by Melissa Hill
‘Do you know who actually does own this place?’
Alex shrugged. ‘I have no idea. I’ve always dealt with an agency, and once the rent stays reasonable and the landlord stays out of the way, I can’t say I’ve ever really thought about who it belongs to. Either way that won’t help us, because if these two were here before you, then I’m guessing they were leasing too.’
‘Isn’t there anything you can remember about them?’ Leonie probed, remembering that unlike her, Alex at least had some knowledge of the couple in reality, albeit from a distance. ‘Anything that might help with the search?’
‘Like I said, they pretty much kept to themselves, and so did I. I bumped into him a couple of times on the way out the door, but I can’t recall seeing her at all.’
‘So what did he look like?’ From the couple of letters she’d read, Leonie had already built up a picture of Nathan as being your typical romantic hero: tall, handsome and brooding, irrespective of the fact that he had never once made reference to his appearance.
‘Pretty ordinary looking, from what I remember,’ Alex said, instantly bursting her bubble. ‘Medium height and build, although a bit on the tubby side too – I’d say he liked his beer,’ she added, wrinkling her nose, and now Leonie was almost sorry she’d asked. What had started out as a vision of George Clooney was very quickly morphing into Homer Simpson!
‘But now that I think about it, there was also something a bit…I don’t know, something kind of intense about him.’
‘Intense in what way?’
‘Well,’ Alex screwed up her eyes as she thought back, ‘I remember one day we were both heading out to work at the same time. I presume he was heading to work, because he was wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase,’ she added in an aside. ‘So I said hi, and right before he replied he gave me this… odd look, kind of like he was sizing me up or something.’
‘Sizing you up.’ Leonie repeated flatly.
‘Yes, you know the way guys in clubs sometimes run their eyes over your body as if giving you marks out of ten? Well, it was kind of like that.’
‘Oh no.’ This sounded completely at odds with the Nathan had imagined from the letters. The way Alex was talking, he sounded almost sleazy!
‘I’m only telling you what I remember. Like I said, I didn’t really get to know them while they were here. It was only for a year at the most.’
‘But you said you heard them argue sometimes?’ Leonie said, recalling what she’d told her before.
‘Yes. But the floorboards are ancient here, so that really wasn’t too difficult.’ Alex grinned. ‘I guess you should keep that in mind in case you’re thinking of bringing any guys back.’
‘Well, you needn’t worry about that,’ Leonie said tightly.
Alex looked back at the computer screen. ‘So yeah, I guess he was a bit sleazy, the way a certain type of married guy can be –’
‘They were married?’ Leonie gasped. Suddenly, the circumstances surrounding the couple’s separation had become a lot more interesting. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Sorry, I thought you already knew,’ Alex said off-handedly. ‘And I guess I noticed he was wearing a wedding band.’
‘Wow, this is even more serious then, isn’t it?’ Leonie said, her mind racing. ‘I don’t know; for some reason I’d just assumed they were boyfriend and girlfriend. I didn’t think for a second it might be more than that.’
And seeing as it was more than that, then she had to do whatever it took to get those letters back to either one of them, didn’t she? Especially when there was so much more at stake. She picked up one of the opened letters and again read the last line.
Please forgive me.
Alex seemed to read Leonie’s thoughts. ‘Well, seeing as he definitely had an eye for the ladies, I think we can probably guess what went wrong, can’t we?’
‘Oh I hope not,’ she said despondently, really hoping this wasn’t the case. From these letters, Nathan certainly didn’t sound like your typical cheat, but then again, what would she know?
‘Anyway,’ Alex continued, turning back to the laptop. ‘I really don’t know what else to tell you about them that could help us find Helena. You don’t know what she did for a living, and I can’t tell you what she looked like. So maybe we should try searching for him instead?’
‘Good idea.’
She watched while Alex typed in another Google search, this time for Nathan Abbott, and again within the relevant parameters. And almost immediately her friend’s eyes widened. ‘Aha! Now this looks promising,’ she declared, as Leonie leaned forward for a better look.
