“I’m finished with Paul and going home now. I promise I’m fine, so goodnight. And thanks.” Ellie hung up after leaving a message on Ben’s phone. It was him she’d texted when arriving at the wine bar. It was the only way he said he’d let her out of his sight tonight.
As soon as Ben was convinced Ellie was unhurt—apart from a slightly sore hand—he’d helped Andy finish the arrest. Dale Grant was doubled over, still moaning and wanting an ambulance. In the end, they’d called one, and Andy left with him.
“Am I in trouble…for hitting him?” Ellie’s legs had finally stopped shaking but exhaustion settled on her shoulders. She knew the feeling was an aftermath of adrenaline and would push through it.
“I’ll need a statement, but not necessarily about that. Do you want to come in now? Or we can talk here.” Ben was back to business, but she’d caught him glancing at her often enough in the last ten minutes to know he was struggling with what happened in the lift.
Ellie had watched the ambulance leave. Uniformed officers followed and only Ben remained in the carpark with her. Other residents had been alarmed, some distraught, at the police activity, but they were dispersing. “Here’s the thing. I’m late for an appointment, so can I do the statement thing later?”
“What appointment?”
She’d chewed her lip as he stared at her.
“Ellie, what are you up to?”
“I’m meeting Paul at the wine bar over the road. He wants to discuss the purchase order and I’d already agreed earlier.”
“Why?”
“The truth?”
“That would be nice.”
“I want to see if he lies anymore. He doesn’t know it, but I have a couple of security firms coming to Bannerman House tomorrow to provide quotes. This isn’t my money, Ben. If Dad denied his last order—and I don’t know this yet—then I need to consider alternatives. Outsourcing if it gets the result we need as a company.”
He’d half smiled. “Such a businesswoman.”
She’d screwed her face up. “Nope. Doing what I’m trained to.”
“Well, you’re good at it.” He’d walked with her to the doors. “Two things. Text me once you are sitting at the table. Phone me when you are back. If there is more than an hour between those events, I’ll come find you.”
I don’t need a keeper!
But the memory of Dale Grant, sneering at her in the lift, raised the hairs on her arms. She’d agreed to Ben’s request.
Now, as she entered the apartment building, she couldn’t help looking over her shoulder. The concierge hurried over.
“Mrs Connor? I’ll escort you to your apartment.”
“Oh, you don’t need to…actually, thank you.”
In moments she was in the apartment, door locked. She turned on every light, including the lamp over her bed and the bathroom lights. Then checked the sliding door was locked. It was.
Phone on the kitchen counter with the volume up, Ellie opened the wine from the fridge and poured a glass. She needed to eat. The earlier events had played havoc with her stomach. Fridge door wide open, she scanned the contents. Hard cheese. Olives. Feta. Tomatoes. Garlic. Basil.
It took five minutes to make the pastry for a pizza base and then she set it aside with a smile. Hands in flour made her oddly content. As she washed her hands, she zoomed in on the feeling. Images of a casual, yet quality pizza and pasta eatery danced around in her mind. Perhaps near the sea somewhere. And she’d buy a house big enough for Michael to live there. He’d need a full-time carer, but surely this was doable.
She took her wine glass, opened the sliding door, and stepped onto the balcony. The evening was beautiful, warm and it was beginning to quieten on the streets. How she still loved living here. But other dreams were emerging, or more accurately, forcing their way back to her. Long buried beneath her guilt about Michael, and Dad’s relentless demands.
You gave my job away.
Ellie understood he’d needed to have Dennis there to take over when she left with only a note to say she’d be back in a few months. He’d had no time to prepare for her going and for that, she’d paid dearly. He almost refused to have her back at Bannerman.
A breeze from the sea found its way to the balcony and she breathed deeply. Gabi never got over Dad buying the house in Canterbury and selling the waterfront home they’d moved into as newlyweds. A home she adored. He wanted something grander and simply sold up without a word. Gabi tried to forgive him and move on in their new and lovely upmarket home, but the lifestyle took a toll on her and then she was gone.
“Why does everyone leave?” Ellie glanced at her watch. Kerry would be calling any minute and she needed to sort her head out first. No more sad pondering about what might have been.
Back inside, she prodded the ball of dough and moved it to a warmer spot.
The phone rang and she started, then shook her head.
“Ellie Connor speaking.”
“Mrs Connor, this is Kerry. Are you free to speak?”
“I am. Thank you for calling me. How is Michael?” Ellie settled onto the arm of a sofa.
“He’s well. Lots of swimming over the last day or two which he enjoys immensely.”
“Oh, that’s good. He was an amazing surfer.”
“I’m sure.”
There was a silence and Ellie gathered her thoughts. “I’d love to take Michael out for a day or two sometime. Once all this mess with Dad is sorted of course. What would it take to make this happen?”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
“I would pay for his carer to come with us. Surely, he can stay a night at my home, and go to the sea for a short time?”
Kerry’s voice hardened. “Of course, he can. It might be much harder than you think though. He still is prone to unpredictable behaviour, as you’ve seen firsthand. He really is best left here, with us, where we understand him.”
Ellie pushed away the hurt from those last few words. “I’d like to talk to his specialist at some point. Would you arrange this?”
“Which one in particular?” Kerry’s tone held contempt.
“Kerry, what you and your wonderful facility do for Michael is amazing and deeply appreciated. He is comfortable and safe and you all work so hard for the best outcomes. All I want is to expand his horizons a little bit.”
“Fine. I’ll email you the details of those who make the decisions about his care. If they are happy to let him come with you for a short break, then I’ll make one of his carer’s available.”
“Thank you. You’ve been most accommodating.”
“If there’s nothing else?”
Nothing except a personality makeover.
The call ended and Ellie sighed. Was nothing easy anymore? The phone rang again. Ben.
“I’m home. Locked in.”
“Good to hear.”
“What’s happening with gym man?”
“Admitted to hospital.”
“Did I do that much damage?” Ellie grinned, but it was borne from a strange sense of unreality. Three minutes in a lift with a maniac.
“Doubt it, but we want to do things in a way he can’t wriggle out of. Better to let him have his night of observation and then tomorrow he gets to spend some quality time with me.”
“Sounds fun.”
Ellie stood and stretched. She glanced at the dining table, covered in paperwork.
“I know you’ve probably had enough of people for one day, but may I come and see you? I’ll only stay for a few moments…I want to be sure…”
So much emotion behind the words. It clutched at Ellie’s heart. “Still like pizza?”
“Are you making it?”
“Uh huh. One condition. Bring some sourdough bread and a salad. Any salad. Not much in the fridge again.”
“Half an hour?”
“Perfect.”
She hung up, smiling. It was perfect.