by Lynda Stacey
There had been a time, after the accident, when she’d wondered if she’d ever drive again. She had fond memories of driving around North Yorkshire with her grandmother, and it was only the memory of that which had actually got her back in a car, driving. At first, she’d forced herself to take short journeys around the moors. She’d gone looking for and picking heather, even though she didn’t need or want any. And on days when the sun had shone, she’d spent hours looking for the perfect picnic spot, and then sitting quietly to watch wildlife, all the time daring herself to get back in the car and to drive back home. Even now, on occasions, she’d begin sweating or feel nauseous and would have to keep stopping the car to sip water, or to wipe her hot, clammy hands on a small towel that she now kept in the door pocket for such an occasion.
Kate took note of the time and reversed out of the drive. She had just twenty minutes to get to Bedale. A quick calculation meant that she only just had enough time to get to work for her nine a.m. start. She cursed inwardly while repeatedly and anxiously keeping one eye on her watch, the other eye on the road. She drove carefully. She hated to be late and normally prided herself on her timekeeping, but the carpet had been stained and she’d had to at least try her best to repair the damage.
The road between Caldwick and Bedale was unbelievably clear, which was quite unusual for a Monday morning and the car gained momentum, snaking around the long isolated roads and past the low stone walls. It was April and the fresh spring morning air made the drive pleasant, and Kate smiled as she saw sheep, scattered through the fields, all with newborn lambs by their side. Kate found herself slowing the car down to a crawl while she watched a beautiful white swan cautiously herding its six young cygnets away from the road and into the safety of a nearby pond. The swan watched vigilantly as one after another of her babies jumped in with a splash, before making their way to the safety of her side. It reminded Kate of days before the accident, days when she, James and her sister Eve would run side by side, just as the cygnets did. Days when their mother had cared enough to shepherd them to safety. Days when they’d been a family group and the happier days she’d had before the isolation she felt following the accident. It had been as though she’d become invisible, as everyone had rushed to take care of her mother, father, and Eve.
Pulling into the town, she looked at the clock embedded in the church tower. It was just five minutes before nine o’clock and she felt her breathing begin to relax. She drove over the cobbles, past pedestrians and cyclists who were also making their way to work. A parking space appeared before her and she aimed for it, knowing that she had no time to spare.
‘Nooooooooooo!’ she screamed as her foot slammed down on the brake. She narrowly missed the silver BMW, which had swiftly slid in front of her and into the space that should have been hers.
‘That was my space, you moron,’ she shouted shakily through the open window of her car, which now stood in the middle of the cobbled road, with nowhere to go. She knew she’d overreacted and felt the need to apologise to the driver, but there was no time. She had to move the car, find another parking space and get herself to work.
It was exactly nine o’clock by the time she’d parked. Near misses were not good and for a moment, she just sat and waited for her breathing to calm and for her heart to stop palpitating heavily in her chest.
Memories of the accident flashed through her mind, the car that came from nowhere, the screech of brakes, the sound of metal upon metal and then the darkness.
Parker & Son was situated close to the church. A double fronted Victorian terraced house with no signage, it stood impressively between two similar properties. A wine bar stood to the right and to the left was what looked like a new bakery. It had no signage either, but the smell of fresh bread drifted out from the open door, making Kate’s mouth water. Not only had she missed breakfast due to the wine spilling incident, but cleaning up after it had meant that she hadn’t had time to make herself any lunch either.
Kate felt a tinge of excitement. She couldn’t wait to see what lay beyond the shiny, jet-black front door and reached out for the polished brass door handle. Taking a deep breath, she checked her clothes one last time, flicked her hair back, straightened her skirt and with a look of confidence, stepped forward.
‘Oh, hi, you must be Kate?’ A woman stood up from behind the reception desk and smiled. ‘I’m Gloria.’
Kate stepped forward and allowed the door to close behind her. Gloria fumbled with a packet of Hobnob biscuits, until they spilled out onto a small china plate. She then held out a hand to where Kate stood.
