‘Lawrence, I’m sorry about that. I was stressed. Can I wave the white flag? I’d like to make it up to you.’
She had put just enough subtle promise in her voice to hook him, it seemed, because he changed his tone straight away.
‘Well, in that case, OK.’
‘If you’re nervous, you can bring a friend.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so. I don’t think that would be appropriate, do you?’ He chuckled softly then hung up.
Jenna punched the air.
A few minutes later, Kayley knocked and was admitted.
‘He’s coming,’ said Jenna eagerly.
‘Shit,’ said Kayley. ‘What do you want me to do then?’
‘I want you to – have you got a phone? Good. I want you to go up to the attic and lurk there. As soon as you hear a knock at the door, call the police. Tell them Harville is here. The rest should be easy enough.’
Kayley did a mock salute. ‘Yes, partner,’ she said. ‘Gorgeous house, isn’t it? Shame Lawrence let it go to rack and ruin. You’ve got your work cut out for you.’
‘I know. But I’ll get there. Quickly, then – I have no idea when he’ll get here. He’s out and about a lot, is our Lawrence.’
Kayley bounded up the stairs, apparently given a new lease of life by her new criminal status. Jenna paced around the ground floor, trying to get her thoughts straight and her courage up. The idea that this could go horribly wrong insisted on inserting itself into her mind, filleting through her resolve.
Perhaps it was a bad idea, after all. Perhaps she should put him off.
She took out her phone, but it was too late. He was at the door.
His smile was pure, triumphant smarm as she opened it.
‘Good girl,’ he said. ‘I knew you’d see sense.’
‘Come in,’ she said tonelessly, the urge to break his nose never stronger than now.
‘Ah, the old place,’ he said, filling his lungs appreciatively. ‘Soon have it back up to scratch. Harville Hall for the Harvilles. If you want, you can stay over, any time you like.’
‘I’ll be sad to leave,’ said Jenna. It occurred to her that perhaps she should take him out in the back garden, where he would be less likely to hear the police arriving. ‘There’s something I wanted to ask you about – something I found outside.’
‘Oh yeah? I thought you were going to pour me a nice drink, and get comfortable.’
‘We can do that outside,’ she said, leading him through the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of wine and two glasses on the way.
‘Oh, I’ve done it all out here, in my time,’ said Lawrence, stepping out on to the blazing back patio. He took off his jacket and slung it over a rusty garden chair. ‘Up against a tree, on the lawn, behind the bushes.’ He chuckled. ‘Can get a bit waspy, but if you pick your time …’
He put a hand on Jenna’s shoulder, as if it were his God-given right.
She bristled, and put the drink things down on the low wall that enclosed the sides of the patio.
‘The thing I wanted to ask you about,’ she said, trying not to sound too steely. ‘Come down and see.’
She found the paving slab with the iron ring that she and Jason had spotted before and theorised about the existence of a cellar.
‘Here. It made me think you might have a cellar. But the deeds don’t mention anything underneath the house.’
; Lawrence put the toe of his shiny shoe against the iron ring and nudged it.