‘That’s true too,’ he conceded.
Mac really didn’t want to talk about himself so he changed the subject.
‘How do you know Tim?’ he asked, gesturing for the woman to sit down.
She sat down and said, ‘Tim? I’ve known him since I was twelve. My father used to employ him to renovate the antique furniture he bought. Tim’s a wizard at restoring old furniture. When I was home from school he used to let me watch him work and we’d talk about things’.
Mac could believe that, Tim was a talker all right. Right then the penny dropped. He knew who she was.
‘Anyway we became friends, he still helps me with all the furniture Daddy left. Daddy died just over four years ago’.
‘Do you miss him?’
‘How can you miss what was never there? I used to come home from school and I’d be alone in that old house while he’d be off wherever, making yet more money. There was only Tim and one of the servants I could talk to. I’ve always hated being alone.’
She looked sad for a moment and then realised she hadn’t introduced herself.
‘I’m so sorry Mr. Maguire, I haven’t even introduced myself. My name is Laura de Vesey, my father was Hubert de Vesey.’
He knew who her father was, everyone did. He’d made his money buying up companies cheap and ruthlessly asset stripping them. He’d ended up not quite as rich as the Queen but not far off. If anyone needed an anti-capitalist pantomime villain it was Hubert de Vesey’s name that usually cropped up.
Tim had hated her father and not only for his ruthless business tactics. Tim had always wanted children but he and his wife hadn’t been that lucky. Laura’s mother had died young and the way her father ignored her, when Tim could see how desperate she was for love, had really made him angry.
He remembered Tim saying, ‘Some people just don’t know what’s valuable in life’.
A fleeting sadness went through him as he realised how true this was.
‘So Laura, how can I help?’ he asked gently.
She stood up and returned to the window.
With her still back turned she eventually said, ‘It’s my boyfriend, I’m pretty sure he’s cheating on me. I need you to find out who he’s seeing so I can end it.’
He knew now why Tim hadn’t told him anything about his client and why she might need his help. Mac Maguire, ex-head of the London Murder Squad, reduced to chasing around after wayward boyfriends. He would bet good money that Tim was gambling on him being unable to refuse a woman in trouble.
He sighed, the trouble with best friends is they know you too well.
‘Tell me about him,’ Mac asked, resigned to his fate.
She sat down again and her face lit up as she remembered.
‘We met in one of the best salons in London. He was young, beautiful and he really knew how to cut hair. After he’d cut my hair once I never let anyone else near it. Then gradually I began to get feelings for him and then one day, right out of the blue, he asked me out for dinner. We had such a lovely time, he said he really liked me too and I so wanted to believe him. We became very close, Giorgio quit his job and we travelled the world. God, those days were so much fun, when it was just the two of us. I told myself it was just a thing but in the end I couldn’t help myself and, against my better judgment, I fell in love with him. I couldn’t sleep last night so I had a look at some of the photos we took back then. I was so happy and I thought he was too, but, if I’m honest, I knew in my heart it had to end someday. It always ends’.
‘You’ve been cheated on before?’
She got up again and went back to the window.
‘Yes Laura de Vesey, walking cash machine, that’s me. You know I’ve heard it said that people envy me but if only they knew, money can be such a curse. Every time I’ve trusted a man, even my own father, I’ve been let down. At the end of the day it always turned out that it was the money that mattered most. But Giorgio, I thought he was different, I thought…oh what does it bloody matter what I thought!’ she said angrily.
He suspected the anger was aimed mostly at herself.
‘Laura, please sit down. Tell me about Giorgio’.
She did as he said.
‘God, you hear about these rich women falling in love with their hairdressers all the time, how bloody original is that? But it wasn’t like that Mr. Maguire, it really wasn’t. He’s younger than me, but just by a couple of years, and he’s the most caring man I’ve ever met. Giorgio gave me hope, I was sure he loved me too. Perhaps he did for a while but nothing lasts does it?’
