“I’m very happy that our Kay has found such good lodgings and a lovely landlady. I’ll be able to sleep much easier. I was worried about her.”
“I said she’d be all right,” Kay’s dad said, “She’s a sensible girl, well able to look after herself.”
“And she’s an excellent secretary,” Michael added.
“Now will you all please stop talking about me? Who’s going to help me wash up?” Kay started piling up the plates, hoping that Michael would join her in the kitchen, but her mum was on her feet in seconds.
“It’s lovely to see Michael here this afternoon, but I must say I’m surprised. Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?” Kay’s mother dried up efficiently and stacked the plates on the worktop.
“Certain, Mum,” replied Kay. “But perhaps you can tell me why you were discussing me with Olive.”
Her mother coloured and turned away to hide her face. “It was only about George. We were talking about dancing and, of course, I thought about him. But I’m pleased you won your competition with Len. He’s much nicer. Oh dear, I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry, Kay.” She dropped the tea towel and put an arm around her daughter. “I didn’t like to see you so hurt.”
“I thought you liked George,” persisted Kay, although she didn’t want to talk about him anymore. “I’m glad he broke up with me. I’m much happier now.”
“Shall we forget George,” pleaded her mother.
Kay grinned. “Yes, please.” At that moment, Michael entered the kitchen.
“I came to see if there is anything I can do to help,” he offered, “but you two seem to have solved a problem for me.”
“Really?” said Kay’s mother picking up teaspoons to dry. “Kay showed us round this afternoon, you’ve got a very big office, Michael. I’d like to wish you a lot of luck in your new venture, but I’m sure your hard work will pay off.”
Michael slipped an arm around Kay and said, “Any success I have will largely be due to your daughter. She’s a wonder; there’s nothing she can’t handle. And she’s a very popular member of staff.”
“I bumped into Betty’s mum last week and she says Charlie Spencer works around here now.”
Desperately wanting to change the subject, Kay was happy to see her father and Len coming into the kitchen.
“Just off for another look at the garden,” said Len.
“And a smoke,” smiled Harry. “I don’t want to fug up Olive’s house with my pipe fumes.”
* * *
“Thank you for letting me show my parents around yesterday, Michael,” said Kay when she took the morning’s post in to him. “And I know they enjoyed seeing you. I hope it wasn’t too arduous for you to give up a precious sunny Sunday afternoon.”
“I enjoyed it. They’re nice people and you know I like seeing Olive. She says things have taken on a new lease of life since you came here.”
“I don’t think she said that exactly,” blushed Kay, wondering what had happened to make Michael so bright and cheerful.
“I’d only have gone to the tennis club if I hadn’t visited you. Which reminds me, we should book another game together. We could go this evening if you like.”
Kay would love to have accepted, but she’d promised Olive she’d watch a nature programme on the television. Since she’d been living with Olive, they hadn’t watched many programmes together. Briefly, she thought of inviting Michael to join them, but he’d spent almost the whole weekend with them and she couldn’t expect him to give up his free time to spend it watching the television. He had his own set at home anyway.
“Can we make it later in the week? Is that all right, only I promised Olive that I’d do something with her.”
“You mean she’s not seeing Len?” smiled Michael.
“She can’t appear too eager,” returned Kay, glad they were getting along so well. Since the previous evening Michael seemed to be in a much lighter mood. She was pleased, but had no idea what had caused it.
“Tomorrow, then?”
Kay looked puzzled. “Tomorrow what?” she asked.
“Tennis? And please would you have something to eat with me? We could have a light snack after work before playing and then perhaps go on to that coffee bar again. What do you say?”
“Yes, please,” said Kay. “Is it all right for me to use the club’s equipment again, or should I buy a racquet?”
“Might as well use what’s there. Perhaps when you become a member you can buy your own.”
“That reminds me, Michael, thank you so much for the shoes you bought me. They were very lucky for me. But you do know it’s not my birthday yet.” Kay was keen to get that right. She didn’t want Michael to think she was grasping.
“You told me.” Michael stood up and put his hands on Kay’s shoulders. “I know a lot about you. A lot more than you realise,” he said. “Can’t your boss buy you a pre-birthday present?”
Kay looked into the eyes she’d come to know so well. “Thank you… boss.” It cost her a lot of effort to force the smile on her lips. It always seemed to come back to the fact that Michael was her boss.
“And you didn’t need a pair of lucky shoes to allow you to dance magnificently. That was on your own merit. Which reminds me, I’ve been thinking about what you said regarding wanting something more demanding to do.”
Kay’s attention was caught. Hoping it was something more interesting than merely standing in for Vanessa on reception when she was making the tea, she listened to what he outlined.
“The other partners and I have come up with an idea. We’d like to offer single ladies a discount if they use our services. We value them as customers and know they don’t earn as much money as men even when they’re doing the same job. Could you come up with something in the way of an advertisement which you think might catch their eye?”
It didn’t seem to Kay as if this was a very stimulating thing for her to be involved with, but she was happy and not surprised to find that Michael was still thinking of others at a time when it was important that he forge ahead with his career. She had no doubt it had been his idea and the other partners had hardly been involved. “Of course,” she replied, “I’ll be glad to help you.”
