Chapter 29
Filming had finished for the day when Emma took an important telephone call from the police. They wanted to call and speak to her and Felix later in the afternoon. As soon as everyone had left the house, Emma told Felix to expect a visit.
‘What news do you think they have for us?’ she asked, beginning to feel a little on edge.
‘Obviously information about Anika,’ replied Felix, knowing it was only a matter of time before the story hit the press. He knew she’d been charged with breaking and entry, as for the violence against Emma, that was undetermined. He assumed that was what the call from the police was about.
They both sat waiting on tenterhooks for the knock on the door. Eventually it came and two officers – who introduced themselves as Detective Inspector Mason and Detective Sergeant Jones – were shown inside. After sitting them in the drawing room, Detective Inspector Mason cleared his throat and began.
‘We have come to inform you that Anika Genness has been charged with stalking, breaking and entry and also attempted grievous bodily harm.’
Emma’s eyes slid towards Felix, who was staring at the DI motionless. He was busy speculating how all this was going to pan out. He could see it now, Anika arriving at court looking stunning and perfectly composed with a trail of paparazzi behind her, cameras flashing, microphones pushed into her beautiful face. She was used to this kind of attention, but poor Emma, or his mother for that matter, were not – and they’d have to give evidence. A dread filled him.
‘When’s the trial?’ he dully asked.
‘There won’t be one,’ Detective Sergeant Jones replied, her tone and manner straightforward and no-nonsense.
Felix’s head shot up abruptly.
‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Anika has pleaded guilty to all charges,’ she answered.
‘She’s pleaded guilty? You mean—’
‘Anika has representation and taken the advice given to her,’ interrupted DI Mason.
Felix blinked, not quite believing what was being said. Anika had actually taken advice and admitted everything ?
He frowned. ‘But I thought she’d denied harming Emma?’ he questioned. Emma too looked gobsmacked at hearing all this. She’d been psyching herself up for the witness box in a packed court room.
‘Ms Genness has obviously given the whole incident a great deal of thought and decided this is the best option for her,’ said DI Mason.
‘You mean for damage limitation,’ retorted Felix, resenting the reference of the nightmare they’d had to endure as an ‘incident’. But of course, why hadn’t he guessed this? Anika was hardly likely to want a trial, with maximum publicity tainting her image. She was the dazzling model who’d been wronged by her ex-boyfriend. Standing trial as a mad stalker, who had broken into his house and attacked his girlfriend with a broken glass bottle, was most definitely not the kind of profile-raising she’d want. So, Anika had done the sensible thing for once in her life and taken the only advice which had been offered to her, to own up and try to keep as tight a lid as possible on it. Still, word was bound to get out but, he acknowledged, nothing like the level of attention a very public trial would bring. He gave a large sigh.
‘Does this mean I won’t be required to give evidence?’ asked Emma, anxious to have it confirmed.
‘Yes, you won’t be needed in court,’ replied DS Jones with a tight smile.
‘Oh, good.’ Emma sat back with relief.
‘And neither will Madam Sinclair,’ said DI Mason.
‘Right, I’ll let my mother know,’ Felix replied. There was a slight pause before he spoke again. ‘So, what happens next?’
‘A plea hearing will be set, followed by the sentence Anika will be given,’ DS Jones said.
‘She’ll still end up behind bars though, right?’ asked Emma urgently. The very notion of the crazy bunny boiler coming for her again filled her with terror.
‘Undoubtedly,’ assured DS Jones, ‘especially with her track record.’
‘Thank God for that,’ said Emma looking at Felix. He gave a shaky smile and reached for her hand.
‘It’s OK, Emma, she’s not going to harm you ever again,’ he said gruffly. Nobody would. Not while he had breath in his body, he thought fiercely.
‘Well, we’ll be off now.’ DI Mason stood up. ‘Any more developments and we’ll be in touch.’
