Page 46

FORTY-FIVE

SIX MONTHS AGO

Rowan feels as though his life’s hanging by a fine thread, and Kate Mason has the power to pull on it and unravel everything. He’s sick of the way she strolls into her appointments as though nothing has happened, as if equilibrium exists between them, and she isn’t forcing him to sit there and listen to her. He didn’t mind before – he wanted to help her, but the way she’s made him feel powerless sickens him. He can’t let her keep doing this. And Rowan might just have found a way to makes sure that happens.

Walking to the door of his office, he plasters a smile on his face and prepares to greet his next patient. Jamie Archer. Rowan quite likes him, he’s an interesting man, but Rowan can’t see how he’s going to get himself out of the mess he’s in unless he’s willing to do some serious work on himself. After all, most of the time there’s a reason we are the way we are if we search hard enough to find it. ‘Hello, Jamie,’ he says. ‘Would you like to come in?’

Jamie nods and follows Rowan into his office, keeping his head low. Shame seems to surround him whenever he walks in here, and Rowan wishes he would shed it and fully embrace his therapy. Perhaps today will help.

‘Take a seat, Jamie. How have you been this last week?’

Jamie sinks onto the sofa and shakes his head. He’s leaning forward as usual, never at ease enough to sit back and relax. ‘Not good. I don’t know how to get out of this hole I’m in. I’ve got those women demanding their money back. I’ve tried to stop but I need to pay my debts. I promised Harper I wouldn’t do it any more. I tried to stop… you know, with the women at the gym. But how else can I get out of the mess I’m in?’

Interesting. Will this change Jamie’s susceptibility? ‘Do you think there might be other ways to sort out your financial situation?’ Rowan asks. ‘There’s always another way.’

Jamie shrugs. ‘No job will clear my debts. And I’m not declaring myself bankrupt. The only reason I can afford therapy is because Harper insists on paying. She thinks it will help stop me going back to my old ways so we can save our marriage.’

Even though he shouldn’t be – and wouldn’t normally be – Rowan’s silently pleased to hear about the mess Jamie’s in. ‘Are you sure it’s just your financial situation that got you involved with these three women?’ Rowan asks. ‘Could there be another reason?’

Jamie wrinkles his nose. ‘This isn’t about the women. It’s not about sex . Not at all. It’s about me trying to claw my life back. For my family.’

Rowan’s not convinced; if Jamie would open up about his childhood, there’s sure to be something there that led him down this path, with no regard for the women he’s conning. But from what he’s learned about Jamie so far, his mother was a strong figure in his life. Hardworking and nurturing. His father too. Rowan’s not quite sure what could explain it, and if he’s honest with himself, what Jamie does disgusts him.

‘I’m desperate,’ Jamie says. ‘This is affecting my whole life.’

‘Do you believe that if your debts were all cleared, you’d be able to make a fresh start?’

Jamie nods. ‘Yeah. Definitely.’

Rowan needs to test the waters. He leans forward and lowers his voice. ‘Can I trust you, Jamie?’

Jamie frowns and shifts on his seat. ‘Yeah. But what do you mean exactly?’

Rowan glances at the door. ‘I’m taking a huge risk here. This is completely outside of my capacity as your therapist, and I’m risking my professional reputation.’ He pauses. No going back now. ‘But I want to help you, Jamie, and I don’t think, for you, the answer to this particular issue lies in therapy.’ Rowan takes a deep breath. ‘What I’m about to tell you absolutely can’t be spoken about outside these walls.’

Jamie’s eyes widen. He must be confused that his therapist is having this kind of conversation with him. He has no idea that Rowan is just as desperate as he is. ‘I might know someone who could help you,’ Rowan says. There. It’s said now and can’t be taken back. This is the biggest risk of Rowan’s life and he’s taking it because of Kate. Rowan’s hatred towards her intensifies. If only he hadn’t stopped to have that drink with her. A dreadful mistake on his part. What had he been thinking? He’s never done anything like that before.

