The Charmer

by Mandasue Heller

  ‘By who?’ Maria was confused. ‘I thought only you or I had access to it.’

  ‘So did I,’ Nigel intoned grimly. ‘But it would appear not. It seems . . .’ Pausing, he put his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together in front of his mouth. He really didn’t want to say the next thing he had to say. It would break her heart if she’d had no prior knowledge of it – which she obviously hadn’t.

  ‘Nigel, could you please just tell me?’ Maria said, forcing the words out steadily despite her pounding heart. It was obvious from the way he was acting that she wasn’t going to like what she heard, but she’d rather know – no matter how bad it was.

  ‘It seems,’ Nigel continued, ‘that an account was opened in the name of Joel Parry. Then, once the funds were safely transferred, that account was cleared out and closed down.’

  ‘But I don’t understand,’ Maria said, her face growing ever paler. ‘I never signed anything over to him. I never knew anything about it. How much was it?’

  ‘Two hundred thousand,’ Nigel told her quietly.

  ‘But I didn’t know,’ Maria repeated. ‘How could he have been able to do any of that without me being there?’

  ‘He’d have to have had all the relevant information at hand to organise it,’ Nigel told her unhappily. ‘Has he had access to your paperwork?’

  Maria nodded slowly, her mind flicking back to when they had first got together and Joel had sat down with her to ‘help’ her through the maze.

  ‘But he still would have needed me to sign things, wouldn’t he? It can’t be that easy.’

  ‘No, it’s not,’ Nigel told her. ‘But if you didn’t sign, he must have forged your signature. I haven’t looked into it fully yet because I needed to make sure that you hadn’t authorised it and forgotten to mention it to me. Not that you’d have to,’ he added quickly. ‘But it helps to keep on top of things if I’m kept fully up to date. You have so many different investment accounts, it’s actually quite terrifying to think what could happen.’

  ‘Oh, my God,’ Maria said, her voice barely audible. ‘What about the rest of them?’

  ‘I’m afraid I didn’t even think to check,’ Nigel admitted. ‘I just wanted to know if you were aware of this.’

  ‘So he could have completely wiped me out?’ The fear was stark in Maria’s eyes now. ‘Everything could be gone – and I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, because the account was opened with my apparent say-so.’

  Nigel inhaled slowly and deeply. Much as he’d have liked to reassure her to the contrary, there was every chance that she was right. It would be incredibly difficult to force the bank to repay this money, because Joel would have had all the specific and confidential details that were needed to complete such a transaction.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, feeling utterly helpless to ease her distress. ‘This is probably no consolation, but there are several investments that are nowhere near maturity, so they’ll be quite safe.’

  ‘Can you make sure they stay safe?’ Maria asked. ‘Please, Nigel, I couldn’t bear it if I lost everything.’

  ‘I’ll start investigating at the end of business tomorrow,’ Nigel assured her. ‘I’ll do whatever I can, believe me.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Maria murmured numbly. Then, swiping at a tear that was trickling down her cheek, she said, ‘I can’t believe he’d do something like this to me. I trusted him. I even made my bank account joint so he would know I was committed.’ Chin wobbling now, she bit down hard on her bottom lip. ‘How could he do it? He’s supposed to love me. He said he wants to marry me and have children.’

  She was sobbing softly now, the tears streaking her face. Her eyes were so full of anguish that Nigel could have wept with her.

  ‘There is a possibility that it wasn’t him,’ he said gently, wanting to erase the pain, or at least soften it. ‘Like you said, he loves you. This could have been done over the internet, or anything.’

  Maria shook her head. ‘No, it was him. And it’s my own fault, because I’ve been a fool. Beth said he was after the money from the start, and I didn’t believe her. But it’s not just that.’ She gazed up at him forlornly. ‘He was away last week, and when he came back tonight . . .’

  Listening as she told him what had happened with the phone call, and the explicit text message, and how Joel had given that ridiculous explanation before accusing her of spying on him, Nigel felt incredibly sad. And mad at Joel. How could the man treat her so badly? Didn’t he realise that the money, the house, the investments, meant nothing without this beautiful, generous, loving woman? Joel must be insane to risk losing her for the sake of money.

