Devious intention, p.15
Devious Intention, page 15
“I bet she’s really shaken up now, after all that’s happened to her. Maybe she should consider coming up to Worcester, to stay with you guys for a while, just until we can sort out the extradition for Matt.”
“I’ll try, or I might go down there for a day or two.” Out the corner of her eye, Ellie saw Brian gesticulating, waving the notes of the new cases in his hand. She pulled a face at him. “The work is mounting up around here, but I’m sure my intelligent husband and our capable assistant can deal with it. I felt really bad not being there for Louise last night. She’s a nervous wreck as it is.”
“Let me know what you decide to do. I’ll be working on the extradition side of things today. I think it’ll be a few weeks before we can sort it out, to be fair.”
“That’s a shame. I want him back here, getting punished for the shameful stunt he’s pulled on Louise. I dread to think what Sophie must be going through over in Spain, with this new woman showing up out of the blue. The whole thing sucks for everyone else involved, except Matt and his bit of stuff.”
“Hey, I totally agree with you on that score. I need to get back to work, Ellie. You mentioned something about a favour?”
“Yes, I want to know if Matt has taken out any form of life insurance against Louise. I thought that might be the motive we’re looking for as to why he tried to kill her in the accident, but we can’t seem to find a national database for life insurances. I presumed there was one, but I was wrong. Therefore, if it’s not too cheeky, I wondered if you would mind searching through his bank statements for me to see if anything shows up. A company name would do, and I’ll do the rest at this end.”
“Hang fire a sec. I have his statements hidden in my desk here.”
Ellie heard her brother open the desk drawer and curse under his breath. “That’s strange… they’re gone.”
“What? Are you sure you tucked them away in that drawer?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Let me look into it and get back to you in a while.”
Before Brian could reprimand her about her intended trip, Ellie picked up the phone again and rang Louise. She waited anxiously for her client to answer. Ring after ring, and nothing. She glanced over at Brian and shook her head in dismay.
“Hang up and try again. You might have punched in a wrong digit.”
Ellie did as Brian suggested. After the fifth ring a breathless Louise finally answered. “Hello?”
“Louise, it’s Ellie. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, sorry, I was in the shower. Needed something to wake me up as I didn’t drop off to sleep until five this morning.”
“That’s a shame. You should have rung us if you were scared.”
“I’m all right. It’s surprising what creaks and groans you find yourself subjected to during the night while staying in an old property. The good news is that the intruder didn’t come back, thankfully.”
“That’s great to hear. I promised I’d ring today to make sure everything is all right. I’ve got my brother on the life insurance policy angle. We couldn’t find anything out ourselves, so Jim is going to delve into Matt’s bank statements, see if anything shows up there.”
“So we’re no further forward, then. Is Jim also looking into Matt’s extradition, or does he have to play ball with Interpol on that issue?”
“Yep, it’s out of his hands at present. Look, Brian and I have decided that it would be best if I came down there and stayed with you for a few days, just until Georgina comes back. Do you have any objections to that?”
“I can’t let you do that, Ellie. I’ll be fine. Although, if I have another sleepless night like the last one, I think I’ll regret not taking you up on your kind offer.”
“That’s settled, then. I’ll be there around one o’clock. Remind me of the address again please?”
“Are you trying to wrangle a few days away by yourself, by any chance?” Louise laughed and gave Ellie the address of Georgina’s flat.
Ellie sniggered. “Don’t bother with doing anything to eat. We’ll catch up over a pub lunch, okay?”
“If you insist. I can’t thank you enough for this, Ellie. You truly are a friend in a million.”
“See you later.” Ellie hung up and rose from her chair. “She hasn’t slept. I’m really worried about her, and Jim thought it would be best if I go and stay with her.”
Brian shook his head. “Ellie, you can’t keep swanning off like this. We have a business to run.”
“I’m not swanning off, Bri. The woman desperately needs our help. I hate the thought of her being alone after what occurred last night. I’ll nip home, throw a change of clothes in a bag, and drive down there.” She kissed him hard on the lips, smothering another objection.
“Looks like you’ll be free to come out on a lads’ night out tonight, Brian,” Alistair shouted out.
Ellie spun around and glared at him. “Umm… there’s a small matter of caring for Cally to consider.”
“He’s teasing. I wouldn’t do that to either you or Cally. Go, if you really have to. Drive carefully.”
Ellie smiled and blew him another kiss, glad that they weren’t parting on an argument.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After packing an overnight bag, Ellie got on the road and drove down to Hitchin. Over two and a quarter hours later, Ellie knocked on Louise’s door.
“Who’s there?” she called.
“Hi, Louise. It’s Ellie.”
The door opened, and Louise flew into her arms, almost knocking her backwards onto the pavement. “Oh God, I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been so worried being here on my own.”
“You’re safe now. Let’s get inside, before the neighbours start to gossip.”
Louise showed Ellie through the larger-than-average flat into the small kitchen at the rear. She pointed at the window. “That’s where he got in.”
“Have the forensic team been to search for evidence?”
“Yes, they arrived just after you rang and left about twenty minutes ago.”