‘When did you start suspecting he was seeing someone else?’
‘It was gradual but looking back I suppose he started losing interest in me about six or seven months ago. He didn’t want to travel any more, he said fun can only last so long and he needed to be doing something. So now he’s ‘doing something’, while I just sit at home all day.’
‘What does he do?’
‘He’s gone back to hairdressing and in a short time he’s built his salon up to be one of the best in London. He is incredibly good at what he does and, if I’m honest, I envy him his success a little. What have I ever done apart from having money?’
‘I take it you provided the funds to start his business off?’
Laura nodded.
‘He’s a good investment though, I lent him just over a million and he’s already paid nearly half of it back’.
Mac saw a despairing look pass over Laura’s face.
‘And you’re worried that when it’s all paid back he won’t need you any more’.
‘Yes, why should he? He can make his own money doing something he’s good at and loves doing. What else have I got to offer other than money?’
Mac wondered at such an elegant and obviously intelligent woman thinking so little of herself.
‘So what specifically makes you think another woman is involved?’
‘History I suppose, it always ends that way but there are other things. I’ll admit he’s been working hard and doesn’t spend as much time at home as he used to but I feel there’s a distance beginning to build between us. Who knows, perhaps it was already there and it was just my imagination that he cared at all.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘I’ve known him for over a year now and he’s never told me much about his life before we met or his family. He let it slip once he has a sister but I’ve never met her. He’s always avoided talking about his family, mention family and he’d change the subject. But I never pressed him, I didn’t want to spoil things. I think he must have had an unhappy childhood though, I’ve seen him quite sad at times, but he’d never tell me anything. If you love someone aren’t you supposed to tell them everything? God, I’ve been such a bloody fool again, haven’t I? I never see it coming. Anyway that’s all I know, he has a sister, who is married and lives in Watford somewhere.’
Mac was intrigued.
‘Any idea why he never took you to see his sister?’
She shrugged.
‘I used to think it was because he was ashamed of her for some reason, I mean Watford, not very upmarket is it?’
‘You don’t think that now though,’ he stated.
‘No, no I don’t. Last week I picked up the phone. Giorgio must have thought I was out, he was on the extension talking to a woman.’
She glanced at Mac shame-faced.
‘I know I shouldn’t have listened in but I thought at last that this was her, the woman he‘s been seeing. I just couldn’t help myself, I’ve been so unhappy.’
He could see the seeds of tears forming in her eyes. He wanted to spare her the indignity of crying in front of a stranger.
‘Can I get you a glass of water?’
Laura nodded.
Mac went next door where there was a little kitchen area and gave her a few minutes.
‘Thanks,’ she said as he gave her the glass. She looked a little more composed.
‘You were saying that you overheard
Giorgio…’
‘God my heart was thumping so hard I thought I’d pass out but I calmed down when I realised it was his sister. I’m an only child and I must admit I was jealous of the way they talked to each other, so easily, so full of love. It was obvious he loves every bone in her body.’
‘How did she sound?’
‘Nice, really nice, like someone I’d like to meet. It didn’t take me long to work out that if he wasn’t ashamed of her, it must be me that he’s ashamed of.’
He had no answer to that.
‘Have you a photo?’
She pulled a photo out of her pocket and put it on the desk. Mac glanced at it. Giorgio was young and very good looking but there was something familiar about him, something he couldn’t quite put a finger on.
Mac thought that Laura’s suspicions were all a bit nebulous so far, so he tried again.
‘Anything else that makes you suspect Giorgio?’
‘Every second Friday afternoon he just disappears from the salon. His staff don’t know where he goes and, when I asked him directly, he made up some story about seeing an old friend. I knew he was lying of course, more like an old flame I’d say. Will you take my case Mr. Maguire?’
He knew he was in a corner. When he’d agreed to try out being a private detective he hadn’t figured on chasing around after unfaithful boyfriends, but he knew he desperately needed to be doing something.
