Deception Love & Murder

by K O'Hanlon

  The construction team had been using a hotel as well as three large mobile units that were permanently left on site. He assumed that Sam would stay at the hotel where the foreman had a long term contract for a few rooms.

  The local village gunsmith had trusted James with a small hand gun so he could practice at the shooting range using the same weapon each time. If all went well and he wanted to own it he could apply for a licence and buy it later. But for now he had the gun without the need of form filling.

  Matthew Sharp aka Spike had also been following the news closely. He had no interest in meteorites. His main focus was Samuel Fairchild, the man who dropped him in the shit and cost him dearly. Spike had been living in an old rusty camper van since his housing benefit had been stopped. There was even talk of legal action to recover several years rent he had claimed for. He could end up doing a stint in prison because of Samuel Fairchild. Spike wanted to get even before he got locked up.

  Toni had received a short report from her contact in the art world about Sam. Nothing much had been found that she didn’t already know. The pictures he’d taken of her were still a mystery. It looked like she would have to ask him outright to his face why he had taken them and kept them on his phone. She would plan a trip to the site where he was going and demand to know why he had them and what he’d used them for. She hated to think he might be showing people her photo pretending she was his girlfriend or something. The thought of him doing that gave her the creeps.

  It wasn’t until the Thursday evening that Mike told Toni about his planned trip to the bridge project. He knew she would fly off the handle as soon as he mentioned taking Pauline.

  “So you’re taking Pauline along for the ride?”

  “It’s only for one night, maybe two if more problems arise.”

  “And you booked your hotel rooms today?” Toni knew how hard it was to get a booking, she had tried a few days ago and almost gave up. It was only because of a last minute cancellation while she was talking to the receptionist that a room become vacant.

  “No it was booked earlier in the week.”

  “And you thought you would wait until tonight to tell me you’re going tomorrow?”

  “I knew you wouldn’t like it but I have to go and I need Pauline there with me at the meetings.”

  “Fine! Take her with you. I’m sure she’ll love it. It was probably her idea anyway.”

  “No it wasn’t her idea at all. In fact she didn’t want to go because she knew you wouldn’t like it.”

  “Then why is she going, Mike?”

  “Because she works for me! I pay her wages! I need her to be there! If Ben was still alive I would have gone with him because there’s too much that needs organising for one person!”

  “It sounds to me like she’s already taken Ben’s place. You’ll probably make her your new partner next.”

  “Trust me. I’ve thought about it!”

  “So when are you leaving tomorrow?”

  “We’ll go straight from work after she drops her car off. The hotel could only offer one parking space.”

  Toni didn’t mention that she would be going there too. It would give her a chance to keep an eye on both of the Fairchild brothers, and Pauline.

  Mike was up early the next morning packing his case. He grabbed the file that he’d spent hours the previous evening reading but most of what he needed was in his office. After a quick breakfast and a coffee he gave Toni a kiss and picked up his car keys.

  “I’m taking the Bentley. It can do with a good run up the motorway.”

  “I’m sure Pauline will love that.”

  “Toni. Pauline doesn’t give a shit about my cars.”

  Mike left the house and headed to work. He was thinking about what had been said the night before. The idea of offering a partnership played out in his head. He would give it some serious thought. Pauline could probably still qualify if she sat her final exams. Her knowledge in the industry was phenomenal. Ben and Pauline had got on like a house on fire. He knew that his former partner would approve.

  Her black Audi was parked outside when Mike pulled up. Pauline came out with her keys and opened the boot.

  “Dump my case in your car, Mike. It’ll save time later and I don’t want to forget it.”

  “One does not dump ones case in a Bentley, Pauline.”

  “Really? Then get your butler to dump it in there. I’m going back inside, I’m cold.”

  “I said you didn’t give a shit.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Just something I said earlier.”

  Halfway through the morning the phones stopped ringing for a while. It gave Pauline time to ask a question. “How did Toni take the news of us going away this weekend?”

  “The same way she takes any news about you. She goes into one of her cross arms and legs modes.”

  “Well she’s had a few days to throw a pot at your head but I can’t see any marks.”

  “I only told her last night.”

  “Oh, that was a bit dim.”

  “I knew exactly what she would say and by telling her last night I only had to hear it once and not every bloody day.”

  “I sometimes wonder why you married her, Mike. You got on better when you were just living together.”

  “Pauline. You were the first person I told. Remember when I said ‘I’m thinking of asking her to marry me?’ You said ‘congratulations.’ I knew then that I had no chance with you.”

  “What did you expect me to say? I thought you were happy. I didn’t know it was a test!”

  “It doesn’t matter now, it’s done and I’ll live with it.”

  “It might be time for me to move on. I don’t want to be the subject of your arguments.”

  “It’s not just you. She gets all stroppy when I help Sam too.”

  “Well I’m staying out of it, Mike. I’ll not get caught up in your domestic battles.”

  “Fine! We’ll get this fucking meteorite shit sorted then I’ll never mention your name to her again.”

