She checked her watch. Twenty minutes left.
Aunty Ruby had almost finished dressing the clown mannequin. The boxes were being moved. That just left the trapeze to sort out.
There was nothing she could do until Eddie returned with the longer ladder, so she focused on the spotlight, which was currently pointing downwards like an interrogation lamp.
She dragged the stepladders over and was about to climb up, hoping her skirt wouldn’t split, when Leon appeared.
‘Need a hand?’ he said, holding the ladder steady.
She fought the urge to look at him. ‘I’m fine, thanks.’
‘Is there much left to do?’ No one watching would guess he’d once fed her chocolates and left her gifts. It was business only now. Still, it was favourable to being ignored.
‘I don’t think so. We’re going down to the wire, but hopefully we’ll be ready.’
‘The place looks good. Carolyn would be proud.’
Jodi swallowed awkwardly. ‘I hope so.’
Leon wasn’t a factor in her leaving, but he was definitely a reason not to stay. Spending each day knowing the man you’d fallen for didn’t respect or trust you was torturous. It was almost worse than dealing with Petrit and Vivienne.
Eddie appeared. ‘Jodi, love. You’re needed in the office… The police are here.’
‘The police?’ Her brain mentally ran through her checklist. She was sure she’d obtained the correct licenses. She’d made a point of checking with the council. ‘What do they want?’
Eddie looked uncomfortable. ‘They’re here to question you.’
‘Question me? What about?’
Eddie glanced at Leon. ‘The missing money. Vivienne reported the theft.’
Time seemed to slow – something she would have appreciated an hour ago. Not so much now. She blinked, hoping to snap out of her shock. It didn’t work. Neither would her throat, which had constricted.
Eddie touched her arm.
Wordlessly, she walked towards the office, aware of Leon and Eddie beside her. White noise filled her head, blocking out the sound of them talking. Someone’s hand touched the small of her back, she didn’t know who.
The office was more crowded than it had been on the day Carolyn had called an emergency staff meeting and announced she was booked into rehab.
Tom stood by the main desk looking angrier than she’d ever seen him.
To his right, Petrit had his arms folded, his dark unibrow twitching.
Vivienne was positioned between the two desks in front of the safe.
Eddie and Leon followed Jodi into the room.
In the middle stood two police officers.
The female officer spoke. ‘Are you Jodi Simmons?’
Jodi nodded.
‘I’m Sergeant Matthews. This is my colleague Constable Withies. We’re responding to an allegation of theft.’ She checked her notebook. ‘The sum of five thousand pounds, which Ms King alleges you took from the safe.’
This was all Jodi’s nightmares colliding. Her past catching up with her. Being humiliated in front of people she cared about. Never escaping the label of thief.
Tom glared daggers at Vivienne. ‘Ms King had no right to contact you.’
Vivienne raised her chin. ‘I couldn’t stand back and let madam be defrauded. Miss Simmons is the only one who could’ve taken the money.’
Sergeant Matthews addressed Tom. ‘Is that true?’
Tom rubbed his chest. ‘At the time of the theft four people had the combination for the safe. My mother—’
‘Who was away,’ Vivienne interjected.
Sergeant Matthews noted something down. ‘Go on.’
‘My mother. Myself. Vivienne King and Ms Simmons.’
Jodi didn’t need a solicitor to know this looked bad. She was the obvious suspect. She was new to the playhouse and she had a criminal record. Means and motive.
‘I’d hardly call the police if I took the money,’ Vivienne said, looking self-righteous. ‘And everyone knows how much Master Thomas dotes on his mother, so by default it has to be Miss Simmons.’
Jodi agreed. Except she was innocent.
Sergeant Matthews addressed her. ‘Ms Simmons, on the twentieth of October this year did you steal five thousand pounds from the safe at the Starlight Playhouse?’
Jodi could barely make her head move. ‘No, I didn’t.’
Vivienne smoothed down the front of her dress. ‘Who else could’ve taken it?’
Sergeant Matthews glanced at her colleague. ‘Who’s the legal owner of this place?’
Tom chipped in before Vivienne could. ‘My mother, Carolyn Elliot-Wentworth.’
