Was there an edge to her tone?Did she somehow blame Emilia for making the best of a terrible situation, of trading on her father’s notoriety to forge a successful career for herself?Already Emilia felt her hackles rising – what right did this bitch have to accuse her of anything?– but she swiftly swallowed down her anger, plastering a smile across her face.
‘A girl’s gotta do and all that.Tell you what, if you take the chain off, I can tell you all about it.I’ve got wine …’
She brandished the cheap Malbec as if it was the grandest of grand crus and was pleased to see her adversary eye it with interest.
‘And why would you do that?’came the terse reply.‘What have you got to say to me, or I to you?We’ve survived all these years without each other, so why change things now?’
There was a bitter, gloating edge to her humour, which unnerved Emilia.Was Louisa really going to send her on her way?Was she going to fall at the first hurdle?
‘OK, Louisa, let’s not bullshit each other,’ she responded, changing tack.‘I’m not here for my benefit, I’m here for Dad.’
‘Don’t give me that, you hate the old bastard.’
‘I’ve seen him twice this week, in prison.We’ve … we’ve had a bit of a reconciliation.’
‘Is that right?’
‘He asked me to visit, so I did.And it was good, honestly.Don’t look back in anger and all that …’
Emilia felt she was making progress, Louisa seeming to relax a little, but still her dad’s old flame made no move to remove the chain.
‘And how is the old goat?’
‘Not too good, I’m afraid.In fact, he’s dying.’
This was calculated to have an effect and it clearly landed, Louisa gasping slightly, raising her hand to her mouth.Emilia had no idea how long the pair had been lovers, but the relationship had clearly meant something.
‘Lung cancer.It’s very sad, but he’s determined to make the most of the last six months.Which is why I’m here.’
Gripping the neck of the wine bottle hard, Emilia took the plunge.
‘He wanted me to come and talk to you.He wasn’t sure if you’d want to see him again after all these years, but he was insistent that I came here to apologize on his behalf.’
Emilia paused, as if ambushed by emotion, before continuing, her voice quivering:
‘He wanted me to let you know that he’s sorry for everything.For how he treated you, how things turned out.He’s just sorry really … you deserved more from him.In truth, wealldid.’
Once more, Louisa’s expression seemed to soften.There was a slight nod of her head, even as her features relaxed.
‘This isn’t nothing to do with your newspaper, then?’she asked, a trace of suspicion in her voice.
‘No, no, nothing like that,’ Emilia protested earnestly.‘This is a mercy mission, pure and simple.’
And now finally, Louisa took the bait, sliding the chain from its mooring and opening the door cautiously.
‘You’d better come in then.’
Chapter 36
‘Can’t keep away, eh?’
PC Drayton’s self-satisfied taunt was the last thing Helen needed, but right now she had no choice but to suck it up.He was the gatekeeper to Southampton Central, so she would have to deal with him, whether she liked it or not.
‘Don’t tell me you’ve been involved inanothercrime?’
Helen eye-balled him, trying to swallow down her fury.
‘Or perhaps you’ve changed your mind and decided to come back to us?Mind you, I wouldn’t expect a warm welcome, given the stitch-up job you did on us—’
