Where Have All the Boys Gone?(48)

“This is good,” said Katie. “This is very good.”

“Really? Arses and things?”

“I don’t mean it like that! No, it’s good that we’ve got a national paper interested already.”

“And the Herald and the Scotsman,” said Derek. “Mirror’s more of a foreign paper really. And the Scotsman didn’t ask us to take our pants off.”

“Standards aren’t slipping as much as I’d thought,” said Katie. “This is exactly what we need. If we get enough attention, they’ll back down.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“It’s just one strategy,” said Katie. “Really, we’re fighting to the death.”

She picked up a notepad and a pen.

“OK,” she said. She felt good, at last she felt in control; that she had a mandate, she had something to do and, best of all, she had a clipboard.

“First, here’s a quick plan A. Harry, what do you think the chances are of you just phoning up the guys who want to build this stupid golf course, tell them we’re going to spend the next six months giving them hell so they should do it in Surrey instead, and hoping they leave us alone?”

“Absolutely none.”

“Don’t be stupid,” said Katie. “You never know. Tell them about the arses and stuff.”

“No,” said Harry. “It won’t work.”

“Why not? Are you going to be really pig-headed about everything?”

“I’m not the pig-headed one,” said Harry.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. You should ask Iain.”

“Why?” asked Katie.

“Because it’s his dad who wants to build the fucking thing.”

KATIE’S HORRID INSTANT coffee had gone cold as she digested this bombshell.

Unfortunately Derek noticed right away and dashed off to make her another one. He really was an incredibly good non-secretary.

“His dad?”

“Yes,” said Harry.

“Does Iain know?”

“Oh yes,” said Harry. “I’m sure he does. I think trying to piss off his own father would be quite up Iain’s street.”

This was weirder and weirder.

“What’s this all about?” asked Katie. She put her pen down.

Harry sighed heavily. “Well,” he began. “Once upon a time there were two little boys . . .”

“I KNEW it!” said Katie.

“What?”

“You were at school together and both fell in love with the same beautiful woman?”

“At Dornoch Academy? No. Believe me, our school was not overrun with beautiful women. Or ugly ones. Did you know Fairlish has the lowest number of women in the country?”

“I did, actually, yes.”

“You and that daft friend of yours have doubled it overnight. I’m surprised you’re not overrun with offers.”

“Not really,” said Katie, desperate to deflect attention, in case he mentioned Iain. Heck, she was practically sleeping with the enemy.

Harry grinned. “Why, have you let them get to know your personality?”

“Ha ha. Shut up. Is this story about a woman?”

Harry’s face dropped. “Well, it is in a way.” He paused. “Look, I’m not sure I should . . .”

“Just tell me,” said Katie softly. “I promise, I’ll keep quiet.”

“Forgive me if I’m not that impressed by that . . .”

“I know. I don’t deserve to be trusted.”

He looked at her. “I think it says something about how few people there are in this town to talk to that I still want to tell you. How depressing is that?”

“It’s up to you,” said Katie.

Harry sighed and rubbed the back of his head, as if stimulating his brain to come up with an answer.

“Iain and I were great friends,” he started, softly. “He practically lived around mine. His mum was—is—a mouse, and I think I could tell his dad was a right prick even then. Iain could always get around his mother, that’s why he’s such a good flatterer.”

Interesting, thought Katie, filing it away for future reference.

“My mum really liked Iain. He was such an outgoing little boy. Not like me, really. He was always really cheeky to her and made her laugh. Whereas if it wasn’t for him, I think I’d just have spent all my time wandering about in the woods.”

Katie nodded.

“And then Mum got sick . . . and, well, Iain didn’t come around any more.”

“Why not?”

“His dad wouldn’t let him.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Iain’s dad is kind of the local big shot . . . does a lot of building works. And he’d built the factory where Mum worked. They said quite a lot of people got sick after they’d worked there. Nothing was ever proved or taken to court or anything. But he didn’t want our families mixed up. Just in case. Or maybe he thinks thyroid cancer is catching, who knows?”

Katie felt an inexplicable urge to take Harry in her arms and give him a cuddle.

“Anyway, that’s why I’m not so fond. Of him. Or his dad.”