In the early morning, as she left her bed, the gloom in her small flat surrounded her, just as it had since the day she had moved in. Claire wanted to get away; this was not a place where she could ever feel comfortable. But Claire took her time – she showered; she nibbled some toast and ate a yoghurt. She did not feel hungry, and with a last cup of strong coffee, she sat at the kitchen table.
The flowers that Rick had brought stood out right in front of her. She had arranged them in a large glass vase; she leant over to enjoy the scent but, inevitably, that jogged her thought to New Zealand. The reality she faced hit her, and she breathed out heavily. She would not see Harry Stone again, and she had moved away from living with Rick. They had both gone from her life. And the scam that had encircled Arrow Hall was still leaving a nasty taste. Rick had a buyer for Arrow Hall; she would no longer ever have her own space there which she could call home.
Rick dealing with it so quickly, taking it away from her, made everything very final. This really was the time to start again.
The ringtone on her phone suddenly interrupted her.
‘Could I please speak to Claire Watts?’ the caller asked.
Claire momentarily looked at her phone; she did not know the voice, and she hesitated.
‘Yes, speaking. I’m Claire Watts.’
‘George Mates. I am the solicitor appointed by Harry Stone to administer his estate. First, may I share with you commiserations on the death of Harry. The nursing agency rang me half an hour ago to give me the sad news. And Harry had instructed me to call you personally as soon as I could after hearing of his passing. Is now a good moment to talk, Claire, just for a few minutes?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Claire replied.
‘The reason for calling you today is Harry Stone’s funeral. He wanted me to specifically ask if you could be there. We are expecting to arrange it for two weeks today. Plaistow crematorium, 10.00 in the morning.’
Claire again hesitated. This was too sudden.
‘I would attend anyway, so why would he request that?’
‘I understand how you feel. But it was a very specific request because he believes, other than you, there may be nobody else at his funeral. I assume you are aware he did not leave any family, and of course, his business did not make him many friends.’
‘Two weeks from today. I’ll put it in my diary. And I’ll be there.’
‘I shall not be able to meet you at his funeral, but I shall be winding up his estate in due course. Harry has suggested I call you again if there is anything outstanding as you will probably be able to help and know the answer.’
Delving back into Stone’s ragged study again would be very tedious and not what she ever wanted to do. There was nothing more to uncover; she no longer had the time to give to his messy papers, piled high one on top of the other around the small room. So far, he had given her a small diamond – that was not a real salary for the time she had spent shadowing the Jackson family. Claire closed the call.
Would she be the only person at Harry Stone’s funeral? That would leave it as a cold, unreal ceremony, a most awful send-off for anyone, let alone for a man whom, though she had not always trusted, she had worked with closely for many years.