Secrets of Blue and Gold

by Lynn Watson

  ‘Okay, you’re right, Lily, there could be a link and maybe someone planned to target the family when they moved, knowing they had a cat and a rabbit. It’s possible. Let’s put the new poster up in the window, for a start, and then we can think about the next steps.’

  Lily jumped up, almost dropping Sahara in her eagerness. ‘And I have something else important to tell you. I don’t want to be a vet any more. I want to be an astronomer instead, studying planets and asteroids, after we talked about it those times. They’re so cool and amazing. What are they thinking about, up there in space?’

  ‘Who do you mean, thinking up there in space – aliens? We haven’t found out yet if aliens exist beyond our imagination.’

  ‘I know that, silly.’

  Lily stopped, thinking she may have gone too far, but Fran gestured for her to continue.

  ‘I mean the asteroids, what are they thinking? Do they wish they were planets, that they could be smooth and round and big enough?’

  ‘Perhaps they do, Lily. My favourite asteroid, Juno, was a planet when she was first discovered and later they downgraded her to an asteroid. It was in the 1800s this happened. I think she was the third asteroid to be discovered, when they were looking for a suspected planet in that area. Some other asteroids are named after goddesses too, like Juno; there’s Ceres—’

  ‘Maybe the asteroids are angry and that’s why they collide with the planets, make dents and craters in them. They’re angry and they want revenge.’

  Fran laughed, shaking her head in amused disbelief, while Lily gave a satisfied smile, pleased to have articulated her wild theory.

  ‘Lily, if you do study astronomy, I’m sure your ideas will be miles ahead of their time and everybody will think you’re mad, like they’ve done with all the greatest scientists and adventurers! No, really, you have a truly original mind and I think it’s a fantastic plan. What about your mum – what does she think about it, or your dad?’

  ‘I haven’t told them. I’ve only told you and no one else. You’re my best friend and you won’t make fun of me. And Sahara, she knows.’

  Fran wished once again that she could tell Lily about the Junoco effects, her animal drawings and how certain creatures responded to her and tried to convey their thoughts and emotions. Lily seemed the best person on earth to confide in, the one who would most easily understand, but the imperative of keeping it quiet was too great to impose on her.

  They were interrupted by the doorbell. It was Petra looking for Lily, who should have been home half an hour ago.

  ‘I thought I would find her with you, but she never takes her phone so I couldn’t call to make sure. No, thank you but I won’t come in now. I am cooking dinner and then we shall have a Skype call with Ferdi, but very quickly, I wanted to tell you something, confidentially.’

  ‘Just come into the hall, then, and I can shut the door.’ Fran had already made sure there was no one keeping watch from across the road or lurking nearby, but she felt more secure and at ease talking inside with the door closed. Lily had disappeared back into the living room and Fran could hear her chatting to Sahara. Petra listened too and decided it was safe to speak in a half-whisper.

  ‘Do you remember, we talked about Lily being different and creative and you asked what the school was doing, if they were doing anything special for her? And you know too that I’m a teacher, at a different school?’

  Fran nodded impatiently, eager to know what was coming next.

  ‘My head teacher has told us about a project that will be set up in our borough and in five other areas. They intend to test some new vitamins and supplements, to see if they improve concentration and can make the children learn better and faster. They will select children from the top and bottom five per cent academically, and a third group who are disruptive or have problems with attention. I expect Lily will be in the top group, because she comes first or second in all the tests.’

  Lily put her head round the door at this point and Fran only had time to say she was very interested and would like to hear more. As she showed them out, Marcus was turning into his front path on his return from work. Lily gave him one of the new Missing posters, but Petra was hurrying her on and she had to pass by without explaining the latest twist in the drama of the missing pets. Marcus paused on his step, having checked out the chestnut tree just as Fran was now in the habit of doing. She leaned over the wall, her voice low.

