Page 106 of Owned By a Billionaire

“Footage of vans arriving, delivering filled sports bags.”

“They need to be caught red-handed,” she said.

He nodded. “At least we know operations are on again. I can pass this material to Scotland Yard.”

Mediahaddecidedtocall Bridesmere home all week, parking outside Merivale. All we could do was make ourselves as unrecognizable as possible when we left the house.

I toyed with my baseball cap and looked at myself in the mirror. “I hate these things.”

Caroline gave me a sympathetic smile. “I know. I just wish I could get rid of them.”

We headed out for a walk through Chatting Wood with Bertie scrambling at our feet.

Upon our return, a detective, looking as conspicuous as we did in our dark glasses and hats, waited in the red room.

In happier times, that room had entertained a plethora of guests from elite circles. Whether that kind of breezy mirth fed on quality champagne and food would return to Merivale seemed unlikely, given recent dark events.

“What now?” Caroline muttered.

After showing the detective into her office, Caroline turned to me. “Call Manon, if you wouldn’t mind. She’s probably in the nursery.”

That’s where I found her, holding her daughter with Janet close by. “You’re being summoned. Caroline wants to see you.”

The poor girl looked pale and forlorn.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Not really. Look at that bullshit out there.”

I gave her a sympathetic nod and headed out to the yellow room for a coffee and the Times new-release book reviews. Despite an impending hearing, I wasn’t thinking beyond that day. That live-in-the-moment approach was keeping me sane, and the last thing Caroline needed was both of us wringing our hands in synch.

Caroline needed me to stay strong and positive. She seemed more concerned about me doing time than I was. Perhaps I could finally write, and I had plenty of first editions to keep me going for years. Not that I imagined that would be the length of my stay.

At least, I hoped not.

Caroline joined me half an hour later, and instead of sitting, she adjusted a painting. It was something she often did. Her dislike for slightly askew paintings that sometimes weren’t even noticeable was close to an OCD affliction.

However, she kept staring at the still life as though it was about to tell her something.

Aware that a turned back meant trouble where Caroline’s body language was concerned, I asked, “What’s happened now?”

She spoke without moving. “Someone’s come forward and admitted to murdering Reynard Crisp.”

Chapter 34

Caroline

“Tellmeexactlywhathappened that night,” I asked Manon, who’d caught my hand-wringing habit.

Drake was with her, looking just as bewildered as I felt. The police had announced that someone had come forward and admitted to the murder.

“Did he say who it was?” Manon asked.

I shook my head. “I’m guessing you have some idea.”

Manon looked at Drake, whose slight nod told me he knew something more.

I continued. “You’ll still face charges for accessory after the fact, but hopefully we can commute that with good lawyers. But you have to tell us everything.”

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