Prologue
I’ve always been taught to respect others; that’s the main rule. The one I’ve followed all my life. I’m a gentleman. If you ask anyone for a character reference who knows me, they’d say the same. I hold doors open; I knock before entering a room.
I’m the last to sit at dinner, and the fork doesn’t enter my mouth until everyone else has started to eat. The cutlery must sit right, in the correct position. I use a napkin.
I stand when someone enters a room and welcome people, friend or stranger. The latter will usually become an associate. They’ll learn to trust me, and I’ll do anything for anyone.
I dress impeccably, and I compliment everyone. I may comment on the style of a person’s hair, their earrings, their beautiful dress, pressed shirt or elegant jacket. I’ll tell them how amazing they are, how I admire what they’re doing. I’ll talk about their beautiful family, and I’ll listen. That’s another trait of mine. If someone has something to talk about, I’ll give a hundred per cent concentration to what they’re saying. If it’s important to them, it’s important to me. I make eye contact, I make the person feel special. At ease. Everyone has a voice and we’re all unique in our own special way.
I never tell a rude joke, and I always laugh when someone says something funny. Of course, that’s once everyone else is laughing.
I haven’t laughed since the night it happened. Something snapped that night. See, I hate people who do wrong and go unpunished. It’s the major flaw in life. My main bugbear. It drives me crazy, insane, psychotic. I can’t control the rage as it builds inside my body. An error cannot occur without consequences.
So really there is only one way to deal with the anger.
I’m not a believer in waiting, in hearing people say that they’ll get their day or karma will come to their door. I will bring that day to them.
I have to discipline the injustice.
Tonight.
It’s the only way.
1
The Journey
‘We’re making good time.’ Ben lifted the cuff of his shirtsleeve and quickly glanced at his watch.
It was just gone half four and it was getting dark. ‘The flight doesn’t leave for another five hours or so. It makes a change being early for once. Staying on the M25 would be a nightmare. I hate that road at the best of times. This route should be much quicker. The roads aren’t great, but we can’t risk the traffic building.’
He directed the remark towards his wife who was deep in concentration, her eyes flicking left and right over her Kindle screen like windscreen wipers furiously batting water from a heavy storm.
Ben glanced in the rear-view mirror, slightly adjusting it to see his daughter better. ‘Milly, you excited?’
‘One second.’ She removed the phone from her ear. ‘Yes, Dad. Although not as much as you, it would seem.’ She smiled, bringing the phone back to the side of her head and tucking it under her long blonde hair.
‘What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get there?’ Ben asked, hoping for a little conversation to dampen the boredom. ‘I say we drop the bags and jump straight into the pool. You up for that?’ Ben saw his daughter whispering into the phone. He turned the radio down slightly, listening to her conversation as Milly felt for the sound bar and cut the volume on the phone.
‘Dad, please. What are you like?’
‘Who are you talking to anyway?’
‘Zac. He says hello.’
Ahh. Zac. The on-off boyfriend who flits in and out of my daughter’s life whenever he pleases. Who comes into my house, places his feet on my coffee table and leaves his jacket lying across the sofa. ‘Yeah. Hi, Zac. Gonna miss you,’ Ben sniped.
Milly rolled her eyes, realising her father’s sarcasm.
‘Laura, straight into the pool, an early morning dip before a few hours’ sleep and then lounging all day on the beach?’ Ben looked towards his wife; she was oblivious to the outside world. Lost in a book trance.
‘Huh?’
‘Are you excited?’
Laura took a deep breath, pushed out a huge sigh and dropped the Kindle onto her lap. ‘Of course I’m excited, Ben. It’s been a long time coming.’ She smiled at her husband, tempted to bring the Kindle back into view. She hated being interrupted while reading. ‘Why don’t you and Milly go for a swim while I have a glass of wine on the balcony? That sounds so much better.’ They weren’t arriving in Barcelona until the early hours, and the last thing on her mind was plunging into the pool.
Ben turned the radio back up. The Eagles were playing ‘Hotel California’. The place they were going may not be that extravagant, Ben thought, but at least his family were together, and they were going to enjoy the holiday.
They’d reached Surrey on their way to Gatwick airport. They’d set off from north London early, giving themselves plenty of time. They’d stopped at the services just before the M25 for snacks and a quick toilet break. The roads were quiet, and the satnav was bringing them deep into the countryside. Ben hated motorways and had driven a couple of junctions before quickly coming off.
Milly was still talking to Zac; Laura had her head down. Ben opened the window to get some fresh air. The rain had started, a drizzle at first, the wiper blades kicking into action, gliding the water away, a gentle nudge as if to say, ‘You’re not wanted.’
And then it seemed like the sky had opened up, an uncontrollable cascade pouring from above. The rain flicked into the car, wetting the side of Ben’s face. He edged his right foot forward, tapping the brakes.
‘Dad, the window! I’m getting soaked,’ Milly exclaimed.
‘Sorry. I don’t know where this weather came from. It was dry a few minutes ago. All it’s done is rain lately. It won’t be like this in Barcelona. How good will it be to see the sun, huh?’
Milly ended the phone call to Zac and leant forward between her mother and father. ‘I’m hungry. Are there any sandwiches left?’
‘I think your mother had the last ham and cheese. There’s a tuna one if I’m not mistaken.’ Ben looked to his left at the carrier bag in the footwell.
‘Tuna-schmuna. I’ll pass.’ Milly placed her chin on the back of her father’s shirt. ‘Wow. This really is the middle of nowhere.’ She looked to her left and out of the window, glancing over the fields that seemed to go on for miles. The sky was a deep grey, the clouds were thick and sweeping fast above them, the rain pelting down heavily. It was getting dark.
Ben reached forward, wiping the windscreen with the back of his hand, jabbing the brake, the car jolting slightly as he ramped up the heater and welcomed the warm air now blasting into the vehicle.
They were twenty miles from Gatwick; Ben preferred the back roads. He’d got stuck in traffic on an M-road previously, a seven and a half-hour tailback which needless to say, ruined their short break.
‘You don’t like Zac that much, huh?’ It was more an observation from his daughter than a question. Milly braced herself for the answer. She wanted her parents to like Zac. They’d been seeing each other for a while now, and it was getting serious. Milly and Zac spoke about their future plans and moving in together. She kept that part from her father.