Games Lovers Play (16 page)

At the appointed time, Jake sat waiting. On hearing the familiar footsteps, he alighted from the driving seat to open the door for his employer, who gave him the first address to be visited.

On their arrival, Edward was greeted by the foreman, who handed him a hard hat, and the men walked away, leaving Jake with the car.

He leaned against the vehicle and, taking a cigarette from his pocket, lit it. As he did so, he saw his mate Gerry Cooper walking towards him. Cooper looked furtively around and, seeing no one, wandered over to Jake.

‘Any worries?' asked Jake.

‘Not as far as I can see,' muttered Gerry, ‘so far so good,' and he sloped away.

Meanwhile, Edward Harrington was inspecting some steel girders, piled up on the ground, waiting to be put in place. He frowned. ‘These are not what I specified,' he said with some surprise.

The foreman looked concerned. ‘But that's what's on the order sheet.'

‘Show me,' Edward demanded.

‘The sheets are in my office, Mr Harrington.'

‘Then let's take a look at them,' said Edward, and the men walked off towards the temporary hut on the site, used as the hub of officialdom during the building of the premises.

Edward studied the sheets in question. ‘I don't understand this at all! Here is the strength of girders I ordered, but this is not what was delivered. Those outside will never be strong enough to hold the structure above it!'

‘Oh my God, I'd never have noticed. They are due to be placed today.'

‘Then stop all work now! Give me the rest of the order sheets; I want to go through them all. Something's not right here, and I want to make sure that's the only mistake before we do anything else.'

Jake was suddenly aware of a change in the atmosphere of the area. Whereas before there had been the usual noise of construction – the banging of hammers, the sound of drilling, the clang of metal – now it was quiet.

He walked over to the corner to see what was going on. The men were standing around talking, smoking, chatting – looking puzzled – but no one was working. He felt a certain tightening in his stomach as he waited.

It was two hours later that Edward Harrington returned to the car. His face was set in grim lines. ‘Take me back to the office, Barton,' he said as he stepped into the car.

As Jake drove, he glanced in the mirror at his passenger, who appeared to be deep in thought, poring over sheets of papers. Jake began to feel uneasy.

Sam was waiting outside the staff entrance to Tyrell and Greens at the end of the day, perched on his motorcycle. He thought he'd give Connie a surprise. The staff began to filter out of the building, and he looked up expectantly.

John Baker appeared and saw him sitting there and walked over to him.

‘No car today then?'

Sam smiled as he recognized him. ‘No, it's being worked on ready for the next race.'

‘I suppose all these preparations take up a lot of your time?'

‘Yes, pretty much. But there are no short cuts in my business. It's all about safety.'

‘Not good for your love life though. Connie likes a lot of attention.'

Sam's eyes narrowed. ‘Really? How would you know that?'

John met Sam's puzzled gaze. ‘Perhaps you should ask her,' he said and walked away.

Moments later Connie appeared. When she saw Sam she rushed over, flung her arms around him and kissed him. ‘I didn't expect to see you here today,' she said, looking delighted.

‘No, I thought I'd give you a surprise. Let's go somewhere for a quiet drink, shall we?'

‘That's lovely,' she said and climbed on to the back of the bike.

Sam drove to a nearby pub and parked the machine. He seemed a bit subdued.

‘Something wrong?' she asked.

‘I'm not really sure,' he said, ‘but first, what do you want to drink?'

‘I'm really thirsty so a shandy would be lovely.' She walked over to a table and watched Sam at the bar. Whatever was the matter, she wondered.

When he came and sat beside her, she asked him. ‘What's wrong, Sam?'

He studied her closely as he said, ‘I had the strangest conversation with your boss.'

Connie's heart sank. ‘Who do you mean? John Baker?'

‘Yes. We've chatted before when I was in my racing car waiting for you, and when he saw me tonight, he came over.'

She held her breath. ‘Oh, really?'

‘He was asking if my work took up much of my time, and when I said it did, he said he didn't think that would suit you. He said you liked a lot of attention. When I asked what he meant, he said I should ask you. What did he mean, Connie?'