  ‘I’m glad I’ve caught you, Marcus. I met our neighbours in the café today, Eric and Delia. They approached me and came over all friendly, but it was obvious they only wanted information. They have clocked that Kwesi’s living at your house and I told them he’s a lodger, a medical student here on a scholarship. I don’t trust them, not one jot, so I wanted to alert you both, because we mustn’t let them find out he’s working illegally.’

  ‘Oh shit, sorry, thank you for that. We’ve got another problem as well: Kirsty. I should have warned Kwesi, but she came round when he was at home on his own and he let her in and gave her a coffee. He probably wouldn’t have said he was a refugee, but I’m not sure what story he told her and she certainly got out of him that he’s now staying here. Apparently, she was perfectly nice to him but she won’t like it at all, you can bet on that. I’m expecting some kind of repercussion at any moment.’

  ‘Okay, that could complicate matters too. I’ll keep an eye out.’ As she said goodbye and closed her front door, Fran realised she hadn’t said anything to either Lily or Marcus about Eric and Delia’s professed torment at being reminded about the missing cats.

  ***

  In an unprecedented move, Ned, Vicky and Fran had been summoned to the office. Daniela spoke to them from behind her desk, as if to stress the formality and gravity of the occasion.

  ‘These recent events are linked, and it’s now crystal clear that we face a campaign to damage and destroy Junoco. If anyone in this room is passing on intelligence or is involved in double-dealing, I assure you they will regret it. I am not accusing any of you, but I have to consider every possibility. And if you think this may have resulted from an indiscretion or some kind of coercion that you have experienced, please speak up.’

  Suddenly, Fran was ten years old again, sitting at the back of the class behind a double desk with Judi. Not one of the other children betrayed them by turning round, all of them looking instead at the irate teacher and, behind her, at the offending charcoal drawing stuck to the blackboard. The likeness to Miss Bell was unmistakable and far from flattering. Fran had drawn it, egged on by Judi, and everyone had giggled and fidgeted as they waited for their fierce and normally respected teacher to enter the classroom.

  The vivid memory came and went in an instant, but the emotions lingered as she was brought back to the present by Vicky’s assertive response.

  ‘I accept you have to consider it, Daniela, but we need to work together against the threat and I think we’ve all shown how much we want Junoco to be a success and what it means to us personally. I agree that it looks like a concerted campaign, starting with the factory fire and now the breakin at the distribution centre and the hacking of the website. I don’t yet know whose personal details have been stolen, but a number of our more savvy customers are already querying what’s going on and asking if their information is safe. And what about the breakin at your place, Ned – can you give us any more details?’

  ‘Several hundred boxes of truffles nicked; I’ll have the exact number when Joe calls me from the warehouse. It was a very neat operation: no mess and only the door-opening mechanism damaged. They disabled the security system, but it was never going to be effective anyway because we can’t have a functioning alarm, for obvious confidentiality reasons, and the new cameras we ordered aren’t installed yet. It was dry last night too, so there’s no sign of tyre tracks on the lane.’

  Fran was aware of Daniela scrutinising them all, her eyes narrowing as they glided from one to the next and back again. Did she suspect someone in particular, or was she j
ust using authority and threat to keep them loyal and on their toes? When she spoke again, her tone was less angry, more neutral.

  ‘I don’t believe it’s a competitor this time; I’ve already handled that after the fire. It could be a police operation, but that doesn’t make sense. I mention it because there’s a journalist sniffing around. At least, he claims to be a journalist and he’s hinted that the police might have an interest in Junoco, as part of a bigger exercise. I shall give you his description so you are on your guard.’

  Fran wrote it down in her notebook – male, early thirties, Asian appearance, slim build, average height, cultured English accent. The meeting concluded immediately after that, as Daniela’s phone rang and she gestured for them to leave the office.

  As they went downstairs, Ned whispered to Fran and she arranged to follow Vicky to the café in five minutes. She and Ned walked a short distance in the opposite direction and down the side alley, where they could talk in private. The narrow passage was damp and chilly, and Fran pushed her hands deeper into her pockets.

