Again, Ruby had an urge to study the photos Eclipse had sent her. There was no photo of Rebecca Nash to accompany her notes, but if she’d been able to match them, she felt certain that would have been a pretty ‘explosive experience’ too. Clicking on photo after photo, her screen was soon littered with them. They were as good as anything held at the record office, although the originals, those in the doctor’s room, must be revisited. She had to handle them; glean what she could from actual physical contact – a practice known as psychometry.
The phone rang, was it Cash perhaps, apologising? If so, she’d remain decidedly frosty for a few minutes, not just let him get away with what had happened earlier. It wasn’t him, however, it was a worried-sounding Eclipse.
“Oh, Ruby, hi. How are you? I’ve barely been able to sleep for thinking about you.”
“Oh?” Good job she was on the phone as she could feel the blood rushing into her cheeks. “I’m fine, honestly. You needn’t have concerned yourself.”
“Really?” He sounded stunned that she was anything other than traumatised. “I feel so guilty about what happened.”
“No, don’t.” Ruby’s voice grew firmer. “This is what I do, it’s my job.”
“But I don’t want to put you in any danger.”
“You haven’t, I’m not. Look, I really don’t want you to worry.”
“It’s a crusade for you, isn’t it?”
Her eyes grew wide – a crusade – that’s exactly how she described her work.
“It is for me too,” he continued without waiting for an answer. “I mean I know I’m not psychic, but my heart’s in it, my heart belongs to it.”
Cash was right – she and Eclipse were alike. Not just flip sides of a coin, as she and Cash were, but the same side.
“Ruby,” he continued, “what are we going to do next? What’s our plan of action? When should we meet? Should I head over to Lewes today?”
“Eclipse, of course we can meet again. But I need to speak to the rest of the team first; set a time and also…” she nudged, “the demolition date?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what we’re going to do about that, we’re getting nowhere fast, or rather my friend is.”
“It’s just as Ness said, this isn’t a rush job.”
“Is there such a thing in your profession?”
“You wouldn’t believe how straightforward it can be sometimes.”
“I might if we worked together a bit more in the future.”
She laughed. “One step at a time, eh?”
“I’m really sorry regarding that date; I’ll try again.”
She pitied how morose he sounded. Perhaps she should get on the phone to Rob Lock herself and explain; take a chance regarding his beliefs and what he’d do. Or… Another idea occurred.
“Hang on, Eclipse, I think I might have hit on a way we can get that date. And once we know, that’s when we can really plan. Without it we’re fighting blind.”
As she ended the call, her father’s words were at the forefront of her mind: ‘If you don’t have any luck regarding a demolition date via this friend of yours, perhaps I can help. Use a bit of police influence.’ Maybe it was time to take him up on his offer, and whilst she was at it, arrange that dinner date. She dialled Peter’s number and as she waited for him to answer, butterflies once again danced in her stomach.
Chapter Sixteen
Peter had been delighted to hear from her and, true to his word, had invited both her and Cash to dinner, that very day in fact, which had taken her by surprise, the immediacy of it. It was a nice surprise though, and she certainly wasn’t about to turn it down. What wasn’t so great was that, after speaking to Peter, she’d had to text Cash to see if he was still keen on coming.
He’d taken a while to reply, an annoyingly long while, but eventually a response had come through. Okay. That was it, one word. One stupid word! Rather than pick up the phone and yell at him, she phoned home instead to check how Gran was.
Jessica answered rather than Sarah. “Hi, Ruby, how are you? You’re fine, oh good, that’s great to hear. No, sorry, Gran can’t come to the phone at the moment; she’s still in bed. No, I know it’s not like her, she’s usually up bright and early, but she’s developed a bit of a cough, I hope it’s not the start of a cold or something. It’s best not to disturb her I think. How are things at Brookbridge?”
Ruby told her the case was still at a critical level, but they were dealing with it, after which Jessica enquired about Peter. “Did your meeting go well?”