Gloria had a warm smile. She was elegant, looked around fifty years old and had soft, short, golden hair. She was a mixture of Mary Poppins and a younger version of her grandmother, which made Kate feel immediately comfortable.
‘Sit down, honey. I’ll put the kettle on.’ Gloria walked to a small table that stood in the corner of the room. ‘I bought the biscuits in your honour. Do you want some coffee?’
Kate nodded appreciatively. ‘That’d be great, thank you.’ She took a seat on the brown leather settee. ‘What a lovely room,’ Kate said as she looked around the reception and admired the deep skirting board and ornate coving. Half the room was overpowered by a huge traditional high-fronted mahogany reception desk, the other half taken up by the leather settee on which she sat.
‘Mr Parker will be ready to speak to you in a minute; he was just taking a call.’
Kate sipped at the coffee. Her stomach grumbled nervously and she searched the walls for something to talk about.
‘It’s fine. I really don’t mind waiting. It’s nice to have a few moments to compose myself, especially after being late. I had a nightmare of a morning.’ She began to explain. ‘First, I had a spillage accident at home, last night’s wine.’ She pulled a face. ‘And then, I was just about to pull into the space right outside the door, when some moron stole my parking space. I ended up having to park right down at the bottom of the high street.’
‘Ah, I think that moron may have been me?’ A deep assertive voice filled the room, just as a man’s broad six-foot frame suddenly occupied the ornate doorway that stood between the reception and a hallway beyond. ‘Ben Parker,’ he said as he held out his hand to shake hers. Kate looked up and gasped as she took his hand and caught the deep density of his eyes. They were jet black with a sparkle that came from somewhere deep within. He released her hand and she glanced down to take in the expensive cut of his suit, which screamed money and her heart sank as she looked between Ben and the entrance, wondering how quickly she could make an exit. Shouting like a banshee had not been the impression she’d wanted to give her new boss, especially on her very first day.
‘Ah, I see you and Ben have already met. Coffee, Ben?’ Gloria asked completely ignoring Ben’s comment and automatically picked up a third cup before Ben had the chance to reply.
Ben stood for a moment without speaking. Kate seemed nice and he was angry with himself for having taken the parking space, wishing instead that he’d played the gentleman and given up the space to her. At least then, they’d have got off to a better start and the atmosphere in the room would have been a little less edgy.
He looked her up and down. She was stunning and looked perfectly proportioned; she was beautifully dressed and her smile immediately caught his attention. She looked nervous, which was probably his fault, but her high cheekbones and expressive brown eyes held his attention for much longer than he’d intended. Even her clothes were beautiful; they were expensive and gave her a certain quality that he admired.
‘Your coffee.’ Gloria passed him the mug, smiled and glanced between him and Kate.
‘Thanks.’ He looked fondly in Gloria’s direction, caught her eye and discreetly shook his head. He knew by the look on her face that Gloria would have loved to play matchmaker. He knew she wanted to see him happy again, but mixing business with pleasure would never be a good thing and Gloria knew it, giving him a sense of relief that at least th
is time she’d leave well alone. The last thing he needed right now was for Gloria to try and fix him, make him whole again, repair his damage, like everyone else had tried to do. It was as though the world didn’t see you as a whole person, not unless you were attached to someone else. But the sudden death of his wife, Julia, had taken its toll and even though it had happened four years before, the thought of moving on had never crossed his mind. It was only recently that he’d realised that his life was empty and that he needed something more than work.
‘Hobnob?’ Gloria’s voice broke through his thoughts and he took the biscuit from the plate, turning himself purposely back towards Kate’s gaze. He once again held it for just a moment too long. His entrance had obviously shocked her and he was enjoying himself, watching her indecision.
‘Kate. When you’re ready, maybe you’d like to follow this moron through to the office,’ he said with a cheeky smirk and a wink, as he turned and strode from the room. ‘Mr Parker’s waiting and unless you’re the prime minister, you shouldn’t keep him waiting for very long. He doesn’t like it.’
