by June Tate
‘I’d like that,’ he said. ‘But don’t you worry, darling, I’ll be fine.’
But as Connie walked down the corridor with Tom, she wondered just how long it would take for Sam to recover.
Tom, however, was deep in thought and was silently seething. He knew something had to be wrong for Sam to have made such a mistake on that corner. He was too good a driver for that. There was no doubt in his mind that Jake Barton was behind it, but how could they prove it?
Three days later Sam was moved down to the South Hants Hospital, in Southampton, which made it easier for Connie and Sam’s friends and family to visit. But it became obvious that the recovery time would take months.
In the garage, Tom, Harry and young Jimmy started the arduous task of sifting through the wreckage, trying to locate the fault in the brakes.
The local paper had been full of Sam’s crash and the injuries he’d sustained, sympathizing with the fact that this popular driver would be incapacitated for months ahead and wondering if he’d ever race again. There had been no mention at all of Barton’s win. No photographs of him holding the trophy.
John Baker had also read the article. Having watched Sam race and recognizing his talent, he did feel sympathetic. Had Sam not been Connie’s boyfriend he would have liked to have known him better. He had his own problems, however. He’d been to his solicitor to get advice about contesting the custody of his daughter, but his solicitor had advised against it.
‘The court will uphold the mother’s right,’ he said. ‘She will be free to care for Susan, whereas you work and would have to employ a nanny. The court will say the child should remain with the mother. She’s offered to let you have Susan during the school holidays, so she’s not being difficult.’
Baker eventually had to accept his advice, as he was told it would be wasted money to take such a case to court. He reluctantly rang Kay and agreed to her demands.
The following day he walked over to Connie’s counter, which was without any customers at that moment, and said how sorry he was to read of Sam Knight’s accident.
Connie was taken by surprise. ‘Thank you, John. He’s coming along well, but of course when he’ll be able to race again is still in doubt.’ Knowing his situation she asked, ‘How are things with you?’
He looked crestfallen. ‘Susan will go to Paris with her mother and her mother’s new husband when they marry,’ he said. ‘I’m not happy about it but I don’t have much choice.’ He gazed at her and said, ‘We have both had a rough time. Perhaps we could get together for a drink and commiserate with each other?’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ she said.
‘I don’t see why not. We both need a bit of comfort at the moment, we could help each other through the rough times.’
‘What game are you playing now, John? Do you think I’m in such a state I’ll come rushing back into your arms, is that it?’
From his enigmatic smile she knew that was just what he was thinking. ‘You will never understand me. I love Sam, and even if we were to part, I’d never run back to you. Now leave me alone.’ She walked away.
Kay Baker was rushing around like a demented flee, trying to prepare for her forthcoming wedding. Edward spent several days in Paris on business, looking for somewhere to live and searching for a school for Susan. That evening he was due home and Kay was preparing dinner after bathing Susan and putting her to bed.
When she opened the door, she could see how tired Edward was. She kissed him and ushered him into the kitchen and poured him a gin and tonic. ‘You look as if you need this, darling.’
He rubbed his eyes. ‘Thanks, it has been somewhat hectic,’ he said and sat down on a stool. ‘However, I’ve found us a nice apartment overlooking the Seine and a school for Susan. It’s an International one using the English curriculum so the teachers all speak English. She’ll learn French, of course.’
‘Come into the sitting room and tell me all about it,’ she suggested.
They sat on a settee, and he gave her all the details. ‘On the plane I wondered just what we should do about this house,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, when eventually we come home from Paris we’ll move into mine, and for a year this will be empty, which is never a good idea.’
‘To be honest I’ve been too busy to think about it.’
‘If you’re agreeable, of course, I thought it would be a good idea to let your ex have it. After all, it was his home, and we don’t need it, do we?’
Kay looked at him and stroked his cheek. ‘Edward, you are such a kind man. I think that’s a wonderful idea. It will help John to get over us taking Susan away. He loves this house, so perhaps he’ll be a bit happier moving back in, and when Susan comes back to stay with him it will be somewhere she’s familiar with. Any precious things I want, I can take with me. I can’t think he’d mind.’
Jake Barton was in a foul mood. There had been another article in the paper reporting the latest news of Sam Knight’s recovery and still none of Barton’s win, which really stuck in his craw. He knew that Knight’s girlfriend worked and would be unable to visit the patient during the day, and he was also aware that Tom and Harry were dismantling the wrecked car during daylight hours, so he went to the South Hants Hospital and asked which ward Sam was in.
The receptionist smiled at him and asked, ‘Are you a relative?’
‘No, I’m a friend … another racing driver. Just want to see how he’s making out.’
She seemed very impressed. ‘Mr Knight is in a private room,’ she said and told him where to go.
As he made his way along the hospital corridors, he fumed. ‘Bleeding private room too. Treating him like some bloody hero!’
When he arrived at the room and read the name on the door, he looked around, but there were only hospital staff going about their business. He turned the handle and walked in.
Sam looked at his visitor with surprise.
