Gone Before by Sam Hepburn

Author:Sam Hepburn [Hepburn, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
ISBN: 9781838888305
Google: IKDwDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B08CW5398Z
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-10-11T23:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

I look around me at the crowded restaurant – mud-green walls, dark floorboards, everything from the chairs to the painted candlesticks artfully distressed – and for one scarily desolate moment I think Will has stood me up. Then, with a shudder of relief, I see him at the back, attended by a hovering, punk-haired waitress – clearly a fan – who flounces away when I kiss him hard on the mouth.

‘Like the hair,’ he says.

Faces around me tremble, candle flames shimmer, voices slow and distort.

He knows about Vicky. He’s going to ask why I went to see her, why I’ve been poking around in Kay’s past.

I stare into his warm, smiling face and the world around me steadies.

I drop into the chair opposite him. ‘Thanks. What happened to yours, you get nits?’

He runs sheepish fingers over his brown-ish crop. ‘Ah. The golden locks. A leftover from my ground-breaking investigation – Is life better for blonde men too?’

‘And was it?’ I load butter onto a hunk of bread.

‘Clearly not. You abandoned me.’

‘Sorry. Things to do.’ My face flushes hot. I look away. Two women brush past us, deep in conversation as they follow a waiter to their table. I watch their easy intimacy, groomed blondes so alike there could never be a second’s doubt that they are mother and daughter. I turn back to Will. ‘How was Brussels?’

‘Dull. The only excitement was seeing David Duncan at Marseille airport on the way out. He looked terrible. It can’t help that on top of everything else he’s being sued by Lila Mendez.’

The waitress reappears, rocking on her toes. Unlike Will, who seems entranced by her recitation of tonight’s chalkboard specials, I order quickly and without interest from the menu. ‘Sued?’ I bite into my bread, careful not to show more than a passing interest. ‘What for?’

‘Back revenue. She was a minor when he signed her up and that lowlife she married last year – what’s his name… Ricky West – is claiming Duncan took advantage of her.’

‘How?’

‘Locked her into a deal that West’s lawyers claim was less than “fair and reasonable”.’

‘How much are they asking for?’

‘Millions, I should think. Plus a reversion of copyright.’

‘Did Duncan really screw her over?’

He shrugs. ‘Maybe. And maybe he thought he was doing her a favour taking a punt on her in the first place. That’s his thing – the master manipulator, shaping unknowns into the people he wants them to be, creating the whole package. When he stops pulling the strings they usually fall flat on their faces. Though that’s probably not the way the judge will see it, and from all accounts West’s out for everything he can get.’

How have I missed this? I’ve set Google alerts for David – not to mention Kay and Maya – and I haven’t seen a word about any lawsuit. ‘Has this been on the news?’ I say, eyes on the crumbs I’m pushing around my plate.

‘He got an injunction.’

‘So how come you know so much about it?’

‘I have my sources.

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