Forget Me Never (11 page)

I wondered if she ever shut up. Lottie took me around, making introductions and pointing out fascinating little features such as the office snack box (very important, apparently) and the
stationery cupboard. I wanted to ask her about the new drug, but after the office intro Lottie decided it was coffee time. I’d done some research last night about drug development, and
apparently it took years. Whatever Vaughan-Bayard were developing would definitely have been in the pipeline when Danielle was here.

After coffee, Lottie asked one of the HR guys to talk me through record keeping. This turned out to be way more interesting than it sounded. I’d had no idea what a human resources manager
even did. Not only did they keep tabs on everyone in the company, but apparently they conducted interviews, set policies, delivered training and investigated complaints. I quickly realized this
might be a good opportunity.

‘My mate’s cousin used to work here,’ I said. ‘Danielle Hayward – did you know her?’

‘A little, yeah. Really sad what happened to her.’

I decided to chance my arm. ‘What was she like?’

I thought that question might raise a few eyebrows, but the man didn’t so much as blink. ‘Didn’t work directly with her, but she was always nice and friendly. Happy to give
people a hand with computer problems. Messed us about by leaving so suddenly, but it seems off to speak ill of the dead.’

‘Talking about Danielle?’ A woman at the next desk leaned across. She looked the type who liked to gossip. She’d stopped typing the moment Danielle’s name had come up, so
I knew she’d been listening. ‘She was all over the place, that last day at work. Really stressed. Jumped sky high when I wanted to clear some forms with her.’

The woman paused, glancing over her shoulder. ‘I reckon she must have annoyed Aiden in some way. He came stomping in here black as thunder about an hour after she’d gone, furious
about something. Nice guy, but such a drama queen! I do wonder if those two had something going on, y’know.’

The man I was with started to look uneasy. The gossipy woman opened her mouth to continue. Then her phone rang and the moment was gone.

This isn’t looking good for Aiden, I thought. The more I hear, the more obvious it is he’s up to his eyeballs in something. Maybe Danielle screwed up and knew he’d be after her
unless she got out.

The big question was, what were they doing that had such high stakes? They’d evidently not been found out, else Aiden wouldn’t still be at Vaughan-Bayard. That made it likely that
whatever they were doing hadn’t been completed yet. Stealing Edith made a lot of sense. Aiden must have been really afraid that Danielle’s files might expose him.

I absolutely had to get closer to Aiden while I was here. It was the only way I could see us getting to the truth.

It was Thursday lunchtime, so I had one and a half days left at V-B. I was running out of time.

Snooping wasn’t the walk in the park I’d thought it’d be. I was with people all the time, and most doors needed security passes to get through, and everyone went to lunch
together, so there wasn’t ever an opportunity to slip off. I had however had a look at the labs. Mr McIntyre had asked me to help him carry some files across there. Thanks to that visit
I’d discovered that Aiden had a desk in an office next to the labs for when he needed to use a computer. I knew from my session with the IT guys that all emails were strictly monitored, but
Aiden’s desk would be worth checking out.

Sophie and I had even hatched an action plan.

‘Best chance is lunchtime,’ she’d said last night. We’d been at her house, sitting on her bed, sharing a bag of salted peanuts. ‘You say you’ve seen Aiden
every day in the canteen?’

I nodded. ‘Twelve thirty sharp.’

‘So . . . if you went to his desk at twelve forty-ish, he wouldn’t be there.’

‘Yeah. But I’d have to get lucky. There are other people who work where he does. I’ve seen them in the canteen, but can’t say for certain they go at the same time every
day.’

Sophie was silent for a moment. ‘What you’ll have to do is this . . .’

My eyes were on my watch. Time was passing so slowly! Or maybe it just seemed that way because I was in the filing room, halfway along the upstairs corridor between the main
office and the labs.

The door creaked and Lottie came in.

‘Reece? Lunchtime.’

I took a breath. ‘I’ve only got a few files left. I was thinking I’d finish these and then come down, so I can start something new this afternoon. Seems silly not
to.’

‘Are you sure? You’ve been here all morning. You must need a break.’

‘Ten minutes.’ I gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Could you lend me your pass card so I can come down when I’m done? Won’t be able to get into the canteen
otherwise.’

