Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(3)

‘What do you mean?’

‘It doesn’t look good; I mean, it doesn’t look like he had any money. I went to his flat . . . he doesn’t have much antique-wise. I saw nothing we can hope to sell.’

Lauren knew her husband didn’t want to make eye contact with her. He busied himself setting his iPad up.

‘We said we’d go together.’

‘I didn’t want to bother you.’ He glanced up as she heard the familiar jingle of the iPad starting. ‘You were at work.’

‘I think I should be involved. Two heads better than one and all that?’ Her mouth formed a half-smile. Her eyes stayed cold.

He shrugged dismissively. ‘The solicitor has all the papers now, he’s handling it, not me, so we needn’t be concerned. Whatever has to be done, he will do it.’

‘What did you find there? What’s his place like?’

Toby stopped tapping on the keyboard and looked at her, irritated. ‘It’s a plush flat with a hot tub and a sauna. It’s the same sort of place as this, a riverside apartment with a view, but a hell of a lot more rent than this and a lot more view.’

‘What about all of his things?’

‘I don’t want anything.’

‘What? You are kidding me? Those are things that Samuel can inherit. Even if they aren’t worth anything – they have sentimental value.’

‘I wasn’t thinking about Samuel at the time. I certainly wasn’t feeling sentimental.’

‘I understand. Of course; but we are a family and one day Samuel might want to know about his granddad.’ She took a step towards Toby, almost reached out a hand to touch him, but stopped when she saw the look of hostility in his eyes.

‘Can you just leave it, for fuck’s sake. I told you I would handle it all. My problem, my fucking father. I’ll deal with it, all right? This is not about you or Samuel.’

Lauren looked stunned. She nodded meekly and retreated to the lounge.

Toby’s phone rang; he looked at the screen and went into the bedroom to answer it. Lauren heard him moving about the bedroom and talking on the phone. After ten minutes he came back into the lounge with his coat on. Lauren was back at her desk, Samuel was playing with some Duplo pieces.

‘Where are you going? Who was that on the phone?’

‘It was work. They wanted to tell me my new exhibits are up and running. I thought I’d go and have a look. I’ll take Samuel out and give you some peace. We’ll have a wander and come back in time for his tea. Samuel will like it up there in the Observatory.’

‘Really? Okay, if you feel like it, that would be great. You better take him a biscuit. He usually needs feeding after a nap. He’ll probably fall asleep for an hour in the buggy.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll get him something. There’s plenty in the café to eat and plenty of people to make a fuss of him.’

‘Okay, but he’s getting a cold, I think. His face looks flushed,’ said Lauren.

‘The fresh air will do him good. He could do with hardening up.’

‘Fresh? In the middle of London?’ As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t. Toby turned away. Lauren swivelled back round. ‘I’ve just emailed the man, Stokes, about the house in Cornwall, confirming that we need it left empty for now. Let’s go down tomorrow, like I said. I need to finish this piece today then maybe we can have a stress-free evening. Are you sure you’re happy to go out? I must admit it would help me concentrate enough to get this work done.’

‘Yes, of course. It’s only two thirty. We won’t be long.’

‘All right, baby, if you’re sure. Take the dog.’

‘I can’t. He’ll be a nuisance and he won’t be allowed into work. I’ll take him out when I get back.’

Lauren knelt before Samuel and pulled up the zipper on his all-in-one suit. Samuel stared down at his front as he pressed one of the appliquéd snowflakes on the front of the suit.

‘Grandma give it to me.’

‘Yes. You lucky boy.’ She kissed him.

‘And Grandma give me this . . .’ He frowned and tugged at his snowflake mittens threaded on a string through the arms of his suit. ‘From A-merr-icka.’

‘Yes. That’s right.’ She pulled on his hat and then his mittens. ‘Be a good boy for Daddy.’

He nodded enthusiastically.

Lauren attacked her work with full concentration for an hour. Then she became distracted. The wind got up outside and the day turned stormy and prematurely dark. She reached for her phone. She’d just give Toby a call and see that Samuel wasn’t too cold out there. There was no answer.

She stood and went to the window. The view of the Thames was lost in the downpour. She glanced down at the street below.

She looked at the phone in her hand. He must have gone inside, she reassured herself. Samuel would be warm in the Observatory. Maybe Toby was right – she babied him too much. But, after all, there would never be a brother or sister for Samuel.

Her eyes looked back down to the road below. A woman had stopped and was staring up at her – her face was partly covered with a black scarf. She had a hood pulled up over her head and was standing with her hands in the pockets of her long dark coat. She looked immovable against the gusts of wind. One of the plants on the balcony blew over and crashed against the windowpane and Lauren jumped. When she looked back the woman had gone.