She looked shocked. ‘What do you mean? How did you do that?’
He shrugged smilingly. ‘Friends in high places. There are ways around these things if you know who to ask. Which brings me to the test. I can arrange it on the quiet. I have contacts. Your husband need never know. Unless Katie proves to be mine, of course. Then we’ll have to deal with it. What do you say?’
Natasha wrung her hands together. Everything seemed to be snowballing out of control. She mustn’t lose it. She reached in her bag for her tablets.
‘What are those for?’
‘I… I’ve not been too well. I’ve had problems with my nerves in the past. All this stuff with the police isn’t helping. Nor is you turning up on my doorstep.’
‘Are you happy, Tash?’
Confusion flickered over her face. Only Adam called her that and he wasn’t here to help her. She felt a burst of anger against him. All this was his fault – him and his bloody barbecue. If he hadn’t made that discovery none of this would be happening. She wouldn’t have the police traipsing everywhere; wouldn't have given that wretched interview, wouldn’t have Zach turning up in her life again – threatening her.
‘Happy enough.’
He took her chin gently in his fingers. ‘I don’t think you are. He seemed a nice guy, your husband, but he’s not like us. I don’t hold any illusions about myself, or you, but I always felt we understood each other. Why didn’t you answer any of my calls after we broke up that summer? I was desperate to carry on seeing you. I was in love with you.’
He smiled, shaking his head reminiscently as if it was a nice memory.
Perhaps it was because they were so alike, she realized now. She hadn’t liked herself even in those days, so it would have been too much to expect that she’d go for someone with similar traits to her own. But age seemed to have improved him. He wasn’t as bullish as he had been, or as arrogant. Just confident, in an attractive way.
‘There’s hardly anything of you,’ he murmured, his hands sliding down her body to span her waist. ‘If we were to make love now, would you snap in two, I wonder?’
Excitement lurched in her stomach as she saw a way of possibly delaying the inevitable. It was only digging a deeper hole, she knew that, but she held his gaze provocatively. ‘Why don’t we try it out and see? For old time’s sake?’
The air between them stilled as his eyes locked intently with hers. Then, without saying a word he took her hand and pulled her with him as he rose from the settee.
But as he made love to her in the quiet intimacy of his bedroom, his powerful thrusts driving away the darkness of her anxieties until she was crying out with pleasure, she clung to him with a fierceness that matched the desperation in her heart. It was the beginning of the end, she knew, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.
‘So, next week?’ he said as they parted company at the tube. ‘I’ve set the test up for Monday. The address is on the card I gave you. I’ll meet you and Katie there.’
‘Okay.’
She had no intention of keeping the appointment.
He pulled her to him and gave her one final lingering kiss. ‘I’ve missed you, Natasha. Maybe we were all meant to be together? You, me and Katie?’
As soon as she got home she picked up the phone and dialled the police station.
‘Sergeant Briscombe please, it’s Natasha Campbell … well can I leave a message for him? I need to talk to him about a case he’s working on. I know it’s the weekend coming up, but could you ask him to call me? It’s urgent. Thank you’.
She poured herself a gin and tonic and downed it in one. If this didn’t work, she didn’t know what she was going to do.
***
Hannah clicked off her mobile and turned to look at Jess excitedly. ‘That was Miss Williams, the head. They had the Governor’s meeting last night and they’ve reinstated me. She told me to take the next week off up to the end of the month and start on 1st March. I can’t believe it.’
‘Oh Han, that’s fantastic. I told you it would all be fine. But I’m going to miss you. It’s been such fun working together. Sure you don’t want a permanent job?’
Hannah smiled. ‘I’ve enjoyed it too, you know that. But teaching’s always been my thing. I’ve missed my babies.’
‘God … there are days my baby drives me mad. She’s been coming into our bed every night this last couple of weeks. I don’t know what’s the matter with her and it’s making Fraser and me really grumpy with each other.’