‘I don’t know.’ Lottie sounded worried. ‘I really ought to wait. We’re not meant to lend our cards to people . . .’

‘Lottie? We’re waiting. They’ll be out of chocolate pudding if you hang about much longer,’ someone called from outside. Lottie looked at the door, then at me. I tried to
look sincere and trustworthy. I must have done a good job, because after a moment’s hesitation she handed over the card.

‘Just this once,’ she said. ‘I can go down with the others. Finish up and come straight down though. You know the way to the canteen, right?’

Score! I thought as the door shut. It had been a combination of luck and forward thinking that had got me into this position. Lottie had mentioned the day before that there was a pile of records
that needed filing. I’d said I’d do it, banking on my ability to convince her to lend me her pass. Actually I’d finished the filing already. It was 12.35 – my big
chance.

Quietly I edged the door open.

No one was about. I hurried down the corridor to the office next to the labs, hoping that Aiden and his colleagues would have already headed to the canteen.

Outside the office I paused. If there was someone inside, how on earth could I explain my sudden appearance? Then I heard footsteps. No time to think! I thrust out Lottie’s pass. The light
on the security lock went green and I stepped inside.

The room wasn’t large – three desks, filing cabinets, some cupboards. No one was there. I let out a breath, feeling the tension in my muscles ease. I knew Aiden’s desk was the
one by the window. I went over, wondering where to start. There were some personal items on top of the desk – a novelty pen holder, one of those squishy stress-ball things – but nothing
worth a second look.

I rifled through the folders stacked by the computer monitor. One at the bottom was marked CLASSIFIED – but it was just a stream of numbers.

Disappointed, I flicked from page to page. Maybe these were lab-trial results? An underlined title – one of the few things that made sense – caught my eye: Weight-loss development.
What was
that
about? Unless . . . was that the new drug? I knew there were weight-loss aids on the market already, but something that really worked would make millions. I’d seen some pretty
hardcore stats on the news about obesity. Apparently one in ten kids and one in four adults were obese. The Department of Health had called it an ‘epidemic’. It wasn’t just fitness levels that were a
concern – being overweight increased the risk of developing all kinds of illnesses.

I shoved the file aside and tried the drawers of Aiden’s desk. Locked – but there was a small key half concealed by the pen holder. I tried it and heard a satisfying click.

There was a lot of crap in Aiden’s drawers – chewing gum, biscuits, tea bags, postcards, even breakfast cereal – but there was also a wallet and a personal organizer. I stared
at them, almost unable to believe my luck. I opened the wallet first. Lunch was free for employees, so I guessed he didn’t need to carry it around. Still, what an idiot to leave it here!

I took out Aiden’s cards. Some were plastic, credit cards and gym membership, but there were a number of business cards. My dad had had some that were similar. The names didn’t mean
anything to me though. Swearing under my breath, I moved on to the organizer, opening it up at the diary section and flicking through quickly to the following week. It was standard kind of stuff
– Monday 7 p.m. cinema with Carl and Tim, pay deposit, a dentist appointment, Wednesday 7.45 a.m. HJP, airport, T3. ‘HJP’ meetings seemed to come up fairly often over the last
couple of months. As I was replacing the organizer something slipped from it – a photograph. I picked it up. Then I froze. The door had just bleeped.

Acting on instinct, I crouched down under Aiden’s desk. I heard a noise as the door opened and the click of heels. They can’t see me, I thought. Let’s hope they’ve just
come in to pick something up. They can’t know I’m here . . .

‘Reece,’ came a cool voice, ‘come out, please.’

Slowly – dropping the photo on the floor – I stood up.

Cherie faced me, arms folded.

‘Lottie asked me to . . . I mean, I was just . . .’ My mind ran dry. I didn’t see what excuse I could make. How had she even known I was here anyway? I stared at her, waiting
to see what she would do.

‘. . . having a nose about?’ Cherie took a couple of steps towards me. I didn’t back away, though I really wanted to.

‘I fancied a look around,’ I said. ‘I was bored with filing.’

Cherie gestured for me to step out. As I did so she grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly firm.

‘Turn out your pockets.’ When I hesitated, she dug her nails into my skin. That really hurt. ‘Do it, else I’ll have to myself, and that would be rather humiliating,
wouldn’t it?’

