“You think?” Bea raised her eyebrows but not her hopes at the thought. “I suppose I was caught up with the wedding and little Miss here having just been born.” She held back from mentioning how hard it had been trying to appear to enjoy the wedding when she’d been grieving for Aunt Annabel during the day.
Shani shook her head. “Nope, I don’t. You’re just going to have to face the little shit in court. And hope for the best.”
Bea made a few more notes to her already lengthy list of points she hoped to bring up at the hearing and, unable to eat the bacon baguette Shani had cooked for her, tore off a small bit from the meat and fed it to Flea. “At least by this afternoon I should know whether or not I’ll be keeping my home.”
Shani placed her free hand on Bea’s shoulder. “Whatever happens today you mustn’t worry about what Annabel wanted for you. She loved this place and her garden, but above all she loved you and you would have been the most important thing that would worry her. So, whatever happens, we’ll deal with it and I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Bea sniffed back the tears. “Thanks, Shan. I know she would only want the best for me, but I’m also aware how much this place meant to her, and to me, if I’m honest. My whole life the only constant thing has been coming here. I don’t know how I’d bear to sell it.”
Bea swatted away a fly with her folder. “I suppose I’d better get moving if I’m to meet Tom. He wants to chat to me before the others get to the office and I don’t want to be late for my own hearing.”
“Best of luck with court.” Shani gave her a one-armed hug, waking Poppy who immediately began to cry. “Are you sure you don’t want me there? I could always ask Mum to look after Pops for a couple of hours.”
Bea shook her head. This was something she needed to do without any worries about concerned interference from her friends. “No, I’ll be fine. One way or another I’m going to be okay. I promise I’ll phone you as soon as I know anything.”
Bea parked the car in the closest space she could find to the office and stepped out, pressing it to lock as she hurried through the car park. She could have done without having to come here, she thought as she waited at the side of the road for the lights to change, but if it was confirmed that Tom was involved with Luke’s partner in something illegal, she would feel implicated, too. She worked closely with Tom. Chris and Luke weren’t clients of hers, she thought with relief, but she surely should have picked up some suspicious behaviour if Tom had been involved in some way? The lights finally changed, and Bea stepped out into the road.
“Bea, wait.”
She stopped instantly at the urgency in Luke’s tone and moved back onto the pavement, uncaring that the driver in the stopped car looked at her as if she was a little nuts. “What are you doing here?” she shouted, as Luke ran up to her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to nearly get you run over, but when Shani told me you were going to meet Tom, I had to stop you.” He stood in front of her, bent over, his hands on his thighs as he recovered from the exertion of running to her. “I called your house, but you’d already left,” he panted. “You can’t go in there.”
Bea frowned. “Yes, I can.”
“No, Tom is going to be arrested.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but he’s involved in whatever Chris has been doing and they’ve now got enough evidence to arrest him.”
Bea felt sick. “Seriously?” She suddenly suspected that Tom wouldn’t care if she’d been caught helping him. What the hell had he been going to ask of her? “I can’t believe Tom would want to implicate me in all of this,” she said, aware even she didn’t believe what she was now saying. “Do you think that’s what he wanted to do?”
Luke shrugged. “Who knows? I should think he was desperate for someone to help him.” He stared at her silently for a minute. “And you’re probably the obvious one to ask, working so closely to him and sharing a history together. I’m so sorry, Bea. I know this must be hard for you.”
They both looked up as two police cars came around the corner and parked outside the office. Bea gasped. If Luke hadn’t stopped her when he did, she’d be in there now. “Come here,” he murmured, taking her into his arms and holding her tightly. “I’m so sorry, Bea,” he repeated.
She put her arms around him, enjoying the comforting hug. “I can’t believe he’d expect me to go along with something like that. The very first thing we’re trained to do is look out for cases where people might be laundering, although I’ve never experienced anyone actually doing it, until now.” She looked up at Luke. “He knew he’d get caught eventually, surely? This island is so hot on this sort of thing; they have to be.”
“True, but who knows what happened to make him do this.”
Bea stepped away from him. “But what about you? Chris was your business partner.” If Tom was involved in all this, what about Luke? She’d seen the papers with her own eyes telling her of the investigation into his business dealings. Was this just some con to make her believe he was innocent, when in fact it was Tom? Bea stared at him, trying to figure out who she could trust.
“You think I’m involved in all this, too?” He narrowed his eyes, then widened them as a thought came to him. “You actually suspect that I’m the one who’s involved in all this, don’t you?”
Even now she couldn’t tell him about the paperwork Tom had shown her. “I’m trying to be logical. Both you and Tom suspect your business partner of being involved in money laundering activities. Tom has, um...” Damn, she wasn’t allowed to say what she desperately needed to.
“Tom has shown you proof, is that it?” He glared at her. “So, you now think that I’m here to twist your mind into helping me cover up for my involvement?”
Bea didn’t know what to think. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers, trying to ease the headache that was seeping through her brain. Tom. Luke. Both could be involved in one way or another, purely by their association with Chris. Both were clever enough. Tom had shown her proof, but she looked across at Luke, trying to gauge if she could trust him or not, and the hurt in his expression told her that he hadn’t expected her to react in this way.