Hannah hesitated. ‘She did mention in the car the other day that you and Fraser had had an argument that morning. It’s not anything to do with me, is it? You’ve been such a support over all this but I wouldn’t want to think …’
She didn’t miss the way Jess’s body tensed up. Or the awkward expression that crossed her face.
‘It is because of me, isn’t it? And all this business with Sophie? If it’s causing problems between you and Fraser …’
‘Oh, honey don’t be silly, of course it’s not.’ But she wouldn’t meet Hannah’s gaze. ‘Fraser’s been going through a tricky time at work, that’s all,’ she said lamely.
‘Jess, I know you well enough to tell when you’re fobbing me off.’
To her consternation her friend looked even more uncomfortable, and she stared at her in alarm.
‘What’s the matter? There is something. Please tell me.’
Were those tears in her eyes?
‘I don’t think I can,’ Jess said miserably. ‘I feel so bad about it.’
‘What are you talking about? What can you possibly have done to feel bad about? You’ve been my rock this last couple of weeks.’
‘I’m pregnant.’
Hannah stared at her in shock. ‘What! But that’s fantastic news. Why would you feel bad about that, when you’ve been trying for so long? How many weeks?’
‘Eleven, but ... it’s just such awful timing. You’ve got all this stuff with Sophie going on and here I am about to have another baby. It’s seems so unfair. I didn’t know how to tell you, knowing what you’re going through at the moment.’
Hannah moved over and gave her friend a hug. ‘Oh, Jess, the day I can’t be thrilled by news like that from my best friend … and anyway, life is unfair, we know that. I’m only surprised you’re surprised.’
‘But it shouldn’t be. I want you to have some happiness, too. If only things could start looking up for you.’
Hannah smiled. ‘I expect they will one day, probably long after I’m dead and gone!’
‘Oh, Han.’
‘That’s enough. Don’t start feeling sorry for me, or I’ll crack up.’
‘I just wish you could meet someone – start over.’
‘Jess…’
‘I know – I’m not going off on one.’
‘Good.’
‘But that doesn’t mean I won’t stop hoping.’
‘Get off my back, will you?’
Jess laughed. ‘Okay, lecture over. So … what do you want to do about carrying on working here? I’ll feel mean dragging you in when you’re meant to be taking a holiday.’
‘I like coming in, you know that. But … maybe I will take a few days off between now and the end of the month? I’ve been thinking about decorating my bedroom.’
‘Hey, get you! That’s a terrific idea.’ Jess looked at her thoughtfully. ‘I know this stuff about Sophie’s been awful for you but ... you know what?’ She took her friend’s hand in her own and squeezed it. ‘There’s been a change in you this last couple of weeks. I’ve seen glimpses of the old Hannah and it’s good to see.’
‘I think you’re seeing what you want to see. I’ve felt like crap most of the time. I’ve made such a mess of my life.’
‘Hannah, how can you say that? You’ve had mega stuff to deal with and despite it all, you went to university, did your teacher training and got on with your life. Would you be thinking I was a failure if I’d done all that?’ She studied her friend’s face.
‘You know what I’m saying’s right. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Be proud of how you’ve coped. Most people would have had a complete car crash. Now, come on.’ She moved over to where the books were laid out on the table. ‘Let’s have a look through these while it’s quiet. I’ll help you decide on the wallpaper for your bedroom.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘Sorry to drag you out on a Saturday morning,’ Natasha said without preamble leading Harry through to the lounge. ‘But we need to talk.’
‘I know we do. Look ... I’m a shit I know for saying this, but ... what happened the other day was a mistake. I’m not exonerating myself – I sure as hell enjoyed it, but to take things any further would be suicide for me. I can’t wreck my career. I’m sorry.’
He tailed off, lamely.
‘Okay.’
His eyes fixed on her in astonishment. ‘You don’t mind?’
