by Susan Lewis
He shrugged and started to turn away, but then seemed to think better of it. ‘I’m going to need a deposit,’ he said. ‘It’s a security thing, you know how it is.’
Stifling a sigh, she said, ‘How much?’
‘Five hundred, plus moving expenses and, you know, the rest of it. How about a grand?’
‘That’s a lot of money, Joe, and I’m not taking a salary yet.’
‘But you can, any time you like. Remember, you’re the boss.’
‘Yes, but we need to reinvest and make sure all the overheads are covered …’
‘Forget it. I’m sorry I asked.’
Understanding what was going on now, she said, ‘I can probably do it this once, provided you promise not to try and talk Hanna into going to live with you.’
He seemed neither pleased by the offer nor embarrassed by the way he’d managed to get it. ‘I’ll pay you back one day, you know that, don’t you?’ he said.
‘Of course,’ she replied, going along with the delusion the way she always did. ‘I’ll contact the bank to arrange a transfer. Are you OK for cash at the moment?’
He took out his wallet and appeared surprised to find a small wad of twenty-pound notes inside. ‘Ah yes, I was intending to pay for dinner last night,’ he recalled, ‘but your father wouldn’t let me. So, looks like I’m quids in for the moment.’
‘That’s good, and thanks for thinking of making it your treat.’
‘Next time,’ he promised.
After he’d gone Lucy returned to her computer, deliberately pushing all thoughts of him and what was happening between them out of her mind. She simply didn’t have time to start berating herself for not being able to respond the way he wanted her to. It would have to wait until she was in a position to deal with it in a more patient and tender way than she was even close to managing right now.
‘Coffee up!’ Sarah announced as she breezed in the door ten minutes later.
Lucy turned from her computer wearing an expression that wiped away Sarah’s smile.
‘What is it?’ Sarah asked. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Take a look at this email,’ Lucy told her, and vacating her chair for Sarah to sit down, she waited quietly until Sarah had finished reading.
‘Oh my God,’ Sarah muttered. She glanced up at Lucy, her own face showing almost as much strain. Turning back to the email, she read it again.
It is with great regret that Godfrey and I find we cannot continue to work for Cromstone Auctions owing to certain practices the proprietors, Daphne and Brian Fisher, have been engaged in over a period of time. Both Godfrey and I recognise that we were wrong to turn a blind eye to what was going on and that we should have reported it sooner, or at least left the company before now. We understand that both Mr and Mrs Fisher will deny any involvement in the aforementioned practices, but they were at the centre of it. We had hoped that when the new management took over the situation would change, but as we have no reason to believe that it will we are left with no alternative but to tender our resignations. Yours faithfully, Maureen Crumpton.
‘I suppose she thinks this is a smart move,’ Sarah muttered.
‘It is,’ Lucy responded.
‘Have you forwarded it to Michael?’
‘I was just about to. What I’ve been trying to do ever since it turned up is speak to my mother, because I don’t think I can avoid it any longer. The trouble is her phone’s either switched off, or she’s out of range so I can’t get through.’
It was about half an hour later that Daphne rang to report the journey’s progress.
‘Mum, thank goodness,’ Lucy cried when she heard her. ‘Are you OK? Where are you?’
‘We’ve stopped at a Little Chef for an early lunch,’ Daphne replied. ‘Dad’s been here before and likes the way they cook the fish. How are you, dear? I’m sorry we didn’t get to say cheerio this morning. It was probably for the best though, wasn’t it?’
‘I suppose so,’ Lucy said grudgingly, knowing that if she didn’t agree it would only make her parents feel worse than they undoubtedly already did. ‘Tell me, did you remember to stop off in Bristol to change over from Vodaphone to O2?’
‘Oh, blast, it went right out of my mind, but don’t worry, we’ll do it in Taunton or Minehead one day next week.’
‘Then don’t forget. How’s the drive been so far? You must be almost there by now.’
‘Only about fifteen miles to go, which is why I’m calling now, while I know I can get hold of you.’