  ‘It’s not you, is it, Ned, doing this?’

  He smiled and gave a low chuckle. ‘Me? What makes you think that? It was my place that got broken into, remember?’

  ‘I know, but with all this talk of double-dealing – and Daniela isn’t accusing Infrared, she said she’s handled it, did you notice?’

  ‘Yep, that was interesting. But never mind the double-dealing; I’d like to ask you over for dinner tonight. It’s short notice but there’s something I want to try out on you.’

  Her heart and mind weren’t in it, but she couldn’t resist responding to his banter. ‘What’s that, then? Is it a beautiful ballgown for the next film premiere?’

  ‘Yes, at least that’s where it’s all leading: to a spectacular ballgown.’

  ‘But seriously though, Ned, what do you think about Daniela? I wouldn’t like to see her in a full-blown rage. The controlled anger was scary enough. It reminded me of my primary teacher, Miss Bell, who humiliated me by ordering me to sit in kindergarten with the four-year-olds for a whole day and do their work.’

  ‘Ha – I bet you deserved it too. Daniela needs to act fast and transfer the site to one of the parallel websites Vicky has prepared for this eventuality, that’s the safest thing, and we’ll move everything to a new distribution centre. I’ve got a few thoughts which I’ll tell Daniela about later.’

  It all sounded a bit glib, too easy and relaxed for the circumstances.

  ‘What is it, Fran? Why are you frowning at me like that? It’s you and your weird expression that’s making me nervous, more than anything.’

  ‘I don’t know. I’m surprised you’re not more anxious or freaked out by what’s happening. I feel guilty about pulling you into this, Ned, but you almost seem to revel in the danger of it.’

  ‘Well, it’s better than me turning round and blaming you, isn’t it? I knew all along it was going to be a risky business, and risky businesses tend to yield the highest rewards – that’s the way I look at it. I’m quite good at picking my way through a minefield and coming out unscathed. If we stick close together, we can have a big win. But listen – you told Vicky five minutes and we’re freezing in this alley, so if you’re free and want to come over, I’ll pick you up at seven.’

  She found herself nodding and felt the familiar frisson flowing through her body, despite her head still spinning with thoughts of criminal intrigue and conspiracy. What a total pushover. Maybe it was this character flaw, this weakness that would ultimately be her downfall.

  ‘Yes, I’d love that. Seven it is. I’ll bring the chocolate; orange intense, not Junoco this time.’

  They walked back to the pavement and parted with a simple wave. Fran walked in the direction of home to catch up with Vicky at the café, pulling up her collar and shaping her mouth into an ‘O’ to blow out steam with her warm breath. As she got close to Frocks and Chocs, she noticed a man standing by the door and lifting his sleeve to consult his watch. Peering more intently in the growing dusk, she confirmed that it was Professor Fred Henson-Morris from the university. She was almost level with him now and it was too late; he had recognised her and he looked equally uncomfortable. She decided not to stop but just to slow her pace a fraction as she went past, not enough to invite any genuine conversation.

  ‘Hi there, Fred, how are you doing?’

  ‘Fine, yes – much colder today, isn’t it?’ He stamped his feet for emphasis.

  ‘Freezing – I can’t wait to get home. See you later.’

  What was he doing there? Did he know she lived near here and worked at the shop, or was it pure chance? Had he seen through her seemingly innocent questions over lunch? Or, worst of all, had Alice raised suspicions with her covert investigation into the products they were planning to use in the Bright Minds project?

  She strode on quickly without a backward glance and was relieved to reach the safe haven of the café and see Vicky’s winsome smile as she approached. Fran was disconcerted but knew she mustn’t let on to Vicky about seeing Professor Fred, as it would reawaken her righteous anger with her for confiding in Alice and allowing her to analyse the Junoco truffles. She would have to put the episode aside for now and call Alice when she got home.

