Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Two days passed and neither Mercury nor Nick had spoken about Nick's confession. However, it preyed on Mercury's mind. Every time he watched Nick with the kids, Mercury saw the gentle way he approached their problems. He refused to believe that Nick would have been prepared to use a gun.

No doubt he'd carried it to look like the hardman.

When Mercury used to spend time with his grandmother in Los Angeles, she'd hammered into him the dangers of carrying a weapon. Of course, in Los Angeles it was way more common.

She would always say that if you were holding a weapon, you either use it or have it used on you. She'd moved to America when Mercury was a child. In a rare moment of family concern, his father had paid for her to relocate.

"Penny for them?"

Mercury snapped out of his daydream.

"Sorry, miles away."

"Thinking about someone?"

"My grandmother."

"You want to talk about it?"

This man was so caring it took Mercury's breath away. He really wanted to say it had been a nice change to think about something other than the feel of Nick's body pressed against him as they dangled in mid-air.

"Not really. She died a few years ago. Just before the pandemic fucked everyone up."

"It's hard losing someone you're close to. Did she live in London?"

Mercury shook his head. "LA. My dad lives out there and he wanted her near to him. Fuck knows why—he's far more at home with a syringe than a family."

"Mercury, I had no idea."

Mercury shrugged. His life had been public property since birth. "That's life, I suppose."

The telephone rang, signalling an end to the conversation. Nick grabbed it.

"Hello, Bodhi House. Oh hello, Fenella."

Fenella was the boss of the charity. Nick frowned as he listened.

"I'll leave you to it," Mercury whispered.

He got up to leave when Nick grabbed his arm.

"Are you serious?" Nick asked. "That's…that's awful."

Nick still held on to Mercury. He was trembling.

"Okay," Nick said. "I understand. It's a shock, that's all. Can I call you later? I need to think. Sure. Bye, Fenella."

He placed the phone in the cradle and let go of Mercury. Nick scrubbed his face with his hands.

"Fuck."

"What on earth is the matter?"

"They're selling the house."

It hit Mercury like a sledgehammer. "What do you mean?"

"Just what I say," Nick said. "I had heard that the charity had been struggling. I had no idea how badly."

"I can't believe they're going to give up on the kids," Mercury said.

Nick shook his head. "They'll carry on funding excursions and whatever else. Fenella said they don't need a focal point. Apparently, we'll have to be more creative in how we service the young people's needs."

Mercury's mind had begun to whirr. He might have only been at Bodhi House a short time yet he'd already sussed how special it was. They would not go down without a fight.

"You'll lose your home."

"I know. I don't care about that. I can get somewhere else. The kids won't find anywhere like this. Fuck knows what'll happen to them."

Mercury sat upright. "How long do we have?"

"They reckon a couple of months. Don't worry, you'll get to serve out your community service."

"That's not what I'm worried about and you know it."

Nick appeared close to tears. "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I'm gutted, that's all."

"I can help."

Nick laughed bitterly. "What are you going to do? Buy it?"

Mercury shrugged. "I could. That wouldn't help with paying for its upkeep. No, I've a better idea than that. I'm going to run the best Save Our House campaign you've ever fucking seen."

"What?"

"I hate to tell you this. You need an influencer. It's a good job I'm here."

Nick stood and paced the small room. "No, I don't want any unnecessary attention. It wouldn't be right."

"Think about it. If we raised enough to buy this place and got a few patrons with deep pockets, you'd operate with no stress. Even Fenella must see the positive in that."

"I don't know. What if the kids get silly ideas again?"

"Then let them. You must be the only person in the world who hasn't realised that social media is a necessary evil. It can be powerful when used correctly. Don't you trust me?"

Nick stared into his eyes. "Of course. Do you really think we have a chance?"

"I live on a street with more wealth than this whole postcode," Mercury said. "If I pitch this as the worthiest cause since Live Aid, they'll be falling over themselves to help. We'll open houses all over London."

"Whoa, let's calm down. We just want to save this place."

Typical of Mercury to get carried away. "Sorry, you're right. Let's focus on the first hurdle."

"Hurdle? That's putting it mildly."

"Pah, I am Mercury Morrison. I laugh in the face of hurdles."

Nick still looked unsure. Mercury got up and stood in front of him. "I can do this, Nick. I promise you I can."

"I'm not saying I'm up for this," Nick replied. "But it can't hurt for you to get a plan together. I'll run it past Fenella. How is that?"

Mercury beamed. "I'll have it to you by the end of the day."

"I think we can do better than that. Fenella's coming for her monthly supervision meeting with me on Friday. How about you present it to both of us then?"

"Consider that a deal."

He went to sit, eager to get all the ideas that were swirling around in his head onto the computer. Nick stayed him.

"You amaze me, Mercury. When I heard we were getting a rich kid who'd been done for criminal damage, I braced myself for a spoilt brat who'd refuse to lift a finger. The way you've thrown yourself in with us, well, it's incredible."

