Conspiracy Thriller 4 E-Book Bundle. Scott Mariani
there was a witness. What witness?’
‘There was no witness,’ Ben said. ‘I told you. I was the first on the scene.’
‘These people can fabricate a witness and write a load of lies in the press?’ Jude punched the dashboard with such force that it cracked the plastic and left a smear of blood.
‘They can do whatever they want,’ Ben said. Like plant paedophile filth on an innocent man’s computer before hurling him off the world’s tallest bridge, he thought. He said nothing more. Jude raged on a while longer and finally flung himself back in his seat and lapsed into a simmering trance, nursing his torn knuckles. The dog hopped up onto Jude’s lap, sniffed at his hand and gave it a lick.
A gloomy dawn was beginning to break over the London skyline as Ben pulled up in the familiar quiet street in Richmond. ‘What is this place?’ Jude asked. ‘Hey. Where are you taking Scruffy?’
‘He’ll be fine. You stay here.’ Ben scooped the dog off Jude’s lap and got out of the car. He felt stupid and embarrassed as he walked up to the familiar red-brick Victorian house clutching the dog under his arm. Quarter to seven in the morning. He hoped Amal was an early riser. Ben barely knew the guy, and here he was about to lumber him with an unwanted temporary pet. ‘I should have left you on the moors,’ he muttered.
Scruffy looked at him and wagged his tail.
‘Just kidding,’ Ben said.
He was about to ring the bell when the door abruptly jerked open. He blinked as he found himself suddenly face to face with Brooke.
She stood rooted in the doorway, her tartan dressing gown wrapped tightly around her. Her unsmiling gaze pierced right through him. ‘I saw you out of the window. What are you doing here, Ben?’
‘I thought you weren’t here,’ he replied lamely.
Brooke crossed her arms. She gave a little snort. ‘Is that why you came?’ she asked. ‘Because you thought I wasn’t here?’
‘No,’ he said, flustered. ‘I came about this dog.’
Brooke stared at Scruffy. Her expression didn’t change. ‘What are you doing with that dog?’
‘He’s not mine.’
‘I know that, Ben. So you’re picking up strays now?’
‘I think I’ve kind of inherited him.’ Ben paused. ‘You look good, Brooke.’ In fact she looked spectacular. Her auburn hair was longer than it had been, and she was wearing it loose over her shoulders.
‘Thanks,’ she sniffed. ‘You look like someone who’s spent the night in a car.’ She glanced down at the dried spatters of Cornish mud that flecked the bottoms of his jeans. ‘Have you been wading in a mire or something?’
‘Or something,’ Ben said. This didn’t seem to be going too well.
‘What’s with the banger?’ she said, peering over his shoulder at the Vauxhall. ‘And who’s the guy with you?’
‘It’s a long story,’ he said.
‘It always is with you, isn’t it?’
‘So what about the dog?’ he asked.
‘What about him?’
‘I was going to ask Amal if he’d take him.’
‘Amal’s allergic to animals.’
‘Then would you? He’s Scruffy.’
‘Not as scruffy as you are,’ she said. ‘What is this, another present? I didn’t want the last one.’
‘I need the favour. It’s only for a little while.’
‘This isn’t the Brooke Marcel boarding kennel,’ she said.
‘Fine.’
‘Why don’t you ask your friend Darcey Kane?’
That hurt like a punch in the guts. Ben said nothing for a few moments, then turned to walk away.
‘All right. I’ll take the ruddy dog,’ Brooke said. ‘He’s not going to pee all over my flat, I hope?’
‘He’s a vicarage dog,’ Ben said, setting Scruffy down on the ground.
‘Oh, well, in that case. What does His Worship eat?’
‘I don’t know. Dog food, I suppose.’
‘That’s helpful. I have some stewing beef in the fridge.’ She paused, eyed the dog for a moment and then glanced back up at Ben with a softer expression. ‘I’m sorry for what I said before. It wasn’t fair of me to mention her.’
Ben didn’t reply.
‘It’s cold out here. Do you and your friend want to come inside for a cup of coffee or something? You can wash up in my bathroom.’
Ben paused a second, then shook his head. ‘I’d better make a move.’
‘Just like that?’
‘Just like that,’ he said with a shrug. ‘I’m sorry I can’t explain. I really appreciate this, Brooke.’
Brooke reached down to pat Scruffy on the head, and he trotted inside the flat as if he’d lived there all his life. ‘You’re not in trouble, are you?’ she asked Ben. The flash of concern he thought he saw in her eyes made him feel strangely comforted.
‘Don’t worry about me,’ he said.
‘I’ll always worry about you, and you know it,’ she said. She stepped back into the hallway to where her handbag hung from a Victorian coathanger, took out her purse and produced a business card. ‘My new number’s on here. In case you need it,’ she added hesitantly.
Their fingers brushed as he took the card from her hand. They parted with a few more lame words. Ben felt her gaze on him as he walked towards the car. Don’t look back, he thought.
But he did. Brooke was still standing in the doorway. She gave him an uncertain wave as he opened the car door, and a drum began to beat triumphantly in his heart. He managed to conquer the urge to run back through the gate and take her in his arms. It somehow didn’t seem appropriate.
‘Who was that?’ Jude said as Ben got back in the car. ‘She looks nice.’
‘Never mind,’ Ben said, starting the engine. He glanced back towards the house and saw that Brooke had shut the door.
‘Your girlfriend?’
‘Leave it, Jude.’
‘What’s wrong? You two have a fight?’
Ben said nothing and sped away.
Chapter Thirty-Two
After managing to make a last-minute phone booking en route, Ben screeched the Vauxhall into the car ferry terminal at Dover with just minutes to spare before the 10 a.m. crossing. They were the last car to board.
A few days closer to Christmas than Ben’s outward journey from France, the ship was more crowded. As the cliffs of Dover sank into the leaden sea, he wandered out on deck and leaned against the stern railing. Jude came out to join him. ‘I still don’t understand why you didn’t want to take a flight,’ Jude said, gazing down at the ship’s wake.
‘I thought you liked the sea,’ Ben said.
‘I do. A lot. But you seemed in such a hurry. The ferry seems like an unnecessary hassle.’
‘Some things are worth the hassle,’ Ben said.
Jude frowned at him. ‘You’re a complete mystery to me, you know that? I always get the feeling you’re holding stuff back. Don’t you trust me?’
Ben