Warhol's Prophecy

65

‘WHAT WAS ADAM Walker doing here?’

Hailey Gibson looked at Caroline Hacket with a curious mixture of anger and bemusement.

‘It’s a free country, Hailey,’ Caroline told her.

‘But what did he want?’ Hailey demanded.

Caroline sighed.

‘He came to talk,’ she said quietly. ‘Mostly about you, if it makes you feel any better. You hurt him, Hailey.’

‘Well, I’m so sorry about that.’

‘You should be.’

‘What bullshit has he been giving you, Caroline?’

‘You led him on. I told you that. He just wanted to know why you wouldn’t talk to him.’

‘I did talk to him. I told him to keep away from me.’

‘Perhaps it was the way you did it that he didn’t like.’

‘So you’re on his side now?’

‘Don’t be so bloody ridiculous. It isn’t a matter of sides.’

‘It sounds as if it is. Why did he come here in the first place?’

‘I told you. He needed someone to talk to.’

‘So you obliged? Very thoughtful. I suppose the fact that you fancy him has got nothing to do with it?’

‘He came here. We talked. About you. About my books. He stayed for lunch. That was it. And to be perfectly honest, Hailey, it’s none of your business whom I have lunch with. Just because you don’t want to speak to him any more doesn’t mean I have to ignore him.’

‘What time did he leave?’

‘About half-past two. Why?’

Hailey exhaled deeply.

‘I think he might have broken into the house this afternoon,’ she said finally.

‘What?’ Caroline asked, a slight smile on her lips. ‘Why the hell would he want to do that?’

‘Revenge.’

‘And what did he take?’

‘Nothing. But he was in our bedroom and in Becky’s.’

‘Was any damage done?’

Hailey shook her head.

‘You can’t accuse Adam of something like that,’ said Caroline. ‘Not without proof. What sort of man do you think he is?’

‘He was angry with me for not speaking to him.’

‘I don’t blame him, but that was no reason for him to break into your house.’

‘I think it gave him every reason.’

‘Then why didn’t he steal something – ransack the place?’

‘He wanted to show me he could get into the house any time he wanted to.’

‘And what do you think he’s going to do if he does break in again? Murder you all in your beds?’

‘You don’t know what he might do.’

‘Be careful, Hailey. Your paranoia’s showing.’

‘Don’t patronize me, Caroline,’ Hailey snapped. ‘I know what I saw.’

‘What did you see? Just let me refresh your memory. You say Adam Walker broke into your house, but he took nothing and he damaged nothing, right? Where is your proof that it was him?’

‘Who else would do something like that?’

‘Have you told Rob yet?’

‘I’m going to sort this out myself. I’m going round there tomorrow to speak to Adam and tell him to stop what he’s doing.’

‘You’ve got no proof he’s doing anything,’ Caroline reminded her.

‘Why are you defending him?’

‘Because you’re making him a scapegoat for your own guilt.’

‘What guilt?’ rasped Hailey. ‘Nothing happened between us.’

Caroline regarded her impassively.

‘Did you fuck him while he was here?’ Hailey wanted to know.

‘What difference does it make if I did or not? You don’t care about him. Do you?’

Hailey looked away from her.

‘Do you?’ Caroline persisted.

‘I don’t want him in my life,’ Hailey said flatly.

‘Good. Then leave him alone.’

‘He’s the one pestering me. Sending flowers, phoning all the bloody time, trying to speak to me. I didn’t ask him for that. I don’t know why you have to get involved with him.’

‘I like him.’

‘I know that.’

‘It’s my life, Hailey. If you can’t cope with it, I’m sorry.’

The two women gazed at each other for a moment longer, then Hailey reached for her car keys.

‘I’d better go,’ she said brusquely.

‘Yes,’ Caroline added quietly. ‘I think that might be best.’

She heard the front door slam as her friend left, followed moments later by the sound of the Astra’s engine.

Caroline waited a moment, then crossed to the phone.