‘You know you’re free to leave. I got a call from your lawyers reminding my department of the fact, just in case I tried to detain you. Overkill, don’t you think?’
‘We’re a pharmaceutical company; we leave nothing to chance.’
‘Indeed. I know Dow Bank House. I’ll come to you if I need anything else.’
‘Of course. I’ll look forward to it.’
Kelly didn’t know how to take the comment, so she decided to ignore it. She hadn’t gone to Tilda’s room for confrontation, but it had turned out that way.
‘How well do you know Hank’s bodyguards?’
‘That’s three questions and I’m growing tired of your interrogation.’
‘I could ask more; I have an endless stock, such as do you own a purple scarf or what are the chances Hampton-Dent will be able to silence critics like the DiggerMan? Or, why it is that you’re covering for Paul Burlington’s drug habit but were so keen to flag up Jamie Robbins’ non-existent one? Diplomatic immunity is a wonderful thing when you’re on the right side of it.’
‘And now you can fuck off out of my room,’ Tilda said.
Kelly smiled. The meeting couldn’t have gone any worse but she was frustrated and angry.
‘We’ll get answers for you very soon, I’m sure. I know how valuable Jamie must have been to Hampton-Dent; you all must be grieving.’
Kelly didn’t wait for a come-back. She’d had enough of the prickly hostility of the woman from New York and it was time she headed over to Chapel Stile.
She left the room, and Tilda slammed the door shut behind her.
Chapter 30
Sandy stared at her phone. She acknowledged the number. It was the same one again.
Furious, she decided to answer it and deal with it once and for all, for the last time.
‘What?’ she answered.
‘Sandy?’
‘What do you want?’
‘You. I’m coming for you.’
The voice cracked. He sounded unhinged. Dangerous. But she was still tempted.
She was tired. Weary. Ready to walk away from it all and leave the fuckers to their own demise. Without her.
This man was the only person who had any hope of helping her yet still she was reserved.
‘Give me five minutes, that’s all, I promise. No recordings, no threats, no lies, just time. I’m still here, at the hotel. Meet me by the lake and nobody will know who you are talking to,’ the caller said.
His voice recovered and returned to its masterful confidence she knew so well.
‘Do you think I was born yesterday? Your disguise is shockingly bad. My seven-year-old nephew could do better.’
She liked playing games with him.
‘Acid tongue like your acid rain, as always,’ he toyed with her.
‘Fuck off,’ she said.
‘Whatever, I’ll explain everything when I see you.’