Nobody had ever called Mercury incredible before. Good-looking, yes. Funny, definitely. Incredible? Not so much. He found he quite liked it.

Their eyes met. He only had to lean in a few inches and finally find out what those lips tasted of. The ones that had filled his waking thoughts since the climbing wall.

Then Nick sprang back. "I should let you get on with that plan."

Mercury sat, shaken. "Yes, I guess so."

Nick went out of the office, leaving Mercury on his own. He stared at Nick's empty chair. It was becoming harder to fight these emotions and it appeared Nick was having the same urges.

What would happen if they stopped fighting it? Did he dare take that risk?

They'd agreed not to mention anything to the kids yet. Bodhi House provided them with stability. Nick didn't want them to feel they were threatened until absolutely necessary.

Mercury got his head down and prepared a presentation. He hadn't done anything like this since school.

When Friday came around, the nerves swirling around him were intense. Fenella had arrived at ten and been holed up in the office with Nick ever since. The clock was nearly at half past eleven.

Mercury had occupied himself playing Monopoly with Hassan, Olena and Anna. Olena appeared to feel no loyalty to Mercury for practically saving her life. She cackled as he landed on one of her properties again.

"That's one thousand pounds, please," she gloated.

"You're going to clean me out," Mercury wailed.

"Surrender?" she asked.

Mercury threw his property cards down. "I do. Olena, you are going to be one tough cookie when you're older."

The office door opened. It was Nick. A jolt of adrenalin flashed through Mercury's system. He didn't know if it was seeing Nick or the prospect of this being his moment. Ever since the almost kisses, things between the two of them had been strained to say the least.

"Mercury," Nick said. "Fenella and I are ready."

"What's going on?" Hassan asked.

"Oh nothing," Mercury said, getting up from the table and dusting off the biscuit crumbs. "Just an idea I've had."

He walked toward the door.

"Have you eaten all the biscuits?" Nick asked.

"Not all of them. A few."

"We were hungry," Anna said. "Mercury said he's going to show us how to make some this afternoon. Is that okay?"

Nick grinned. "Of course it is. We'd better be quick then. It's nearly lunchtime."

Inside the office, Fenella sat in Mercury's seat. He'd seen her when she arrived. A large woman in a dress made of bold African print. Her face lit up when she smiled. Mercury found himself drawn to her immediately.

"Now, we get to meet properly," Fenella said, standing and holding out her hand. "I've been hearing some wonderful things."

Mercury blushed and took her hand. "This is a very special place, Mrs…"

"Call me Fenella. Everyone does. Mainly because it's my name."

"Thank you," he said, the words coming out as a squeak.

"No need to be nervous," Fenella said.

Mercury glanced at Nick, who had also sat down. Nick winked and nodded.

"Okay," Mercury said.

He positioned his laptop on the edge of the desk and launched the presentation he'd been working on.

"Mercury, do you mind if we skip that?" Fenella asked. "I want to hear from you."

You were the best in the Debating Society at school. Come on, Morrison, you've got this.

"Before I get into the nuts and bolts, I want to say something," Mercury began. "When I was sentenced to community service…"

"For a crime he didn't commit," Nick interjected.

"Yes that," Mercury said.

At that moment, he realised Nick was the only person who truly believed him. He hadn't even questioned Mercury's word. Unlike everyone else in his life. Mercury had become a different person at Bodhi House and he quite liked it.

"I was nervous, stepping out of my extremely comfortable zone," Mercury continued. "Yet I've been embraced so warmly it's made me realise what a special place you've created here."

Fenella beamed at him. "That is a lovely thing to say, Mercury. Thank you."

"My understanding is donations are drying up and the only option left to you is selling the house to keep the overall project going."

"That's correct, I'm afraid. The bills are getting higher and we simply can't balance the books," Fenella replied. "Although I hear you may have an alternative."

"I certainly do. Firstly, I want to create a social media presence for Bodhi House. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Show the world what wonderful things go on here. Once we've got those set up, I'll do an interview with Nick and promote it on my channels."

Nick exhaled. "I'm not sure about that, Mercury. I really don't want paparazzi outside. We cannot lose sight that we are here to protect the children first and foremost."

Mercury shrugged. "I honestly don't think they'd be interested. I'm old news. None of the socials will feature the kids without pixelating their faces. We can check with their parents first if it makes you feel better."

"Nick," Fenella said. "We can't hope to inspire help if we don't let people in, just a little. I understand your caution. I think we can afford to be a little more flexible."

Nick held his hands up. "I know when I'm outgunned."

"I like this," Fenella said. "Do you really think we could do it?"

"At the risk of sounding like a spoilt rich kid, if it's money you want, it's money I can get you."

Fenella got up and high-fived him. "Then you have my backing. Let's save this place."

Mercury had no doubt he would get on with Fenella. They seemed to have the same adventurous streak. Now all he had to do was come up with the goods.

This was his chance to show Nick and the rest of the world what he could do.