Tagan's Child Read online

  I understood and I certainly didn’t hold it against her. “Don’t worry hun, I know it’s not easy when you’re in the middle of nowhere. Let’s eat before this gets cold.” She followed me into the kitchen and I got the plates out of the oven. Bennie started to dish out the food.

  It smelt fantastic, MSG or no MSG, Chinese food was my favourite. I put the wine Bennie had brought in the fridge and took out the bottle I’d put in there earlier.

  “Shall we eat it in the lounge in front of the fire?” I suggested, pouring us both a glass. I knew I didn’t have to stand on ceremony with Ben, eating off our laps was standard practice.

  “Yes please, it’s taking me a little while to adjust to the change in climate,” she replied with a shiver. “It’s supposed to be the rainy season in Kenya but it was unseasonably hot and dry.”

  “That’s global warming for you,” I said with a wry smile.

  I balanced the prawn crackers on my plate and carried my wine in the other hand. I had already pushed the sofa nearer to the log burner and we both perched on the edge of our seats balancing our plates on our knees. Not surprisingly Mungo made an appearance at the smell of the food.

  “Mungo, mind my drink.” I put my hand down to shield the wine glass by my foot but he took no notice. It wasn’t the wine he was interested in and before I could stop him he stole a prawn cracker from the bowl I’d put on the floor.

  “In your bed!” I growled and he reluctantly obliged. As far as he was concerned it had been worth the risk. He skulked off, his tongue smacking at his lips.

  “Mungo still looking after his figure I see,” Bennie said as she twirled some noodles around her fork. I nodded and rolled my eyes. I’d have answered if I hadn’t just put a forkful of rice in my mouth. I swallowed. “How was your trip?”

  “Yeah good, the lion cubs were adorable. I love filming them, they seem to know how to play to the cameras. We got some really good footage.” Bennie loved her job.

  “Doesn’t it ever worry you, being so close to lions that one could rip your throat out as soon as look at you, especially when they’ve got young?”

  “I don’t really think about it, I’m too busy trying to get the right shot, besides we always have rangers with tranquilizer guns at the ready,” she explained.

  “I don’t think I could do it,” I confessed sipping my wine. I felt uneasy at the lion enclosure at the zoo, somehow the fencing never seemed robust enough.

  “How’s the shop going?” Bennie asked.

  My life seemed mundane in comparison, although the recent turn of events had brought some unwelcome excitement. I willed myself to tell Bennie about Ahran’s visit but bottled it at the last minute. “The shop’s doing well even the locals are catching onto the idea of the Panini.”

  Bennie chuckled. “I bet you haven’t converted Mrs Groombridge.”

  “You’re right, I haven’t,” I replied. “She continues to eye them with nothing but suspicion. She’d never stray from a toasted teacake and a cup of strong tea,” I said as I bit into a prawn ball. “Have you heard anything from Matt?”

  Matthew Waterhouse was one of the producers Bennie sometimes worked with. He was also her occasional bed partner. I knew she was in love with him but he was an arrogant arse living the playboy lifestyle that life in the media offered him. As far as I could see, he didn’t view Bennie as anything more than a willing body. She was far too good for him and it always amazed me that someone so strong and beautiful as Bennie had such a weakness for someone like Matt ‘git features’ Waterhouse. I knew she was hoping I wasn’t going to ask her about him, she was fully aware that he was her Achilles heel, but I figured if I gave her a hard time often enough she might come to her senses.

  “He might have been there,” Bennie replied vaguely, and by the look on her face I knew she had done more than just film lion cubs with him.

  “Bennie!” I cried in frustration.

  “I know, I know so send me to rehab. I just can’t help myself, he’s got the most glorious ...” she hesitated and I winced at what was coming next. She gave me a sideways look, “Arse.” Bennie could sometimes be rather too graphic about her sex life and the mental image of my best friend doing bedroom gymnastics was not one I liked to dwell on.

  “And how’s the charismatic Dr Hampton?” she asked sarcastically.

