“Hang on, Lauren usually has a pack.”
Nova opened her colleague’s drawer but there were none there. Then she spotted Lauren’s coat hanging on the hook.
“Excuse me,” she said, reaching past Arthur and putting her hand in Lauren’s pocket. Sure enough, she felt the familiar plastic of atissue pack and pulled it out. As she did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Nova handed Arthur a tissue and then reached down to pick up the paper. She was about to put it back in Lauren’s pocket when she spotted what was written on it and stopped.
“Everything all right?” Arthur asked.
“Yes, fine. It’s just…Why does Lauren have my computer password written down in her pocket?”
“I don’t know. Did you give it to her?”
Nova shook her head, trying to work out why this was bothering her so much.
“I’m sure there’s a simple explanation,” Arthur said.
“Maybe.” But as Nova said this, she reached forward and put her hand into Lauren’s other pocket. She felt something cold and metal, and her heart sank before she’d even pulled it out and confirmed her suspicion.
“The sports cupboard keys,” she said, staring at them in disbelief. “The keys I supposedly lost.”
“Lauren must have found them again,” Arthur said.
But Nova wasn’t so sure, her mind whirring. The lost keys. The messed-up community center bookings and forgotten messages. All this time, Nova had thought the mistakes were her fault; that she was being forgetful and disorganized. But what if that wasn’t true?
“I think Lauren has been trying to sabotage me,” she said, wincing at how strange the words sounded coming out of her mouth.
“Why would she do that? She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“She is; or at least, I thought she was. But what is it Phyllis always says? If all the facts fit your theory, then it must be the right one. And look at the facts: the keys I supposedly lost are in Lauren’s pocket, along with my log-in details that would allow her to go onto my computer and change diary bookings under my name.”
“But still, what’s her motive?” Arthur said, sounding as bewildered as Nova felt.
“I don’t know. Maybe she wants to get me fired? Lauren knows better than anyone how financially precarious this place is. Maybe she thought if I lost my job, hers would be safe?”
“Goodness, that’s properly evil, especially from someone who pretends to be your friend.” Arthur stopped, his nose wrinkling. “You don’t think she’s behind the stolen money, too, do you? What if she took it from the office, knowing you’d be blamed because it happened during your book club?”
“Oh my God!” Nova said, looking at Arthur with wide eyes as her mind raced ahead. “But I didn’t get sacked, did I? So, what if she then had to try harder. Shit, what if Lauren’s the one who attacked Sandy to try and frame me?”
“Bloomin’ heck,” Arthur said, exhaling. “If that’s true then we need to report her to the police now. She’s clearly unhinged.”
“But we don’t have any evidence. Finding the keys in her pocket is hardly proof, plus Lauren can always deny all knowledge and say I planted them there to frameher.”
“You’re right, we need something more concrete.” Arthur said. “We need to find a way of getting her to admit what she’s done.”
“But why would she do that? If our theory is correct then now that I’ve been suspended, she’s won. She’s hardly going to suddenly confess all for no reason.”
“There has to be something we can do,” Arthur said, frowning. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish Phyllis were here right now. She’d know exactly what to do.”
Nova stopped pacing and looked at Arthur.
“You’re absolutely right. I think it’s time we call an emergency meeting of the St. Tredock Community Book Club.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Phyllis
At 11:30 the following morning, Phyllis stood in the churchyard of St Piran’s Church, staring at the tall, austere building in front of her. As with her previous visit, she could feel her mother’s presence everywhere.
You’re a sinner, Phyllis Hudson, Eliza Hudson’s voice called on the wind.
