Twenties Girl

“No, that’s not it!” My face is boiling, but I force myself to persevere. “I don’t really think she was murdered. I went there because… because I felt bad that no one had ever shown any interest in her. When she was alive, I mean. And there was another name in the visitors’ book, and they said the guy looked exactly like you, and I was just… wondering. You know. Just wondering.”

My heart is pounding in my ears as I finish.

Slowly, Uncle Bill replaces the telephone receiver and there’s silence. For a few moments he looks as though he’s weighing up exactly what to say.

“Well, it looks as though both of us had the same instincts,” he says at last, leaning back in his chair. “You’re right. I did go to see Sadie.”

My jaw drops in astonishment.

Result! Total, instant result! I think I should become a private detective.

“But why did you use the name Charles Reece?”

“Lara.” Uncle Bill gives a patient sigh. “I have a lot of fans out there. I’m a celebrity. There are a lot of things I do that I don’t trumpet. Charity work, hospital visits…” He spreads his hands. “Charles Reece is the name I take when I want to stay anonymous. Can you imagine the fuss if it were known that Bill Lington had personally come to visit an old lady?” He meets my eyes with a friendly twinkle, and for a moment I can’t help smiling back.

It kind of makes sense. Uncle Bill is such a rock star. Taking a pseudonym is the sort of thing he’d do.

“But why didn’t you tell any of the family? At the service, you said you’d never visited Aunt Sadie.”

“I know.” Uncle Bill nods. “And I had my reasons for that. I didn’t want to make the rest of the family feel in any way guilty or defensive about not having visited themselves. Especially your father. He can be… prickly.”

Prickly? Dad’s not prickly.

“Dad’s fine,” I say tightly.

“Oh, he’s great,” Bill says immediately. “An absolutely fantastic guy. But it can’t be easy being Bill Lington’s big brother. I feel for him.”

Indignation surges through me. He’s right. It’s not easy being Bill Lington’s big brother, because Bill Lington is such an arrogant tosser.

I should never have smiled at him. In fact, I wish there were a way to take smiles back.

“You don’t need to feel sorry for Dad,” I say as politely as I can. “He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He’s done really well in life.”

“You know, I’ve started using your dad as an example in my seminars.” Uncle Bill adopts a musing tone. “Two boys. Same upbringing. Same education. The only difference between them was, one of them wanted it. One of them had the dream.”

He sounds like he’s rehearsing a speech for some promotional DVD. God, he’s up himself. Who says everyone wants to be Bill Lington, anyway? Some people’s dream would be not to have their face plastered across coffee cups all over the world.

“So, Lara.” He focuses back on me. “It was a pleasure to see you; Sarah will show you out.”

That’s it? My audience is over? I haven’t even got to the bit about the necklace yet.

“There’s something else,” I say hastily.

“Lara-”

“I’ll be really quick, I promise! I just wondered, when you visited Aunt Sadie…”

“Yes?” I can see him trying to keep his patience. He glances at his watch and touches a key on his keyboard.

Oh God. How am I going to put this?

“Do you know anything about…” I’m stumbling over my words. “I mean, did you see… or possibly take, by accident… a necklace? A long necklace with glass beads and a dragonfly pendant?”

I’m expecting another patronizing sigh, a blank look, and a dismissive comment. I’m not expecting him to freeze. I’m not expecting his eyes to become suddenly sharp and wary.

As I stare back, I feel almost breathless with shock. He knows what I’m talking about. He knows.

The very next moment, the wariness has disappeared out of his eyes and he’s back to empty politeness. I could almost think I imagined that other expression.

“A necklace?” He takes a sip of coffee and types something at his keyboard. “Do you mean something of Sadie’s?”

The back of my neck is prickling all over. What’s going on? I saw the recognition in his eyes, I know I did. Why is he pretending he doesn’t know about it?

“Yes, it’s an old piece I’m trying to track down.” Some instinct tells me to act cool and unconcerned. “The nurses at the home said it had disappeared, so…” I watch Uncle Bill sharply for a reaction, but his bland mask is perfectly in place.

“Interesting. Why do you want it?” he asks lightly.

“Oh, no particular reason. I just saw a photo of Sadie wearing it at her hundred and fifth birthday and I thought it would be nice to find it.”

“Fascinating.” He pauses. “Can I see the photo?”

“I haven’t got it on me, I’m afraid.”

This conversation is so weird. It feels like a game of te

“Well, I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Uncle Bill puts his mug down with an air of finality. “I’m pressed for time, so we’ll have to leave it there.”

He pushes back his chair but I don’t move. He knows something about it. I’m sure he does. But what do I do? What options do I have?

“Lara?” He’s standing by my chair, waiting. Reluctantly I get to my feet. As we approach the door, it opens as though by magic. We’re greeted by Sarah, with Damian hovering behind, his BlackBerry out.

“All done?” he says.

“All done.” Uncle Bill nods firmly. “Give my best to your dad, won’t you, Lara? Good-bye.”

Sarah puts a hand to my elbow and starts gently edging me out of the room. My chance is ebbing away. In desperation, I grip onto the door frame.

“It’s a shame about the necklace, don’t you think?” I look directly at Uncle Bill, trying to provoke a response. “What do you think happened to it?”

“Lara, I’d forget about the necklace,” says Uncle Bill smoothly. “It was probably lost a long time ago. Damian, come in.”

Damian hurries past me, and the two men head to the other side of the room. The door is already closing. I stare after Uncle Bill, almost exploding with frustration.

What’s going on? What is it with this necklace?

I need to speak to Sadie, right now. This minute. I swivel my head back and forth, but there’s no sign of her. Typical. She’s probably found some hunky gardener to lust after.

“Lara,” says Sarah with a tense smile. “Could you please remove your fingers from the door frame? We can’t close the door.”

“All right!” I say, lifting up my hands. “Don’t panic! I’m not going to stage a sit-in protest!”

Sarah’s eyes jump in fear at the word protest, which she immediately covers with a fake little laugh. She should really give up working for Uncle Bill. She’s way too nervous.

“Your car is waiting for you at the front. I’ll take you there now.”

Damn. If she escorts me out, there’s no way I can sidle off or poke around any drawers or anything.

“A coffee for the ride?” asks Sarah as we pass through the lobby.

I quell an urge to say, “Yes, please, a Starbucks.”

“No, thanks.” I smile.

“Well, it’s been so great to see you, Lara!” Her fake gushiness makes me wince. “Come back soon!”

Yeah, right. By which you mean “please never set foot in this place again, ever.”

The limo driver opens the door, and I’m about to step in when Sadie appears right in front of me, blocking the way. Her hair is a little disheveled and she’s breathing hard.

“I’ve found it!” she says dramatically.

“What?” I stop, foot halfway into the car.

“It’s in the house! I saw it in a bedroom upstairs, on a dressing table! It’s here! My necklace is here!”

I stare at her, gripped. I knew it, I knew it!

“You’re absolutely sure it’s yours?”