  “Touché! I said, raising my glass of wine at her and gave her a crooked smile. “He’s not that bad, I don’t know what your problem is with him. He’s nice looking, he’s got a pretty good sense of humour and good prospects.”

  “That’s exactly it! You keep telling me he’s got good prospects, which tells me that he’s obviously not lighting your fire in the sack,” she concluded.

  “Um, I’m not exactly sure what he is like in the bedroom yet,” I added a little sheepishly.

  “You mean you haven’t slept with him yet?” Her voice going up several octaves. “How long have you been seeing him?”

  “It’s only been three months.”

  “Three months! For God’s sake Sophe, what are you waiting for? You’ve got to try before you buy love, and if the goods don’t hit the spot you move on.”

  Sometimes she could be really annoying. “We don’t all shag every guy we meet,” I said, defending myself.

  “Ouch!” Bennie responded good-naturedly. She could take it as well as dish it out.

  “You’ve never been short of male attention,” she declared. “Just look at yourself. Those big innocent green eyes, the slightly mad but utterly gorgeous blonde hair and a figure that most men can only dream about getting their hands on. Get out there and have some fun! Even better, come and spend a weekend with me I’ll find you someone more interesting than Dr Boring.”

  I put my plate down on the floor by the side of the sofa.

  “He’s not boring! He’s funny and a good kisser. In fact, for your information, I have decided to take our relationship to the next level, it’s about time I moved my life on.” I sat deeper into the sofa and curled my legs underneath me. “I feel like my life has stood still over the last year whilst I’ve been dealing with Katie’s death, but Sunday was definitely a turning point for me. I finally feel like I want to get on with the job of living and start to build a future for Toby and me.”

  “Do you know what Sophe? That’s the best thing I’ve heard all week.” She put her plate down and picked up her glass of wine. “I’ve watched you over the last year knowing that you were grieving and hurting, feeling like I wasn’t being much help. It’s so good to hear that you are coming out the other end.”

  “You have helped, just by being my friend.” I leaned over and gave her a hug. She squeezed me back.

  Bennie wasn’t into big displays of emotion and she pulled away looking a touch embarrassed. “Want more wine?”

  “Is the Pope Catholic?”

  She refilled our glasses. “Speaking of Toby, how is that gorgeous little boy?”

  I knew the time had come for me to tell Bennie about the mysterious Ahran Elessar and so I took a deep breath. “Oh he’s fine. For an eight year old he’s so mature and sensible, sometimes I feel like he’s looking after me.”

  “I think you underestimate how much he has learnt from you Sophe.”

  “He’s doing really well, bless him.” I hesitated. “Although, I had some rather disturbing news yesterday.”

  Bennie took a sip of wine. “Go on.”

  “This guy turned up at the shop asking for me,” I began.

  She raised her eyebrows. “What did he want?”

  “I wasn’t there, Audrey spoke to him. He said he would come back at lunchtime but didn’t show. When I got home he was waiting for me.”

  “Was he hot?”

  I pictured Ahran in my mind and my heart picked up tempo. I couldn’t decide whether it was because I was attracted to him or because of the worrying news he had told me. To my dismay I realised it was probably both. “Yeah, he was absolutely gorgeous,” I sighed.

  Benni
e leant forward. “And?”

  “Well, it wasn’t like that.”

  She looked disappointed. “So what did he want then?”

  I picked my words carefully, knowing I was at risk of sounding like a complete loon.

  “He told me that Toby’s father was some kind of foreign prince and heir to a massive fortune, that he was dead and that Toby was the next rightful heir.” I looked at my friend willing her not to think that I had gone crazy.

  “Wow Sophe! What are we talking? Millions?”

  I gave her an exasperated look. Trust her to think about the money. “The fortune is only half the story because he also said that some mad, power hungry woman has a vendetta against Toby’s father for killing her son.”

  “Shit!” Bennie exclaimed.

