The Daughter

by Michelle Frances

  ‘Well, this is a surprise,’ said Jill. Kate held her gaze and the two women stared at each other for a moment. Kate stood her ground, her eyes burning.

  Then Jill indicated a chair on the other side of the desk. ‘You had better take a seat.’

  SIXTY-THREE

  Kate lowered herself into the chair. Placed her bag carefully at her feet.

  ‘You look . . . hot,’ said Jill.

  ‘I ran.’

  Jill nodded. Waited for Kate to speak. ‘How can I help?’ she prompted.

  Kate was about to open her mouth when there was a short rap on the door and Anil appeared with a glass of water, which he placed on the desk, on a smooth marble coaster, before disappearing again. Kate downed the lot. Then she placed the glass back on the desk while Jill waited patiently.

  ‘I need your help,’ said Kate.

  ‘I see,’ said Jill.

  Suddenly Kate was nervous. Nervous of Jill saying ‘no’. Nervous of having to step back out of this cool office into – what? She was no longer safe.

  ‘When I spoke to you a few months ago, I mentioned a case I was putting together for some people, as their litigation friend.’ Kate saw Jill’s eyes harden but she ploughed on. ‘They’ve been subjected to pesticides and herbicides, in particular a product called Crixus, which is sprayed in their homes and gardens from the nearby farm. It’s caused a number of serious illnesses. I’m trying to get them compensation.’

  Jill sat forward. ‘I really don’t think—’

  ‘Shut up,’ said Kate, keeping her tone pleasant. ‘Shut up and listen because this thing, what I’m about to tell you, is big.’

  Jill had frozen and Kate could see she was on the verge of throwing her out. She smiled her friendliest, widest smile and held her breath, then, mercifully, Jill gave her a tight nod.

  ‘I’ve been researching for months. Watertight evidence is hard to find. The company responsible hides it well. They threaten those who dare to challenge them. But yesterday I got actual proof that the manufacturer knew what they were doing was wrong.’ Kate leaned down and unzipped her bag and put Adam’s document on Jill’s desk. As Jill flicked through it, Kate scrutinized her face for her reaction.

  ‘Interesting,’ said Jill, looking up at Kate.

  Interesting? It’s a great deal more than that!

  ‘But now I need you to take over. To run this,’ said Kate. ‘I am way out of my comfort zone.’

  Jill paused. Kate saw her expression turn into one of sympathy and she knew what was coming.

  ‘Look, everything you’ve done here,’ said Jill, ‘it’s really commendable—’

  ‘I need you to make this happen,’ said Kate urgently.

  ‘But I’m rather full at the mo—’

  ‘Please don’t let me down.’

  Jill spoke patiently, as if explaining to a child. ‘As I was saying, a case like this is going to take a large amount of time—’

  ‘Do you not feel ashamed?’ snapped Kate. ‘You are as bad as the companies. Companies who put profit above everything else, even if they knowingly make people ill to do it. This is about responsibility, transparency, public accountability, or in my book, actually giving a damn!’

  Kate stood, moved to the front of Jill’s desk and started jabbing her finger on its shiny, varnished surface as she spoke. ‘I don’t give a monkey’s about these so-called laws that say it’s OK to spray herbicides right up against gardens where small children are playing. The corporations know it’s wrong. They are hiding behind rules that are wrong. The rules have to change.’

  Jill went to speak, but Kate held up a hand. ‘I haven’t finished. I think I should bring these people here. Then you can explain to Arnie, a six-year-old boy who’s spent nearly a quarter of his life in hospital because he happens to live near a field that’s sprayed with chemicals, why you don’t want to help. Or Abby, a twelve-year-old girl who’s got to have part of her brain cut out because she happens to live near a field that’s sprayed with chemicals. Or Sunita, who’s ever fearful of her breast cancer coming back and leaving her two young children without a mother, all because she happens to live near a field that is sprayed with chemicals. I’ll bring them all.’

  Breathless and emotional, she paused. Pulled back her shoulders in a dignified manner. ‘My daughter died trying to expose this story. She was working as a trainee journalist, and on her way home one day she was deliberately knocked off her bike and killed by these people who see profit as more important than my daughter’s life.’