She felt sick. The bastard! He couldn't have her, so now he was trying to ruin her life. What on earth could she say?

‘I've no idea. Mind you, at the moment I'm his whipping boy! Every week he has it in for someone, and this week it's me. Whatever I did seemed to displease him, so he has been round my department a lot.'

‘This isn't the first time you've said he's been giving you grief. If he's upsetting you, sweetheart, I'll have a word with him.'

‘For goodness' sake, don't do that! You'll only make it worse; anyway, it'll be somebody else next week.'

Sam didn't look entirely convinced.

‘It happens when you work in a big place, Sam. You wouldn't know because you have Tom and Harry who are your mates, but in my world and the world of commerce it's part of life. You just get on with it or get out.'

He stared at her, making her feel uncomfortable. ‘Then perhaps you should leave and find a job elsewhere.'

Connie was taken by surprise. She enjoyed her work, and apart from her association with John, there was no reason for her to want to leave.

‘But I like my job. I like the store and the people I work with, I'm doing well, why should I leave?'

He shrugged. ‘I didn't like the way he spoke. It was as if he was alluding to something else. Something he thought I should know.'

‘Like what, for goodness' sake?' she bluffed.

‘That's what I'm asking you, Connie.'

She tried to control the fear building inside her. If Sam thought for a moment there was something between her and her manager, she knew she'd lose him.

‘Oh, for God's sake!' She pretended to be outraged. ‘Don't you trust me? This is beginning to feel like a third degree. You're cross-questioning me here as if I'm on trial, and I don't like it, and if you don't stop this minute, I'm walking out of here!'

At last he was convinced. ‘I'm sorry, darling, I didn't mean to upset you, I just didn't like his attitude, that's all.'

‘You should work for him, then you'd understand the man. Now can we have a decent conversation?'

To her great relief he dropped the matter, and when he took her home he kissed her lovingly before taking his leave.

Connie went straight to her bedroom and flung herself on to the bed. She felt drained. ‘Bloody hell, that was close,' she muttered. She was going to have to do something about Mr Baker. She couldn't let him get away with this or goodness knows what he'd say next.

The man in question was standing on the doorstep of his old home, ringing the bell, feeling like a stranger. He'd arranged to take away his belongings, which Kay had packed for him, and he resented having to wait to be let into what he still considered to be his home. Yes, he'd rented a one bedroom flat, but in his bones he thought of it as a temporary arrangement.

Kay opened the door. ‘Hello, John. You'd better come in.'

As he shut the door behind him, she pointed to two suitcases on the floor in the hallway. ‘Well, here you are. I think I've put in everything that's yours. If I've missed something, then let me know once you've unpacked.'

Kay just stood waiting.

‘Don't I get offered a cup of coffee? I could kill for one, as I've come straight from work. Surely that isn't asking too much, is it?'

She hesitated for a moment. ‘Oh, very well.'

He followed her to the kitchen, taking in all the details around him which were so familiar. He was surprised how much it hurt.

‘Where's Susan? I was hoping to see her.'

‘Mother's taken her to Brownies. She joined a few weeks ago.' She put the kettle on. ‘So how are you, John? Keeping well?'

He sat on a chair. ‘How very cold you sound, Kay. You wouldn't think we'd been married and had a child.'

‘But now we're not!'

‘And that's it, is it? Don't you have any regrets at all?'

She made the coffee and handed it to him. ‘Regrets, me? How strange you think that I'm the one who should feel sorry when it was your womanizing that caused our divorce in the first place!'

‘You don't pull your punches, do you? All right, I admit it was my fault, but we could have worked it out.'

‘Don't be ridiculous! You will never change.' She leaned against the kitchen sink. ‘Now I no longer have to wonder who you're with because it doesn't matter any more.'

‘You've changed, Kay. You're so different.'

‘Well, John, one of us had to … and yes, I am a different woman. I am in charge of mine and Susan's lives now, and if I'm honest, they're much better than before, so I suppose you did us a favour!'

