Gracie felt furious with herself for trusting him, for thinking he might be interested in her alone. ‘So much for driving to the airport.’ She could feel tears threatening. ‘I thought you were decent – that you really gave a shit.’
‘Gracie, you don’t realise how much of a shit I give. It’s not what it seems. But… I can’t tell you any more than that. You have to trust me.’
‘For God’s sake, Ed. I don’t need to hear any more. It’s blatantly obvious. A shirt and tie, too – good effort.’ She started to walk off and he spun her around.
‘I’ve been wrongly accused of rape, Gracie. That woman is my barrister.’
FORTY-ONE
Noms had plied Gracie with a large gin and sleeping pills at the start of the flight, knowing that she hadn’t slept a wink before they left. She woke up groggily and looked over to her sister, bleary-eyed.
‘All right, chicken?’ Noms said, lovingly. Jack was sprawled, sleeping half on her lap, half on his seat.
Gracie came to a bit more, and nodded.
‘Did you speak to him after you went to bed?’ Noms asked.
‘No. He texted, pleading to let him come over, so that he could explain properly, but I didn’t want to hear it. I said I’d see him when I got back. I just can’t get my head round it. I mean, who has dinner with their barrister?’
‘Maybe it was the only time they could meet. Barristers work silly hours. And she was old enough to be his mother.’
‘And what if he has raped somebody? I could have been in real danger!’
Noms looked as confused as Gracie felt. ‘He doesn’t look like a rapist.’
‘That’s possibly the most stupid thing you’ve ever come out with, Noms. They don’t come with anI am a rapisttattoo on their foreheads.’
‘Well, it proves one thing.’ Noms took a slurp of her orange juice and buttered her white roll.
‘What’s that?’
‘That he really does care about you. Or he wouldn’t have told you about the rape charge that lightly. He also knew how much it would hurt you if he was with another woman. He cared enough to put himself on the line.’
‘I guess – and it could explain why he couldn’t go through with sleeping with me that first night.’
‘Yes, he’s probably shit scared. I bet that’s it. Innocent until proved guilty, Grace.’
‘No smoke without fire, Noms,’ Gracie sighed.
‘Grace, that’s a really small-minded response. We don’t know the facts, yet. Personally, I would text him when we land.’
‘And say what, exactly?There, there, you’ve been accused of rape, I’ll stand by you.’
‘I’m not sure, but imagine what he is going through,’ Noms replied matter-of-factly.
‘I’m not sure I want any sort of involvement. It’s scary stuff, Noms.’ Gracie wished she knew the right thing to do.
Noms sighed. ‘It is a really hard one. Maybe when you know more you can make a judgement yourself. Now, come on, eat something – you must be starving.’
FORTY-TWO
Cynthia Princeton drained her mineral water with fresh lime. She had been working hard all day and would much prefer a glass of wine, but she knew she needed a clear head. She liked Ed Duke and wanted to do her best for him.
She had been mid-sentence when Ed had charged out of the restaurant. He came back completely flustered.
‘Oh God, I think I’ve just completely blown it with someone I really like.’
‘Ed, come on. Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is serious. You can sort your love life out when we’ve got you off this charge. Let’s go through it one more time. Tell me again what happened. I think I may have got something, but I need you to repeat everything to make sure I haven’t missed anything.’