  The room fell silent. Jill was watching her. Neither said anything. Kate held her breath.

  ‘So, what do you want to do – get compensation or change the rules?’ asked Jill.

  ‘Both.’

  Jill nodded. ‘OK.’

  ‘OK, what?’

  ‘OK . . . I’ll do it. If there’s a case, which it sounds like there might be, I’ll do it.’

  ‘They don’t have any money,’ said Kate fiercely.

  ‘I get that. I’ll do it on a pro-bono basis.’

  It took a moment before Jill’s words sank in. ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Seriously.’

  ‘Oh my God.’ Kate couldn’t believe it. She suddenly collapsed back in her chair, swamped with relief and a rising euphoria.

  ‘So now we have to go through everything you’ve done so far with a fine-tooth comb,’ said Jill. She pulled out a yellow executive pad. ‘Can you stay?’

  Christ, she could hardly leave. Greg was still out there – and Tim . . .

  Worried, Kate looked up. ‘Yes, I think so. I mean, I just need to make a quick call first.’ She indicated that she needed to leave the room and Jill nodded.

  As Kate moved away, Jill spoke up: ‘How’s the little boy?’

  Kate turned back.

  ‘You mentioned a little boy who was sick. When we last met. I take it that’s Arnie?’

  She remembered. Kate smiled cautiously. ‘It’s looking good. He gave us all a scare a few weeks ago but he’s on the mend again.’ She opened Jill’s office door, about to ask the PA if she could use his phone, when the words died on her lips.

  Tim was sitting in a chair by the window, looking out onto the street. The PA was typing away, a faint click, click on his modern keyboard. Seeing Kate in the doorway, he suddenly stopped.

  Tim turned his head. He jumped up and ran to her. ‘Are you OK?’

  Kate nodded, flinching as she saw his face. ‘You?’

  ‘Fine.’ Tim gingerly touched his swollen eye. Smiled. ‘You should see the other guy,’ he drawled.

  She let out a pained laugh. ‘Where is Greg?’

  ‘Police took him away. He punched one of them trying to do a runner. They’ve got him for assaulting a police officer. I also told them he’d kidnapped you.’ Tim nodded back towards Jill’s office. ‘How did it go?’

  Kate broke into a grin, eyes shining.

  His eyes widened. ‘Really? She’s going to do it?’

  ‘I found this document – well, I was given it. It’s proof, Tim. Proof about Crixus and how dangerous it is.’

  He hugged her so hard she could hardly breathe.

  ‘Hey!’ she gasped, and he let her go.

  Kate smiled. ‘You were amazing back there. You crashed the bus!’ she said in awe. She started laughing. ‘You crashed the bus! What’s work going to say?’

  ‘I may be fired.’

  ‘Oh, Tim . . .’

  ‘Never mind.’

  ‘I need to go back in . . .’

  He looked at her proudly. ‘I’ll be waiting.’

  SIXTY-FOUR

  ‘Hey, Mum, don’t you ever do anything like that again.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Don’t act the innocent. My God, I thought it was bad enough when you were challenging scrotes on the shop floor at B&Q. But then you go and get in a car with that murdering bastard, crash it . . . my God, anything could have happened.’

  Becky was sitting on the branch of ‘her’ tree, loo
king down at Kate. She looks too big for it now, thought Kate: her legs were dangling almost to the next branch down.

  ‘What else could I have done?’

  ‘Walk away?’

  ‘Never,’ said Kate vehemently. ‘I could never do that.’

  ‘Wanna come up?’ asked Becky, patting the bark next to her.

  Kate grinned and climbed the tree, finding it surprisingly easy. In a matter of seconds, she was sitting next to her daughter. The view was astonishing, a green canvas as far as the eye could see. The light had a golden quality to it, and on the horizon, there was a silver-like shimmer that seemed to glow.

  ‘What?’ she exclaimed. ‘Is that the sea? Since when have you been able to see the sea from Crawley?’

  ‘It’s different up here,’ said Becky in a faraway voice. ‘Not like Crawley.’

