‘Miss Poor Little Victim,’ Kelly repeated. ‘Yes, for a while I was exactly that but, d’y’know something Fiona? I’m not that woman anymore. Now,’ she said, picking up the photograph and standing. ‘I want letters of explanation written to my editor, Hugh Todd, and to Elliot Mannion, the manager of Books Inc, to inform them that it was you who made and sent those photographs and that I was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. If I’ve not had confirmation that the letters have been received within two days, I will take further action and expose you for the nasty piece of work that you are.’
Fiona laughed but for the first time she looked slightly less self-assured. ‘Who’d believe such a ridiculous story?’
Kelly shrugged and picked up her handbag. ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few days, Fiona, is that it doesn’t matter whether there’s truth in the story or not, it just matters how forcibly it’s told.’ Her eyes hardened. ‘With Mike on my side, we can make sure it’s told very forcibly indeed.’
She left the apartment with her bag swinging from her hand, feeling lighter than she’d felt in a long, long time.
Outside the apartment, she stood a moment taking deep breaths. And then, from the corner of her eye, she saw West getting out of his car.
He ran toward her, stopped inches away and looked at her. Whatever he saw in her face must have satisfied him because he nodded and smiled. ‘I was going to take you for a celebratory lunch,’ he said, ‘so I went home early. The photographs were on the table.’
‘She won’t be bothering us again, Mike,’ she said.
‘You’re damn right she won’t,’ he said, fire in his eyes at the thought of what she’d done. ‘I’ll have her charged. This will be the end of her career.’
‘No,’ Kelly said, reaching for his hand. ‘She’s going to write letters of explanation to Todd and Mannion, it won’t remove the damage but it will lessen it. She’ll leave us alone now, that’s all I want.’
Seeing his hesitation, she squeezed his arm. ‘Please, this is the best way. Not dragging it all through the courts and reliving it again.’
‘Ok,’ he said, bending to place a kiss on her lips. ‘We’ll do it your way.’
Kelly breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Now,’ she said, linking her arm in his and walking toward her car, ‘you mentioned celebrating. Does that mean you’ve solved the case?’
He nodded. ‘Let’s go somewhere and I’ll tell you all about it.’
‘And we can talk about that hotel in Aughrim you want to take me to. Let’s go soon before something else happens.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said, with a reassuring smile. ‘Foxrock will be quiet for a while.’
And with that promise, he saw Kelly to her car before returning to his. He stood for a moment before getting in and looked back to the apartment block where Fiona lived. He hoped he was doing the right thing in not bringing charges. After all, if he’d brought charges against Denise Blundell, Ken would still be alive.
But Kelly was right. It would be a messy case, the photographs purporting to be Kelly would have to be submitted in evidence and Fiona would probably get off with a suspended sentence.
He climbed in the car, switched on his engine and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. She’d mentioned being recently promoted. He wondered if that entailed a new contract. And a probationary period? His eyes narrowed and he pulled out his mobile. Her boss, Stephen Doyle, was a decent sort; he’d have a quiet word. If she were on probation, he would make sure it wasn’t extended.
Fiona Wilson would be advised to look abroad. He’d make sure of it.
He’d get it done and he’d take Kelly to Aughrim.
And Foxrock would be quiet for a while.
I hope you enjoyed Death in Foxrock, if you did please think about leaving a comment on Amazon, reviews are the lifeblood of the Indie writer.
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Other novels by Valerie Keogh
GARDA WEST SERIES:
THAT ONE MAY SMILE
CLOSE RANKS
MURDER ON CLARE ISLAND
HUDSON & CONNOLLY SERIES:
DEADLY SLEEP
TWISTED POWER
BITTER BUSINESS
WICKED SECRET
AND ALSO
EXIT FIVE FROM CHARING CROSS – A DOMESTIC NOIR NOVEL.
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Death in Foxrock (A Garda West Crime novel Book 4) Page 24
