The Prodigal Son by Les Haswell

Author:Les Haswell [Haswell, Les]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Terminal Velocity Books - A Next Chapter Imprint
Published: 2019-09-10T16:00:00+00:00

24

Robbie walked to the carpark in a daze and Joe had to give a quick blast of the car horn to get his attention. Slowly, he ambled to the big black Defender and climbed into the driver’s seat, and stared through the windscreen.

“You okay, mate?” Joe placed a hand on Rob’s shoulder.

“My father’s dead, Joe. Fraser said he died of a heart attack over three years ago. He said Bruce told everybody he’d tried to get me to come to the funeral, but I said no, that my father had died long ago as far as I was concerned. He said he begged me to come but I refused … and wouldn’t answer to him again.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“What must people here think of me, that I wouldn’t even come to my father’s funeral? My mother came and my brother even flew over from New Zealand. He said Bruce was raging afterwards because my father’s solicitor said at the reading of the will that I should be there, as a beneficiary. Apparently, he had a fight to have the will read, but when he did, it was announced that the whole estate was to be divided equally between his three sons. Bruce went ballistic, tried to get me excluded, but old man Hogg, his solicitor, refused to change it …said he couldn’t change my father’s wishes.”

“So, you own a third of Achravie estate?”

“Funny isn’t it? I’m not sure what will happen to it now, what with Bruce gone.”

“I’m not sure ‘funny’ is a word I’d use,” Joe muttered.

“You should try to get a few hours of sleep; you look shattered,” said Joe.

“I want to talk to Justine and Lorna before I do anything, so let’s head down to the Red Lion,” Rob said quietly, turning the key in the ignition.

“They’re not there Rob.” Joe cautioned.

“Where are they?”

“Justine took my car and left, and Lorna went home.”

“Justine left to go where?”

“London. She’s heading to Machrie, and Andy Savage is having her picked up there.”

“London?” Rob asked in disbelief.

“I think she just wanted … away.”

“From me?”

“Partly. But there’s a bit more to it, I think. Lorna might be able to tell you more, because they talked for ages. Give her a call in the morning. It’s late … or should I say early?”

“I hadn’t realised.” Rob sounded lost.

“I’ve got keys for two of the cabins at the Red Lion. Let’s go and get our heads down for a bit while we can.”

“Okay,” was all Rob said and he put the Defender into gear.

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