Warhol's Prophecy

69

SHE COULDN’T SLEEP.

Despite the fact that Hailey could barely keep her eyes open, the merciful oblivion of sleep still eluded her.

She sat up, exhaling deeply. Thoughts whirled around inside her head like some kind of emotional twister.

Walker was an only child.

Hailey ran a hand through her hair.

There had been no terrible hit-and-run accident involving his nephew, because he didn’t have one.

What the hell was going on?

‘You OK?’

She looked across to see that Rob was lying on his side looking at her.

‘Yeah,’ she lied, ‘I’m fine.’

He raised one eyebrow.

‘All right,’ Hailey confessed, ‘I’m not.’

‘Do you want to talk about it? Is it me?’

She almost laughed.

‘For the first time in ages, no,’ she said, and now Rob smiled too.

He reached across and held her hand.

Tell him the truth.

She swallowed hard.

But what is the truth?

‘It’s work,’ she told him, lying back on her pillow and gazing straight ahead. ‘As the gig gets closer, everyone’s more tense. The organization is a bloody nightmare. Trying to make sure everyone’s got what they want. Making sure no one’s toes are stepped on. Dealing with so many fucking egos.’

‘It’s what you wanted.’

‘I know, and I don’t regret going back, but things are starting to get a bit frayed around the edges at the moment, that’s all. The gig’s in two weeks. I just wish it was all over.’

‘And?’

She looked at him. ‘And what?’ she wanted to know.

‘What else is bothering you?’

‘Nothing. Really, Rob. I’d tell you if there was.’

Liar.

‘Are you sure it’s not me?’ he enquired. ‘More of those thoughts about what happened with me and Sandy?’

‘I think about it from time to time. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t. And it’s going to be a long time before I ever completely forgive you, Rob. But this time it isn’t you that’s bothering me.’

‘Thanks for that vote of confidence,’ he said, swinging himself out of bed.

She watched as he padded towards the bathroom, pausing by one of the windows, peering out.

‘What is it?’ she asked, seeing him cup his hands around his eyes, squinting into the gloom.

‘I’m not sure,’ he murmured.

Hailey also got out of bed, joining him at the window.

He snaked an arm around her waist.

‘I thought I saw something move,’ he whispered. ‘Down in the garden. Over by the bushes.’

At the bottom of their garden, a thick growth of wild blackberry and gorse bushes separated their property from the one adjacent. In the blackness of the night it was almost impossible to pick out shapes.

‘Probably a cat,’ Hailey said, hoping she was right.

‘Yeah, probably,’ Rob echoed.

He turned to kiss her on the cheek, then they both squinted through the gloom once more, watching for any signs of movement. At that moment, the security alarm went off.