‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m not going to be bought off any more than you were.’
‘Not even tempted?’
‘Of course I am, they’ve done their homework and tailored an offer specially to tempt me. You said they’d try to put the fix in on me, if they failed with you and you were right. But they underestimate me, I’ve got my teeth into the Miller story and I’m not letting go now. I’ll phone the MD tomorrow and tell him I’d prefer the Madrid job, that’ll buy some time.’
‘You sure? You’d be able to see James almost every day, I thought you missed him.’
‘I do, but I’m not going to let you down, enough people have done that recently.’
‘Hey, don’t lay it all on me. I fully understand if you want to take up the offer.’
‘No. I told you, my mind is made up. End of conversation.’
We returned to the pile of papers on the desk. Many still did not make much sense to me. Lisa continued to scrutinise the sheets pertaining to Aylmer’s financial affairs. I idly looked through the list I had made the pervious day.
‘What was the name of the company that Matt said owned The Gables Nursing Home?’ She referred to her notes.
‘Erm…Lambton Medical Group, yes that’s it.’ I ringed a name on my paper and passed it to her. She read it.
‘The Gables is owned by Lambton Medical and Aylmer owns Lambton. He owned the nursing home where Lisl Miller finished her days. The first time we’ve had a direct link between our Miller story and Aylmer.’
‘Coincidence does happen, that’s why we have a word for it.’
‘Do me a favour! There are just too many coincidences here for it to be mere coincidence.’
‘‘You could be right. Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. – Ian Fleming. I can quote authors too!’
Satisfied with our discovery, we adjourned to the pub. At 10.00 P.M. we strolled back down Victoria Park Road arm in arm in the warm night air. When we got back to the flat, there was a voicemail on Lisa’s mobile phone. It was Matt.
‘I got the information you wanted. I’ll call you back tomorrow morning, I’m going out with Charlotte and her parents; I’ll get back to you tomorrow.’
‘It’s too late to phone him now.’ I said
‘And we wouldn’t want to upset his in-laws!’ Lisa laughed.
‘Speaking of in-laws, how do you get on with James’ parents?’ Lisa coloured.
‘His Dad’s sweet…’
‘The cleavage?’ I suggested.
‘No, that’d be gross. I think he does have a weakness for a pretty face though.’
‘And the mother?’
‘Bit of a different case, I’m not sure she thinks I’m good enough for her little boy.’
‘Nothing new there then, most mothers feel that. Jane has the same reservations about Rob’s girlfriend.’
It was the first time I had thought of Jane that day and I was suddenly overwhelmed by the sense of loss. Lisa must have been able to read it on my face.
‘Still hurts to talk about her?’
‘Am I that obvious?’
‘I’m just getting used to reading the signs, that’s all.’
‘Sorry to be such a wet blanket, it must be a drag when I keep getting maudlin.’
‘Don’t be stupid Ian. You’ve been going through a life changing experience; of course you’re going to take a while to get used to it. Dad said it’s like bereavement and it takes at least two years to get through it.’
‘Maybe I should have a drink with your dad when I get back to Suffolk. Perhaps he can give me some tips on how you survive divorce.’
‘Dad’s more than survived, he and Nicola, my step mum are really happy. I’m sure in time you can get there too. You’ve got too much to offer for some woman not to sweep you up.’
‘No way. I’m never going to put myself through this again. I think my trust in women has been fatally damaged. Present company excepted.’
‘You’ll see, some woman will see you and won’t give you a choice.’
‘Huh, not in this life. Christ, I really am starting to sound cynical and bitter.’
‘You always were cynical. It comes from being a teacher for all those years.’
‘Yeah, you’re right, it’s an occupational hazard.’
‘Come on let’s call it a day. Goodnight.’ She reached up and kissed me on the cheek.
‘I climbed into bed and tried to sleep, but images of Jane and a future without her swam before my eyes and invaded my dreams once I managed to fall asleep.’
Chapter 20
The next day dawned bright and sunny, which was more than I felt. In the words of my old mother, I felt like a piece of chewed string. A unsavoury description, but in this circumstance, an accurate one. I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror; I looked bleary-eyed and more haggard than ever, I was losing weight, partly because my appetite was suppressed by my emotional state and partly all the exercise I had been getting, trying to keep up with an active twenty something. Still, I had been carrying an extra stone and a half, so I was probably more healthy than I had been. Every cloud has a silver lining, though it was not an adage I subscribed to.
Having showered and shaved, I entered the sitting room, feeling more human than I had earlier. Lisa was sitting at the table with toast and orange juice before her.
‘Want some?’
‘It’s okay, I’ll get it myself; you eat your breakfast.’
I was just eating my second piece of toast, when Lisa’s phone rang; it was Matt, wanting to meet us at the usual coffee shop in an hour. Lisa thought he sounded worried. At the coffee house, Francesca once more waved us into a corner booth in the back of the shop. Matt was sitting there waiting anxiously. He appeared to be jumpy and stressed.
‘I’ve got the information you want, but you need to be very careful what you do with it.’ He stated without any preamble.
‘Are you okay Matt?’ Lisa enquired.