  “That’s not the end of it,” I continued. “This guy seems to think she wants to get hold of Toby to wreak her revenge and use him as a bargaining tool to get her hands on Toby’s father’s wealth.” It still sounded completely insane to me and I expected her to laugh in my face.

  She didn’t. In fact she didn’t say anything for a while.

  “It’s crazy isn’t it?” I said, willing her to agree with me and to tell me to get a grip. But much to my disappointment she didn’t do either of those things.

  “Well, maybe there is something in it. Why else would he make up a story like that?”

  “So you think he could be telling the truth?”

  “I don’t know, what did he say his name was?”

  “Ahran Elessar.”

  “And who is he in relation to Toby’s father?

  “He’s his cousin. He wants me and Toby to stay with his family until they’ve got rid of this woman.”

  “What?! Are they gangsters or something?” Bennie asked.

  “That’s what I thought, but apparently not.”

  “What did he say Toby’s father’s name was?”

  “Tagan Halsan.”

  “Have you googled it?” she asked.

  “No,” I confessed.

  “Sophie! That would have been the first thing I’d have done. Get your laptop,” she instructed. “If he is who this Ahran says he is, there should be some record somewhere, like on some international royal rich list.” So simple, why hadn’t I thought of that?

  I jumped up to get my computer. I could feel the adrenaline starting to pump. It seemed to take an age for it to boot up. Finally, the distinctive search engine loaded and the cursor flashed impatiently. I stared at it motionless, unable to type anything as I thought more seriously about the danger Toby could be in.

  “Give it to me,” Bennie said, taking the computer and putting it on her own lap.

  She quickly typed in Taygan Halson and after a few seconds it reported that nothing had been found but suggested a different spelling. Bennie looked at me.

  “Try the other spelling,” I said, looking over her shoulder.

  Only a few random threads came up with either Tagan or Halsan but nothing with both names. I felt deflated but relieved at the same time. “Well, I suppose that proves it was a piss take.”

  “Not necessarily, it might not show up if he’s from a different country. Where did you say he was from?”

  “Um, I didn’t ask him.” Suddenly I realised how remiss I had been, it was pretty crucial considering he had asked me and Toby to stay with his family but I had been too worried about the implications of what he was suggesting to think rationally.

  “Sophie!”

  “He’s got an accent but I didn’t recognise it. He left me a phone to call him on if I felt we were in any kind of danger.” I felt relieved I had something to offer.

  “And have you phoned it to see if it checks out?” she asked

  “Well, no, I haven’t felt in any danger yet,” I replied defensively.

  “So you didn’t call it anyway?” Bennie asked.

  “No.” I was starting to feel cross with myself and frustrated that Bennie had highlighted each one of my mistakes.

  “Sophie!” Bennie said, making no attempt to hide her disapproval.

  “Where’s the phone?” she asked

  “In the kitchen.”

  “Well, let’s ring it.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Suddenly, I felt like the world’s biggest coward.

  Bennie cocked her head and shot me a, ‘you-are-kidding?’ look.

  “Okaay, I’ll get it,” I said, giving in.

  I retrieved the phone and handed it to her.

  “You should make the call,” Bennie suggested handing it back to me.

  I stared at her as panic began to set in.

  “Okay, I’ll do it,” she said with exaggerated patience.

  “And that is why you are my friend,” I said, handing Bennie the phone and feeling relieved I wouldn’t have to make the call after all.

  Bennie touched the screen and dialled the first of the two numbers saved on the phone.

  Ahran picked up after the third ring. Bennie put him on loud speaker.

  “Sophie? Is everything alright?” His deep voice filled the room.

  Bennie raised an eyebrow and gave a half smile of appreciation. I frowned at her. I wasn’t prepared for how the sound of his voice was making me feel. I was cross with myself, because in spite of the seriousness of the situation I had reacted like that.

  I looked at Bennie and nodded, encouraging her to answer. “Oh hello, it’s not Sophie. My name is Cordelia Blythe-Smith. Could I ask to whom I am speaking?” she asked in her best telephone voice. I stifled a snigger. She never usually spoke like that.