  But if Joel thought it would go undiscovered while he skimmed the cream off the rest of her accounts, he had another think coming. Nigel would spend however long it took to investigate this. And the moment he had proof that Joel was involved, he would go straight to the police and make sure that the man paid for it – in prison time, if not with money.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ he asked when Maria was all cried out.

  ‘I don’t know.’ She shrugged. ‘Kick him out when he gets back, for a start. After that . . . I just don’t know.’

  ‘Well, if I can be of any help, you know where I am,’ Nigel said. ‘You can reach me on my mobile at any time. Please don’t hesitate to call – I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night. If you need me, call. Okay?’

  ‘Okay,’ Maria agreed, smiling gratefully. ‘Thanks so much for telling me, Nigel. I dread to think what he might have done if I hadn’t found out.’

  Gathering his things together to go, Nigel looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Can I give you a little advice?’

  ‘Yeah, course,’ she said, wiping her nose.

  ‘Try not to mention any of this to Joel until I have the proof one way or the other. I’d hate for him to be alerted and cover his tracks.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Maria assured him.

  They both jumped at the sound of a key in the lock.

  ‘It’s me,’ Joel called, as if nothing had ever happened. ‘I can’t stay, ’cos I’ve just had a call, but I wanted to sort—’ Stopping in his tracks when he saw Maria and Nigel sitting on the couch, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

  Pulling herself together with lightning speed, Maria got up and went to him.

  ‘Are they for me?’ she asked, reaching for the flowers he was holding.

  ‘Er, yeah,’ he muttered, still eyeing Nigel.

  ‘Thank you, they’re beautiful,’ she said, reaching up to kiss him. ‘You remember Nigel . . . He’s just popped in to get me to sign something.’

  Patting his briefcase, Nigel smiled nervously and stood up.

  ‘Yes, well, I’ve got what I needed, so I’ll get out of your way.’

  ‘I’ll show you out,’ Maria said innocently.

  Joel was scowling when she came back. ‘What was all that about?’ he demanded.

  ‘I told you,’ she said, carrying the flowers through to the kitchen to put them in water. ‘He had something for me to sign.’

  ‘What was it?’ Joel followed her.

  ‘Just some paperwork,’ Maria said, willing him to leave it alone. She couldn’t tell him it was for the accounts, because then he’d know they were on to him. ‘Are these for before?’ she asked, giving him a shy smile. ‘I am really sorry about that.’

  ‘Don’t try and change the subject,’ Joel snarled. ‘And don’t fucking lie to me!’ He’d had a snort on his way back from Lance’s and his instincts were razor sharp. She’d been up to something with that gimpy solicitor, he knew it.

  Unnerved by the manic look in his eyes, Maria backed up against the sink and held the flowers tightly, as if they were a barrier.

  ‘You’re still mad at me about the phone, aren’t you?’ she said contritely. ‘I said I was sorry about that.’

  ‘I don’t give a flying fuck about the phone,’ Joel yelled. ‘I want to know what you’ve been up to with your fucking friend Nigel!’


  ‘Don’t swear at me!’ Maria yelled back. ‘I hate it when you talk like that. I haven’t done anything wrong!’

  ‘Oh, no? So how come he was here the minute I went fucking out? What did you do? Ring him to tell him what a bad boy I’ve been?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

  ‘Don’t fucking call me ridiculous, you stuck-up bitch!’ Rushing towards her, Joel snatched the flowers and threw them to the floor. Stamping on them, he glared at her, grinding his teeth. ‘Were you about to jump into bed with him? Did I disturb you? Is that why you were acting all fucking nice?’

  ‘How dare you,’ Maria spat, anger overriding her fear now. ‘Who the hell do you think you are? Accusing me of messing around behind your back! It’s not me who’s getting messages from other people.’

  ‘No, you just bring them to my fucking BED!’ Joel roared indignantly. ‘If I’d known what a dirty slut you were, I’d never have bothered touching you!’

