TWENTY-SIX
EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT
Oliver
We had gone back to the office. We had a briefing planned with the team who were covering the security detail the following day.
I gave a general overview, who was who, assigned team members to personnel and areas, who to defer to, who had their own security and how we were going to liaise with them.
Aaron then went over the logistics. Timings.
What car was arriving when. Where it would be parked. Aaron went into the details.
I watched as the team members took notes. Asked questions and talked through some of the procedures with each other. Everyone had to be on the same page, not only knowing what they were supposed to be doing, but also what everyone else was doing. No room for miscommunication or assumptions
I managed to keep my focus. Compartmentalise. I didn’t always do it, but today I needed to.
Once the briefing was over and I was back in my office, I sank back in the leather chair, pushing both hands through my hair at the same time. Dom hadn’t come back with any more intel on Samuel Henderson. No one had any idea where he was, and that troubled me.
There was a knock at the door, and before I could respond, it opened and in walked Aaron.
‘Custom has it, you wait to be invited in,’ I said, sitting forwards.
‘Custom has it, siblings are the exception to the rule.’
‘You can say that again.’
Aaron plonked himself down on the sofa on the far side of the room, swinging his feet up and putting his hands behind his back.
‘That’s better,’ he said.
‘Make yourself at home,’ I muttered.
He looked over at me and grinned. ‘So,’ he began. ‘Alex and Fletcher. How are you feeling about that?’
‘What are you, my fucking therapist?’
‘Not a bad shout,’ said Aaron. ‘In fact, maybe you should be the one over here on the sofa. We can talk about your feelings.’
‘Leave it.’ I wasn’t in the mood for Aaron’s flippancy.
‘And that, my dear brother, is exactly why I’m not going to leave it. You’re pissed off and don’t know what to do. I’m here to solve all your problems.’
I let out a sigh. ‘Want a drink?’
‘Now you’re talking.’
I poured us both a whisky and handed Aaron his, who was now sitting up. I took the leather chair opposite. ‘What did you make of that earlier?’ I asked.
‘Could just be they are clearing the air after a disagreement. Took it away from the estate on neutral ground.’
‘Do you believe that?’
‘I don’t know. You and Dom know her better than I do.’ Aaron took a sip of his drink. ‘What do you make of it? From a pragmatic point of view.’
‘Something isn’t sitting right. It’s not the first time she’s reacted to him.’
‘Maybe ask her. Will she open up?’
‘She has. I’ve been giving her space, but it’s fucking killing me.’
‘Don’t push it. Give her time. You don’t want to scare her off. Or piss her off.’
‘Done that already.’ I took a large gulp of the whisky, feeling the burn in my throat.
‘Wondered what the bruised knuckles were all about,’ said Aaron.
I looked at my hands and flexed them. ‘I’ll give Dom a call. He might have a different take on it.’
‘Just one thing,’ said Aaron. ‘I know Alex came highly recommended and everything checked out––’
‘She’s good,’ I said, far too quickly.
‘If we’ve checked her out and you know for a fact she’s not telling you something, then we haven’t done our job properly.’
I knew what he was saying, but it didn’t mean I liked it. Our policy was to check and double-check. Deeper dive if we thought there was something we needed to know.
‘I don’t want to do that to her yet.’
‘Your shout,’ he said. ‘Give Dom a call.’
‘Yeah. I will.’
‘I’ve got a call to make myself. Seeing Beth this evening and I forgot to book the table.’
‘Where are you taking her?’
‘I’m not taking her anywhere. Some bloke from her work is taking her.’
I looked up at Aaron. ‘And you’re third wheeling?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘You’re gate-crashing.’
‘Again. Not exactly. I’ll be at the other table, that’s all.’
I shook my head. ‘Does she know you’re riding shotgun?’
‘Minor detail.’
‘She’ll get fed up with you if you keep crashing her dates.’ I knew my warning would fall on deaf ears. I checked my watch. ‘I’ve got to get over to the school in a couple of hours. Music evening.’
Aaron raised his eyebrows. ‘Music evening. Good luck with that. How is the drum playing going?’
‘I wouldn’t call it playing.’
‘You know what he needs,’ said Aaron. ‘He needs a proper drum kit. Not one of those electronic ones with headphones.’
‘He does not need a drum kit.’
‘It’s his birthday soon,’ said Aaron, downing his drink and getting to his feet. ‘I was wondering what to get him.’
‘I repeat, he does not need a drum kit.’
‘Catch you later.’
He banged the door frame as he went out like he was in a marching band, finishing it off with an imaginary high hat.
‘No drum kit!’ I called out after him.
I downed my drink, picked up my phone and called Dom.
He answered on the second ring. ‘All right?’
‘Yeah. Just checking in.’ I leaned back in the chair. ‘When are you heading back to London?’
‘Tomorrow. I can stay until the weekend, though.’
‘Sure?’
‘Positive.’
‘Thanks. I’ll be there late Friday night, with Noah.’