Felix showed the officers out and returned to find Emma still sat stock-still in the drawing room. Once more guilt seeped into him, hating what she’d been subject to. He went over and put his arms round her.
‘I’m so, so sorry for all this,’ he whispered into her ear.
‘But it’s not your fault,’ she replied, pulling herself back to face him. Her eyes searched his face, willing the self-reproach to leave him. If anything, he’d been tortured enough by Anika. The woman had made both their lives a misery. A surge of resilience pierced through her. ‘Now listen,’ she instructed assertively, ‘we are going to forget Anika Genness even exists, do you hear me?’
Felix’s mouth twitched. He loved it when she was forceful. ‘Yes,’ he obediently replied.
‘She’s well and truly out of our lives.’ Emma gave a firm nod.
‘Never to return,’ agreed Felix.
‘Exactly!’ cheered Emma.
Felix was smiling, already beginning to feel better.
‘Let’s drink to that,’ he said, getting up and heading towards the drinks cabinet.
‘Absolutely,’ affirmed Emma joining him.
After pouring them a couple of very strong gin and tonics, the two clinked glasses and each took a hearty gulp. Felix looked at her, filled with admiration at her fortitude.
‘Once filming is over, I’m going to take you away on holiday and spoil you rotten,’ he told her.
‘Oh, yes?’ Emma raised an eyebrow, liking the sound of that. ‘Anywhere in mind?’
‘Somewhere very private and secluded,’ he replied, kissing her.
‘Hmm.’ She was liking it even more.
‘Yes, where we’ll be totally alone, cut off from the outside world,’ he continued between kisses. Then he stopped when Emma burst into giggles. ‘What?’ he asked, bemused.
‘It sounds like here,’ she said.
Seeing the irony, he too joined in her laughter.
‘Actually, I was thinking of somewhere a little more exotic,’ he went on.
‘I’ll look forward to it.’ She gave him a hard hug. ‘In the meantime, you’ve a drama to finish,’ she said resolutely, kissing his cheek.
Yes, thought Felix, he did, and when it was all over he’d throw the mother of all parties.
Robin was expecting a viewing that morning. He’d already showed
someone round earlier in the week and it had proved promising, as they’d
asked for a second look. He re-read the email going over the details of
today’s viewer. He was unsure if she was single or married, as her title
was Dr Tara O’Hara. He smiled at the way her name rhymed. They’d only
just exchanged names and email addresses, so he knew nothing more about
her.
Dr Tara O’Hara was prompt though, as she rang the bell from the front entrance to his flat.
‘It’s Dr O’Hara, I’ve come to view your apartment,’ she said through the intercom.
‘Great, come on up,’ replied Robin, buzzing her in. He stood at the top of the hallway stairs to greet her. ‘Hi, I’m Robin.’ He held out a hand.
Shaking it, she replied, ‘Pleased to meet you.’
She was smartly dressed in a dark trouser suit and green blouse, which matched her emerald eyes perfectly, with a blaze of red hair, cut sharply into a shoulder length bob. Robin led Tara down the small corridor to his apartment door and showed her inside. Immediately Tara looked impressed with the light shining through from the big picture window, with views of the bay beyond. Luckily, it was a bright, clear morning and the sunshine lifted the place. She was also struck by how empty the flat was. Robin, seeing her brows rise as she scanned over the scant furniture, explained the sparseness.
‘I’m actually in the middle of moving out,’ he said, ‘so most of my stuff’s at my girlfriend’s.’
‘Ah, I see,’ she smiled, then continued assessing the room. Robin watched her eyes quickly flicker around, taking everything in. They rested on the open plan kitchen. ‘May I?’ she asked tipping her head towards it.
‘Of course,’ he replied. He pointed out the integrated fridge and freezer and told her what appliances he’d be leaving. Tara nodded and seemed content.
Again, she was drawn to the window.
‘That’s a fantastic view,’ she said in amazement.
‘I know. Take it from me, you’d never tire of it,’ Robin told her.
‘Won’t you miss it?’
