Chapter Twenty-One
The following Monday, the second episode was finally close to being ready for the next day’s upload, the team having spent the entire weekend prepping it.
This time, the focus would be on Nicole’s arrest and the storm of horror and outrage that had followed, through to when she’d been charged with her children’s murder.
They’d decided to make no further mention of Claude Major until after they’d spoken to Nicole – should they ever get to speak to her.
There was still no word from Honey on that.
‘I’d be more confident of it happening,’ Cristy said, sighing, as the day drew to a close, ‘if Honey was actually on our side, but I get that her priority is to protect her client, not to give us an exclusive.’
Looking up from his computer, Jacks said, ‘Are we definitely not running anything about the cult? Only, I’ve got a perfect slot for one of the anonymous calls, if we want to use it?’
‘Which one did we single out in the end?’ Cristy asked, as Clove swore under her breath at something on her screen. ‘Everything OK?’ Cristy asked, going to fetch them all an end-of-day beer.
‘Elizabeth Patten’s just pushed me to Wednesday,’ Clove explained. ‘I guess it’s no big deal – we were never going to have her input in time for tomorrow anyway.’
‘And that’s presuming she has something to say that can be included at this stage,’ Cristy pointed out.
‘Remember, we can’t use anything that might suggest we doubt the confession until such time as we get the go-ahead from Nicole, and that obviously won’t be any time soon – in fact, it could be never, if it turns out she actually did kill her children. ’
‘OK,’ Jacks said, ‘are you ready to hear from Claude Major himself – keeping in mind that this guy is probably as nutty as all the others. On the other hand, he does have a foreign accent.’
‘Go,’ Cristy said, and after passing around the beers she returned to her chair.
ANONYMOUS CALLER: ‘Hello, Hindsight team. I’ve heard that you might be looking for me.
My name is Claude Mailer, not Major, and I knew Nicole Ivorson back in 2005.
We became very good friends a year or so before she murdered her children.
Needless to say, I had no idea she was going to do that or why she would.
I was as shocked and upset as everyone else.
There was much talk following her arrest that she had fallen under the influence of some very bad people.
If that is true, I do not count myself amongst them.
I am not someone to cause harm to anyone … ’
Pausing the playback, Jacks said, ‘This is where he goes off on a little rant about his inherent goodness and belief in karma, then he gives details of how we can contact him. As of ten minutes ago, he’s still not picking up. The number is a French mobile, if I haven’t already told you that.’
‘This doesn’t add or prove anything,’ Connor declared, ‘so I say we save it until we can at least get hold of the bloke.’
‘I agree,’ Cristy said. Her phone rang, and seeing it was Paul Kinsley, she declined and sent a quick text to let him know she’d call in ten minutes. ‘I need to go,’ she announced, starting to pack up. ‘I guess no word yet from Honey?’ she asked Connor.
‘No, but time to start drafting some questions just in case it all goes ahead with Nicole,’ he suggested.
‘I’ll work on it as soon as I get home,’ she promised.
After she’d left, she waited until she’d driven out of the car park before connecting to Kinsley via the handsfree. ‘Did you get my email about Molly Terrance?’ she asked, as soon as the niceties were out of the way.
‘I did.’ His tone was impossible to gauge, although it suggested amusement. ‘I take it, from what you said, that you wouldn’t consider some kind of partnership with her?’
‘I would not,’ she confirmed. ‘Anyway, I thought you wanted Andee Lawrence?’
‘She is indeed the first choice. Vikram’s simply exploring possibilities should Andee not be interested. He has some sort of connection to Terrance’s uncle, I believe – that’s how her name came up. Of course, if you have any suggestions yourself for an alternative—’
Anyone but Terrance, she inwardly seethed. ‘You know I want Connor Church—’
‘But you don’t know if he’ll join you, and besides, we don’t consider him the right fit for the flagship pod we’re hoping that you and Andee will create.’
‘That’s new. I thought you wanted Hindsight.’
‘Nothing’s set in stone, just putting it out there.
Two strong female leads is what we’re after, with you in charge, as discussed, and you get to decide on any other podcasts you want to bring into play.
Hindsight of course can be one of them, with Connor at the helm if you so wish.
It’s just hard for me to see how you’d find the time to work with him if he remains in Bristol and you’re in London or New York – or who knows where else in the world you might be as you build your team and delve into your own investigations. ’
Avoiding the issue of shape-shifting that was clearly going on, she said, ‘Before we go any further, let me be clear about Molly Terrance. She isn’t someone I’d ever want on my team in any capacity.
She’s smug, spiteful, mendacious and has absolutely no regard for the truth on any level, unless it suits her.
She said as much when we spoke last week.
So, if Vikram Rathour really is rooting for her, you need to count me out, because I won’t have my name or my reputation associated with hers. ’
Kinsley laughed. ‘There’s my girl – as feisty as ever, and boy, have I missed you …’
‘Cut the flannel – I want your reassurance, Paul.’
‘OK. Leave it with me. I’ll get back to you the minute I can tell you what you want to hear.’
As soon as she was in the door, Cristy tore off her coat, kicked off her boots and was about to call David to report on Kinsley’s maddening response when a hot flush bloomed out of nowhere, just as Connor rang.
‘I’m guessing you were driving so haven’t picked up Honey’s WhatsApp?’ he said when she answered. ‘We’re on! With Nicole. Wednesday at four. Honey’s going to drive.’
Cristy’s surprise turned to irony as she struggled to strip off. ‘Has she asked us to wear blindfolds?’ she asked.
He laughed. ‘She didn’t mention it, but don’t let’s rule it out.’