“We need to come back on Monday. I’m determined to talk to Nick Lacey,” said Kate.
42
Kate and Tristan spent the journey home discussing their next move. The traffic was bad along the M5, so they didn’t get back until five, and by that time, they were both tired and hungry.
“Let’s get a good night’s sleep and meet tomorrow,” said Kate when Tristan dropped her home.
She texted Jake to find out where he was, and he said he was coming back from a diving trip and would be home at seven.
Kate decided to make dinner for a change, rather than heating things up or ordering in. She could cook only a couple of things, and one of them was Jake’s favorite, chili con carne. Kate had the things she needed, and she set to work, glad of a distraction from the case. When Jake came in just before seven, she was happy to see his face light up with a smile.
“Chili con carne? Sweet!” he said. “You need a hand?”
“No. It’ll be ready in ten minutes; I’m just making the rice,” she said. “Do you want to eat outside? It’s lovely and warm.”
“Cool,” said Jake. He went to the fridge and got himself a beer and Kate an iced tea, and then he went out and sat on the porch.
When she came outside with two bowls of steaming chili, Jake was sitting in one of the chairs, looking out at a beautiful sunset.
“This smells goooood,” he said, taking the bowl of chili and a fork.
Kate sat in the chair opposite, and they started eating.
“How was the diving trip?” she asked.
“It was nice, just me and this girl, Becca. She’s the blonde-haired girl you saw the other day when you were in the car. She’s staying at the site with her mates.”
“She’s pretty.”
“She is, and she looks really good in a bikini,” said Jake. He put another forkful of chili in his mouth and smiled. “This is the second time she’s asked me to take her diving.”
“That’s cool. How old is she?”
Jake shrugged. “Twenty, I think. She’s in her third year at uni.”
“Is it serious?”
“No. She’s leaving on Saturday morning. It’s just been nice, casual.”
“Are you being careful?” said Kate, hating to ask the question but needing to make sure.
“Mum, Jesus, I’m eating,” he said, going red.
“Just tell me yes or no, and then we can change the subject.”
“Yes, I’m being careful . . . I’m the one who fills up the condom machine in the men’s shower block so there’s no shortage.”
Kate started to laugh. “Okay, I’m your mother—I don’t need to hear that much detail.”
“You’re my mother and my father, so I have to talk about everything with you,” he said.
Kate’s phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number and answered.
“Hi. Kate. It’s Marnie. Jo’s friend.”
Kate swallowed a mouthful of chili.
“Hi,” she said cautiously. There was a long pause.
“Listen. I’m sorry if I put you on the spot the other day, about signing the book . . . It’s just that I’m on disability benefits, and they’ve recently been cut by the government. The kids’ dad doesn’t give me much support. It’s hard trying to bring up two kids on piss-poor money, and I can’t work. If I could work full time, I would.”
Kate felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Jake mouthed, Who is it? Kate shook her head.
“Marnie. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but I feel the same as before. I don’t want to sign that book. I don’t want to be part of this whole ghoulish exploitation,” said Kate.
Marnie went silent on the end of the phone. Kate expected her to unleash a barrage of swearing, but Marnie just said, “Okay. Well, there you go. I thought it was worth a try.”
There was a click, and the line went dead. Kate stared at her phone for a moment, feeling sick.
“What was that about?” asked Jake. Kate told him about Marnie and the copy of No Son of Mine that had already been signed by Peter and Enid.
“I think you should sign it, Mum,” he said.
“But that’s exploiting . . .” Kate couldn’t finish the sentence; she was too shocked. She hadn’t expected him to say that.
“Mum. It’s all in the past. Peter did what he did. So did Enid. The book is written. It’s out there. All this awful stuff that happened to you, to all those poor women. You can make good out of it. You can help this Marnie out just by signing your name. You say she’ll get two grand for the book?”