The Soulmate(69)

He is so lost in thought that the sound of his phone ringing startles him. He turns and sees it on the dining table.

‘Max Cameron,’ he says, lifting it to his ear.

‘Mr Cameron, it’s Detective Sergeant Conroy. We spoke the other day.’

If Max is rattled to hear from the police, it’s not apparent. He seems calmer than the last time they talked. As if he’s in control again. ‘Yes, Detective. I believe my lawyer has set up a meeting with you for tomorrow, correct?’

‘That’s right. But there is another matter I wanted to discuss with you. It concerns a former employee of yours – Gabriel Gerard. I understand he was the person responsible for recruiting A.S. Holdings as an investor?’

‘If you say so,’ Max says neutrally.

‘According to our records, Mr Gerard was let go shortly after Arthur Spriggs, of A.S. Holdings, was murdered.’ He lets that hang there for a moment. ‘What’s most interesting is that Mr Gerard was also the last person to talk to your wife, Amanda, before she jumped off the cliff.’

Max doesn’t respond. It’s hard to tell if this is strategic or not.

‘This isn’t a surprise to you?’ Detective Conroy asks.

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘I see. Well, I must admit we are a little curious as to why Mr Gerard never mentioned that he was a former employee of yours in his statement to police. Which makes me wonder . . .’

‘Wonder what?’ Max’s question is tinged with frustration. I have the impression he wishes Detective Conroy would dispense with the theatrics and just spit it out.

‘It makes me wonder if Mr Gerard had more to do with your wife’s death than originally reported.’

‘I’m sorry, Detective,’ Max says. ‘The other day you said you were investigating NewZ’s relationship with Arthur Spriggs?’

‘I am. But there is a clear overlap here. Mr Gerard was fired from your organisation after bringing Arthur Spriggs on board. Arthur Spriggs was murdered shortly thereafter. A year later, your wife is found at the bottom of a cliff outside this same employee’s home. You’ll understand our interest, I’m sure.’

Again, Max opts for silence. I wonder what is going through his mind.

‘Listen, Mr Cameron,’ the detective says finally. ‘I get it. It’s clear that you and Gabriel Gerard have dirt on each other. But in these kinds of situations someone always talks. If that person is you, your journey through the courts will be looked on a little more favourably. If it’s not, that benefit will be offered to Mr Gerard. The choice is yours.’

Detective Conroy waits. I wait. Max will not be hurried as he weighs up his next move. Eventually, he lets out a long sigh.

‘Fine,’ Max says. And he starts to talk.





75


AMANDA

BEFORE



It took over an hour to go through the files that I’d imported onto my USB from Max’s laptop. I loaded them onto my own computer and went through it all in my study. Max was busy with the accountant, totally preoccupied, but I kept the screen facing away from the door just in case.

I thought it would be simple to find it. I searched file by file. I found some interesting stuff, no question. Invoices made out to Arthur Spriggs’s company. Spreadsheets and profit-and-loss statements from Max’s early years in business – ones he was so desperate to hide he kept them on a laptop locked in a safe. I found letters from lawyers pertaining to individuals who needed to be silenced. Reports from detectives who’d undertaken surveillance jobs. But no video. I couldn’t decide if I was annoyed or relieved.

Suddenly, I remembered something Max had told me once about hidden files. I opened a Google browser, typed in ‘How to find hidden files’, and Google produced some very straightforward instructions. And just like that, there it was. A video. It was four minutes long, saved by the date.

It worried me, I’ll admit, that Max would leave incriminating emails with Arthur Spriggs where they could be easily found yet hide the contents of this video. What did that mean? As my mouse hovered over the file, I registered the date. It was the night he’d taken me to the bridge his brother had jumped from. The night that Max had been called away . . . by Pippa Gerard.

I remember the way Max’s face had changed when he answered the call.

‘Of course. I’ll meet you at the office.’

When he’d explained why he had to go, I understood. He was apologetic, of course. He called the car around and asked Baz to see me home.

He got home a couple of hours later. I roused as he slid into bed.

‘Everything all right?’ I asked.

I couldn’t remember if he responded, but I remembered that he’d fallen asleep with his arms around me that night, and we stayed like that until morning. That was the image in my head when I clicked on the file and the grainy footage appeared on the screen. It showed Max in his office, standing next to a woman who I dimly recognised as Pippa Gerard. He appeared to be hugging her. Then they shifted. Pippa lifted her chin. Her hands moved down his back. And she kissed him.

I reached for my wastepaper basket and vomited.





76


PIPPA

NOW



I follow Gabe as he stalks to the bedroom.

‘What are you doing?’ I say to him. ‘Are you calling Max?’