‘Is she here?’
He shook his head. ‘She’s due back next week.’
Sergeant Matthews closed her notebook. ‘I think it’s best we wait for the legal owner to return. If she wishes to report the theft, we’ll consider investigating. Until then—’
‘That’s it?’ Vivienne looked outraged. ‘But I’ve reported a theft. I’ve told you who took the money. Why aren’t you arresting her?’
Jodi’s insides clenched into a painful knot. She wanted to confront Vivienne, to yell that she was innocent, but her mouth wouldn’t work.
The officer continued. ‘It wasn’t your money that was taken, Ms King. The owner may not wish to press charges.’
‘Of course she will! She’s been robbed.’
Sergeant Matthews shrugged. ‘Sorry. Nothing more we can do.’
‘What if I told you I know where she’s stashed it?’ Vivienne pointed to the desk. ‘In there. Locked away. Why else do you think she hides the key? If you don’t believe me, look for yourself. You’ll see I’m telling the truth.’
All eyes turned to look where Vivienne was pointing. Jodi felt Leon brush against her as he backed out of the office. He’d seen enough. No doubt his opinion of her had just lowered even further.
Sergeant Matthews turned to Jodi. ‘Do you have the key?’
Jodi knew they’d find the money inside. It was a set-up. It had to be. She looked at Petrit. His smile was that of a lottery winner.
Tom stepped forwards. ‘I’m sorry, but this doesn’t make sense. If Jodi took the money, why would she be daft enough to leave it on the premises?’
Sergeant Matthews tapped her notebook. ‘He has a point.’
Jodi was grateful for Tom defending her. Would he continue to after the police found the money? She doubted it.
Vivienne and Petrit shared a look. ‘I didn’t say anything before, because Master Thomas hasn’t been well. I didn’t want to add to his stress levels. Madam asked me to keep an eye on him.’
Tom shook his head. ‘That’s bollocks, Vivienne.’
‘And the reason Ms Simmons hasn’t absconded with the money is…well…she hasn’t had the opportunity. I’ve been keeping an eye on her. She was probably waiting until the heat was off before making her getaway.’
Jodi wanted to refute Vivienne’s ludicrous explanation. After all, she’d been on her own on several occasions, but her mouth still wouldn’t work.
Tom rubbed his chest. ‘Jesus, Vivienne. You’ve been reading too many detective novels.’
Sergeant Matthews pocketed her notebook. ‘Like I said earlier, I think we’ll wait until the owner returns—’
‘Did you know she was jailed for theft?’
Jodi wasn’t shocked; she’d been expecting it.
Tom rounded on Vivienne. ‘That was years ago, Vivienne. And it’s not relevant.’
Vivienne gasped. ‘You don’t think a known criminal working at a place where money goes missing is suspicious?’ Vivienne redirected her attention to the police. ‘All I’m asking is that you search her drawer. If I’m wrong so be it. But if I’m right…?’ She left the question hanging.
Sergeant Matthews exchanged a look with Constable Withies.
She turned to Jodi. ‘May I have the key, please?’
There was nothing Jodi could do. Making a fuss would only loo
k more incriminating.
With a heavy heart, she went over to her desk and was about to retrieve the key, when the door burst opened and Becca rushed in. ‘You have to get outside now…a gang of heavies are wrecking your ride.’
Jodi’s hand stilled on the spider plant.
Sergeant Matthews frowned. ‘I beg your pardon?’
Becca’s expression turned sheepish. ‘Err…I said, you need to get outside now…a group of heavies are wrecking your ride?’
Sergeant Matthews barged past her. ‘Withies, come with me.’
Becca rushed over to Tom and whispered something in his ear.
He turned to the group. ‘Until the police return, I think everyone should leave so there’s no question of anything untoward going on. Vivienne? Petrit?’ He ushered everyone out of the office, including Jodi.
What the hell was going on?
The song ‘Fame’ blared out from an amp in reception.
Jodi followed everyone outside…where she discovered the tappers dancing around the police car. They were waving their hands in time to the music and singing about how they were going to ‘live forever’ and ‘learn how to fly’.
