Iwake and she’s sound asleep. I wonder if her wrist woke her up during the night because usually she’s awake well before me.
For a moment I watch her. She looks so fragile and yet so strong all in one. As if that’s possible.
She’s so beautiful. Her hair is all tussled. Her face looks so peaceful. Her arms are tightly wrapped around the puppy and he’s soundo too. The two of them make a fine pair.
For a moment I can see it, the two of us living together openly, free of the lies and the deceit. I see Milton, fully grown, lying at our feet as we cuddle or watch a movie or just simply enjoy each other’s company and I see a baby too, our baby. Mine and Eden’s. God am I mad to want that? To hope for that? To believe that in this world, with everything stacked against us, that we could ever achieve that kind of peace?
I get up, more because my head is spinning and I don’t want to disturb her. And anyway I need some thinking space about the whole Timothy situation. I need to figure this out and I need to come up with a plan because no way am I taking the fall for this and no way in hell is he getting away with this either.
I pull on my clothes. Somewhere in the house Terri could be lurking and I don’t want to do anything that rocks the boat right now. That puts Eden in the firing range. She’s my first priority and I will do everything necessary to protect her.
As I walk back through the hallway I freeze. Terri is there staring at me.
“Why were you in her room?” She says.
“What?”
“Why were you in Eden’s room? That’s where you just came from.”
“I was checking on her.” I say. “You know, after the car crash.”
She sighs. “How is she?”
“She’s alive.” I half growl.
“Dom…”
“Don’t Terri.” I snap. “She’s your daughter and you couldn’t even be bothered to come back home and see her. She could have died.”
“I wanted to. I tried.”
“Clearly not hard enough.” I state walking away.
I don’t have time to think about Terri right now, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. Far bigger fish.
I jump in the shower, get dressed and drive to the train station. I need to see Bob. In person. It’s the only logical move. To lay all my cards in front of Bob and see what he can do.
But Jesus is it going to be a painful conversation.
When I get to Scotland Yard I have to sit and wait for someone to come out with a visitor badge. Maybe I should have called ahead but I wasn’t sure how to even broach the situation and it felt easier to just focus on the here and now, take each step at a time. Get to the station first. Then go from there.
They lead me into an interview room. Bob comes in with woman he introduces as his SIC, Cara Franks.
They sit opposite me. It feels like an interrogation but I guess with everything I’m about to say that’s exactly what this could turn into.
“Interview beginning at 11.37am with Dominic Mathers. Officers in attendance Chief Inspector Bob Aldross and Detective Sergeant Cara Franks.” Cara says after the machine lets out a long almost irritating buzz.
“So Dominic, you say you have new information on this fraud case.” Bob says.
“I do.” I reply. “I know who is taking the money. It’s my Finance Director Timothy Grice.”
“And what makes you say that?” Cara asks.
“Because he’s trying to blackmail me.” I state. “He came into my office. He said he’s fixed the accounts so it looks as though I’m behind it. He said he wanted me to call you lot and tell you it’s all a mistake. That there is no fraud. But if you don’t take the bait then I’m the one who’s supposed to take the fall.”
And then Bob asks the million dollar question. The one thing I know I have to be truthful about but the one thing in all of this I am so desperate to keep to myself.
“What’s he blackmailing you about?”
I draw in a deep breath. Clench and unclench my fists.
I could lie. I could deny it. Hell, I don’t even have to tell them. They only need to know that I’m being blackmailed, they don’t need to know the grisly details and yet in this moment I feel like saying it out loud protects her too, that somehow this will keep her safe, as illogical as it sounds in my own head.
“I’m having an affair.” I state.
“With..?”
“My stepdaughter.”
“What?” Bob says his eyes snapping to me. Christ he thinks I’m a pervert. A paedophile even.
“She’s not underage.” I say quickly. “She’s an adult. We’re both adults.”
I can feel the way they’re looking at me. Judging me. Bob is so black and white, so straight and narrow that I bet the thought of me doing anything like this never even entered his mind.
“I see.” He says, narrowing his eyes. He thinks I’m an arsehole. He thinks I’m a sick bastard. I guess in a way he’s right. I am all of those things.
“What’s your stepdaughter’s name? For the records.” Cara says.
“Eden.” I state. “Eden Mathers. She has the same surname as me. I married her mother eight years ago.” Jesus why did I have to say that bit? Who gives a shit when I married Terri? No one was even asking that.
“Does Eden know about any of this?” Bob asks.
“No. She’s got nothing to do with this. Beyond being the source of the blackmail.”
He nods.
“Look, I will do whatever you want.” I growl. “I will wear a wire, I will let you look through all my own personal accounts. I didn’t take this money and I sure as hell am not going to be the fall guy.”
Bob sits back in his chair, folding his arms. Assessing me.
“Alright Dominic. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to look into this Timothy chap. We’ll do some recon. Pulls what accounts we can find. I assume you agreed to his demands?”
“I haven’t agreed to anything. Eden was in a car crash. I walked out on Timothy because I had to get to the hospital.”
“Is she okay?” Cara asks but it sounds more like she’s being polite than anything else.
“She’s got a broken wrist. Some arsehole jumped the red lights and crashed right into her car.” I state.
“So you’ve not said yes to him?” Bob confirms.
“No.”
“Then perhaps we have an opportunity here.” He says. “Because if what you’re saying is true, I doubt he will leave it hanging. He’ll want to be sure in his own head that he’s silenced you.”
“What do you want me to do?” I ask.
“We’ll get some camera’s set up. Covert. In your office. All you have to do is get him to admit it, to talk about the fact he’s behind it, hell, get him to blackmail you again.”
“Fine.” I agree. “How soon can we move on this?”
“We can get some hidden camera’s installed today assuming the CPS give authorisation.” Cara says more to Bob than me. “I’ll speak to the local team as soon as we’re done here.”
He nods looking at her before looking back at me.
“It might be best if you avoid the office until we’re all set. We don’t want to miss the boat.” Bob says and I grunt in agreement. He’s right. Better I stay in the city for a night. Head back tomorrow and then face Timothy with everything in place for his just deserts.