Was that a slight accusation in her voice? A case of ‘why didn’t you ring to tell me about it sooner?’ or was she being paranoid? After all, Jessica had said she didn’t want to know the details; that it was Ruby’s business entirely. Perhaps she was being paranoid, recent matters making her oversensitive. She related how the meeting had gone and also told her mother that she and Cash were driving to Peter’s that day for dinner.
Jessica was aghast. “All the way to Oxford?”
“It’s not that far, Mum. We could do a round trip but actually he’s asked us if we want to stay the night in his spare room. As it’s the weekend, I’ve accepted.”
“Oh, right.” Again there was surprise in Jessica’s voice. “What does he look like?”
Smiling because her mother hadn’t been able to resist asking, she told her, followed by a question of her own. “How does it compare to how he looked then?”
“He was handsome, or at least I thought he was. His eyes were lovely; they used to remind me of the sea. Of course it was a long time ago, but I think I stood in awe of him; you know, young girl, older man, it’s a scenario that plays out often enough. Oh, Ruby,” she sighed. “As I’ve said, I hope it works out for you. Were you going to tell Gran about your plans for today?”
“I was going to try and explain. It’s just… I’m worried she’s going to be upset about it somehow. She’s done so much for us, I don’t want her to think that searching for my dad meant I thought there was anything lacking.”
There was a brief moment of silence on the other end. “But there was a lot lacking, wasn’t there? And not just a father figure; I wasn’t there for you either, not really, for so much of your childhood. Gran was our rock, but Gran’s only one person. Sometimes there needs to be another influence; a different point of view.”
More silence followed. Jessica had put into words what Ruby had always felt. Ending that silence, Jessica wished her good luck for the weekend and, after promising to come home soon, Ruby had rung off. A mini-plan had been put into place over the weekend in the form of distance healing, something Theo specialised in, and Ness had a good grip of too. She knew they were going to pay another visit to Aaron Hames again, so they’d pass by the building at Brookbridge. They wouldn’t go inside. What they would do was visualise it in their minds and all within it, sending love in abundance. They’d wrap the building in love, and so would Ruby. Although her weekend schedule was packed, she’d do whatever she could when she had a free moment. Courtesy of the documents Eclipse had photographed and sent, she gave Theo and Ness as many names as she could so that they could target their efforts. She’d also rung Eclipse, told him about her father and the possibility of him helping them find out the demolition date, and briefed him about the distance healing that was underway. As enthusiastic as ever, he said he’d begin doing the same and that he’d spend all weekend visualising. Corinna was also on board with the practice.
With all that in place, she felt ready to face her father again… and Cash.
* * *
They’d apologised to each other – after a fashion, although Ruby didn’t really think she had anything to apologise for, and she was damned sure Cash felt the same way. Yet she let it go; she had to. She had bigger fish to fry – this meeting with her father for one, just their second time together and at his house too. Let’s hope it’s not haunted. The thought almost made her giggle. What a disaster if it was; if it was anything like when they’d met in the
pub. She’d have to call on Jed again, who right now was nowhere to be seen. She wished she could laugh about the prospect with Cash, but thanks to this unease between them, she didn’t feel able to. She was at the wheel again, driving to Oxford, excitement bubbling inside her despite Cash’s poker face.
The radio was a godsend at least, giving them an excuse to hardly speak. Cash also kept checking his phone. When she asked him why, he muttered ‘work’ – which was fair enough; she couldn’t argue with that.
As they were approaching Wayland Copse, a cul-de-sac leading off a main road, nerves finally got the better of her and she stopped the car, still a few metres from Peter’s house.
Perhaps because of this, Cash took notice of her, real notice, even going so far as to reach out a hand and lay it on her arm. “It’ll be okay. Peter seems like a nice bloke, even if he did call me dusky!” A wry laugh escaped him. “I have to say, that’s a first.”
“He is a nice bloke, Cash, I know that. A bloke that also happens to be my father, which is… incredible.” She took a deep breath and then rapidly exhaled. “I’ve found him, Cash, I’ve actually found him! And it seems he wants to get to know me as much as I want to get to know him.” She practically squealed as she said it.
“Good, I’m glad.”
