The secret keeper, p.12
The Secret Keeper, page 12
‘Ask me what?’ he prompted when she didn’t go on.
‘To ask you … Now you’ve seen Olivia again, do you think you still have feelings for her?’
He gave a laugh of astonishment. ‘After all these years?’
‘Why not? Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for you two back then.’
‘It was,’ he corrected, ‘for the time it lasted. Now we’re different people and we belong to entirely different worlds.’
‘Neither of which precludes having feelings,’ she pointed out.
He picked up his wine and drank, wanting to buy himself some time before answering as truthfully as he could. It was true he’d felt something when he’d seen Olivia again, but putting whatever it was into words …
In the end, waving the question away, she plucked a Niçoise olive from the bowl and regarded him carefully as she ate it. ‘There’s a possibility all this could end in her leaving her husband,’ she declared. ‘Is that something you’d want?’
Leaning across the table he planted a kiss on her lips. ‘What I want,’ he said, ‘is for you to put all that out of your mind and change the subject.’
Since their food arrived then, they poured more wine and allowed their conversation to ramble around the more neutral and familiar territories of their long-distance relationship, from the people they knew, and the places they’d been, to their plans to spend some time in Italy before he returned to Sydney.
‘Last night,’ he said, when they finally strolled to the apartment he was renting, ‘Rena asked me how serious it was between us.’
‘Rena? Olivia’s mother? And what answer did you give?’
‘I told her you were too good for me.’
She laughed.
Swinging her round to face him, he said, ‘What I should have told her was to ask you.’
Her eyes stayed on his, but though they were shining with amusement, they held a hint of seriousness too.
‘What answer would you have given?’ he prompted.
She tilted her head to one side as she thought, then she said, ‘I’d probably have asked her why she wanted to know.’
He groaned and let his head drop to hers. ‘Which tells me nothing at all,’ he objected.
‘Of course not, because you don’t really want to know,’ and slipping out of his arms, she waited for him to open the front door of the apartment block so they could go upstairs for their much-anticipated siesta.
Chapter Nine
Olivia and Richmond were in the dining niche of the kitchen finishing the last of a fruity Sauvignon Blanc as Sasha cleared the table. They’d eaten bouillabaisse, one of Richmond’s favourites, with fresh fish from the beach stall, and a delicious rouille made by Olivia using the Niçoise method that included cayenne pepper and saffron.
When Sasha had come in she’d immediately gushed her approval of Olivia’s new hair, making Olivia feel light-hearted and lovely. However, when Richmond had returned he’d had to be prompted by Sasha to notice, and although he’d told Olivia it was good to see her as a blonde again, and that the style suited her, his lack of enthusiasm had been deflating.
Now, as she watched him reading something on his phone, she waited until Sasha announced she was going to her room, and said, ‘I was wondering if we’re still going to France with my parents.’ It seemed so unlikely, all things considered, that she could hardly believe she was asking, but something had to be said about it, and this seemed as good a time as any.
‘There’s no reason for you and Sasha not to go,’ he replied, putting his phone away. ‘Once I get things sorted out here I’ll drive down and join you, but it’s unlikely I’ll make the flight.’
She pretended to yawn as she shook her head. She didn’t want to make a big deal of it, but she couldn’t just leave it there either. ‘I’d rather wait for you,’ she told him, meaning it.
He sounded irritated as he said, ‘But you always complain that I drive too fast. I thought you might welcome a chance to escape it.’
Or was he trying to grab at a chance to escape her?
‘Ah, but you’ll slow down if I’m with you’ – she smiled – ‘and I don’t want to be worrying myself silly from the minute you set off about whether or not my children are still going to have a father at the end of the journey.’
His colour deepened as he snapped, ‘That’s a stupid way of putting it.’
Getting up from the table she muttered, ‘If you say so.’
Draining his glass, he set it down hard and took a breath. ‘I just want you to know that if you do decide to go on ahead, it’s fine with me.’