  ‘Yeah, well, I wish you hadn’t!’ Maria yelled back, her sense of injustice making her say more than she should as she added, ‘At least then you wouldn’t have been able to steal all my fucking money! Think I wouldn’t find out, did you? Well, tough! I know everything!’

  Turning on his heel, because he could feel the rage welling up in him and knew that he would probably end up hurting her, Joel stormed out, kicking the couch on his way.

  How fucking dare she accuse him of stealing! She’d said from the start that he could take whatever he wanted. Trust a fucking woman to throw it all back in your face the minute you had an argument!

  Maria knew how close Joel had just come to hitting her, and she was shaking so much that she could feel her legs trying to buckle. Stumbling to the front door, which he’d slammed on his way out, she double-locked it and put the chain on.

  God, where had that come from? She’d never seen him like that before. His eyes had been crazy – like he wanted to really hurt her.

  Well, there was no way she could let him come back after that. If this was a taster of what was to come, she didn’t want to know. She’d wait till Nigel had the evidence and use it to keep Joel away. She’d tell him he could keep what he’d already stolen, but if he ever came near her again she would have him arrested for stealing, and for forging her signature.

  27

  Nigel concentrated on his work the next day. But as soon as five o’clock came around and everybody else got ready to go home, he started gathering Maria’s files and heaping them on his desk.

  ‘Working late?’ Adam asked, popping his head around the door.

  ‘Yeah, I’ve got a lot to do,’ Nigel said distractedly.

  ‘Heavy case?’ Coming in, Adam glanced at the files. Frowning when he saw the name on the top one, he said, ‘What’s going on, man?’

  ‘Not sure yet,’ Nigel said, sitting down and rolling his shirtsleeves up. ‘But it looks like Maria’s boyfriend has been helping himself to her money.’

  ‘She probably knows about it,’ Adam said, folding his arms. ‘They’re a pretty tight couple. Don’t you think you’re treading on toes here?’

  ‘You don’t know anything about them as a couple.’

  ‘No, I know I don’t. I’m just going by what you’ve said.’

  ‘I don’t remember ever discussing their relationship with you.’ Nigel looked up with a frown.

  ‘Yeah, you did,’ Adam insisted. ‘You told me how smooth he thinks he is, and how he looks like me – thanks for that, by the way,’ he said in a less-than-impressed tone.

  ‘I said he looks like you because he does,’ Nigel said tetchily. ‘Or, rather, he did, before he decided to dye his hair black and grow that ridiculous goatee. But I know that I have never discussed their relationship – with you, or anyone.’

  Shrugging, Adam said, ‘Sorry, must have got it wrong. But I still think you should keep your nose out. Seriously, man. It’s her business, not yours.’

  Sighing heavily, Nigel ran his hands through his hair.

  ‘Listen, Adam, I appreciate the concern, but you really don’t know the ins and outs of this. As it happens, I saw Maria last night and we had quite a chat. I’m checking through this stuff at her request. Okay?’

  ‘Why did she ask you to check him out? Does she know he’s done something?’

  ‘Not with any proof, as yet,’ Nigel said. ‘But I discovered something that I thought was a bit suspect, and when I talked to her about it she asked me to check everything else.’

  ‘I see,’ Adam murmured, still frowning thoughtfully.

  ‘Look, sorry I can’t go into it,’ Nigel said, ‘but I’m really not sure what I’m going to find yet, so I have to concentrate. I’ll talk to you tomorrow when I’ve got a clearer head – okay?’

  ‘Yeah, sure,’ Adam said. ‘See you later.’

  ‘See you later.’ Nigel waved. ‘Oh, and can you make sure that whoever leaves last locks the street door but doesn’t put the alarm on? I don’t want to be setting it off by mistake.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Nigel got his head down when he was finally alone and the night sped along as he pored over the investment files – and over the printouts which had been faxed to him from the various banks and financial institutions that afternoon.

  Across town, blissfully unaware of today’s developments, Joel was sitting at a table outside the bar below Jippi’s place. After storming out on Maria last night, he’d tried to contact Honey to stay at her place, but she’d had her phone switched off. So he’d detoured to the next nearest place – Rita-Anita’s. The poor cow had been so thrilled that he’d dropped in out of the blue that she’d been more than willing to fuck his tensions away. She was no better than before at blow jobs, but that funky clit of hers was quite a turn-on when you got used to it.

