Tim nodded. “When he first moved in here.”
Scott widened his eyes. “He bought this place at twenty-one.”
“Yeah, right after the court case.”
“Court case?”
Tim eyed Scott suspiciously. “I thought you were in Brixton with Thomas?”
“I was…for three years.”
“And what do you know about him?”
Scott opened and closed his mouth a few times before blurting, “He likes snakes. He loves his tattoos, can be grumpy.”
Tim shook his head, turning away from Scott. “Dear, oh dear, I think Carly’s got it all wrong.”
“He can sing,” Scott said defensively. “I’d say his voice is world class.”
Tim paused. “You’re right about that, lad.” He checked his watch. “Six o’clock. I’m done for the day. You can keep the net;there’s always bits getting in the pond. It’ll give you something to do when Thomas locks himself away.”
Tim strolled away, whistling to himself.
Scott frowned.
Court case.
Thomas never mentioned any court case.
He never mentioned that he was rich and owned a mansion either.
Scott made his way back to the house, but instead of going to the top floor, he stayed on the bottom one, strolling into the extended part of the property home to the swimming pool.
He rested the net Tim had given him against the wall, then approached the pool. The smell of chlorine made his nose itch, and he knelt at the side to test the temperature.
It was warm.
Good for swimming, butperfectfor lying on his back like a starfish and staring up at the glass roof. Scott undressed, neatly folding his clothes, and placed them on one of the nearby loungers. He lowered himself into the pool, swam the length a few times, then lay on his back, wondering whether he knew Thomas at all.
They were all slightly different versions of themselves inside.
Scott hadn’t told Thomas everything about himself either.
He’d touched on subjects, like his strained relationship with his sister, but he’d not gone into detail. Hell – he hadn’t even told Thomas that the governor had spoken to him in private to deliver the news about his sister. Thomas thought she was still alive, and Scott had been content to let him believe it, let him believe there was still a chance once Scott got released that he could reconcile with her.
Scott rolled over, took a deep a breath, then swam to the bottom of the pool. He crossed his legs and tried to remain asstationary as possible. A shadow approached from the side and hovered there, looking in.
He knew it was Thomas.
It could only be Thomas.
But for a moment, he convinced himself it might not be.
For a nanosecond, he thought he saw Warren, and it was enough of a shock for him to open his mouth and take a gasp of water.
He uncrossed his legs and kicked off from the floor of the pool, spluttering as he broke the surface.
“Christ, Scott,” Thomas growled, dropping to his knees at the edge. He grabbed Scott’s arm and helped haul him out.
