Smart put her mug down on the floor. ‘That’s what we think. Do you know of anyone who would do that to him?’
She thought for a while. ‘I haven’t seen him this last five or six months. He was in Glasgow. When did he get back here?’
Morgan told her about the burglary and the upcoming trial and that he had been found in the garden of the bungalow he was accused of breaking into. He asked again if she could think of anyone who would do such a thing.
‘Whoever lives there I should think,’ suggested Sharon Crook. ‘I’d kill anyone who broke in here.’ Suddenly, she stood up and made for the door, knocking Jenny Smart’s mug over and spilling the tea on the rug. ‘Wait there,’ she called over her shoulder.
Smart got up and collected a roll of cheap, thin kitchen paper. She was dabbing at the stain when Sharon came back with an envelope. ‘This came for him a while back. Someone must have put it through the door. I opened it so I could tell him about it when he next rang.’
‘Please put it on the table without opening it again,’ said Morgan.
‘It’s a letter, not a fuckin’ bomb.’
‘Please just do as I ask. Have you a polythene bag for us to put it in?’
Jenny Smart reached into her shoulder bag. ‘It’s okay. I’ve got evidence bags here. I always carry a couple.’
‘Do you remember what it says?’ asked Morgan.
‘Not really. Something about his behaviour, I think.’
‘Is it signed?’
‘Of course it’s not signed. Even his name on the front’s been stencilled. It was some sort of threat about changing his ways. Something like “change your ways or you’ll be sorry,” or something. Well he probably is sorry now, don’t you think?’
Chapter 36
Friday 14th February
Sam was delighted when Nick handed her a bunch of red carnations and a Valentine’s card at breakfast. She had forgotten all about it. She would have to look for something for him while she was shopping.
‘Have you seen my keys?’ asked Nick.
‘I put them in your jacket pocket.’ Sam watched him check. ‘When will you be back? I want to talk about the move.’
‘Not sure. I’ll text you.’
Nick was always more distant when he was in the middle of an investigation, but she thought there was more to it this time. He’d barely spoken to her since getting back from work on Wednesday.
‘Cliffside is covered in fingerprint powder, but I don’t want to wait. I’d like to move in as soon as possible, especially with the kids starting school next week. We’re on the wrong side of Gullhaven here and the school run will be a nightmare.’
Nick was reading something on his phone as he replied. ‘Just arrange what you want. I’m happy with that.’
‘I rang the removal company when Mum and I were in the pub but they’d closed for the night. I’ll get on to them first thing. Can you speak to the gas and electric companies?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Sam. I can’t.’ He kissed her cheek, ignoring the disapproving comments from the twins. He grabbed his briefcase and headed for the door. ‘I’ll text you.’
‘Oh, before I forget,’ she said, ‘Mum wants me to represent the company at some charity do on Sunday evening. She asked me yesterday. Apparently, Steven usually goes, but with him vanishing, she told me I’d have to go instead.’
He turned back. ‘But you’re old enough not to have to do everything she tells you. Besides, we won’t have our clothes by then. What would you wear?’
‘I’ve got the dress I packed for dinner at the Spa.’ Her tone was defensive.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Mum thought it would be a good opportunity for me to catch up with my old friends. Let them know I’m back.’
‘Of course she did,’ he said, this time leaving without looking back.
The soonest Samantha Morgan could organise the reconnection of services to Cliffside was the following Wednesday and when she rang the removals company they could only offer a smaller van than was ideal for the day after. The man she spoke to told her it would need two trips and that there would be an additional payment to cover mileage. Samantha agreed instantly. She was tired of the park home and of not being surrounded by her own things. She sent a text to Nick to ask if he could put in for a couple of days leave although she already knew what his answer would be.
She took the twins to stay with Dorothy before driving to one of the retail warehouse sites to buy what she needed to make a start on cleaning Cliffside. As she put the key in the front door she remembered that the water had still not been turned on. Her shoulders dropped, the enthusiasm she felt when she’d got up this morning gone now. Another text to Nick.
