Chapter Eight
December 1999
‘It’s been nine months since Rowan was born. It’s not unreasonable to have one night out, is it?’
Tiffany was furious with David. He knew she was going out with the girls that night and he’d promised to get home in time.
‘Besides, what’s the point of us paying Joanne a salary if she has a better social life than we do?’
She’d learnt since Rowan’s birth that this was always the winning argument. They were clearly having an affair, and she was convinced it was the reason he’d moved her in. The kids liked her, sure, but Tiffany had never set eyes on a single piece of paperwork which confirmed Joanne’s qualifications or prior work experience.
Tiffany didn’t care any more; she’d hatched her plan with Brett, and it was only a matter of time before they could set a date and sort out one final legal matter. Every time David raised the topic of the adoption papers, she deflected him by asking to see Joanne’s references.
‘Once you show me who’s looking after my children every day, I’ll sign your bloody paperwork. I’ll do it straight away. But it sits in that drawer unsigned until you do.’
She knew she was becoming brazen now, but her contempt of him grew as her escape came closer. His disdain for her had become more proactive too and his interest in Rowan, other than in the opportunities the baby offered to accompany Joanne on pram-walks, was even less than it had been for Callie and Jane. She’d fallen hook, line and sinker for his shallow charms and now she was having to dig herself out of a hole of her own making.
‘Right, go out then, why don’t you?’ David shouted. ‘Most new mothers would be delighted to spend the night with their newborn child—’
‘Most new mothers would be as desperate as I am for a night to themselves after nine months of sleepless nights and breast-feeding.’
‘I told you Joanne could deal with the feeding—’
‘And I told you I want him on breast milk for the first months of his life. You know I hate expressing milk; it makes me feel like one of my father’s cows.’
David stopped and fussed about with something or other as a distraction. She couldn’t understand why he made such a big deal of it; her absence would give him a couple of hours with Joanne. Wasn’t that what he wanted?
An hour later she was sitting up in bed at Brett’s house, the flush of passionate lovemaking still evident on her face. She had a sense of stillness and contentment that she hadn’t known in her own home for some time.
‘Surely he must suspect something by now?’ Brett asked.
‘I honestly don’t think he cares any more,’ Tiffany replied, laying her head on his chest. She loved the feel of him. He was the first man whose body felt like it was made to hold her and only her.
‘Besides, he and Joanne are sleeping together, I’m certain of it. We’re stuck in some horrible game of chess. He wants me to sign the adoption papers for Jane and Callie, and I want him and Fabian to get that damn power of attorney rescinded. We’re all left staring at each other across the room, none of us wanting to make the first move. But don’t worry, I’m on to it. If I can get the power of attorney legally removed on my own with the correct medical paperwork, I’ll deny him adoption rights and then we’re clear.’
‘I want to set a date, Tiff. I want to stop talking about it and I want to make it happen.’
‘I know, I want it too. I was thinking New Year—’
‘Before then. I’ve sold the house.’
‘Already?’
‘Yes, it’s sold. If we can leave before New Year, that will save me renting anywhere. The new owners want the house before Christmas, and I can stay in a hotel for two weeks if I have to.’
Tiffany raised her head from Brett’s chest, pulled herself up against the headboard and looked into his eyes.
‘How about New Year’s Eve?’ she said.
‘New Year’s Eve? That’s a crazy time to do it, isn’t it?’
‘It’s the perfect time to do it. The entire world is going insane over the new millennium. Why not then?’
Brett took a moment before responding.
‘Can you sort your paperwork by then? Can we make a clean break from David?’
‘As clean as it’s ever going to be. As for the farm, Fabian and I will never agree on it. We have the wind energy firm ready to sign and seal the deal for a twenty-year lease, but he’s not interested. He says we should be shooting higher, for nuclear or chemicals, but there’s no way I’m doing that to the villagers. I want a wind farm on the land; I won’t let it be developed. My mum and dad would be turning in their graves if they knew what Fabian was up to. We can still use the land for grazing with wind turbines on it.’
Brett threw back the sheets and climbed out of bed. Tiffany admired his lithe, athletic body. Not only was he great company, but he also looked amazing too.
‘Come on,’ he said, heading for the shower.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘Let’s get cleaned up and go out.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. You’ve been up to your ears in nappies and washing for far too long. Much as I’d love to spend the evening in bed with you, you told David you’d be back by eleven o’clock at the latest. Let’s go into town and have some fun. You deserve it. Besides, I’m meeting my sister Kate later; I said we’d see each other at Crystal T’s.’
‘Have you told her yet?’
Tiffany threw back the sheets and walked across the room to join Brett. She was still struggling to shed her baby weight, but Brett couldn’t care less. She’d waited years to be looked at like that by a man.
‘No, not yet.’
Brett had a guilty expression.
‘Why not? You said you would.’
This subject had become a tricky area to navigate, much like the adoption papers with David. If only she knew why Brett was putting it off.
Brett drew her in close and she felt a spark of electricity run through her as their naked bodies fused together.
‘I owe my sister everything,’ Brett began. ‘When dad died, I went off the rails for a time.’
