by Rhoda Baxter
Great. I've ballsed up my career and my love life in one morning. Fabulous.
##
From: Terence Wattley
To: Susan Jameson
Susan, what the hell is going on with your staff? Keith has just made an official complaint against Marshall. Apparently, he threatened to hit him but, as far as I can gather, didn't actually hit him--Keith was a little evasive on this point.
I can't ignore this, obviously.
Terry
##
From: Susan Jameson
To: Terence Wattley
I doubt Marshall would have attacked Keith for no reason. Heaven knows, I've been tempted to hit Keith myself a few times. Let me find out what's going on before you launch an official investigation. I'll talk to their respective secretaries and see if they can shed some light onto the situation.
Susan
##
From: Terence Wattley
To: All_Partners
On behalf of the Discipline sub committee: Threatening behaviour
In the matter of the complaint against Mr. Marshall Winfield made by Mr. Keith Durridge with regard to threatening behaviour.
It is recommended that Mr. Winfield and Mr. Durridge both be suspended from work, pending an inquiry into the matter. The inquiry will be handled by Ms. Susan Jameson and Dr. Alison Sallet.
The delivery of outstanding work from either gentleman will be negotiated within the relevant groups.
Terry Wattley
##
From: Terence Wattley
To: All Staff
Mr. Marshall Winfield and Mr. Keith Durridge
Both of the aforementioned will be suspended pending investigation of certain allegations. The doorcode has been changed.
The investigation will be carried out by Susan Jameson and Alison Sallet.
Terry Wattley on behalf of the partners
##
From: James Edwards
To: Marshall Winfield
Fwd: Mr. Marshall Winfield and Mr. Keith Durridge
Have you seen this?
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: James Edwards
Yeah. I've just seen it. Bang goes my promotion then.
Never mind. I'm past caring, to be honest. If I can just talk to Jane and sort all of this out, I'll be happy.
Although if I knew I'd get into this much trouble, I would have actually punched Keith. My life would still be ruined, but at least I would have had the satisfaction that he would need new teeth.
Marshall
##
From: James Edwards
To: Marshall Winfield
Stevie says that you're sitting outside Jane's apartment? Is this true?
Man, you must have it bad.
I'll do what I can for you at this end.
Jim
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: James Edwards
What can I say? I love her. I realise that now more than ever.
I still can't believe she'd take Keith's word over mine.
M
##
From: Jane Porter
To: [email protected]
My job is in jeopardy, my relationship with Marsh is a mess. My life is totally destroyed. I hope you're happy.
Jane
##
From: [email protected]
To: Mike Taylor
Dude. Had an email from Jane. She's really upset. I didn't realise your plan would mess with her personal life so much.
Any chance we could call this off?
Ashby
##
From: Mike Taylor
To: [email protected]
I explained the strategy to you and you agreed with it at the time. Too late to call it off now.
Besides, it's working. Have you seen the message boards? Everyone is talking about you. And your album will be out next week. The timing is perfect, even though I say so myself!
Now, you let me worry about the publicity and you guys concentrate on what you do best! Make music.
##
From: [email protected]
To: Mike Taylor
Call off the hounds or we go public about it all being a gimmick.
Pete, Josh, Lee and Ashby
PS: We mean it.
Chapter 25
Jane crept up to the door and peered through the spy-hole. She couldn't see anything. Just as she was about to retreat again, Marsh's head popped up.
"I thought I heard you walking." His face was distorted by the spyhole.
Jane knew he couldn't actually see her. "Go away."
"Not until you talk to me."
"No."
"Well," he said, "you don't actually have to open the door for me to talk to you."
Jane put her fingers in her ears. She could hear muffled sounds of Marsh talking as she walked back to her room, but couldn't make out the words. Fine. There was nothing he could say that could make this better.
* * * *
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Marshall Winfield
How are you getting on? Any progress?
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Stevie Winfield
No progress. She won't open the door or even talk to me through it.
I really, REALLY need coffee, but I can't leave here.
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Marshall Winfield
Why don't you call up the local café and see if they'll deliver you one.
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Stevie Winfield
Don't be ridiculous. Can you imagine the conversation?
"Where would you like it delivered to?"
"The corridor outside flat 32, please."
"Flat 32, got it."
"No, the corridor outside. Oh, and there's no point buzzing to be let in, she won't let you in. You need to ask the guy at the desk to send you up to the floor..."
No, I think I'll have to remain caffeine-less for now.
