“Oh yes dad, do you have anything you want to share?” Jack asked.
“No, what happened back then stays back then, it’s for the best son.” Michael answered.
“Fair enough, can I get you a drink, Dad?” Jack asked. Always the host and wanting to change the subject. His dad agreed, walked with him to the drinks cabinet and poured themselves a Whisky each.
Elijah’s attention moved to Lilly and saw that she was alone, eyes searching the walls, where Jack’s paintings hung. She was transfixed, and he didn’t want to interrupt her but there was something he needed to talk to her about. He had to speak to her now before the plan was put in place.
Moving towards her, Elijah caught Mickey’s eye and signalled for him to come over too. They circled the table from opposite directions and met at Lilly’s side. She was still oblivious to her surroundings and Elijah pecked her lips with a kiss to get her to come round.
“Oh, hi honey, Mickey, have you been standing there long, I’m sorry I was in a world of my own,” Lilly said.
“No, love, not long, Mickey and I need to speak with you. Can we go out into the garden to talk?” Elijah asked.
“Ok, it sounds serious, lead the way.”
Mickey led Elijah and Lilly through the dining room and out through the French doors to the house’s patio area. It was situated at the rear of the house and overlooked alarge lake. The pathway had solar spotlights illuminating the way down to the water. Mickey stopped at the table near the doors and took a seat. Elijah and Lilly followed.
Sitting quietly Lilly waited for one of them to start. The two men were having a silent conversation with their eyes and Elijah nodded once. Lilly could have been forgiven for thinking that they had mind-reading skills.
“Lilly, I need to tell you something about your brother. It won’t be easy to hear so I’ll try to be gentle,” Mickey said.
“Ok, but I think I know what you are going to say, it’s about his drug taking isn’t it?” Lilly said.
“Well yes but there is a little more to it and I need your help,” Mickey said.
“Ok, tell me what is going on,” Lilly asked.
“William is not just taking drugs, but he is dealing them too. Simon and Steve, the two guys Angie and you met at Blue’s were supplied by your brother. Inadvertently you took the drugs that came from your brother. You haven’t gone to the police yet, so it means he’s getting away with it. There’s a secondary problem. You recovered from the drug ordeal ok, but sadly a woman two days ago was admitted to hospital and is in a coma from taking drugs I suspect came from your brother. He’s severely in debt and is having to conduct shady deals to keep his supplier happy. This means he is now dealing dirty drugs. We need to put a stop to it, will you help us?” Mickey asked.
Lilly sat there in silence digesting what she’d heard. A woman could die and it was her brother’s doing. She now blamed herself for not going to the police before. The news was too much, and she burst into tears. Hard sobs coming up through her chest, the stress of the knowledge was too much for her. Elijah lifted her onto his lap and hugged her hard until she stopped. It was quite some time until Lillycalmed down but in all that time Elijah and Mickey didn’t utter a word. They knew she would take it to heart and needed her to co-operate with their plan.
Drying her eyes with the handkerchief Elijah gave her, she blew her nose and composed herself.
“What do you need me to do?” Lilly asked with conviction.
“You need to go to the police and make a statement and tell them what you suspect. We can’t get him arrested and get the help he needs unless you do that,” Mickey said.
“I can do that, when do you want me to go, the wedding is tomorrow,” Lilly said.
“Monday morning will be fine when you get back home,” Mickey said. “I think because your parents will be here, he may return there while they’re away. I have someone watching your parent’s house in case and we can hold him until Monday when you make a statement. At least the policemen will know where to find him.” Mickey said.
“Ok, Monday it is, I should have gone before, I hadn’t realised that he’d gone that far. I was so absorbed in my job to notice,” Lilly said.
“This is not your fault Lilly, don’t blame yourself.” Elijah kissed her temple.
Lilly sighed heavily, she was sensible enough to know that she couldn’t control everyone around her and notice everything but Aunt Jane was only here five minutes and she knew what was going on. She should’ve seen it earlier and she would blame herself until that other woman came out of her coma.
Straightening upon Elijah’s lap Lilly pulled herself together, there were a lot of people here for dinner and she didn’t need to add any drama to the evening. This was Jackand Olivia’s weekend and she could keep her guilt to herself for a while.
“What is going on out here?” A cheery voice called from behind them.
“Angie?” Lilly said and turned in Elijah’s lap to check the voice matched the body.
“Yes, it’s me, that gorgeous boyfriend of yours, hold on fiancé? Boyfriend? Fiancé? Which is it? Anyway, regardless, he arranged to get me picked up from work and flown up here by helicopter no less so that I can be here with you,” Angie said, theatrically and bowed her entrance.
Lilly leapt up and hugged her friend until she thought she heard bones crack.
“I’m so glad you’re here, I thought you couldn’t get the weekend off?” Lilly said.
