Adey was determined to remain professional – not let her anger show itself. Just a job, she kept telling herself. She had a perfect vantage point from Strada, a restaurant adjacent to the communal entrance of the Spinningfields apartment. Her enquiries revealed that Daddy had paid for it.
Adey didn’t have to wait long before she clocked the young blond in Ugg boots and fake fur, swaggering out of the building and across the Square.
Adey followed. She’d made the decision not to go to the address to confront her. Bound to result in a door being slammed in her face. Catching her out in the open would make it more difficult for Tilly to end the conversation.
Into Waitrose on Bridge Street.
Ten minutes later Tilly reappeared, laden with a bag in each hand.
Adey crossed the road to confront her. ‘Hello, Tilly.’
Tilly gave her a quizzical look. Already on her guard: ‘Do I know you?’
‘Part of John Anderson’s legal team. We’re appealing. Thought you might like to do the right thing and make a statement admitting your lies at the trial.’
‘Piss off.’ Tilly put her head down and picked up the pace.
Adey matched it, now walking two abreast. ‘He wasn’t tired at all, was he? Sam Connor has made a further statement.’ Exaggerating, she added, ‘A retraction.’
Tilly pressed on. ‘Leave me alone.’
‘At least Connor has finally decided to do the right thing.’
‘That loser?’ Tilly’s anger took over. She stopped. ‘I’ve lost everything because of him. You know they didn’t give me a tenancy? Chucked me out, the bastards.’
Adey laughed. ‘Live by the sword—’
‘Connor got looked after though, didn’t he? No one threw him out of chambers. My career’s stuffed now.’
‘I’m sure you’ll survive, resourceful girl like you.’
‘You taking the piss?’ Tilly’s temperature was still rising.
So was Adey’s. ‘You spoilt little brat. What about John Anderson? You sent an innocent man to jail.’
‘Who are you to speak to me like that?’
‘You don’t give a shit about anyone but yourself, do you?’
Outraged at the observation, Tilly took a step back, dropped one bag then swung the one in her right hand at Adey’s head.
Adey ducked.
It hit the wall, spattering milk in all directions.
The momentum caught Tilly off balance.
Adey thrust a hand to Tilly’s throat, pinning her against the wall. With the other she poked Tilly’s forehead. ‘Nothing in there. Just one bad mother, aren’t you?’
Eyes blazing, Tilly didn’t reply.
Adey tutted, then released her grip. ‘Bitch, you ain’t worth it.’
Leaving her shopping strewn on the pavement, Tilly hurried off up the street.
Adey kicked the wall in frustration. She didn’t have the witness statement she’d come for.
This appeal was going nowhere.