  When Kate looked again, she could see. It was different.

  ‘So, no more crazy stuff? You promise?’

  Kate smiled. ‘I think it’s going to be OK now. There’s Jill, she’s going to take this to court. She’s all fired up. She gets scary when she’s like that.’

  ‘Good. You did it. You’re amazing. An amazing, clever Mum.’ Becky nudged her shoulder and the two of them leaned into each other.

  ‘I might have to climb higher,’ said Becky, looking up into the canopy.

  Kate raised her head. The branches appeared to go on far into the sky, the tree in full leaf, an abundance of optimism and life. She could see glimpses of blue sky, way up above. A sudden panic gripped her.

  ‘I don’t want you to go.’

  Becky smiled. ‘I won’t fall, Mum. Not anymore.’

  She lifted herself up and took hold of the tree trunk. Then she started to climb, higher and higher. Kate watched, tears pouring down her face, but she knew it was the way things were. Then Becky looked back down, meeting her gaze. She gave a little wave.

  ‘I did it for you, you know,’ called Kate.

  ‘I know,’ said Becky. ‘And I love you for it.’

  EPILOGUE

  Jill arranged for a class action lawsuit to be served on Foxgold Ltd and Greg Hollander, and a date was set by the court for the following summer. With Kate’s research and Adam’s document, Jill was able to prove a causal link between the actions of herbicide spraying and the claimants’ illnesses.

  The trial took two weeks and the judge ruled in favour of the claimants. The defendants were ordered to pay £57 million, divided amongst the families of Ramsbourne. The judge made the exceptional decision to make a provisional award of compensation to the claimants to allow them to reapply to the court should their health deteriorate significantly in the future.

  Greg was arrested for assaulting a police officer, kidnap and soliciting to murder. He denied all knowledge of Becky’s death being deliberate and organized. Bail was refused on the grounds that the crimes were of a very serious nature and the witness needed to be protected.

  Janković was arrested for the murder of Justin Holmes.

  Jed Craven was arrested for the murder of Becky Ellis.

  Greg, Janković and Craven were all found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

  Abby’s operation was a success, and, after further radiotherapy treatment, she is now in remission. With the damages awarded through the lawsuit, Rob was able to clear his mortgage and take his family on a much-deserved holiday.

  Sunita is still clear of breast cancer. Her children never knew how ill she was. One day she plans to tell them.

  Ian and Hazel followed their dream to move to Italy. He had eight years in the sun before the cancer took over. He died in his home in a small village in Umbria.

  Arnie is still in remission, and for a seventh birthday present, he and his twin brother John received a puppy, who they called Rocket. Rocket regularly chews their Lego and occasionally deposits it while they’re out walking – not through sprayed fields.

  Adam fled to the continent, withdrawing as much cash as possible before he went. He stayed at a small B&B in a tiny village near the French–Swiss border until he learned of the news of Greg Hollander a few weeks after Greg’s arrest. Only then did he return to the UK. The Herald sought an exclusive interview with him, with Terence running the story.

  With the success of Kate’s lawsuit, Dr Zayan was able to find a lawyer to file a case for the children of his village. They were also successful, winning significant compensation for all claimants. Dr Zayan’s professional reputation, which had been in dispute following the damning reports written by Senerix scientists, was fully restored. He continues to write industry papers and articles on the human cost of pesticide and herbicide spraying and recently featured on a Time magazine cover.

  Kate accepted Tim’s proposal of marriage and they tied the knot in Shoal Bay in Anguilla. A small number of friends attended, including Iris, who reignited her friendship with Errol. To this day, Errol still denies ever leaving an envelope at their hotel.

  Kate and Jill’s case was a landmark ruling that triggered a snowball effect of similar cases in the UK, Europe and internationally, including some of the biggest compensation claims seen in the USA since the 1990s tobacco scandal. As a consequence, governments are being forced to review agricultural and horticultural pesticide-and-herbicide spray regulations.

