“No, she’d left them in her hotel, but I imagine there might have been something with her address on.”
“Does she have adequate security?” Harry asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to stay with her for a few days. Something niggles, Harry.”
“Yes, I don’t get a straight up mugging feeling here myself. I hope that it’s just a coincidence, your mother and your girlfriend, but I’ll have someone grab the files and run fresh eyes over both.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. Mother has resigned herself that she won’t get the painting back and should the insurance company pay up, it will belong to them anyway.”
We chatted about his wife, another old college friend, and promised to meet up for a beer, something we hadn’t done in a few months.
“Before I go, can I ask a favour?” Harry asked.
“Of course,” I replied, feeling obliged.
“Lord Stanton, what do you know about him?”
“Dodgy as fuck. Got a little consortium together to bail out some of the Lloyds ‘names.’ I’d suggest you check out a Russian that goes by the very Russian name of Jeremy Daughton.”
“Laundering?” Harry enquired.
“I’ve no doubt. Stanton doesn’t have anywhere near the wealth needed to do what he does.”
“I appreciate the information. I’ll be in touch,” Harry said, and we finished our call.
I highly doubted my mother’s theft was connected to the bag snatch, but I wasn’t taking any chances, particularly after the police had asked the questions they had of Gabriella.
Eventually I got down to some work. I wanted to clear my desk, something that I rarely did but since Carolyn, my new PA, had taken over a lot of the crap I dealt with on a day-to-day basis, I was able to get on with the job of running the business and not worrying about bloody expense sheets.
However, I couldn’t concentrate. I had sent a text message to Gabriella and she hadn’t replied. It was simply to ask if she’d arrived home okay. I didn’t want to crowd her but if she waspissedI, equally, didn’t like the ignoring game. I was more annoyed when Mackenzie told me she was home and safe. She had the time to tell him but not me.
I don’t like games, Gabriella. I’m leaving the office now. I’ll collect some items from my apartment and then drive over.
I didn’t sign it off, as petty as that was.
“Carolyn, you can get me on my mobile if I’m needed,” I said, as I left the office in a huff.
I grumbled to myself in the car as I was dropped home. I was still moaning after I’d packed a couple of suits, some underwear and casual clothes, running shoes and work out gear, toiletries, and a book. I grabbed my car keys and stomped down the stairs to the car park.
My mood hadn’t changed by the time I arrived at her house. I grabbed my bags from the boot and headed to the front door. Before I could knock, she answered smiling daintily.
“I’ve been texting you,” I said, standing like an idiot on her doorstep.
She placed her hands on her hips. “I haven’t seen a text from you. I thought you were being a shit.”
“Am I invited in, or not?” I asked.
“Only if you leave the attitude with your car,” she said, raising her eyebrows at me.
“Leave the…? Me? You’re the one who’spissedas you Americans say.” She was bloody infuriating. Without waiting for an invitation I stepped forward, dropping my bags in the hallway, and I pushed the door shut. She smirked.
I stood and faced her, and the smirk slipped. “I wasn’tpissedas you put it. I was tired, I had a headache, and I was worried and scared and I didn’t want to worry you or Mackenzie,” she said, slowly.
I took a step towards her until she was backed to the wall. “Were you ignoring me?” I asked, quietly.
“No. I’m an adult, Alex, I don’t appreciate being treated like a child,” she chastised.
I took a deep breath in. “I’m sorry. I was worried about you,” I said but didn’t back off.
