by Anna Jacobs
‘Could you give me a call tomorrow, Mr Monahan? I’ll speak to my client and see what she wants to do.’
When he went to show his visitor out, Mrs Hockton was looking annoyed again.
‘Something else wrong?’ Mr Greaves asked.
Des paused beside him. Even the tiniest scrap of information could be of use.
Mrs Hockton said in a tight voice, ‘That man rang to tell us where he’s staying and he ordered me to inform you that he expects his wife to contact him at the hotel.’
Des said quietly. ‘Give me the address of the hotel and I’ll take a room there. I have to stay somewhere and it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on him.’
They both looked at him in relief. He felt sorry for them. A lawyer who usually dealt with house sales, wills and other domestic matters was the last person to have the expertise and experience to handle a case like this.
‘Let me give you the number of my mobile phone,’ he suggested.
‘Good idea!’ Mr Greaves said. ‘Then I’ll phone my client and bring her up to date.’
When Des had left, Henry said, ‘I like that young man.’
‘So do I.’
He looked at her with a wry, twisted smile. ‘We’re out of our depth here, aren’t we, Mrs H? Oh well, we can only do our best. Could you get Libby on the phone, please?’
But Libby didn’t answer her phone and he was reluctant to leave a message. In the end, he got his secretary to type a note and left early to see if Libby was back. If not, he’d push the note through the letter box. That way he’d be sure she’d been warned about her husband.
Fourteen
When they got back from the antiques centre, Joss went to shower and change in his own house, and found a couple of messages waiting for him. One was from Leon’s unit, asking to be given the details about the package as soon as he got back, so he rang that number straight away.
Leon’s second-in-command rang back. ‘We’re just checking. No trouble with the package?’
‘The delivery went very smoothly. Ms King was helpful in caring for the package.’
‘Good. I’ll put her on the payroll. Are you up for another job?’
‘Not at the moment, I’m afraid. Ms King is in danger from a violent ex-husband and I’m riding shotgun here.’
‘Who’s the husband?’
‘A guy called Steven Pulford.’
‘Want me to check him out?’
‘I don’t think that’s necessary at this stage. His wife can probably fill me in on any details I need. He’s a macho, bullying workaholic.’
It was a while before he went back next door and when he did, he found Libby looking anxious.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Mr Greaves has twice tried to phone me. He didn’t leave a message. I wonder what he wants.’
‘Only one way to find out.’
‘I rang his rooms, but they were closed for the day.’ Libby sighed. ‘I’m wondering whether I should pack our bags, in case we’re forced to leave suddenly.’
‘Wouldn’t hurt to have your things ready.’
‘What if Steven’s already found us? What if he comes here?’
‘Then he’ll have to walk through me to get to you.’
‘He’s rather good at walking through people.’
‘He’ll be facing you and me this time, Libby. Two to one. I’d say we have the advantage.’
But she didn’t look convinced.
Joss knew something about the psychology behind these situations and wondered if she’d be able to break her conditioning to fight back if Pulford attacked her again.
As they were preparing an evening meal, Joss held up one hand. ‘Shh!’
The sound of a car coming up the hill from the village echoed clearly in the damp evening air.
Without a word, Joss put down his chopping knife and went into the front room. Libby watched him anxiously.
What if it was Steven?
What if there was a fight?
Who would win?
She shivered at that thought and for a few seconds couldn’t move. Then she thought of Ned and told herself not to be a coward, so followed Joss into the front room, standing close beside him, feeling the warmth and strength of his body.
The car turned off towards the cottages, and she held her breath. Then it came into sight and she recognised both the vehicle and the driver. Mr Greaves. Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness!
Ned started shouting for his mother.
‘I’ll let Henry in,’ Joss said quietly.
‘Bring him into the kitchen. I have to keep an eye on Ned, see he eats his tea.’ If they had to flee, it was even more urgent that her son get a good meal into him.
He went to open the front door.
Mr Greaves didn’t look at all happy. He waited till he was sitting in the kitchen, where a sleepy Ned was just finishing some fruit and ice cream.
‘I’m afraid your ex is in Rochdale, Libby. He came to see me today.’
Libby closed her eyes, feeling sick. ‘I’ll leave at once.’
‘He doesn’t yet know where you live.’
‘He’ll find out. Anyone can check phone directories or the Electoral Rolls.’
‘Rose chose not to be listed publicly in either of them. She said old ladies were safer remaining anonymous. And we haven’t had time to register you.’
She considered this, but shook her head. ‘That’ll only delay him a little. He’ll go online and find someone to help him illegally. No one can stay anonymous these days. I’m sorry. I’ll have to forego the inheritance and leave. Would you … let me keep the money I’ve had so far? I’ll pay you back one day, I promise.’
Joss took her hand. ‘There’s a provision in the trust for us to allow you to leave here, if we’re unanimous. What do you think, Henry? Should we let her go?’
Mr Greaves nodded vigorously. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘I think you’d be safer staying here for the moment, though,’ Joss said. ‘I’ll be with you and there are a few guys from the village within call. If you’re among strangers, well, they can ignore someone needing help.’
She bit her lip. ‘I don’t know.’
