Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama) by Carole Williams (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

closely, it was unlikely they could guess her gender either.  Whatever happened she mustn’t be recognised during the next couple of crucial hours, especially by anyone in the hotel or immediate vicinity.

Leaving the hotel by a side exit, doing her best to walk like Rocky, Delia flagged down a taxi to take her to the nearest tube station, caught a train to Piccadilly Circus, and without too much difficulty found a bright red telephone kiosk.  She made one quick call to Benny at his club and then rang Richard, having tried earlier from the hotel.  He hadn’t been in his flat then but this time he was off duty and just about to retire for the night.

“Hi,” sang Delia gaily when he answered.  “Guess who?  Have you missed me?”

“Good grief … Delia … where have you sprung from?” asked Richard, shocked to hear the voice of his twin.

“Yes, it’s me.  Just back from the States.  Listen, I can’t stay on here long as I haven’t any more ten pence coins,” pushing her last one into the slot.  “I’m coming up to Oxford tomorrow.  Can I come around to the flat?  I’ve someone with me who I think you’d like to meet.”

“Okay.  I’m free in the morning … after eleven … but Delia, where the devil have you been?  Are you all right?  You’ve been gone so long … I was worried about you.”

“Sorry, must go, Richard.  Someone else wants to use the phone.  See you tomorrow.”

Delia replaced the receiver quickly, anxious to avoid any discourse, although his words rankled.  Worried?  He had cause to be … but for a very different reason.

She had taken the scarf off to speak to Richard and didn’t wrap it around her face again as it was beginning to irritate her skin and in the crowded streets, it was doubtful she would be recognised and anyway, she still wore the glasses and the wig. Although disliking anything on her head, she pushed off the hood of the duffle coat as it was too warm.  She flung the scarf around her shoulders, left the phone box and walked smartly past the brightly lit strip joints of Soho, ignoring the lewd suggestions thrown at her by seedy looking men hanging around outside, Turning a corner she came face to face with two burly bouncers leaning menacingly outside the Garden of Paradise club.  They looked her up and down in disbelief as she approached them, wondering why such a nondescript female would want to enter the club.  She was hardly escort material but then maybe she possessed hidden talents.

“I’ve an appointment with Benny,” she stated firmly.

“Who shall we say, lady?” asked the tallest, nonchalantly chewing gum and looking her up and down.  She had to be joking if she thought she could find employment here.  Benny only wanted sexy looking women with long bouncy hair and certainly not wearing glasses.

“Just tell him it’s his old friend.  I’ve just phoned so he’s expecting me.”

Five minutes later she was in his office, two stories up from the street.  The club was in the basement but the gyrating music was loud and it was possible to feel the beat through the soles of her boots.  She looked at Benny and smiled.

“Well, well,” Benny said slowly, leaning back in his chair behind his enormous desk and staring at her with surprise.  “It’s certainly nice to see you again.  Where have you been hiding and what on earth have you been doing to yourself?  What on earth has happened to that head of gorgeous hair and surely the glasses aren’t necessary.  You look like a school teacher.”

Delia came straight to the point.  As much as she would have liked to renew their short but explosive affair she was worried about Rocky and wanted to get back to the hotel quickly.

“Sorry, Benny but I haven’t time to explain.  I need a gun …  and it must be a revolver … and I need it now.”

Benny put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on clasped hands.  He was as handsome as she remembered and for a second her resolve wavered.  Sex had always been pretty good with him and having suffered Rocky’s immature fumblings for the past year, to have a real man with his hands on her bare skin would be luxury indeed.  She tossed the desire away rapidly.  It would have been good to dally but there was the niggling worry that Rocky might wake up and kick up a fuss if she wasn’t in her room.

“Blimey, Delia,” said Benny slowly, not taking his eyes from her face.  “You’ve changed … in more ways than appearance.  A gun.  Now, what would you want that for?  And why a revolver?  That would appear to be a pretty serious shooting you have in mind.”

“The less you know the better.  Look, Benny, I’m in a hell of a hurry.  Have you got something I can use or not?” she snapped.

Benny was worried.  The Delia he had known for that short brief period months ago was ready for a good screw and a few laughs, although he had guessed that beneath all the outer veneer was a woman suffering heartbreak of some kind.  She never told and he never asked but for the life of him, he couldn’t have foreseen her asking him to give her a gun of all things.  She must have gotten herself into some really hot water and he really didn’t want to get involved in whatever mess she was in.  He looked at her coldly.

“I’m not sure. Tell me what you want it for first.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, stop messing me around.  I can’t tell you and that’s that.”

“If you think I’m handing over a weapon without knowing why and what you’re involved in, you must be joking.  It’s too much of a risk.”

Delia’s laugh was