Chapter 27
Noah had to find a way to pay for legal advice because he knew deep down that the problem of Paul wasn’t going to disappear without a fight.
He put his name down for extra shifts should they arise, but Nadia said much the same as Maya, that there wouldn’t be many and, even if there were, he wouldn’t want to wear himself out completely. And he could see why when, after three days straight of shifts that were busier than ever, he was exhausted. The saving grace was Geraldine looking after Eva so well that Eva was settled enough to sleep through the night a few times in a row.
Eva was down for an afternoon nap and Noah lay on the sofa, scrolling through job adverts online to see whether there was some kind of job he could do on the side on his days off. A shelf stacker position was available, as was a cleaner at a fitness centre in the next town, but the jobs were unsurprisingly fixed hours and days. And that was no good to him. And neither was the hourly rate, which wouldn’t even cover Geraldine’s fees.
When he heard the familiar throaty sound of Paul’s car, much like the noise of a horror film you grappled to switch off as soon as it started, he leapt up. The curtains were closed despite the sunshine battling to filter in.
He sat frozen in position, not daring to move an inch.
After the thunk of the car door, followed by a short pause, as expected, his visitor hammered on the door, with every thump threatening to wake Eva up at any second.
His grating tone came through the letterbox. ‘I know you’re in there. Answer the damn door.’
Good, he was pissed off. Well, that made two of them.
But he couldn’t ignore him forever. And to save the neighbours complaining at the racket and Eva being woken, Noah emerged into the hallway and reluctantly wrenched open the door.
‘Given any thought to my proposal?’ No preamble accompanied his pathetic demands.
Noah did, however, note somewhat smugly that Paul stepped back down the few steps that led up to the door to put a distance between them. The man did confrontation, he was a bully, but he was a coward too. Noah knew he could flatten him if he really wanted to.
‘I need more time,’ Noah told him.
‘Sorry, no can do.’
‘I don’t have the sort of cash you’re asking for lying around.’ If the guy wanted the money that bad, he’d wait.
‘Do I need to call my lawyer and set the wheels in motion?’
‘I’ll get it,’ Noah snapped. ‘But I need another couple of weeks.’
‘No chance!’ Paul yelled, as if Noah was the unreasonable one. He turned to go.
‘One week,’ said Noah in a bid to stop him calling his lawyer as soon as he was in his car.
Paul stopped, protected from Noah around the other side of the revolting green vehicle. ‘One week. And that’s your limit. I’ll let you know a date and time. Be ready.’
Noah closed the door, leaned his head against the glass. ‘Cassie…’ he said out loud. ‘Cassie, I’m sorry.’
It was only Eva’s stirring that stopped him from sinking to his knees with the hopelessness of it all.
Noah overcooked the first lot of cauliflower cheese for Eva by leaving it too long in the microwave. It was so dried up, he had to throw it. He knocked her sippy cup off the highchair table soon after he’d made another portion and because he mustn’t have put the lid on properly, it broke off, sending water showering everywhere.
He finished clearing everything up, fed her and changed her nappy when there was another knock at the door.
Surely Paul wasn’t back already. But just in case, Noah grabbed his phone and set it to record the conversation. He was likely to be on guard for that, but you never knew, maybe he’d slip up and Noah could use the information to get rid of him rather than giving in to his demands.
But with Eva in his arms, he peeked through the gap he made in the curtains to find there was no sign of a green car.
He opened the door to find the lesser of two evils – Maya’s ex-husband.
‘What can I do for you?’ Noah pulled Eva’s hand away from his lips. She seemed to want to push her fingers into his mouth right now.
‘I think it’s best I say what I need to say inside.’
‘Is this official business?’
He seemed to take pleasure in the fact that Noah clearly knew what he did for a living. ‘I don’t think you want to do this on the doorstep. And you’re going to want to hear what I have to say so…’ He gestured for Noah to step aside using the brown folder he was holding.
Arrogant tosser.
Reluctantly, Noah tilted his head, indicating Conrad could come in. ‘I hope it won’t take too long; this one needs a nap.’ The guy, already heading along the hallway towards the lounge, would have no idea that was a bare-faced lie and it would be another good five hours before Eva went down again.
Conrad gave the lounge a cursory glance as if trying to size it up in seconds before he turned back to face Noah. His tanned forearm burst out from the pushed-up shirt sleeve, his other still sporting a cast. He had a cocky air about him that had Noah wondering how Maya had ever got mixed up with him in the first place. Maybe she wondered that as well.
