CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
There was no need for you to apologize, but thanks anyway. No harm done. Anna told me about what happened with Ludo. I hope Rosie is feeling better by now. Please send her my love. Just wondering how you’re getting on re the Winters sisters’ financial situation? Cx
No word from him so far this morning, and she wished she could stop checking just in case.
Fortunately, the past hour with Robert had been a very welcome distraction, and there was such a lot to get through today regarding the next pod that there was a good chance she’d go for hours without thinking about him again today.
‘I thought it was you.’
She looked up and her heart immediately somersaulted. ‘Matthew,’ she declared, as if one of them might have forgotten his name. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you.’
‘No, I guess you weren’t,’ he said, pulling out a chair to join her. ‘So who was the guy who just left? You seemed to be getting along very well. Don’t tell me you’ve joined Tinder already. Didn’t think it would be your style.’
Keeping her voice low, she said, ‘Could you please fuck off.’
He laughed, and his smile immediately reminded her of why so many people were drawn to him. ‘I know you don’t mean that …’
‘I do.’
‘… so I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you another coffee.’
She would have got up and left, but they were already attracting attention thanks to who he was. The last thing she wanted was to find herself back in the press as an object of pitying speculation.
‘So have you?’ he asked.
‘Have I what?’
‘Joined a dating site now that Mr Guernsey is no longer on the scene.’
‘There are times,’ she told him quietly, ‘when I’d like to smash your face in and this is one of them.’
He laughed again. ‘I love that I can still inspire such passion in you,’ he told her cheerily.
Her look was deadly.
‘OK, so not a date?’ he ventured.
‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ she retorted, ‘but he’s helping with the new series. How’re Marley and Bear?’
He seemed to sink a little at that. ‘They’re doing OK, I think. She asked me to tell you that she understands you might be finding it difficult to know what to say to her now she’s had my baby, but maybe it would help if you could think of him as yours too.’
Cristy stared at him, dumbfounded.
He shrugged.
‘That woman is certifiable,’ she stated. ‘She surely doesn’t think … Actually she does think I want to be part of your family, so please can you disabuse her of that idea?’
‘I’m doing my best, but it’s not easy when I want you to be involved too.’
Her eyes closed in despair. She couldn’t allow herself to get drawn into this or she’d end up as crazy as they were. Changing the subject she said, ‘Where’s Aiden?’
‘Cardiff, checking out a new band, back tonight or tomorrow. Haven’t you heard from him?’
‘Not for a couple of days. Has Hayley told you about her relationship issues?’
He grimaced. ‘Do you think I should call her?’
‘For God’s sake, Matthew, why are you asking me? You never used to be like this …’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know, pathetic, unable to make decisions for yourself.
I’m not your mother, any more than I’m your wife, so please stop asking me what you should do in any given situation.
Especially where Marley is concerned.’ She glanced up as a server put two steaming Americanos on the table.
‘I really don’t want that,’ she said when they were alone again.
He came over so helpless at the prospect of her leaving, so ridiculously at a loss, that she grudgingly set aside the urge to abandon him.
It might be satisfying for her to have everyone think she’d walked out on him, but it would be embarrassing for him.
So, for the next ten minutes or so, she chatted with him about his work, how busy he’d been lately which, apparently, was why he hadn’t been in touch, until inevitably they came back to Marley.
‘Would you think the worst of me if I cut all ties?’ he asked, staring at a sugar pack as he emptied it into a saucer. ‘Not financially, obviously, I’ll pay what I have to towards Bear’s upkeep …’
‘Upkeep! He’s not a car …’
‘You know what I mean. I’ll do the child maintenance thing and set up a savings account for him. I’ll even have him for holidays if she wants me to, but I just can’t be married to her any more.’
‘You need to tell her that, not me.’
‘I intend to, the next time I’m there. I’d do it via FaceTime, just to get it over with, but Aiden called me a disgusting name for even considering it.’
Proud of her son, Cristy said, ‘When are you planning to go?’
‘In a couple of weeks, I guess. Or I could delay until you’ve finished this series and maybe you’d consider coming with me. We could go on to Hawaii after or … OK, you’re not on board for it.’
Shaking her head in disbelief, she said, ‘You know, sometimes with you I feel as though I’ve gone right through the looking glass and there’ll never be a way back.
I used to understand you, I could even guess what you were thinking, but now …
I have to put it down to Marley’s influence because you’re clearly as delusional as she is. ’
‘That’s a no then?’
In spite of herself she laughed. ‘Come on, finish that coffee and we’ll leave together. Then I have to get to the office.’
‘Any chance of meeting up later?’ he asked, once they were out on the street.
