Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
‘H ope you slept okay,’ said Leo the next morning when I went downstairs.
I quickly examined his expression, worrying there was more to his words, but he seemed thankfully unaware of my midnight dilemma.
He cheerfully poured me a coffee and set about preparing some scrambled eggs while I sorted the toast. I tried to ignore how right it felt, sitting around the kitchen table together and sharing breakfast, almost like a real couple.
But that was out of my reach. There was the Jill factor to consider, after all.
Although a nagging voice of reason suggested I’d latched onto that unknown because it was an easier excuse than the other obstacle standing in my way– my own self-doubt.
‘So, what do you want to do now?’ asked Leo, as if he’d read my thoughts.
It was a good question.
‘Well, I can’t stay with you forever,’ I said, forcing a levity I didn’t feel into my voice.
‘I’m sure I could find some extra space for shelves to house your book collection,’ he responded, matching my jokey tone. Once again, I searched his features, hoping to read something more there.
I gave myself a mental shake. What was the point in hoping, while I was still leaving so much unsaid?
I would never know if a life with Leo was possible unless I found the courage to take a leap.
Ultimately, the pain of potential rejection would be less damaging than the regret of not even trying, I told myself.
Maybe it was time to follow through on the promise I’d made to myself when I stayed at Caro’s, however much the prospect of doing so frightened me.
As I had vowed, I would finish the investigation and then confess to Leo how I felt.
And whatever happened next would happen.
‘We need to bring this situation with Brian James to the endgame,’ I said, leaning forward and fixing Leo with a serious look, determined to take that next step.
The relaxed humour disappeared from his face. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded.
‘Okay, here’s what I was thinking,’ I said.
I elaborated on my stage door idea, then spent the next few minutes listening to Leo trying to come up with alternatives. When he eventually fell quiet, I shook my head.
‘No, I don’t see any of those suggestions working.
And I don’t think you do either. If I “accidentally on purpose” bump into him in the street, I’m worried it’ll be easier for him to get away.
And carrying on monitoring him without taking action isn’t going to change anything.
In your heart of hearts, you know that my plan is the best option we have. ’
Leo frowned. ‘I’m still certain we can think of something else which doesn’t involve such a level of risk to you.’
‘But I’ve already explained how we can mitigate that risk. I’m sure Moira will swap shifts with me so I’m free for Blake’s matinee this afternoon.’
In fact, she’d probably be falling over herself to make the offer, imagining all kinds of starry-eyed dreams involving me wanting to spend a romantic day out and about with Leo, or perhaps even one where we didn’t stray beyond his bedroom. I forced my mind away from that too-tempting image.
‘I’ll wait for Blake Jenkins after the matinee show, play the besotted innocent who’s thrilled to discover he was really a “famous actor” trying to keep a low profile all along, and go from there.
I’ve been messaging him about how very desperate I am to meet him, so hopefully he’ll assume that I’ve taken the initiative.
It’ll still be sunny and there’ll be lots of people around.
And if he does get funny with me, I’ll kick up a massive noisy fuss, exactly like you advised in our self-defence class. ’
Why had I mentioned that? I needed to concentrate, not get nostalgic about rolling around on the floor with Leo in the gym.
‘I still say it’s a weak plan. There are too many variables in it. And because it’s daylight it’ll be harder for me to follow you both without being detected,’ he pointed out.
I decided to ignore his interruption. ‘Then I’ll persuade Blake to come with me to a pre-arranged meeting point like the coffee shop around the corner, so you’ll know exactly where we’re going.
We’ll sit in the window where it’s nice and public.
And then I’ll confront him.’ I tried to sound as convincing as possible.
Privately I agreed with Leo that my plan was full of holes, but I needed to do something to resolve this situation.
‘Just like that, you’ll confront him. It sounds so simple,’ said Leo in a disbelieving voice.
‘And then what happens? While I’d love for him to roll over and confess everything to you, unfortunately, I think it’s highly unlikely it’ll work out that way.
At best he’ll laugh in your face and deny the whole thing, then where do you go?
You’ll have played your hand and he’ll have realised how flimsy our evidence is.
And at worst, he could get very angry and lash out, public place or not.
Angry people are unpredictable, and there are far too many unpredictable elements to this scheme already. ’
‘I don’t think Brian slash Blake is the lashing-out kind.’
‘He seemed pretty physical to me from what I saw on the obstacle course and when he was prancing around the park yesterday,’ said Leo, subconsciously flexing his fingers as if already preparing for a confrontation.
‘It’s one thing showing off your strength in feats of endurance, quite another using it against a woman in full view of a busy coffee shop,’ I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.
‘You’re forgetting the fact that he’s been living down the road from you,’ pointed out Leo.
‘I’ve been thinking about that.’ In fact, I’d been doing little else since the middle of the night. It had been an easier worry to pick away at to distract me from my other, Leo-related concerns. ‘I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a coincidence.’
‘What is it that Sherlock Holmes says about coincidences? Something along the lines of there being no such thing,’ said Leo.
