Forget Me Never

froze.
    Aiden! It sounded like he was having a conversation with someone very nearby – perhaps they’d stepped into the kitchen after me. I quickly realized what a fix I was in – if Aiden was that close he’d definitely spot me. And I couldn’t hide in the loo forever!
    For what seemed like ages I stayed where I was. Aiden and his friend were talking about films – it didn’t seem like they were going to move on any time soon. But then, just as I was thinking I’d better make a break for it, a mobile phone rang. It must have been Aiden’s, for he apologized to his friend and I heard footsteps pass by. ‘Hi, babe,’ I heard him say. ‘Just let me step outside.’
    He must be going to the front of the house. I waited a few more seconds, then opened the door. The hall was empty – Aiden’s friend had moved on. As I hurried out into the garden, it struck me that the call might have been Cherie. Who else would Aiden call ‘babe’? This might be an opportunity . . .
    There was an alley by the side of the house to the front. Without giving myself time to reconsider, I went down it. As I got to the end, I heard Aiden’s voice.
    ‘No, I can’t just give him a ring!’ He sounded on edge, the words coming out quickly – quite a contrast to how he’d been a few minutes ago. ‘He’ll get nasty if we fuss about money again – asking for more is just going to cause ill feeling.’ He paused, presumably listening to Cherie. ‘But Patrick knows the day the trial results are due. We can’t buy more time. It’s pretty certain that we’re going to have to develop the drug further. The side effects are too much of an issue.’ Another pause. ‘No, Patrick won’t find out! I’m not telling him, neither are you, and Dani isn’t around to have another attack of conscience.’
    Dani? Attack of conscience? I pricked up my ears.
    ‘Stop having a go at me, Cherie!’ Aiden snapped. ‘Couldn’t this have waited until I got back? Listen, maybe we should get out while we can. This is getting too complicated – and dangerous! If we go ahead with everything now, Patrick’s guys will find out we’re not giving them the real deal. He’s got contacts, here and in Brazil. They’ll come after us! Too many people are getting their fingers burned, and anyway, I don’t know how comfortable I am handing over something that has serious side effects. Look, now’s not the time to talk about this, I’ve got to get back outside. Later, OK?’
    Quickly I backed down the alley to the garden. More people had arrived while I’d been busy – which was just as well, as it was easier to lose myself in the crowd. I found Reece still talking to Graham Heffer. His food was untouched, indicating he’d been talking non-stop, and he appeared to have dumped my plate somewhere.
    I didn’t waste time being polite. As soon as I was near enough I elbowed Reece in the ribs, cutting him off mid-sentence. ‘Need to talk to you.’
    Reece shot me an annoyed look. ‘Not now! I’m telling Graham about the match-winning fifty-four I made against St Anne’s High!’
    ‘Excuse me,’ Heffer said. ‘Just seen someone I know. Nice talking to you.’
    He brushed past, waving at someone up by the house. Reece started following but I stopped him.
    ‘Reece, I wasn’t kidding! Aiden’s here!’ I pulled him right to the back of the garden behind a large rhododendron bush and filled him in on what I’d overheard. Aiden had mentioned Dani having an ‘attack of conscience’ – that proved she wasn’t entirely willing. Maybe that was why she’d run away to Bournemouth. Maybe she’d known about the serious side effects!
    ‘I was right about the trials being significant then,’ Reece said. ‘Sounds like the results are going to be bad. What the hell is it they’re up to?’
    ‘We should go. Now,’ I said.
    Reece bit into a slice of chocolate tart. Crumbs dropped on to his shirt and he brushed them off; it was such a leisurely gesture it made me want to scream. ‘Aiden’s probably already seen us. Don’t see what we’d gain by leaving. Anyway, it’s not like he can do anything here.’
    ‘Reece! This is about cricket, isn’t it? You think you’re going to meet more players if you stick around. Is that more important than Cherie threatening to hurt your family?’
    ‘Chill, Soph! What’s got into you?’
    ‘Reality check!’ I wasn’t getting through to him; why did he have to be so stupid? ‘Enjoy boring more cricketers