‘DRAWN A BLANK THERE, I’M AFRAID.’ DETECTIVE Inspector Marsh has come to see me after interviewing Nick’s boss. ‘There’s been nothing irregular – the company accountants have been scrutinizing any transactions Nick’s been part of. They’ve been at it since Thursday and have found nothing to suggest any illegal dealings; so far, at least. I think you can rest easy on that score. Nick was a model employee: intelligent, trustworthy and exceptionally good at his job.’
I don’t feel relief, because I never doubted Nick’s integrity, but I’m glad it’s been officially confirmed. It’s a tick in a box. The police can move on to the things that really matter, the things I’ve been insisting are relevant.
Marsh tugs Toffee’s collar absently. The dog gazes up at him.
‘You’ve been around the block, haven’t you, boy?’ he croons, running the pad of his thumb over the inch-long scar that crosses Toffee’s nose, while my fickle little mongrel gazes at him slavishly. ‘I’m sure I’ve arrested someone who looks just like you.’ He twitches the file again. Opening it and flicking through the meagre sheaf of papers, as if something useful might appear. ‘What about your female friends?’
‘What about them?’
‘We can’t rule out the possibility that there’s a woman involved.’
‘I think I’d know if he was having an affair. I definitely would if it was a friend.’ I draw up a mental list. Kit, Mara, Susanna, Cherry and Cassie. Of all of them Cassie is the one Nick knows best, the one I’m closest to, but she’s not the type. I wouldn’t believe it of any of them. And Anna, of course. She’s never far from my mind.
‘What about casual liaisons?’
‘Highly unlikely.’ Nick goes on business trips, but I can’t imagine him sneaking into a female colleague’s hotel room or picking up someone in a bar.
Marsh looks at me pityingly. ‘He left the family home only hours after asking you to marry him. Maybe it’s as simple as a case of cold feet.’
‘A bit extreme, don’t you think? Nick is honest. He would have said something.’
‘Men can be cowards when it comes to women.’
‘It has nothing to do with that, nothing directly at least. It’s to do with the past. I’m convinced that the holiday, those three families getting together, and a child dying, is at the heart of this. Something threw Nick so badly that he had to leave. The brother of that little girl got in touch with him, and two days later he was gone.’ Day Zero, I think suddenly; and it fits. The day of Nick’s departure now has a name. ‘How much more do you need?’
Marsh gives Toffee a pat, scratches his nose, then picks up his phone. ‘I’ll be having a chat with Lorna and their daughters tomorrow morning. But not formally, you understand. The trouble is, Ms Trelawney, we have no evidence that a crime has taken place, so any interviewing or following up has to be fitted in alongside more pressing investigations.’
When he goes, he takes Nick’s computer and laptop with him, loading them into the boot of his car. I wander back up to Nick’s study and gaze at his empty desk. I’m losing more of him by the day.
Later, while I’m in John Lewis looking at flooring for work, I get an email from Nick’s company. In the Subject box it says Re: Absenteeism. It had been sent to Nick, cc’d to me, presumably because they knew there was a good chance it wouldn’t reach him.
23 April 2018
Dear Nick
We regret to inform you that your employment is being terminated, effective from 31 May 2018 unless you return to work with an acceptable reason for your absence by Monday, 30 April. This decision has been reached with great regret.
Upon termination, all benefits associated with this position will cease to be valid. You are requested to return your company car, laptop computer and any other property belonging to the company before 31 May to the Human Resources department. If this is not done, the property will be collected from your address on 1 June 2018.
Please keep in mind that you are bound by our confidentiality policy. Any information that was received during the course of your work, regarding our customers, company, partners, etc. must not be disclosed to any party. Such information must also be deleted from all personal devices. In addition, you have signed a non-solicitation clause as part of your employment contract. This binds you until the date specified.
You are entitled to your salary up until 31 May 2018. Severance pay will amount to £9731.00 and will be paid on 30 June 2018. Because you are in breach of the terms of your contract, you will not be entitled to any other compensation.
This decision is non-reversible. We advise you to refer to our disciplinary action policy. If you have questions or would like any clarification, the Human Resources department remains at your disposal for up to seven working days after your last day of employment.
Yours sincerely
Philip Colville
Head of Legal
Financial Logistics
Monday, 30 April is next week. I cannot believe that after all his loyalty and hard work, and frankly, all the money he’s made for that company, they could send this, without even a phone call. The tone of the email is so cold.
I push open the doors to the stairwell where it’s quiet, away from the busy shop floor, and call the office. I get Phillipa on the phone. I’m spitting I’m so angry.
‘I know,’ she says. ‘We’re all absolutely horrified here. The police came in, Management called a meeting and that was that.’
‘They’re total shits. Can you put me through to Angus?’
‘I can’t, Grace.’
‘I’m sorry? I don’t understand.’
She breathes out. ‘He’s asked me not to. He will get back to you, only not today. He wants you to have a chance to absorb it first.’
‘Oh, lovely. He doesn’t want a messy scene. What a coward.’
‘Grace, please don’t overreact.’
‘Overreact! Nick has only been gone a week and I get this?’
‘You should have been honest from the get-go,’ she sighs.
‘I know,’ I say, swallowing my anger. This is not her fault. ‘I’m sorry, I really am, but I was trying to protect him. Why didn’t you warn me about this?’ She and Nick have worked together for five years. We went to her wedding.
‘He may come back,’ she says. Her voice becomes conspiratorial. ‘Look, Grace, I don’t know what’s going on, but Angus and Nick had a massive row on that last day.’
My nerves tingle. ‘You didn’t tell me.’
‘I couldn’t. Discretion is highly valued here. I wouldn’t dream of gossiping about conversations between Angus and his employees.’
I reluctantly decide it wouldn’t be politic to ask her why she is now. ‘What did they argue about?’
‘I don’t know. I walked into Angus’s office and walked straight back out again. They were right in each other’s faces.’
I remember now that he was at home when I got back from school with Lottie on that Friday. He claimed he had left work early because he had a presentation to focus on. Is this the real reason – that he needed to draw a line between the blistering row with his boss and his home? If so, why didn’t he want me to know about it? Surely that’s what being someone’s partner is all about.
‘Grace?’ Phillipa says.
‘It’s OK. Thanks.’
I end the call and run down the stairs and out through the back of the shop to Cavendish Square where I’ve parked the Vespa. I check my watch: it’s just gone one o’clock. It’s my week for school pick-ups, but if I hurry I can get to the City and still be back in time.