‘I will be as soon as I can pass this on and get back to normality. The bill you asked about, Lisl Miller was paid by a private company Chabot UK Investments Ltd, whoever they are. But that’s not why I’m so worried. After I got that message, I took more care. I changed my internet access to a new address and hence a new IP address I got in through the backdoor I found and out again with the information, without leaving any trace of my being there, or so I thought. On my way to work this morning, I passed along the road where I pirated the original internet access. As I passed the place where I parked, and remember, most wi-fi systems have a range of a maximum of 300 feet; there was a car, a Ford Focus, parked at the side of the road that had been absolutely trashed. The police were there and the owners were looking distraught. I think it’s the costly repercussions the message warned me about. I think I might be responsible for the damage that was done, simply because I pirated their internet access.’
‘Are you sure it was the same place?’
‘Absolutely, I know where I parked and it must have been close to the router because the signal was so strong. The wrecked car was just a few metres from where I had parked. What have you two got yourselves into?’
‘We think that Sir Gerald Aylmer is behind the obstacles that have been put in the way of our research.’ I told him.
‘Aylmer? I’ve had some dealings with his companies, he’s a hard-nosed bastard, but I wouldn’t think this was his style. He sails close to the edge of the law, but always within it. I don’t see gratuitous violence as his style, he would use his financial weight against you; if you pissed him off, he would lean on your employers to get you fired, have you blacklisted, or transferred to Milton Keynes, he wouldn’t have your car wrecked. He’s not the Godfather for god’s sake! No, you’ve pissed off someone entirely different, someone far more dangerous.’
‘He seems to have links to some seriously nasty characters. Thanks for all your efforts Matt, but you must now go back to your life and forget e
verything you’ve done for us. You’ll be okay if you do.’
‘What about you two?’
‘I suspect we’re in too deep to get out from under this now, our only choices are to give it all up, which might still be risky, or get to the bottom of what’s really going on and use it against our unknown enemy.’
‘Then I wish you luck. I’m off back to the States tomorrow; I’ll be there for a few weeks; that should keep me out of harm’s way. The invitation still stands, to the wedding I mean, if you survive that long. Please, take care. I’ve already paid Francesca for your coffees, so stay and enjoy them. I’ll be seeing you.’ With that he got up and left the café. Lisa and I sat drinking the cappuccinos that Francesca delivered to our table.
‘Do you really think he’s right, or is he exaggerating?’ Lisa asked.
‘One too many coincidences for my liking. We’re getting into something murky here. Do we shut it all down, or go on.’
‘Which do you think is safer?’
‘I really don’t know. My instinct is to covertly get to the bottom of all this and use it as a lever against whoever to get him to leave us alone.’
‘Sounds good to me.’
‘You sure?’
‘If you are, I got you into this; I’m not ratting out on you now.’
‘Okay, we need to find out about Chabot UK Investments, who paid for Lisl and why they were so secretive about it.’
‘Okay, give me a minute.’ She pulled out her laptop and began to search the internet. ‘There’s not much here. It did exist until 1982, when it closed down.’
‘Got an address?’
‘Not much of one, Marlow, Bucks, is all I can find…. No hang on, here it is. 24C, Spittal Street, Marlow.’
‘Shut up shop in 1982?’
‘Right.’
‘Shortly after Lisl Miller died. This company could have been set up precisely to hide who was paying her bills.’
‘It could be. But how do we find out who owned a defunct company from 1982?’She mused.
‘I hope that was a rhetorical question, because that’s your area, not mine, I don’t have a clue.’
‘Look, let’s go back to the flat, we’ve still got several hours’ worth of company documents to sift through.’
At the flat, we sat at the table examining the photocopies. After half an hour, my poor night’s sleep began to catch up with me. It became more and more difficult to keep my eyes open and my concentration was gone.
‘Do you mind if I leave you to it for a while? I had a crap night’s sleep and I can barely keep my eyes open, I could do with a sleep.’
‘No problem, be my guest. It’ll be easier to concentrate on the papers without you fidgeting because you’re so bored.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be; go have your sleep and come back refreshed and more focused.’
I lay on the bed and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, Lisa was standing over me shaking my shoulder.
‘Ian…Ian, are you awake?’
‘Uh…I am now. How long have I been asleep?’
‘About an hour; sorry to wake you, but I’ve found something.’
‘What?’
‘I was going through the Articles of Incorporation for Aylmer Enterprises and guess who was the parent company? Chabot UK Investments!’
‘The same people who paid Lisl’s care bills?’
‘The very same.’
‘So it looks like Aylmer was paying for the home?
‘ It’s a working hypothesis, but we’d have to find out who the hell Chabot UK Investments were’
‘That’s a good question, and not one that I can answer at the moment.’
Our speculation was interrupted by the ringing of my mobile phone. I was tempted to ignore it when I saw Jane’s image appear on the screen showing the caller. At the last minute I repented and took the call.
‘Hello Jane, what can I do for you?’
‘Ian, I went to the house today and we’ve been broken into again.’ I ignored the ‘we’, there was no ‘we’ where Jane and I were concerned anymore. ‘The place has been …wrecked, absolutely trashed.’ She was close to tears. ‘This wouldn’t be happening if you were at home.’