‘Not at all, if you feel that bad about it. It was only a kiss after all. Having an affair is meant to be fun. If you’re going to spend your whole-time agonising about it, what's the point?’
‘Thank God you’re not offended. It’s not that I’m not attracted to you, you know I am, but…’
‘No need to explain, Harry. I’m happy to forget all about it, but in return, there’s a little something I’d like you to do for me...’
‘I can’t do that,’ Harry said when she’d finished. ‘There’s no way I can interfere with that stuff. It’s done in a totally different department for a start. It would be impossible for me to tamper with the results. And why would you want me to anyway?’
‘I can’t say, but there are things that have gone on in my past where … it really wouldn’t be good for me to have my DNA on a database.’
‘Natasha.’ He ran his hand through his hair. ‘I don’t believe what I’m hearing. What can you possibly have done that would worry you enough to ask me to tamper with police evidence?’
‘I haven’t done anything. But there’s certain information I don’t want coming out. I need you to do this for me.’
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t.’
‘Oh, I think you can, Harry.’
Her eyes bore into his. ‘I don’t have to remind you of what we nearly did. Some people might see that as taking advantage of someone who’s quite vulnerable at the moment. My husband would certainly take a dim view on it – as would that nice boss of yours I’m sure.’
‘You’re blackmailing me?’
‘Of course I’m not, but it can’t be that difficult for you lose my DNA record … or even swap it for someone else’s, surely? No one need ever know.’
‘Even if it were possible, I’d know.’
‘Well …’ her expression was pragmatic. ‘We all have our little indiscretions to hide – no one knows that more than me. Believe me you learn to live with them.’
He shook his head slowly. ‘I can’t do it. Won’t do it,’ he corrected. ‘I may have been stupid enough to get involved with you when I was working on a case but to do something like that is moving to another level completely – and I’m not that stupid. You do what you want, but I can’t do what you ask.’
‘Don’t you realise you could lose your job if I were to report you?’
‘Of course I do.’ He stood, his face tense. ‘I’m sorry it has to end like this. I’m not proud of the way I behaved, but I think you have even less to be proud of. I’ll see myself out.’
Natasha held on until she heard the front door shut, then she crumbled, sinking her head into her hands with a sense of despair. She wasn’t used to losing, and to fail now over something so crucial…
She reached for her cigarettes and lit one with a shaky hand. Her life was collapsing around her and any day now it would all come out. It would be in the newspapers, on the television. Everyone would be talking about her. She couldn’t face it.
***
Adam opened up for the weekend surgery, his mind crammed with the events of the past few days as he prepared automatically for his clinic. He was angry that Natasha had refused to talk about things last night. The trip to London had apparently worn her out. But he couldn’t get what the police had told him out of his head. He was beginning to realise he didn’t know his wife at all. All those years ago when he thought they’d been in love, and she hadn’t even been truthful with him then. Their marriage was a sham. An empty shell of nothingness – and it was destroying him to admit it. He’d always been the strong one in the relationship – the one holding their precarious family unit together – but now he didn’t feel strong at all. He pressed his fingers to his eyes and drew a breath. He needed to pull himself together.
Six hours later, he washed his hands and turned back to the last client of the day – a little boy, clutching his dog so fiercely that he had to smile. He was a scruffy little urchin and his mother wasn’t much better. He knew where they lived, a dilapidated mobile home on the outskirts of Hertford. They didn’t have much and certainly couldn’t afford to be paying vet fees.
‘Bring her back in on Monday and we’ll just check the stitches are healing,’ he said with a smile.
‘We can’t afford to come again,’ the mother said flatly. ‘I only brought her in ‘cos Bobby was upset that it weren’t healing right.’
‘Well, he was right. It could have turned nasty if we hadn’t dealt with it. Come at the end of surgery around five thirty. It won’t cost you anything. I just need to see that those antibiotics are working. I’m sure she’ll be fine now.’
‘There y’are Bobs – I told you she’d be okay. All that fuss for nothing.’