‘What?’ she asked, staring at the screen. ‘What am I supposed to be looking at?’
‘See this here?’ Alex pointed at one of the listings. ‘It’s a website for a stockbroker firm that lists a Nathan Abbott as one of its senior employees.’ She turned to look at Leonie, her eyes shining with anticipation. ‘It certainly fits with the suit and the briefcase, doesn’t it?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘And maybe I was wrong about the federal-type postmark, but if he’s sending the letters from the office, they would almost certainly be franked,’ Alex continued enthusiastically. ‘Granted there’s no photo here, but he’s the only Nathan Abbott listed in the search that fits. All the others are too young or way too old. But the biggest thing,’ she said, her excitement growing, ‘ is that the firm is based downtown, right across from the TransAmerica building.’
Barely a mile away, Leonie realised, her heart beginning to race with excitement.
‘You should give him a call tomorrow and ask a few questions.’ Alex said, opening up the firm’s contact page onscreen.
Leonie felt a strange mixture of nervousness and excitement. Could this really be the Nathan whose letters she’d been reading? The one who’d been declaring undying love to his wife and asking for forgiveness? And if it was, what would she say to him or more importantly how on earth would she explain how she’d come about finding him, let alone the letters?
‘So yes, I think we might just have found our man,’ Alex grinned triumphantly at Leonie, before saving the relevant page to her PC. ‘See – how hard was that?’
Chapter 10
‘Hello stranger,’ Grace said in greeting, and although her tone was warm, Leonie still sensed that her friend was a little bit put out by the fact that she hadn’t been keeping in touch as often as she had initially. ‘Sorry for phoning so early, but with the time difference it’s hard to know when to catch you.’
‘No problem and it’s great to hear from you!’ she replied smiling. It was just after eight in the morning, so by Leonie’s reckoning, it had to be lunchtime back home. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t phoned myself – it’s just been really busy, and work has been crazy …’ Even as she said the words she knew they sounded weak. She wasn’t phoning as much now because she supposed she was trying to leave most of her old life behind, for the short term at least.
‘The job’s going well, then?’ Grace asked.
‘Yes, I’m really enjoying it. Marcy’s lovely – you’d like her actually – and she’s really helped me settle in here. I’ve started making a few friends too.’
There was a short pause. ‘Oh. Well that’s good, I suppose.’
‘So listen, how are you, how are the twins?’
‘Oh, don’t talk to me about those two,’ Grace groaned, sounding much more like herself. ‘Wait till I tell you what they did last week. …’
Leonie listened while her poor friend described the terrible twosome’s latest exploits. She and Ray were mortified after recently discovering that Rocky and Rosie had been pocketing chocolate behind her back on shopping trips to Tesco. They were only made aware of it when Grace was one day gently taken aside by a security guard and informed as to what was going on. ‘I nearly died!’ she said still horrified. ‘Imagine, they’re barely three years old and already they’re carrying on like little hooligans! What in God’s name will they be like
when they’re teenagers?’
Despite herself Leonie had to laugh at the idea of Rocky and Rosie as mini versions of Bonnie & Clyde. ‘What did Ray say when you found out?’
‘He said what he always says Lee – absolutely bugger all! No, as usual it’s up to mummy to dole out punishment and be the bad guy.’ Leonie knew that Ray wasn’t exactly a hands-on dad, and was such a soft touch he probably wouldn’t be able to carry out any punishment anyway.
‘Ah you poor thing. But listen, how are the holiday plans going? The last time we spoke you were in the process of booking something.’
Grace harrumphed. ‘I think that’s definitely on the long finger now. Sure, you couldn’t bring those two out of the country; they’d probably get arrested for terrorism or something!’
‘That’s a pity – it sounded like you were really looking forward to it.’
‘I was more looking forward to the break to be honest, but I don’t think that’s likely anytime soon.’
‘Well look, try not to stress about it too much, I’m sure it’s just a phase they’re going through.’