‘I’m glad you did,’ Lucy told her, picking up the small pile of letters Sarah had discovered in Maureen’s desk a few minutes ago. ‘Something’s come up that I need to ask you about. It’s to do with Maureen and Godfrey. First of all they’ve resigned …’
‘’Heavens above! Why have they done that? Oh Lucy, you didn’t quarrel …’
‘Mum, please listen. We’ve had letters from four different solicitors on behalf of people who …’
‘But we’ve been over that,’ Daphne cut in, ‘they’re nothing to worry about. It happens quite a lot, I’m afraid, when people aren’t happy with the price we managed to get for them.’
‘I know that’s what Maureen’s been telling you, but it goes deeper than that, Mum. Now what I need you to tell me is if you’ve ever heard of something called the Ring?’
There was a moment before Daphne said, ‘I’m not sure what you’re talking about.’
‘OK, then tell me this, have Maureen and Godfrey been leaning on you, or threatening you in any way?’
Daphne didn’t reply.
‘Mum? Are you still there?’
Still nothing.
Realising they’d been disconnected, Lucy swore under her breath and quickly redialled. Even before the phone could ring she was being diverted to messages. ‘Call me back as soon as you can,’ she said crossly. ‘I need to get to the bottom of this.’
Sarah was still watching her as she clicked off the line and dropped the phone on the desk.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Lucy told her.
Sarah said nothing.
‘You think she rang off deliberately, and for what it’s worth, I think you could be right.’
‘So where does that leave us?’ Sarah asked quietly.
Lucy looked down at the letters she was holding. ‘With four legal demands for enquiries or compensation,’ she answered, ‘a pair of blackmailers and fraudsters, and the very real possibility of bankruptcy looming, and who knows, maybe even jail.’
Chapter Fifteen
THE FURROW BETWEEN Simon’s brows was deepening by the minute as he listened to what Sarah was telling him. Since she’d already shown him the email Lucy had forwarded to Michael, he was aware of the Crumpton’s crafty manoeuvre in resigning before they were fired. However, he was less concerned about that for the moment than he was about Daphne Fisher’s failure to call Lucy back.
‘So what do you think?’ Sarah prompted when he continued to look worried.
‘Well, it’s not looking good, is it?’ he replied, reaching for one of the pistachios she’d just tipped into a dish. ‘Whether Lucy’s parents were being pressured to keep quiet, or even if they had no idea it was happening, their position, as I see it, is even weaker today than it was yesterday.’
‘Because of the email?’
He nodded. ‘And because Lucy’s mother hasn’t tried to get in touch since she was conveniently cut off.’
Sarah’s expression was pained. ‘Maybe she’s afraid.’
‘I imagine she is.’
‘They’re not criminals, Si. If you’d met them, you’d know it too. What I think has been happening, is that the Crumptons have been threatening them in much the same way as they’ve started to with Lucy. “Say anything and we’ll say we were just following orders.” Or something along those lines.’
‘I have no problem buying into that,’ he conceded, popping another nut. ‘What bothers me, though, is how you’re going to get the Crumptons back
on the hook when they’ve just quite effectively managed to get themselves off it.’
‘Maybe,’ Sarah said, passing him a corkscrew to start opening the wine, ‘we could get someone from this ring, if that’s what it is, to admit they’ve been working with them.’
Simon looked at her askance.
‘What?’
‘I was just wondering how you might propose achieving that, because the chances of someone coughing by polite request are about as likely as one of our family artefacts fetching a fortune.’
Sarah’s eyes twinkled. ‘Don’t rule it out,’ she cautioned. ‘After all, I haven’t forgotten how fond you were of old Humpty, so I expect you’ll be pretty keen to buy him back for a handsome sum.’
Simon’s eyes widened with alarm. ‘Please tell me you haven’t put him in the sale?’ he demanded. ‘I’ve been saving the old chap for my son and heir.’
‘Who’d very likely toss him straight out of the pram, the wretched thing’s in such a sorry state, but don’t worry, Sebastian, he’s safe.’
‘Sebastian?’
‘Flyte, and his teddy bear. Never mind.’ Her voice faltered slightly as she said, ‘What I’m more interested in is the prospect of a son and heir. Is there something you haven’t told me?’