‘Yes, I’ll take the case’.
He observed her as he said this. Her expression was a mix of relief and fear.
‘Tell me about Giorgio’s routine.’
‘He leaves the house around six thirty every day except Sunday and comes back late, around seven or eight. Sometimes he’s even later, he always says it’s because of ‘special client’. I just don’t know what to believe any more.’
‘What does he drive?’
‘A black Audi TT.’
‘Bought by you?’ Mac asked.
Laura nodded.
‘Okay Laura, I just need your address and a phone number.’
She rummaged about in her pocket and produced a card.
‘It’s all on there. Try the mobile number first just in case I’m out. I’ve put the address of Giorgio’s salon on the back.’
‘I’ll report in when I know something. By the way when’s the next ‘second Friday’?’
‘This Friday coming. Thank you Mr. Maguire, I just need to know the truth, to be put out of my misery. If he is seeing someone, find out who she is so I can end it. I thought Giorgio wasn’t like the rest, I really did, and somewhere in here,’ she said holding a hand over her heart, ‘I still hope. I still hope Mr. Maguire and its bloody killing me.’
She was making for the door when he said, ‘Don’t you want to know what I charge?’
‘Charge whatever you like, I’ve got lots of money, everybody knows that,’ she said with a twisted smile and left.
He sighed and picked up the boyfriend’s photo again and studied it. Where did he go every second Friday? And why didn’t Giorgio want to talk about his previous life and his family? What was he hiding?
Mac was certain he’d seen that face before and, considering his previous line of employment, this didn’t bode well for Laura de Vesey.
Chapter Nineteen
Tuesday 13th January
Mac sat motionless as he waited for the Audi to appear. He’d been waiting since before six. He’d decided to follow Giorgio’s car into London just in case he made any side trips on his way in. He’d parked a hundred yards or so before the huge electric gate behind which, somewhere, stood the De Vesey house. He’d checked it out yesterday in the daylight so he’d be sure of finding the best place to park up, somewhere he wouldn’t be seen by a car leaving the house. He’d stopped in front of the gate first and looked down the long drive on the other side. There was no sign of a house. He’d wondered just how big the grounds were.
He took a sip of coffee from his travel mug and thought of the hundreds of times he’d pulled observation duty. When he’d been in the force he knew that many of his colleagues hadn’t like going on observation with him as he hardly said a word. He’d always thought it was a good time for reflection and, anyway, he felt he should be actually observing, paying real attention to what was going on outside the car window. He glanced over at the passenger seat and remembered that for a lot of those times his sergeant, Peter Harper, had accompanied him. Silence had suited them both. All that was there now was his crutch, leaning against the passenger door. With a twinge of remorse he also remembered Peter knocking on his front door not much more than a couple of months ago. He’d hid in the kitchen.
For once he was grateful his thoughts were interrupted by the electric gates gliding silently open. He started his ageing car up and waited for the Audi to appear. The black car, headlights on, eased out of the gates and made towards the main road. Mac followed the red tail lights not worrying if Giorgio spotted him. His old Nissan Almera was anonymous and wouldn’t get a second glance.
The Audi made towards London on the motorway. He had no problem following Giorgio, he was just one in a sea of cars so he kept as close as possible. They were heading towards Central London, a trip Mac had made almost every day when he’d been working. They went straight down the Edgware Road and, although it was still early, they still hit some traffic. Then they went around the side of Hyde Park where the Audi made its way to Belgrave Square and pulled up outside a shop down one of the side streets. Giorgio got out and opened the front door of the shop.
Mac knew this area well. He’d always called it ‘Embassyland’ as there seemed to be at least three or four of them on every street. Mac looked around. The street was signed ‘One way only’ with parking bays on one side and double yellow lines on the other. He parked on the double yellows in a place where he wouldn’t be obstructing traffic and where he could get a good view of the shop front. He thought it ironic that one of the very few perks of being disabled and in constant pain was that he could park virtually anywhere he liked. He got his disabled blue badge and time disc out of the glove, placed them on the dashboard and started earning his money.
