The Other Woman by Jane Isaac

Author:Jane Isaac [Isaac, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838933678
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

28

Beth couldn’t resist a smile as they piled out of the conference room. The prospect of a possible breakthrough, with the encryption broken, injected a frisson of excitement into the air and colleagues, noticeably weary from the gruelling schedule of the past few days, now moved with renewed vigour. Their enthusiasm was infectious.

She checked her phone, surprised to find two missed calls from Warren, and shuffled to the side, allowing her colleagues to pass while she dialled back.

‘Everything okay?’ she asked as soon as he answered.

‘Where is everyone?’ Warren’s voice was tight. ‘I haven’t been able to reach Freeman for the past hour.’

‘We were all instructed to put our phones on silent for the meeting. Is something wrong?’ He sounded harried, but surely if there was an emergency, he would have sent a message through the incident room or via control.

‘Nothing urgent. I need some advice. How was the briefing?’

She passed on the details about the phones and memory sticks. The corridor thinned. ‘How are things there?’ she asked. ‘How is Monika?’ The possibility that Monika, Sara, or even both of them together might be connected to the money laundering in some way ate away at her.

‘She’s okay,’ Warren said. His voice lowered slightly. ‘Actually, something’s happened. Monika took a call from Sara Swift about an hour ago.’

‘What?’

‘She called on the landline, shortly after 10 a.m.’

‘How did she get the number?’

‘It wouldn’t be too difficult, everything’s on the Internet these days.’ He sounded exasperated. ‘The address was plastered over the papers too. And if the phone was in Cameron’s name…’ His voice trailed off.

Uneasiness wriggled beneath Beth’s skin. Monika was distraught that morning. By the time Beth left, she’d calmed down, but she still looked shell-shocked. It was one of those occasions when Beth was grateful for Warren’s presence; she didn’t want to leave the woman on her own. She couldn’t imagine what taking a call from Cameron’s other partner would do to her in that fragile state. Unless, of course, she was expecting it. ‘What was Monika doing answering the phone?’ Beth asked cautiously.

‘I was in the toilet. She said she didn’t think, grabbed it automatically.’

‘What did Sara want?’

‘They had a conversation about Cameron and the children. She’s arranged to come and visit Monika this afternoon.’

‘What? Where?’

‘Here, at Monika’s home. According to Monika, Sara thinks they can support each other.’

Beth stretched her neck back. ‘And Monika agreed?’

‘Apparently so.’

‘What time?’

‘She’s due to arrive at around 2 p.m. I’ve told Monika I’ll need to be present. But I need a briefing from Freeman, to know what role he wants me to take. I’ve left him several messages.’

Beth did a quick calculation. It had taken her almost three hours to travel from Northampton to Cheshire. She checked her watch. Almost a quarter to eleven. Which meant Sara Swift would have been planning to leave soon, if she hadn’t left already. ‘Of course, I’ll speak with him and get him to call you.’

‘Thanks.’

‘You’re welcome. Don’t forget to ask them about the boxing promotions company.

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