* * *
Kay was surprised to get back that evening and find the kitchen empty. She’d been looking forward to telling Olive about her ideas for the advertisement for single women. She thought Olive would be pleased to hear that Michael was looking out for less well paid women who didn’t have husbands to support them. She wondered if one day things would change and they would be treated equally. There was no smell of cooking and no sign of Olive. She was immediately alarmed. Ever since she’d moved in, Olive had been at home with an evening meal ready and a cheerful greeting. It reminded her of the one time her mum hadn’t been at home when she’d got back from school. She’d been very upset and sat on the doorstep crying, dreading the worst. But she was a grown up now and she hoped there would be a simple explanation for Olive’s absence.
She decided that the first thing to do was search the house and she soon found Olive in the sitting room clasping a letter. She looked terribly worried and lines etched her face. “Thank goodness I’ve found you. I’m so glad you are all right. I was really worried when you weren’t in the kitchen. Whatever’s the matter?”
“I’m afraid I’ve had an awful letter. I haven’t been able to settle all day.”
“It’s from Charlie, isn’t it? We knew he’d react to your visit to Twigge and Moore to tell them about removing your business. It was just a matter of time.” Kay waited for Olive to tell her more, but she stayed silent. “Olive, come on, it can’t be that awful, tell me. Has Charlie written to you?”
“No, the letter’s from Michael. I can’t believe what he’s put. No I can’t and won’t believe it!” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Kay sat on the arm of the chair and wrapped her arm round Olive. “There must be a simple explanation. May I read it?” Kay started reading t
he letter out loud. “Dear Miss Carter, It has come to our notice that you are not the sort of person we deal with. We expect our clients to be honest and open about their affairs when they instruct us to act on their behalf. Having looked into your account we know that a lot of the property you wish to bequeath after your death is not owned outright by you…”
“It’s not true,” protested Olive.
Reading on, Kay gasped, then crumpling the paper she turned to Olive. “He can’t have written this, Olive. The man I know wouldn’t have written such things, but it is his signature, I’m sure of it.” She smoothed out the paper and studied Michael’s name. Then she read the whole thing again. How could anyone have written it? It was totally unprofessional and if Olive decided to take things further then Harris and Partners would be in an awful lot of trouble with the professional bodies. Why would Michael have put his career and the firm in such jeopardy? And for what? Olive was moving her business to Harris and Partners. Surely this letter would be more likely to come from Twigge and Moore.
“I’m going to make a cup of tea and bring some biscuits. I don’t suppose you’ve eaten anything all day. Then we’ll decide how we’re going to deal with this.” Kay tried to sound stronger than she felt. Standing at the kitchen sink she let the tears fall. She’d loved and trusted George and he’d let her down badly. Surely Michael wouldn’t let her down as well. She sobbed uncontrollably.
The whistling of the kettle brought her back to thinking of Olive and how she needed to comfort her. Having prepared the tea things and got her emotions under control Kay carried the tray back into the sitting room and set it down on the little table. She poured tea for them both and made Olive take a biscuit. She herself couldn’t force one crumb down, but sipped at the hot liquid.
“Harris and Partners are doomed to failure,” she said dejectedly. Suddenly she grabbed the letter and looked at it again. “Oh, Olive, I know who’s written this. It has to be Charlie. Look at the letter heading. It’s the old stationery with Harris and Son. We don’t use that any more, but that’s the paper Charlie stole from the firm to write his reference.”
Olive breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew deep down it couldn’t be Michael, but it was very convincing.”
Kay wanted to jump for joy. “Don’t blame yourself for doubting him, Olive; I had a moment of doubt too. I feel awful that I could have thought such a thing. Poor Michael. We’ll have to show him the letter and let him decide what to do about it. I’m afraid last time we went to see him Mr Twigge was overwhelmed with work and didn’t really listen to us when we told him about Charlie, but maybe he’d listen if we took this along. I suppose Charlie is just trying to get Harris and Partners into trouble any way he can.”
“I’ve been so worried. It’s not like me to be daunted by things, but that was devastating. Not only because I really like Michael and trusted him completely, but because I know you and he like each other.”
Make that ‘love’ in my case, Kay thought. There she’d admitted it if only to herself. She loved him. It was quite simple.
Once Olive had eaten her biscuit and finished her tea she was back to her usual determined self. “I’ve got a plan. We’ll have to get Michael’s approval and Len’s co-operation.”
“What’s Len got to do with any of this?”
“He says he’s a very fine actor and once I tell him the whole story I’m sure he’ll be pleased to help.”
“Help? What on earth are you talking about?” Kay was glad Olive was back to normal, but she wondered if the lack of food had affected her in some way.
“We haven’t been in amateur dramatics for nothing. I’m going to cast Len as private investigator Len Hutchings. He’ll bring about Charlie’s downfall. You just wait and see.”
Chapter Fourteen
“I’m not happy about it, Olive,” said Michael grimly pacing her sitting room. “Charlie Spencer is a nasty piece of work and I won’t let you put yourself in danger, either of you.”
