Dead Gorgeous (14 page)

‘You tried to warn Raye? Is that when she saw you?’ said Nova.

‘Only briefly. A few seconds. And she didn’t believe a word. All I did was cheese her off, I think,’ said Liam.

‘So you didn’t tell her you were a ghost?’

‘Of course not.’

Nova wondered at the feeling of intense relief that flooded through her. Why had she suddenly felt so anxious when she’d heard that Liam had tried to talk to Raye? Nova dismissed her
worries. She was just concerned about Liam, that was all. Raye would freak if she thought there was a real, live ghost in the hotel.

‘Nova, you have to do something. Once Andrew’s got what he wants, he’ll have a good laugh at Raye behind her back,’ said Liam earnestly. ‘Now, I know you
wouldn’t want that to happen.’

Nova straightened up. ‘You’re more bent out of shape about it than I am. Besides, I’ve got something more important to do. I’ve got to find Mr Jackman.’

‘Raye needs our help.’

‘So does Mr Jackman.’

‘Never mind my— I mean, Mr Jackman,’ said Liam.

‘I know he’s your brother so you can stop calling him Mr Jackman,’ said Nova.

‘You two did have a cosy little talk, didn’t you?’ Liam said bitterly.

‘He only wants to help you. I can’t understand why you’re so dead against that,’ said Nova, bewildered.

‘Well, he can’t help.’

‘He can if you’ll let him,’ said Nova.

‘He can’t do anything any more. He’s gone,’ said Liam reluctantly.

‘What d’you mean? What did you do to him?’

‘You need to talk to your dad, not me,’ snapped Liam. ‘And after that you can help me give Andrew Stanley what’s coming to him.’

They were almost back at the hotel and Andrew was sorry. He’d enjoyed his walk with Raye far more than he’d thought possible. He risked a quick look at her as they
continued their easy pace, then deliberately looked away. He tried to turn his mind back to the job in hand. How best to get a kiss? But the bet made him feel uneasy at best and guilty at worse.
Still, a wager was a wager and he couldn’t back out now. And even if he lied and said he had kissed her, Andrew would still know the truth. He’d still know he’d failed, and Andrew
didn’t like to fail.

‘I really like you, Rainbow,’ he said.

Raye turned to face him, a ready smile on her face. ‘I know! I’ve got something for you.’

‘Oh yes?’

Raye dug into her jacket pocket and removed a gift wrapped package about fifteen centimetres square. ‘Happy birthday! I didn’t have time to go shopping but I thought you might like
this.’

Andrew took the package from Raye’s open hand. ‘You didn’t have to do this, you know.’

‘That’s why I did it!’ smiled Raye. ‘Well? Aren’t you going to open it?’

Andrew tore off the wrapping paper – and stared.

‘D’you like it?’ Raye asked anxiously. ‘I did it myself.’

‘Raye, I love it.’ Andrew couldn’t take his eyes off the present.

‘I thought you would,’ Raye grinned.

It was a pencil drawing of Andrew’s face. Raye was a gifted artist but for some reason she had trouble drawing faces unless it was of people she cared about. Landscapes and still-life
pictures were a doddle. And so was the human body. But not faces. But she’d drawn Andrew’s face with a slight, amused smile crinkling up his eyes and curving his lips. She’d been
up most of the night doing it and it was definitely one of the best drawings she’d ever done.

Andrew finally looked up, his eyes strangely bright and almost sad.

‘Happy birthday, Andrew,’ said Raye again. And she kissed him.

‘Dad, where’s Mr Jackman? I’ve been looking for him everywhere,’ Nova asked.

‘Mr Jackman has left the building,’ Dad announced.

‘What d’you mean?’

‘I mean I told him to leave and he had sense enough not to argue.’

‘Dad, you didn’t!’ Nova said, aghast.

‘Nova, I did.’ Dad turned to answer the ringing phone, missing the best of Nova’s scowl.

Nova ran to the kitchen, then into the lounge in search of Mum. When at last she found her, Mum was chatting with Lorna, one of the two regular hotel cleaners.

‘Mum, d’you know what Dad did?’ Nova interrupted. ‘He chucked Mr Jackman out, that’s what!’

‘Sorry, Lorna,’ Mum apologized. ‘Nova’s manners seem to have disappeared.’

‘Mum, this is important. Mr Jackman has
gone
!’

‘Quite right too!’

‘What?’ Nova couldn’t believe her ears.

