Page 25 of Don't Believe A Word

‘Not that we know of – yet.’

‘Speaking of Guernsey,’ Meena interrupted, ‘which we were, kind of, I’ve yet to hear all about your Christmas and New Year. OK, now’s not the time, but drinks later at the Mud Dock?’

Having expected this and actually welcoming it, Cristy said, ‘It’s a date, but it was a terrific Christmas … just not such a great New Year,’ she confessed, ‘and things have been going steadily downhill from there.’ She smiled to cover her feelings as everyone regarded her with as much interest as concern. ‘It’s OK,’ she assured them, ‘it won’t get in the way of what we’re trying to achieve, although it might make any upcoming visits to the island slightly awkward, at least for me. However, nothing I can’t handle. In fact, I’m waiting for David to send what he’s managed to find out about the aunts’ financial situation. I’m guessing he hasn’t obtained a full picture yet and will let us have it when he does.’

‘How is it relevant?’ Harry wanted to know. ‘OK, I get that money always is, but are you looking for something specific?’

‘Evidence of blackmail would be helpful,’ Connor pointed out, ‘massive pay-offs, dodgy-looking investments … But that’s askingfor fine detail and getting that out of the kind of firms that run estates like the Winters’ … Well, let’s say we’re not holding our breath, but maybe Sadie can help there.’

‘She must be quite a wealthy young lady now that one of her aunts has passed,’ Meena commented. ‘I don’t understand why she’d want to risk blowing the rest by putting the other aunt through this?’

‘I don’t think it’s about money for Sadie,’ Cristy said. ‘She’s protective of her aunt, or is trying to be, and is mindful of, shall we say, difficulties further down the road, but she wants answers. And I for one don’t blame her.’

‘Me neither,’ Clover piped up. ‘I mean, who wouldn’t want to know where they came from and who their parents really are? I know I did, and it worked out really well for me in the end.’

‘But you always knew you were adopted,’ Cristy reminded her, ‘and no one ever stopped you trying to find your birth mother. Or, more to the point, lied about who you were and who she was.’

‘So we’re satisfied,’ Meena said, ‘that Martin and Vanessa Winters have never existed?’

‘Not as the aunts’ brother and sister-in-law,’ Cristy replied. ‘Or as Sadie’s biological parents.’

‘Because she’s done a DNA test?’

‘She has, and no matches, which only means that no one has registered on any of the ancestry sites who can be tied to her.’

‘I’ve never tried one of those sites, have you?’ Meena asked, clearly intrigued by the idea.

Harry was already alarmed. ‘No, no,’ he protested, holding up his hands in defence. ‘You already have enough family to populate a small nation, any more and I swear I’ll leave you.’

Laughing, Meena started to pack up her things. ‘We’ve got a meeting at the Beeb in an hour,’ she reminded him. To Cristy she said, ‘I’m sure Isabelle Penny will be in touch today, so be nice to her. Any thoughts yet on when the first episode is likely to drop?’

‘It could go quite soon,’ Cristy assured her. ‘The envelope on the mat is a great cliff-hanger. We just have to gain an idea of what we’re moving on to – and, of course, we’ll need to top and tail with appropriate credits – and sponsor acknowledgements, I guess.’

‘Isabelle will be able to help with that.’

After Meena and Harry had gone, Clover commented quietly, ‘Definitely not liking the sound of this Isabelle person.’

‘We don’t want her getting in the way of things,’ Jacks added. ‘How often is she going to be here?’

‘I’ve no idea yet,’ Cristy replied, ‘so let’s hope not very, and deal with her when we have to.’ She broke off as someone came in the door.

Seeing who it was her heart sank, or flipped, or … She had no clear idea what it was doing, only that she really hadn’t been expecting Matthew, nor was she thrilled to see him.

‘Hi,’ he said cheerily, as if he dropped in like this every day.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked coldly. ‘I thought you were on air tonight.’

‘I am. We’re doing a live feed from the SSGreat Britain– the PM’s attending some sort of dinner on board later, so …’ He shrugged. Then with a slightly awkward glance at the others, ‘Can I …? Could we …?’

Swallowing her impatience Cristy got to her feet and led him across the hall to the main meeting room. It was only as she closed the door that she thought of Aiden. ‘What is it?’ she demanded. ‘Has he bunked off school again …’

‘No, no, nothing to do with him,’ he assured her. ‘Although apparently he wants to stay with me tonight.’

‘I know, he texted. So what’s this about? You can see we’re—’

‘In the middle of something, sure. I’m sorry, I tried calling but you didn’t pick up—’

‘Because I was in a meeting. I still am, so if you can come to the point—’