Chapter 19
The bright light coming through the bedroom window woke Freya the following morning. Willis jumped up from his position at the bottom of the bed and walked all over her body to get to her face and lick it. Freya reached for her glasses and put them on. The bedside clock told her it was nine-thirty.
Shocked by the time, she pulled back the duvet and leapt out of bed. She grabbed her robe and hurried out of the bedroom.
She ran downstairs and rushed into the kitchen, Willis struggling to keep up with her.
Nicholas was sat at the breakfast bar, reading through his script.
‘Why didn’t you wake me? I’ve got an appointment this morning.’ She pulled open a cupboard and got out the cat food.
‘I thought you could do with the sleep. It was gone two when the police left.’
‘Well, that isn’t going to change my appointment time, is it? I’m never going to make it to the office in thirty minutes. I’m not even dressed.’ She dropped the tin-opener on the floor.
‘Hey, come on. I’ll call Sasha. I’ll tell her you’re not coming in today. She can see to the appointments.’ He stood up and picked up the tin-opener.
‘I want to go in today. I want to go in and pretend none of this is happening.’ She started to open the can.
‘Come on, Freya. Sit down, have some tea. Willis is playing you, by the way, I’ve already fed him this morning. Come, sit down.’ He took her arm and guided her towards the breakfast bar.
‘I just feel like I want to press rewind on the last couple of days and re-record.’ She put her elbows on the table, resting her head in her hands.
‘It hasn’t been the best, but we have the police involved now. Then Roger’s coming over later to see to the new security arrangements.’
‘Nick, I don’t want to be locked in this house with infrared beams and cameras and a portcullis coming down at the front door. That isn’t living.’
‘Someone’s been in this house, Freya and I think they’ve been in this house before. I don’t think that crow hit the glass in the door. I think someone broke in. You saw the pictures; whoever it was destroyed every photo we ever had taken. What if defacing things isn’t enough for them? I’m not putting you at risk.’
‘Well, you may as well shoot me now because I’m not living like that.’
‘I know you’re mad at me because I told the police about your father, but it had to be done. If you really think this is down to him then they have to investigate it.’
‘Then things are going to get much worse. There’s one thing my father hates more than me and that’s the cops. Once they start sniffing around his offices, asking questions, there will be hell to pay.’
‘Hey, come on, have some tea. There’s still leftover Chinese from yesterday’s leftover Chinese in the fridge. Do you want me to microwave it for you?’
‘Have we got any honey?’
‘I don’t think so. Although I think there’s some peanut butter if you’re thinking of a spread.’
‘Do we have Jell-O? Can I have toast with Jell-O?’
‘If I can find Jell-O, it’s yours.’
‘If I don’t go into the office, will you stay at home with me?’
‘Of course I will. Maybe, to take our mind off things, we can start making the wedding arrangements,’ he suggested.
‘Yeah, maybe.’ She smiled but her heart wasn’t in it.
‘Right, well, why don’t you go and get showered and I’ll make this Jell-O on toast thing you want.’
‘OK, I won’t be long.’ She left the kitchen and headed up the hallway. She stopped in her tracks when she heard Nicholas pick up the phone.
‘Hey Sandra, it’s Nick. Listen, I want you to make an appointment for me. Yeah, I want you to telephone Lawson-Peck Industries and get me a meeting with Eric Lawson-Peck. Don’t take no for an answer. I want it as soon as possible.’
What the hell was he doing?
Roger and the security company arrived a little after ten-thirty. They had four trucks and a team of fifteen people. When they’d unloaded the vehicles and started to get out all manner of locks, bolts and alarms, it began to look like a locksmiths’ convention. It was too much for Freya. She kept herself busy making cups of tea.
‘This is the plan I’ve come up with. If you want to have a look and see what you think. Then the guys can get started installing everything,’ Roger said. He passed the plans over to Nicholas.
‘And this will definitely keep anyone out? It’s guaranteed? I mean, Freya does have a habit of forgetting to set the alarm and…’ he started.
‘This equipment is state of the art. You can’t leave the house without knowing you haven’t activated it. It warns you with a noise and a verbal command and it won’t let you leave until you’ve done what it says.’
‘It won’t let you leave until you’ve done what it says?! What is this machine based on? Terminator?’ Freya exclaimed. She put a pot of tea on the table.
