Page 36 of The Impossible Fortune

‘So,’ says Elizabeth, ‘the people you asked for advice were Davey Noakes and Lord Townes?’

‘They were,’ says Holly. ‘Lord Townes was a banker and knows the traditional way of dealing with these things –’

‘And Noakes knows the untraditional way?’ says Ron.

Holly nods. ‘We thought that was a good combination.’

But Ibrahim is sensing the issue. ‘Did you tell them how much it was?’

‘We might have let it slip, yes,’ says Holly.

‘So Nick agrees to unlock a couple of hundred million, and, before you know it, someone tries to kill him,’ says Ron.

‘And then he disappears,’ says Holly.

Elizabeth has something on her mind. ‘Might I make an observation, Holly?’

‘Can I stop you?’ Holly asks.

‘You seem very keen to find Nick?’

‘Of course I’m keen to find him,’ says Holly.

Elizabeth continues, ‘But you don’t seem particularly worried that someone might try to kill you too? That would be at the forefront of my mind if I was in your position. I’d be asking for our help to protect you.’

‘You don’t know me,’ says Holly. ‘I don’t frighten easily.’

‘If Lord Townes or Davey Noakes had put a bomb under Nick’s car,’ says Elizabeth, ‘why wouldn’t they put one under yours?’

‘Perhaps they’d found out Nick’s code?’ says Holly. ‘They haven’t found out mine, so they have no reason to kill me.’

‘Is your code not written down anywhere?’ Joyce asks. ‘I always write mine down.’

‘Codes,’ says Ibrahim, trying to sound enigmatic.

‘Our solicitor has them,’ says Holly. ‘In case of our deaths.’

‘Then your solicitor would be a suspect?’ says Ibrahim.

‘He doesn’t know he has them,’ says Holly. ‘He just knows he has something to pass on if either of us were to die. He’s a nobody.’

‘So if Nick is dead, you’d get his code?’ Ron asks. Ibrahim is glad that Ron has said this. Holly was not atthe wedding; Holly seems to be the only person who might profit from Nick’s death; and, Elizabeth is right, she doesn’t seem to be worried that whoever placed the bomb under Nick’s car might do the same to hers. And might the reason for that be because she was the one who planted it?

‘He’s not dead,’ says Holly. ‘We’ll find him together.’

And then what, Holly Lewis? thinks Ibrahim.

‘I don’t wish to be morbid,’ says Joyce, ‘but who gets the codes if you both die? Who does this solicitor pass the codes to then?’

Holly turns on Joyce. ‘Why are you asking me that?’

Joyce has been taken by surprise. ‘I just … I’m ever so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. I just wondered.’

‘No,’ says Holly. ‘Why areyouasking me that? And not one of your friends?’

‘I just …’ says Joyce, ‘I just thought I hadn’t said anything for a while. I was trying to be useful.’

‘You were being useful, Joyce,’ says Ibrahim. ‘Holly is under a lot of stress. I’m sure she didn’t mean to snap.’