Page 100 of The Last One to See Him

‘It’s simple,’ Rowan explains. ‘If you’re prepared not to ask any questions, that is.’

‘Okay.’

‘This person needs a favour and is prepared to offer one hundred thousand pounds.’

Jamie’s head jolts up and he stares at Rowan. Perhaps he’s wondering if this is some sort of trap. ‘What…what for?’

‘No questions, remember? All you’d have to do is meet a woman. Just like you’ve already been doing. Get to know her and then take her back to your flat. That’s it.’

Jamie frowns. ‘That’s all? For a hundred grand? I don’t get it. Why would someone give me that much money just to take a woman back to my place?’

Looking across at Jamie, a flood of pity overcomes Rowan. If Jamie agrees to this, then he’s signing his own death warrant. ‘Remember I said the deal is you can’t ask questions. Just follow the simple instructions.’

Jamie stares at him and Rowan can tell he’s torn. Of course he’s thinking that this is too good an offer to be true, too easy, and that there must be a catch. It feels like hours before Jamie responds. ‘Okay,’ he says, exhaling a deep breath. ‘I’ll do it. I don’t have much choice.’

‘Okay. Good. There’s one other thing,’ Rowan says. ‘This woman will need to be drugged once you get her to your place. Or before. She needs to have no memory of how she got there or what she’s doing there.’

Jamie’s eyes widen. ‘No! Is this…are we talking rape? No way. Never. I’m not being any part of?—’

‘It’s nothing at all like that,’ Rowan assures him. ‘Not at all. Don’t worry – this woman will not be harmed in any way whatsoever.’ Rowan can picture it now: Kate waking up to find Jamie’s dead body, blood all over her hands, her DNA all over him. And then a lifetime in prison, where she’ll never be able to ruin Rowan’s life.

‘Then why? It doesn’t make sense.’

‘No questions,’ Rowan repeats.

‘I don’t know about this,’ Jamie says. ‘Who am I doing it for? Is this illegal?’

‘No more so than what you’ve been doing by defrauding all those women.’ Rowan’s voice softens. ‘Look, I can’t give you any names. I’m sorry. Will you just trust me, please?’

Jamie’s head moves, and Rowan can’t tell if it’s a nod or an involuntary gesture.

‘There’s just one thing. Half the money upfront, and half once you’ve got her to your flat.’

There’s another pause before Jamie nods. ‘So fifty grand now, and fifty when she’s at my flat.’

Rowan nods.

‘Okay. I’ll do it. I don’t like it – but I have no choice. This will really help get me out of a hole.’

Rowan’s body floods with relief – he hadn’t expected this to go so smoothly. He walks to his desk and pulls out his mobile from the drawer, scrolling through his photos until he finds the one he took of Kate without her knowing. It was the last afternoon they’d spent together in that hotel. He shows it to Jamie. ‘Take a photo of this with your phone, and then put the name and address I give you into your contacts. Her name’s Kate Mason and she lives in Wimbledon. You’ll need to follow her for a while, get a feel for her so that she goes back to your place with you.’

‘That’s miles from me,’ Jamie says.

‘You could move closer. You told me at our last session you needed to get out of the house you’re in. This is a good reason to speed that up. It’s really important that you get a good feel for this woman. Implant yourself into her life without her knowing.’

Jamie doesn’t look convinced; but the lure of that money will ensure he follows through with this arrangement.

‘If I’m taking her back home with me, it will have to be to my rental property,’ Jamie says. ‘We’ve been doing it up so it’s empty at the moment.’

‘Then luck is on our side,’ Rowan says. ‘Tell Kate it’s your place, and that you’re separated – she is too, so that might help you bond with her. I think that’s all you need to know for now. I’ll be in touch about the money.’

Jamie nods and stands up, pulling on his jacket as he heads to the door.

‘Oh, and Jamie?’ Rowan calls.

He turns around.

‘I really think this will help you find the peace you’re looking for.’

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