sorts to make a world. All right if I start training Rusty now? All the chores are done. I got up an extra hour early today.”
“Just to let you know, we’ll be going out soon. It could be an all-day job. Can you take the phone with you?”
Charlie pushed back her chair and put her dirty dish in the sink. “Sure, I’ll leave it on the post outside the paddock. Have a good day.”
Lorne smiled as her daughter skipped out the back door. She looked happier than she had in all her young life. If anyone deserved such happiness, it was Charlie after all the shit that had been thrown at her over the past few years.
“She’s growing into a fine young woman. She seems so much more balanced nowadays,” Tony commented as the door closed behind Charlie.
“She does, doesn’t she? I wonder why that is? The responsibility I’ve given her? The fact that she lives with us rather than Tom? I’m not sure why she’s doing so well, but I’m glad to see her flourishing the way she is.”
“I’m not sure, either, but it sure beats having a grumpy teenager around the place. Where are we going to start first?”
Lorne looked down at the list in front of her. “Would you rather start in central London and work your way out or vice-versa?”
“Why don’t we take the ones in central London first? By the time we get there, the traffic should have eased a little.”
“Done. I’ll just have a quick tidy round, and we’ll head off, okay? How’s the leg, by the way?”
“About the same. I’ll take some painkillers and make an appointment with the doc—anything to stop your incessant nagging.” Tony winked and then winced when he stood up.
Lorne suspected there was more going on with his leg than he was willing to let on. The previous few nights, he’d taken to getting into bed once the lights were off. He’d also been wearing his pyjama bottoms to bed, which he’d never done before. If he didn’t make the appointment with the doctor by the end of the day, then she would.
•\ \ \ \ \ •\ \ \ \ \ •
Lorne insisted she should drive if Tony was in pain. They arrived at the first agency, Soul Partners, at just gone ten. The young, busty girl on reception came across as enthusiastic, until Lorne asked to see the owner or manager of the business.
“About what?” she asked abruptly.
“We need information about a possible member of yours.” She watched the woman intently, noticing that her movements had become jittery. “Is that a problem?”
“No. Er…I mean, yes.”
“Which is it?” Lorne prompted, suspecting that they weren’t going to get anywhere fast.
“We don’t usually give out members’ information to all and sundry.”
“I’m not asking you to divulge anything personal. I just wanted to know if a certain person was a member of your agency. That’s all.” Lorne’s reply was accompanied by one of her best smiles, which usually put people at ease. Not this girl, though.
“The manager is out of the office at the moment. You’ll have to make an appointment to see her.”
Lorne shrugged. “No worries. I’ll get my friend DS Foster to come down with a warrant.”
The girl’s eyes widened with fear, and she stuttered her response, “Er…there’s no need for that. I’ll ring her and make her aware of the situation. Take a seat.”
Lorne turned and winked at Tony, and they both took a seat while the girl rang her boss. Two minutes later, the door behind the receptionist opened, and a petite woman in her early fifties came out of the office, with her hand outstretched, ready to shake hands with Lorne and Tony.
“Emily Fortenham. You wanted to see me about one of our members?”
“A possible member. Mind if we talk in your office?”
The woman frowned then gave a brief nod. “Come through. Sandra, rustle up some coffee, will you?”
“Not for us, thanks.” Lorne smiled at the receptionist as she walked past her desk.
Once the door was closed behind them, they
“Just to let you know, we’ll be going out soon. It could be an all-day job. Can you take the phone with you?”
Charlie pushed back her chair and put her dirty dish in the sink. “Sure, I’ll leave it on the post outside the paddock. Have a good day.”
Lorne smiled as her daughter skipped out the back door. She looked happier than she had in all her young life. If anyone deserved such happiness, it was Charlie after all the shit that had been thrown at her over the past few years.
“She’s growing into a fine young woman. She seems so much more balanced nowadays,” Tony commented as the door closed behind Charlie.
“She does, doesn’t she? I wonder why that is? The responsibility I’ve given her? The fact that she lives with us rather than Tom? I’m not sure why she’s doing so well, but I’m glad to see her flourishing the way she is.”
“I’m not sure, either, but it sure beats having a grumpy teenager around the place. Where are we going to start first?”
Lorne looked down at the list in front of her. “Would you rather start in central London and work your way out or vice-versa?”
“Why don’t we take the ones in central London first? By the time we get there, the traffic should have eased a little.”
“Done. I’ll just have a quick tidy round, and we’ll head off, okay? How’s the leg, by the way?”
“About the same. I’ll take some painkillers and make an appointment with the doc—anything to stop your incessant nagging.” Tony winked and then winced when he stood up.
Lorne suspected there was more going on with his leg than he was willing to let on. The previous few nights, he’d taken to getting into bed once the lights were off. He’d also been wearing his pyjama bottoms to bed, which he’d never done before. If he didn’t make the appointment with the doctor by the end of the day, then she would.
•\ \ \ \ \ •\ \ \ \ \ •
Lorne insisted she should drive if Tony was in pain. They arrived at the first agency, Soul Partners, at just gone ten. The young, busty girl on reception came across as enthusiastic, until Lorne asked to see the owner or manager of the business.
“About what?” she asked abruptly.
“We need information about a possible member of yours.” She watched the woman intently, noticing that her movements had become jittery. “Is that a problem?”
“No. Er…I mean, yes.”
“Which is it?” Lorne prompted, suspecting that they weren’t going to get anywhere fast.
“We don’t usually give out members’ information to all and sundry.”
“I’m not asking you to divulge anything personal. I just wanted to know if a certain person was a member of your agency. That’s all.” Lorne’s reply was accompanied by one of her best smiles, which usually put people at ease. Not this girl, though.
“The manager is out of the office at the moment. You’ll have to make an appointment to see her.”
Lorne shrugged. “No worries. I’ll get my friend DS Foster to come down with a warrant.”
The girl’s eyes widened with fear, and she stuttered her response, “Er…there’s no need for that. I’ll ring her and make her aware of the situation. Take a seat.”
Lorne turned and winked at Tony, and they both took a seat while the girl rang her boss. Two minutes later, the door behind the receptionist opened, and a petite woman in her early fifties came out of the office, with her hand outstretched, ready to shake hands with Lorne and Tony.
“Emily Fortenham. You wanted to see me about one of our members?”
“A possible member. Mind if we talk in your office?”
The woman frowned then gave a brief nod. “Come through. Sandra, rustle up some coffee, will you?”
“Not for us, thanks.” Lorne smiled at the receptionist as she walked past her desk.
Once the door was closed behind them, they
Similar Books
