Page 9 of End Game

‘And Jojo?’

‘She’s about to graduate from the Slade School of Fine Art,’ replied Alice, as she glanced across at her stepdaughter. ‘But as she’s been offered a modelling job by Chanel, all that potential may no longer be quite so promising.’

‘But Jojo told me that once she’d graduated, she plans to become an out-of-work artist.’

‘And she would have done,’ responded Alice, ‘if she hadn’tbeen offered an extortionate sum just to walk up and down a catwalk modelling clothes neither of us could afford.’

‘Pity,’ said Mary, ‘as I think she’s got a real talent. In fact, we have one of her paintings hanging in our drawing room.’

‘I think she’s hoping the income from modelling can support her while she tries to establish herself in the art world,’ said Alice.

‘Let’s hope so. And how’s little Jack faring?’

‘No longer little,’ said Alice. ‘He’s starting secondary school in September – can you believe it? He’s already taller than me.’

Mary followed Alice’s eyes to where Jack had joined his step-sister and some of the police officers. ‘And is he as bright as his mother?’ she teased.

‘No, just as stupid as his father,’ replied Alice. ‘He wants to be a policeman and join that lot over there.’

•••

Jojo was chatting with Detective Inspector Paul Adaja and Sergeant Jackie Roycroft, while her little brother stared up at them in awe.

‘How are the preparations for the Olympics going?’ asked Jojo.

‘We won’t know the answer to that question,’ responded Paul, ‘until after the curtain comes down on the closing ceremony and the Games have moved on to Rio de Janeiro.’

‘It must be great fun,’ enthused Jojo, ‘being participants in something this huge.’

‘It’s the most exciting thingever,’ added Jack.

Paul smiled down at him. ‘That’s one way of looking at it.’

‘We’re not participants,’ said Jackie Roycroft. ‘We’re onlookers whose only job is to try to anticipate any problemsthat might or might not arise in over thirty different venues in fifty-one different languages.’

‘So fun certainly isn’t the word that springs to mind,’ added Paul.

‘Well,Iwill be a participant,’ said Jojo, taking them all by surprise.

‘Doing what exactly?’ asked Jackie.

‘It’s a secret,’ whispered Jack, grinning up at his sister.

‘And as you’re in charge of security,’ said Jojo, smiling at Jackie and Paul, ‘I’d rather assumed you’d already know.’

•••

On the other side of the garden next to the drinks table, Peter was in conversation with Robert, his sister’s long-term boyfriend, who’d been around for so long he considered him one of the family. In fact, Peter could only wonder how long it would be before they became engaged.

‘And how’s work?’ Peter asked Robert. ‘Still hoping to become a Member of Parliament?’

‘No one’s asked me yet,’ admitted Robert, ‘but there’s still some time to go before the next general election, so watch this space. With any luck, I’ll be a candidate for a safe seat next time round. Of course, that’s no guarantee I’ll end up in Parliament, as it’s looking unlikely we can beat Cameron at the next election, but as Harold Wilson said, “A week is a long time in politics”.’

‘What does Arte make of all this?’ asked Peter, as he glanced across to see his twin sister, head bowed, listening intently to Ross.

‘She’s incredibly supportive,’ Robert said warmly, ‘even if she is working for the opposition.’

‘The Tories?’ said Peter in disbelief.