“I don’t want to . . .”
She hushed him with a hand. “Please, allow me a moment.”
He nodded.
“This isn’t easy for me to speak about, but you’re a good boy, and I don’t want you spending your life under a misapprehension.”
He cocked his head to one side. “Like what?”
“There was never anything between your mother and Kurt except a lifelong friendship and mutual respect.”
“But the letter . . .”
“I don’t care what the letter looks like. Susan never had an affair with Kurt; it was with my husband, Jan.”
Riley’s head buzzed. His brain jumped from the delight that his mother hadn’t been involved with Kurt to the horror that she’d had a fling with his brother. “I’m sorry about that.” He wanted to kick himself for apologising. But what else could he say?
“It’s fine. It was many years ago, and I am happy with David. I don’t think it lasted long between them. Jan was frank with me. He said Susan came to her senses and said she didn’t want to wreck a marriage. I think he’d have left me if she’d given him the slightest encouragement to do so. He died months later.”
“That’s awful.”
“I’m not telling you for pity, Riley. I don’t want you thinking your mother was someone she wasn’t. There was obviously a barrier between Susan and me, but she never lied to you about Kurt. Anyway, I wanted to let you know. Take care of Chloe.”
And she left him sitting alone with his memories of his mother. The tears were silent at first, then grew in ferocity. He didn’t care. His mother deserved his grief.
◆◆◆
“Le Claire, come and join the party.” Eva Englebrook perched in a wheelchair by Rudy’s bed. She still looked pale, but a light colour highlighted her cheeks. Her voice held a croak, but she seemed to be speaking with more ease and less pain.
Rudy sat up, a bandage wrapped tightly around his head. Nils occupied the chair on his other side, and Richard Grainger perched on the window ledge.
“Thank you. Rudy, I’m glad to see you looking so well, and thank you for your statement.”
“No problem. Physically, I feel fine, apart from a major headache. It’s my mind that’s been messed with. How could I have been taken in like that?”
Eva patted his hand. “We all were. I thought she was daughter-in-law material, not a psycho. And how your father thought he’d get away with this, I have no idea.”
Nils said, “Well, he didn’t. Get away with it, that is.”
“What happens now?” Rudy asked.
“Angela will be charged with two counts of murder, two of attempted murder, plus forgery. Daria for forgery.”
Eva waved her hand in the air. “Rudy will get over this. He has a business to run.”
Rudy nodded. “Mum is going to sell the land to Harry Vautier. We’ll be able to clear a good part of the bank loan. Nils and I will spend some time in London, which will allow us to focus on the business.”
For all his bravado, Le Claire could see that Rudy was hurting. A change of scenery would do him good.
◆◆◆
Jessica chattered while eating the grapes she’d brought with her. “I never liked Angela. Who’d have thought she was such a vicious cow? Rudy had a lucky escape there. Daria surprises me; never saw her as an art forger. That’s a cracker of a black eye you’ve got.”
Chloe gingerly touched the swollen area under her right eye, wincing at the sharp pain. “I’m sure it’s not pretty.”
Jessica grinned. “You can say that again. I saw Riley in the waiting area as I came through. He was sitting alone and seemed upset. I didn’t want to intrude.”
“I’m going to stay at his place for a few days until I’m recovered.”
“Probably for the best. I wouldn’t be much use. For one, I need to find somewhere to live. I can’t stay at the manor. It’s not my world anymore. I’m going to look at flats today. I have a little something put away.”
“I can give you half of what I was left.”
“No, Chloe. That’s for you. Kurt may have ultimately proven himself to be an utter bastard where I was concerned, but he thought the world of you. Anyway, that estate won’t be getting settled anytime soon.”
“What are you up to?”
“That’s another reason I need to move out. I’m suing the estate. I’ve been to see Armstrong. He was conflicted but put me onto someone else in his firm. I was tricked; Kurt conned me. And there will be a price attached to that.”
This was none of her business. She wondered if her relationship with Rudy and Nils would survive and could only hope that it would.
“Good luck. You know I’m there if you need me.”
“You concentrate on taming Riley Jones. I’ve got to go and see a flat in half an hour.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
A man needed a variety of things at different times in his life, but right now, Le Claire had all he desired: he was home, with a cold lager and a warm wife.
Sasha grimaced as she dabbed some foul-smelling cream across his bruised torso. “Ow, that stings!”
“No pain, no gain. I can’t believe that woman became so violent. Why did you let her hit you?”
“I wasn’t going to hit a woman, even in self-defence, and Dewar more than rose to the occasion. She’s a ruffian when she gets going.”
“Good for her.”
“I’ll have to do the paperwork and tidy up some loose ends, but after that, I’m all yours. Guess I’ve been a bit distracted lately.”
“You’re always the same when you’re on a case. But it’s been more than that lately, hasn’t it?”
The sharp edge to her words had him on instant alert. “What do you mean?”
She sat back on her heels and affixed the lid to the tub of torture cream. “I went to see your mum today. I wanted to have a look at some old photos for the collage I’m thinking of making for your dad’s birthday. Your mum said she’d had a clear-out and all the old albums were in the big cupboard in your old flat.”
He froze. He knew where this was going. Damn.