Any chance you can pop over to get the water running? Xx
She wandered round the rooms, mentally positioning their furniture and pictures but when there was no reply, she stacked her recent purchases in a corner of the hall, closed and locked the squeaky front door, and set off for town.
The receptionist at the Aphrodite Hair and Beauty Spa flicked back and forward between the screens on her computer. ‘Friday is one of our very busy days,’ she told Samantha. ‘We recommend making an appointment.’
‘I’m hoping you can help me. I’ve just moved here and am looking for a beautician. This formal occasion has come up at short notice and I’m a bit of an emergency case.’ The receptionist gave her an appraising glance and did not dispute the comment. Samantha scowled and decided that whatever happened, she would never be a regular here.
‘Simone can do your hair at 2pm and we have a trainee who can do your nails now. I’ve nobody available for a facial or a spray tan until the middle of next week.’ The girl’s smile was patronising but Samantha was desperate. She took a seat and waited for the trainee.
Chapter 37
Sunday 16th February
‘All I said was, I’d prefer you not to go.’ Nick Morgan looked at his wife, dressed in the outfit she had bought for their dinner together at the Riverview Hotel. His heart sank. She looked stunning and Graham Fletcher would think the same. He had not mentioned that he knew the solicitor would be attending - the topic of Graham Fletcher invariable caused friction in the Morgan household which would inevitably escalate into a full argument.
‘Mum needs someone there to represent the company and with Steven still AWOL, that leaves me.’
‘Why can’t she go herself? I’ve never known her not be able to do something when she wants to.’
‘I asked her and she said she wouldn’t be comfortable sitting for that long and that the food is always too rich. She doesn’t want to offend by leaving it on the plate.’
‘She could shove it in her handbag,’ he murmured.
‘It’s one evening, Nick, and she is giving us the house.’
‘I hope that’s not what I’m going to be hearing for the rest of my life. I hope that every time she does something that pisses us off, you don’t feel obliged to say “she’s giving us the house.” She’s giving us the house so that I will spend my every waking hour fixing it up. Then what? We don’t know, do we?’
Sam glanced through the blind. ‘My taxi’s here. If I don’t set off now, I’ll be late and it’ll get back to her.’ She kissed him on his cheek and left.
He sat down on the sofa and Victoria threw herself down beside him.
‘I don’t understand why Mum has to go. Just cos grandma says.’
He reached an arm around her and pulled her close. ‘No, darling, neither do I.’
The Cooper family’s involvement with their local youth football team had begun when Steven started playing for them. When he lost interest, his father continued to go along to matches and fund-raising events until a deal was struck and the family business became one of the club’s main sponsors. In the absence of her husband, and now her son, Dorothy Cooper had been adamant that Samantha attend the annual dinner.
The taxi dropped her off at the impressive entrance to
East Gullhaven Country Club and Samantha regarded the steep steps with trepidation. She took her time, wary of the high heeled shoes she had chosen to compliment her elegant black cocktail dress. Nick had loved this dress when she bought it, although she thought it might be a little too short. This was the first time she had worn it and she knew Nick was right. She looked and felt good in it. She returned the envious glances of a few women with confidence, and held the stares of admiring men.
‘I remember those legs.’ The familiar voice came from behind but she didn’t turn in case she lost her balance. At the top of the stairs, she felt an arm curl around her waist and Graham Fletcher’s mouth touched her right ear. ‘In fact,’ he whispered, ‘I remember being between those legs.’ Samantha felt her cheeks flush and checked to see if anyone was within earshot.
‘That was a very long time ago,’ she replied. ‘And where is your beard? You had a beard when I saw you at Becka’s wedding.’ His arm was steering her through the noisy swarm of people greeting each other in the reception hall. She took in the sparkly sequins and smelled expensive perfumes as she was propelled towards the cloakroom. Fletcher leaned in closer and whispered, ‘The beard went when I knew you’d be here. You always preferred me clean shaven.’ He manoeuvred her in front of him. ‘I’ll have to follow on behind you, Sammy, because I’ve got the biggest hard-on just remembering our times together. I don’t want to scare the good people of Gullhaven.’