‘At least wait until morning. We need to make a plan.’
Mr Greaves nodded approval. ‘If you need more money, Libby, let me know. In fact, let me know what you’re doing at all times. I’ve told Pulford not to come to my rooms again. If he pursues you, we can take out an injunction to prevent him approaching you.’
‘As if he’ll pay any attention to that.’ She sighed. ‘But I don’t want to spend my life running, so I’ll … see how it goes. For a day or two, at any rate.’
‘There is something else I need to tell you about.’ Henry looked at her as if this wasn’t going to be pleasant.
Ned chose that moment to snuggle his head against his mother, with his thumb in his mouth.
She looked down to see his eyes closing. ‘Could whatever it is wait a few minutes while I put him to bed? If I force him to stay awake, he sleeps badly and gets very grumpy the next day.’
‘Of course it can wait.’ Mr Greaves turned to Joss. ‘Perhaps a cup of coffee might be in order?’
‘Or a glass of wine?’
‘Sadly no. Not when I’m driving and haven’t yet eaten.’
‘Coffee it is, then.’
Steven sat in his car, wondering if he was wasting his time. No, he was just checking out all possibilities, as he always did when he was working on a project. Besides, he had time to spare these days.
He sat a short distance along the street from the office building for over two hours, getting more and more irritated at what he was forced to do to get his own wife and son back. Oh, to hell with it! This was a stupid idea.
He started up the car but just as he was about to pull away, that old twit of a lawyer drove out of the car park.
Steven’s car was facing the wrong way. He managed to turn round quickly, annoying another motorist whom he held u
p, but he didn’t care. His need was urgent.
When he got to the end of the street, he thought he’d lost the lawyer, but saw him across the road, filling up the car at a petrol station. He slid into a no-parking zone, alert for police or parking officers, but his luck held and no one bothered him.
Once the car was filled, Greaves set off again, driving out of town.
That made it more difficult, because he might realise he was being followed. Luckily, there was enough traffic on the road for Steven to stay one or two cars behind him.
Greaves skirted a place called Todmorden, after which he turned off on to a side road that wound its way up the hill. He was the only one to turn, so Steven turned off and stopped, sitting at the end of the side road in his car, worrying. If he followed, he’d stand out like a sore thumb. If he didn’t, he’d lose the trail.
Then he saw a sign and laughed aloud. ‘This road leads to Top o’ the Hill only.’ It was a dead end. He got out and found a gate to stand on, watching for glimpses of the lawyer’s car winding its way up.
When it disappeared from sight among the houses, Steven got back into his car. He had to take the risk of following.
A Land Rover came down the hill. Steven flapped one hand, telling the other to back away, but the woman just folded her arms and waited. No way was the stupid female going to let him through. Then Steven saw a Give Way to Oncoming Traffic sign and realised he was in the wrong, so he backed the car until he reached a passing place.
With a triumphant toot on the horn, the Land Rover sped off down the hill. Steven made a vulgar sign at it and continued upwards.
The village was tiny. What a shabby hole! He slowed right down, looking right and left, but not seeing the lawyer’s car. There was only one road leading out of the village and it seemed to lead to a church tower right at the top of the hill, so he went up there.
Dammit! There were no cars parked at the church. Where the hell had Greaves gone?
Steven drove slowly back towards the village and saw an unmarked track with what looked like a grey slate roof beyond the bend in the track. He stopped to consider the best thing to do. If he went down the track and there was only one house, he’d have shown his hand.
It took a five-point turn to get a car as big as his pointing back up the hill, then he drove up to the church again. He’d walk down and spy out the land.
Greaves might not be there, of course. But it was worth a try. There weren’t many other choices.
He climbed over another of those damned dry-stone walls, catching the sleeve of his suit on a projecting piece of sharp metal which some fool had stuck in a crack. It not only tore his sleeve but his shirt too, scratching his arm so that a few drops of blood trickled out on to his shirt to add insult to injury. Muttering a curse, he crept carefully on towards the house.
As he got closer the upper storey came into view, then the tops of the front doors. So it was a group of four cottages. Tiny places and … Ah! He’d hit gold. Well, possible gold. There were three cars parked at the right-hand end of the row. One belonged to Greaves. Whose were the others?
Disappointment ran through him like acid. Libby’s old heap wasn’t one of them, so she couldn’t be here.
It looked as if he’d be searching online again. And paying through the nose for information.
He waited, because he couldn’t leave until after the lawyer had gone, in case the fellow recognised his car.
Well, he could be very patient when he wanted something. He stood under one of the scrubby little trees near the wall and through its sparse branches watched the end houses.
Come on, you old fool. Go home, then I can get back to the hotel.
Libby came downstairs smiling. ‘Ned fell asleep straight away. He looks like a little angel now. Thanks.’ She accepted the mug of coffee from Joss and took a sip. ‘Lovely. Now, Mr Greaves, what’s the something else you need to tell me about?’
‘Your birth mother is looking for you.’
She stared at him in shock.
Joss whistled softly. ‘One thing after another.’
‘She’s been looking for you for a while now,’ Mr Greaves said quietly. ‘And you registered to find her, I think.’
