Page 2

Chapter 2

February 2011

‘Good afternoon, M and P Legal.’

The solicitor’s receptionist is calm and competent, thinks Tess.

The same attributes she tries to offer her clients.

Correction. The attributes she tried to offer her clients.

Past tense. She waits while another four calls are answered and put through before approaching the desk.

‘May I speak with Fiona Reid, please? I don’t have an appointment but I’m a friend.

Sort of, anyway.’

‘I’ll check her diary for you.

’ The receptionist wiggles the mouse on her desk and her eyes flick across the computer screen.

‘She’s due in court this afternoon.

Let me just see if she’s in her office.

Your name is?’

‘Tess Dutton.’

‘One moment, please.’

There is a discreetly muffled conversation.

‘She’ll be down in a few minutes.

’ The receptionist looks at Baxter and smiles.

‘We don’t often have dogs visiting us.

’

A few minutes later a slim woman arrives.

Her formal suit and precise haircut are at odds with her words, which tumble out into the reception area in a chaotic rush.

‘Tess! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days .

Is your phone not working?

What on earth has happened?

’

‘Hi, Fiona.’ Tess chooses just one of the questions to answer.

‘I’m OK, but I had to take a couple of weeks off.

’ She gets the good news part out.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t leave you in the lurch, I just needed a bit of space to think.

’

Fiona glances at her watch.

‘I don’t have much time.

Can we do this at my place later?

’

‘As long as the kids aren’t within earshot.

’

‘How urgent is it?’

‘Fairly urgent. Today. This evening. Tomorrow. It can’t really wait any longer than that.

’

‘Tonight then, about eight? They go to their dad’s at seven, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

’ She studies Tess. ‘You can’t give me some idea?

’

Tess can feel her throat tightening.

‘I’ll explain tonight, but the short version is that I need somewhere to live, and that means Baxter as well.

’

Fiona knows exactly what is required.

‘I’ll order pizza.’

*

Back in her office, Fiona picks up her phone and scrolls to the very bottom of her contacts list. She taps the screen.

The call is answered on the fourth ring.

‘Twenty-five.’

‘Hello, Georgia. It’s Fiona.

I’m sorry to call you out of the blue, but I think I may have someone for you.

’

‘I’m seventy-one, Fiona.

I spend my days reading.

I help my friend with his allotment and I write angry letters to politicians.

I’m not sure I have either the time or the energy for anyone new.

Not after the last time.

’

‘I do understand, but our agreement is that I let you know as soon as possible, and make sure you’ve got all the information you need.

I’ll see what else I can find out, and if you decide to go ahead, it’ll be Alasdair who deals with the arrangements, as usual.

’

‘I’ll think about it over the weekend.

’

‘Thank you. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.

’

‘I know.’

The call ends.

Fiona sits at her desk for a few minutes, remembering.