Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Arthur’s warning hung in the air, but Horace ignored it. He held the magnet in one hand, the watch in the other, and flicked a tiny switch.
A crackle burst from the tiny speaker inside the watch casing.
Everyone froze.
Pete and Theo leaned forward. Pippa held her breath.
The crackle settled into quiet static.
Then a woman’s laugh rang out – soft, close – followed by the rustle of bedsheets.
Pippa felt her stomach drop.
On the recording, the woman gasped playfully, and then a man chuckled. The sound was unmistakably intimate.
‘Arthur, stop, we shouldn’t… If Walter comes back…’
Theo blinked hard.
Horace’s entire body stiffened.
Pete’s eyebrows shot upwards.
Arthur didn’t move at all.
The sheets rustled again, then settled. After a few seconds, quiet breathing filled the speaker.
‘He’d be heartbroken if he found out.’
‘He won’t. Agatha … he won’t. He doesn’t question anything.’
Pippa looked instinctively at Horace. His jaw tightened, and he stared at the carpet.
The recording carried on.
‘You sound frustrated,’ said Agatha.
‘Because Andrew’s the one doing all the work. He’s more talented than both of them. He’s starting to see it, too.’
Horace was shaking his head in disbelief. Pete looked from him to Arthur, but didn’t say a word.
‘And if he realises how good he is…?’ prompted Agatha.
‘He already has. He wants recognition for the commission, but it could ruin everything. If he exposes them, the whole brand collapses and we’re all left with nothing.’
There was a short pause, and then Arthur spoke again, quieter. ‘There is one thing. The commission.’
‘Go on.’
‘We know how much it’s worth.’
Another shift of sheets.
‘Enough for a new life?’
‘More than enough.’
No one in the room made a sound.
Theo’s grip on Pippa’s hand tightened slightly, but he didn’t look away from the watch.
‘How would we take it?’ mused Agatha.
‘Easily. If it disappears for a while, no one will question it at first. We can claim it’s been stolen.’
‘Horace has confided in me that he knows Andrew has been taking small items from the office. He could be blamed.’
‘He’d be the obvious suspect,’ agreed Arthur. ‘No one would believe him when he tries to say he’s the true master behind the designs. They’ll think he’s deluded.’
Pippa’s pulse was racing that fast she didn’t dare even to glance at Arthur.
‘But Walter and Horace…’
‘Let them deal with it. We’re talking about our future.’
There was a moment’s silence.
‘So what happens first?’ queried Agatha.
‘We hide the watch, say it’s stolen. By the time Andrew gets home, the police will already be searching. They may find other stolen items at his property, so that will help to build the case against him.’
Another pause.
‘But we need something else.’
‘Yes. A letter. In your handwriting. Horace wants to be rid of Andrew because he’s going to tell the world that he is the design genius behind the Vale Brothers, so…’
‘Arthur … that could destroy him. But … you’re right. We need to do it, and this way we leave Walter out of it.’
‘It won’t matter in time. We’ll have the commission, Agatha. We’ll be gone.’
There was a shaky breath from Agatha, and then… ‘All right. I’ll write it.’
Horace closed his eyes.
Theo sat still.
Pippa felt slightly sick.
The recording crackled again and then cut off with a soft click.
No one spoke.
The only sound came from the clocks in the room, steadily ticking.
Horace stared at the watch in his lap, his face grey and angry.
Pippa looked at Theo. Disappointment was written all over his face as he looked at his grandfather, waiting for him to deny everything.
But Arthur didn’t move. His expression was blank, almost frozen.
Pippa swallowed. Arthur Blake had lied through his teeth.