He’d only ever come to this part of town before on police business. He could remember at least three cases that involved embassy staff, a pain in the arse every one of them due to having to dance around diplomatic immunity. He looked across the street. The shop Giorgio had just entered was surrounded by expensive restaurants and retailers whose windows had never been coarsened by a price tag.
The shop front was elegant and restrained and the sign above the shop the sign said ‘Capelli Giorgio’. The lights went on and behind the large plate glass window Mac could see a row of padded chairs and high tech hair dryers, all coloured white. He got his tablet out and typed the shop’s name into Google Translate. It meant ‘Hair by George’ in Italian. Again he felt the same tickle in his brain as when he’d seen Giorgio’s photo. He felt it should have some significance for him but again it proved elusive. He searched to see if there was a web site and, while the site was elegant and expansive about the business, it revealed nothing about Mr. Lo Bianco he didn’t already know.
A young woman arrived. She was very pretty and she gave Giorgio a wide smile. Was this the love interest Mac wondered? However Giorgio just gave her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek, hardly the actions of a lover. She listened intently as Giorgio spoke to her and it was all too obvious who was in charge.
All in all another four women and three men drifted into the shop over the next half hour. Just before nine o’clock they all gathered around Giorgio who seemed to be giving them a team talk. While he was doing this a Bentley, followed by a Rolls-Royce, pulled up and a very fashionable woman stepped out of each. If such well-heeled women like this were prepared to get out of bed this early to get their hair done he guessed that Capelli Giorgio must be good.
After a quick look around Giorgio opened the shop door and the women swanned in. Within five minutes Mac saw three more Rolls
-Royces, an Aston Martin, a Lamborghini and a Bugatti pull up. The cars might have cost a fortune but he guessed that the women who got out of them might be a tad more expensive. He wondered idly how much a haircut would cost at Capelli Giorgio.
The team were hard at it all morning, especially Giorgio. If he wasn’t cutting hair he was meeting and greeting customers and keeping a careful eye on the rest of the team. Mac had wondered about the amount of money Laura had given Giorgio but, this being such an expensive area, he guessed that a million to fit out a business like this might be just about right.
Mac sat up, Giorgio was on the move. He retrieved his crutch and got out of the car. A sudden bolt of pain shot through him as he straightened his back but thankfully it disappeared as fast as it had come. He followed Giorgio staying on the other side of the street and was grateful that Giorgio only went around the corner to a smart coffee shop and delicatessen. He could see Giorgio reading his order out from a piece of paper.
He followed him back to the shop where Giorgio went straight back to work. Mac was surprised at the way these hairdressers kept at it, he felt tired just watching them. About half an hour later a man arrived with coffees and sandwiches. He realised he was getting hungry too. While Giorgio was busy eating he decided to get a sandwich and, hopefully, some information as well.
He went to the counter of the coffee house and ordered a cheese sandwich and coffee to go. The young man behind the counter offered him six types of bread, eight types of cheese and an even greater range of different coffees to choose from. Mac found the amount of choices confusing so he just ordered cheddar on white and a cappuccino to go. While he waiting for his sandwich he decided to see what the young man knew about Giorgio.
‘I was thinking of booking my daughter in for an appointment at the hairdresser’s around the corner. Is he any good?’
The young man looked Mac up and down.
‘Come into money have we?’ he said archly. ‘Sorry, just my little joke, don’t mind me. Is Giorgio any good? He’s the best, you want to see some of the women who go in there, God they are gorgeous. Not that I’m interested in them that way of course. No, I definitely picked the wrong profession. Here I am serving coffee and sandwiches while the beautiful Giorgio is getting up to twenty thousand for a haircut.’
The Body in the Boot: The first 'Mac' Maguire mystery Page 19