The following day Olivia pulled up outside her parents’ house, a self-designed homage to the New England style of architecture that Rena loved, with gable-pitched roof, dormer windows and an open front porch that ran the full width of the property. They’d had it built over thirty years ago, and in that time very little had changed; the garden was still surrounded by a neat picket fence, and the brick facade was regularly painted a deep, warm grey, with white window frames and a white front door.
Rena and David adored the place, and so did Olivia.
As she pushed open the gate she was searching in her bag for her ringing phone, certain it was Andee calling, and trying to get to it before it flipped to voicemail.
‘Hi,’ she said, just making it. ‘I should be there around three. Is that OK?’
To her surprise there was no immediate response, then she came to a stunned halt as the caller said, ‘Hello, Olivia. It’s Ana. I hope you don’t mind me ringing, but I … As I mentioned while I was at your house the other day, I’d really like us to be friends. Of course, I understand if you don’t feel the same way, but I’m hoping we can put the past behind us and start afresh.’
Olivia was so thrown she couldn’t think of a thing to say.
‘Perhaps we could have lunch sometime?’ Ana continued. ‘As you know, I’m a bit of a stranger to this area, but I’ve heard the Waterfront Café is very good. It’ll be my treat. Shall we say one o’clock on Thursday?’ and before Olivia could even think of an objection the line went dead.
She stared down at her phone, wondering if there was anyone in the world she’d less like to have lunch with, never mind make friends with. Yet, as her parents had already pointed out, maybe having Ana Petrov in plain sight would be better than having her lurking about in the shadows, and never knowing when or where she might strike.
It was just that she’d expected to be the one holding out the olive branch, not the other way round.
Letting herself into her parents’ kitchen she found them either side of the table, both on their computers, glasses perched on the ends of their noses and website password books beside them. ‘You’re never going to believe this,’ she declared, going to put the kettle on.
‘Try us,’ her father challenged, closing down his laptop. He was a gentle man with ruddy cheeks and birdlike blue eyes, known for being slow and careful in reaching a judgement. He was also someone who was well liked in the community, not only for how patiently and skilfully he’d handled investments, pensions and wills, but for how touchingly proud he always seemed to have the beautiful Rena as his wife.
‘I’ve just had a call from Ana Petrov inviting me to lunch on Thursday,’ Olivia informed them.
Rena peered over the top of her reading glasses.
Olivia said, ‘I’m thinking I might go.’
Rena and David exchanged looks.
‘Have you told Richmond?’ her father asked.
‘I’ve only just had the call, and why would I tell him? It’s me she’s invited.’ Catching sight of herself in a large oval mirror, she gave a groan of dismay. ‘Still loving my hair, but please tell me my face isn’t as red as a baboon’s bottom.’ The cancer treatment had thrown her into early menopause, and she wasn’t enjoying any aspect of it.
Rena smiled. ‘You are looking a little flushed.’
‘I’m on fire,’ Olivia complained, taking the newspaper her father was passing her to use as a fan.
‘Did Mum tell you we had a bite with Sean and his young lady yesterday evening?’ he asked.
Olivia stopped fanning. Her parents were socialising with Sean – and his ‘young lady’. She felt unaccountably thrown by that. She wondered if it was someone who’d come with him from Australia, or maybe she lived in London. Surely not someone he’d met since arriving here? ‘No, she didn’t,’ she said, looking at her mother.
‘She’s a lovely girl,’ David continued. ‘Dutch, but she speaks perfect English, with a bit of an American accent, because apparently she lived there as a child.’
‘So what’s her name?’ Olivia asked, hearing her own voice at a distance as she wondered if she really wanted to know.
‘Elise Jansen. She’s a doctor with the World Health Organization. Very high-powered job, by all accounts. Takes her all over the world.’