“Steady on, Michael,” put in Len. “Olive won’t be there, I will and you can come with me if you like. In fact it would make it more business-like if you were there. After all Miss Olive Carter is a client of yours, isn’t she?”
Michael nodded. “All right then, as long as I can be present, I agree.”
“I could come as well,” said Kay, wanting to be involved and to witness Charlie’s disgrace in person.
“No,” said both men in unison.
“You stay at the office, Kay and you stay at home, Olive,” continued Michael. “We’ll be in touch with you both as soon as we’ve finished with Twigge and Moore.”
* * *
The next day Kay went to the office early as between them she and Olive were getting under each other’s feet and had only one thing on their minds. Kay desperately hoped she wouldn’t have to wait long to hear from Michael and Len that everything had gone smoothly.
Every time the office door opened Kay hoped it would be Michael, but the time passed very slowly and he didn’t appear. At last, just before her lunch break, Michael and Len pushed open the door and entered.
“Are you free to come to my room, Kay?” asked Michael, leading the way with Len not far behind him.
Once behind closed doors, Michael invited Kay and Len to make themselves comfortable in the wooden chairs by his desk.
“It’s a long story, isn’t it Len?” Michael perched on the desk and began. “Len was very good, in fact I’m sure he could make a career out of acting.”
Kay grew impatient; she didn’t want to know about Len’s theatrical ability at the moment. All she was interested in was whether Charlie had got his comeuppance.
“Michael did well, in fact he didn’t interrupt while I was giving Charlie a warning even though I could see he was itching to,” added Len.
“Will you please just tell me what happened,” begged Kay.
“We went in to Twigge and Moore and I asked to see Charlie Spencer,” said Michael. “As luck would have it, Mr Twigge was in the outer office and let us have his room for our interview. He came into the room with us and said he would act as Charlie’s witness in case he was being put under undue pressure. Len said he was a private detective acting on behalf of a client. You should have seen Charlie’s face! It was as if guilt was written all over it. I was ready to knock his block off. Anyway,” grinned Michael, giving Kay a swift look, “sorry to deviate. Without actually showing the letter to Charlie, Len outlined what was written in it making sure Olive’s name wasn’t mentioned. And then he said he had reason to believe Mr Spencer was behind the duplicity. Both Charlie and Mr Twigge asked for proof and I thought we were lost, but then Charlie went beetroot red and said it couldn’t have been him as he hadn’t had any direct dealings with Miss Carter. Of course he realised straightaway that he’d put his foot in it by mentioning Olive’s name and so did Mr Twigge.”
“So he dug a hole for himself?” enquired Kay, enjoying Michael’s telling of the event.
“Correct! Anyway suffice it to say that Mr Twigge will deal with Charlie Spencer. He was as outraged as we were when he realised what Charlie had been up to. Couldn’t apologise enough. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, Charlie said it wasn’t just him, Alastair Barnes was involved as well. It seemed the pair of them wanted to discredit us and Twigge and Moore so that they could set up an office together here in Blayton.”
“So what will happen to the two of them?” asked Kay.
“I don’t know for certain, but I am sure that neither of them will work in any law firm ever again,” replied Michael, looking satisfied.
The three of them sat in silence until Kay said, “Does Olive know? I expect you came straight here from seeing Charlie. We must tell her at once. She’ll be a nervous wreck by now wondering how it all went.”
Len was on his feet. “I’ll go,” he grinned. “She’ll want to see my disguise.”
Kay hadn’t noticed, but now she looked closely at Len she could see he had different spectacles on
and it looked as if he’d grown a moustache overnight. And in spite of the warmth of the day, he was wearing a mackintosh with the belt tied tightly around his middle. He did look every inch a detective.
Left together, Kay and Michael exchanged a look. “I’m so pleased this has all been sorted out, Michael,” sighed Kay. “I was worried we, that is the firm, would get a bad reputation based on the false rumours Charlie was spreading.”
Michael took her hand. “Thank you for your concern, my dear Kay. We can put all that behind us and get on with being the best solicitors’ office in Blayton.”
“I thought we were already,” beamed Kay, squeezing Michael’s hand.
“And that’s not all. I know I thought Mr Twigge was implicated in some way, but seeing how he reacted to Charlie’s confession this morning, I’m sure he didn’t know a thing about it. With Charlie and Alastair out of the way I think we could become close business associates. Your instinct about Alastair was very intuitive.”
Basking in the praise from Michael, Kay wanted to tell him about the advertisement for the single ladies which she had drafted, but now was not the time.
“We’ll have to go out and celebrate,” said Michael. “This evening?”
“I think Len and Olive have other plans.”
“I wasn’t asking them out, just you.” Michael brought Kay’s hand to his lips and tenderly kissed it.
“Are you sure you’ve got time?”
“I have apologised for cancelling our last date. Don’t you think I’d rather have spent the evening with you at tennis and the coffee bar than be working on those tedious papers I had to prepare?”
“I expect so,” Kay said doubtfully. She’d been very disappointed when he’d cancelled their date at the last minute, but on the other hand she knew how much he wanted to make the business a success. She had to admire him for his determination and hard work. “Yes, let’s celebrate.”
Law of Attraction Page 12