I didn’t really want to drag him up to Risk for the weekend. It was a lot of travelling for him, but I knew he was looking forward to seeing Alex, and I kind of thought it was reciprocal.
‘Understood. I’ve taken on a housekeeper from the village. She cleans at the hotel in Risk. I’ll get her to make up the beds for you and Noah.’
‘Cheers, mate. How is everything up there?’
‘All good. Got the cameras being installed in the wellness suite on Thursday. Grainger’s overseeing that. Alex has baked some muffins that have gone down a treat. New recipe Grainger challenged her to.’
Why did I feel a pang of jealousy over a muffin? ‘Great.’
Dom chuckled. ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll bake some for you. Grainger has taken on the father figure role with her.’
‘Who’d have thought?’
‘I know, right?’
‘Anything else?’ I asked.
‘Nope.’
‘What do you think about Fletcher?’ I asked. Dom had hired him, and I trusted Dom completely that he had run the background checks, but something was bothering me, and I knew I was too close to Alex to be objective. ‘Am I being an arsehole?’
‘Not anymore,’ said Dom.
I gave some kind of grunt in acknowledgement. ‘Is he right for the team?’
‘Are you asking me to fire him?’
‘Not exactly. Although the idea is appealing,’ I admitted. ‘I want to know a bit more about him.’
‘I’ll ping you his file. Everything checks out.’
‘I know it will.’
‘Give me a few days, and I can do a second sweep. Ask a few more questions.’
‘A few more days?’ I don’t know why I was questioning Dom. But I didn’t like sitting here in London, not being at Risk with Alex, when something didn’t feel right. When I missed her.
‘Depends on what I find. I’m thorough. Not slow.’
I exhaled. ‘I know.’
The school hall smelled exactly like every school hall I’d ever been in.
Floor polish, radiator heat and a particular staleness that lingered in the air.
I found a seat in the third row and checked my watch.
Six minutes until it started. I looked around for Marsha and spotted her two rows back. She looked over and waved. I nodded.
Three acts opened proceedings. A girl on the violin who was genuinely talented. Two boys on acoustic guitars who weren’t but had clearly practised hard enough that their teacher looked relieved rather than proud. Then the year six compere stepped up to the microphone.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Controlled Chaos.’
Noah and two other boys climbed up on stage, as we all clapped. I saw him check the audience. He smiled when he spotted his mum, and it wasn’t until he was sitting behind a drum kit that looked far too big that he saw me. I gave him a nod. He gave me one back.
What followed was three minutes and forty seconds of a recognisable song rendered almost unrecognisable. The bass lost the tempo in the second verse and never quite found it again. But Noah kept time through all of it, head down, jaw set.
I clapped until my palms stung at the end.
Afterwards, in the corridor, Noah found me by the fire exit, drumsticks in his back pocket.
‘Well?’
I crouched down. ‘You were the best one up there.’
He considered this seriously. ‘Rupert lost the bass line.’
‘I noticed.’
‘Noah! Noah!’ I stood up as Marsha swooped in and hugged him. ‘You were wonderful. I loved it. Well done.’ She stood up. ‘Don’t you think, Oliver? Brilliant.’
She looked over his head, widened her eyes and pulled an eek-type face.
‘Absolutely.’
It was moments like this, when Marsha was just relaxed and being herself, that I remembered things hadn’t always been shit with her. Not that I ever wanted to revisit any of those times. My thoughts immediately went to Alex, and I found myself wishing she had been here too.
‘Can we get chips?’ asked Noah.
‘Of course we can.’
‘Do you want to come, Mum?’ He looked up at Marsha.
‘Oh, darling. I’m sorry. I can’t. Cameron is waiting in the car for me. We’ve got plans.’ She kissed the top of his head. ‘You were brilliant. Erm, I won’t see you this weekend but see you the one after. Bye, darling. Love you.’
I watched her leave in the same chaotic manner she’d arrived. I ruffled Noah’s head.
‘How about we upgrade from chips to pizza?’
‘Yeah. Sure.’
As we made our way out to the car park, I turned on my phone. Three messages from Beth and a string of messages in the group chat.
Laker Command WhatsApps Group Chat
Aaron – In position
Dom - Not again. I thought we talked about this.
Aaron - I think she’s spotted me. Send reinforcements.
I flicked back to the text messages. All from Beth.
Is that Aaron sitting over in the corner of the restaurant?
Why is Aaron here?
I thought you’d spoken to him?
OLIVER YOUR brOTHER IS HERE.
I typed back.
Nothing to do with me. I’m at the school music evening.
More messages came through on the group chat.
Dom - How was music night?
Oliver - Excellent.
Aaron - Define excellent.
Oliver - he kept time.
Dom - high bar.
Oliver - he’s 8
Aaron - She’s seen me. Fuck.
Dom - Wasn’t that the point?
I put my phone away and looked down at Noah. ‘Just telling your uncles how good you were.’
‘Aaron said I should have a drum kit.’
‘Yeah. I think that’s a great idea. He has room at his apartment. You can practise there.’