Page 66 of Hollywood Games
Zoe ran over and crouched down next to him, clutching at his clothes. ‘You’ve killed him!’
Barbara sighed. ‘He’s unfortunately very much alive. I shot him with a tranquiliser dart, we use them on deer sometimes. Now, are you going to help or not?’
Zoe looked up at her blankly, then blinked and took Vlad’s legs, helping her hoist him into the boot. She could see that Barbara had come prepared. It was lined with black polythene, his bags already inside. She slammed the lid. ‘Get in, we’re going for a drive.’
Zoe got in and Barbara eased out of the courtyard. When she was clear of the narrow streets, she took out her phone and made a call. ‘We’re on our way. See you in half an hour.’ She snapped the phone off. ‘Send my son a message. Tell him not to worry, you’ll be back in an hour. I know how he frets.’
Zoe did as instructed. At least that was a good sign, she thought, showing it was unlikely she’d be joining Vlad in whatever shallow grave Barbara had been digging. They drove along in silence for a few minutes, Zoe desperately trying to think of something to say, something to ask, whilst at the same time making the mental adjustments needed to process what had just happened. However, Barbara was fully in control.
‘I’m leaving Kinloch,’ she said. Zoe opened her mouth but Barbara continued. ‘Bradley and I are getting married and I’m moving to LA.’
Zoe tried to speak, but only a strangled sound came out.
‘I’m not needed here any more, and it’s clear you have the castle and my son well in hand. I need a new focus and challenge for the rest of my life, and Bradley is it.’ More silence, as the car glided along the dark roads. ‘You’ll make an excellent countess,’ Barbara continued. ‘And if you think I’ve given you a hard time, you should have met my mother-in-law. Complete witch. I actually danced on her grave. Compared to her, I’m Mother Teresa.’ Zoe’s head was spinning. ‘You can break the news to Rory that I’m leaving. He’s terribly overwrought about the whole thing and I do believe you’re the only one who can calm him down. I’m going to slip away the day after tomorrow and I’ll be back for the wedding once the dust has settled.’
‘Wedding?’
‘Yes, dear. Bradley wants to get married at the castle, so we’ll marry as soon as principal photography is concluded. Your wedding will follow shortly after. I don’t think you’ll want to get married when you’re showing, will you? Terribly lower class.’
‘Showing?’ whispered Zoe.
‘Yes. If you’re not already pregnant I give it a month. The two of you are so in heat any contraception must be superfluous.’
Zoe was silent, so sideswiped she was at a loss for words. After ten minutes of brain churning, she spoke, ‘Where were the security guards?’
‘I gave them a bottle of whisky and told them to take the night off.’
‘How did you know Vlad would be there?’
‘I didn’t. I just knew he was after you, so I had to wait until you got back from Morag’s and hope my hunch was correct.’
‘Why would he be after me?’
Barbara paused. ‘He wants to get back at my son. There was an incident earlier. Rory will give you the details. Suffice to say, Vlad managed to destroy a two-hundred-year-old chair and I decided enough was enough.’
‘You shot him because of a chair?’
‘Well, that, and how he’s upset my son, seduced half the village and stolen my late husband’s best wine. There’s a long list, but the chair was the final straw.’
‘What are you going to do with him?’ Zoe finally plucked up the courage to ask.
Barbara sighed. ‘I’d quite happily slit his throat and leave his body for the wild boar, but I’ve been talked out of it. We’re giving him to Bentley and he’s going to drive down to Heathrow and deposit him nearby.’ She eased the Rolls into a layby, where another car waited. Bentley opened his door and came out to meet them.
‘Let me reverse up,’ he said. He got back in his car and brought the rear around next to theirs. Zoe and Bentley transferred Vlad into the boot of the car along with his bags.
‘Do you want the polythene as well, Bentley?’
‘I’ll be fine without. He’s lying on rubber and once I’ve dispatched him, I’ll have a full-service valet.’
Barbara handed a thick brown envelope to him. ‘Thank you, Bentley, this should cover it.’
Bentley put it in his jacket pocket, and gave Barbara a nod. ‘I’ll be off now. I’ll ring you when I’m on my way back.’
They got into their respective cars and moved off quietly in opposite directions. When they were near the castle, Zoe cleared her throat. ‘Do you want me to keep this from Rory?’
Barbara shrugged. ‘You can tell him. He knows what I’m capable of. Maybe leave it a couple of days though. His nerves are a little frayed at the moment.’ Barbara drove around to the front of the castle and parked up. She turned to Zoe and fixed her with her ice-blue eyes. ‘There’s usually a wrap party at the end of a shoot and I think it would be a good idea to have a ceilidh in the great hall tomorrow night. I’ve already spoken to Clive about the bar and booked the caller and the band. Bradley is footing the bill so there’s no cost to the estate. I’m leaving you to break the news to my son. I know you’re more than capable of bringing him into line and I expect you to deliver an earl tomorrow night who is on his best behaviour. I don’t want a hormonal stag looking for trouble. Do we understand one another?’
Zoe nodded. After everything that had gone on, it was important for people to feel a sense of unity and closure. A ceilidh would be perfect. ‘Can I invite the whole village?’