She seemed like a completely different person from the friendly woman I’d been chatting to all week. There was no way I could refuse. I couldn’t get past her to the door to make a
run for it either. I obeyed, thankful that I hadn’t picked up anything from Aiden’s desk.

‘This is what happens next,’ Cherie said, very slowly. Her tone was so calm that it sent a shiver up my spine. ‘You are going to go down to the canteen and tell Lottie that
you’ve done the filing she supposedly left you with. You will give her back her staff pass. For the rest of the afternoon you’ll do whatever she says. No questions, no snooping.
Tomorrow morning you stay home. I’ll let everyone know that you’ve phoned in sick.’ She leaned closer. ‘And you and Sophie will keep away from Vaughan-Bayard.
Understood?’

She knew what we were up to. Somehow, she knew. Perhaps she had all along.

‘Are you threatening me?’ I was afraid, but stubborn enough to pretend I wasn’t. Cherie released my arm. She looked at me for a long moment.

‘How old is your little sister, Reece?’

‘What?’

‘Three, I think you said? There’s a picture of you together on your Facebook page, isn’t there? Pretty little girl – looks like you. Your mother must adore her. You live
in Muswell Hill, don’t you? I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to find out exactly where.’

There was a long, significant pause. She knows everything about me, I thought, dazed.

‘Leave my family alone,’ I said shakily.

Cherie gave me a bored look, as though I was a very stupid child who wasn’t worth bothering with. ‘Don’t push me. Now get out.’

I stepped into the corridor. As it swung shut, I saw Cherie go to Aiden’s desk, no doubt to check what I’d found.

Well, I might have been caught red-handed, but I had found out a few things – especially about Cherie. The photo that had dropped out of Aiden’s organizer had been of her.

‘They’re totally blagging,’ Reece said for about the fifth time. We were in McDonald’s; Reece had filled me in on everything. The cheeseburger
he’d ordered was lying in it’s wrapper, barely nibbled. Despite insisting he was fine, he was clearly rattled – normally nothing got between Reece and stuffing his face. And no wonder.
Cherie was scary enough when she was being nice – Cherie in threatening mode must have been something else.

‘You say that, but I wouldn’t put it past them to try something,’ I said. ‘Come on, idiot, they broke into your house. Giving your mum or Neve another scare
wouldn’t be hard.’

Reece picked up the burger and stared at it.

I leaned forward. ‘Reece, talk to me. If you’re scared, I understand.’

‘I’m not!’ Reece snapped. ‘I’m mad at myself for not telling her where to stick it! Bossy cow. Creeping around my Facebook page and threatening me and thinking
I’m just going to do whatever she says! Got a good mind to turn up tomorrow just to see the look on her face.’

‘God, we’re going in circles! OK, you
weren’t
scared. But I’m not sure Cherie’s threats were empty. You don’t need to go in tomorrow, and it’s much better for us if Cherie
thinks you
are
scared. Might be best to rain-check that barbecue too.’

‘Cherie and Aiden . . .’ Reece muttered. ‘What a dream team. We missed something really obvious there, Soph.
Cherie
’s Charlotte, isn’t she? Not Lottie. I’m no expert on
names, but Cherie could be short for Charlotte, right?’

Slowly I nodded. ‘Cherie – Charlotte – they even sound similar. That’s got to be right. It makes too much sense not to be.’

‘Cherie must have told Aiden right from the start that I was your mate. They were one step ahead the whole time – and we played right into their hands!’

I wondered why Cherie had agreed to arrange the work experience if she knew we wanted to poke about. Perhaps she’d thought we’d approach someone else at V-B if she said no, or maybe
she’d wanted to check us out. Either way, Reece had walked straight into the lions’ den.

As for how Cherie fits into this . . . whatever ‘this’ is . . . She and Aiden are – or were – in a relationship, I thought. There was no other explanation I could think
of as to why else he would keep a photo of her in his organizer. Maybe their relationship was secret. I bet Cherie had got in there quickly after Danielle had died. From what Reece had said about
her, she didn’t strike me as the kind of woman to hang about if she wanted something.

‘Let’s go over everything we know again,’ I said.

Reece sighed. I couldn’t work out his attitude – was he scared, reluctant or simply bored? For a second I felt bad for getting him into this, though it had been his idea to go into
V-B.