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Marshall Winfield
How did you get in, if she didn't buzz you in?
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Stevie Winfield
I followed someone else in. I just have to hope she's not so cross that she calls security.
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Valerie Fenwick
Val, have you got an email address or phone number for Jane Porter?
Marsh is sitting outside her flat, trying to talk to her and she's not letting him in. He's had about 2 hours sleep and only one cup of coffee. Things could go horribly wrong if someone doesn't do something.
Love
Stevie
##
From: Valerie Fenwick
To: Stevie Winfield
I only have her work email address: [email protected]
I'll see if I can get any more info from HR. Str
ictly speaking, I'm not supposed to divulge this sort of information.
Val
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Jane Porter
Hi Jane
My name's Stevie Winfield. I'm Marsh's sister. I don't know if you can pick up your work emails from home.
Marsh told me what happened. I just wanted to say that he would NEVER do what you accused him of.
Let me tell you about my brother. When my parents died, I was 13 and he was 21. He became my legal guardian. Rather than give up uni, he bought the flat for us to live in, and he studied, did up the flat and looked after me all at the same time. He became my Mum and Dad and my best friend as well as my brother. Any semblance of normality I have in my life is because of him.
Does that sound like the sort of man who would betray the girl he loves, just to get his face in the paper?
Also, his career was the only part of his life that he felt like he had any control over and he threw himself into it. It means the world to him. Trust me, I know. There is NO WAY he would jeopardise this promotion by doing something like this.
I understand that you got your information from Keith. He's a sleazebag and not above lying and cheating. He made a pass at me when I was 17. I wouldn't believe a word he says.
That's all, really. Marsh loves you. He wouldn't do anything to hurt you.
Stevie
Xxxx
* * * *
Jane was stalking around the flat, trying to ignore the fact that Marsh was still on the other side of the front door. If she stood still and listened, she could hear soft tiptap of his fingers on the keyboard. An image of him, sitting hunched up on the floor, working, floated into her mind. She shook her head and turned on the TV. Loud.
It was odd, knowing he was out there. It was almost like it was before, when she had been trapped in the flat, unable to go out because of people lying in wait for her outside. At least she wasn't frightened of Marsh. Angry, yes, but not frightened. She tried to concentrate on what was on telly. At some point in the middle of "Murder She Wrote", she fell asleep.
The sound of voices in the corridor woke her. Marsh was talking to someone. Jane hit the mute button on the TV and listened. Polly's voice. She heard them talk back and forth, and then Polly's key grated in the lock. She sprang to her feet and spun round to face the door.
Polly smiled at her apologetically. "I think there's someone here wanting to talk to you." She stepped aside to let Marsh through.
Ever since her conversation with Keith, Jane had been seething about Marsh and what he'd done. In her mind, she'd painted him as two-faced and evil. But the Marsh who shuffled in, still stuffing his computer into his bag, looked anything but evil. His hair was a mess, there were bags under his eyes and his suit was crumpled, just as though he'd been sitting on the floor in it.
Completely against her better judgement, Jane felt the urge to throw her arms around him when he gave her a tentative smile.
She remembered why she was angry and pulled herself together. "I have nothing to say to you."
"Hear me out," he said.
Behind him, Polly slipped away to her room.
Jane crossed her arms. "Fine."
"I didn't do it. All that stuff you accused me of, I didn't do any of it."
"Of course you're going to deny it. You'd be stupid not to." Whatever else she could call him, she knew he wasn't stupid.
"But Jane, why would I do it? I knew you wanted to be left alone. What possible reason would I have to tell the press where you are?"
Her anger reignited. "How should I know how your twisted mind works? Maybe you just wanted your face in the papers? Or to tell everyone you'd slept with a famous bird." The minute she said it, she wondered if that was true. Her stomach twisted with disgust at the thought.
Marsh's face was a picture of horror. "That's just ridiculous. I can't believe you'd even think that."
"And what about Dominique?"
"What about Dominique?" He looked genuinely puzzled. "What does she have to do with anything?"
"Oh, so you deny that you two are still together?"
"Oh course I bloody deny it! We split up ages ago." His frown was turning into a glare. He was losing his calm, but she didn't care.
"Who lives with you in your flat then?"
"My sister. Stevie."
"Oh yeah? What about the perfume?"
He stared. "What bloody perfume?"
"Aha!"
"For heaven's sake!" He reached in his bag, tore a corner off a protruding piece of paper and scribbled something down. "Here. She's there now. Call her."
