Page 25 of The Impossible Fortune

‘Before we get on the bus,’ says Joyce, reaching into her bag, ‘I thought you might like your flapjack. It’s cherry Bakewell.’

Who would have seen that coming, indeed?

Elizabeth takes the flapjack from her friend.

Joyce stops. ‘Do we know who planted a bomb under his car?’

‘We don’t,’ says Elizabeth. ‘Though our current suspect list consists of an online fraudster named Davey Noakes, a banker called Lord Townes and Nick’s partner, Holly Lewis.’

‘A lord wouldn’t kill anybody,’ says Joyce. ‘Honestly, Elizabeth.’

Elizabeth takes a bite of her flapjack.

‘Tell me, Joyce,’ says Elizabeth, ‘have you ever seen a bomb before?’

‘No,’ says Joyce. ‘I once saw someone with a Hoover attachment up his backside though.’

Elizabeth nods. ‘Thank you for that, Joyce. Tell Ron to come and pick us up from Hampton Road. We have a car to look under.’

15

Kendrick is building a Lego Death Star while Ron lies, flat out, on the sofa. Jason has made him a cup of tea. He’d offered his dad a beer, and Ron had been tempted, but one thing you truly learn with age is that you have to know your limitations. Pauline has left for work, seemingly as fresh as a daisy. Ron checks that Kendrick is out of earshot.

‘What gives? Why’s Kenny here?’

Jason speaks slowly and quietly. ‘Suzi rang, just said Danny’s left her. Done a runner.’

‘Left her?’ says Ron. That’s not unwelcome news.

‘So she says,’ continues Jason. ‘Said she had a few things she needed to arrange, and could I look after Kenny for a day or two? Nothing more than that.’

‘Is he gone for good?’ Ron asks. ‘Danny?’

‘Let’s hope so,’ says Jason.

Ron hears a grunt of frustration from Kendrick at his dining-room table. He calls over, ‘Problem, Kenny?’

‘Not a problem,’ says Kendrick. ‘Just thinking about Darth Vader. Why are people like that? Can I have a glass of water?’

‘Course you can,’ says Ron. ‘I keep it in the tap.’

Kendrick bounces off to the kitchen. Ron turns back to Jason.

‘What about the house, then?’

‘All hers, she reckons,’ says Jason. ‘He’s letting her keep it.’

‘That doesn’t sound like Danny,’ says Ron. Something’s not right here. ‘You’re telling me everything? No big row, anything like that? He just left?’

‘Nothing, Pops,’ says Jason. ‘Marriages fail, don’t they? You remember that.’

Jason’s lying to him, Ron can see that. Lying to protect him probably, but Ron doesn’t need protection. There will have been something – a bust-up, an incident – it’s all too quick otherwise. And if Jason’s going to lie to him, maybe Kendrick won’t. Kendrick comes back in from the kitchen.

‘Day off school, then, Kenny,’ says Ron. ‘Lucky thing.’

‘So lucky,’ agrees Kendrick. ‘I do like school, but sometimes you have to have a break to recharge.’

‘Got that right,’ says Ron. ‘Was there a lot of noise at yours last night? Your mum and dad?’