Jake stood inside the door and studied the patient. The bandaged shoulder, arm in a sling, the leg encased in plaster, and he started to laugh.
‘Not exactly the conquering hero now, are you?’
Sam glowered at him. ‘What do you want, Barton?’
Jake walked slowly over to the bed. ‘I told you, you didn’t stand a chance in that race didn’t I? You should have listened.’
‘You fixed my brakes, you bastard! You could have killed me!’
‘Nah! That would have been murder. I knew you had enough skill to get you out of trouble, but you went into the corner faster than I envisaged. That was your fault, not mine.’
‘It wouldn’t have been if my brakes had been working!’ Sam was flushed with anger. He wanted to hit out at his rival. Teach him a lesson – but he could hardly move. ‘Get out, Barton! When I’m on my feet I’ll have you. You won’t get away with this.’
‘I’ll send you a picture of me holding the trophy. That’ll cheer you up! You take care now … loser!’
Twenty-Two
The mystery of the failing brakes had been solved by Tom and Harry who, sifting through the remains of the damaged car, found that minute holes had been drilled in the bottom of the reservoir holding the brake fluid. This would have slowly seeped out until eventually the brakes failed.
The men knew who was responsible but there was no way of proving it, so there was little point in going to the police. Even if Sam had told them of his conversation with Jake, Jake would have denied it – but it infuriated all of them.
‘What really pisses me off,’ said Tom as he and Harry sat at Sam’s bedside, ‘is the fact that he’ll get away with it!’
‘Well, remember he’s up in court shortly on this fraud charge. Maybe he’ll be sent down for that. At least that would be something!’
‘But he’s out on bail,’ retorted Harry. ‘The other two are on remand, which makes me wonder if they have enough evidence to convict him.’
‘We’ll just have to wait and see,’ said
Sam. ‘But I intend to be in that court room when the case comes up, to see for myself.’
‘Apparently, that won’t be for another couple of months,’ Tom told him.
‘Good, that gives me time to get back on my feet.’
During that time, Kay Baker had been preparing for her wedding. It was to be a fairly quiet affair, with a reception after at the Polygon Hotel. With Kay having been divorced, the ceremony was to take place at the registry office. But, as she told Edward, she’d had the church wedding, and look where that had ended!
‘I’m only sorry we won’t have time for a honeymoon,’ he said. ‘But when Susan comes back here to spend time with her father during the school holidays, perhaps then we can go somewhere?’
She entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him. ‘It isn’t important. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter where we are.’
‘Darling Kay, you’re so easy to please, I’m going to enjoy spoiling you.’
She gazed at the man with whom she was to share her life, unable to believe how lucky she was. She had no regrets about getting her divorce. She was certain that Edward would always stand by her and Susan. They would have a better life in every way. Susan and Edward got along so well, and she knew that he would also be a good influence on the life of her daughter.
John had been surprised when she’d asked him to the house to tell him she’d be handing him the keys before she left.
‘What do you mean?’ he’d asked.
‘We no longer need the house,’ she explained. ‘We’ll be away for a year, and when we return, we’ll go and live with Edward. He thought it only fair that you should come back here.’
He should have been delighted but the fact that the idea came from the man Kay was going to marry infuriated him.
‘How kind of him to return something that was mine in the first place!’
Kay looked at the spiteful line of John’s mouth. ‘Stop behaving like a child who’s thrown his toys out of the pram! I could have let the house for a year and you couldn’t have done a thing about it. At least have the decency to be thankful you’ll have your own roof over your head and have Susan living in a place she’s familiar with when she comes to stay with you.’
‘Well, Kay, I must say you’ve done well for yourself. Harrington can give you a better way of life than I ever could have.’
She hated his churlish manner. ‘In every way, John – in every way! I’ll never have to worry whose bed he’s in because it will always be mine!’
They had not parted amicably.
The local press were outside the registry office, waiting for the bride to arrive, having already taken pictures of the groom and his best man, when a car draped in wedding ribbons drove up.
Out stepped David, Kay’s father, who turned to help the bride, who was dressed in a pale green suit with matching shoes, a cream hat and gloves, followed by Susan, in a pale primrose dress and matching ribbon in her hair. They stood whilst the press took pictures before walking into the registry office.
‘Will we be in the paper, Mummy?’ asked her excited daughter.
‘Yes, darling, we will. Now you must be quiet until the ceremony is over.’
Later, Edward Harrington and his bride stood greeting their guests for the reception at the Polygon Hotel. There were many notable people attending. Associates and friends of the groom and friends of the bride and her family.
Kay’s parents arrived. Her mother grinned broadly at her daughter and kissed her.
‘I am so very happy for you, Kay darling. This time you’ve picked a winner. Be happy!’
The meal was sumptuous, with good wine and champagne. The best man made an amusing speech and read out the telegrams, then Edward got to his feet.
‘Ladies and gentleman, you see before you the happiest man in Britain because today I married a beautiful woman who was brave enough to accept my proposal of marriage – and those who thought I’d remain a bachelor can perhaps now understand why I waited so long!’ There was a ripple of laughter around the room.