  Luckily, her lack of composure was readily explained by the dramatic scene in the office. Vicky knew how hopeless she was at handling conflict, and that she would have been shaken by Daniela’s tone and direct threat of retribution. She was more resilient than before all this started, but not yet resilient enough.

  Vicky had ordered two large slices of cake. ‘Sit down and say which one you want – I’m easy. The coffee and walnut one looks particularly moist and squidgy today. I fancy a smoothie as well.’

  She beckoned to Jean-Claude, who served at the tables when it wasn’t too busy. Fran took a single deep breath, appreciating the enveloping warmth and familiar smells of the café as well as the close affinity she felt with Vicky, despite their contretemps over Alice. Maybe Vicky was a teeny bit put out by Alice, jealous even? It was a novel thought, which she didn’t have time to explore now. Vicky had moved on to a new topic entirely.

  ‘He’s really dishy, is your Ned. I’ve got half a mind to book him for a night out on the town, go to a jazz club and then on somewhere to dance. What do you think? Would you mind?’

  Fran blinked and jerked up straight, genuinely taken aback but making more of a play of it than she really felt. ‘The trouble with you, Vicky, is that it’s difficult to know when you’re being serious. I have the same problem with Ned. The short answer is, I don’t know. Yes, of course I’d mind, that’s my immediate reaction, but then again, maybe I wouldn’t if it was on that basis: a paid night out. But please don’t throw a googly like that when I’m trying to work out what’s going on with Junoco. It’s quite tangled enough, don’t you think?’

  ‘Okay then, let’s get the serious bit out of the way,’ said Vicky. ‘I have sadly come to the conclusion that Daniela is playing a fast game. She’s making the insinuations, but I think she’s the one who may be about to double-cross the rest of us.’

  ‘Why, Vicky? What do you mean? You’ve always said we should be loyal to her and that she has good reasons for keeping us in the dark about certain things.’

  ‘Yes, but the website hack was nothing to do with me, and she was showing a lot of interest in the privacy aspects of the site, the technicalities of how it all works.’

  ‘And…?’

  ‘I could be wrong here, but I’ve been looking into her associates, who she meets up with…’

  Vicky paused, as if about to make a major revelation, and Fran picked up on the cue.

  ‘Well then, who are her associates and who does she meet up with? Tell me.’

  ‘She has met your university professor, Fred Henson-Morris, several times in the past month, and they’ve had lengthy huddled conversations with a lot of gesturing and animated discussion.’

  Fran jolted backwards, tipping he
r chair almost to the point of instability. ‘Who, Fred – what on earth…? Do you think she’s…? What about Alice, Dr Stevens – was she there?’

  ‘Alice? I don’t know what Alice looks like, but no; it’s always just the two of them.’

  Fran was trying to make sense of this extraordinary turn of events. Fred must have been waiting for Daniela outside the shop. It wasn’t anything to do with her, Fran; she just happened to walk past at that moment. He may not even have made any connection between her and Daniela. But why were they meeting for ‘huddled conversations’? Had Alice let something slip and inadvertently shown him a path to Junoco and Daniela?

  Vicky was studying her, waiting for a response but also pensive, as if turning something over in her mind. Fran sat silently, her thoughts whirling.

  ‘Before you ask,’ said Vicky, ‘I’m still investigating and I don’t know what the nature of the link is or if the relationship is fundamentally friendly or hostile, although the body language suggests friendly. Either way, I think you should consider backing out of Junoco now. It’s getting dicey, too hot to handle.’

  This was even more alarming: Vicky changing her firm and much-repeated opinion so fast. And who was she to decide what Fran should do, just like that?

  ‘Why should I back out? Why me? What about you, and Ned for that matter?’

  ‘I’m advising you, as a friend and someone who’s been in this kind of business longer. I don’t want to patronise you, I’d never do that, but it’s getting messy. I might quit soon as well, but I have to take things a little further. It’s something I can’t explain; I haven’t got any choice.’