Cherringham--A Bad Lie Read online

  “Well, you’re no fun at weddings,” she said. “Standing over here on your own.”

  “Oh, I’ll be fun later,” he said. “Just wait till you see me dance.”

  “That right?” she said, smiling. “You know, I don’t think I ever have seen you dance.”

  “Hmm? I’m sure you have,” said Jack. “Lots of times.”

  “Really? Well I’m going to reserve the first one this evening.”

  “You got it,” said Jack. “And I’m flattered.”

  He saw her watching the bride and groom as the photographer manoeuvred them into position with family and friends.

  Then — she turned.

  With a question.

  “You really think you’ll never get married again?” she said.

  For a moment — silence.

  Jack looked away and shrugged. “I’ve got nothing against the idea. But I can’t really see it happening.”

  He saw Sarah nod. Then she turned back to the family group and shook her head.

  “Look at Lauren’s dad there, the honourable father, upright citizen. You know, it makes me angry he’s got away with it.”

  “Our choice not to prosecute. All we’d have to do is call Alan. But remember, you looked at those files too. So did I. And so did my pal in London.”

  “True.”

  “Sometimes you bend the rules to catch someone, but then the evidence is inadmissible. And they go free. It happens.”

  “You think when James sent all those letters he knew what Josh would go and do?”

  “I’d like to think he didn’t. Think he just wanted Josh gone.”

  “What a bastard.”

  “In his defence, he thought he was doing the right thing. Protecting his daughter.”

  “Really? Doesn’t stop him being a bastard.”

  Jack watched her. He liked this moral certainty in her.

  “Sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons,” he said. “Even us. We looked at those files.”

  “Yeah, but Jack,” she said, turning. “We’re the good guys.”

  She laughed and he laughed back.

  “Aren’t we?” she said.

  “Sure we are,” he said.

  He waited for her to say more, but she didn’t.

  “Look, they’re heading to the reception. We should go. I could do with a drink.”

  “I hear they’ve got a full cocktail bar. Maybe you’ll finally be able to get a proper martini in Cherringham.”

  “I’m tasting it already. You got room to give me a lift?”

  “Course. I’m parked in the square.”

  He put his hand gently on her side and together they walked towards the crowd, now moving through the churchyard towards the gate.

  “I meant to ask you earlier,” Jack said. “What was that little request you made of James last night?”

  “The golf club has voted to commission a piece of art to go in the clubhouse for their centenary. I told James that Josh was going to get the commission.”

  “You told him that?” said Jack, smiling. “And he agreed? Just like that?”

  “I didn’t give him a choice.”

  “That legal?”

  “I don’t care about what’s legal, Jack. I care about what’s right.”

  Jack could see she was going to nurture this anger for some while.

  He smiled as he stepped back at the gate to let her through.

  “You know what? I think I agree.”

  And together they walked through the village in the warm afternoon sun.

  END

  Next episode

  When a doddering Harry Platt tumbles from the top of his stairs in a deadly fall, it looks like an unfortunate accident.

  But when solicitor Tony Standish meets the beneficiaries and discovers the immense size of the estate, his suspicions are aroused.

  Jack and Sarah are asked to investigate and find that nothing is what it seems when it comes to families — not when money and secrets are involved.

  A Death in the Family

  Cherringham — A Cosy Crime Series

  by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

  Cherringham — A Cosy Crime Series

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