The redheaded American woman climbed onto a low wall and attempted a star-jump, which nearly saw her tumbling off.
‘Get down!’ Sergeant Matthews shouted, before turning to her colleague, who was trying not to laugh. ‘Don’t just stand there, do something!’
Two of the tappers managed to get in the poor copper’s way when he tried to reach the woman on the wall. The routine only ended when the woman lost her balance and fell into the arms of the policeman, who staggered to the ground under her weight.
Sergeant Matthews switched off the music. ‘Unless you want to be charged with damaging police property, get away from that vehicle now!’
The crowd queuing at the barrier started clapping, whistling and laughing. Mostly at the redheaded woman, who was making a meal of getting off the young policeman.
‘Back inside!’ Sergeant Matthews yelled.
Like naughty children, they filed inside and returned to the office.
‘I don’t know what’s going on, but unless you want me to slap you with a charge for wasting police time, open the drawer and let’s get this mess sorted.’
Jodi had no idea what was going on, but she knew her time was up.
Resigned to her fate, she went over to her desk and lifted the spider plant. As she handed the key to Constable Withies, all eyes were on him as he eased open the drawer and removed two items. Her rucksack and The Art of War book.
Jodi was surprised when she realised Leon had returned to the office. He was standing by the door. When he saw what book it was, a flicker of something passed across his handsome features, but it was only fleeting. She wished he’d stayed away. This was torturous enough without him there to witness her humiliation.
‘Any trace of the money?’ Sergeant Matthews asked.
‘Nothing, Sergeant.’ He continued to rummage inside the rucksack, removing several items, none of which resembled a wodge of cash. ‘The money isn’t here.’
Jodi startled. It wasn’t?
Vivienne looked annoyed. ‘It must be there. Look again.’
‘Try the safe,’ Leon said, casually leaning against the doorframe.
Vivienne swung around to glare at him. ‘Why would the money be in the safe? She stole it.’ She pointed at Jodi, who was still staring at the empty drawer in disbelief.
Leon shrugged. ‘Who knows? A misunderstanding? An accounting error?’
Tom went over to the safe. ‘Would you believe it?’ he said, removing the money bag.
Sergeant Matthews frowned. ‘Is that the missing money?’
Tom studied the package. ‘Looks like it. It’s the same bank bag.’
‘Are you now saying there hasn’t been a theft? The money was in the safe all along?’
Tom shrugged. ‘It would appear so. Apologies for wasting your time.’
Jodi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The money hadn’t been in the safe this morning. She knew that for a fact, so who’d put it there?
With an exasperated sigh, Sergeant Matthews beckoned her colleague. ‘Next time you think a crime has been committed check first before calling the police.’ She opened the door. ‘And if I discover any damage to my car, expect a bill.’
Tom waited until they’d left before addressing the group. ‘What the hell is going on?’
Becca stepped forward. ‘Vivienne and Petrit had the money all along. They planted the five grand in Jodi’s drawer and then called the cops.’
Jodi’s legs went from under her. Eddie caught her and lowered her onto a chair.
Vivienne looked outraged. ‘We did no such thing.’
Tom dumped the money bag on the desk. ‘No? Then what’s your explanation?’
‘She…must have moved it. She knew she was about to be caught and panicked.’
‘How did Jodi move it?’ Becca squared up to Vivienne. ‘She was outside with the rest of us.’
‘It was you, then. You’re protecting her. Thieves in it together.’
Leon stepped forward. ‘I moved the money from Jodi’s drawer to the safe.’
That shut Vivienne up.
Jodi gasped. ‘You…you? Why?’
Vivienne jumped in. ‘Because he’s protecting his own. Your sort always stick together.’
Leon turned to her. ‘You’re right, Vivienne. Our sort always do, so that nasty individuals like you don’t get away with ruining an innocent person’s life. You and Petrit put that money in Jodi’s drawer. I saw you do it.’
Tom’s expression hardened. ‘Is that true?’
Vivienne looked flustered. ‘Of course not, Master Thomas. You mustn’t listen to him. They’re in it together.’
