Authors: Vanessa Fox
‘
I think I left mine in the den. Not that it works here anyway.’ As he spoke, a phone began to ring, an eerily normal sound, totally out of place in all the mess.
Sebastian looked around, confused. He’d forgotten to ask the engineer where he’d put the new phone. Then he saw it, on the other side of the stairs, stark white, sitting in the midst of the grime on an ancient oak settle, its high back carved like the staircase. He half-smiled; the engineer had said he liked a challenge.
The sound continued as Sebastian strode over and picked up the receiver, instinctively holding it away from his ear as the voice on the other end boomed out, filling the hall.
‘
Hello, Hello? Sebastian is that you?’
‘
Good God Cormac I’m not deaf, where are you?’
‘
In the vineyard on the mobile. Line’s terrible, I can hardly hear you.’
On the other side of the hall Jocelyn couldn’t resist a grin. Whatever the sound quality was like at the other end in France, they could all hear Cormac Audiguet-O’Reilly here.
Sebastian rolled his eyes to Jocelyn, ‘I can hear you, the whole house can hear you old chap.’
‘
What’s going on? That silly bitch just rang Dad. She’s been arrested and I can’t believe it, she says the wedding’s off.’
‘
We’ve had a few problems… there’s been a fire here, my grandfather’s, well I hope he’s going to be okay…’
‘
A fire? Jesus. She never said anything about that. What the hell happened? Are you okay?’
‘
I’m…I’m fine. We don’t know what started it…there was a tin of paint…it might have been a cigarette. We don’t know.’
‘
Is the old man bad?’
Sebastian paused for a heartbeat, the words catching in his throat, ‘Yes. Bad.’
‘
Christ, Caroline never gets anything straight. Did you have a row? What a time for her to go and get pissed. Dad said she’s being charged with drunken driving. Sounds like she’s going to need OJ Simpson’s lawyer to get out of it.’
‘
It’s not looking good…’
‘
Christ, she was always was as mad as a fecking hatter. Totally irresponsible. I’m sorry man I feel awful…’
‘
Don’t Cormac…’ Sebastian paused. He was about to say it’s just one of those things – but it wasn’t, it was a bloody mess. But despite everything, Cormac was his friend, his best friend. A sob caught in Sebastian’s throat.
‘
Can I talk to you later? There’s a lot happening here. I’ll ring you tonight.’
‘
Okay boyo, and Christ I’m sorry.’
Sebastian’s hand was shaking as he replaced the receiver.
FORTY SIX
The Court House in Ballycastle was an impressive Victorian building, its broad granite steps sweeping down to the footpath like it was taking a bow. As Sebastian pulled his battered Jaguar into a parking space on the opposite side of the broad main street and looked back at the building in his rear-view mirror, he could see the media, photographers and camera crews already beginning to gather outside, jostling for position like wasps on a jam sandwich.
Why the hell was he here? He knew Joe Griffin and Sergeant O’Hanlon would keep him posted on the verdict, knew he’d find out soon enough what Caroline’s sentence was for the drink driving fiasco, but somehow he wanted to see her, to get a look at her with fresh eyes, to see if she really was capable of burning down Kilfenora.
For a brief moment Sebastian felt guilty that he hadn’t offered to go to court with her, hadn’t even called to see how she was after probably spending a night at Kilfenora Garda station. But the guilty feeling didn’t last. Sebastian mentally kicked himself back into the real world. Why should he be worried? She hadn’t called him after she’d wrecked his car, and Alex’s car, and smashed Alex’s laptop. Or even phoned to see if he was still alive after the fire. It would be interesting to see if she called him at all today.