“I’m sorry, Luke, but I can’t talk to you about this.” He looked aghast at her and she hated herself for what she was saying to him, but she had no choice. “I really want to, believe me, but legally I can’t.”
He looked stunned and raised his hands before dropping them back down to his sides again. “Okay, I understand, I think, but please do one thing for me, whatever you think me capable of.”
“What’s that?” Bea waited for him to speak, wishing more than anything that she worked in some other profession and that she’d never heard of money laundering before.
“Do not go into that office. If you trust nothing else I’ve said to you, please do as I ask just this once. You can call Tom later. If I’ve lied to you about him being arrested this morning, then he’ll still be around for you to chat to later; if he’s not, then you know I was telling the truth.”
****
“You’re quite clear what’s going to happen?” her lawyer asked her for at least the third time since they’d arrived at the Royal Court.
“Yes, I’m going to leave all the talking to you, unless they allow me to ask one or two questions.”
“That’s correct.” He glanced down at the buff folder in his hand and pushed his round, tortoise-shell glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I put in a request for you to speak when we filed the papers a couple of days ago, but if the judge does ask you to speak, you must ensure you keep to the point. Be clear and do not bring emotions into it at all. Your emotions are not a factor in a court of law. The legal points are all that matter and whether or not the judge believes your ex-husband should be awarded half the value of the house or not.”
Bea sighed. “Yes, I understand. No emotions.”
“Easier said than done, don’t you think?” Luke walked up behind her and Bea turned to find him looking down at her.
&
nbsp; Her stomach did a flip and for a second or two she forgot her nerves. “What are you doing here?” she asked, guiltily recalling their conversation earlier that morning.
“It’s my hearing today.”
Bea nodded, not sure how to react. “Ahh.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been thinking since we spoke earlier. Tom told you they were investigating me, didn’t they?” Bea shrugged. He looked relieved. “I suspected there was something holding you back whenever we,” he hesitated and looked to see whether or not the lawyer was in hearing distance, “saw each other and I know it took a while for me to twig, but when my lawyer showed me some of the paperwork with Tom’s signature on it, I realised he was involved in the reporting of the case and the reason why I’m here today.”
“Tom reported it? He never said.” Bea clenched her teeth together to stop from saying something she shouldn’t in the hallowed corridors of the Victorian Royal Court building. “Why would he do that if he was implicated?”
“Who knows?” Luke shrugged. “Hey, don’t be too angry, he was proved to be right about my partner. However, Tom hoped that by implicating me to the authorities he was providing himself with a smoke screen. What he didn’t realise was that I’ve been waiting for Chris to attempt to return to the island, or trip up in some way, so that he can be prosecuted, and I can maybe get back some of the money he embezzled from me.”
A door closed loudly behind Bea and she recognised Simon’s clipped tone. She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds to steady her temper. Luke glanced over her shoulder, his expression not altering and took hold of her hand. “It’s going to be one hell of a morning for both of us, don’t you think?”
Bea forced a smile. “You’re not kidding,” she said, determined to ignore Simon until necessary inside the court room. Bea couldn’t believe he appeared so relaxed. Here she was almost sick with fear that she’d be forced to sell her home, when Luke was up against a probable jail sentence. “I don’t think I’d be as calm as you in your position.”
“They’re only going to decide whether there’s a case to be held, nothing more today, thankfully.” He sighed and bent his head down a little, lowering his voice, “And I’m not as calm as I probably seem.”
Simon walked over and stood next to them. “Beatrice,” he said ignoring Luke, who Bea noticed seemed amused by the arrogant behaviour, but didn’t leave them alone which she was sure was Simon’s intention.
“So, you decided not to accept my offer then?” Bea said.
Simon’s eyebrows knitted together. “I hardly call expecting me to hand over what’s legally mine without recompense a reasonable offer, and I certainly have no intention of being forced by you, or by Claire, into doing something that stupid.” He shook his head and looked at Luke. “Watch yourself with this one she’s got more of a sting than you’d think. She might look all sweet and angelic, but she can stand up for herself with the best of them.”
“I’ve worked that out for myself,” Luke said, giving Bea a cheeky wink to show there were no hard feelings between them. She relaxed a little. “I’m glad Bea won’t allow anyone to bully her.”
“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” Simon sniggered. “Good luck to you, mate, she’ll turn on you one day, too.”
“If she does, I suspect it’ll be my own fault.” Luke shook his head as Simon walked away. “What a jerk.”
Bea shrugged. “He is a bit of an arse, isn’t he?” She giggled. “I listen to him and sometimes can’t believe I ever thought I was in love with him.” She couldn’t even imagine being married to him now, even so short a time after their split. It was like remembering a film she’d watched, rather than her own life.
“Mr Thornton, we need to go through now.” Luke nodded towards his lawyer. “I’d better be off.” He gave Bea a quick hug. “Good luck, Bea. I hope the judge comes up with the right verdict for you.”
“You, too,” she said, holding him tightly for a moment, trying to take a little resolve from his bravery. “And I’m sorry I was so awkward with you. I had to watch what I said when I saw you in case I somehow tipped you off that you were under investigation.”