Jodi’s mind had gone into a spin.
Leon dug out his phone. ‘I have video footage,’ he said, playing the recording. It was taken through a narrow gap in the doorway and showed Vivienne and Petrit stuffing the money bag into Jodi’s rucksack and placing it in her drawer. ‘You set her up.’
Petrit grunted. ‘Her, not me.’
Vivienne glared at her disloyal accomplice, before turning to Tom. ‘It’s not what you think, Master Thomas.’
‘Spare me.’ Tom looked beyond angry. His blue eyes bore into Vivienne. ‘I trusted you. My mother trusted you. And this is how you repay us? By stealing from the playhouse?’
‘I was doing it for you…for your mother. I never intended to keep the money. I only took it to make you see reason. The woman can’t be trusted. She’s wicked.’
‘The only wicked person in this room is you.’ He turned to Petrit. ‘And you.’
Jodi barely noticed the office door opening.
Tom was on a rant. ‘Jodi has worked her socks off trying to manage the playhouse. She’s had to endure the pair of you abusing her, discriminating against her, and making her life hell. And through it all she’s remained professional and dedicated, showing more loyalty towards my mother than the pair of you put together. And unless you want me to have you both charged with perverting the course of justice, you’ll both leave the playhouse now and never set foot in here again.’
‘Tom?’ The sound of Carolyn’s voice startled everyone.
All heads turned to see the playhouse owner standing in the doorway.
Behind her, stood the four men from the council.
Oh, hell.
Chapter Thirty
…continued
There was a collective intake of breath, and for a long drawn-out moment, no one moved or spoke. All eyes were on Carolyn. Tom was the first to recover.
‘Mum? What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you until next week.’
‘Clearly.’ Carolyn stood by the door, her arms folded. ‘Would someone like to tell me what’s going on?’
Eddie came to his rescue and bundled Vivienne towards the door, ignoring her cries of protest. ‘You see to your mum. We’ll deal with these
two.’
Petrit didn’t wait to be escorted off the premises. He stormed out, followed by Leon, who no doubt wanted to check he actually left.
Becca addressed the men from the council – who were looking decidedly perplexed. ‘Gentleman, welcome to the Starlight Playhouse. If you’d like to come with us, we’d be delighted to give you a guided tour.’ She dragged Jodi from her chair. ‘Isn’t that right, Jodi?’
‘What?’ Poor Jodi still looked shell-shocked. ‘Oh, right…yes, of course.’ She forced a smile. ‘This way, gentleman. Shall we begin with the pottery exhibition?’
Bless her. Tom could see she was shaking, but she did her best to cover it. He owed her an apology. He might not have believed she’d taken the money, but he hadn’t prevented Vivienne and Petrit making her working life hell. He’d been a coward. Unwilling to rock the boat. And that was something he needed to make amends for.
Becca and Jodi ushered the councillors out the door. ‘I think you’ll be pleased with our progress,’ Jodi said. ‘We have several local groups supporting the event, and perhaps later we can detail our plans for diversifying the services offered at the playhouse.’ She glanced back.
Tom mouthed a ‘thank you.’ Once again, Becca and Jodi were saving the day.
That just left him and his mum.
‘Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’ she said, clearly unhappy about returning to discover two long-standing staff members being unceremoniously sacked. Who could blame her?
Tom closed the door. The playhouse was filling up with visitors. They didn’t need an audience. ‘It’s a long story. In short, Vivienne was disgruntled because you gave Jodi the business manager job instead of her. Together with Petrit, they framed Jodi by stealing five grand of the grant money and tried to get her fired. When that didn’t work, they reported her to the cops.’
His mother’s expression was priceless. ‘They did what?’
‘Don’t worry, Leon realised what they were doing and foiled their plan. The money has been returned. I had no option but to fire them.’
She rubbed her temple. ‘Vivienne’s always been so loyal.’
Tom leant against the door. ‘In her warped way I think she was trying to prove her loyalty. But she was so blinded by misconceived injustice she failed to recognise that everything Jodi did was about protecting the playhouse.’
Starlight on the Palace Pier Page 29