Page 36 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay

On the way down the hill, Peggy got a call from Sienna.

‘No luck with the email so far,’ Sienna said, with her usual directness.

‘Daz is doing his best. Gave me a whole lot of science about IP addresses and VPN servers, which passed swiftly over my head. He keeps getting bounced around between Albania, Kazakhstan and Turkey, apparently.’

Peggy felt a surge of disappointment. ‘Okay. Well, please thank him. I so appreciate your asking him to try. It’s not really your problem to solve.’

‘Hmm, well, not technically. But I’d seriously like to track down this loser.’

Peggy gave a harsh laugh. ‘You and me both.’ She waited, wondering if Sienna would mention the job, whether she might change her mind again– decide not to employ her. But Sienna just said a brief goodbye and clicked off.

It appeared that Lindy had been waiting for her, because as Peggy crossed the terrace towards the front door, she sprang out, an anxious frown on her face.

‘Peggy,’ she said, with what sounded oddly like relief.

‘Good. I wanted to catch you before you came into the house– I don’t need Ada hearing this.

’ She tugged Peggy’s arm, guiding her towards the stone bench, situated under the huge palm tree in the far corner of the terrace garden, away from the road and the house.

The crowds were still milling up and down, but this was a sheltered, private spot, and out of the quite strong south-westerly that had begun to blow in from the Atlantic.

This must be about Felix , Peggy thought, heart sinking.

Once they were seated, Lindy turned sideways so she was facing Peggy and pulled her phone out of her pocket. ‘You need to see this,’ she said, turning the screen to Peggy and handing her the device.

Peggy peered, against the sun, at the email. Her breath caught in her throat.

The email was from: [email protected]

The subject line read: Peggy Gilbert

To Mrs McDonald,

I hate to spread unpleasantness, but I have heard you are employing Ms Gilbert, and I feel I should warn you about her. She left Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she was an English teacher, under a cloud.

There were serious allegations made against her, by more than one child, of bullying.

The hospital did not want any form of scandal sullying their spotless reputation– they have always depended on charitable support and the goodwill of donors– so they covered it up.

I would suggest you call her boss, head teacher Christine Prendergast, to confirm. But she has now left the hospital school and I’m afraid you will come up against a brick wall with those in charge.

I’m sorry to be the bearer of such grim news.

Sincerely,

A well-wisher

Peggy closed her eyes and took a long breath, trying to still her heartbeat. When she opened them, Lindy was staring at her. ‘I’m sure it’s not true,’ she said. Her tone was curious, her intense blue eyes boring into Peggy.

‘No,’ Peggy replied. ‘No, it’s absolutely not, Lindy. But Sienna Rybicki got virtually the same email last week. Because she’s thinking of employing me at her forest school in the autumn.’

‘Right,’ said Lindy, slowly. ‘So who is this person? Why are they spreading such lies?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine. Sienna’s put her tech guy on to it, but no luck so far… How did they even know I was tutoring Ada?’

Lindy thought for a moment. ‘I mean, I’ve told lots of people about you. Ada’s really benefited from your brilliant teaching. But this sounds like someone from your hospital past, no?’

Peggy barely heard the compliment. She felt weary and tearful.

This was not a one-off, as Ted had suggested and she had hoped.

Who else is going to get one of these vile missives?

Even if Sienna and Lindy professed not to believe it, word would surely get out and people would begin to wonder. They might begin to wonder.

‘I haven’t a clue who it is. I’ve racked my brains till I feel I’m going insane, but I’ve come up with zilch.

I genuinely don’t know what to do,’ she said miserably.

‘I can send you a copy of the letter my boss wrote when I retired. It’s not the sort of letter a head teacher would write to someone who’d been accused of bullying. ’

Lindy frowned. ‘No need for that, Peggy. I absolutely believe you.’

Surprised and touched, Peggy exclaimed, ‘You do?’ She felt immediately guilty for questioning whether Lindy’s accusations against Felix were true.

‘Of course. Ada would have said if there was a problem. I trust you.’ She patted Peggy’s knee. ‘But this is very serious, dear. A reputation is everything in your line of work. I hope Sienna’s person finds something soon.’

Peggy nodded wearily. She had a strong urge to get away, go home, bury her head, stop talking about the problem. She was in no mood to teach Ada, although she knew she would– she didn’t want to let the child down.

‘Listen, I’d offer you a cup of tea… you look very pale. But I’m sure you’d rather get off home and talk to Ted. Let’s skip the lesson today.’ Her smile was so understanding, Peggy couldn’t prevent a tear from running down her cheek.

‘Thank you. You’re being very generous.’ She wiped her cheek and swallowed hard. ‘I’m just terrified the village will get to know and start whispering.’

‘Trust me, I know exactly what that’s like.’ Lindy spoke with feeling, but didn’t elaborate.

‘How are things?’ Peggy asked, reaching out briefly to touch her hand.

It felt awkward, being with Lindy today, after the conversation with Liam earlier.

But she couldn’t help feeling sympathy for her plight– whether that entailed Felix actually bullying her, or her believing, in some sort of deluded state, that he was.

She found herself eyeing her friend closely, watching for something odd in her manner– something that would relate to what Felix had told Liam. But she had to admit she found nothing.

Lindy’s eyebrows rose, her shoulders shrugged. ‘Not so good, I’m afraid. But all that’s for another time, my dear.’

Peggy tore up the hill, heart racing, anxious to tell Ted what had happened.

But his phone went to voicemail and Henri was shuttered, the tables empty as she passed.

Disappointed, she hurried on, thinking he must be home already.

