But by Degrees by Kit Eyre

Author:Kit Eyre [Eyre, Kit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

February 2010

‘Is he serious?’

Caroline’s voice ripped through me and I looked past her to Jude and Harriet arriving on the landing. I’d asked just for Harriet, though Jude’s stony expression suggested the entourage hadn’t been her idea. The three of them stopped on the other side of the desk, eyes fixed on me.

‘Well?’ Caroline pressed. ‘Does he mean to let people out?’

I managed a nod.

Harriet exhaled and clapped her hands together. ‘That’s brilliant, well done.’

‘Wasn’t much I did.’

‘Either way, it’s a result. We’ll have to do it fairly, mind you. Names in a hat or –’

‘Can’t do that,’ I cut in with a glance at Jude. She was gnawing on her lower lip, one arm resting over her stomach. ‘He wants me to pick people to send out.’

Caroline scoffed. ‘Oh, for Christ’s sake! You’re making this up.’

‘Like hell she is,’ said Jude.

‘This whole thing’s a practical joke,’ Caroline spat. ‘It’s got to be. If you make a threat like this, you speak to the organ grinder, not the monkey. He’d be talking to Harriet, making concrete demands. It’s ridiculous anyway. Who’d want to blow up an accounting centre, hmm? Tell me that.’

Jude’s fist bounced off the desk. ‘If that’s what you think, why are you still here?’

‘Because she’s taking it seriously,’ Caroline retorted, jabbing her thumb towards Harriet. ‘I thought there must be something in it, something you’ve been keeping to yourselves.’

‘Bollocks. You’re contradicting yourself, just like you always do.’

Harriet held up a hand. ‘Shut up, the pair of you. If that’s what Danni’s been told to do, I’m not questioning it. Neither is anyone else.’

‘How would he even know?’ Caroline queried.

‘We’re not taking the chance,’ she answered.

Brittle silence settled over the four of us. Even with the desk between me and Jude, I could feel the protectiveness practically radiating from her. The tears from the loos had given way to her usual stoicism, all dedicated to shielding me from Caroline and whatever else tonight decided to chuck at us. I met her eye then mustered the strength to glance back to Harriet.

‘Can we talk?’ I asked.

She nodded and rounded the desk. ‘Meeting room, come on. Caroline – you stay with the phone. Jude – go downstairs and keep a lid on everything. Don’t let on just yet.’

I spared one last look at Jude’s loving face before following Harriet through into the meeting room. Michael’s door, when we passed, was firmly shut and the office was dark. Maybe he was downstairs with the others.

Harriet let the door swing shut of its own accord and rubbed her forehead. The usual bags round her eyes had lengthened over the last couple of hours. Now they looked like war paint dribbling into the lines around her nose. She collapsed into the chair at the head of the table and motioned for me to sit down. With just the two of us swamped by the table, I was reminded suddenly of my last one-to-one and Harriet telling me to assert myself more. It wasn’t long after that I’d allowed Jude to coax me into bed.

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