  Kate is still studying law and accepted a position at Jill’s firm as a paralegal working towards a traineeship. They continue to advise numerous claimants and lawyers around the world who are seeking compensation for similar cases. She combines this with looking after her new baby son, born a year after her marriage.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  During the course of writing this novel, an extraordinary piece of news hit the headlines in the summer of 2018. In a stunning blow to one of the world’s largest agrochemical companies, jurors in California told Monsanto that they must pay $289 million in damages to a man dying of cancer, which he alleges was caused by exposure to Roundup, one of the world’s most popular herbicides. Lawyers for this man – who worked as a school groundskeeper, regularly spraying the sports fields – uncovered corporate documents that indicated that Monsanto had long known about, and covered up, the dangers in using their products. Monsanto is appealing. They argue that Roundup, a glyphosate-based product, is safe. They claim that the evidence has been misrepresented.

  Despite Monsanto attempting to stop their internal emails and reports being available to the public during the course of the trial, the judge overruled them, and they can be found readily on the Internet. They make for sober – and astonishing – reading.

  It’s not just in the USA where stories of the dangers of herbicide and pesticide spraying are hitting the headlines. Here in the UK, chemicals are regularly sprayed on fields, and there are numerous reports of the catastrophic harm it can cause to those living or working nearby. A simple search on the Internet will reveal a plethora of information on this highly contentious subject: everything from reports on agrochemical corporations’ tactics to harass journalists, conspire with regulators and hide and distort scientific reports, to articles on those countries currently working to ban glyphosate or restrict its use. The personal testimonies of the dozens and dozens of people affected leave you with your heart in your mouth.

  The characters and scenarios in this book are all a work of fiction but are drawn from interviews, evidence and reports on the use of pesticides and herbicides in our fields here in the UK, and around the world.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thank you to my very special editor, Trish Jackson; I am forever grateful for your guidance and insight. Also to Jayne Osborne, Rosie Wilson, Mel Four, Sam Sharman, Eloise Wood, Karen Whitlock, Lucy Wai, Becky Lloyd, Stuart Dwyer, Rebecca Kellaway, Holly Martin, Andy Joannou and everyone at Pan Macmillan who worked so hard to get this book published.

  Gaia Banks, I’m very lucky to have you as my agent. Also huge thanks to the wonderful Lucy Fawcett and Alba Arnau, Markus Hoffman and Joel Gotler.

  I would like to express a
very heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped me while I was researching this book. Georgina Downs, who tirelessly campaigns to change the law on pesticide and herbicide spraying on our fields. Hannah Price-Harries, thank you for all the time you gave up patiently answering my ‘what if’ litigation questions; you are a legal genius. Viki Hill and Soroya Thethi, your passion and steadfastness in cancer care is awe-inspiring. Anna Stimson, thank you so much for all the police procedural knowledge and advice. All the mothers, whose stories of campaigning for justice for their children have inspired me. Thank you also to both Nicholas Parton of Opus Pear Tree Forensic Accounting and Karim Kiffin of Kiffin Consulting for the insight into the world of forensic accounting, and I’m sorry, Karim, that the novel didn’t end up in Jamaica!

  As ever, a big thank you to my wonderful family for all their support – Mum, you are a one-woman publicity machine – also Dad, Sally, Rhys, Ettie, Neil, Tina, Leila and Brandt.

  Finally, my husband, Jonny, and Livi and Clementine, for always believing in me.

  PRAISE FOR MICHELLE FRANCES

  ‘Brilliantly twisty, a sharp, sinister and addictive read’

  Sunday Mirror

  ‘I was blown away. The Girlfriend

  is the most marvellous psychological thriller’

  Jilly Cooper

  ‘Tension oozes from the pages’

  i newspaper

  ‘A fab debut with two twisted women at its core’

  Prima

  ‘Utterly compulsive reading’

  Jenny Blackhurst

  ‘An original and chilling portrayal of twisted relationships’

  Debbie Howells

  ‘A fantastic psychological thriller . . . We couldn’t put it down’

  Take a Break

  ‘Taut and suspenseful’

  Heat

  THE

  DAUGHTER

  Michelle Frances has worked in television drama as a producer and script editor for several years, both for the independent sector and the BBC. The Daughter is her third novel, following The Girlfriend and The Temp.