‘So you don’t want to be married to me, but I’m supposed to just stay at home like some caretaker?’
‘There’s no need for you to be like that.’
‘Okay…I’m on my way home. What do the police say?’
‘They think it’s vandals, probably the same ones that broke in before.’
‘Mmmm they would do. I’ll be with you in a couple of hours. Meet me at the house.’
‘Trouble? Lisa enquired.
‘You could say that, I’ve been burgled again and this time they’ve gone out of their way to cause as much damage as possible. I’ve got to go home, at least for a while. If you’re right, it looks as if Storm 45 have been active again.’
‘I’ll come with you; I can stay at Dad’s.’
‘Good idea. I didn’t like the idea of you being alone here, if I was away overnight.’
‘You think this is the same as the car Matt saw?’
‘Don’t you? I turn down the assignment that would have kept me out of the way; lo and behold my home is broken into again.’
‘I think I’ll take all our research with us, just in case the same happens here.’ ‘Good idea. You might want to leave the lights on so it looks as if someone is in.’
Once more I found myself driving at speed up the M11 towards home; a home that had been violated, for the second time this month. I dropped Lisa off at her father’s, she had wanted to accompany me and help, but I dissuaded her, her presence would only have made my dealing with Jane more difficult. Jane was waiting in her car on the drive.
‘Ian, what’s going on? This is rural Suffolk, not inner-city Manchester. I can’t believe it that we’ve been broken into again.’
‘How bad is it?’
‘Go see for yourself.’
I opened the front door. In the hall the drawers had been emptied out and the chest overturned. I went into the lounge. It was worse. The sofa had been slashed and the stuffing pulled out, the stereo lay on the floor smashed and the entire television console had been overturned. Lamps had been smashed and the pieces ground into the carpet. The surfaces were covered with a grey powder, where the police had been searching for fingerprints. My heart sank, this was the death of my home; I had been expecting it later rather than sooner and certainly not in this way. I looked at Jane who was watching from the doorway.
‘Is the rest of the house like this?’ She nodded. ‘You want me to stay and help clear up?’
‘No. the police need to take photographs and the insurance company need to inspect the damage. They’ll also send in a contractor to clear up. Ian, why are you way so much? This would not have happened, if you had been home.’
‘Nor if you had been.’
‘Stop it! You can’t blame me, I’m not the one gallivanting about in London with that Mann girl. You’ve always had a thing about her and now you’re shacked up with a girl young enough to be your daughter.’
‘Let me guess, you’ve been talking to Lucy.’
She nodded.
‘Well it’s not really your business any more, you left me remember. But for your information my relationship with Lisa is a professional one. I’ve been acting as an historical advisor for a documentary she’s been researching and that’s all, end of story.’
‘I’m sorry.’ She said. ‘I’m upset at what’s happened to the home we built.’
‘You walked out on it.’
‘Ian, don’t be like that, please. I had to do what I did; our marriage was killing me slowly. I told you, still love you, but I’m not in love with you. If anyone tried to hurt you, I’d kill them.’
‘Except you’re the one who hurt me most.’
‘I know and I’m sorry, if there had been another way to do it, one that didn’t hurt you, I’d have taken it…
. honestly.’
‘I know Jane. I know that you wouldn’t hurt me needlessly. It just doesn’t make it any easier.’
‘Let’s not get involved in recriminations; I do want our split to be amicable.’
‘What do you need me to do?’
‘Sign these forms for the insurance claim and I can get things underway.’ I pulled out a pen and signed in the appropriate places.
‘That it?’
‘Yes, for now. I’ll take them and get them in the post.’
‘Do you need me to stay around?’
‘No, not really, you can’t stay here, the police want to keep the place closed up.’
‘Okay, I’ll just pick up some clean clothes and I’ll go. You can go; I’ll lock up, for what it’s worth.’
‘Okay, goodbye Ian.’ She turned to leave then seemed to change her mind and turned back. ‘Ian, I really hope that you’ll find someone else. I don’t want you to be alone.’
My eyes filled with tears and I turned away not wanting her to see.
‘Maybe, one day. See you.’
‘Goodbye Ian.’ This time she did leave, again.
I made my way upstairs, stepping carefully over the debris scattered liberally over the treads. If anything, the mess in the bedroom was worse than downstairs. I retrieved some clean shirts and underwear that the intruders had omitted to throw around and sadly walked downstairs. I picked up the telephone from where it had been cast on the floor. On a whim I dialled 1571 to pick up my voice messages.
‘You have one new message.’ The mechanical voice intoned. ‘Message one. Thursday 24th July, 01.07 hours.’ There was a slight pause then a culture male voice said.
‘You should have taken the job offered. Don’t be stubborn Mr West, please reconsider your decision, or at least abandon your current enterprise.’
The mechanical voice cut in once more.
‘To repeat the message press one, to...’ I hung up cutting off the rest. Now I had the proof, the destruction of my home was retaliation for my having rejected the offer of Cummings’ client, who I was now convinced was Aylmer.
Nothing left to lose Page 15
