‘Answer machine. Mobile phone. Microwave. No problem.’ She tried hard to keep the panic out of her voice.
Alan smiled disarmingly and shook his head. ‘Come on, Sexpot, let’s not argue. We’ll have a game of darts, then we can go back to my place. Dawn and Barry won’t be home till late and the kids are away on a weekend camp.’
‘Alan. Let’s talk. We never talk. I want a proper home. Something we can share, instead of having to meet like this at the pub and snatch the odd half-hour at Dawn’s.’
‘You crazy? You know what a house costs? The extra work to keep it decent? I see some grotty places every day in my job. People out at work. No time for housework. You don’t know how lucky you are. Just one room and a bit to keep clean.’
Wendy’s spirits sank. This was going the same way it always did. ‘I keep the whole of Mrs Grant’s house clean too,’ she said. ‘And I love it.’
‘So what more you want? And why the hell don’t you move in with Mrs Grant? There’s enough room for an army in that mansion. You don’t have to live in that poky little studio-flat with Janey.’
‘Mrs Grant doesn’t want me there all the time. She wants to look after Nicky herself whenever she can. Otherwise she’d never be a mum.’
Mum. What a lovely word. Frightening too. She glanced at her still flat stomach. She was almost certain. She’d missed two periods but hadn’t plucked up the courage to go to Boots and buy one of those pregnancy test kit things. Once before she’d missed and it had turned out to be nothing. When it was definite it would make things very different. Not knowing, she could still stay calm. She hoped she wouldn’t panic. She hated it when her Judo opponents panicked. It always showed their weakness and then she felt she held an unfair advantage.
‘She must be filthy rich,’ Alan said, ‘living in that house.’
‘No, I don’t think she is, really. Never buys luxuries and things, except that groovy red car. She inherited the house when she lost her husband and her in-laws.’
‘Well, she could sell it. She could give up work, then she wouldn’t need you.’
‘That’s a daft thing to say. She’s a career woman. I asked her once why she did it. You know, like defending all those criminals. She said that sometimes the criminals are the victims. She said that long ago she’d been accused of something she never did and nobody believed her but she didn’t tell me what it was. Couldn’t have been that bad. Not her. No, she wouldn’t last a week without working. Anyway, I love my job too, but I wouldn’t want to be there all the time. I wouldn’t have time for Judo. And I’d never see you. Mind you, I hardly ever do as it is.’ Playfully she pushed her shoulder against his. ‘Except Friday nights,’ she added, looking up at him and half closing her eyes.
Sometimes Wendy felt as though she was already on the shelf. She thought of the six years she had loved him. Of the numerous occasions she’d forgiven him when he had taken other women out. Of her ultimatum last time it happened. ‘Only me, or I call it all off,’ she had told him, though she knew she never would. In bed they were fantastic together. She didn’t want any other man. She would rather do without second best if she couldn’t keep her Alan.
‘You know I’m called out all hours. Plumbers can’t be choosy,’ Alan said.
Wendy ignored his excuses. ‘Aah, you poor boy. Julia Grant gets called out more than you, and she reckons she gets paid less money for having to go out in the middle of the night than you plumbers do. Besides, I want to start my own family. It was fine when Nicky was a baby but she goes to school now.’
‘You and your babies. Can’t think why you’re so crazy about them. Dawn was just the same. Kept having one after the other.’ His voice softened. ‘They were real cute when they were little. Not like now, the little thugs, though I still love ’em. Well, don’t you go getting any ideas. Like coming off the pill or any of that nonsense.’
‘Not a chance,’ she said, fluttering her eyelashes. Sometimes lies were necessary and there was no point in spoiling the night. She knew when she was beaten ─ a lost battle, but not the war, no way. She’d get him.
‘Let’s go and have that game of darts,’ she said. ‘Just a quick one.’ As he stood up she patted the swell of his neat little butt beneath his belt. ‘Then we can go to Dawn’s.’
