Chapter 5
Chapter Five
I managed to get to the café at twenty-five past four having locked up the library in record-quick time, thanks to Etta’s help, but Leo was already there waiting for me at a table in the corner, two steaming mugs of hot chocolate in front of him.
‘I know you suggested coffee, but it’s the weekend, and I thought a treat to accompany the ice creams might be a good idea, and it always takes a while for the hot chocolate to get to a more drinkable temperature.’
‘As you bought the drinks, I’m definitely getting the ice creams,’ I said, determined to claw back some sense of control. ‘My invitation, my shout. What flavour would you like?’
‘I took the liberty of checking out the selection before you arrived and I’ve decided I’d like to go for ’Twas Mint To Be– the mint chocolate chip,’ he clarified. ‘It’ll be a nice contrast to the drink. Sweet, but with a bite to it.’
‘Like me, you mean?’ I said with a smile, getting in there first before he delivered the obvious jibe.
‘I don’t think I’m really in a position to make that judgement yet,’ he replied dryly.
‘I’d better get in the queue,’ I said, deciding it was best to remove myself from the situation before I said anything else stupid.
I hesitated before selecting the same flavour of ice cream for myself, not wanting Leo to think I was copying him, but he was right, it would be the perfect accompaniment to the hot chocolate.
‘Delicious,’ I said after my first spoonful. ‘Did you see the petition book they’ve got for new flavours? There are all sorts of outlandish suggestions in there, like curry flavour, but I bet they’d find a way of making it work.’
I knew I was talking nonsense, but I needed to fill the silence and, coward that I was, I was trying to delay the moment when I’d have to make my suggestion out loud and have my companion point out how ridiculous it was.
‘Undoubtedly,’ said Leo. He took a sip of his hot chocolate, then sat back and folded his arms, watching me expectantly. ‘Delightful as it is to discuss the pros and cons of various flavours of ice cream, was that really the reason you invited me to join you?’
‘I was only trying to make polite conversation,’ I retorted, bristling. ‘You should try it some time.’
He pursed his lips. ‘Don’t you think it’s somewhat hypocritical for you to be calling me rude? You may have lured me here with the prospect of ice cream, but that doesn’t mean I have to stick around. I’m sure the staff could transfer it into a tub to go.’
‘Sorry, please don’t leave,’ I blurted out. ‘I’m nervous because I want to ask you something, you see, and it’s making me act weird, I know. I’m sorry,’ I repeated.
Again, his lips quirked in what might have been a smile. ‘And what is the cause of this nervousness? I’m disappointed if it’s me. That’s not an effect I like to have on women.’
‘I’m sure you’re used to them all rolling over immediately, like kittens wanting to be stroked,’ I said then wished the words back.
Where had that come from? I forced my gaze away from his hands and affected sudden fascination with the menu board behind his head, mortified that my attempt at banter had manifested in such an unintended and unfortunately flirtatious statement.
Thankfully, despite the provocation, he was reasonably restrained in his response. ‘But this Kat has claws.’
‘Apparently so,’ I said. ‘Okay, okay, let’s start again.’
‘This is what, the third time we’re starting again?’
‘If you say so. You’ve obviously been counting.’
‘It amuses me,’ he said, picking up a teaspoon and stirring his hot chocolate thoughtfully. ‘So, you’re nervous about asking me something. Perhaps it would be easier all round if you just came out with whatever is on your mind?’
‘I’d like to make a proposal,’ I said, in a tone I hoped didn’t sound provoking, irritated or flirtatious.
‘Goodness, this is all very sudden,’ he responded. ‘I’d like a princess cut diamond, and nothing less than eighteen carat white gold will do.’
‘Oh, shut up. Now I know you’re trying to wind me up. And boy, you seem to know an awful lot about engagement rings.’
Leo laughed. ‘I had a summer job in a jewellery store when I was at university. What I don’t know about budget sparkles isn’t worth knowing. It was an early training in human nature. Would you believe that, one week, I sold two identical engagement rings to the same bloke?’
‘Maybe he lost the first one, and was devastated because it was the perfect ring, so he had to go back and replace it?’ I suggested.
‘Sweet,’ said Leo. ‘Sadly, it was actually because he was a two-timer who’d been delivered an ultimatum by both women in the same week. I’ve always wondered what happened next.’
