The Evidence by Slater K. L

Author:Slater, K. L. [Slater, K. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime, Adult, Contemporary
ISBN: 9781800197244
Amazon: 1800197241
Goodreads: 58115095
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2021-02-11T08:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Seven

ESME

The door to the meeting room flew open.

Toby stood there, gripping onto the door jamb. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Esme, but there’s a woman here!’ he blustered, his face red. ‘She’s insisting you’ve got to see her or she’s going to force her way in. I tried to explain you’re busy but…’ He paused and pushed his hand through his short, dark blonde hair. ‘She told me to save my breath and that she’s not leaving until she speaks to you.’

I took a second to process what he was saying. My head still felt fuzzy and my whole body was aching. All I really wanted was to be left alone. Was that really too much to ask?

‘What? Who is it?’

I heard raised voices outside in the main office. It appeared Mo was now getting involved with the determined visitor.

‘She won’t tell me her name. She’s maybe in her early sixties, done up like a dog’s dinner and holding her handbag like the Queen.’ Toby wrinkled his nose.

My heart sank at his description. I had a feeling I knew exactly who this was. ‘Ask her to wait in the foyer for five minutes, Toby. I need to work up to this one.’

He nodded and disappeared and I clamped my hand to my forehead.

That was all I needed on top of everything else. I took a sip of water and sat up straighter in my chair, trying to look on the bright side. Maybe she’d changed since I was last in her company. Maybe she’d somehow grown to be a nicer person, altogether more pleasant and polite… although it certainly didn’t sound it from the way she’d treated Toby so far.

I heard voices approaching and the sharp clipping of stiletto heels on the laminate floor, then there she appeared in the doorway, in all her glory.

Toby bobbed around ineffectually at the shoulder of her immaculate cream bouclé jacket, its pale gold buttons glinting in the light. Owen’s mother, Brooke Painter.

Toby craned past her shoulder to meet my eyes. ‘Sorry, Esme, she just—’

‘She? It’s Mrs Painter to you,’ Brooke snapped, in the same caustic manner I’d been at the mercy of myself a few times in the past.

‘It’s fine, Toby. Thank you.’ I gave him a nod and he was away in a flurry of obvious relief. I stood up and walked around the desk. ‘Hello, Brooke. It’s nice of you to come. I just wish it was in better circumstances.’

Emotions rose up inside me and for a sudden crazy moment, given the opportunity of someone who might just understand, I almost felt like flinging my arms around her. She seemed to sense this and shifted her weight uneasily from one stiletto to the other, as if she might have to leg it if I dared to show her any affection.

‘Everything OK in here, Esme?’ Mo’s head appeared around the door, first glaring at Brooke and then raising his eyebrows at me.

‘Heavens, what’s all this ridiculous fuss about?’ Brooke fumed at Mo.

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