‘I’ll get straight to the point,’ said Conrad. ‘Why are you sniffing around Maya?’
‘Really, that’s what you’re here about? Your ex-wife.’
Conrad’s top lip curled into a sneer. ‘I’m looking out for her, always will, remember that.’
‘I’m sure she can look after herself. Now, if there’s nothing else?—’
‘What are you doing associating with Russel? Or it could be Dale, maybe Richard?’
‘I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.’ Noah’s language would be way stronger had Eva not been in his care. She kept him on the straight and narrow as far as his vocabulary was concerned. He’d had a dream the other night that he was fighting for custody in court and claiming to be the better parent. Eva had been sitting in her pram beside him and yelled the F word at the top of her voice in front of the judge, who’d quickly ruled in Paul’s favour. Noah had woken up in a cold sweat from that one.
‘The green car,’ Conrad grunted, ‘it doesn’t exactly blend in. Fucking idiot.’ He glanced at Eva. ‘Apologies. I should mind my language in front of a little one.’
‘Would appreciate it.’ Noah still had no idea what was going on here. ‘You mention a green car, so I assume you’re talking about Paul, right?’
‘So that’s the name he’s going by these days, is it?’
‘Look, I’ve got to get this one down,’ he reiterated, even though Eva now looked as though she had enough energy to dance a jig, if she could stand up on her own, that was. He wanted Conrad to get to the point and then get out.
‘Why was he here?’
‘Long story.’
‘You in business with him?’
Conrad might be on sick leave but right now, Noah felt as though he was being properly interrogated by police. He set Eva down on the floor when she pushed away from him because she wanted to move around. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I asked whether you’re in business with Paul.’ He waved the brown folder again. ‘He’s been of interest for a while and when I saw that green car… well, detectives are never off the job, put it that way. It’s a case I’d like to solve.’
‘I’ve only recently met Paul and I can’t stand the guy. I’d love nothing more than to see the back of him.’
‘In that case, it sounds like you might need my help.’
‘Since when would you offer to help me?’
Conrad sat down on the sofa uninvited. ‘The way I see it, we could help each other. If you’re associating with a criminal and you’re associating with Maya, then it becomes my business.’ He waved the brown folder again. ‘You want to know what’s in here.’ It was a statement, not a question. ‘Trust me. In this folder is something you will find very useful in your little court battle, or it could save you having one in the first place. It’ll save you stress, money.’
‘How do you know about my court battle?’
‘Relax, Maya hasn’t been blabbing. I assume you’ve confided in Maya.’ When Noah didn’t deny it, he sneered, ‘Thought as much. I’m a police officer, nose to the ground and all that, and putting two and two together. It’s a skill.’
‘You’ve been spying on me, on us?’
Conrad’s jaw tightened at Noah’s reference to ‘us’. ‘I’m a detective, comes with the territory.’
‘You’re an off-duty detective.’ And he hadn’t even denied that he’d been watching them.
‘I’m good at my job. They don’t make just anyone a detective.’
‘I’m pretty sure your job remit doesn’t extend to keeping tabs on your ex-wife’s whereabouts.’
‘I’d watch the attitude if I were you. Or life could get very difficult.’ He cast a glance at Eva.
‘Is that a threat?’
‘I uphold the law; I don’t break it.’
Sure.
Conrad jumped when Eva shrieked. It was a happy shriek, as if to get their attention, and Noah usually discouraged it, but seeing how much it irked Conrad, he let her carry on intermittently during their conversation.
Conrad held the folder out to Noah yet again. ‘I’m trying to help you with this information.’
This time, Noah took the bait. He reached out to take it.
Conrad snatched it right back as if they were playing a game for two-year-olds. He held the folder against his chest. ‘Let me tell you the way this is going to work.’
Noah saw red. ‘All right. Get out. I’ve had about as much as I can take of people coming in here laying down rules and ultimatums.’
Conrad called his bluff. ‘Fine, lose your daughter for all I care.’ He headed for the door.
Noah couldn’t help it. He followed after him. ‘You say this man is a criminal.’
Conrad turned, winning this part of his little game. ‘So now you’re interested?’ He waved the folder again. ‘The man is under investigation and this information I happen to have proves it. And it’s your way out of the whole mess.’
‘All right, what do I have to do?’
Conrad came back inside, a smirk on his face. ‘I knew you’d see sense.’