- 13 -
Julia heard the door bell. Duke was barking his head off and she was slightly irritated that Ben should have arrived so early. Still out of breath from hurrying into her clothes after her shower, she stared at the tall, serious looking man standing on the threshold.
‘Mrs Julia Grant?’
‘Yes?’ she said, glancing at the plain black car parked at the front door, trying to place the softly spoken owner. She felt certain she had met him before, but couldn’t think where.
He smiled. ‘DS Bennett, Wilmslow Police. Er, I’m sure we’ve met. May I come in?’
Julia had a vague memory of seeing him before, but he’d been in uniform then. Must have had a promotion. What the hell did he want, coming round uninvited like this? Not as if she had any jobs on with him or anything. ‘Come in’, she said, stepping aside from the door. ‘What can I do for you, only I’ve got a guest coming round shortly.’ She glanced at her watch.
‘This won’t take long,’ he said. ‘I promise.’
At that moment Nicky appeared at the door, holding on to Duke’s collar.
‘Make sure Duke has some water, darling. I won’t be long.’
She ushered Bennett into the drawing room and offered him a chair, avoiding the one that had once been Simon’s favourite.
'I’ll come straight to the point, Mrs Grant. We’re working closely with Greater Manchester on this case. Within the next few minutes you and your family will have all the police protection you need, twenty-four hours a day. I think, however, that for the first few days we’ll . . . ’
‘Just hang on, Sergeant. Protection, what for? Wait. Please. You mean Smith, I presume, I heard the news. But someone’s jumping the gun here. I didn’t ask for protection and I can assure you I don’t need it. There really isn’t anything to worry about.’ But even as she spoke a voice inside told her that where Smith was concerned, perhaps it was best to assume nothing.
Bennett looked at her as though he agreed that it was highly unlikely Smith would come to her house, but was carrying out orders and who was he to argue. ‘At the end of the day, Mrs Grant, it’s up to you, but from what I heard this guy was screaming blue murder ─ sorry, screaming threats at you from the dock ─ and next thing he’s been sprung in a seriously professional job on his way to prison. Now, if you’ll allow me to explain, just as a precaution you understand, we can arrange for you and your daughter to move into a hotel for a short while ─ we’re bound to lock him up again soon.’
‘Sergeant, I’m not moving out of my house.’
He nodded. ‘No, I thought you’d prefer to remain here and that’s why I’ve arranged for a plain-clothes to be in the house with you. There’ll be two men in the garden as well - possibly three for a garden this size. In addition, if you’ll let me know what time your child goes to school, there’ll be an escort, and of course one for yourself.’
Julia clasped her hands together and tightened her fingers. He’s doing it for my own good, she thought, and because he cares. But also because he can - he’s got the power. The sort of power that so often tramples good people, as well as bad, underfoot.
She smiled sweetly at the sergeant. ‘You’re very kind and I appreciate your concern but, you see, Wendy ─ that’s my daughter’s nanny ─ is with Nicky constantly. She’s a little half-pint but she’s also a Judo expert. Black belt, in fact. And of course in my job I couldn’t possibly have someone trailing around with me. I’m sure you’ll understand. Besides, the house is perfectly secure. Telephones in almost every room. A large dog with a very loud voice.’
She stopped. It wouldn’t do to protest too much, but she didn’t seem to be able to stop herself. So often where Sam Smith was concerned she
would find herself on the defensive, without having thought it out, as though that inner voice was dictating and she was merely mouthing the words. ‘I don’t want my daughter confused by an unnecessary police presence,’ she went on. ‘I think there’s far too much hysteria these days with the media blowing things out of proportion making parents paranoid about their children’s safety so they never have any freedom and don’t learn to think for themselves.’
‘I can assure you, Mrs Grant, we’re very serious about this and, as I said, the officers will be very discreet.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,' she said, making certain her eyes gave not the slightest flicker of fear, ‘but I’m afraid I can’t allow them in my house, or even in the garden. The dog would never stop barking.’
Bennett smiled and nodded; the experienced cop exercising just the right amount of decorum he thought was needed. Julia was impressed.
