Jake joined Lawrence at the computer. Jake suddenly had a brainwave. If Martha was Aubrey’s sister, then Aubrey must know about her son, surely.
‘There – see for yourself.’ Lawrence stepped aside, allowing Jake full access to the computer. He glanced furtively around the reception hall. ‘Can you make this quick? I shouldn’t be showingyou records of previous residents, even if they were here a very short time and are not deceased.’
‘May I?’ Jake pointed at the stool.
‘Go right ahead!’ Lawrence threw up his hands. ‘You know I could get in trouble for this.’
‘I know.’ Jake sat. ‘But thanks.’ He turned his attention to the screen. All the details Lawrence had told him about Arnold tallied with the computer record. Jake stared at the screen.
‘You know what I think?’ Lawrence pulled up another stool beside Jake. ‘I think you saw a re-enactment.’
Jake turned to look at Lawrence.
‘My wife and I watched this programme on telly that reckons buildings take images, like photographs, that it then replays from time to time. So, when you think you are seeing a ghost, what you are witnessing is a re-enactment of an event from the past that has already happened. Know what I mean? Like a photo.’
Jake could see where he was coming from – but it was complete rubbish. You don’t hold a conversation with a re-enactment. ‘I know what I saw,’ said Jake, turning away from the computer to face Lawrence. ‘What I saw was somebody pretending to be Arnold Wright.’
Lawrence shrugged. ‘If you say so.’
Chapter 46
Jake walked out into the bright sunshine.
Marcus had been waiting just outside the door. He fell in step, walking alongside Jake back to the car. ‘I got through on my phone eventually, and everyone I’ve spoken to so far swears blind they have no idea we are developing something on land outside Aviemore,’ said Marcus, under the false impression that Jake was at all interested in what he had to say. ‘I need to get to London as soon as possible. I swear to god someone’s head’s going to roll when I find out who gave the go-ahead to buy that land.’
Jake scuffed his shoe on the kerb and glanced back at the house.
‘Are you listening to me?’
Jake didn’t answer.
‘You were a long time. I thought they’d gone ahead and admitted you.’ He laughed. ‘I had the impulse to leave you here, do us both a bit of good.’
Jake glanced at Marcus, not really hearing what he was blabbering on about. He fished in his pocket and brought out the envelopes.
‘No luck, then?’
Jake glanced at Marcus and shook his head. He fished again and found the post-it on which Lawrence had written down Arnold’s last known address. He put the photographs back in his coat pocket.
Reaching the car, Jake looked back at the house.
‘You’re very quiet.’
Jake was.
‘Do you want me to drive?’
Jake turned slowly from the house to face Marcus. ‘Please,’ was all he could summon.
Marcus switched on the engine, put the car into gear and took the handbrake off. He turned to Jake. ‘I’m not insured to drive this.’
‘Just drive,’ Jake said impatiently without looking up.
They reached the end of the driveway. ‘Where to?’
Jake looked up from the post-it in his hand. He tried to keep his voice level. ‘Head back to town.’
‘Back to Aviemore? I want to go to the airport.’