‘You heard me,’ said Mum evenly. ‘Mr Jackman had no business creeping around our hotel in the early hours of the morning, he had no business keeping you up so late for a chat
about nonsense and he certainly had no business being in our wine cellar.’

‘But that’s not fair. He was only trying to find another way into the tunnels,’ Nova pleaded.

‘That’s no excuse and you know it – and so did Mr Jackman.’

‘How long ago did he leave?’

‘I don’t know. First thing this morning, I guess. If I’d had my way, he would’ve been out on his ear about two seconds after your dad found him in the wine cellar, but
your dad persuaded me to let him stay until this morning.’

So it was too late to go after him. What was Nova supposed to do now? She went out of the lounge to stand in the hallway. Dad was still on the phone, taking a booking.

‘Are you ready to help me with Raye now?’ asked Liam, appearing beside Nova.

‘No!’ Nova said with belligerence. ‘And why didn’t you come and tell me that Dad had kicked your brother out?’

‘Who d’you think woke up your dad in the first place so he’d find you and Josh?’ asked Liam.

‘You did
what
?’

‘It wasn’t easy either. I had to make enough noise to wake . . . me . . . before your dad even opened one eye!’

‘How could you?’ Nova stormed at him. ‘Josh is your own brother. He only wanted to find your body.’

‘Who asked him to? I didn’t.’ Liam glared back. ‘I reckoned he’d outworn his welcome and luckily I wasn’t the only one who thought so.’

‘What kind of brother are you?’ Nova asked, aghast.

Liam’s expression gave her frostbite. ‘Nova, even I’m not exactly sure where my body is. And I don’t see your dad letting Josh dig around the hotel grounds for the next
couple of years trying to find me, do you?’

‘That’s not the point,’ Nova began.

‘That’s exactly the point. I meant what I said about Josh not wasting his life on me. Two wasted lives in our family ought to be enough for anyone.’

‘Two?’

‘Yeah, me and my dad. I’m not going to let —’ Liam suddenly shut up.

‘What?’

Liam pointed behind Nova. She spun round to see Dad, Miss Dawn and Miss Eve all watching her with a great deal of interest and, on Dad’s part, concern.

‘Nova, if you’re going to crack up, could you do it in a less public place?’ Dad frowned.

‘I’m not cracking up. I’m talking to . . . I mean, I’m working on a new play and I was just trying out my lines.’

Miss Dawn and Miss Eve exchanged a look. Nova surreptitiously beckoned to Liam, then pointed to the front door.

‘Where’re you going?’ Dad called after her.

‘For a walk,’ Nova replied.

Out she went, looking round to see if Liam was following her, but he’d disappeared again. When she reached the bottom of the steps, he reappeared in front of her.

‘I can’t get used to you doing that!’ Nova complained.

‘One of the few perks I get,’ Liam told her ruefully.

‘Don’t change the subject! You were telling me why you wanted to get rid of your brother so badly.’

‘I’ve already told you. I’m not saying anything else. Now, are you going to help me stop Andrew from making a fool of your sister or not?’

For the life of her, Nova couldn’t understand Liam’s attitude. What was his problem? He kept going on about how much he hated being stuck at the hotel, but he wouldn’t do a
thing to get away from it. All his brother – and Nova for that matter – wanted to do was give him what he wanted, a proper burial so he could rest in peace. Move on or up or out or
whatever it was that ghosts in his position did. So why was he so against it?

‘You’re getting worked up over nothing. Andrew doesn’t stand a chance of succeeding,’ Nova said at last, deciding to put Liam out of his obvious misery.

‘What d’you mean?’

‘With my dad around, Andrew won’t get the chance to so much as pucker up.’

‘Don’t you believe it. I know what boys like Andrew are like. There’s no way he’s going to back out of a dare now.’

‘And what are boys like Andrew like?’ asked Nova curiously. ‘A bit like you perhaps?’

‘You’re jealous of Raye. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?’ Liam said icily.

‘And you’re jealous of Andrew. What’s the matter? Afraid Andrew will get to kiss Raye and you won’t?’

‘That has nothing to do with it,’ Liam insisted furiously. ‘I don’t understand you at all. Raye’s your sister.’

‘So what?’

‘So if Andrew wants to hurt and humiliate your sister, you’ve got no problem with that? She’s got it coming to her. Is that it?’

Nova glared at Liam. ‘I never said that.’

‘It’s obviously what you think, though.’

‘Don’t tell me what I do or don’t think!’

‘Don’t take your sister for granted,’ Liam said softly. ‘That was my mistake with my brother. I thought we had all the time in the world and we had no time at
all.’

