A Question of Trust by Jane Retzig

Author:Jane Retzig [Retzig, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jane Retzig
Published: 2016-10-02T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Maria and Jaiden travelled back together on the Underground.

‘So,’ said Maria, at last, as they grabbed a couple of seats at the end of the compartment. ‘I’m guessing that was your girlfriend?’

‘Probably ex now,’ said Jaiden gloomily. ‘Look… I’m sorry about what she called you.’

Passengers continued to pile in, shuffling along the aisle.

‘Stand clear of the doors please’ boomed the tannoy.

Everyone jolted around like skittles as the train lurched into motion.

‘Don’t worry. It’s understandable. She was angry. How long have you been together?’ Maria was trying to keep her knees clear of the grey suited legs of the young man in front of her. He looked like a bank clerk. He was carrying his jacket under his left arm and he’d loosened his tie. Rings of sweat darkened the armpits of his shirt. He flexed his brogued feet like a surfer, riding the bumps, as all around him office workers bumped in and out of body contact with each other.

‘Since Monday.’

‘This Monday?’

‘Yeah… that’s almost a record for me, eh?’

‘Will you be able to explain to her?’

‘I doubt it. She’s pretty fiery when she’s got her dander up.’

She’d tried, of course, back at the apartment ‘Sash… you’ve got this wrong… it isn’t how it looks… I can explain everything.’ Except, she couldn’t actually explain anything without breaking Anna’s unofficial gagging order and Maria’s confidence, so she’d simply sounded evasive, and bleating and pathetic in the face of Saskia’s stony silence. And finally, she’d given in and slunk out of the flat with Maria in tow, leaving Saskia to find and misconstrue the mess that Dani had left behind… the unwashed dishes… the unmade bed… and the damp towels thrown on the floor in the bathroom.

‘I’ll try and get my boss to talk to her when this is all over, but I’m not holding my breath.’

Anna was her only hope now. If she could be persuaded to tell Saskia why she’d employed Jaiden secretly, maybe, just maybe, Saskia might forgive her and learn to trust her again. It was a long shot, and she didn’t reckon much to her chances. She cursed herself for ever having got involved in this ridiculous wild goose chase in the first place.

‘How come you took the job without telling her?’

‘It’s a long story. But in a nutshell, I needed the money.’

‘Why? Is work not going well?’

‘It’s not great.’ It occurred to Jaiden that she’d been refusing to face the obvious for a long time. She simply wasn’t tough enough for self-employment. The business was struggling to keep its head above water, and so was she. ‘Somebody gave me a rubber cheque.’

‘How much?’

‘A couple o’ grand.’

Maria whistled sympathetically. ‘That’s why I always deal in cash,’ she said.

Jaiden raised an eyebrow at this.

Maria seemed unaware that she’d said anything funny.

‘This is my fault, isn’t it?’ she continued. ‘If it wasn’t for me you’d still be climbing the ladder in the police force. It’s always been the same. I never cause you anything but trouble.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘Yes, it is!’ insisted Maria.

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