But her eyes, as she ruffled her son’s hair, were loving. It brought a lump to Adam’s throat. He’d never once seen Natasha act like that with Katie.
He tidied his stuff away and looked at his watch. The surgery closed early on a Saturday but the last thing he felt like doing was going home. He shook off his guilt as he finally confronted the urge that had been tugging at him all day. He knew what he was going to do.
Outside her door he hesitated. He knew damn well he shouldn’t be here but he wanted to tell her he was glad it hadn't been her daughter. And he needed some breathing space before he went home.
He could probably be done for invasion of privacy, he thought, as he waited for her to answer the door. It had to be an infringement of some sort that he’d checked their computer records to get her address.
‘Oh!’
She was wearing a pale pink shirt tucked into tight jeans, her short blond hair tucked casually behind her ears.
‘Hi, hope I’m not interrupting anything?’
Through the door he could hear voices. Clearly, he was.
‘Uh … no, but what are you doing here?’
Good question. What was he doing there? He thrust the chocolates at her. ‘I bought you these. Just to say I’m glad it wasn’t your daughter. Look, I can see I’ve called at a bad time–’
‘No, you haven’t actually. It’s my birthday and a couple of my friends dropped by with a bottle of champagne to celebrate. We started early as you can see, but they’re just leaving. You can come in if you want?’
The offer was diffidently given, but he found himself following her into the small comfortably furnished flat. He looked around as he entered. It was tastefully decorated but very bare. No photos or knickknacks anywhere. Nothing on the walls. She led him into the lounge where two women were sitting on the sofa.
‘Hi … I’m Jess Dean,’ one of them proffered, her eyes curious. ‘I don’t think we’ve met?’
‘Adam.’ His hesitation was barely perceptible. ‘Campbell.’
‘And I’m Lucy,’ the other girl said. ‘You’re a dark horse, Hannah.’ Her eyes were mischievous and Hannah felt her cheeks reddening.
‘Weren't you just leaving?’ she asked pointedly. ‘You’ll be late for the film if you don’t push off. I’m sorry to be a wet blanket. I’m just not in the mood for chic flics at the moment.’
Outside the door, Jess looked at her
incredulously. ‘Hannah, what are you doing?’
‘What?’ Her tone was defensive.
‘That’s the man, isn’t it? The one who found the baby in his garden? I remember the name from the papers.’
‘So?’
‘So - what’s he doing here in your lounge? For a start, he’s married!’
‘Oh, Jess. It’s not like that.’
‘Isn’t it?’
‘No! We’ve just got things in common over what’s going on at the moment.’
‘Yes, and let’s face it, you don’t know what’s going on. He could be responsible for that baby’s death, for all you know.’
‘Oh, come off it! Does he look the type to be a child murderer.’
‘Did Ben look the type to be a woman-beater?’
She saw her friend’s face and reached out to take her hand. ‘I’m sorry, that was out of line – I don’t want to upset you. But be careful, okay?’
‘Of course I will. But I seriously don’t think I’ve got anything to fear from Adam Campbell.’
As she closed the door after them though, she took a shaky breath. Could Jess have a point? Could Adam somehow be implicated in all this? She couldn’t really believe it – but then her track record on judgment of character wasn’t great.
She walked slowly back into the lounge. He was standing by the window looking out onto the back garden.
‘Pretty garden you’ve got. Someone spends time on it?’
‘The Landlord has a guy who comes and cuts the grass, but I get out there when I can.’
She put the chocolates carefully down on the table. ‘Thanks for these, it was thoughtful of you.’
He smiled. ‘And well timed by the sound of it. Happy Birthday.’
He looked as if he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days but it suited him somehow – added to the tough outdoor look of him. She saw him glance at the bottle on the table, and following his gaze she relaxed a little.
Cry From The Grave A Thrilling Psychological Crime Mystery (Harry Briscombe Book 1) Page 16