Chapter Forty-Seven
Over dinner the three women sat and ate as Aster explained her findings.
‘It’s not random or accidental. I’m cross-referencing the two databases and I’m beginning to get a better idea of how and when it was done.’
‘Have you any idea how whoever it was broke into the database?’
‘That’s the problem. It wasn’t “broken” into, so to speak. It was done by someone with full access. Basically, one of your staff did this to you.’
‘Aster—’
‘No, Letta. I’m in no doubt. Without sounding melodramatic, this was an inside job.’
Nick blinked, uncertain what to say.
‘The thing I don’t understand,’ continued Aster, ‘is why you didn’t see this sooner. Is it so inconceivable to you that someone could frame you?’
‘Frankly, yes. And the idea that it’s a member of staff that I’d hand-picked and have worked with for over a year is preposterous.’
‘And yet the evidence is as clear as day. Wake up, Letta!’
‘But why would anyone do that to me?’
‘Well, given that you don’t exactly make waves or throw your weight about I can only think of one name. The Harringtons. Which brings me to my main question. What the hell are you doing here? In one of their properties? ’
Nick was still trying to catch up with what Aster had said and shown. Someone had not only successfully framed her, but it was a member of staff. Worse still, Aster thought the Harringtons were behind it. Nick wanted to protest that the two events were unconnected but now she began to feel queasy. The connection was obvious.
‘I’m helping out some of the Harringtons, but they aren’t connected to the banking arm.’
‘But they are part of the family?’ asked Aster quickly.
‘Yes. But it’s not like it sounds. Look, it’s complicated.’
Mary pushed her chair back. ‘I think that’s my cue to pour the wine.’
‘I’ve put some rosé in the fridge,’ said Aster. ‘Grab one of those and let’s go sit outside.’
As the women resettled on the outside sofas, Nick explained her two evictions and the subsequent discovery that the Harringtons had been involved. Gabe and Rafe had been mortified and offered her this place as a bolt hole whilst the story of her FCA investigation broke.
‘Which I thought was incredibly kind,’ said Nick defensively as she watched her sister’s eyebrows become more and more alarmed.
‘Have you become stupid?’
‘What!’ Nick snapped at Aster’s blunt tone.
‘You are evicted from your office and your home at the same time that the FCA launch an investigation into your accounts.’
‘That’s just Harrington’s putting the boot in. Kick a girl when she’s down. ’
‘And how exactly did Harrington’s know you were being investigated? At that stage it was supposed to be hush hush.’
‘It was, but the City still gossips.’
‘And how did the lettings agency know you had a dog?’
‘I guess maybe the concierge noticed?’
‘You yourself said that the dog hadn’t slept in the flat yet. So the concierge makes no sense. But apparently you spent a loved-up weekend with a Harrington in Ireland where he knew all about the dog.’
‘Gabe wouldn’t do that!’
‘Oh, wake up, Nick. The events are all connected. Look at them. If you weren’t sitting in the middle of all this, you would have put it all together in seconds. You know you’re innocent of anything the FCA are accusing you of – that alone should have made you alarmed, but now you have the evidence that you have been framed and you still haven’t put two and two together. Everything that has happened to you has been down to the Harringtons. And here you are sitting in one of their houses helping them out whilst they try to put you in prison. Nicoletta, wake up!’
Nick stared at her sister dumbfounded. She could hear her words and knew the truth of them, but she also refused to believe that Gabe was implicated.
Mary cleared her throat. ‘Aster, I can’t speak for all the shenanigans of the banking sectors or what happened before with the Harringtons. And what you say makes sense, and even sounds about right. But I’ve watched Gabe with your sister. His feelings for her are sincere. If he’s an actor, he’s the best I’ve ever seen. The same goes for his brother. They are doing all this—’ she waved her arm around in the evening air to take in properties and the estate beyond ‘—to distance themselves from their family.’
‘Sorry, Mary,’ said Aster shortly, ‘but when the chips are down families stick together.’
‘Not always.’ Mary shook her head and stared hard at Aster. ‘Yours might, but if I can remind you, mine threatened to throw me out when I was sixteen and pregnant and they only kept me when the boy’s family offered to pay for the maintenance of the baby. When the money stopped, Mammy and Daddy took my son to an orphanage whilst I was at work and I never saw him again. So, no, families don’t always stick together.’
Nick was torn; she knew Mary was right but in a family as large and as powerful as the Harringtons surely they pulled together when needed? And yet she had felt certain that Gabe had told the truth when he said he loved her.
She had been running through her options as Mary and Aster spoke. Her brain seemed to have finally woken up. The horror of being investigated and evicted seemed to have clouded her judgement, allowing her to wallow in emotional angst. She finished her wine and put her glass down.
‘We’re leaving in the morning. Aster, you’re right, I’m being an idiot. Personally, I don’t think Gabe is conning me, but I can’t stay here. Bernard Payne, their project manager, is back at work, so I’m not needed here.’
Aster sat still and watched her sister run through her plans.
‘Mary, I’m sorry to cut your visit short. I’m heading to Norfolk – you are most welcome to join us, meet Ari and the boys.’ She turned back to Aster. ‘You’ll come with me, won’t you? See if you can figure out who planted the evidence?’
‘Of course. But what if I can’t find the culprit?’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ said Nick. ‘I’ve got enough circumstantial evidence. I went to Ireland and discovered Da’s childhood, I found our grandmother and I am going to find the evidence against Harrington’s and absolutely destroy them.’ She stood up. ‘Good night, ladies, we leave first thing in the morning.’