  Jippi had called Joel earlier to say he was on his way back from Thailand, and wanted him to meet him at the loft, as he was now calling his apartment. The later it got, the less likely it was that he was going to make it before the bar closed. But Joel couldn’t stand on the doorstep waiting – the police would be sure to pull him.

  Just as he was contemplating where to go, Honey turned up. She was looking for a friend she’d arranged to meet, but she forgot all about that when she saw Joel.

  ‘Oh, my God! I’ve been like dying to see you!’ she gushed, flopping down on the chair beside his. ‘Why didn’t you answer my text?’

  ‘I tried calling you last night, but your phone was off.’

  ‘Oh, shitty shit shit!’ she yelped girlishly, pulling the phone out of her pocket. ‘No wonder I’ve not had any calls today! I thought I was just really unpopular all of a sudden.’

  ‘As if,’ Joel chuckled.

  Switching it back on, she said, ‘So, what are you doing here? Waiting for me?’

  ‘No, for Jippi. But it looks like I’ll have to leave it for tonight.’

  ‘Great! Let’s just go back to mine and shag our arses off.’ She grinned naughtily. ‘I’ve been like so gagging for it since I haven’t seen you. That Francine was a proper nightmare.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Hormones, man!’ Honey complained. ‘Imagine two menstruating women trying to get it on. You can’t do like anything, and it’s so gross. And the moods! Christ, it was like the Evil Dead meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre! I’m never speaking to her again!’

  ‘Shame. I thought you were good friends.’

  ‘Nah, she’s just someone I met at a party. And she so can’t sing!’ Honey bitched. ‘So, we going back to mine, or what?’

  ‘Go on, then,’ Joel said, finishing his drink. ‘As long as you don’t try to make me watch the tapes of your show again. Sorry, babe, but it’ll put me to sleep.’

  ‘Not got anything to keep us awake?’ Honey asked, linking her arm through his and skipping along the pavement beside him.

  ‘When have I ever not?’ Joel said, grinning magnanimously.

  28

  Looking up when he heard a muffled sound outside th
e door, Nigel felt a throb of fear burst to life in his throat. Who would that be at this time of night? No one ever came in this late. Not even him – usually.

  Burglars!

  Switching the desk lamp off, he eyed the bottom of the door, waiting for the reception light to go on, which would have told him that it was someone with authority to be there. It stayed dark.

  Shaking now, he reached for the heavy Blue John paperweight and edged his way out from behind the desk. Using the faint glow of the street lamp leaking in through the slatted blind to guide him to the door, he pressed his ear to the wood.

  A minute passed, then two . . . Hearing nothing after three full minutes, he dared to peer out through the small glass panel. He could just about make everything out in the muted light coming through the smoked-glass street doors – couches, coffee machine, reception desk . . .

  There was nobody out there. He must have imagined it.

  Exhaling loudly, he flipped the overhead light on and glanced at his watch. It was almost three a.m. No wonder he was so spooked.

  Time had a way of running away with him when he got stuck into something – but boy was he glad he’d got stuck into this. It had been incredibly revealing. The shit was really going to hit the fan come the morning.

  Yawning, he decided he’d best go home and get his head down. Now he knew who he was up against, he needed a crystal-clear head to tackle this.

  Putting the Blue John back, he locked the paperwork he’d been working on away in his briefcase, then pulled his jacket on and took one last look around.

  Market Street was deserted but for a lazy breeze rifling through the litter bins and scattering loose food-cartons around the walkway. After the bustle of daytime, it felt eerie and abandoned, and the strange orangey glow of the lamps made it look other-worldly. Locking up, he hurried around to the car port at the rear of the block.

  Acutely aware of the sound of his own footsteps, he felt the fear prickling the hairs on his neck when he heard a second, slightly out of sync set.

  It’s an echo, he told himself, quickening his pace. And that shadow he’d just seen from the corner of his eye was only that – a shadow; a nothing piece of missing light.