Was he? His voice sounded so flat. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” He glanced at his watch. “Come on, we were due fifteen minutes ago.”
Trying to regulate her breathing so as not to descend into panic, she drove the remaining distance.
Peter Gregory’s house was as wonderfully ordinary as him – she really was embracing this aspect of his character, as her mother had once done. After parking the car, they both got out, Cash grabbing their shared holdall from the boot.
“Ah, there’s Jed at last,” Ruby said, pointing to him as he ran up the pathway. “Seems he wants to join in the fun too.”
Cash smiled but otherwise remained silent, causing a flash of annoyance in Ruby. What had happened – their argument – she wished he’d let it go, and stop sulking. She was happy; was it so hard to at least feign happiness on her behalf? Perhaps it was wrong to drag him out here, but she hadn’t insisted; he could have refused.
Ruby rang the bell and, after what seemed like an age, the door to the ordinary house in the ordinary cul-de-sac opened to an ordinary man: Peter – as neatly groomed as ever. Stepping forward, he kissed Ruby on both cheeks and shook Cash’s hand. Jed raced in, coming to a standstill at the entrance to the living room, his head inclined to one side. Seeing this, Ruby winced. Oh no, please, please don’t let there be a grounded spirit, not here, not today.
Taking their holdall, Peter pointed them in the direction of the living room, which Jed was still surveying. Despite not detecting anything untoward in the house, she braced herself; Jed wouldn’t just stand and stare for no reason.
When she saw what he saw, she didn’t know whether to be relieved or otherwise. It was two people, thankfully two living people, a man and a woman standing boldly in the centre of the room. There was a look of Peter about them; his son and daughter? If so, they were her half-brother and half-sister.
“Oh!” The word fell from her mouth.
By her side now, Peter explained. “This is Kirsty and this is John, my other children. They were eager to meet you.”
Jed stared, Cash stared and she was staring too – she already knew they were older than her, but Kirsty had red-hair, an inheritance from her mother perhaps, and she was also tall and willowy, whereas Ruby had brown hair and was of medium stature. John was also tall, his hair sandy like his father’s. There was nothing about them physically that Ruby could identify with. As for wanting to meet her, was Peter sure about that? They were viewing her with barely disguised suspicion.
Immediately her heart sank. Peter had originally claimed via their emails that he wanted to take things slowly and in all honesty, she’d been fine with that, but this wasn’t taking things slowly. This was way too fast. She’d have liked some time to prepare herself before meeting further relatives, especially those so close in blood. Peter asked them all to sit before hurrying off to make tea and she consoled herself that perhaps it’d be all right after all; in for a penny in for a pound. She was glad of Cash beside her though, even a sulking Cash, and Jed, of course – her family. She didn’t yet fit in with the new family that awaited her; she was an outcast still; the one who’d been abandoned and was trying to make a comeback; forcing a comeback even.
It was John who broke the silence.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ruby. Dad’s told us all about you. And you… Cash,” he stumbled ever so slightly over his name, “good to meet you too.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Ruby replied, keeping her smile firmly in place.
Beside her, Cash muttered something in reply.
“Although,” it was Kirsty who spoke next, her voice refined, thought Ruby, dismissing the more uncharitable ‘snooty’ that sprang to mind, “as I’m sure you can understand, it was quite a shock to find out about your existence.”
“My existence?” Ruby glanced at Cash, who also looked surprised that Kirsty had used such a phrase. “Well, it was only recently I found out what his name was – Peter’s I mean.”
“Any reason for that?” Kirsty asked.
How the hell could she answer? Yes, actually, lots of reasons. This wasn’t the time to reveal everything – she’d prefer to do that gradually, over time, and for it to be something of a two-way street. “It was just difficult,” she said, “for my mum.”
A mother who just decades before would have run the risk of being sent to the asylum for her predicament, like the woman in the ballroom. Jessica had been lucky she’d had Ruby in the nineties, not the fifties or sixties, but even today if you failed to conform, by no fault of your own, there was a stigma attached. Some things changed, but not nearly enough. This woman, her half-sister, was she looking down on her? Would she have preferred it if Ruby had just stayed away, remained hidden, like those that weren’t wanted; that were an embarrassment; were hidden?