The guards would be questioning her later, after the hearing, about the fire, would no doubt be talking to Jackson Blake as well. She’d probably be in touch then – it would be just like Caroline to call when she needed help. As Sebastian watched, the photographers on the courthouse steps stirred, started to get into position, and something dark swirled at the back of his mind – what the hell had Jackson been doing in Kilfenora last night? Jocelyn’s explanation about needing to get out of the city had sounded weak at best…
Inside the courthouse, Caroline, dressed in a smart black wool Chanel skirt suit, was sobbing on Peter’s shoulder. Standing to one side of the broad black and white tiled hallway, heavy wooden doors opening into mysterious anterooms on either side, Peter put his arm around her protectively and rubbed her shoulder. The hearing had only lasted a few minutes and, for once, Caroline had done what she was told, had pleaded guilty on the instructions of her elderly counsel, had stood penitently in the dock with her gleaming head bowed as the court clerk had read out the charge.
‘
But how can they take away my licence? For a whole year?’ Caroline sniffed and broke into a whole new volley of sobs, ‘How can they?’
‘
It could have been a lot worse. You could have got a custodial sentence.’
Caroline pulled away from Peter abruptly, her mascara streaked, her eyes wide with fear, ‘Prison? Me?’ She shook her head vigorously, ‘How could they? I can’t even remember getting into the car last night.’
‘
That,’ Peter paused, looking towards the front doors of the court building, taking in the huge moon-faced clock above them, trying to judge if this was a good time to make a break for it, ‘is the problem. You’re going to have to be very careful when you’re questioned this afternoon.’
‘
Questioned about what?’
‘
The fire.’ Peter looked at her in disbelief. She must have been in a bad way yesterday to be so slow this morning, or perhaps her terror of the courtroom had prevented her from hearing him explain that she was required to give a statement about the damage to the cars in Kilfenora, to explain her actions the night before. Losing her licence could be the least of her problems.
‘
But I don’t know anything about a fire. I really don’t. I can’t remember anything.’
‘
Can you remember giving back your engagement ring?’ Peter tipped Caroline under the chin and looked into her brown eyes.
‘
Did I do that?’
‘
You did,’ Peter smiled, his lips fluttering over hers. ‘You certainly did.’ He kissed her again, this time teasing, full of promise, ‘You told the guard that Sebastian was a lying cheat and you said you didn’t want it back apparently.’
Caroline dabbed her nose with a tissue, her brow furrowed as she tried hard to remember. ‘It was that bloody Alex Ryan wasn’t it? I knew there was something going on.’ She paused, sniffing loudly again, pouting ‘It was all too much, you dumping me and then arriving at Kilfenora to see her bloody car parked outside.’
Peter shook his head. ‘How many people do you know who send 150 roses to dump someone? I said I’d be in touch’.
‘
Exactly, you’d be in touch – what’s that supposed to mean, thanks but no thanks?’ Caroline pouted again.
Before she could say more Peter turned her gently towards the door, ‘We’d better get moving. I told the Sergeant in Kilfenora you’d be in after the court hearing finished.’
‘
Will they arrest me?’ Caroline’s voice was small, fearful. Peter wrapped his arm around her,
‘
Not if I can help it. Do you want to fix your face before we go out? There’s bound to be a few press.’
In his car, Sebastian checked his watch. This was madness – he’d no idea how long the court hearing would take, had a million things to do back at the house. He reached for his mobile, wondering if he should try Alex again. He’d already rung and the phone had gone straight to voicemail. Should he try her again? Before he had second thoughts, Sebastian pressed the speed dial. He didn’t even know what the hell he was going to say to her, but he needed to know she was okay. Voicemail again. He took a glance in the mirror and almost dropped the phone.
On the steps of the court building, pushing her way through the swarm of photographers, Caroline was trying to hide her face with her hand. Beside her, with his arm around her shoulder was the unmistakable bulk of Jackson Blake. Peter bloody Pan. What the hell?
Jumping out of his car, Sebastian dodged behind a van and was across the road in a second. A second in which he realised his mistake. The photographers turned on him in a blaze of flashbulbs. It was all the distraction Peter and Caroline needed. Hustling her across the footpath, hauling open the door of a gleaming Land Rover Discovery parked at the kerb, Peter bundled Caroline into the back seat, jumping into the driver’s seat and gunning the powerful engine. Realising they were missing the action, the photographers turned back to the Discovery, jostling each other to get a shot of the interior, running along beside it as Peter deftly reversed into the road and pulled away.
