The Hornbeam Tree Read online

  Molly was horrified. Why was Cecily saying those things? How could she know that Molly hadn’t done all she was supposed to? She hadn’t been there. She didn’t know anything, so she was just being mean, trying to frighten Molly, because she’d never really liked her, and had always wanted to get rid of her. Fear began jabbing at Molly like sticks. This could be leading up to a ban from the party …

  ‘… but we can save her, Dear Mother,’ Cecily was saying. ‘And she wants to be saved, which is why she has changed her hair to match yours. She understands the power of the Feminine, and that you alone are that power. Do you see her, Great Lilith? She awaits your blessing, and she also asks for your help. Please tell us, Mother, if you are willing to forgive her faults and offer that help.’

  Molly was breathless, as following Cecily’s lead everyone leaned in to the glass.

  ‘Not you, Molly,’ Cecily told her.

  Anxiously Molly took her hand away, and watched with big, worried eyes, as the glass started to move. To her horror, it set off in the direction of no, but then it seemed to teeter, and almost before she knew it, it had doubled back towards the yes.

  ‘Thank you, Lilith,’ Cecily said. ‘We value your answers, and shall abide by them. Now, please tell us if you approve Molly’s chosen one. His name is Bradley Jenkins, and though her passion has made her vulnerable to his male aura, so that she is handing him all her power, I promise we can help her to bring him to you. So will you approve him, Divine Mother?’

  Molly was almost dizzied by the drumming in her ears, for she wasn’t sure what Cecily meant about Brad’s male aura, or handing him her power, but at least this time she was allowed to touch the glass. When it moved to yes she almost collapsed with relief.

  ‘Now we come to Molly’s request for help,’ Cecily said. ‘There is a person in her life, Divine Mother, a relative, who is an evil presence, and Molly seeks your assistance in obliterating her.’

  Molly’s heart gave an uneasy thud. Obliterating was a really strong word, and all she wanted was for Michelle to go back to where she came from, not to die or anything. She’d told Cecily, no poisons, or murder or anything, but the trouble with Cecily was she was always so extreme, and if Molly didn’t do as she said she’d probably get her revenge by messing everything up with Brad.

  ‘The Divine Lilith is ready to speak,’ Cecily informed them.

  Once again they put their fingers on the glass. For several seconds nothing happened, until finally it began inching slowly across the board towards the letter A.

  Molly almost snatched her hand away as the word assassinate shot to the front of her mind. She glanced at Cecily but her eyes were firmly closed as she announced the letter A.

  The glass edged to the right and came to a stop in front of the letter B.

  Abstract. Absent. Abseil. What did it mean? What was it spelling?

  ‘B,’ Cecily pronounced.

  Molly was leaping from Aberdeen to abstain, when once again the glass started to move. This time it hesitated in front of the W, then proceeded on to the U.

  Molly was perplexed. Abu … Dhabi. Abundance. She looked up, caught Allison’s eye, then returned her gaze to the glass as it started off again, this time travelling the short distance to S.

  Abus. A thud of fear banged in Molly’s chest. Was it trying to say ‘A bus’ as in push Michelle under one? Well, just no way was she going to do that, not even if it meant she couldn’t go to the party. She glanced at Allison and saw that she was looking baffled too, then feeling the glass setting off again, she watched as it crossed the full width of the board and stopped at E.

  Abuse. She blinked. What did that mean, exactly? Abuse what? She looked at Cecily as she spoke the letter aloud, then waited to see if the glass would move again.

  Seconds ticked by and nothing happened. In the end, Cecily said, ‘Divine Mother, do you wish to continue?’

  The glass wobbled, stilled, then skated all the way back towards the letter A.

  Was it going to spell the same word again? No, because the next stop was at C, and immediately Molly started to get worked up again in case it was ‘accident’, and when the glass backed off an inch, then returned to the C, she was convinced. However, to her relief, the next letter turned out to be U. Then came S, then finally E.

  Abuse. Accuse. Molly looked at Cecily.

  Cecily closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath, then let herself go limp. ‘The Divine Mother has spoken,’ she finally told them, ‘and now she has left us.’

  They all sat back on their heels, glancing at each other, then turning to Cecily to await further instructions.