‘But I don’t just have one beautiful woman in my life now. Susan, Kay’s lovely daughter, is now part of my family also. What more can a man ask for?’ He smiled over at Susan who grinned back at him.
‘As you know, in a few days we will all be moving to Paris for a year, which is exciting for us all, but we will be back. Until then, thank you all for coming and sharing this very special day with us.’
He sat down and, leaning forward, kissed Kay. ‘Hello, Mrs Harrington.’
Everybody cheered.
Two days later, Kay’s parents saw the three of them off at the ferry taking them across the Chanel to France. Susan was beside herself with excitement and was telling her grandparents about the trip.
‘We’re going to live in Paris, Nanny, and I’m to go to a new school. Edward said I’d like it … and I’ll be learning French!’
Seeing the tears glistening in the eyes of his mother-in-law, Edward placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘When we’re settled, you must come and stay,’ he said. ‘I made sure to get an apartment with a spare room. Now, you’re not to worry, we’ll be fine.’
She hugged him. ‘I know, I know. Good luck with the new job and take care.’
She and her husband waved them off as they drove on to the ferry.
Sam Knight was now out of hospital and back in business. Not that he was able to do a great deal physically as he was still using crutches to get around, but he had his first racing car to tune for another driver and he and his team were hard at work. That day in the garage, he was telling Connie all about it.
‘This is a great car,’ he said enthusiastically, ‘and with the engine I built I know I can improve its performance, even more than the driver expects. I already have another to do when this is finished. The call came in this morning.’ His eyes shone with delight.
‘That’s wonderful, Sam! When you’ve fully recovered will you go back to racing or will you now branch out into this new line of business? I know it was your ultimate dream.’ She held her breath as she waited for his answer. After seeing him crash, she dreaded him returning to the race circuit.
He saw her worried expression and slowly drew her into his arms. ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you, sweetheart?’
She wanted to yell, ‘Yes! Yes!’ but she knew how much he loved racing. ‘You have to do what’s right for you, Sam, or you’ll end up a frustrated old man.’
He looked at her and slowly shook his head. ‘You hate seeing me race, but you’d still support my decision if I said I’d go back on the track, wouldn’t you?’
She felt sick. ‘Of course I would. I love you.’
He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Relax, sweetheart, I’ve decided to retire from racing.’
Connie burst into tears.
Both Tom and Harry emerged from the engine to see what was going on.
‘It’s all right, boys, everything’s fine. I’ve just told Connie I will no longer be racing. You know women, they are such emotional creatures!’
He wiped away the tears trickling down her face. ‘We are on our way, Connie darling. This is the start of something big. Once I’ve got this business established, we’ll get married, then you won’t have to work … except at looking after me.’
‘Perhaps I can help you in the business,’ she suggested. ‘I’m used to going to work; being at home all day will drive me mad. After all, how often can you clean a house?’
He thought for a moment. ‘Well, if you feel that way, you could help with the paperwork, at least until we have children.’
She began to picture life as Mrs Sam Knight. How wonderful it would be. Especially now she knew she wouldn’t have to worry about Sam racing, wondering if he would survive each race uninjured.
She hugged him. ‘It all sounds wonderful.’
‘And it will be, I promise.’
It was the first day of the trial and as Jake dressed he felt the tension in every bone in his b
ody. He had met with his solicitor, declaring his innocence, lying convincingly, he thought. He didn’t know if the solicitor believed him, but he knew that, no matter what, it was the man’s job to try and get him off the charges made against him. He was arrogant enough to believe he could convince the judge and jury he’d had nothing to do with it.
The three men were led into the dock together, not speaking to each other. As he mounted the steps and stood in the dock, Jake looked round the court room and saw Sam Knight, his two mechanics and his girlfriend sitting among the visitors.
Sam gazed coldly at him.
The trial began with the prosecutor stating his case. He explained to the jury in detail how the men had ordered the wrong building materials and how they had kept the money they made and shared it between them. He also explained how dangerous this had been, with the building being unsafe due to the incorrect materials being used, and how the building had to be destroyed at great cost to the council.
Edward Harrington had returned from France to give evidence. He told the court how he’d noticed that the girders were not the ones he’d ordered and how, from that, the whole scam had been discovered. Then Edward’s foreman gave his evidence. And so it went on until the judge called an end to the day’s proceedings.
As Jake and the others were led away, Jake caught hold of Gerry Cooper’s arm and, beneath his breath, he threatened him.
‘You shop me and I’ll get you, no matter how long it takes!’
Cooper shook off his hold and was led away to the cells to wait overnight.
The following day, Stan Bates, the man who’d worked in the suppliers and had worked the fraud with Gerry Cooper, took the stand. His hands shook as he took the oath.
The prosecutor rose to his feet. ‘Mr Bates, I believe you have worked for Billings Brothers for a number of years, is that right?’
‘Yes, sir, six years next February.’
‘Have you ever been in trouble with the law before?’
‘No, sir, never!’
‘Would I be right in saying you are or were a trusted member of staff, who ran his department to the satisfaction of your employers during this time?’