‘Nobody could blame you, after what happened.’
‘I can see that now, but Kate was only young herself then. She took care of everything: the legal paperwork, all the funeral arrangements and everything. She was patient with me and supported me as if she was my own mother.’
‘I get that,’ Tiffany replied, luxuriating in the warmth of his body against hers. ‘So why not tell her?’
‘Because it feels like a betrayal, Tiff. She went off to train for the police and she came back to Morecambe whenever she could, to make sure I was okay. When she should have been out on the town with her friends, she prioritised me and my welfare. She’s back now, and I’m sure she only returned to a policing job in Morecambe so she could keep an eye on me.’
‘But you’re an adult now, Brett. I have three kids and I’m only a bit older than you. You’re no kid brother anymore.’
‘I know that, Tiff, and so does she. It just feels like a betrayal. I will tell her, honestly, but it’ll break her heart and I can’t bring myself to do it just yet.’
What Brett had said to Tiffany weighed on her mind as they showered, got dressed and headed out into Morecambe for a drink. She envied Brett and his relationship with his sister. As the only daughter of a farmer, she had very much been an afterthought compared to Fabian. Her father was only interested in his son, the man who would keep the farm going after his death. She was always expected to marry some local farmer and perpetuate the cycle. It had caused fierce battles with her father while her mother was still alive.
Fabian had always despised her for that. The moment their father died, he was like a plague of locusts, ready to strip every asset they owned for profit and development. But she had other plans. Her brother was a scumbag; she’d had to accept that fact a long time ago.
Sitting in the bar of Crystal T’s after moving on from a quie
ter pub, she clung onto her last minutes with Brett, feeling like Cinderella at the ball. But she couldn’t stay out as late as midnight; she had to return to her suspicious husband. It wasn’t the stuff fairy tales were made of.
The music was loud and pervasive, but the sound of the catchy tunes invigorated her, making her feel less like a new mother and more like the young woman that she was. She loved the children dearly, but she needed a night like this.
‘Kate’s here. I’m sorry, Tiff, but you need to go. She’s early.’
‘Where, which one is she? Can’t I meet her?’
‘Not yet, Tiff, I’m sorry. I have to tell her in my own way, not like this. Please try to understand. It’s a big thing we’re doing. I know you can’t wait to get away from David, but for me, it’s mixed with sadness and guilt.’
Tiffany looked at him. She loved this man, and she wanted to be with him. With a brief touch of his arm, she headed off, not wanting to land him in a difficult situation. Like Cinderella, she slipped off into the night. She only hoped they’d get their happy ever after.
Chapter Nine
Charlotte couldn’t afford to get caught up in a scrape with the university security guards. It would cause complications, and she’d had enough of those to last a lifetime already. She put her head down and strode out, ignoring the crowd which had gathered, some to help, others to find out what had sent the display flying in the entrance of the library. She returned to the car at a half-walk, half-jog, expecting to be pursued, but she blended easily into the crowds of students moving between lectures and made her escape.
It had been bad luck running into Hollie, but it was no surprise that she was in the library; she should have timed it better.
Charlotte checked the clock on the car dashboard as she climbed into the vehicle. She was tight for time to meet Callie as arranged, but she couldn’t resist swinging into the White Lund Industrial Estate and checking out the units around Sparks Auto-Repairs; it was her best lead.
As she left the university campus, she drove a little faster than she should have, slowing again as she reached the city boundaries. Not only was the liveried car an easy target for complaints from the public, but she also needed to avoid any run-ins with the police until she was ready to face them on her own terms. She cursed Toni Lawson once again for not being more helpful. Toni’s attitude had made her feel more isolated than before; she’d hoped to find in her the sort of good counsel Kate Summers had once offered.
The early morning traffic had cleared, allowing her to make good progress towards the industrial estate. She had a rough idea where Sparks Auto-Repairs was, due to their regular trips to the cash and carry. The irony of being able to stock up with produce for the guest house whilst simultaneously trying to rescue her husband from his kidnappers was not lost on her. She had to remember that Vinnie would not know what had happened to her yet. He was as capable as any relative or journalist of ringing around the hospitals along the coastline and asking if she’d been brought in. Until they found a body or casualty, or a police report was filed, Vinnie Mace was running blind, and that suited her.
She parked the car a short distance from Sparks Auto-Repairs, not wanting to make the presence of the newspaper vehicle too obvious in case Vinnie was holed up there. She walked a circuit of the area and only found one vacant industrial unit. It looked like it had been lying empty for some time. The agent was offering leasing incentives according to a weather-beaten board which was hanging on to the wall for dear life.
This looked like a problem unit, the ideal place from which a man like Vinnie would operate. She scanned the area for security cameras but couldn’t spot any. There had once been a camera on the side of the building, but now all that remained was a rusted frame and a dilapidated warning sign claiming 24/7 surveillance.
As she drew nearer to the unit, she was able to read the faded sign which announced it had been Cath’s Craft Supplies prior to its closure. The words hung there like ghostly reminders of a former occupant. The door and the windows at the front were boarded up with chipboard, but a large new black padlock was attached to the front door.