‘It sounds complicated but it’s really simple to use. I’ll go through it all with you when it’s up and running,’ Roger assured.
‘I have a better idea. Why don’t we not install it and move to a desert island where the only things to bother us would be sun, sea and fish?’
‘Excuse Freya, Roger. She’s not had a lot of sleep and what with what happened to Mike. She’s understandably edgy.’
‘Don’t make excuses for me. I’m just bordering on being admitted as a psych patient, that’s all.’ She slammed a plate of biscuits down.
She was actually bordering on fury. Nicholas hadn’t mentioned anything about arranging to meet her father. So much for there being no more secrets! He knew how scared she was of her father. He ought to believe her when she said he was dangerous. Meeting him, having a head-on confrontation, was madness.
The phone rang and Nicholas jumped up to answer it.
‘He won’t even let me answer the phone now. God knows what he thinks is going to happen if I do answer it.’
Of course, it could also be because he was waiting for a call back from Sandra arranging the meeting with her father.
‘He’s worried for you, Freya. I’m worried for you too. Having someone get into your house like that and do a crazy thing… it’s unsettling,’ Roger told her.
‘It’s Sasha for you.’ Nicholas held the phone out to her.
‘Shit, I forgot to ring her. Hello, Sasha. Did Mrs Garcia turn up? I’m so sorry, I meant to ring you to cancel her and…’
‘It’s fine, she came and I saw her. She’s booked a session with you next week,’ Sasha spoke.
Freya moved out into the hall.
‘Oh thanks. That was great of you.’
‘So are you coming in to the office today?’
‘Er no, not today. We had a bit of a time of it last night. Nick’s driver got attacked by this gang and the car was smashed up. Then when we got home last night someone had been in our house.’
Saying it out loud made her realise how bad this situation had become.
‘No! How awful! Was it a robbery?’ Sasha exclaimed.
‘We don’t exactly know yet. Anyway, the police are investigating and we have a security team here this morning making sure no one will be getting in here again. You should see them; they’re so hi-tech they could probably build the Starship Enterprise.’
‘Well, that must have been awful, having someone in your house like that. Did they take anything?’
‘We haven’t had a chance to go through everything yet, but it doesn’t look like it.’
‘Well, that’s something. So, I expect you’re both feeling a bit shaken up.’
‘A bit, but we can’t let it take over our lives. After all, we have a wedding to organise.’
‘Of course! Are you still planning to go ahead with it on December twenty-second? Have you thought more about venues?’
‘We can’t make up our minds at the moment, but when we do, you’ll be one of the first to know.’
‘OK, well don’t worry about anything here. I’ll get Avril in if I need her and field anything I can’t deal with personally.’
‘Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, one thing you should know. I lost my handbag last night, so if you need to call, you’ll have to phone this number. My mobile was in there.’
‘Oh, OK. I will.’
‘See you.’
She went back into the kitchen where Roger and Nicholas were discussing where to put the motion sensors.
‘Could I make a suggestion?’ Freya asked.
‘Sure,’ Roger replied.
‘I don’t think having motion sensors in the bedroom would be a good idea. I don’t want half of Mayleaf woken up every night thinking there’s an air strike about to happen if the alarm goes off.’
‘Roger will tell you all about motion sensors later. They have an on and off button. That means every room in the house is open for experimentation.’ He winked at Freya.
‘Ah, jeez! Guys! Trying to think security here and anyway, you aren’t even married yet,’ Roger reminded them.
‘But we will be soon.’ Nicholas put his arms around Freya and kissed her on the mouth.
‘Nick, can we go out for lunch today? Maybe get a takeout from Casey’s and go and see one of the bridges?’ Freya asked, turning to face him.
‘Sure. Is that OK, Roger? You don’t need me here for anything, do you?’
‘No, if you’re happy with the plan, the team can get on with it. It’ll take them most of the day to install everything. As long as you’re back this evening for me to explain everything to you then that’s fine. I have your cell; I can call.’
‘By the way, Roger, what are all these alarms and beams and motion sensors going to mean for Willis?’ Freya wanted to know.
‘Yeah I’ve thought of that. Willis might be a problem. We might have to train him to limbo.’
Nicholas laughed out loud.
‘I was being serious!’
‘Yeah I know you were, babe. Don’t worry, we’re going to take care of it.’