“Oh. I see.” He finished his coffee, heaved a sigh and went to collect his coat from the hall.
“I didn’t mean…” She followed him, dismayed at his reaction.
“I know what you meant,” he said, and he was gone.
Chapter Four
“What, seriously? He doesn’t teach that class?”
“Definitely not. A man called Calum teaches it now.” Tilly’s breath hitched as she said the name. An impulse to curl up into a foetal ball and bewail his loss overwhelmed her for a moment.
“So where’s Norman on a Wednesday and Thursday night then?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry. But you know for sure that he isn’t being honest with you. The ball’s in your court.”
“Right.” The line was silent as Melinda considered the bombshell.
“I didn’t do the full honey trap thing, so I’ll consider reducing my fee.” Tilly hoped Melinda wasn’t going to blow up in her face and refuse to pay at all.
“No, love, that’s okay,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ll pay full whack. But I want you to do something else for me, yeah?”
“Oh, of course. Do you want him tailed?”
“Yeah. I want you to follow him tonight. He leaves the house about seven-thirty. Be waiting on the corner and follow his car. I want proof. Photographs. Anything you can get me. Thing is, love, I don’t know if you’ve ever had to plan a wedding, but it’s an investment. The time, the money, the emotional stress. And I want to wear that dress. If you can prove to me Norman’s cheating, I’ll cancel. But perhaps he’s planning a surprise for me, know what I mean? Could be anything. He could be closing a deal on a little salon for me to branch out in. I’m a nail technician, did I tell you?”
“I…think so. Right. So you want me to follow Norman and report back?”
“Please.”
* * * *
Tilly made sure her camera was fully charged and her petrol tank was full. She had her mobile phone, her emergency alarm and her can of pepper spray. The wire would probably not be needed tonight, but she shoved it in the glove box anyway. She was about to turn the key in the ignition when a tall figure crossing the apartment block’s car park caught her eye and she sat up straight, squinting in recognition.
Calum.
Her heart leapt. He certainly picked his moment, though, she thought. She had left plenty of time to get to Norman and Melinda’s love nest, however, and she opened the car door and called over to him.
“Hello!”
He turned and waved at her, striding across. Tilly noticed that he was carrying a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine.
“Tilly,” he panted. “Are you going out?”
“Afraid so. Don’t you have a class tonight anyway?”
“Yes, but I wanted to drop these off first. Just wanted to say sorry. It was childish of me to storm off like that this morning. I’d like to see you again, very much, and wondered if you were free after class…but you’re going somewhere?”
“A job,” she muttered, bracing herself for the disapproving face.
Yep, there it was.
“A detective job?”
“I’m supposed to tail Norman and see where he goes on tango nights.”
He stood regarding her silently for a few seconds while she waited for a storm of stinging words to fall on her unprotected ears. Instead, he handed over the flowers and wine.
“Get in the car,” he said. “I’m coming with you.”