He gazed at her, not knowing what to say for a moment. ‘You're not legally free for another six weeks.'

She just laughed scornfully. ‘I can wait.'

‘And what then? Will you start dating other men?'

‘That is none of your business! Now if you don't mind I need to get on.'

He had no choice but to collect his belongings and leave. After he'd put the suitcases into the boot of the car, he climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine and just as he put the car into gear, another car pulled up. A tall, well-dressed man climbed out and walked up to the front door.

John waited to see what happened and was more than a little surprised to see Kay let the man inside. Who the hell was he? He drove away, still wondering.

Kay had been surprised to open the door to Edward Harrington. She'd thought it was her ex-husband who'd perhaps forgotten something.

‘Edward! Come in.'

‘I hope you don't mind me dropping in unannounced,' he said, ‘but I've had a hell of a day and just felt the need to see you.' He pulled her close and kissed her.

Kay felt all the tension from her previous meeting melt away as she returned his kisses. Letting out a deep sigh she said, ‘Of course not. I'm always happy to see you. Would you like some coffee?'

‘That would be lovely. Where's your little girl?'

‘Mother's taken her to Brownies.'

‘So we're alone?'

She nodded. ‘Completely.' She saw the intensity of his gaze. ‘Never mind the coffee,' she said and held out her hand. They walked up the stairs together.

John Baker drove away, silently seething. There was no man in Kay's life, she said – she had lied! So that's how she could be so cold towards him. It hadn't taken her long to find a replacement!

In his present mood he failed to see the irony of the situation. It had always been he who had someone on the side, but now it was his ex-wife who was stepping out and he didn't like it one bit! He drove back into town and pulled up outside a nearby pub. He needed a drink.

Sam and his two mechanics had had a long day and they were tired. As they locked up the garage Sam said, ‘Come on, you two, let's go to the pub and have some food and a pint. My treat.'

The Spa Tavern was one the boys used frequently. It was unprepossessing but served good bar food. They walked in and ordered a pint of beer each and chicken and chips for three. Taking their beer with them the three men found an empty table and sat down with a sigh of relief, knowing their day was over and they could relax over a decent meal.

Sam took out a packet of cigarettes and lit one. At the same time he gave a cursory glance around the room and was surprised to see Connie's boss sitting at the bar, alone. He hoped the man wouldn't see him because the last thing he wanted now was a conversation about car racing. He just wanted a drink with his mates and some food.

They were halfway through their meal when John Baker saw Sam as he downed the dregs of his drink, got off his stool and walked to the gents. The sight of the driver infuriated him, and he'd had enough alcohol to highlight his mood. As he stood at the urinal, his temper didn't improve. He was filled with spite. Spite about his wife entertaining a man in
his
house and, who knows, maybe
his
bed, and then spite against the man who was taking his place with young Connie, who had, like his wife, turned her back on his advances. He washed his hands and left the gents. He hesitated for a moment only, then he walked towards Sam's table.

Sam saw him coming but continued to talk to Tom in the hopes that the man would walk past without speaking. It was not to be.

‘Good evening, Mr Knight. I'm surprised to see you here.'

Sam smiled. ‘Hello. Just taking much needed sustenance after a heavy day. You know how it is.' He noticed the slight slurring of Baker's speech, realizing he'd been in the bar for some time.

‘Not seeing young Connie tonight then?'

There was something in the other man's tone that made Sam wary. ‘No, not tonight.'

‘Never mind, she'll be worth waiting for.' His mouth tightened into a narrow mean line. ‘You may be a winner on the racetrack, but as far as Connie's concerned, I got there in first place!'

Sam got to his feet in a flash, eyes blazing with anger. ‘How dare you talk about my girl like that!'

He moved towards Baker, but Harry caught hold of his arm and pulled him back in his chair as Tom got to his feet, took John Baker firmly by the arm and manhandled him out of the pub. Once outside he spoke. ‘You had no right to say that,' he said. ‘It was very unwise of you.'