Her face got hotter. ‘Stop it,’ she whispered but she was excited by his closeness. She felt his breath on her neck and suddenly she was seventeen again and enjoying being with the best looking boy in school. He was a year older, self-assured and experienced and she was the envy of her peer group. She knew he wasn’t faithful but he always came back.
The queue at the cloakroom was long and waiting gave her time to regain her composure. She was determined not to look round but wasn’t sure whether she was scared he would still be there, or scared he wouldn’t.
Having handed her coat in and stashed the ticket in her clutch bag, Samantha made her way to the bar. It took a while as she stopped to talk to friends she had not seen since leaving Gullhaven twenty years ago.
‘Gin and tonic with ice and lemon,’ Graham Fletcher was back and handing her a glass which was slippery with condensation. ‘Always used to be your favourite, even before you were old enough to be drinking it.’ She took a large swig and thanked him. ‘I’ve also been to see the seating plan and we’re on the same table,’ he said.
She sighed, ‘No surprises there, then.’
When they were called into the dining room Samantha saw that it had been laid out with round tables, twelve settings at each. She and Graham were seated opposite each other which she hoped was a safe distance. She didn’t know any of the others but it didn’t take long before everyone had introduced themselves. On her left was a couple who managed a laundry and dry cleaning business on the outskirts of town. They sponsored the team by cleaning the match kit. On her right was a young man who owned a couple of hairdressers in Gullhaven and Hitchfield.
Throughout the meal she felt Graham Fletcher’s eyes on her but she didn’t look back. The strategy worked until a conversation began which animated the whole table. Samantha had been discussing hair and make-up regimes for the deceased with the hairdresser when the topic had arisen so she didn’t know how it had started. Someone must have mentioned divorce and as a specialist in family law, Fletcher had picked up the baton. When asked how divorce could be avoided, he replied that the only foolproof way was not to marry in the first place. During the polite laughter of the other diners Samantha risked a glance. He was watching her.
‘You’ve been married a while now, Sammy,’ he said, ‘What’s the secret?’ He paused with the skill and timing of a comedian who was anticipating the punch line. ‘Don’t tell me... It’s because he’s married to his work and you never see him.’ There was an awkward silence before one of the men sniggered.
‘Actually Graham, I believe in the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Over the years there have been times when I’ve seen very little of Nick. He’s often been involved in the sort of cases that make media headlines. But the highlight of my day is when I hear his key in the door and I know he’s safe and that we’re a complete family again.’
Someone mumbled ‘Well said,’ and the hairdresser raised his empty glass in a toast. ‘Here’s to the complete family.’ The response was unenthusiastic. All the glasses were empty.
Soon after, tables were cleared and most of the diners took advantage of the break to mix with friends or to grab a cigarette or toilet break. Some looked at phones before excusing themselves to catch up with partners or baby sitters. Fletcher had disappeared from the table at the earliest opportunity and Samantha turned her phone back on to see if Nick had rung, or sent a message. Alexander had texted a joke he had heard on the television and for a moment, she thought of fetching her coat from the cloakroom and calling a taxi to take her home. These weren’t her people and this wasn’t her responsibility. Nick was right. Her mother was more than capable of attending a charity function.
Fletcher slipped into the hairdresser’s chair and placed a large glass of brandy in front of her.
‘Peace offering,’ he said.
‘You can take your peace offering and...’
He interrupted her. ‘Drink it myself?’
‘I’m not laughing, Graham. What you said was out of order. I’m sorry your marriage didn’t work out, but my marriage to Nick is happy. We still love each other.’
His arm was resting across the back of her chair. It was proprietorial and an unknowing observer might have mistaken them for a couple. He was about to reply when the event organiser announced that everyone should take their seats for the auction and presentations.
‘How lovely to see you two getting on so well.’
