‘That dark-grey thing there, lines of cars, slush and ice…’
‘I was just saying, that in America, you should say “street” not “road”.’
‘Well, actually, where we’re going I need to sound as English as… as…’
‘Emma Watson?’
Hayley turned to Angel. ‘Yes! Yes, exactly. Emma Watson.’ She took hold of Angel’s bagel-free hand. ‘I think it’s this way. It can’t be far now.’
‘So, where did you go last night?’
Hayley swallowed. Last night. She’d done nothing but think about Oliver since the second she’d arrived back at Dean’s apartment. What the hell had she done? Why had her sense deserted her? How had she let her obviously fickle body have control overher brain? The strongest coffee Dean’s machine could make had numbed her shock a little.
‘I went to… catch up with a friend.’ She wasn’t about to tell Angel the real reason she was scouring a nightclub. Not yet anyway.
‘You have a friend in New York already?’
‘Sort of.’ She should have known saying she had a friend in New York was going to further her daughter’s interest.
‘You really should say “kind of”, being as we’re in America.’
‘And you, young lady, should really stop lying to your mother at nine years old.’
A rouge appeared on Angel’s cheeks as they continued to walk. ‘Uncle Dean said he wouldn’t tell you.’
‘You told me, no, youpromisedme you hadn’t brought “Alfie and the Toymaker” with you.’
‘I don’t think I actually said those very words.’ There was a brief contrite look then the expression changed to a smile. ‘Vernon loved it.’
‘That’s good to hear because he’ll be the only one reading it to you.’ Hayley stopped, turning to her left. ‘OMG, this is it.’
In front of them was a plain, black door, a small, brass plaque attached to the middle of it statingMajestic Cleaning. There was a bell on the doorjamb. Hayley went to press it but hesitated. Did she really need to do this? She closed her eyes. She needed the money. She needed to be prepared for whatever happened with the search for Michel. Was she really not going to take that flight home if they hadn’t found him by New Year? She swallowed. Money gave you options; that was all she wanted right now.
‘Majestic Cleaning,’ Angel read aloud.
‘Yep,’ Hayley responded.
‘Is this where we have to be?’
How was she going to explain this to Angel? She couldn’t believe she had got this far without more questions.
‘What are we doing here, Mum?’
The voice was so soft and concerned she didn’t know what to say in response. She took her daughter’s hand and pushed at the door with the other. ‘Let’s just go inside out of the cold.’
‘I don’t think Uncle Dean needs a cleaner. His apartment already has shiny everything.’
They’d climbed the stairs and to the left was a white, wooden door with a brass doorknob on it. From behind it, there was the sound of a woman on the telephone, talking very slowly and eloquently, like she was describing a ten thousand pound vase onAntiques Roadshow.
Hayley raised her hand and knocked.
‘Come!’ a voice called.
Hayley turned to Angel. ‘Could you wait here?’
Angel looked like she’d just told her to play on a motorway. The girl stuck her hands on her hips and looked even more affronted. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’ Hayley knew she was going pink. ‘Just wait here, don’t you move anywhere, OK? Not one inch. And I promise when I’m done, we’ll go to the Statue of Liberty.’