‘Mrs Grant, you have a very good reputation, even most coppers admire you as far as I can make out. And I can understand why you don’t really want to have to take our advice and have us poking your noses into your life.’ Julia suppressed a smile. ‘We can limit ourselves to a presence outside, on the road,’ he continued, as though that had been his plan all along. ‘In an unmarked car, of course. As discreet as possible but within sight of the gate at all times. I’m not going to push you any further on this, but I would like you to reconsider. He could be in the area already. But at least you can’t complain if we keep a low profile on the road, can you? If you give us a list of the cars, their registration numbers and descriptions of the people who habitually visit, it will cause less disturbance for you and for them. Here’s my card - that’s my straight through number, my mobile and my email.’
Julia stood up and took the card. ‘Thank you. I’ll email you a list in a few minutes. There are not many that visit. And I hope you won’t think I don’t appreciate your concern, it’s just that ─ ’
‘Enough said, Mrs Grant,' Bennett interrupted, ‘but if you change your mind, or the situation worsens in any way, we can review the arrangements.’
‘Of course,’ she said.
She led him to the door. Before closing it she could not stop herself from pausing and glancing towards the gate, trying to look through the dense hedges.
- 14 -
Paul Moxon was about ready to call it a day. He had been immersed for hours in talking to officers and press. Talking big to reporters, expressing his worst and darkest fears to his team, instilling them with a determination to prosecute the recapture of Smith with extreme prejudice if necessary.
But before leaving he had to try to get hold of Julia once more ─ he hadn’t had a moment to do so for several hours. He rang her number and she picked up almost immediately.
‘Julia. At last.’
‘Hi. I knew it would be you, but I’m really sorry, Paul, I can’t talk now. I’ve just put Nicky to bed and I don’t want to waken her. Also I . . . ’ Her voice was a tense whisper. ‘Well, I have a visitor. Can we talk tomorrow?’
Paul ground his teeth. A visitor? Who? But he was damned if he was going to ask. ‘Just very quickly, then. I’ve spoken to Chester to have a couple of men on obs at your house. I suppose you’ve heard.’
‘Yes, I know,’ she said. ‘And thank you, Paul, it’s just like you to think of me like that, but, well, this guy Bennett came round and wanted me and Nicky to become refugees virtually. Then he wanted me to turn the place into a B and B cum campsite for his men. In the end we compromised. He’s put some people outside on the road. Plain-clothes, in an unmarked car.’
‘Julia ─ ’
‘Really, Paul, it’s fine. Duke would have gone berserk and I didn’t want Nicky being frightened by a load of Plod knocking about the place.’
‘Frightened? That’s ridiculous. She’s not frightened of me.’
‘You are Plod,’ she said, and he thought he heard a faint chuckle, ‘but you’re different.’
Paul sensed the change in her voice. If only he could see the expression on her face, he might be able to guess what kind of different she meant. ‘Julia I know you probably don’t think Smith would carry out his threat, and I know you ─ are you still there?’
‘Yes. But I was just wondering if any other threatened solicitor would receive the same zealous treatment.'
'I'm only doing my job.' Here we go again, he thought, professional hats getting in the way of a closer relationship.
‘Yes, but Smith would be a complete idiot if he showed his face within a mile of Hillside House,’ she whispered. ‘And you know he’s not an idiot. Besides, he was only letting off steam.’
‘Maybe.’ Paul knew his tone did not mask his contempt for Smith. ‘But don’t worry,’ he added, softening his voice. ‘As long as they’re out on the road now, guarding you, you’ll be okay. You won’t hear them, or even see them, I’m sure. But knowing they're there will at least give you the peace of mind to have a good night’s rest.’
‘Yes. All right.’
‘And Julia . . . ’
‘Yes?’
‘If you’re at all worried I’ll ask BT to put a trace on your lines.’
‘That’s thoughtful of you. But why should I be worried?’