‘And he bought them the same ring? Did he think he was being fair or something? What a bastard. Hopefully they called him out and sold the rings to fund a nice holiday apiece,’ I said.
‘Now you’re thinking like a survivor. But enough of my holiday job reminiscences. What’s on your mind?’
I nodded, bracing myself for bravery. ‘Okay, here goes. As you are already aware, I was the vic—’ No, I was not going to call myself that.
‘Subjected to the unwelcome attentions of a fraudster,’ I amended.
‘I feel humiliated’—violated was another word which sprang to mind—‘but I know I’m lucky to have escaped with my bank account intact, and my dignity too.
Well, some of it, at least. But the company behind the app was totally uninterested in investigating the matter properly and they’re not even bothering to ban the perpetrator.
I know I was lucky, but others might not be, and I can’t bear the thought of anyone else going through this.
I need to find out who this fraudster is and stop him before he causes serious damage to somebody else. ’
‘Very laudable. But why aren’t official channels, such as, I don’t know, the obvious one… the police, an option?’
I shook my head. ‘If the app won’t make the effort to investigate properly, I hardly think the police are going to be able to use their limited resources to do so, even if they wanted to.’
‘I’d like to be able to dispute that assumption, but sadly, you’re probably right. So, you’ve decided to turn vigilante and sort out the problem yourself.’ He laughed. I’d been expecting that response, but it was still galling to experience it for real.
‘Not vigilante exactly, but yes, I want to identify this scammer and make sure they face justice.’
‘And how exactly are you planning to do this?’ Leo asked.
To give him credit, he mostly managed to keep the air of disbelief out of his voice.
‘Have you thought that Brian James could be a bunch of people rather than one individual? They could be based anywhere in the world. That’s a lot of suspects to consider.
You’re not exactly going to find your man and expose him by using your knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System, no offence. ’
‘It’s funny how when people say, “no offence” they generally mean the exact opposite,’ I said. ‘And yes, I am very aware of my shortcomings when it comes to carrying out an investigation. That’s where you come in.’
‘I do, do I? How, and why does this become my problem to deal with?’ he asked.
‘You told me you used to be a police officer. Or more accurately a CID detective. They’re the ones who do the investigating, remember?
’ I couldn’t resist the dig. ‘You made a pretty big deal of the fact that you’ve dealt with loads of these kinds of case.
Who would be better suited to help me track down my nemesis and bring him to justice?
And it’s definitely a him, I’ve heard his voice. ’
The teaspoon returned to the saucer with a clatter.
‘Brian has reached nemesis level. Goodness, things have taken a turn for the serious,’ said Leo. ‘Well, Kat, you don’t mind me calling you Kat, do you?’
‘It’s a bit late to ask now.’
‘Well, Ms Kat Fisher, I see several problems ahead. One of which is that I used to be a detective, but I am certainly not one anymore. The only thing I investigate nowadays is the distinctly low jeopardy problem of where my socks disappear to between the washing machine and the drying rack, and I’m afraid to admit that even the answer to that question remains a complete mystery. ’
‘Surely once a detective, always a detective,’ I pushed back.
‘You can’t have forgotten everything already.
I’m not asking you to do the whole investigation.
I was envisaging you in more of a consultant role, a sounding board perhaps.
This is too important for me to leave it entirely to somebody else.
Especially someone I don’t really know. No offence. ’
Leo acknowledged the reverse jibe with a slight nod of his head.
‘Even if I did have some residual detective skills, what incentive is there for me to use them to help you on a fool’s mission?
It’s all well and good claiming I’d only be a consultant, but give me credit for some humanity.
I’m not going to see you getting yourself into trouble and then not feel obliged to help you out of it.
And this is the kind of situation where you could get yourself into a lot of trouble.
’ His voice took on a serious tone. ‘I’m not denying that you have good intentions, but do you not think that you’re being somewhat na?ve in believing that this is a realistic course of action?
Scammers are among the lowest of the low, but sadly the odds are very much in their favour when it comes to evading justice, particularly given the circumstances of your incident.
And in the highly unlikely scenario that we do track him down, he’s not going to be exactly thrilled about it.
Have you thought about how he might react, and the potential danger that could put you in? ’