‘I sincerely hope so.’ Grace gave a deep sigh.
‘So how are things otherwise?’ she asked, changing the subject. ‘Anything strange at home?’ Then she winced, hoping that this didn’t sound like she was fishing for news of Adam or anything.
Because she really wasn’t.
Still Grace was no fool. ‘Well, seeing as you asked ... he’s been in touch again.’
‘Who has?’ Leonie asked trying to sound innocent, but inside her heart was racing.
‘Who do you think? Adam phoned again looking to find out where you were. And look, I know you’re my friend and my first loyalty is to you, but you have to realise what a terrible position all this is putting me in. Even though I’ve told him upside down and inside out that I don’t know, I think he knows full well that I do.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry…’ Now she felt terrible. It wasn’t fair to Grace but at the same time she prayed with all her heart that her friend wouldn’t have betrayed her confidence and told Adam where she was.
‘I haven’t told him anything and I’m not planning to either, but it’s difficult. He’s being very insistent. And to be honest Lee, I also think he’s worried. As far as he’s concerned, six weeks ago you just disappeared off the face of the earth.’
‘Yes, but with good reason,’ Leonie countered, not knowing what to make of this. She wasn’t sure whether to feel worried or relieved that Adam was still anxious to know her whereabouts.
‘Maybe, but you know I think you should at least have given things a chance to settle down before making such a rash choice.’
Now Leonie remembered why she’d been reluctant to phone Grace recently. She knew they’d end up having the same argument over and over again about her decision to leave.
‘It wasn’t a rash choice Grace – it was the only choice. And it looks like it was also the best one. Things are great here, I’m feeling much better and best of all I’m miles away from…everything.’
‘Well I wouldn’t be so sure it was the best choice Leonie,’ Grace interjected softly. Then she sighed. ‘I suppose I might as well tell you.’
Leonie’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Tell me …what?’
Grace paused for a moment before continuing. ‘Well, Adam mentioned it the last time we spoke, and I wasn’t sure whether to say anything, but well… Suzanne’s moved in.’
Dublin – Three years earlier
Leonie had understood right from the very beginning that Suzanne could be a problem. Well, perhaps not right from the beginning, but definitely within a few weeks of her and Adam’s return from Tunisia when they started seeing one another seriously.
Mostly because he never stopped talking about how brilliantly she and Suzanne would get along.
‘She’s going to just love you,’ he’d say, and every time he said it made Leonie more and more uncertain about this being the case. ‘You’re going to get along great.’
She’d been incredibly nervous from the outset when Adam told her he’d arranged for them to meet for the first time.
He organised for them all to go out for dinner in town, and Leonie hoped he’d book somewhere informal and easygoing, like Cactus Jacks or TGI’s. But then he informed her that Suzanne was ‘a little particular’ about the places she liked to frequent.
‘Particular in what way?’ Leonie queried, concerned that maybe Suzanne was a fussy eater, or perhaps shy?
‘Shy?’ Adam guffawed. ‘Not a chance!’
So all she knew about Suzanne so far was that she was ‘amazing’, not in the least bit shy, but at the same time ‘a little particular’. And of course there was the tiny detail of her being the most important person in Adam’s life up to now.
Not that Leonie was claiming any greater importance, but given that their relationship was rapidly becoming more serious, she’d like to think she took at least second place in his affections.
‘I’ve booked a table at Bang,’ he said, referring to one of the city’s trendiest restaurants. A bit of a celeb hangout, it wasn’t exactly the kind of place Leonie would have chosen for a first meeting. ‘She’s been there a few times, so I know she likes it.’
‘Great, well I haven’t ever been there, but I’m sure it’ll be lovely,’ Leonie said, agreeing to meet him and Suzanne at the restaurant at seven the following Friday night. It would be handy for her, as it was close to the office and she’d be coming directly from there.
But for the entire week leading up to the dinner, Leonie just couldn’t dispel her nerves. She couldn’t quite understand this, Suzanne would hardly be an ogre, but right up to the very moment she arrived at the restaurant, she couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about all this.