‘I don’t understand,’ Jamie says.

‘It’s simple,’ Rowan explains. ‘If you’re prepared not to ask any questions, that is.’

‘Okay.’

‘This person needs a favour and is prepared to offer one hundred thousand pounds.’

Jamie’s head jolts up and he stares at Rowan. Perhaps he’s wondering if this is some sort of trap. ‘What…what for?’

‘No questions, remember? All you’d have to do is meet a woman. Just like you’ve already been doing. Get to know her and then take her back to your flat. That’s it.’

Jamie frowns. ‘That’s all? For a hundred grand? I don’t get it. Why would someone give me that much money just to take a woman back to my place?’

Looking across at Jamie, a flood of pity overcomes Rowan. If Jamie agrees to this, then he’s signing his own death warrant. ‘Remember I said the deal is you can’t ask questions. Just follow the simple instructions.’

Jamie stares at him and Rowan can tell he’s torn. Of course he’s thinking that this is too good an offer to be true, too easy, and that there must be a catch. It feels like hours before Jamie responds. ‘Okay,’ he says, exhaling a deep breath. ‘I’ll do it. I don’t have much choice.’

‘Okay. Good. There’s one other thing,’ Rowan says. ‘This woman will need to be drugged once you get her to your place. Or before. She needs to have no memory of how she got there or what she’s doing there.’

Jamie’s eyes widen. ‘No! Is this…are we talking rape? No way. Never. I’m not being any part of?—’

‘It’s nothing at all like that,’ Rowan assures him. ‘Not at all. Don’t worry – this woman will not be harmed in any way whatsoever.’ Rowan can picture it now: Kate waking up to find Jamie’s dead body, blood all over her hands, her DNA all over him. And then a lifetime in prison, where she’ll never be able to ruin Rowan’s life.

‘Then why? It doesn’t make sense.’

‘No questions,’ Rowan repeats.

‘I don’t know about this,’ Jamie says. ‘Who am I doing it for? Is this illegal?’

‘No more so than what you’ve been doing by defrauding all those women.’ Rowan’s voice softens. ‘Look, I can’t give you any names. I’m sorry. Will you just trust me, please?’

Jamie’s head moves, and Rowan can’t tell if it’s a nod or an involuntary gesture.

‘There’s just one thing. Half the money upfront, and half once you’ve got her to your flat.’

There’s another pause before Jamie nods. ‘So fifty grand now, and fifty when she’s at my flat.’

Rowan nods.

‘Okay. I’ll do it. I don’t like it – but I have no choice. This will really help get me out of a hole.’

Rowan’s body floods with relief – he hadn’t expected this to go so smoothly. He walks to his desk and pulls out his mobile from the drawer, scrolling through his photos until he finds the one he took of Kate without her knowing. It was the last afternoon they’d spent together in that hotel. He shows it to Jamie. ‘Take a photo of this with your phone, and then put the name and address I give you into your contacts. Her name’s Kate Mason and she lives in Wimbledon. You’ll need to follow her for a while, get a feel for her so that she goes back to your place with you.’

‘That’s miles from me,’ Jamie says.

‘You could move closer. You told me at our last session you needed to get out of the house you’re in. This is a good reason to speed that up. It’s really important that you get a good feel for this woman. Implant yourself into her life without her knowing.’

Jamie doesn’t look convinced; but the lure of that money will ensure he follows through with this arrangement.

‘If I’m taking her back home with me, it will have to be to my rental property,’ Jamie says. ‘We’ve been doing it up so it’s empty at the moment.’

‘Then luck is on our side,’ Rowan says. ‘Tell Kate it’s your place, and that you’re separated – she is too, so that might help you bond with her. I think that’s all you need to know for now. I’ll be in touch about the money.’

Jamie nods and stands up, pulling on his jacket as he heads to the door.

‘Oh, and Jamie?’ Rowan calls.

He turns around.

‘I really think this will help you find the peace you’re looking for.’