Damn! How could he have been so stupid? Holding his hand up, trying to block the shots of his face Sebastian doubled back across the road. A couple of the photographers followed him, trying to get a shot through the windows as he slipped in behind the wheel of his Jaguar. Clicking his seatbelt on, flipping the car into reverse, he slid out of the space, the photographers scattering as the car started to move. Pulling into the main street he could already see the Discovery heading out of the town.
Sebastian followed, his eyes scanning the road looking for the child or stray dog that might run out in front of him. Passing the petrol station on the right, a parade of shops, a minute later he was on the outskirts of the town, the Discovery right ahead. It reached the T-junction with the Dublin road, but instead of turning left to head back to the city, indicated right, heading for Kilfenora. What the? Then Sebastian realised where they were going – back to the village – the guards needed to question Caroline about the fire.
The Discovery was rugged, but the Jaguar was built for speed and Sebastian knew the road like the back of his hand. There were a few questions he wanted answered RIGHT NOW, and there was no way he was waiting until Jackson and Caroline got to Kilfenora. Heading out into the open country, fields spreading out on either side of the road like a gesture of welcome, Sebastian kept the Discovery in sight. Around the next bend Sebastian saw his chance. He put his foot down, accelerating around the Discovery, flashing his hazard lights. Glancing in his mirror Sebastian could see Jackson behind the wheel, face expressionless. Like a mask.
The lay-by was cut deep into the hedge, muddy, overgrown with brambles and hawthorn. Long enough for the two vehicles to pull off the road, stopping a few feet apart. Peter was out of the Discovery before Sebastian had his seatbelt off, striding towards the Jaguar. Sebastian pushed his door open, swung his legs out, but Peter was at the open door before he could climb out, towering above him, holding the advantage.
‘
Sorry, saw you across the road when we came out, but I wanted to shake those snappers. Christ, it’s good to see you. Mum said she was down this morning and the place is a wreck.’
Sebastian looked up at Peter, his face stony, ‘It’s a bloody disaster. How is she?’ Sebastian indicated the Discovery with a curt nod of his head
‘
She’s grand. She was pissed as a fart last night, can’t remember a thing. Did the guards tell you? I came down this way for a spin and found her car in the ditch. Thought she’d been kidnapped.’
‘
And why did you come down here exactly?’ Sebastian fought to keep the suspicion out of his voice to keep his tone light, friendly.
Peter took a step backwards, giving Sebastian room to get out of his car, leaned against the side of the Jaguar. Grimacing, he tapped the palm of his hand on the roof like he was trying to find the right words.
‘
You’re not going to like this.’
Sebastian eased himself out of his seat, stood up, took a step away from the car and crossed his arms, his feet apart.
‘
I’m not liking much of what I’m hearing today. Try me.’
Peter took a deep breath like he was wrestling with a huge secret, ‘Well...’
‘
Yes?’ Sebastian’s retort was curt.
‘
It was Caroline. I came down after her. I knew she was upset, that she was coming down here to find you...I was worried about her.’
Sebastian shook his head, kicked a stone with the toe of his boot, a boot smeared black with soot. For a split second he felt like laughing. Whatever he’d expected it hadn’t been that. ‘How did you know she was upset?’ He looked Peter straight in the face.
‘
She called me. She’d been drinking, sounded a bit slurred, said she was coming down. I told her she shouldn’t be driving...’
Sebastian shook his head again, ‘I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me but I’ve missed a bit here.’ His voice dripped with sarcasm. ‘Why did she ring you?’
Peter looked uncomfortable, tapped the roof of the car again with his hand, then crossed his arms, shifting uncomfortably. ‘That’s the bit you won’t like.’ He paused, the silence radiating ions like a nuclear power plant. But Sebastian wasn’t about to help him out. Peter continued. ‘Eh, we met a while ago. The first day I was back in Dublin.’ Peter held up his hands like he thought Sebastian might hit him, ‘Look I’m sorry, I didn’t realise she was your Caroline. Things moved pretty fast.’