Clearly realising his gaffe, Simon stopped what he was doing and came to give her a hug.
‘It’s all right,’ she said, swallowing her emotions, ‘you’re allowed to want children, you know. And no one will be happier than me if you have them, well, apart from Mum, I suppose.’
‘Giselle isn’t pregnant,’ he told her softly, ‘but even if she were I want you to know that Jack will always be our first, and the most special …’
‘Ssh, not now,’ she said, pulling away. ‘Our guests will start arriving any minute, and I don’t want to be upstairs repairing my make-up when they come.’
‘OK, sorry. So backing up, past Humpty, to the Fishers …’
‘Actually, we should probably change the subject altogether,’ she interrupted, ‘because Lucy’s last instruction to me before I left was that she didn’t want this to dominate the evening.’
‘I’d be surprised if she could think about anything else,’ he commented, ‘but I’m happy to oblige. Incidentally, have you spoken to Mum today?’
‘Yes, she rang this morning while you were still asleep.’
‘How was she?’
‘Fine, as far as I could tell, so I guess we can assume that Sheila hasn’t said anything yet.’
‘In which case, how am I supposed to play things with this Mckenzie chap this evening? As if I know he knew her once, or that I don’t know anything at all?’
‘I’m sure he’ll be expecting me to have told you, but please don’t sound as defensive about everything as you’re sounding to me. Remember, we don’t actually know anything yet, and even if they did have an affair we have no idea whether it was before she married Daddy, or even if Daddy himself was always faithful.’
Simon looked at her incredulously.
‘All right, it doesn’t seem possible to us that he’d ever have strayed, but try to imagine what it must have been like married to someone like her. No doubt bliss in the up times, but what about when she went down? We’ve got no idea what really went on between them, any more than I know what happens with you and Giselle, or you knew about me and Kelvin – and look where we ended up. So, please, try to bear in mind that Lucy and I have found John to be the loveliest and kindest of men so far, and until he shows himself to be anything other, let’s at least try to give him the benefit of the doubt.’
Simon raised his hands. ‘OK, if that’s what you want. Now, you’ve got enough nibbles here to feed the entire village, so why don’t you stop emptying bags into bowls and let me take this lot outside?’
By the time he’d set everything out on the table and returned to the kitchen, Michael was coming down the hall with a bottle of champagne and a bunch of bright yellow roses.
‘Oh, how gorgeous,’ Sarah cried, taking the flowers. ‘That’s so kind of you. We’ll put them at the centre of the table so everyone can see them.’
After greeting them both and handing the champagne to Simon, Michael said, ‘So come on, put me to work. What can I do?’
‘You can load that tray with glasses,’ Sarah told him, ‘while Simon finds some napkins.’
Opening a cupboard to show Michael the way, Simon said, ‘So, I take it you’ve seen the infamous email?’
Michael nodded. ‘A cunning move on the Crumptons’ part, so definitely time to bring Teddy Best in to bat. I spoke to him just before I left home, so he’s already aware of the case – and you’ll be happy to know he’s up for teaching us a few basic steps tomorrow around noon.’
Sarah gave a cry of glee. ‘Maybe Lucy and I could come to watch,’ she suggested. ‘It’ll be a good opportunity for her and Teddy to meet.’
‘Maybe you couldn’t,’ Michael responded, ‘but we can always try to set up something after, like a spot of Doris dancing for you two.’
Sarah’s eyes rounded. ‘There’s no such thing,’ she said.
‘Don’t bet on it. Now, shall I take these out to the table?’ he offered, picking up his swiftly assembled tray of glasses.
‘Yes please,’ she replied, turning at the sound of voices as someone came in through the open front door. ‘Through here,’ she called out.
‘Are we too early?’ Philippa enquired as she stepped down into the kitchen, looking very striking in a pale blue eyepatch that blended perfectly with the shades of her floaty summer dress. ‘We can always go away and come back again.’
‘No, no,’ Sarah protested. ‘It’s lovely to see you,’ and after kissing her on both cheeks, she grabbed John by the hand to pull him in further, saying, ‘Let me introduce you to my brother, Simon. Si, this is Philippa and John Mckenzie.’