  ‘The Mother is gone,’ Cecily confirmed, and began packing up the board.

  ‘But what does it mean, abuse, accuse?’ Allison demanded.

  ‘It means,’ Cecily answered, keeping her eyes on what she was doing, ‘that to be rid of your aunt, Molly, you should accuse her of abuse.’

  Molly’s insides turned to liquid. ‘But I can’t do that,’ she protested. ‘It’s not true.’

  Cecily’s patience immediately thinned. ‘It doesn’t have to be true to be effective,’ she stated haughtily. ‘It’s the one sure way of making her leave your house, because no-one will let her stay if you say she’s abused you.’

  Molly swallowed hard and looked at Allison.

  Allison shrugged.

  Becoming suddenly conscious of the wig, Molly took it off and bundled it in her lap. She didn’t want to tell that kind of lie, about anyone, because it was horrible, and even to think it made her feel all weird and sick inside. She wanted to ask what would happen if she didn’t do it, but since she could guess the answer she decided it might be better to say nothing.

  ‘That was awesome,’ Donna declared, as she got up to change the music. ‘It was one of the best seances we’ve had, don’t you think?’

  ‘It was wicked,’ Allison agreed. ‘Especially when we had to give the boys’ names. Imagine, if they could have heard us. They would be like, so freaked out.’

  Donna and Cecily were laughing, so Molly laughed too, though she was still all shaken up about the abuse thing, and miffed over what Cecily had said about her and Brad, though at least she’d got approval, so she was more prepared to forget about that.

  ‘So, now we can smoke the joint,’ Cecily stated, having decided earlier that they should wait until the ceremony was over or they’d go all giggly and silly.

  Allison immediately grabbed the matches and went to retrieve the joint from the depths of her make-up bag, while everyone else checked their mobiles for messages.

  Pleased to find one from Brad, Molly was about to start texting back when Allison passed her the joint.

  Nervous, but eager to get in some practice before the party, she put the skinny end to her lips and sucked.

  ‘Harder,’ Allison insisted.

  Molly pulled again, held the smoke in her mouth, then inhaled, swallowed and choked all at the same time.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Allison assured her. ‘Everyone does that the first time. Let Donna and Cecily have a go, then you can try again.’

  With her throat and nose on fire, Molly watched the others to see how it was done, then taking the cigarette back tried again. Not so bad that time, just a little bit of coughing, and her head was already starting to feel all swimmy. She’d better send a text back to Brad before she got really stoned – and one to her mum to say goodnight, because she was staying over at Allison’s tonight so Laurie Forbes could use her bed. That was just like so brilliant, because now her mum had let her stay here once, it should make it easy for her to stay on the night of the party. She’d say it was a sleepover then too, because no way in the world would her mum let her stay out for an all-night party, especially not at Allison’s.

  Chapter Sixteen

  THE STORM HAD hardly let up all night, though it was starting to show some signs of exhaustion now as Katie and Michelle prepared breakfast, while Laurie spoke to Max on the phone.

  ‘No, I hav
en’t heard anything from Elliot yet today,’ she was telling him, glancing at the clock and calculating that it was three a.m. in Washington. ‘Is there something I can help with?’

  ‘I’m not sure what any of us can to do about this,’ Max responded, sounding unusually harried, ‘but I’ve just got off the phone with Josh Shine’s lawyer – someone’s tipped him off that Shine’s going to be charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism.’

  Laurie felt a thud of unease and kept her back to Katie and Michelle.

  ‘It’s good news that someone on the inside’s keeping us informed,’ Max continued, ‘but the bad news has got to be what this could mean for Tom, which is why I’m trying to get hold of him. We have to let him know that the stakes have been raised.’

  ‘Of course,’ Laurie murmured, her mind firing off in all kinds of directions. ‘I’ll keep trying their numbers, though Elliot warned me last night that his phone was going to be off for most of the day. I’m due to see him tonight though, he should be back in London by then.’

  ‘OK. Anything new your end?’

  ‘Not really. We spent part of last night going over the pages Nick sent and reviewing the section on Rebuilding America’s Defences. To quote Katie, “it reads like a sweetheart note to the US armed forces”, and with a $480 billion defence budget, I’d say that’s putting it mildly.’