  The phones decided to start ringing as though they knew the tension in the air needed easing. The rest of the day carried on as normal with both of them trying to get as much cleared as possible before setting off for the weekend. At 4 o’clock Mike threw in the towel.

  “If most of it is done we better get going or we’ll catch all the rush hour traffic.”

  “Ok, give me two minutes.” Pauline switched off her PC and quickly rinsed their cups out. After a quick trip to the loo she was ready to go.

  Mike followed the Audi to her house to drop it off then the two of them made their way through the traffic towards the motorway in the Bentley.

  “If I get tired you can drive part of the way if you want to.”

  “I’m not insured to drive a bus.”

  “Oh come on. Doesn’t everybody want to get behind the wheel of a Bentley?”

  “I’ll have to say no to that.”

  “That’s what I told Toni.”

  “What?”

  “That you didn’t give a shit about my cars.”

  “You said something about that earlier and I didn’t know what you were talking about.”

  Mike looked across at Pauline and the way she was sitting. “That’s where the two of you differ noticeably. Toni sits up and wants to be seen in this chunk of metal but you slide down in the seat and hide.”

  “I’m not hiding.”

  “You are.”

  “I’ll sit up in a while.”

  “Yeah, when it gets dark.”

  After half an hour of driving in total silence Mike cleared his throat to speak. “I might have an offer for you.”

  “What kind of offer?”

  “I’ll tell you later over dinner after we’ve checked it.”

  “I was hoping to order room service, use the spa facilities then have an early night.” She was all too familiar with the type of hotels used by construction gangs. Just a kettle in the room would be a bonus and an e
xtra star rating.

  “First thing in the morning we’re meeting up with Frank so he can bring us up to speed.”

  “Ok. I hope he got my message about placing your company boards in the right spots so the cameras get them in shot. The name of Richards & Fairchild Construction Engineering will be broadcast around the world.”

  “That was good thinking. Remind me of that next time you ask for a rise.”

  “Eric Cooper will burst a blood vessel when he sees that on the news.”

  “It’s a shame your name isn’t up there with mine.”

  “I don’t want to kill him, Mike. I just want to rub it in a bit.”

  They passed the hotel where Sam, Frank and a few of the construction guys would be staying. After ten more miles of country lanes Mike turned into a large open gated driveway.

  “Bloody hell, Mike. This looks posh.”

  “It’s all I could get at short notice.”

  “Will they let me in wearing jeans?”

  “If not we’ll both have to check in in our silk underpants.”

  He parked in the space right next to the entrance. “Come on let’s go inside. Leave the cases. I’ll get them sent up.”

  They walked in and headed towards the reception. A uniformed security looking doorman cut them off before they made it halfway across the hall. “Sorry Sir. We have a strict dress code. No jeans allowed I’m afraid.”

  Mike spoke in a very quiet voice to the man. “Here are the keys to my car. The one just by the door. If you would be so kind as to arrange for our cases to be sent up to The Victoria Suite we can change into more suitable attire.”

  At the mention of The Victoria Suite the man took the car keys and clicked his fingers for a bellboy to retrieve the cases. “No problem, Sir. Your bags will be sent up straight away.”

  Mike passed his credit card to the receptionist and signed a couple of forms. He could hear a man’s voice close by getting louder and more irate.

  The manager was trying to calm him down and explain what had happened. “I are very sorry, Mr Gibson. Your suite was double booked in error. There are no vacancies so all I can do is apologise to you and your wife. You are welcome to use our buffet restaurant this evening with my compliments.” The manager handed two tickets to the angry Mr Gibson and left.

  Pauline walked over near the lifts to wait for Mike. The bellboy had already taken the cases up to their suite.

  “Ok, that’s done. Let’s get up there and change for dinner.”

  “Where’s my room key?”

  “Don’t panic, Pauline. I have it right here.”

  They got in the lift and went up to the top floor. Pauline stepped out first and saw just two doors. The door to the right was The Albert Suite, and to the left was The Victoria Suite.

  “Wow, Mike. This must have cost you a lot. I guess I’m Victoria and you’re Albert?”

  “We’re both Victoria.”

  “What? I said separate rooms!”

  “The suite has separate rooms inside. Let’s just get in and you’ll see for yourself.” He opened the door and ushered her in. Both cases were already there. A bottle of Champagne was on ice next to an enormous floral display. The lounge area was massive with two large leather sofas set round a square oak coffee table. Two separate double bedrooms led off from it, each with its own en-suite.

  “This is lovely. Have you been here before?”

  “Yes, this is where I stay when I visit the project. I had to pay a bit extra this time because it was already booked.”

  “You mean the Gibson’s booked it and you had them tossed out?”

  “They’ll get a free dinner for their trouble. And let’s face it, I need to be here and they don’t.”

  “Well we’re here now so let’s get on with it. I’ll have this bedroom if that’s ok with you?”

  “I normally have that one but if you want it that’s fine.”

  He carried her case in and dumped it on the bed. “I’ve got a table booked. Can you be ready in half an hour?”