‘How interesting,’ Olivia commented, thinking how like Sean it was to have found someone so fascinating. Of course he’s found someone. How could you ever have thought otherwise? And what difference did it make? It wasn’t as if she wanted him herself. ‘So have they been seeing one another long?’ she asked, turning to drown a fruit tea bag.
‘I’m afraid I didn’t ask,’ David replied.
Rena said, ‘They seemed quite close. We liked her, a lot.’
Realising her mother was rubbing it in, Olivia managed to summon a smile as she said, ‘Good. That’s good.’ She was aware that her parents’ ambivalence towards Richmond had grown over the years, and not just because of recent events, but it was a subject only ever lightly touched on and certainly never discussed in depth. Not wanting that to change, she said, ‘So how come you’re not at the office today, Dad?’
‘Oh, there was no reason for me to go in, and when your mother’s finished there we’re going to start packing ready for our trip.’
Rena was looking at her laptop again. ‘Enrolment numbers are down this year compared to last,’ she said worriedly. ‘By now most classes would be fully booked for the autumn season.’
Coming to look over her shoulder, Olivia said, ‘Have you done all the usual advertising?’
‘Yes, although we get so many people coming back each year that I hardly need to these days. Tickets aren’t selling for the Christmas ball either, or for the New Year Gala.’ Catching a scowl from her husband she said, ‘Maybe it’ll pick up over the next few weeks while we’re away.’
Realising from her tone that she wasn’t convinced, Olivia said encouragingly, ‘I’m sure it will. Everyone loves their classes; like you said, they come back every year, so you mustn’t let it spoil your holiday. Actually, Richmond’s trying to persuade me to leave ahead of him and go with you.’
Rena appeared impressed with the idea. ‘So why don’t you?’ she prompted.
‘Because I’ve got this project on the go with Andee, and anyway, I’d rather wait until he’s able to come with me.’
Spotting her parents exchanging glances again, she felt irritated by it, and said, ‘I want to be on hand if things don’t go the way he hopes with the marina project. If I left, it would feel like I was running out on him.’
Though her father’s face darkened, all he said was, ‘I’m sure it’ll be cleared up soon.’
‘By Sean’s company taking it on?’ she challenged.
‘If that’s what turns out to be necessary.’
‘What about the other group? Mace?’
His eyes remained fixed on hers. ‘They’ve turned it down.’
It felt like a blow, as though a rug had been pulled from under her, or more accurately from under Richmond. ‘Why?’ she managed to ask. ‘I suppose it’s too small for them.’
‘Possibly.’
‘But that’s not what you think.’
He took a breath. ‘What I think is that the project needs to be handed over to someone who knows what they’re doing.’
Feeling the slight on Richmond’s behalf, she snapped, ‘You could have chosen someone he’d be able to work with.’
‘I did when I contacted Mace. It was only after someone on the board there warned me it wasn’t looking good that I got in touch with the Kenyon Group.’
Olivia stood stiffly, aware of them watching her, and wishing she couldn’t feel their sadness. ‘And what does Sean have to say so far?’ she demanded.
‘He’s still talking to people,’ her father replied, ‘but he’s worried.’
‘About what exactly?’
‘He hasn’t given me a full account yet. I’m sure he will when he’s ready.’
Olivia let several moments pass, looking from her father to her mother and back again. In spite of feeling defensive and angry, she could see the strain they were under, how afraid they were that this was going to end up causing a rift between themselves and their daughter. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, let that happen, not now, not ever, but she had to ask the next question and she could tell from the tightness around his mouth that her father was expecting it.
‘What if Sean turns it down too?’ she said.
David’s eyes remained on hers, gentle and worried, but showing her that he had no regrets for his actions. ‘We just have to hope that doesn’t happen,’ he replied quietly, and picking up his laptop he left the room.
Andee Lawrence was listening closely to what Sean was telling her.
Seeing him again after so many years had brightened her day in a way she hadn’t expected when he’d come through the door. Not that it had been a bad day until then, but the way he’d embraced her, as if she were a long-lost sister, had brought back memories of how pleased she always used to be to see him.
