and, eventually, a place to stay. Hopefully not in one of the Projects.’
‘What’s a “Project”?’ I asked.
‘Wow, Electra.’ Miles rolled his eyes. ‘You sure have lived in a different world. I thought all Americans knew about those.’
‘I’m technically Swiss.’ I blushed, but I knew it was no excuse. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s social housing, paid for by the State. Trouble is, some of them can be very rough. But anyway, let’s see where we go from here.’
‘Please, Miles, remember I’ve told you both I’d help as much as I can. If she needs a place to stay, I can pay for it. I feel bad that I’m leaving her, but I just need to get out of here now.’
‘You gotta do what’s best for you, Electra. Vanessa knows you’re there for her and that you’ve already paid for her treatment at the hospital.’
‘If I gave you some cash, can you buy her a cell? Then I can call her on it direct.’
‘Yeah, of course, but remember, she’s in a dark place just now and maybe won’t want to communicate much. And you, young lady, have got to put yourself first.’ He wagged a finger at me. ‘You’re no good to Vanessa if you’re back on the Goose.’
‘I know, Miles. And what about you?’
‘I’ll kick around here for a while till Vanessa’s sorted out, then hopefully bring her back with me to New York.’
‘Okay, well, I’d better go and pack. The cab’s coming for me at seven tomorrow morning. Here.’ I handed him an envelope. ‘That’s got my cell phone and my PA’s cell just in case you can’t get hold of me. Let me know as soon as there’s news on Vanessa, won’t you? Bye, Miles.’
‘Course I will. Hey!’ Miles called to me and I turned round.
‘What?’
‘You’re a good person, Electra. It’s been my pleasure to get to know you.’
‘Thanks,’ I said and walked away from him before he could see the tears forming in my eyes.
A week later, I woke up luxuriating on the cloud of down that was the mattress in my New York penthouse. I stretched and rolled over to look at the time and saw it was six a.m. I needed to get up and get running before the park became too crowded. Putting on my track pants and hoodie and adding the wig, sunglasses and baseball cap that had so far protected me from the paps, I left the apartment, took the lift down and jogged from the lobby across into the park. The magnolia trees were in full bloom and summer flowers were adding colour in the beds along the path. New York was wearing its best today – the sky was as blue as anything you’d find in the south of France – and I smiled simply because I felt happy.
When Mariam had met me at the airport, I could see the trepidation on her face. The first thing I did after I’d walked down the steps of the jet was to give her a big hug. She’d immediately hugged me back.
‘You look amazing, Electra!’ she’d said as we walked to the limo parked on the tarmac.
‘No, I don’t. My weave and nails are a mess and I have all sorts of hair growing in all sorts of places,’ I’d laughed. ‘They don’t allow razors at The Ranch.’
In the limo on the way into town, we’d talked about my time inside and Mariam had thanked me for her letter, which she said she’d treasure forever.
‘Don’t thank me. I was a total bitch to you and I apologise. You still wanna carry on working for me, don’t you?’ I’d shot her a worried glance.
‘Of course I do, I love my job, and you, Electra,’ she’d added, and even if it could have just been a cheesy line, I really didn’t feel it was.
Back at the apartment, I noticed that Mariam had decorated it with lots of sweet-smelling flowers and loaded the refrigerator with Coke and soda and endless flavours of juice.
‘I wasn’t sure what you’d be drinking.’
‘Coke and ginger tea are good,’ I’d said, opening a can of the former and taking a sip.
Then we’d run through what Susie had said to the bookers about my sudden departure.
‘She told them you had a family crisis and had to take time out. Seriously, I don’t think there’s been a lot of gossip. I certainly haven’t seen anything untoward in the press,’ Mariam had comforted me.
‘Well, I’m lucky no one managed to get a shot of me