Luke smiled. “Don’t worry. My advocate explained that you could have got up to fifteen years in prison for something like that, and in your position, I’d also keep my mouth shut.”
“Tom obviously showed me the paperwork about you being reported to keep me off the scent of what was going on with him and Chris.”
“I suppose so. He must have known that if you suspected me, then you’d keep away from me and therefore anything I might accidentally say to you that could make you suspicious of him and Chris’s activities.”
“I still find it hard to believe he could be so sly.”
“He certainly is that, but at least you now believe me.”
Bea nodded. “I’m being summonsed,” she said spotting her advocate waving her over. “Bye then and good luck in there.”
Luke nodded. “You too,” he said before walking calmly towards the main court room where the magistrate would hear his case. She took a deep breath and entered the wood-panelled smaller court room ready to face Simon and her own future.
Bea sat impatiently, waiting for the procedures to be read through and the French swearing in to be announced by the Greffier, and couldn’t help thinking how smart and dignified the tall, blond officer of the court seemed as he carried out his duty. Resolving to follow his example, she folded her hands in her lap and listened as each different case was heard. Eventually, it was her turn. Her advocate stood up and, referring to the papers he’d filed with the court, began his reasoning why Simon should not be awarded half the value of The Brae.
When Simon’s advocate had finished, the judge addressed Bea. “You have expressed a wish to speak, Ms Philips.”
“Thank you, yes.” Bea took a deep breath to steady her nerves and, in an effort to stop her voice from wavering, more from anger with Simon than nerves. “I understand that because I was still married to my ex-husband when my aunt died and left me The Brae that it was considered a matrimonial asset, but I’m making a request for the court to consider my aunt’s wishes for her home when the decision is made.”
He looked down at his notes for a moment. “I believe that your aunt, Mrs Annabel Juarez had booked an appointment with her lawyer and you assume that this was to change her will.”
Bea nodded. She could almost feel Simon’s irritation at her daring to speak, but didn’t care. She owed it to Aunt Annabel to fight her case as strongly as she could. “I’m certain of it. The day after my aunt discovered Simon’s, I mean Advocate Porter’s association with Claire Browning, she told me that she was going to put a clause in her will to ensure he didn’t benefit in any way from her will at her death.” Bea’s voice cracked at the memory of her aunt’s anger and lack of suspicion that she would die within three days of the conversation.
The judge looked across at Simon and studied him for a moment. Bea wondered if he knew Simon. After all, Simon was an advocate and no doubt represented his own clients in front of this same judge. Bea willed herself to remain positive.
“Yes, the whole situation is very unfortunate.” He turned to whisper something to his Greffier, who nodded and handed him a sheet of paper. He spoke to Bea once again after reading it. “I’m advised by your aunt’s lawyer that she did indeed arrange the meeting, that they did have a conversation on the telephone prior to that meeting where she advised him of her intentions towards Advocate Porter and according to your papers, despite your best attempts to raise the value of half your property, known as The Brae, you’ve been unable to do so.”
Bea didn’t dare move. She concentrated on breathing, aware that she was gripping a little too tightly on the wooden partition in front of her.
“You have, however, been able to raise a figure amounting to a little under one third of the value of the property through a mortgage. Considering all that I’ve heard today, I’m going to award Advocate Porter the v
alue of one third of the property. I realise you will still have to fund a further ten thousand pounds to meet the required amount I am awarding to him, but feel that one third is the fair amount in this case.”
Bea wasn’t sure if she’d heard correctly. She’d managed to keep her house. She didn’t have to sell. Simon’s angry whispers to his legal counsel echoed across to her, but she took a deep breath, relieved, but still not quite able to believe that she’d won her case. It wasn’t an outright win, but she still had her house and could find the means to buy Simon out. “Thank you very much.”
She turned to her advocate and shook his hand. She’d done it. The Greffier announced the following case. Bea sat down on the leather seat and lowered her head in her hands, just about managing to stifle her laughter. She could stay at The Brae. She hadn’t let Aunt Annabel down after all.
Her excitement died down slightly. She sat up straight, composing herself once again. She wondered how Luke was getting on in the next-door courtroom.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Eleventh of May - Secret Garden
Since Tom’s arrest, Bea had been to the police station to give her statement and now had nothing else to do. She still couldn’t get over Tom’s involvement. Bea cringed at the memory of her not trusting Luke enough to believe him the previous morning. Bloody Tom had a lot to answer for. Then again, as much as she felt for Luke she knew she must remember he was seeing someone else and that was something she couldn’t do anything about.
Mr Peters had assured her when she’d phoned him after the court hearing to give him the good news that he hadn’t changed his mind and that she could have the money to pay off most of her debt to Simon. Bea didn’t mind about still needing to locate another ten thousand pounds to completely cover what she owed him; she’d worry about that tomorrow. She didn’t care that she’d probably be broke for years. The main thing was that she’d managed to keep her house and Annabel’s pride and joy. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I did it,” she whispered. “You knew I could, didn’t you?”
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 30