Kate’s head spun between the door that Ben had walked through and Gloria, who had picked up another Hobnob, taken a bite and then waved it frantically in the air, indicating to Kate that she should follow.
‘Go on, William doesn’t bite, honestly. No matter what Ben says.’ Gloria continued to nibble at the biscuit, which she held in one hand, while she stirred her mug of coffee with the other.
‘But … I thought Ben was Mr Parker,’ Kate questioned as she jumped up from the settee, straightened her clothes and stepped towards the door.
‘He is dear, he’s Mr Parker junior. The Mr Parker that you’re about to meet, your boss, is his father.’
Kate felt the tension once again rise up in her chest; her hands felt hot and clammy and her heart began to beat rapidly. Again, she looked toward the exit.
Should she run now, or later?
She swallowed hard. She was determined not to fail. She caught her breath and pulled the door open, to find herself in a corridor where there were several closed doors and a staircase which rose up before her. Each new obstacle added to her already indecisive morning. And, as though things hadn’t been bad enough, she now had two Mr Parkers to deal with. But she’d been in worse situations than this. Hadn’t she? How bad could it really be?
She studied the doors. Which one would Ben have gone through? She began to play ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, mo’ in her head as a tall, slim, dark-haired man rushed out from one of the rooms, almost colliding with her in his haste to leave the building.
‘Oh, hi there, how you doing?’ He grinned. He seemed to pause and waited as Kate smiled back. She raised an eyebrow and once again she looked between the doors. The man pushed his over-sized glasses up his nose.
‘Well, the idea of working here seemed so much more fun when the woman at the employment agency told me I had the job,’ Kate said as she held out her hands. ‘Where did he go?’
‘Doesn’t it always? And if you’re looking for Mr Parker’s office, it’s in there.’ His smile faded as he looked at his watch and pointed to a door.
‘Thank you.’ The man’s face looked familiar, but Kate couldn’t place him and looked over her shoulder to where he now raced through reception, before nervously entering the room.
The office was bright and filled with light and in comparison to the reception was quite modern and airy. It had obviously been recently refurbished. The smell of fresh paint still lingered in the air and there was no sign of the traditional ornate decor anywhere. The desk was huge and impressive. It was curved, made of oak and behind it sat an older, more distinguished looking duplicate of Ben.
‘Now then, Miss Duggan, please take a seat.’
Kate nodded and sat down in the tub chair that stood before his desk. She glanced across at Ben who was perched against a sideboard. She was hoping for reassurance, but his hands were clasped tightly together and although he smiled, his face gave nothing away.
‘Welcome,’ William Parker said as he ran a hand through his dark, peppered hair. The tiny speckles of grey were just starting to appear by his sideburns, making him look older and more mature than Ben and she guessed that he’d be around twenty-five years Ben’s senior. He crossed his legs, to reveal shiny black shoes that could have been used as a mirror. Kate loved well-kept shoes and she made a decision that her new boss had to be nice. Why else would he take so much care about his appearance?
‘Thank you so much and I’m so sorry that I was late this morning,’ she announced. ‘I really didn’t mean to shout at your son.’ Kate was nervous and tried to cover her tracks, just in case Ben had told him about the incident.
‘Don’t apologise for being feisty, we like feisty women, don’t we, Ben?’ He grinned, stood up and walked back and forth behind the desk, finally perching against the windowsill. His hands clasped together, matching Ben’s mannerisms and they both studied her in a silence that seemed to go on forever.
Kate took note that Ben had purposely failed to answer his father’s question, which made her wonder why, or how scary Mr Parker might really be after all?
‘So, you want to be a private investigator?’ he said, his words suddenly slicing through the silence, like a newly-sharpened knife.
‘Yes, sir, I’d like that very much. The agency that recommended me, well, they thought I’d be ideal for the job.’ Her answer had been polite and it occurred to her that his words could have been either a statement or a question. ‘You see, sir, I’ve always been interested in the law.’
