‘Your mum started the Facebook group six months before your dad’s accident. Two months before the accident, there was a story in theHighland Heraldabout the group, naming Chrissy as the founder.’
Georgie swallowed. ‘So you think … you think they didn’t give Dad fair workers’ comp because of Mum?’
‘It’s possible.’
Georgie sucked the vape, her eyes distant, a frown playing on her face. A crow flew overhead, its mournful cry piercing the thick, still air.
‘I’m also wondering …’ Meg said, ‘how much do you know about the accident? About what actually happened?’
Georgie looked at her. ‘He fell off a ladder. That’s it.’ She held Meg’s gaze, glassy-eyed. When she spoke again, her voice was a whisper. ‘Do you think the accident was … not really an accident?’
‘I honestly don’t know, but it’s possible. If they drove a guy off the road for protesting, who knows what they’re capable of?’
Georgie closed her eyes, sending tears down her cheeks.
‘I need you to tell me who Hugh Thorburn is sleeping with,’ Meg said.
Georgie wiped her tears away and shook her head.
‘Please. I want to use it to force him to tell me what’s going on.’
Georgie glanced sideways. ‘I thought you didn’t approve of blackmail.’
‘I don’t. Under normal circumstances.’
Georgie looked away.
‘Georgie?’
‘I’m already in over my head with the blackmail stuff. I’m not getting involved in a fight with the Ashworths.’ She stood up and handed Meg the tracker. ‘They always win.’
‘Please, Georgie,’ Meg pleaded.
She sighed. ‘I can’t.’
‘Don’t you want to find out what they did? To your father? To your family?’ Meg’s voice was sharper than intended. She took a breath and spoke softly. ‘Please, just tell me the name. I won’t say you told me.’
Georgie shook her head. ‘They always win, Meg.’ She looked at the time on her phone. ‘I gotta go. You got something to do tonight?’
Meg frowned, then remembered it was New Year’s Eve. ‘I’m just going to order room service and watch telly in my king size bed.’
‘By yourself?’
Meg nodded. ‘I’ll pick up a bottle of Champagne to make it feel a bit special.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yep. Honestly, I kind of love the idea of it.’
‘Alright, have a good night then.’
Georgie stood up and walked away, but then she stopped and looked back at Meg. She seemed to be thinking. Then instead of walking to the path, she went to the slide and bent down. When she stood again, she held something in her hand. She walked back to Meg and gave it to her, a strange intensity in her eyes. Meg looked down at the flower in her hands. It was a daisy.
It took her a moment to understand, then she looked up, heart racing.
‘Daisy?’ she whispered. ‘Daisy Ashworth?’
Georgie nodded, then turned and walked away.