“She gave me the keys, and I had a look. Got some great pictures. It made me tearful being there. That’s where we started out together. I thought I’d have a little look around. Then I remembered the other cupboard in the lounge. Thought I’d check in there. It was locked, but the key was with the others your mum gave me.”
He was tied to the tracks, helpless as the train thundered towards him.
“I opened it. You can guess what I found.”
“I can explain.”
“Let’s hear it. Why the hell are you keeping tabs on that madman? You’re fixated.”
“I need to know we’re safe from him.”
“Safe?” She stood, slammed the jar on the table, stood there, arms tight against her body as she slowly rocked. “It’s over. He got away. It won’t be the first time it’s happened. And it sure as hell won’t be the last. The punishment doesn’t always fit the crime. You are the one keeping him in our lives.”
“He called us. You spoke to him.” The words were direct, and his tone bland. He hated this piece of filth being discussed in their home.
She stilled. “When?”
“After the last big case. He called here. You answered. He said he was a friend from the Met. I also think he was the wrong number caller you recently had.”
She sank onto the sofa. “That was Chapman? Why would he do that?” He cursed the pain and fear that was in her eyes, all because of him.
“At best: to screw with me. At worst: I feared he was coming after me, after you.”
“Where is he?”
“We don’t know.”
“Who is we?”
“Gareth had an unofficial team keeping an eye on Chapman on their spare time.”
“Was Penny involved?”
“Yes, and I have to tell you that I met her in London, and she gave me an update on who’d been visiting Chapman and ra
n through the report of the surveillance.”
She looked at him but said nothing. He could almost see the workings of her mind as it whirred, considered and calculated. “I don’t mind her helping. I’m not bothered that you spoke to her. I know she is attracted to you, but I trust you. What royally pisses me off is that you didn’t tell me. You didn’t think to mention that a rapist and murderer had called my home, that I had spoken to him. You didn’t tell me you’d met with a woman who chased you for years, and you didn’t tell me we could be in danger. Thanks for that.”
“I didn’t want to frighten you. I wanted to understand the situation, consider the intel and then discuss it. I didn’t want to worry you.”
She sighed as the anger left her, and she deflated slightly. “I know, but don’t mollycoddle me. I won’t break if I must deal with something tough. We’re in this life together. Let me play my part.”
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Just don’t do it again.” She paused. “Is he a danger to us?”
“I spoke to the psychiatrist Chapman saw when he was on remand. He said Chapman needed control, that by making that call he wanted to scare us, to have me running around, worried, living in fear, while he got on with his life.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I have to, but I’ll still be prepared for the worst.”
“The new locks suddenly make sense. Are you sure we’re okay?”
“I have to remember that his victim profile doesn’t include either of us. Chapman wants young girls, giving him the ultimate power play. Even April, bless her, was on the old side for him at fifteen.”
“What a bastard. Will he ever be caught?”
“He’ll slip up. They always do. Calling us was cocky and dangerous. He’ll make a mistake one day, and when he does, I hope either Gareth or I am there.”
“I want him to go away. I never want to hear his name ever again.”
◆◆◆
Two weeks later
Online newspaper report
London
High-flying lawyer Abigail Larsen was found dead at her home in Knightsbridge last night. Miss Larsen was a successful defence lawyer, known for taking on challenging and often disturbed clients.
Miss Larsen was found by police, who were alerted when she didn’t turn up in court for her current case. Reports indicate that Miss Larsen was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. Police say their enquiries are ongoing.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Clayton lives by the sea with her husband and several cats. An avid storyteller, Kelly originally finished this book for a dear friend who was far from home but is happily now back where she belongs.
If you have enjoyed Blood In The Sand, the first in The Jack Le Claire Mystery series, please leave a review on Amazon. Kelly would be immensely grateful for your taking the time to do so.
Please also visit www.kellyclaytonbooks.com for updates on Kelly’s novels and for posts on starting, writing and finishing your novel.
Kelly is also a founder and director of the multiple award-winning MyVLF, the world’s first online global literary festival. My Virtual Literary Festival is dedicated to connecting readers and authors. In addition to several annual festivals, this online venue provides a welcoming space to watch author talks, browse the bookshelves, catch-up on the latest book news, and download the free monthly book group read. Find out more at MyVLF.com here.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As usual, there are many people to whom I owe a debt of thanks in getting my stories into the world.
Jennifer Quinlan (Jenny Q of Historical Editorial) is a development and copy-editor extraordinaire and goes the extra mile in everything she does. Jenny really cares, and it shows. Jenny also designed the cover for Blood Rights, and I love it.
Thank you to Claire and Kath for their detailed beta reads.
Much gratitude to my fellow Blonde Plotters, Gwyn GB and Deborah Carr, for their final read-throughs of Blood Rights, and for the strength of their friendship and support.
Susan Hampson and Louise Unsworth-Murphy won the right in charity auctions to each name a character in this book. Louise appears, with Susan choosing the name of Riley Jones. Names truly bring a character to life, and I thank you both for your generosity.
Finally, to Grant, Drena and Clem. Thank you. For everything.
Blood Rights (A Jack Le Claire Mystery) Page 29