‘So I see. You’re twenty-eight, is that right?’
‘Yes, sir, I am.’
‘And you worked for the Metropolitan Police. As a constable?’
‘I did. Yes, sir.’
‘My dear, my name’s William, not sir, I don’t like it … and you’re correct, the agency has always been excellent at sending us the right candidates. That’s why we ask them to do it.’
He walked away from the window and to the front of the desk, perching on its edge, allowing Kate to look him up and down. Like Ben, his suit looked expensive. Even his haircut screamed money. ‘I see you went to law school?’
Kate nodded. ‘Yes, I did. I graduated with honours.’
Ben stepped forward, a file held in his hand. ‘Father, Kate not only graduated with honours, her reports say that she was the perfect student.’ He smiled and Kate saw that the sparkle was back in his eyes.
‘So, why didn’t you go into law? You could have become a solicitor.’
Kate shrugged. Closed her eyes for a moment and thought about her answer. ‘You want the truth?’ She looked at him for permission to continue. ‘I guess I wanted to annoy my father.’
Both William and Ben looked at one another and smiled.
‘Sound familiar, Ben?’ William asked and gave Ben a knowing look. ‘My son here used to do everything he could to annoy me too. Must be a generational thing.’
Ben walked back to lean against the sideboard. He shifted uncomfortably against it and looked down at the floor.
William studied the file. ‘The scar on your face. It happened just over a year ago, am I right?’ He tapped his pen on the file. ‘There was a place on the application asking about your personal life and about anything that could affect your role. Did you not think this relevant?’
‘No, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was.’ She took in a deep breath. ‘How did you find out about it? I don’t normally tell anyone.’ She looked between both William and Ben. The accident was personal and she hadn’t written anything about it on the application form but now realised that she was going to have to explain. She looked down, purposely holding the scarred side of her face away from him, and held back the tears. She hated the scar and hiding it had become a habit since the accident; it was hideous and the fewer people that saw it, the better.
William coughed, drawing her attention back to where he sat. ‘Of course we know, Kate. Don’t be alarmed and don’t ta
ke it personally. It’s what we do. It didn’t take Ben a moment to find out about your background.’ He laughed. ‘He is a private investigator, after all. Doing these checks are second nature to him. Once trained, it’ll be second nature to you too.’
Ben cringed, caught her eye and mouthed ‘sorry’. He liked the way she came across, appearing to be timid, cautious, yet with the flick of a switch, she’d turn feisty, and easily capable of standing her ground.
She intrigued him. He realised why she thought the accident was personal, he could understand her not wanting to talk about it in public and why she had omitted it on the application form. After all, he knew that her sister had been paralysed, her brother killed and out of curiosity, he half hoped his father would push her for just a few more answers.
Ben once again caught her gaze. She looked defenceless and ready to run; her eyes held the light like mirrors and sparkled as though full of tears that didn’t or couldn’t fall. He smiled at her and her mouth curled up slightly at one side in a quirky, nervous half smile and then there was the scar, a scar that carved itself into her jawline. It was definitive, yet somehow added to her vulnerability, and for some reason, it made her even more beautiful.
He breathed in deeply and then closed his eyes. She wore a fragrance that reached its way across the office. It was fresh, musky and distinguished and he kept his eyes closed momentarily to enjoy the scent.
Rousing himself, he walked to the door and excused himself from the room. He then stood in the passageway with his back against the wall. His hands made fists and he felt angry with himself for looking at Kate that way. She was a work colleague after all, and he reprimanded himself for thinking otherwise. It had been the first time, since Julia had died, that he’d admired another woman. Or had thought of one in that way and, for a moment, he felt as though he’d betrayed her memory. Even though he knew he didn’t need it, he looked up to the sky for forgiveness, before taking a deep breath, opening the door and walking back into the office, where Kate and his father were talking.