‘I’ll still have it. My girlfriend’s house sits on the edge of the bay. It’s an old fisherman’s cottage,’ he said. Then added with pride, ‘We’re expecting twins in summer.’
Tara’s face lit up. ‘Oh, lovely, congratulations.’
‘Thanks,’ he smiled back. ‘It does mean my two bedroomed apartment is hardly going to be big enough for us,’ he continued with a chuckle.
‘I’ve just the one son, so it’d be plenty big enough for me,’ she grinned.
Robin found it difficult to gauge her age. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties and, whilst she’d mentioned having a son, there’d been no mention of any husband yet.
Robin went on to show her the two bedrooms. Tara particularly liked the bedroom with the balcony.
‘I’d definitely choose this one,’ she said, gazing out onto the small sitting area, ‘although I’m sure Calum would object,’ she chuckled.
‘How old is he?’ asked Robin, curious to know.
‘Fourteen,’ she answered with a bright smile.
Robin was a touch surprised, expecting her son to be much younger. It made trying to guess her age even more difficult, then he stopped trying, realising it wasn’t really any of his business.
‘Have you always lived in Samphire Bay?’ Tara asked.
‘No. I moved from north London when I was a teenager, but wouldn’t leave here now.’
‘Hmm, I can see why. I’m in Lancaster at the moment, where I work.’
‘I see,’ said Robin, wondering why she wanted to move away.
He took her around the rest of the flat, showing her the various features and answering all her questions – she was incredibly thorough with her inspection and Robin was relieved that she clearly meant business with this viewing.
‘I’ve already sold my house, so I’m ready to move whenever,’ she told him.
‘Right,’ nodded Robin, hopes raising. Was she about to put an offer in?
‘And as you’ve practically moved out and there’s no chain, there’d be no delay, would there?’ She looked expectantly at him.
‘No, not at all,’ he agreed.
‘Good, well in that case, I’d like to make an offer.’
Robin quickly interjected before she went any further. ‘Just to let you know, there’s someone coming for a second viewing.’
Tara paused. ‘If I offer the asking price, will you take it off the market today?’
‘Yes,’ replied Robin without hesitation and the two shook hands on the deal. Tara told him she’d put her offer in writing via an email and would give the name of her solicitors. They swapped further details of telephone numbers and addresses.
‘Well, I’m sure you’ll be happy here,’ said Robin as they were parting, ‘and feel free to come any time.’ Inside, he was glad Tara was buying his flat, she seemed a decent, honest person. He doubted there’d be any trouble with the sale.
‘I’d like to show it my son, if that’s OK?’ replied Tara.
‘Of course, just ring when you want.’
‘Thanks.’ Tara swiftly eyed the apartment one last time, then turned to leave.
Robin was left with a strange sensation. Whilst he was pleased to have sold his home, and for the asking price, he also felt a tinge of sadness to be leaving. This little flat had served him well and he’d grown attached to the place. Still, onwards and upwards, he told himself.
His spirits soon lifted when he arrived at Jasmine’s later that day. She’d been delighted to hear about the sale of his apartment.
‘That’s brilliant!’ she exclaimed. ‘And for the asking price.’
‘I’m not surprised really,’ Robin said, knowing how hot the property market was in Samphire Bay. That said, he was glad to be getting his hands on some much-needed cash. Now all his money worries were beginning to vanish. He’d have more than enough to tide them over until the warehouse renovation was complete.
True to form, Tara had put everything in an email as promised and Robin had replied along with the details of his solicitors, so it was full steam ahead. For the first time in a long while, he felt totally relaxed. His life had turned up a notch since learning he was about to become a father – and to two babies at that, whereas he noticed Jasmine had taken everything calmly in her stride, completely unfazed. He looked at her now, concentrating on her laptop screen, busy working away. He smiled at seeing her hand unconsciously rub her swollen abdomen. This time next year they’d be a family of four. He could hardly believe it.