He curbed his irritation. He wished that now and then she would admit to human frailty. But with Julia he always got better results with the soft approach. ‘Okay. But it’s no big deal, you know. All you do is press digit one on your phone. This activates a printer in BT’s Malicious Call Centre. They’ll alert us and then ─ '
‘I know. I know all that, Paul. But I don’t want the hassle.’
‘No hassle. It’s all set up remotely.’ He paused. ‘Actually . . . it just might help us to get him.’ He bit his lip. He hoped the unintended sarcasm didn’t show. ‘Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll ring you tomorrow. Give Nicky a hug.’
He put down the phone and spun round to face the window. Why couldn’t she be realistic? The man had threatened her, dammit. Now he was on the loose and she was behaving as though nothing had happened. Or was it all an act? A show of bravado for his sake? Why? What was she trying to prove? It’s so unlike her normal logical approach. Most women thus threatened would want as much protection as possible. Why didn’t she?
Had Smith cast some kind of spell on her, he wondered.
He looked at the sodium glow of the city; Smith was somewhere out there. He had a steadily mounting fear that Smith was going to gravitate towards Julia, whether to harm her or try to get help he wasn’t sure. He had so often, in his irrepressible, nosey copper way, tried to get Julia to open up and spill some beans about Smith but she never gave anything away. Nothing tangible anyway. But she did leave him with a sense that the man was having a profound effect on her. It was her long silences, her seriousness. Being on Smith’s case had changed her, and it wasn’t just because it was high profile, complex or serious ─ she could handle all that.
He did know from the profile the police had already drawn up on Smith that he was highly intelligent, manipulative, a charmer when he wanted to be but also utterly ruthless. Had he got under Julia’s skin? Was he capable of influencing her in a way that went far beyond the bounds of the solicitor client relationship? Perhaps he already had.
He sat down on the edge of his desk. Was there something, anything else he could do before leaving, or something he hadn’t thought through, that he could then act on? Dithering was not his style, but that’s what he now found himself doing.
- 15 -
Julia tossed a fresh log onto the dying fire and stood for a moment breathing in the evocative smell of wood smoke. It reminded her of Simon and those few happy years they had together. The summer nights sitting round this fire, planning the future . . .
Ben was watching her again, in that irritating way he had of letting his gaze wander away from her face and slowly down her body.
She bent down and patted Duke, then went back to her chair. Rather than look at Ben she watched the cl
ouds swirl in ever changing patterns across the darkening sky. She hoped it wouldn’t rain. She didn’t want to be forced into buying one of those modern gas barbecues that lacked the romanticism she still associated with the wood fire.
‘Don’t you find all this too big just for you and Nicky?’ Ben asked. A strange question, she thought, and no doubt it will be something Ben has not just said for something to say.
She followed his gaze. He was looking around at the lush array of shrubs and rustling beech trees surrounding the house, as though he had never seen them before. To her they were special. Familiar shapes and patterns she and Simon had loved together. Simon was still here, in the wood smoke, in the rustling of the trees and the smell of the grass when it was newly mown . . .
‘A smaller house on a modern estate would be better for Nicky,’ she conceded, ‘but Simon would have wanted me to stay. He would have wanted Nicky to be brought up where he’d lived all his life. I love it, really. The space. The peace and quiet. The security. And it keeps Simon alive for me.’
Ben looked down at his almost empty glass, then up again. ‘After five years I’m not sure that’s very wise.’
Julia said nothing. She could guess where this was going.
‘Aren’t you sometimes lonely too?’ he said.
‘I’m too busy to feel lonely.’
He let it go, much to her relief. The wine had made her relax, in spite of the news of Smith’s escape and the knowledge that several pairs of police eyes were now fixed on her house. Poor Ben, he seldom missed a chance to make a pass. But he was also kind in a platonic way, and Nicky was fond of him, as though he were an uncle.
She pushed her empty glass towards him. ‘You know, that was the best steak I’ve ever tasted.’ She meant it and hoped Ben would not feel she was being insincere.
‘Cooking is one of my hobbies, and barbecues just about qualify as cooking,’ he said. He poured some more red wine into Julia’s glass and some soda water into his.
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