They were in the leafy, patio garden that opened off the kitchen of the elegant town house she shared with Graeme. He was also listening, and looking as concerned as she felt.
‘According to my due diligence team in London,’ Sean was saying, ‘the bank pulled the plug on the build almost a year ago …’
Graeme’s eyebrows shot up with surprise.
‘Which immediately begs the question,’ Sean continued, ‘how did it keep going for the next six months until it shut down?’
Andee’s eyes moved to Elise, the chic, quiet woman, both beautiful and elegant, whom Sean had introduced as a friend. Since he was speaking to them in front of her it wasn’t hard to deduce that their relationship went deeper, but if Sean trusted her so did Andee.
‘I still don’t have a definitive answer to that,’ Sean admitted, ‘but I can tell you this: the Russian investment bank in question is not one we’ve ever used, nor would we. They are what you might call a resource of last resort, given their connections to some dubious finance institutions in Moscow, Cyprus and Tel Aviv.’
Understanding right away where this was going, Andee said, ‘You think they were using the project to launder money?’
Sean didn’t deny it. ‘My discussions with the builder have proved interesting,’ he went on. ‘There was a lot of cash changing hands in the early days, and I mean a lot. Enough to make him take his concerns to the marina’s board, but no one ever got back to him. Soon after that, which was about three months into the build, funds began coming in through normal channels. So, as he could now see where the funds were coming from – a bank we’ve all heard of in London – he set aside his suspicions and continued work. It was about four months later that the transfers started to dry up, and when they didn’t resume it wasn’t long before our builder was forced to pull his guys off the job.’
Graeme said, ‘So after the Russian bank pulled out Richmond found a backer here and then lost them?’
‘On the face of it that’s how it looks, but no record of a second deal has come to light.’
Graeme frowned hard, bringing his thick dark brows together as he said, ‘So where was the money coming from?’
‘That’s what we’re trying to find out,’ Sean replied.
‘I take it you’ve talked to David Penn?’ Andee asked.
Sean nodded. ‘He can’t help us because the marina accounts are password-protected, and as he’s not involved in the project …’
‘What I’d like to know,’ Graeme said, ‘is why Richmond got involved with this foreign bank in the first place. Given the time frame he surely couldn’t have exhausted all the usual property investors before work began.’
‘Unless we can access the files,’ Sean replied, ‘we won’t know who he approached, but I can tell you this, in my view the project was never viable anyway. It’s far too ambitious given the location, local demographic, tourist numbers, current turnover of the marina … I could go on. The point is, the only way I can see that he was able to sell the idea to the marina’s board, and to the local authority, was because he already had funding in place.’
Graeme’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Taking a breath, Andee said, ‘You mean it was a money-laundering scheme from the start?’
Sean gave a brief nod. ‘It’s possible.’
‘So why did the Russian bank pull out?’ Graeme wanted to know.
‘There could be any number of reasons for that, and given the way they work I doubt we’ll ever find out. The big question we’re left with is, where did the next tranche of finance come from? Or, put another way, who was paying the funds into the London bank that were used to pay the builder?’
Andee waited.
‘That,’ Sean told her, ‘is where you come in.’
She blinked in surprise.
‘Apparently the reason our competitors, Mace, pulled out is because they got wind that the Serious Fraud Office are already sniffing around this. That makes it untouchable for us too. However, for David and Olivia’s sake, or call it old times’ sake, I’m prepared to look a bit deeper. So, given your police contacts, do you think you can find out exactly what the SFO are looking for?’
Andee’s mind was racing ahead as she nodded slowly. ‘I can try,’ she replied, thinking of whom she could approach amongst her old colleagues, and how she should frame her request. It wasn’t going to be easy, for much time had passed since her days with the Met, but she had some good contacts in Kesterly who might be able to open some doors.