Someone had entered this place recently. She shook the padlock, not really knowing why; it held firm, as she knew it would. The rear of the unit was reached via a securely locked side gate with another new padlock. It would be foolish to climb over the fence at that time of day, with so much activity on the industrial estate. Besides, there was nothing to suggest this was anything but a dead end.
But she refused to accept it. If Vinnie Mace had this place marked as a destination on his satnav, there was something important here. She would meet up with Callie then return later for a proper snoop under cover of darkness. If Will was in there, she would find him.
Charlotte returned to the car, frustrated and impatient, and drove back to Morecambe, her mind occupied with ways to move things forward. She was still fine for time with the company vehicle, but the lack of a car was beginning to be frustrating. She had effectively helped herself to one of three office pool vehicles as her personal taxi, and she’d need to keep it overnight.
As she pulled into a vacant parking space at the roadside, she considered asking Nigel to cover for her one last time. Would he go for it? He’d sounded impatient when they’d last spoken, and she didn’t want to push him too far. Instead, she grabbed her mobile and dialled the newspaper switchboard.
‘Bay View Weekly, ’ow can I ’elp you?’ came Reagan’s voice.
‘Hello Reagan, it’s Charlotte. Are you feeling better now?’
‘Yeah, ’allo Charlotte, it was just like you said. Teddy was okay about it, I just ’ave to do that ’ealth and safety thingy. Thanks for being so nice.’
‘I’m pleased to hear that, Reagan; I was sure it would all be okay. Would you mind putting me through to Teddy’s office, please? I’m in a spot of trouble myself.’
‘Oh, bloody ’ell, good luck, I hope it’s okay.’
Charlotte heard Reagan transferring the call.
‘Teddy here. I hope you’ve got a good explanation about that jet-ski, Charlotte.’
Charlotte took a breath and summoned what was left of her confidence.
‘Listen, Teddy, remember what you said about great journalism at the morning meeting?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘If you want the best bit of investigative journalism your newspaper has seen for a long time, then please trust me. If I don’t deliver, you have my permission to send me packing with my tail between my legs.’
‘But when the police get involved—’
‘I need two favours from you, Teddy. Tell the police the jet-ski is safely stored at the rear of the Lakes View Guest House. They’ll find a few bullet holes in it; you’ll have to send my apologies.’
‘Dammit, Charlotte, what the hell have you been up to?’
‘The second favour is that I need to use the company car overnight. If it’s not back by midday tomorrow, I’ll either be dead or your front-page story will have become bigger than you ever expected. If I do bring it back, I promise you you’ll have your biggest story since—’
‘Since last time you were on the front pages after Edward Callow’s death?’
‘Exactly. You know I can deliver when it comes to shifting newspapers. I need you to trust me for 24 hours. That’s all. If I’m still alive then, you can call the police yourself.’
There was silence on the end of the line. She heard Teddy begin to talk, then he stopped and was silent again. At last he answered.
‘All right, Charlotte. I saw something rare and amazing in that feature you wrote for me. I’m going to take a chance on you. Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid, okay?’
‘Now, Teddy, would I do anything stupid?’
She couldn’t believe she was talking to the head of the newspaper like this, but she had to brazen it out to get the car.
Fortunately Teddy changed the subject. ‘By the way, Reagan told me what you’d said to her after th
e fire. There are a lot of people in the office who’d love to throw that girl to the lions. I know she’s not the most perfect receptionist, but the kid deserves a break. Thank you for being a friend to her. Did you realise her entire family was killed in a car accident when she was twelve years old?’
‘Oh my god, poor Reagan. No, she never mentioned it.’
‘She never does. She grew up in the care system after that and vowed to rebuild her life when she left at eighteen years old. This was the first job she came for. Better people were in for the job, but I saw something in her and decided to take a chance on her. We haven’t been taken over by one of the big newspaper chains yet, so I can still make crazy decisions. I’m making one of those decisions now, Charlotte. Be safe and don’t let me down. Become the incredible journalist I believe you are, and make sure you stay alive while you’re doing it.’
Charlotte was so pleased she hadn’t dismissed Reagan. The first time she’d ever walked into the office, she’d been put off by the way she spoke and her obvious lack of education. But the girl had guts and determination, and she knew only too well how hard it could be to summon those qualities in the face of overwhelming adversity. Good for Reagan.
‘You promise me you won’t take any risks, Charlotte?’ came Teddy’s voice.
‘I can’t promise you that, but I can assure you this is going to be one hell of a front-page news story.’
Chapter Ten
‘How did you sleep?’ Charlotte asked, thinking Callie looked so much better than when they’d first met in the hallway of the guest house the previous night. They’d met in a café and ordered small coffees, since they weren’t staying long. Callie was wearing a beanie hat which she’d pulled down over her forehead to conceal most of the birthmark.
‘I feel so much better,’ Callie replied. ‘It was so difficult to get any rest in hospital when I came out of the coma. I just drifted in and out of sleep all day and all night; it’s such a weird environment when you’re trying to recover.’
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