Fen by Freya North

Author:Freya North [Freya North]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FIVE

‘She’s switched her phone off,’ Matt said, having tried Fen for the fourth time that day. He scratched his head. Otter shrugged. He hadn’t told Matt what he’d told Fen. He didn’t want it to become an issue between Matt and her. Otter had told Fen because he sincerely thought he would be setting straight what Judith had undoubtedly twisted. He simply wanted to furnish Fen with the facts so that salacious inaccuracies would not hinder her impending union with Matt. Otter cared about both of them. He didn’t care for Judith at all. Of course, Matt didn’t know that Otter knew about the recent coupling with the assistant director; certainly not that the assistant director had told Otter herself. So, Matt was merely concerned for Fen’s welfare on a day when she wasn’t at work and her phone was off. He’d been hoping to take her out that night, to make up for yesterday. ‘Flu, perhaps?’ Matt suggested out loud. ‘I wonder if Bobbie has her home number?’

While Matt went downstairs to Reception, Judith paid a visit to Publications.

‘Where is he?’ she asked Otter, who twisted his legs around each other and placed his bony rump firmly on top of his skinny hands in a bid to prevent himself from going over to Judith and hitting her.

‘Loo?’ Otter suggested.

‘I tell you something,’ Judith said, regarding Otter levelly with very dark eyes, ‘he’s bloody odd. Warped, you could say. Twisted. Sexually – I don’t know – unstable.’

Otter couldn’t help looking sheepish and shy – because he had absolutely no idea what on earth he could say in response or in Matt’s defence.

Matt returned. Otter held his breath, wondering if this was perfect timing or the worst timing imaginable.

‘Hi,’ Judith breathed, ‘I was just telling Otter about last night.’

Matt observed her but remained silent. Then he grinned and laughed out loud, curtly. Judith raised an eyebrow and sashayed from the room.

‘And what exactly did she tell you about last night?’ Matt demanded of Otter.

‘That you’re sexually warped, twisted and unstable,’ Otter replied with extreme nonchalance, as if simply recounting Matt’s age, height and weight. Matt laughed and shook his head. It disconcerted Otter greatly. What was he meant to tell Fen now? Because surely, she’d ask. She’d expect to know, at any rate, and Otter had of course given himself the role of her confidante. There was a sharp pain in his stomach and a pervasive acidy taste in his mouth. He thought he very probably had developed an ulcer, on account of so much stress and responsibility.

‘I hear you’re in Derbyshire – you skiver!’ Matt leaves a message on Fen’s phone. ‘Just thought I’d ring, though. I was hoping to wine and dine you tonight. Give me a call if British Rail has deposited you home at a reasonable hour. Um. Or I’ll see you at work tomorrow. Yes. Bye.’

Matt rings her phone again, almost immediately. Otter pretends not to hear though he is listening hard, peeling his ears to catch Matt’s lowered voice.

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