Peter entered the room with a tray. “Here we are, tea and biscuits. Kirsty’s been a darling and cooked our supper; I just have to warm it through. She’s a dab hand in the kitchen, aren’t you, my love? Very accomplished. I keep telling her she should go in for that MasterChef. She’d win, no doubt about it.”
Peter sounded so proud of his offspring, which was a good thing, Ruby decided. It showed what a kind father he was.
As Peter set the tray down, John leant forward. “Here, Dad, let me pour.”
“Good lad,” Peter replied, smiling indulgently at him whilst also taking a seat.
The three of them – they were a real unit. But perhaps it could be four of them in the future. She mustn’t think otherwise, not at this stage. Peter looked at her curiously; perhaps aware of the thoughts careering through her mind.
“Ruby,” he said, “I know we said we wanted to take things slowly, but I tend to include my family in everything I do; my two children I mean. Following the success of our initial meeting, I thought we should start the ball rolling.”
“That’s fine.” Politely, Ruby sipped at the tea she’d been handed, thinking how much he sounded like he was following procedure. “It’s a great idea, isn’t it, Cash?”
Cash had already dived into the biscuits and had his mouth full – typical behaviour that comforted her somehow; brought her back to her own familiar world. He could only nod, but it was confirmation enough; confirmation that she needed.
“Dad’s also told us about what you do,” John said. “Interesting.”
It was the exact same word as Peter had used when he’d found out about it.
“Can’t say such a talent runs in the family,” Kirsty added, placing a slight emphasis on ‘talent’; a mocking emphasis perhaps.
“I get it from my mother’s side,” Ruby explained, refusing the offer of a biscuit when Peter again tried to proffer them. There was
no way she could eat; her stomach was churning. At her feet, Jed nudged her. If only they knew that there was the spirit of a Labrador in the room with them; a ghost dog. Would they believe her if she told them? She didn’t think so. Not at this moment in time anyway.
“Is it a good earner?” John asked.
“I make enough to get by,” Ruby replied. “Erm… what do you do?”
“I’m a solicitor.”
“And I’m a doctor,” Kirsty pointed out. She asked Cash’s profession too.
“I’m in IT,” was his answer.
“Oh,” she said, not as impressed as she could be.
We’re the poor relations, thought Ruby, swallowing slightly.
His children’s professions established, Peter began to explain why he’d left the police. “I retired due to ill health; stress of the job, you know.” His face clouded slightly. “Personal issues too. Luckily, I have a decent enough pension to live on.”
Kirsty leant forward slightly as he said this, her gaze fixed firmly on Ruby. “Dad suffers from his nerves. Fighting crime day in day out for years and years, it’s not easy, not for those on the frontline that work the streets as opposed to sitting all cosy behind a desk. Dealing with criminals poses a risk, a very real risk, and it takes its toll. I’m gong to be honest with you, that’s another reason why we’re here; we keep an eye on Dad, and we always will.”
Peter smiled. “Kirsty, love, come on, I’ll be okay. You know that.” To Ruby he said, “She does fret about her old man sometimes. Right, now we’ve got the basics done and dusted, let’s just… have a nice evening. I’ll put the coq au vin in the oven in an hour or so. Better not eat too many biscuits, Cash, you’ll spoil your appetite.”
As the conversation duly continued, over the remains of the tea and then later over dinner, no more warnings were directed Ruby’s way. Inwardly, however, she was still reeling from the last one. Peter’s children didn’t trust her; they were here to keep an eye on her, intimating two things: that the threats she faced via her work were not real but perceived, and perhaps that Ruby herself was a criminal, setting out to con a vulnerable man. Even if she was who she said she was, they clearly thought she was an opportunist. She could easily be angered by those suggestions, but she tried to understand it instead, admitting she might feel the same in their position. Besides, it was what Peter thought that mattered at this crucial stage and every time he looked at her his eyes lit up; she wasn’t imagining it, and the truth of it lit something in her too.
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