The Famous by Rachel Lynch

Author:Rachel Lynch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
Published: 2025-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Oliver was jumpy.

Gloria thought she’d never get used to sitting in Roger’s office with Oliver behind his desk, with his boots resting on top, acting as if he was born to rule the empire.

She had to get away before she was pushed.

‘I’ve been contacted by the Met again. They’ve been instructed by the CPS to investigate the charges against my father posthumously.’

‘Oh fuck.’

Gloria sank into one of the comfiest chairs by the window.

‘You look tired out,’ Oliver told her.

‘Thanks so much,’ Gloria replied in the most sarcastic tone she could muster.

‘When I spoke to the police commissioner, he assured me that it’s just a formality. They are compelled to investigate every claim and he was certain it would all be forgotten this time next week. They receive harassment accusations every week and they’ve got to work through them one by one, even when it’s against somebody like Dad.’

‘I would have thought especially for somebody like your father.’

‘Now, hold on a minute – let’s not trample on his grave just because he’s gone,’ Oliver said.

It was typical of the family, she thought, to have a personal hotline to the commissioner of the Met Police, at a time when such perks were themselves being investigated. The commissioner himself could be put on the ropes if this went public, but it wouldn’t. It was still an old boys’ club, and when his female predecessor had been sacked – and given a golden handshake of three million quid – men like Oliver had partied in the streets, or at least, their private wine cellars. It was the same system that had made sure Roger hadn’t ever been investigated. Until now.

‘Come on, Oliver, open your eyes. You know what I’m talking about.’

‘Not here,’ Oliver said.

She took a dramatic intake of breath, obviously exaggerated, and her teasing him felt good. Oliver brought a certain tension to the office and she realised that it had become maudlin since Roger’s death.

‘You think the office is bugged?’ she asked him, still smiling.

‘Fuck off, Gloria, I’m just careful, that’s all. You know they are likely to turn up here asking questions.’

‘The police?’

‘Yes, the police.’

‘They’ve only just left.’

‘You know what I mean.’

Gloria thought for a while. She turned towards the huge window and surveyed the city beneath them and wondered how Roger must have felt being at the helm of all this power. No wonder he thought he could get away with anything. He was a boy with endless toys and no limits to the playground. It had always been so. It was no coincidence that the stories had broken now he was dead. And the fact that he’d left his mess for them to tidy up after him was galling.

‘And you want Jilly to be a part of all this?’ she said, more to evoke a response rather than expecting an answer. She was being incendiary, but she felt reckless.

‘Leave her out of this.’

‘How can I when Elaine tells me you want to prime her to take over this

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.