Patrina’s turning out to be a top scrubber, now she knows the ropes.’
‘How was your luxury sleep-over with Ron?’
She waggles her eyebrows.
‘Say no more.’ I grin, thinking she looks a decade younger today. ‘By the way, did you contribute to the fund for me?’
‘Of course. We all did. Even Patrina.’
‘Then can I hug you, please?’
She gives me one of her rare dimpled smiles. ‘Ooh, I think that would be allowed.’
‘Thank you, Bertha.’ I hug her tightly. ‘It means so much that we can finally escape from that place. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.’
She tuts at this and tells me to take all the time I need. ‘We all wanted to help. As I said, even Patrina was persuaded to put her hand in her pocket, so there you are! There’s hope for her yet.’
‘There’s hope for everyone, if you and Iris, sworn enemies, can become friends. Are Chloe and Joe moving in with Lottie?’
Bertha nods. ‘Great, isn’t it? They were in here this morning planning the whole thing, and it’s given Lottie a brand new lease of life. Just what she needed. And Iris is thrilled, of course, because she’ll be able to pop in and see Chloe and little Joe whenever she wants to. I was even wondering if Lottie might invite Iris to move in as well, but I’m not entirely sure that would work.’
‘Maybe a step too far?’
Bertha nods. ‘Iris is a bit set in her ways. I think she quite likes her little apartment overlooking the lake.’
‘Changing the subject, but has Madison been in?’
‘Yes, not so long ago, actually. She put a pledge on the board before she left, concerning you. Very mysterious. Come over and I’ll show you.’
I read the pledge in Madison’s slanting handwriting.
I’m going to make things right for Molly. Jackson Savage, I’m coming for you!
A shiver runs through me. The spelling’s wrong, but she’s obviously found out Jaxon’s name. How, though? I’m sure I didn’t tell Carrie.
Then I remember. After I poured my heart out to Carrie and she went off to find Krystle, I turned the air blue by cursing Jaxon out loud. I’d no idea Madison was there, overhearing everything.
I say a quick goodbye to Bertha, telling her I’ll see her in the morning, then I rush out to Fen in the car.
‘She’s gone after Jaxon, apparently,’ I tell her breathlessly.
‘Where is he?’
‘His poky little office is on the industrial estate.’
‘Classy,’ she sneers.
‘Quite.’
‘Let’s go, then.’
We arrive at the building I remember from the first time, when I met Bobbie. I had reservations even then about moving into Jaxon’s flat. I should have listened to my gut.
It’s past five and I’m worried the office might have closed for the day, especially when I can’t see Jaxon’s car.
‘No sign of the Monster Glacier Melter,’ I groan. ‘He mustn’t be here.’
Fen snorts. ‘Why do men like him always have big, in-your-face gas guzzlers?’
‘And prize them above absolutely everything. He nearly attacked a young lad just for being curious and looking in the window.’
Luckily, when Fen and I go in, Bobbie’s still there, sitting in the first-floor windowless room that’s in darkness except for a pool of light from an angle-poise lamp on her desk. (No doubt Jaxon saves on his electricity bill by banning the use of overhead lights, with no regard for his employee’s eyesight.)
I take a deep breath. ‘Hi, Bobbie! We’re looking for Jaxon?’
She stares at us. ‘Why do you want him?’
‘He – um - asked me to come and see him next time I was in the area?’
‘Right. I’ll make an appointment for you,’ she says, reaching for a desk diary. ‘Molly, isn’t it?’
I nod. ‘The thing is, it’s quite urgent. It’s…about my rental payment.’
‘Ah. Well, he’s with a new client at the moment, showing them one of his properties.’
Madison! Oh, God, what’s she up to? She has no idea how dangerous he is…
‘Right. Um…could you give me the address and we might catch him when he’s finished showing the client around?’
She looks as if she’s going to refuse. I glance in despair at Fen. Then I draw a deep breath. ‘Look, I’ll be honest with you, Bobbie. I think it’s my friend who’s set up this meeting. And I’m worried about her. She’s called Madison?’
Bobbie nods.
‘The thing is.’ I swallow, not even wanting to talk about it. ‘Jaxon attacked me on Tuesday night and I think Madison is going to have it out with him, but she really doesn’t know how dangerous he is. She doesn’t actually know about the attack. She just thinks he’s…well, a dodgy landlord. So I need to see her urgently.’ I’m pleading with my eyes, hoping she knows Jaxon well enough to realise I’m not lying.
But she shakes her head. ‘I can’t give you the address, I’m afraid. Mr Savidge wouldn’t like it.’
‘Do you really want it on your conscience if something happens to her?’
She hesitates, but the answer is the same. ‘Sorry.’
I sigh with frustration. ‘I suppose he bullies you as well, does he?’ I shake my head, panic rising inside me at the thought of not getting to Madison before she tackles him. ‘What’s it like working for a crook and an abuser like him? I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I were you.’
‘Bobbie needs the money,’ Fen puts in gently, and I nod.
‘I know. I’m sorry, Bobbie. I shouldn’t have said that. It must be really hard, having a child to support. I know all about that.’
‘It is,’ she says sourly. ‘Very hard.’ She sounds on the verge of tears.
‘Okay. Well, thanks anyway.’