Although the fact that Suzanne seemed very eager to meet her should really have given her some comfort.
‘She has me driven demented, wanting to hear all about you, what you look like, the kind of clothes you wear – everything!’ Adam informed her. ‘And I told her that you were a wonderful person who makes me very happy,’ he added, kissing her on the nose. ‘Which is of course, the truth.’
That evening, Leonie was led to their table and found she was first to arrive, which at least gave her time to gather her thoughts and calm her nerves. What the hell was wrong with her? This was going to be fine; no doubt she and Suzanne would click on sight, and end up being firm friends from here on in.
‘Hey, you’re here!’ Adam boomed, and with a start, Leonie looked up to see that her dinner companions had arrived. Adam looked handsome as usual in light-coloured Levis and a navy Fred Perry shirt. Alongside him stood the famous Suzanne.
Leonie gulped. Tall and blonde, she was wearing a daringly low-cut top, very short miniskirt, vertiginous heels and an expression that could only be described as thunderous.
‘Hi,’ she said, standing up from the table to greet her, as Adam handed their coats to the maitre d’. ‘Hello Suzanne, it’s really nice to meet you.’
‘Hi.’ Patently ignoring Leonie’s outstretched hand Suzanne gave a flick of her expensively-styled blonde hair.
‘The traffic was just crazy, wasn’t it Suze?’ Adam said, missing the snub. He took the seat alongside Suzanne, leaving Leonie facing the two of them. ‘And I thought we’d never get a parking space. Are you here long Lee?’
‘Just in before you,’ she replied easily, trying to hide her discomfort at the fact that Suzanne had steadfastly blanked her. She was quite beautiful though, she thought, trying not to stare at the other girl, who now had her nose buried in the menu. A perfect little button nose.
‘So what’s good here?’ Adam said, after the waiter had taken their drinks order. ‘Suze, you’ve been here before, is there anything you’d recommend?’
‘Yes, I was thinking about having the lamb, have you tried that?’ Leonie asked her eager to open a safe topic of conversation.
Suzanne looked up from her menu and gave Leonie a look
that would cut diamonds. ‘I wouldn’t know.’
‘Suzanne is a vegetarian,’ Adam interjected easily, completely unaware of any atmosphere. ‘Has been for ages now, haven’t you?’
Well what on earth are we doing here then? Leonie wondered, her eyes once again raking over the menu to see that it was heavy on meat dishes with little, if any vegetarian options. And according to Adam she was a regular?
Suzanne sighed and put down her menu. ‘I don’t feel well,’ she exclaimed theatrically and Adam turned to look at her, frowning.
‘What is it? Not another headache I hope.’
Leonie reached for her handbag. ‘I have some aspirin here if you want …’
‘I already took some,’ Suzanne interjected curtly. Leonie was taken aback by her tone; Adam was looking at her with an exasperated expression, while Suzanne in turn was sporting a pout that would make a three-year-old proud.
‘Are you feeling faint, is that it?’ Adam asked. ‘Here, drink some water; it might help cool you down.’
‘I don’t want any damn water,’ Suzanne snapped. ‘I think I want to go home.’
‘But Suze, we just got here, and Leonie really wanted to meet you.’
Huh? Leonie thought puzzled. Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way round?
‘But I don’t feel well!’ Suzanne whined again.
‘I’m really sorry Lee,’ Adam said hesitantly, and Leonie looked at him. He wasn’t giving in to this kind of behaviour, surely? ‘Suzanne hasn’t been very well lately so it might be best if we just head away.’
Leonie couldn’t believe it. Talk about being twisted around someone’s little finger!
The girl looked up, an expression of intense relief on her face, or was it triumph?
But in fairness to Adam, he looked mortified, so Leonie decided to make it easy for him.
‘Hey, it’s no problem – go and look after her,’ she insisted. ‘We can always do this another time.’
‘Are you sure?’ He looked away uncomfortably. ‘I’m really very sorry about this, and I don’t like abandoning you…’