Samantha turned, her face frozen in shock. She moved her head backwards to avoid the kiss that was about to be planted on her cheek. ‘Mother! Why are you here?’
Chapter 38
Sunday 16th February
‘I said, “Why are you here?”’ Samantha deliberated on each word, her jaws clenched and anger adding a sparkle to her eyes.
Dorothy ignored the question, turning her attention to Fletcher who rose and kissed her on each cheek. He held out his arms ‘How lovely to see you, beautiful lady. Every man in the room is jealous of me now. I am in possession of the two finest girls in the county.’ Dorothy giggled.
‘Now that you’re here mother, you can represent the company. I’m going home. And Graham, for the record, you have never been in possession of me and never will be.’ She picked up her bag and took a step towards the door.
‘Stop right there.’ Dorothy Cooper’s voice was low and menacing. ‘How do you think it would look if the company representative disappeared the minute the auction began? I gave you a budget and you will stay to spend it. Now sit down, drink your brandy, and smile as if you’re enjoying yourself. I’ve been invited to present a couple of the trophies, so I’ll be at the top table. We can all catch up later.’ Dorothy walked towards a local bigwig whose arms were outstretched in welcome.
Samantha struggled to control her fury. The hairdresser returned to the table and was about to sit when Fletcher intervened. ‘Would you please swap with me?’ he said, already lowering himself back on to the chair. ‘I have so much catching up to do with this young lady.’
‘No probs,’ said the hairdresser and walked around the table to introduce himself to his new dining friends.
After the auction and presentations, Dorothy mingled with dignitaries, smiling, laughing, air kissing and hugging her way around the room. When people were making their way home, she went to the door to make sure that everyone had seen her. Samantha and Graham were among the last dozen to leave the ballroom and Graham invited both ladies to join him in his suite for a nightcap.
‘Yes, mother. I think that’s the least you can do.’ Sa
mantha was unsmiling. Graham’s arm was across her shoulders and her body language screamed discomfort.
The three of them went up in the lift to a suite in the recently built Jacklin Wing. Floor to ceiling windows overlooked the golf course and framed the clouds scudding across an almost complete moon. Graham pointed to a bottle of brandy and a couple of bottles of red wine on the dressing table, the 2008 Barolo already half drunk. When offered, both ladies chose brandy and he poured generous measures of the oak aged liquor before half filling his own glass with wine.
Dorothy had always been fond of Graham and they talked like old friends.
‘Graham comes to visit me every Wednesday, Samantha. He smuggles my alcohol past the gun turrets.’ Dorothy giggled as she patted Graham’s knee.
Samantha took another gulp of brandy. ‘You’re allowed to bring in whatever you want, Mum. You’re not in prison. I can bring you booze if you tell me what you want.’
‘Graham knows what I like,’ said Dorothy and they both broke into conspiratorial laughter.
Samantha’s extended absence from the community excluded her from most of the gossiping about mutual friends and local scandal. When she excused herself and disappeared into the bathroom, Dorothy glanced at her watch and feigned surprise at how late it was. She hoisted herself out of her chair and let Graham lead her to the door where he kissed her lightly on both cheeks. ‘Thanks Dorothy,’ he said.
She waited in the corridor until she heard the toilet flush, before pressing an ear to the door. When she heard him say ‘Graham knows what you like too,’ she nodded and was contacting the taxi company as she walked to the lift.
The taxi driver had been unwilling to take Samantha to the door of the park home. ‘This place is notorious for getting lost and I’ve never been here before. I might never find my way out.’
They sat in the reception car park and he turned the internal light on to take his fare. Samantha could see the clock on the dashboard. It was 3am and she didn’t want to wake Nick up to ask him to collect her. She produced a ten pound note and held it out, but he shook his head. A second ten pounds persuaded him and they drove between the high hedges until she saw moonlight reflected in water. At last, they were at the Lakeside sector. There was a light in the window of A-20 and for a moment, she felt fear. If Nick had waited up for her, he would be worried and angry.
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