Page 24 of Don't Believe A Word

In the end, as Cristy dabbed her eyes with a napkin, Aiden said, ‘Is she really serious about calling him that? I mean, it’s a cool name but …’

‘At least it’s not Bobby Bear, which was her first choice,’ Matthew responded.

As they collapsed into laughter again, Cristy noticed her phone vibrating on the table beside her. Seeing it was David she turned it over, and let the call go to messages.

No point changing the mood of the evening when it was going so well, and besides, it was probably a good thing not to be available the instant he decided to get in touch – especially if, after a week of silence from him, the reason behind it was to tell her that his feelings no longer matched hers.

CHAPTER SEVEN

By the end of the week theHindsightoffice was fully up and running with Clover and Jackson, their regular and trusted researchers, back at their usual desks and all new contracts provisionally agreed. Harry and Meena, now returned from a six-week trip to India, were pretty jetlagged as well as a few pounds heavier, but clearly fully on board forWho’s That Girl.

‘I admit I’m quite fascinated by it,’ Meena declared at their first production meeting of the series. She was her usual delightful self, exuding calmness and mischief in equal measure, and showing not a single sign of ageing in spite of her fifty-plus years. Harry, on the other hand, her ever faithful and long-suffering husband, was wearing the slightly dazed expression he always wore following a prolonged stay with his in-laws and extended family.

‘But before we go any further into it,’ Meena continued, ‘I know you’re keen to hear more about the sponsorship we have on board. Actually, I’ll email the details, for now I’ll just mention Isabelle Penny who’s going to be dropping in to introduce herself, I think sometime today. She’s already working on marketing and publicity strategies to help promoteHindsightas the series launches – and she also, I believe, has some great ideas for how you can work with each of the sponsors. You’re going to love her. Well, love might not be the right word, but I’m sure you’ll find it after you’ve met her. So now, back to the important stuff. Is there anything else we need to catch up on withWho’s That Girl?Great title by the way. I’m told all the sponsors love it.’

‘But what they think doesn’t really matter,’ Connor pointed out, making clear his hostility towards any kind of outside involvement, even if the players were providing money and, so far, encouragement.

Meena batted her eyelids.

Cristy murmured a thanks to Clover who’d apparently read the room and decided it was time to pass around coffees. The spritely twenty-eight-year-old’s colourfully beaded dreadlocks and dazzling smile invariably brightened the day, no matter the weather outside, or mood inside. She was a joy to have on board, as was the lightly bearded, spiky-haired Jackson whose tech expertise was as invaluable as his many geek contacts. ‘We’ve given you everything we have so far,’ she told Meena.

‘Apart from the footage Sadie sent yesterday,’ Connor said, ‘of her dead aunt’s rooms at their amazing fuck-off mansion overlooking the sea.’

‘Great description,’ Harry commented dryly. ‘I think I have just the right picture of it now. So, has Sadie discovered any more little gems from her aunt’s stash for you to puzzle over?’

‘Apparently she has,’ Cristy replied, ‘but she’s going to be in Bradford-on-Avon this weekend so she’s bringing it rather than sending by email.’

‘Any idea what it is?’ Meena queried, her honey-coloured eyes glittering with intrigue.

‘Only that she found it – I quote – “a bit disturbing, and difficult to get her head around”.’

Meena’s eyebrows rose as Clover said, ‘Is it another chapter, or page of the story?’

‘She didn’t say that,’ Cristy answered, ‘so I’m inclined to think it might be something else. We’ll find out when I see her on Sunday.’

‘What we have so far ends with the envelope coming through the door,’ Connor reminded them.

‘Is it possible,’ Jacks put in, ‘that Sadie’s found what was in it?’

‘No idea until I see her,’ Cristy replied. ‘However, what I can tell you is that we’ve managed to track down Gita Brinkley, the aunts’ housekeeper at the time they were at the hilltop house on Exmoor. Luckily for us – and for her – she’s still in full control of her faculties at the age of eighty-six, or she certainly sounded it when we spoke on the phone. She’s in a retirement village near Minehead, so Connor and I will be heading down there early next week.’

‘Did you ask if she remembers a child suddenly appearing out of nowhere?’ Harry prompted.

‘I did, and she does,’ Cristy replied, ‘but she didn’t want to discuss it on the phone.’

‘I’ve been carrying out a search for Edwin Prosser, Mia’s ex-husband,’ Clover informed them. ‘Not much to report yet, I’ll be going in for a deeper dive as soon as this meeting’s over.’

‘We’ve tried contacting Lottie’s publisher,’ Connor continued. ‘Apparently, Felicity Green, now retired, was Lottie’s editor up until the last collection of short stories was delivered.’

‘What do you hope to get from her?’ Harry asked.

‘We won’t know until we speak to her,’ Connor replied. ‘She’s travelling around Mexico at the moment, due back sometime next month, but in her email she says she was very disappointed when Lottie decided to stop being published.’

‘Remind me again when that was?’ Jackson said.

Checking her notes, Cristy said, ‘2005, by which time Sadie would have been around seven.’

‘Anything relevant about that?’ Harry wondered.