As she approached the house, she wondered whether Liam would be there too– and found herself hoping not. She wanted to talk to Ted in private.

Opening the front door, she held her breath, hoping the two men weren’t already at loggerheads.

She imagined Ted coming home, tired after a long day in the hot van, to find Liam lounging on the sofa, the place taken over with his laptop and leads, and scattered with more burned coffee/toast/pizza/scuzzy mugs.

She was not in the mood for another confrontation.

Peggy knew immediately that Ted was not at home: no Bolt was careering across the parquet to greet her. She looked around the kitchen. No mess at least. She gave a relieved sigh, then noticed the bi-fold doors were open and spotted Liam’s blond head poking above the garden chair on the terrace.

She texted Ted again: Where are you? Pls ring. At home xxx Then, trying to compose herself, she went slowly out to greet her son.

‘Oh, hi, Mum.’ He had his laptop balanced on his knees, his expression lost in concentration on whatever he was doing as he turned his face up to hers and smiled.

Peggy sat down on one of the other chairs. ‘How’s things?’

Liam closed his laptop and yawned, stretching his legs and twirling his bare feet. ‘Yeah, good. Been wasting time quite pleasantly. It’s so peaceful here.’

‘Have you seen Ted?’

He shook his head.

Peggy blinked in the sunlight. I need you, Ted. Where are you? ‘Cuppa?’ she said, jumping up, her nerves shredded.

Liam put aside his laptop and got to his feet. ‘I’ll make it, Mum. You stay here and relax.’ He turned towards the kitchen, then stopped. ‘Weren’t you doing Ada’s lesson? You’re back early.’

She twitched, didn’t look at her son, although she could feel his eyes on her. ‘Yes. No, I didn’t.’

He eyed her. ‘Everything all right, Mum?’

Turning to him, she forced a smile, which slid into a frown. ‘I’m fine,’ she said, and burst into tears.

Her son’s arms were around her within seconds. ‘Christ, Mum. What is it?’

Peggy gulped. ‘Sorry, sorry, sweetheart.’

‘Tell me,’ Liam insisted, seating himself beside her and taking her hand. She hesitated, but she knew the game was up. She could no longer pretend. Taking a deep breath, she said, ‘Someone’s been sending lying emails about me…’

‘Fucking hell!’ Liam burst out, when she’d finished explaining, his eyes darkening with anger as the story unfolded. ‘And you say Sienna has got someone to find out who’s behind it?’

‘Yes, but he hasn’t managed so far.’

Liam thought for a moment. ‘You think it’s someone local?’

‘I didn’t till today. But who would know I tutored Ada– or care, for that matter– except someone in the village?

Lindy said she’s told lots of people about me, but that would be mainly people here, I imagine.

’ She paused. ‘And anyway, most of them are just passing acquaintances. I can’t think of anyone in the bay who could hate me at all, let alone that much. ’

‘Well, wherever they are, someone’s out to get you, Mum, that’s for sure.’

‘Thanks. Not exactly reassuring, sweetheart.’

His face fell. ‘I just meant…’

‘I know what you meant. And you’re right.

’ She let out a wobbly sigh. ‘I was just getting my feet under the table, making friends, finding work, enjoying myself.’ She was almost talking to herself, but she could see Liam was listening intently.

‘I haven’t told you, but retirement down here hasn’t been particularly easy for me. Things were really improving, though…’

He nodded, but didn’t speak.

Where the hell is Ted? Peggy muttered to herself, barely hearing Liam’s next words.

‘Shall I have a go?’ he was asking.

‘Doing what?’ she replied, confused.

‘A search. For the sender of the email.’

Peggy frowned. ‘You know how to do that?’

Liam looked a little self-conscious suddenly. ‘Umm, I haven’t told you the real reason why Hahn Becker let me go…’

‘Go on,’ she said, waiting while her son fiddled with a piece of paper, folding it over and over, finally pressing it between the slats of the table, head bent.

He let out a resigned sigh. ‘It was stupid, obviously. But I hacked into the CEO’s private email account, on a dare.’

Peggy sat up, eyes widening in dismay. ‘You did what ?’

He held up his hands defensively. ‘I know, I know. But he was a real bastard, Mum. Never gave anyone credit for their work, drove us like dogs. And Inga, the woman I worked with, was convinced Sancho was up to something… She thought he planned to leave the company, set up on his own. Thought he was creaming off the big clients before he went, so it wouldn’t look suspicious. ’

‘Christ, Liam, what were you thinking?’

‘Inga was so insistent. She was my immediate boss and she sort of dared me, said it was just “taking a peek”. I didn’t want to do it, but I didn’t feel I had a choice.’ He shrugged. ‘This is why I sympathize so much with Felix. He’s had the same sort of shit happen to him.’

‘Except his was stealing money,’ Peggy pointed out.

Liam’s eyes flared. ‘He didn’t steal anything, Mum.’

‘Okay, okay. So what happened? Was Sancho up to something?’

‘I didn’t find anything incriminating. He was scoring with one of the male freelance copywriters, but that was hardly a secret.’

‘They found you out, though? How?’

‘Routine security check. I didn’t cover my tracks well enough.’

Peggy didn’t know what to say. That her son had been so stupid as to risk such a highly paid, prestigious job– risk his reputation– was mind-boggling.

‘And Inga?’

‘Oh, she denied all knowledge.’

Peggy winced. ‘Does this mean you won’t be able to find another job in the industry? Presumably they’re not going to give you a reference now.’

‘Yeah. Thanks for pointing that out, Mum.’

‘I didn’t mean …’

After another tense silence, Liam went on, ‘Anyway, if you want me to check into your email troll, I can give it a go.’