by Ber Carroll
‘Why?’
‘The divorce papers were served on her … I forgot about it, with all that was happening, I clean forgot … I intended to tell her well before she got the papers.’ His speech was laboured.
‘The officer said that she’ll go to prison, for at least a few years.’
Robert nodded, his face a canvas of sadness. ‘I must be insane to feel sorry for her … I must have a hell of a lot of drugs in me.’
They smiled at each other.
‘I was thinking on the plane about something … about Frank and Paul,’ Claire said, remembering her flight to San Francisco as if it was from a different life.
‘Paul?’
‘My ex-boyfriend, the one who works in Digicom … He lives with James. I don’t think it was a coincidence that we lost Queensland government to Digicom.’
‘I already know that Frank was leaking information to Digicom. I found out yesterday.’
‘Did you know about Paul?’
‘Only Frank … the police can check Paul out … I’m tired of it all.’ Robert looked as weary as he said he was.
‘I’m sorry. This is hardly the right time to talk about it.’
‘Don’t be sorry … I just want to forget about the whole fiasco,’ he said.
She could see resolve on his grey face.
There was a knock on the door. It was Donald Skates, casual in a pair of jeans.
‘Excuse me, I hope I’m not interrupting.’ He threw Claire a curious look.
‘Donald, this is Claire, Claire Quinlan,’ Robert said hoarsely and Claire handed him a glass of water.
Donald looked a little bemused, obviously having forgotten who Claire was. He stood awkwardly, his hands clasped behind his back. ‘The surgeon updated me on my way in. He’s happy with your progress.’
‘Yes, it feels good to be alive.’ Robert reached for Claire’s hand.
Donald seemed uncomfortable with their intimacy. ‘Wayne was taken in for questioning last night and the Australian police are investigating their end of things.’
‘Good,’ Robert said with a slight nod.
There was a small silence.
‘I wanted you to know what was happening. I’m personally ensuring that the police get all the assistance they need.’ Donald sounded as if he was seeking Robert’s approval. It was the closest he would get to an apology. ‘I should get going. I’ll drop by later tonight.’
Donald shot Claire another bemused look before closing the door behind him.
Claire’s hand was still secure in Robert’s. She felt like one of the spaghetti tubes, linked seamlessly to his body, emotion rather than fluids flowing through the line.
‘What happens now?’ she asked.
‘You tell me, honey. You were struggling to cope with two ex-wives. Now corporate fraud and attempted murder have been added to the mix! What are you feeling?’ Robert was grinning but serious.
‘Surprisingly confident about us. I’m trusting my instincts – they’re all I have to rely on with you. For some reason, they think that ex-wives, fraud and murder are minor obstacles.’
They both laughed, giddy from the elation of making it through the last few weeks.
‘How about you?’ Claire kept smiling.
Robert was solemn when he answered, ‘I’m leaving Amtech, Claire. Going to Sydney and meeting you has been an eye-opener for me. I can see clearly what I was missing from my life and what I need to do to be happy.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘I need to buy a house on Sydney Harbour … Oh, and I need to ask a beautiful Irish girl if she’ll live there with me.’
Claire leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. ‘Well, when you ask her, I think she’ll say yes.’
ALSO BY BER CARROLL IN PAN MACMILLAN
Just Business
Niamh Lynch appears to have it all: a high-flying career, a handsome, successful husband and a loving family. But looks can be deceiving.
From the moment she has to deliver the terrible news that there will be heavy redundancies at her workplace, her marriage crumbles and her life falls apart.
Certain cracks have been there for a long time, since her family left Ireland. Others are new. Who will catch her as she falls? Her mother whom she can’t forgive? Her father from his grave? Or Scott, a man who has just lost his job, but who seems to understand her like nobody else.
High Potential
A NOVEL OF AMBITION, FAMILY SECRETS AND THE SEARCH FOR LOVE.
Katie Horgan is going places: soon she’ll be a partner in the prestigious law firm where she works. Her love life, on the other hand, is going nowhere – until she meets Jim Donnelly. Jim is brilliant, handsome and, like her parents, Irish. The only problem is that he already has a girlfriend …
When Katie is sent to Ireland as part of her training, she happily settles into life in Dublin where she works in a clinic that provides free legal advice to the homeless. She befriends Mags who makes it her business to initiate Katie to Dublin’s social scene. Then Jim Donnelly comes home on a visit, their relationship deepens, but everything begins to unravel …
Bit by bit, the truth comes out, about Jim, Mags and the reason that Katie’s parents left Ireland – and Katie learns that life and love are not as black and white as she always thought.