“Did they give you any hints as to whether they found any evidence or not?” Ellie asked.
“No. They were really tight-lipped. I bet you’re in dire need of a coffee.”
“I am, thanks. I’ll leave it a day or two and see if Jim can chase up the forensic results for us. It’s so good to see you. You should have come back to Worcester with us.”
“I know. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing coming back here, but after being confronted by that man last night, I was obviously mistaken. I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders now that you’re here.”
“Let’s have a drink then go out for some fresh air. How’s that?”
“A nice walk to clear my head would be lovely. Would you mind if we dropped by to see the house? I tried to go the other day, but my feet wouldn’t take me farther than the end of our road. I just want to say goodbye; knowing that you’ll be there to support me will make the whole experience far easier to cope with.”
“Of course. Here, you sit down. I’ll pour the drinks. Shall we have lunch before we go to the house?”
“Maybe that would be best. We used to go to a charming pub in the centre of town. They do excellent bar meals.”
“That sounds great to me.”
They chatted about the time they spent in Cornwall for the next fifteen minutes then left the flat to go to the pub. Ellie laughed at the name when they arrived. “I better not tell Brian we visited The Cock today. He might get the wrong idea.”
Louise laughed and linked arms with her. It was good to see her smile after she’d looked so down when Ellie arrived at the flat.
They sat by the window and waited for the waitress to take their order.
“Good old fish and chips for me,” Ellie said. “Sod the diet for a change.”
“I think I’ll have the same.” Louise handed the menu back to the waitress. “Is there anything specific you need to do while you’re down here? Like call in to see Matt’s business associate again, for instance?”
Ellie shook her head. “I think that would only be a waste of time. It would be best if we steered clear of there for now. Otherwise, it might highlight to his associate that we’re still chasing Matt. We should keep our heads down until Jim has been in touch with Interpol and secured an arrest warrant for him. How are you? Emotionally, I mean.” Ellie still had no intention of mentioning the other woman before they were absolutely certain about what was going on between Matt and the mysterious woman.
“I’m getting there. Still miss them both desperately, especially Sophie, but I have to say my perception of Matt is in doubt after what you’ve told me. It was naïve of me to think I could still love him after what he’s done. Let’s face it; the bastard has stripped me of everything I own and love.”
“Of course you miss them. It wouldn’t be natural if you didn’t. We’re still looking into Matt’s motives for treating you so horrendously. At the moment, it’s pointing in the direction of the clients he’s been defending over the years. Mess with fire, and it has a tendency to come back and bite you in the arse eventually. We won’t let him get away with this, Louise.”
“I know. I trust you. I’m just sorry I don’t have the funds to pay for all your out-of-pocket expenses right now. That’s the hardest part in all this—that I have no money of my own, no one to ask for help financially.”
Ellie tilted her head. “Have you been eating properly since you’ve been back?”
Louise chewed her lower lip. “Not really. Saying that, I haven’t had much of an appetite, either. The last thing I wanted to do was eat Georgina out of house and home while she was away, after kindly letting me stay at her flat.”
“That’s sorted, then. We’ll stop off at a supermarket today to pick up some supplies.”
“Ellie, no! I can’t—no, I won’t allow you to spend yet more money on me. You’ve already been so kind.”
“Nonsense. You have to eat. Anyway, I’ll need to eat while I’m here, so I’ll just be buying the food for myself really. Do you think Georgina will mind me staying with you?”
“No, she’s an angel. She has a heart of gold. If anything, she’ll be grateful that you’re watching out for me and annoyed that she can’t be here herself. She rang me briefly this morning to see how I was. I didn’t tell her about the intruder; I thought she had enough on her plate already. She sounded so sad, I suggested that I travel down to London to comfort her, but she said there was no room at her uncle’s house, as all their distant relatives had started to descend upon them.”
“That was kind of you. Let’s hope she won’t be away too long. I don’t envy her; I hate funerals. I’ve never had to arrange one myself. I can imagine it must be an unbearable task, though.”
The waitress arrived with their meals. As they ate, Louise visibly relaxed, eagerly relaying anecdotes of what Sophie had got up to during her short time in this world. The story about Louise’s daughter eating a worm didn’t really sit well with Ellie, but she had a hard time supressing a smile. Again she found herself wondering why, or how, Matt could ever contemplate leaving such a lovely person, let alone doing the dirty on Louise. Twenty minutes later, they decided to take a walk, hoping to shift some of the excess calories they had consumed. Louise took Ellie to a place where she and Sophie used to feed the ducks.
“It’s a shame we didn’t think to bring any bread with us,” Ellie said, watching the other parents and children joyfully feeding the ducks on the large pond.
“I agree. Sophie used to forsake her bread soldiers with her boiled eggs just so we could come down here and feed her feathered friends.”
A chill suddenly made Ellie shudder. She cast her eyes around the park, but nothing strange caught her eye. She kept a watchful eye on her surroundings, just the same.
Louise’s nattering ceased. She looked thoughtful and sad once again.
“Everything all right?” Ellie asked.