Libby opened her mouth but no sounds came out. When she tried again, her voice was scratchy. ‘How do you know that?’
‘The man who found you for her has just contacted me. She wants to meet you.’
‘I’d like to meet her, too. Oh, I would! That’s why I contacted the agency. Only I haven’t had a reply.’
‘They did write to you. Twice. They got no answer to the first letter, but the second time someone filled in the form and signed it to say no contact was wanted.’
She turned so white, Joss went to stand behind her, his hands on her shoulders. For a minute she leaned back against him, closing her eyes, then she moved away. ‘I’m all right now. I was just … shocked. I didn’t think even he would do that when he knew how important it was to me.’
‘Men who want to control someone usually want complete control. He wouldn’t have wanted you to have anyone else to turn to,’ Joss said quietly.
‘But he encouraged me to contact the agency when I wondered about it.’
‘Clever. I bet he said you’d probably never hear from your birth mother.’
‘Yes. Yes, he did.’ She took a deep breath that sounded very close to a sob. ‘I’ve been so very stupid, so easy to fool, as well as cowardly.’
Joss squeezed her hand. ‘You’ve escaped now.’
‘Have I?’ She turned to Mr Greaves. ‘Who is she?’
‘I’m not yet authorised to reveal her details, but I can tell you how you came to be adopted, if you like.’ He explained how her mother had been fooled into thinking her baby had died, while the baby had actually been sold to some parents longing for a child.
When he’d finished speaking, Libby sat staring down at her hands, which were clasped tightly together in her lap.
Neither man interrupted her.
At length she looked up. ‘It makes me feel better that she didn’t want to give me away. Silly, isn’t it? After all these years.’
‘Not at all silly.’ Joss wished he dare hold her close and comfort her more openly; she looked so anguished.
‘How did my birth mother find out I hadn’t died?’
‘She was working for …’ He hesitated. ‘There’s a man called Leon. I don’t know his second name. Your mother used to work for him.’
Joss said quietly, ‘We know Leon. I work for him sometimes too, and Libby just did a small job for him.’
‘Goodness! It’s a small world. But it makes it easier for you to understand. This Leon found out about your mother’s child when he was investigating the group running this scam. It can be a very lucrative trade, babies, and this group had grown into quite a large international operation. It went on until they were stupid enough to place a baby with a rather important couple. Then one of their operatives tried to blackmail him and his wife, which would have caused a very unwelcome scandal.
‘The authorities had to act and who better than Leon’s unit for such a delicate situation?’
Libby nodded a couple of times, still feeling the warmth of knowing she hadn’t been given away. ‘I’d very much like to meet her. It’d be so good to have a blood relative. I don’t count my stepfather, and Grandma Rose is dead, so I’m completely on my own in the world.’
‘Shall I arrange a meeting?’
‘I wish I dared meet her, but it depends on what Steven does. I may not be here for much longer.’
‘Can I tell her who you are? Mention Ned, perhaps. She’d love to have a grandson, I’m sure.’
‘No names yet. I don’t want to risk this getting back to Steven. And … I don’t want her to see me as an abused wife. You could tell her I have a son, though. Does she live locally? Is that how you come to know about this?’
‘Yes, she does live nearby. She’s being as cautious as you. The man who found you fo
r her contacted me on her behalf.’
‘There’s another reason to wait for this business with Steven to be sorted out before I meet her. I don’t want to put her in danger.’
‘Very well.’ He glanced at his watch and stood up. ‘I’d better get home now. If you have to leave suddenly, keep in touch with me.’
Joss stood up. ‘I’ll show you out, Henry.’
As they stood beside Henry’s car, he said in a low voice, ‘If her husband is half as bad as she seems to think, she’s right to be cautious. I won’t leave her side, I promise you.’
He stood waving goodbye to Henry, then went back into the house to find Libby standing staring out of the kitchen window. She turned to Joss. ‘I don’t know what to do next.’
‘Why don’t I call Leon and tell him about Pulford? They’ve already offered to investigate him if you wish.’
‘Why would they do that?’
‘Because you helped them get Jane to a safe refuge and you may be useful to them in the future.’ He snapped his fingers as something occurred to him. ‘If anything does go wrong – if for some reason we’re separated and you have to flee – go to the antiques centre. Emily and Chad will be happy to help you, I’m sure. They’ll keep you safe. And I’ll know where to find you.’
‘All right.’
He gave her a hug. ‘But that’s only the worst-case scenario. My intention is to stick to you like glue and keep you safe.’
She leaned against him and they stood for a while, not speaking, just being together. When this was over, she wanted to get to know Joss better. She wasn’t going to rush into anything, but she wasn’t going to let her experience with Steven put her off finding another partner, either. Well, even with her husband, there had been some good times in the beginning.
Her ambitions weren’t unrealistic. She wanted, had always wanted, a proper home and family, the small pleasures of daily life with someone she was fond of. Perhaps more children. Three or four even. A real family.
Was that too much to ask?
Steven continued to watch the cottage and eventually Mr Bloody Greaves came out, escorted by a tall, thin fellow. They chatted for a short time, after which the man went back inside and Greaves got into his car.