  ‘And we all know who’s lapping up the profits,’ he commented. ‘Look no further than the current administration and their campaign financiers.’

  ‘And you don’t care who hears it,’ Laurie said wryly.

  ‘You bet your ass I don’t,’ he responded.

  She laughed, and mouthed a thanks to Katie as she passed her a coffee. ‘Anyway, apart from the dizzying excitement of going over and over your government’s intention to achieve global dominance,’ she said, ‘we’re still trawling through the thousands of articles that have been written about the 21 Project, some of which are mightily entertaining, believe it or not, but I can’t honestly say we’re moving forward now. We need more of the original.’

  ‘Nick’s got most of it with him,’ Max told her. ‘He should be back there today. Now, I’m going to try to get some sleep before I meet with Josh’s lawyer at noon. Call me if there’s any news from Elliot or Tom. Or have them call me.’

  As she rang off Katie passed with a plate of warm croissants. ‘So what’s the scoop?’ Katie said, setting the plate on the table. ‘It’s got to be big for him to have called at this hour.’

  Glancing anxiously at Michelle, Laurie speed-dialled Elliot’s number and said, ‘Apparently the charge against Josh Shine is conspiracy to commit terrorism.’

  Michelle instantly paled. ‘But that’s preposterous!’ she declared.

  Laurie looked at Katie, as she said, ‘What’s it going to mean for Tom?’

  ‘Too early to say,’ Laurie answered, failing to make a connection.

  Michelle was already using Katie’s mobile to try Tom. ‘He’s not answering,’ she said, almost angrily.

  Seeing how upset she was, Laurie quickly tried the other numbers she had, but still no luck. ‘They’ll be in touch at some point,’ she said gently. ‘It’s still quite early in the morning.’

  Michelle nodded, and dashed a hand through her hair. ‘Sorry, I’m overreacting,’ she said. ‘I didn’t sleep too well.’

  Though Katie was watching her closely, she made no comment as she pulled out a chair and sat down. A few minutes later she and Laurie were eating breakfast and discussing the results of their most recent research, while Michelle stood staring out of the window.

  Though she was listening to Katie, Laurie couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t only this morning that Michelle hadn’t seemed her normal lively self. She’d been distracted last night, and slow to rise to the usual bantering with Katie, which had made Laurie wonder if something had happened between them that Katie was doing a better job of hiding. Or maybe it was the emotional wear and tear of going through this with her sister that was finally getting to Michelle, and now, with this new concern about Tom …

  ‘Michelle, come and sit down,’ Katie said softly.

  Turning round, Michelle looked for a moment as though she’d forgotten they were there, then forcing a smile, she came over to the table. ‘I hope you haven’t scoffed the last of the marmalade, Katie,’ she said, attempting a light-heartedness she was clearly far from feeling.

  ‘I was too afraid to,’ Katie responded, passing her the jar.

  Michelle looked up, Katie winked, and as Michelle smiled, Laurie noticed her swallowing hard. She was obviously right on the edge, and Laurie was just wondering if she should tactfully suggest that she and Katie postpone their plans for the morning, when Michelle said, ‘I was thinking I’d pop into Chippenham, or Bath, and leave you two to it this morning. I need to buy a car …’

  ‘But you can have mine,’ Katie protested.

  ‘You need it,’ Michelle responded, starting to clear the table.

  ‘For now, yes, but …’

  Knowing she wasn’t in the mood to hear Katie’s quips about her impending demise Michelle cut her short, saying, ‘I’m just wasting money, keeping a rental outside, and I expect Laurie will welcome the opportunity to have you all to herself for once.’

  Katie eyed Laurie sceptically.

  ‘I can’t think of anything I’d like more,’ Laurie told her.

  Chuckling, Katie said, ‘If my life were only half as interesting as yours, I might believe you.’

  Reminded of the evening she had planned with Elliot later, Laurie’s insides twisted with nerves. ‘Actually, my life is a mess,’ she said lightly, ‘but I’m not going to let you do a typical Katie and start steering the subject round to me, it’s you I’m here to talk about.’

  ‘Oh dear, how dreary,’ Katie responded, and looked up as someone ran past the window. ‘Was that Judy?’ she said, turning to the door as it burst open.