‘But I thought you had little faith in Sherlock Holmes as a detective? Besides, Conan Doyle isn’t exactly consistent in pushing that line.
Let’s examine the facts. Oxford is an expensive city with limited places where a jobbing actor could afford to rent.
The more affordable housing– and I use the word “affordable” in the loosest possible sense– tends to be in the Cowley and Iffley Road area, which is where I live.
There are loads of shared houses around there in addition to the usual student accommodation.
Besides, I did a search online last night.
It turns out there is a theatrical digs in my street, and it’s been established for some time.
I’ve gone back through all my messages with the scammer, looking for any clues I might have given him about where I live.
I was taken in by his spiel on the app to start with, but I was never so na?ve as to say anything which would have allowed him to work out my address, I’m absolutely certain of it. Have a little faith in me.’
Leo pushed the coffee pot towards me, offering a top-up which I gratefully accepted.
‘I do have faith in you. A lot of faith,’ he said.
‘But there are other means whereby he could have found your address. It doesn’t take a genius once you’ve got somebody’s full name, which you did share with him pretty soon.
Plus, he knew where you worked and could have followed you home.
Maybe he thought you own the whole house rather than living in a flat, and that’s why he targeted you? ’
‘But there are clearly two separate entrances to my building, and two post boxes,’ I reminded him.
‘If he had gone to the extreme of following me, he would have presumably also carried out a much more thorough background check and realised that the effort-to-reward ratio in targeting me was simply not worth it. I’m a librarian earning barely more than the living wage.
I’m not a secret heiress, more’s the pity, and disappointingly I’m not sitting on a vast savings account.
The only way I can afford to live alone is because Moira and Rami took pity on me and gave me a generous discount on rent.
My one financial extravagance was joining SO Ox, and that turned out to have a cost far higher than I’m willing to pay. ’
Leo took his time finishing his drink before he replied.
‘I suppose you’ve got a point,’ he conceded, but I could still see the worry in his eyes. ‘Okay, so maybe him living nearby isn’t such a huge consideration, but there are plenty of other risks.’
I reached out and took his hand. ‘I know that, but they’re mine to take. I’m not going to waste any more time allowing fear to get in the way. I need to take back control and set my own narrative, rather than passively letting things play out.’
As I said the words out loud in my effort to convince him, I finally accepted their truth myself.
I was tired of believing that negative voice in my head that told me I wasn’t good enough or brave enough or strong enough.
Actually, I was more than enough, and I wasn’t going to let anxiety hold me back any longer.
Yes, it was one thing to declare this from the safety of Leo’s kitchen several miles away from the situation, but I knew I would find the strength to handle whatever Blake threw at me, and then whatever happened with Leo after that.
Being afraid had left me standing lonely in the hallway.
If I’d been bolder and more confident earlier, maybe I could have been on the other side of that door, lying next to him in bed as we came up with a plan together.
Leo’s eyes raked my face, as if trying to see beyond my expression to glean my true thoughts. Eventually he nodded.
‘Okay, let’s do this.’
‘Good. I’m grateful for your support.’
He shrugged. ‘It’s what anybody would do.’
I wasn’t sure I agreed with that. Leo was one very special individual.
‘There was one other thing I was going to do, but I’m not sure it’s strictly legal, so if you don’t want me to tell you about it, that’s fine,’ I added.
Leo frowned. ‘You can’t say something like that and expect me not to want to hear what it is. I’m not in the police force anymore, so I’m not under any obligation to report what you do. Providing it’s within reason, of course.’
I grinned, wondering what he thought I might be up to. ‘I’m going to covertly record my conversation with Blake Jenkins. And, even if he doesn’t confess, I reckon the contents of the recording would still be pretty damaging to his acting career, if they were to ever get released on the internet.’
‘Ah, so you’re going to indulge in a little light blackmailing? A cunning idea, Ms Fisher.’
‘Exploit your opponent’s weaknesses: that’s another bit of vital self-defence, isn’t it, Mr Taylor?
Blake Jenkins obviously still wants to make it in showbusiness, otherwise why would he be living in theatre digs and performing at a little-known regional venue?
We’re not law enforcement. We don’t need to convince a jury that our suspect is guilty.
We just have to convince our suspect that we’ll make life miserable for him unless he starts to behave himself. ’
‘I definitely wouldn’t want to get on your wrong side,’ said Leo. ‘It’s a good idea, and I’ll agree to it on one condition.’
‘I’ll remind you that I don’t need your permission.’
He nodded. ‘Of course you don’t. But we’re partners.
In this investigation, I mean,’ he added hastily.
‘And partners never let each other go anywhere without providing backup. So, if it’s okay with you, I’ll sit at a nearby table in the coffee shop.
I promise I won’t get involved unless you want me to.
But at least if Blake starts getting funny with you, as you put it, you know I’ll be ready to help in any way that I can. ’
‘That sounds reasonable. And thank you for looking out for me. You can consider yourself employed as my bodyguard.’