“No, because he doesn’t want them to. Harry Gardnerhas pushed but I’ve said no to everyone.”
“What about his girlfriend?”
“Dila went to see him in hospital, but she’s currently on tour. She has commitments.”
“Family?” Newt asked.
“Not on the radar. Anyone who claims to be family is not allowed to see him. That applies to anyone who comes to the house. You need to run their name by me first. And their image.”
“It’s quite a job.” Newt gave a short laugh. “Speech therapist, cook, gardener, assistant physiotherapist, cleaner and friend.”
“You’re right. And you haven’t even asked about salary.”
“Which gives awaymydesperation.”
Max chuckled. “Are you so unemployable?”
Newt wanted this topic gone. “I didn’t think so but maybe it’s the area. It’s commuter belt and expensive. After the job I thought I was coming for didn’t happen, I should have moved to somewhere more downmarket but I had the place in the hostel so I thought I’d stick around for a while on the off-chance I’d rescue some guy’s phone from an opportunist thief.”
“Well, would you credit it!” Max smiled. “Right! Five thousand pounds per month. After tax.”
Christ Almighty! After tax?Even before tax would have been great.
“You’ll have a roof over your head. Meals included, though you’ll have to cook them. The downside is you’re having to look after someone who’ll put every obstacle in the way of you helping him. And it’s only until September/October, possibly not as long as that. I want you tosucceed and if you do, there’ll be a generous bonus. But if you fuck up or you try to make extra money by saying something to the press, or by posting pictures or feeding information to social media, I’ll get back every penny I paid you and make you very sorry.”
“And here I was thinking what a nice guy you were.”
“Keep hold of that sense of humour. By the way, at the moment, the press has no idea that River is even in the country. They know about the accident but not how bad it was. They aren’t aware that he owns the house. All bills are under a different name. Leo Miller. But they could come sniffing. No matter what you might be told at the gate—Jehovah’s Witnesses helping you see the light, someone who reckons the roof has a problem, a neighbour bringing you a pie, a schoolfriend of River, an energy company, the police—whatever they say they want, they are not allowed through the gate without asking me. Understood?”
“Yes.” He needed to add one more job to that list. Bodyguard.
The further out into the countryside Max drove, the more excited and nervous Newt became. One good deed had changed his prospects in a way he’d never envisaged. His grazed and aching arm and hip seemed worth it now. It didn’t matter what an arsehole this actor was, for that amount of money, Newt could put up with a lot. No way would River be worse than some of the men Newt had come across in prison. He felt a pang of guilt that Max didn’t know he’d been in prison, but Newt wasn’t going to wreck this by confessing.
When Max turned off the road onto a narrow lane edged by trees, Newt guessed they were getting close. There was a river on the left side. He could just see water glinting in thelow winter sun.
“My mother put a supermarket order in and took delivery yesterday so you should manage for groceries for a while. I’ll get my secretary to send you all the details and login information you need to run the house, including River’s Amazon account and the alarm code. When you hear from her, send her your bank details for me to pay you. I’ll put an extra thousand in for peripheral expenses.”
“Such as?”
“Petrol, takeaways, anything you need to do your job, anything that makes him happy.”
“Whip and handcuffs?”
Max raised his eyebrows. “Maybe you are my type.”
Newt chuckled. “Can I take him out in the car?”
“Nowhere he can be recognised. Which would be everywhere. But he doesn’t want to go out, so… Use your judgement.”
“How long has he been in the house?”
“Eight weeks. He moved from the hospital in Croatia to a private hospital here, then a private convalescent facility. Once he was able to get around on his own, shower, look after his personal needs, he came home. And here we are. There’s a remote for the gate in the glove box. Press the red button. Same to close it.”
The black metal gates they approached were high, as were the stone walls either side. Newt could see through the gates to the house beyond. There was a large parking area at the front, but no cars on it. Newt closed the gates behind them and put the remote back in the glove box.
The house looked fairly new, brick built with black siding covering the upper floor. On the right was a triple garage block with dormer windows. Maybe that was wherehe’d be staying.
“Take a deep breath,” Max said. “His bark is definitely worse than his bite. And by bark, I mean attitude. He’s a talented actor. I’ve not handled many as talented as him. He has a great sense of humour but he’s temporarily lost it. If you can tap into that… Help him to see a way forward… Well, just do your best. Please don’t give up on him no matter what a shit he might be to you.”