  ‘Bloody rain,’ Judy grumbled, stamping her feet on the wire mat. ‘And what a storm last night. Thought the roof was a goner at one point … Oh my goodness,’ she cried, spotting Laurie, ‘I forgot you were here, but don’t worry, I’m not stopping. This is just madam’s personal delivery service,’ and she fished a small white bag out of her pocket and plonked it on the table.

  ‘Have you met my supplier?’ Katie asked Laurie.

  Laughing, Laurie nodded. ‘Hi Judy,’ she said. ‘Nice to see you again.’

  ‘Stay and have some coffee,’ Michelle prompted, taking down another mug.

  ‘I wish I could,’ Judy grimaced, ‘but the boys have got football practice at nine, and I’ve still got a couple of errands to run before I go back to pick them up. Michelle, you haven’t forgotten you’re talking to us in the village hall later, have you? We’re all really looking forward to it.’

  Michelle looked at her blankly, then suddenly remembering said, ‘Of course. I’ll be there. Six o’clock, isn’t it?’

  ‘That’s right,’ Judy responded cheerily. ‘We’re expecting quite a crowd.’ Then to Katie and Laurie, ‘Have a nice shoot, if that’s what you call it,’ and a moment later she was bobbing past the window again.

  Katie’s eyes were ironical as she looked at Michelle. ‘Nice recovery,’ she told her. ‘Slow, but I think you pulled it off.’

  ‘I’d totally forgotten,’ Michelle confessed. ‘And I haven’t even prepared anything.’

  ‘So, I guess that’s the car search off the agenda,’ Katie remarked.

  Michelle looked crestfallen.

  ‘Unless,’ Katie said, ‘you restrict it to Chippenham for a couple of hours, then I’ll help you put something together this afternoon on your life in the refugee camps.’

  Michelle came to kiss her on the forehead, and tried to stifle the guilt she was feeling, but she had to be alone, if only for a short while, or she’d end up breaking down completely in front of Katie, and Katie just didn’t need it.

  By the time they were all showered and dressed, an
d Laurie had tactfully removed her things from Molly’s room in case she came back early, it was almost ten o’clock, and at long last the rain had stopped. However, the debris the storm had left in its wake was strewn all over the garden. Michelle half-heartedly picked some of it up as she and Laurie went out to their cars.

  ‘I’ll tidy up later,’ Michelle said, putting what she had in a pile next to the front door. ‘It’ll come in handy for firewood when it dries out.’

  Laurie went ahead through the gate, then stopping behind her car, she turned back to Michelle saying, ‘I know this news about Josh Shine is worrying, but you seemed very low before. Is there anything I can do?’

  Michelle sighed, and gazed off towards the overflowing pond where the ducks were squawking in alarm as a dog circled their domain. ‘I’m just a bit tired,’ she said.

  Laurie waited for her eyes to come back to hers. ‘None of this can be easy for you,’ she said softly. ‘I know how much you love her …’

  Tears immediately welled in Michelle’s eyes. ‘Please don’t say any more, or I’ll start to cry,’ she warned with a shaky smile.

  Laurie put a hand on her arm, then realizing that might have the same effect, she turned to open the boot to take out the camera.

  ‘I’ve spent the past ten years caring for the sick and dying in the most dreadful conditions,’ Michelle said almost harshly.

  When she didn’t go on, Laurie said, ‘But none of them was your sister.’

  Michelle swallowed and shook her head. After a while her eyes came back up to Laurie’s. ‘Actually, it’s not just Katie,’ she confessed, ‘it’s Molly. I can’t seem to get through to her, and I’m at my wits’ end trying to think of a way.’

  Wishing she could come up with a better answer, Laurie said, ‘These things take time, and you haven’t been here that long.’

  Michelle nodded, but seemed lost in her own thoughts until she said, ‘Katie has to tell Molly the truth about what’s going to happen, or Molly’s just going to stay in denial, and go on hating me for being here.’ She took a breath and looked off along the lane. ‘The worst part of it,’ she continued, ‘is that by not making Molly face up to reality, Katie’s denying herself what she needs most, which is to see Molly and me getting along.’