“Yes, I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I miss not being able to have a cuddle with Sophie. We used to spend half our day cuddling each other and sharing special mother-and-daughter time together while Matt was at work. Now all that has gone, stolen from me, and there’s little I can do about it.”
Ellie rubbed her arm gently. “You’ll get that time back, Louise. Please don’t lose hope now that you’ve come so far.”
“Have we? Come far, I mean. Yes, we know where my daughter is, but you hear it all the time in the news about these criminals running off to Spain, out of reach of the authorities over here. Sometimes these people spend years living open lives in luxury on the Costa del Sol without ever fearing the British authorities. What if that happens with Matt?”
“Things have changed since we joined the EU, love, although the recent Brexit referendum will probably alter things eventually. I’m not denying that there are still some devious buggers who slip through the net, but it’s getting easier to haul their arses back here and sling them in prison, where they belong. I’m sure that’ll be the case with Matthew once we get Interpol on board.”
“Will they take into account that he’s a solicitor and that he’s defended criminals on a daily basis?”
Ellie nodded. “I should say so. Let’s not deal in ifs and maybes. Let’s think positively from now on, eh?”
“I’m trying, but it’s getting harder the longer I’m apart from Sophie. All I keep thinking about is what he’s told her about me. He could have told her that I’ve gone off with another man for all I know.”
“I can’t help you there, love,” was all Ellie could think of saying to dispel her friend’s concerns. To her, Sophie hadn’t appeared to be in any kind of distress, neither when she was alone with her father nor in the company of the other woman.
“I’d like to visit the house, if that’s okay with you.”
To Ellie, visiting the house Matt had sold would only cause Louise more pain, but she understood Louise’s reasons for wanting to go there. “I’ll do anything you want to do, Louise.”
They strolled out of the park and travelled the three roads between the park and what used to be Louise’s home, in silence. They stood opposite the house and stared at its grandeur. Louise didn’t say a word, just sighed now and again.
Ellie tucked her arm inside Louise’s when she realised her friend had started to cry. “Please don’t punish yourself like this, love. Come on, we should get a move on before the shops shut.”
“You’re right. We shouldn’t have come. Far too many memories have been stirred up standing around here.”
Louise wiped the tears from her eyes. “I wouldn’t have had the courage to come here if you hadn’t been with me, Ellie. Thank you again for all you have done—and are doing—for me.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me. Brian and I like to see justice served, and I assure you, once we bring Matt back to this country, he won’t know what has hit him. No amount of backhanders he dishes out will get him out of this one.”
They walked back towards the supermarket close to Georgina’s flat. After buying the much-needed supplies and filling a couple of carrier bags, Ellie and Louise returned to the flat. They were busy talking as they turned into Georgina’s road.
Ellie heard a fast car behind them, then a man in front of them pointed behind them and shouted, “Watch out! He’s driving straight at you!”
Grabbing Louise’s arm, Ellie pulled her into the nearest garden.
The car sped past, missing them by inches.
“What the hell was that all about?”
The man who had warned them appeared in the gateway to check they were all right. “Good Lord, you ladies were lucky there.”
“Thanks for the warning. I dread to think what the outcome would have been if you hadn’t shouted. Did you get the registration number?”
The man shook his head. “Sorry, never thought to get it, love. We get lots of young louts around here who enjoy nothing better than causing havoc on the streets. I bet it was a joyrider.”
Ellie thought back to the moment in the park, where she had the feeling someone had been watching them. Why didn’t I listen to my gut feelings back there and investigate it further?
“Do you live around here?” he asked.
Louise pointed to Georgina’s flat. “I’m flat-sitting for a friend while she’s away.”
“I see. I know the young lady in question, lovely lass. Let me help you with your shopping. I hope you’ve got a tot of whisky in there to help calm your nerves.”
Ellie smiled as the man took the bags from their hands. “I wish. Maybe I should go back and buy some. Would you mind staying with Louise until I get back?”
“Not at all. Or I could nip to the shop for you,” the kind man suggested.
Ellie agreed it would be for the best if she stayed with Louise herself even though she had intended to call Jim on her journey back to the supermarket. Instead, she would have to ring him in Louise’s company. She opened her purse and took out a tenner to give to their middle-aged hero with the kind face. “If you don’t mind. That’s really thoughtful of you, thank you.”
He deposited the heavy shopping bags outside the front door of the flat and rushed off. “Be right back,” he called over his shoulder as he sprinted in the direction of the supermarket.
Louise and Ellie entered the flat and quickly slammed the door behind them. “That was a close shave, Ellie. If it hadn’t been for that lovely man warning us, that car would’ve hit us for sure.”
“I know. Try not to think about it. You wait in the lounge, watch out for the man to come back, and I’ll pop the kettle on and put this lot away.”
“What if the person driving the car returns? Do you think it’s the same man who broke in here?”
“Truthfully, I can’t answer that. Let’s hope it was just a coincidence.” Ellie left Louise in the lounge and walked into the kitchen. After filling and plugging in the kettle, she took her phone out of her pocket and called her brother. Jim answered after the first ring. “Hi, sis, are you ringing to tell me you’ve made it down to Hitchin all right?”