  “Ahran Elessar. Are Sophie and the boy okay?” His voice gave me goose bumps. At least it was Ahran. To my dismay it all seemed to be stacking up.

  “She’s right here you can ask her yourself.”

  I shook my head violently and looked at her in horror.

  “Sophie?” she prompted. I could have quite cheerfully strangled her.

  I cleared my throat. “Oh hello Ahran, it’s Sophie.” I glared at Bennie.

  “Is everything alright?” he asked.

  “Yes everything is fine.” I hesitated as I wracked my brain as to what to say next. “I was just wondering ...er...whether you had got some evidence for me yet, you know...proof about our,..er, predicament.” I said falteringly and rolled my eyes, it was such a lame reason to phone him.

  Bennie was trying to whisper something to me but I couldn’t make out what she was saying and listen to Ahran at the same time.

  “I will be with you tomorrow evening as promised and I shall bring something with me then. Have you thought any more about my proposition?”

  The thought of him being here again was oddly comforting.

  “We can talk about that when you get here,” I said, playing for more time. Bennie was still flapping at my elbow.

  “Okay, I’ll see you then.” And before I could say goodbye he hung up.

  “Ah!” Bennie said in frustration. “You donut! You didn’t ask where he and his family were from. That’s what I was trying to tell you! God Sophe, you’d never make a spy.”

  “I didn’t know what you were saying, you were making me feel flustered.” I was annoyed with myself for being such an idiot and not asking.

  “Oh well, he’s coming tomorrow I can ask him then, anyway the phone checks out,” I said triumphantly.

  “If he is as sexy as his voice, I’m happy to take Toby and go and stay with him myself,” Bennie offered.

  I scowled at her. “This is no joking matter. Toby’s life is potentially in danger.”

  “I know, I was only kidding,” Bennie said, raising her hands in defence.

  I was hit by a sudden wave of hopelessness and dropped my face into my hands. “What am I going to do Ben?” I’d only just felt like I was getting my life back on track and now this.

  “If this mad woman is for real then the important thing is to keep you and Toby safe. If Ahran and his family are offering you protection than maybe you should con
sider it, or you could just go to the police.”

  I thought about this for a moment. “If I went to the police what would I tell them? I’ve got nothing to prove that what Ahran has told me is true, they’d just laugh in my face.”

  “Admittedly, they probably wouldn’t do anything until something had actually happened,” Bennie agreed. “You could hire a bodyguard?”

  “Like I’m made of money,” I said sarcastically.

  “Then your only option is to go and stay with his family.”

  “And we’re back to where we started.” I threw myself back onto the cushions of the sofa in despair.

  “What about Toby’s school, his friends, my business?” I said despairingly.

  “Well, the first thing you need to do is find out where Ahran lives, it might not be that far away,” she said with a degree of optimism.

  “How many other royal families do you know other than the Windsors in this country? It’s got to be somewhere abroad.”

  “Well, think of it this way, it might be somewhere hot with a beach where you can work on your tan.”

  I had to admit somewhere warm did have an appeal. It had to be somewhere hot judging by Ahran’s golden skin.

  “I suppose we could go for a little while and hope that the threat of Bazeera passes quickly. We could do with a holiday.”

  “Atta a girl!” Bennie said encouragingly. “You never know you might have a good time.”

  “Maybe Audrey wouldn’t mind running the shop for a while,” I said distractedly as I thought through the practicalities before stopping myself. “I can’t believe I’m even contemplating this.”

  “Can you afford not to?”

  “I don’t want to put Toby at risk when I have the option of protecting him.”

  “Well, there’s your answer.”

  “I need proof. I’m not going to just run off with some stranger without being sure that what he says is the truth. He might be some serial killer and the next time you see us is when our bodies are being unearthed from some remote wood on the BBC news.”

  Bennie grimaced.

  “It happens, Ben.”

  “So what proof do you think he’ll come up with?” she asked.