Page 87 of The Impossible Fortune

Kendrick needs some conversation. If he was in the kitchen with Uncle Ibrahim, he could just say, ‘How long do you think an elephant can hold its breath?’ and they’d be good for an hour or so. But he worries that won’t work with Tia. He will try a different angle. Here goes.

‘Do you like watchingFriends?’

‘I love it,’ says Tia. ‘Let’s watch some.’

‘Ibrahim has Amazon Prime,’ says Kendrick. ‘So he can watchBelow Deck. Who’s your favouriteFriendscharacter?’

‘Joey,’ says Tia. ‘Who’s your favourite?’

Kendrick takes a sip of his Sprite. Joey, eh? Not Phoebe? Perhaps it’s just the sugar talking, but something feels different here. Perhaps this is life on the other side of the wall? There are raised voices in the sitting room, but Kendrick couldn’t tell you what they were saying.

He places his Sprite down on a coaster and says, ‘Tia, my favourite is Joey too.’

48

Joanna is aware that Donna is not officially investigating the case. Joanna would place money that Elizabeth has sent her. Subtly rule Paul out of your enquiries, would you, Donna?

Nevertheless, Joanna is happy to see her. She needs a favour, and Donna might be able to help.

‘Your house is amazing,’ says Donna, sinking back into a sofa. ‘I bet this didn’t come from IKEA.’

‘Morocco,’ says Joanna. ‘But you get some lovely stuff from IKEA these days.’

‘You sound like your mum,’ says Donna, laughing. Joanna shoots her a look that suggests maybe she’d like her to stop laughing. She does.

‘I didn’t know it would be you, Donna,’ says Joanna. ‘I didn’t think this was your case?’

‘Making up numbers,’ says Donna. ‘The real coppers are out there chasing the real leads.’

‘And protecting Prince Edward,’ says Joanna.

‘I don’t really know what hedge funds do,’ says Donna. ‘Perhaps I should learn. I’d like a sofa like this.’

‘I mean, there’s over a quarter of a billion quid hidden in a hole in Sussex,’ says Joanna. ‘I’d just steal that.’

‘There’s what?’ says Donna.

Joanna laughs. ‘Of course, of course. They didn’ttell you. Holly and Nick have Bitcoin down there. Everyone’s going mad trying to work out the codes to the safe.’

‘Jesus,’ says Donna. ‘Even when it’s not my case, they don’t tell me anything.’

‘How do you mean it’s not your case?’ Joanna asks.

There is a noise from the kitchen. Donna cranes her neck to make sure Paul is in there. ‘It’s not my case. Elizabeth asked me to come.’

‘There,’ says Joanna. ‘The truth. I think we can still let Paul assume you’re here on official business. He’d be a lot more frightened if he thought Elizabeth sent you.’

‘She just wants reassurance,’ says Donna.

‘I get it,’ says Joanna.

‘Is there really a quarter of a billion pounds buried somewhere?’

‘Sort of,’ says Joanna. ‘Please don’t tell Elizabeth I told you. I don’t want her to bully my mum.’

‘I think it’s usually the other way round,’ laughs Donna. ‘And I wish we were allowed to steal money anyway. They said so in our training.’

Paul walks in with a tray of drinks. ‘Two flat whites …’