As the two men faced each other, their eyes equally wary, a sudden tension seemed to cut through the air. Knowing it came from Simon, Sarah quickly said, ‘John’s been our saviour at the auction house since Godfrey broke his ankle.’
Though John smiled his gratitude, his face was still strained as he held out a hand for Simon’s.
Taking it, Simon said, ‘It’s good to meet you.’ His tone was so chilly that Sarah want to shout at him to behave.
‘It’s good to meet you too,’ John said stiffly.
Beside him, Philippa was hardly daring to breathe, as she watched her brother seeing and touching his son for the first time in over thirty years. How on earth must he be feeling? The magnitude of it was such that she could hardly begin to deal with it herself. This tall, handsome man, who bore such a striking resemblance to her own father, was the adorable little nephew she’d held in her arms so briefly. It was so overwhelming and her emotions were so close to the surface that she couldn’t trust herself to speak.
‘Sarah’s told me a little about you,’ John was saying quietly.
‘I’ve heard plenty about you too,’ Simon retorted tersely. ‘I believe you’re renting the Mercers’ house.’
‘Just for the next few months,’ Philippa said, somehow steeling herself to step into the hostility and try and disperse it. ‘Are you planning to be in Cromstone for long yourself?’
Simon’s flintiness was less marked as he turned to her. ‘Until next Sunday,’ he replied.
Philippa glanced at John, whose eyes hadn’t left Simon’s face.
Sensing the dawning of an awful silence, Sarah quickly said, ‘So, what would you like to drink? We have most things, vodka, gin, sherry, wine of course …’
‘I’d like a glass of wine,’ Philippa told her. ‘And I’m sure John would too.’
‘Yes, that would be lovely,’ he agreed, a faint colour returning to his cheeks as he smiled at Sarah.
‘Aha, if it isn’t Mr Mckenzie, fearless rescuer of damsels in distress and revered driver of trucks,’ Michael declared as he came in from the terrace. ‘How are you?’ he said, shaking John’s hand
.
‘Very well, thank you,’ John assured him. ‘It’s good to see you again. Michael, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right, and I’m guessing this must be Philippa.’
As Philippa matched the warmth of his greeting, Sarah gave Simon a withering look. ‘Wine,’ she muttered under her breath.
‘Hi, anyone at home?’ Lucy cried, sailing in through the front door and down the hall. ‘Joe’s dropping Hanna and Juliette at another friend’s house, but he should be here any minute.’ Her eyes lit with pleasure as they found the only person in the room who could be Simon. He was exactly as she’d imagined, except perhaps a little taller and better-looking, and so like Sarah she wanted to hug him. ‘If you’re even half as magnificent as your sister claims,’ she said, grasping his hands, ‘then you must do weird things in telephone boxes and wear your pants on top of your trousers.’
Laughing delightedly, Simon pulled her in to kiss both cheeks. ‘And you must be Lucy,’ he declared, ‘and if anyone round here’s capable of amazing transformations, it has to be you with what you’ve done for my sister. She’s a changed woman, and you’re even more gorgeous than she said you were.’
Lucy turned to Sarah aghast. ‘You surely haven’t been downplaying me,’ she scolded, making Sarah laugh. Then, spotting Michael, she went to embrace him. ‘I was hoping you’d be here,’ she said. ‘I’m dying to hear what you think of the email, except we’re not going to talk about it this evening. So, quick change of subject, how’s the morris dancing going?’
‘Actually, John’s just come from his first lesson,’ Philippa informed them as Lucy turned to kiss her hello.
‘Oh bliss!’ Sarah cried, clapping her hands. ‘How did it go?’
John’s expression was wry as he said, ‘Let’s just say I don’t think I have a natural bent, but it only lasted half an hour and it was my first attempt. I think the poor fellow was glad to be rid of me.’
‘So they’ve roped you into this nonsense too,’ Simon stated, as he passed Philippa a glass.
‘I’m afraid so,’ John grimaced, ‘but I find it’s easier to go along with them than try to resist.’