  “I’ll be ready before that, I’m starving.” Pauline hadn’t planned on staying in such a posh hotel although she knew that Mike wouldn’t stay anywhere cheap if he could avoid it. Her dress for the evening wasn’t fancy or expensive but it would have to do.

  As they entered the dining room she felt under dressed for such a lavish setting. All the ladies were dressed to the nines with diamond and sapphire earrings.

  “Mike, I feel like everyone is looking at me in my High Street frock.”

  “You could walk in wearing a sack and look good in it.”

  “The women are looking me up and down.”

  “They’re looking to see what their partners are gaping at.”

  They sat in a secluded corner near the window. It was a table reserved only for those staying in the most expensive suites. A waiter appeared instantly and produced two leather bound menus. Mike quickly scanned through several pages then lowered it and saw Pauline reading the pages looking a bit uncomfortable.

  “Do you want me to order for you? I know exactly what you’d like from the choices they have?”

  “Yes please, I don’t understand half of it.”

  Mike ordered their food. The waiter suggested a few good wines that would go well with it and left them alone to enjoy their evening. Now seemed like a good time for Mike to ask the question.

  “Remember I said I had something to ask you?”

  “Oh yes, what it is?”

  “What would you say if I offered you a partnership?”

  “I’d say you better speak to Toni first.”

  “It’s my company and I don’t need her permission.”

  “If it’s going to cause problems I’ll decline. In fact I know it will so I’ll say thanks for the offer, but no.”

  “I thought you would be pleased. You could sit your final year exams easy enough. Surely it’s worth thinking about.”

  “I already passed my final exams, Mike. I took a year out then went back.”

  “Then why work as my assistant? You’re overqualified. You could be a partner?”

  “I’m not as ambitious as you. I don’t crave a big house and a Bentley.”

  “Well pardon me for making something of my life!”

  “You’ve done really well. You have everything you ever wanted. I’m happy for you, Mike. I really am. When we were at uni I would’ve jumped at the chance to be included in your plans with Ben but those days are gone.”

  “I’m offering it to you now. It was Ben’s father who put up the money to get the business started. The savings I had amounted to a piss in the ocean. I was just very fortunate to be chosen as an equal partner right from the beginning.”

  Their meal arrived and they sat and ate in silence. This wasn’t going according to plan. Mike thought she would be happy with his offer. He wasn’t ready to give up yet.

  Back in their suite the talk was all business. They had a busy day coming up and needed more than one plan of action. Mike wanted the meteorite gone from the site as soon as possible. Each day it sat there cost him money and pushed the completion date back. He could arrange to have it blown apart and pulled from the ground in pieces but that wouldn’t go down well with the many science nerds that were now involved. They preferred to work slowly, uncover the whole object using toothbrushes then bubble wrap it before taking it to a museum.

  “Mike, I’ve got an email from a heavy plant hire company. They’ve got two giant diggers at a quarry site about 20 miles away from the bridge. They could get them here by tomorrow evening.”

  “Great. Give me a name and contact number.” He wasted no time, it was late but luckily the owner answered his phone. “Mike Fairchild here, from Richards & Fairchild. Just received your email.”

  Pauline left him to discuss a deal while she disappeared into her bedroom to get changed. When she returned he was sitting with a smile on his face and two glasses of Champagne.

  “Well you look happy. I assume you hav
e a plan of action?”

  “Two mega diggers will arrive tomorrow evening to lift the whole clump of shit including most of the ground that still surrounds it.”

  “That’ll be great if it works.”

  “It’ll work. I’ve seen what those things can lift. Once they’ve moved it to the adjacent field we can get on with the project and the nerds can unpack their toothbrushes and bubble wrap.”

  “You best give me the figures. I know this is going to blow the budget and those diggers will need a police escort on the roads.”

  “The guy I spoke to knows what he’s doing. He’ll have them here with their operators ready to start around 5pm.”

  “Well let’s drink up then get some sleep. We still have plenty to do before they arrive so I want an early start in the morning.”

  “You go ahead and get some sleep. I’ve still got a few things to sort through in my head.”

  Pauline said good night, went to her room and clicked the door shut.

  Mike refilled his glass a couple more times before putting the empty bottle upside down in the silver ice bucket. His thoughts drifted from the bridge project back to convincing this stubborn woman to be his partner. The obstacle was always his wife, Toni. He knew she would go totally ape shit if Pauline was his business partner. He couldn’t please both of them so he had a big decision to make. No matter which way he looked at it the answer was always the same. He couldn’t have both so he had to make a choice, partner or wife?

  After a restless night’s sleep by both of them they had no time to hang around. Breakfast was dealt with by room service to save time.

  “Meet me by the car in 5 minutes, I’m meeting Frank in half a hour.”

  “Mike, you’re wearing jeans. The pit bull will savage you before you get across the lobby.”

  “If that’s my biggest problem today I’ll be happy.”

  The security man almost broke into a run when he saw Mike exit the lift wearing jeans. “Excuse me, Sir. I must remind you of our dress code.”

  Mike produced a twenty pound note from his pocket and handed it to the man. “Thanks for reminding me.”