‘Zero,’ she smiled, and planting a quick kiss on his cheek she hurried off towards the Downs to find her car.
*
Anna tells me you might be coming to Guernsey soon. You know you’re welcome to stay here. We’d all love to see you. Sending info re Winters financial affairs via email. Sorry it took a while. Hope it’s OK to say this, but I miss you. David x
Jodi looked up from the message, eyes shining with delight. ‘I always said it wasn’t over between you,’ she declared.
‘The point,’ Cristy responded, hefting the baby onto her other shoulder, ‘is that his relationship with Juliette isn’t over. And saying he misses me doesn’t actually mean anything.’
‘He’s invited you to stay with him,’ Connor pointed out, coming to refill her wine glass.
‘That’ll be his mother’s doing, but even if he wants me there what good can come of it?
Actually, don’t answer that. It’s been a long day thanks to digging into all the Albescu stuff this afternoon – God I felt like I needed a shower by the time we’d finished.
Time to relax now, and talking about David, or Matthew … ’
‘Or Robert,’ Connor quickly put in. ‘You still haven’t told us about this morning …’
‘Because there’s nothing to tell,’ Cristy cried with a laugh. ‘It was just coffee and we talked about Sadie and the series the entire time. So, will you please stop trying to create a drama out of a void and talk me through the email David sent about the Winters sisters’ finances.’
With a roll of his eyes, Connor sank back down on the sofa with Jodi and, slipping an arm around her, he said, ‘They’re basically stinking rich, have got wealth managers working for them all over the planet, directed from London, and have a strong preference for so-called ethical investments and biomedical research.
Everything’s run by their trusty advisers at Crosswell Haigh in the City who liaise with bankers, lawyers and finance analysts, all appointed by CH and approved by the sisters’ chief lawyer, Victor Dubois.
Apparently, Dubois has divulged something interesting in his report, but David is still waiting to hear if he can share. ’
‘Did he give any sense of what it might be?’
‘No, and I haven’t been back to ask. I figured he’ll get in touch himself as soon as he has an answer. Anyway, I think we can safely say we won’t be receiving any historical bank statements or records of dubious investments circa 2000–2001, which is what we’d really like to see.’
‘Do you honestly think,’ Jodi said, ‘that there would be an official record of a trafficking transaction? I’ve no idea how these things work, but I’d say much more likely is that the payment was made by a third – or forty-third – party.
So, in other words, in a way that could never be traced to them.
That’s even if such a payment was actually made, though I know we’re assuming for the moment that it was. ’
Knowing she was right, Cristy rested a cheek against Aurora’s downy head and thought, fleetingly, of Matthew’s baby son in LA. He’d probably smell and feel much the same and would be every bit as vulnerable and adorable and scrumptious as the dear little soul she was holding now.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘it’s going to be interesting to find out what this Victor Dubois has told David, presuming he’s willing for us to know. Seems odd that he’d mention it if he wasn’t. Is he Guernsey-based, do we know?’
‘I’m sure we can find out,’ Connor replied, stifling a yawn. ‘So what’s your current thinking on a trip to the island?’
Wishing she had better control of her heart flips, Cristy said, ‘You mean to speak to Corny the housekeeper? It’ll have to wait until Sadie’s back there. I think she and Jasper are leaving on Tuesday so maybe the end of next week. Are you going to come?’
Looking at Jodi, Connor said, ‘How would you feel about that?’
‘I think I’ll cope. Will you take up David’s offer to stay at Papillon?’ she asked Cristy.
Sighing over her nerves, Cristy said, ‘I’m not sure.
Maybe it would be best for us to check into the Cobo Bay Hotel, Con.
It’s close to where Corny lives and as nowhere is that far away on the island we’ll be fairly well placed for any other interviews we can fit in.
Anyway, a lot will depend on what happens between now and then.
If we can trace George Symmonds-Browne, or Hilary Stokes, the ex-bar manager at Butlin’s, they could be a priority.
And we’re still keen to speak to the elusive Edwin Prosser. ’
‘Frustrating that Jacks isn’t making any headway with him,’ Jodi commented. ‘Do you think he’s deliberately avoiding you?’
‘Highly possible,’ Cristy replied. ‘But is he likely to know where Janina is? There’s nothing to say he even knew she existed.
’ She sighed and resettled the baby. ‘If someone, anyone, could steer us in the direction of where Janina might be, or even to a place that might ultimately lead to her, we’d be right there.
I just can’t see it happening with the way things are right now. ’
‘However, we know from experience,’ Connor said, stretching out his legs and exposing his hairy midriff, ‘that anything can change at any time and the next thing we know we’ll be charging off down avenues we never even knew existed, never mind didn’t see coming.’