Miss No One Mark Ayre (children's books read aloud TXT) 📖

what I’d become made me sick.” Ana drummed the table. Met Abbie’s eyes. “Truth is, I don’t want to be a good person, necessarily, but I don’t want to be evil, either. I don’t want to commit atrocious acts, and I do want to look out for the people that matter. To protect them. I care for my mum, and she cares about you. That’s why I’m here. I’m not all talk. I want to put my money where my mouth is. I want to keep you out of jail cause it’ll make mum happy. And tell you what, as an added bonus, cause I tried to kill you, I won’t even charge.”

Abbie couldn’t help but chuckle, though she shook her head in mock despair. With a half-smile, Ana gestured to the seat opposite where she sat.

“Come on,” she said. "Can we talk?"

Abbie was no longer on the verge of leaving, but nor did she approach the table. Placing the call to Alice Rayner, Ariana’s mother, Abbie had felt guilty. It didn’t matter that Abbie had saved Alice’s life only a month ago. As far as Abbie was concerned, Alice repaid that debt by changing Abbie’s perspective, making her realise she deserved to live a life, alongside her job of saving them. Because of Alice, Abbie had rekindled her romance with Bobby rather than cutting all ties.

But Alice had given Abbie her number and made her promise she would call, should she ever need the kind of help a woman as wealthy as Alice could provide.

Abbie had memorised the number but never expected to use it.

Then came Ben's ultimatum. Thoughts of Bobby's smile had pushed Abbie to pick up the phone and dial those remembered digits. Alice had promised to send help.

This was not what Abbie had expected.

"I told Alice I needed a lawyer," said Abbie.

“You did. And," Ana spread her arms again, smiling. "Voila."

A few seconds passed, then Abbie raised a hand to her jaw, just to check it hadn't actually fallen open.

"Excuse me?"

"She sent me," said Ana. "I'm your lawyer."

"No, your not."

"I am."

"It's been a month. How can you have become a lawyer in a month?"

"I haven't. I was already a lawyer when you met me. Newly qualified." She parted her hands again and repeated, "Voila."

Abbie crossed the room and took the seat opposite Ana. Not because Ana had offered it, but because she thought she might collapse from shock if she didn't get off her feet.

Once sitting, Abbie stared at the beauty opposite. Despite everything Ana had done the first time she and Abbie had met, Abbie had suggested to Alice that her youngest living daughter might be redeemable.

But that was before she'd known she was a lawyer.

"A lawyer?" Abbie repeated.

"A newly qualified lawyer," Ana confirmed. "And at your service."

"Because I called your mother and asked for legal representation."

"Yes."

"And she sent you?"

"Correct."

"I thought she liked me."

Ana smiled. "Mum more than likes you. She only knew you a couple of days, and she still thinks of you as a daughter. You’re one of her three favourite children, which, you may note, puts you above several of her actual children. Myself included."

Abbie shook her head. This was bizarre and ridiculous. Abbie’s conversation with Ben had destroyed her hope of saving Isabella. Alice had restored that hope, but now this. It felt a cruel trick.

"I need to ring someone," said Abbie.

"Why?"

"To arrange alternative representation."

Abbie started to rise. Ana grabbed her arm.

"Ariana," Abbie said, her tone deadly. "Release my arm right now, before I break your hand and possibly your face. You've seen how dangerous I can be."

"I have," said Ana, but she didn't release Abbie. "I mean it when I say mum cares about you."

"If she did, she would have sent an experienced lawyer. Was Alice not one of the continent’s top gun runners for most of her career? I know she turned her back on her life of crime, but surely she still has the number of a top lawyer in her Rolodex."

"What's a Rolodex?"

Abbie closed her eyes. Sighed. "In her phone, then. Is this about the cost? I felt guilty asking; I didn't want to put her out, but she assured me money was no issue. I'd never have asked if I'd have thought—"

"Stop," said Ana, and at last, she released Abbie's arm. "Mum had one of the top lawyers in the country working for her up to the moment a judge sentenced her to nine years in prison. Get what I'm saying? Now, I know you don't trust me. I understand you don't trust me, but please, let me fight this for you. Let me show you I know what I'm doing. Please?"

Abbie closed her eyes again. Saw the Isabella of the past, the one captured in Ndidi's photo. The Isabella of the future, the one rendered in frightening detail in Abbie's dream.

She tried to imagine the Isabella of the present. Bound, gagged, and surrounded by people she did not know. People who threatened her, taunted her. Terrified for her life. Praying for her daddy.

The clock was ticking. Abbie was running out of options.

She thought of Bobby. Realised she would soon have no choice but to break it off with him. That would break her heart.

But before then, one more roll of the dice.

"Fine, we'll give this a try. But then I'm calling a lawyer—a proper lawyer. Because regardless of any good intentions you might hold, you’ve not a hope in hell of securing my freedom in the next few hours.”

Less than a few hours later, Abbie pushed through the main door of the low, bland police station, stepped into the fresh air, and took a deep breath. Leaving the station felt like coming up for air, though the interview room had not been quite as oppressive as the sea.

The door opened again.

“Is it bad,” said Abbie, “that part of me wishes they’d laughed you out the room and convicted me of numerous hideous crimes just so I could have proven you wrong?”

Ana chuckled. “Totally know how you feel.