‘Fine! Right! OK! I’ll go and tell her,’ said Nova. ‘Happy now?’ She marched back into the hotel, leaving Liam behind.

Happy now . . . Liam shook his head. Happy now? He couldn’t even remember what happy felt like.

Rainbow sprayed herself with more jasmine perfume – a Christmas present from her mum and dad – and smiled at herself in the mirror. Andrew had really liked his
birthday present, and been surprised by it too. Rainbow could tell. And they’d made plans to go for another walk after dinner. He really was lovely. Rainbow smiled as she remembered how taken
aback he’d been when she’d kissed him. It was only a friendly birthday kiss on the cheek, but the look on his face! Raye’s smile faded. He didn’t think she was too fast or
forward, did he? No! He’d liked it, Raye was sure of that. What a shame he was leaving tomorrow, but maybe they could keep in touch? E-mail or text message each other regularly?

The single tap at her bedroom door brought Raye out of her daydream. The door opened immediately before Raye could even speak. And in walked Nova. Raye groaned. That’s all she needed, Nova
hanging around while she was trying to get to know Andrew better.

‘Did I say you could come in?’ snapped Raye, throwing her perfume bottle back down on her dressing table. It clattered onto its side and began to roll slowly forward. She pushed it
back impatiently.

‘No, but you didn’t say I couldn’t either,’ Nova pointed out.

‘Well, I’m telling you now. Out!’

‘But I’ve got something important to tell you,’ Nova protested.

‘Out!’

‘It’s about one of the guests here,’ Nova began. ‘Andrew someone.’

‘Andrew Stanley. What about him?’

Nova turned suddenly to glare over her left shoulder before turning back to Raye. ‘Raye, just be careful, OK? I . . . he was overheard talking on the phone to one of his
friends.’

‘So?’

Once again, Nova turned to scowl over her shoulder. What on earth was she doing? ‘Andrew made a bet that you’d kiss him before he left tomorrow,’ she said when she turned back
to Raye.

‘He did what?’

‘He wants to kiss you for a bet. I just thought you should know, that’s all,’ said Nova.

‘And you heard him make this bet, did you?’

‘Not exactly. Liam did,’ Nova mumbled.

‘So we’re back to Liam again? This joke you and Liam and Mr Jackman cooked up between you was tired when you tried it yesterday.’

Nova turned her head as if she were listening to something or someone. But if she thought that by acting crazy, Raye was more likely to believe her, then she was way off.

‘It’s not a joke. And Liam’s not lying,’ said Nova urgently. ‘He heard Andrew talking to one of his friends on his mobile. The friend’s name is Kieran. Ask
Andrew if you don’t believe me.’

Raye’s eyes narrowed, her expression freezing by degrees. ‘I don’t believe you, Nova. One of the best looking boys to come to this place in months and you immediately try and
ruin things between us.’

Nova’s mouth fell open.

‘He likes me and I like him and you’re just jealous,’ said Raye.

‘I’m stopping you from making a fool of yourself,’ said Nova.

‘’Course you are. No wonder you don’t have many friends at school. You’re spiteful, Nova Clibbens.’

Nova tried her best not to look hurt, but she failed miserably. ‘I’m telling you the truth. I was trying to do you a favour.’

‘Out of the goodness of your heart?’

‘Because I’m your sister . . .’

‘Worse luck. Trust me to get saddled with a waste of space like you,’ said Raye.

‘Thanks. Thanks a lot.’ Nova barely got the words out before racing out of the room.

‘Lying toe-rag!’ Raye slammed her bedroom door shut behind Nova.

What’d got into Nova recently? Over the last few months she’d grown very strange – sulky and secretive. What was her problem? She was just jealous because Andrew really liked
her. How sad was that?

Someone thudded at her door. Nova! Right, she’d asked for it and this time she was going to get it. Raye wrenched open the door – only to stare at the boy before her. Liam again.
Raye’s expression altered at once. ‘Oh, sorry. I thought it was my sister,’ she began uncertainly.

‘Hi, I’m Liam. D’you remember? We met yesterday.’ Liam held out his hand, his expression anxious, almost fearful.

‘Yes, I remember.’ Raye nodded, trying not to stare. Liam really was lush! She shook his hand, wondering why it was so cold.

Liam snatched back his hand. ‘Your sister has just run off in tears,’ he told her.

‘Nova’s crying?’ Raye said, surprised.

‘She’s very upset.’

Raye tutted. ‘She’ll get over it.’ The moment the words were out, she regretted them. Even to her ears they sounded cold and unfeeling.