Jane didn't move.
Marsh let the paper drop. He stepped closer and his eyes flashed with anger. "Look, you insane woman, Keith is lying. He wanted to stitch me up. It was probably him that told the magazine in the first place."
Jane backed away. "Why on earth would Keith lie? What does he have to gain?"
"You don't know the guy." His tone was bitter..
"You're right. I don't know him any more than I know you."
"And yet you trust his word over mine?"
When Jane didn't respond, he went on. "I knew it was a mistake to fall for you. Before I met you, I was set to be promoted. Now, thanks to all this, I'll be lucky to have a job tomorrow. And you know what? Until five minutes ago, I would have thought it was worth it.
"I would have thrown away the job of my dreams and started over, just to be with you." His mouth twisted down at the corners. "And it turns out that you don't even trust me enough to stand up for me when Keith spins you a ridiculous yarn. I can't believe I was so stupid!" He glared at her, hurt and resentment etched on his face.
All the fight suddenly drained out of her, leaving her close to tears again. "I don't know who to believe anymore."
The anger in his eyes subsided. "Perhaps that's something you need to work out for yourself. I'm just sorry I got involved."
He turned and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
Chapter 26
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Stevie Winfield
Am coming home. Make coffee.
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Marshall Winfield
Oh dear. I take it things didn't go well then.
I will have coffee ready for you. And I've just been out to get more ice cream. Chunky Monkey okay for you?
Stevie
##
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Stevie Winfield
Thanks.(:-)
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Marshall Winfield
You're welcome.
Us Winfield kids should stick together, right?
X
* * * *
Jane stared at the door for minutes after Marsh left.
"Well, that didn't go so well," said Polly, making Jane jump.
Her thoughts were a jumble of hurt and anger. The piece of paper with Marsh's phone number lay at her feet. She picked it up.
"For what it's worth, I believe him," Polly said.
"I don't know, Polly. I'd like to, but who else would have known where we were going for dinner?"
"God, he could have mentioned it to anyone."
"I don't think he did. He was always very keen on keeping everything hush hush. Which is why it makes sense that he's probably still got a girlfriend. I mean, there's clearly a woman living in that flat from time to time." She waved a hand, as if gesturing at a shelf full of cosmetics. "There's Cosmo magazines and cellulite scrub and everything."
"Maybe it is his sister's, like he said."
Jane sank into a chair. "Maybe."
"Look, why don't yo
u call the flat and find out. He said she was there at the moment."
Jane looked at the paper. "What if it's Dominique and she pretends to be his sister?"
"So phone and ask for Dominique then. If it's her, she'll say so, won't she?"
"I guess."
Polly thrust the phone at her. "Go on. Do it before he gets home."
To her surprise, her hands were shaking as Jane punched out the numbers. She took a deep breath and put the receiver to her ear.
"Hello." A female voice.
"Uh..." Her throat had gone dry.
"Hello?"
"Is Dominique there, please?"
There was a short silence. "Who is this?" the woman said on the other end. When Jane didn't reply, she continued, her tone frosty. "Dominique doesn't live here. She never has. I don't know where she is, so I can't take a message."
"Oh. May I know whom I'm speaking to, please?"
"This is Stevie Winfield. Who are you?"
Not knowing what to say, Jane hung up.
"Well?" said Polly, who was perched on the end of the sofa.
"She said she was Stevie Winfield." Jane looked at the number on the paper. It was a London number, but that was all she could really deduce from it. "It might not have been the number to his flat. He had hours to cook something up. He could have asked Dominique to pretend to be Stevie..."
Polly made a disgusted noise and rolled her eyes. "I give up! If you won't help yourself, then there's no point me even trying. You really have to let go of this Ashby thing, Jane. If you don't, you'll end up sabotaging every single relationship you have. Just because Ashby was a rat bag doesn't mean Marsh is, too. Until you get that into your head, you're never going to be happy."
Chapter 27
From: Marshall Winfield
To: Susan Jameson
Hi Susan
The finalised report, as promised. Let me know if you need anything else.
Marshall.
##
From: Stevie Winfield
To: Louise Edwards
He's just texted to say he's coming home. Apparently, it didn't go well.
I can't believe she took Keith's word over Marsh's. What a moron.
##
From: Louise Edwards
To: Stevie Winfield
Keith can be very persuasive and charming when he wants to be. It comes from having no scruples whatsoever.