Owning Jacob - SA (10 page)

'Yes, yes we did. But that was before … how shal I put it? Before I was ful y aware of the nature of the research.' He nodded, as if appreciating the phrasing. "You see, Mr Murray, the reason I'm so good at my job is that I believe in thoroughness. I don't like leaving things half done. And if I come across something that puzzles meWel , I can't rest until I've got to the bottom of it, if you take my meaning.

How is the book going, by the way?' The wal s of the office seemed to be closing in. 'Okay.'

'Good, good. Because I got to thinking that it's rather unusual for a writer - or a photographer, such as yourself -

to hire a private investigator to locate someone just to interview

for a book. To say nothing of expensive. Anyone doing that must either want to interview them very badly indeed or …' The smile broadened. 'Or have their own reasons for doing it.

Now you might say that those reasons are none of my business, and perhaps you're right. But as I pointed out to you at our last meeting, I do like to know a little about who I'm working for. And so I took the liberty of carrying out a little "extracurricular" research, for want of a better term.' Ben thought about the phone cal to the studio. The detective had been checking up on him. Oh, Jesus, what have I done?

'I must offer my condolences on the death of your wife.' Quil ey shook his head, slowly. 'A terrible thing to happen at that age. Terrible. And leaving you to look after a little boy as wel .

A handicapped one at that. It can't be easy. Particularly when, if you'l pardon me saying, he isn't actual y yours.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Only that he's your stepson. What else could I mean?' The edge of the chair seat dug into Ben's palms where he gripped it. 'If there's a point to this why don't you get to it?'

'No need to be defensive, Mr Murray. I'm only commenting on the facts. And I'm sure that when you come to interview Mr Kale for your book you'l find it helpful that the two of you have so much in common. Quite a catalogue of coincidences, real y. His first wife also having died young, and you both having sons - or in your case a stepson - born on virtual y the same day. Except that Mr Kale doesn't know where his son is, of course.' The urge to walk out and the desire to lunge at the face across the desk were equal y strong. 'I don't see how any of that's relevant. Or anything to do with you.' The detective grinned as if Ben had made a joke. 'I take your point, Mr Murray. Of course, it isn't anything to do with me. Nothing at al . And I do apologise if I've touched on a

nerve. I'm sure you're very fond of the boy. Look on him as your own after al this time, I dare say.' Ben felt uncoordinated as he took out his cheque book.

'I asked how much I owed you.'

'So you did, Mr Murray. And, as I said, it's a difficult question. You see, what we basical y have here are two separate issues. On the one hand there's the fee for my time and expenses, which is fairly straightforward. But then there's the question of … how shal I put it? The value of information, let's say. And I'm sure you can appreciate that's less easy to put a price on. What's worth one thing to one person may be worth much more to another. How do you judge these things?' The detective's smile was indulgent. 'I'm sure you appreciate the problem.' The pen seemed cumbersome as Ben wrote out a cheque.

'It's six days by my reckoning. I'l give you the benefit of the doubt and include Saturday at the same rate. There's fifty pounds for expenses as wel .' He tore out the cheque and dropped it on the desk. He stood up. Til take the report with me.' Quil ey's smile had shrunk a little but it was stil there. He handed Ben the cardboard folder. 'As you wish, Mr Murray.

As you wish.'

There were signs that Maggie's charity was wearing thin. Her smile was glassy as she served the lasagne. Ben sat next to Jacob.

On the other side of the table Scott and Andrew whispered and cast glances across at him, sniggering from time to time.

Colin stil wasn't home. He had cal ed to say that he would be working late. Maggie ordered them al to the dinner table as she announced the news.

'He says it's unavoidable, so that's al right, isn't iti Stil , never mind. I'm sure we can manage without him. And if his dinner's burnt when he decides to get back, that'l just be too bad, won't it? If he doesn't like it he's always welcome to find himself some other hotel.' Ben said nothing. He wished he hadn't accepted Colin's invitation. He had cal ed him at work as soon as he had left the detective's office. A secretary had said he was in a meeting, but Ben had insisted on talking to him.

Colin had listened to his ranting account and then said,

'Shit.' He'd told Ben he couldn't get away just then, couldn't even talk for long because he'd got a room ful of record company suits and an angry band, and if he didn't get back soon they'd start breaking the furniture on each other. 'Come over for dinner tonight. We can talk then,' he'd said.

But when Ben and Jacob had arrived at the house he'd found that Maggie wasn't expecting them. Now she had the toothpaste smile of the self-martyred as she handed out the plates. 'I just hope there's enough to go around. Of course, it would have been nice if Colin had had the consideration to tel me he'd invited guests, but I suppose that would be asking too much. After al , that's what I'm here for, isn't it? I don't have anything better to do than stay at home al day while he goes off with his bands.' Maggie seemed convinced that Colin's work was mainly socialising because most of his clients were musicians. Ben hadn't heard her complain about the money he earned, though.

'Don't bother about me,' he told her. 'I can eat later.'

"No, of course you won't. If there isn't enough Colin'l just have to go without. Perhaps then he'l make more of an effort to get home on time when I've gone to the trouble of cooking.'

The serving spoon rattled against china. 'Scott, it's rude to whisper to your brother at the dinner table.' Scott ignored her, whispering behind a cupped hand to Andrew. Although Ben couldn't hear what was being said he could guess its subject by the way they were looking at Jacob, who was busily picking out the pieces of onion from the sauce and arranging them end to end around the rim of his plate.

Andrew giggled as his elder brother final y lowered his hand.

Scott glanced at Ben indifferently, stil smirking. Ben stared back at him, fighting the desire to ram his fork up the little bastard's nose. He's only a kid, for God's sake. Don't be so touchy. He turned to Jacob.

'Come on, Jacob. Eat your tea.' Jacob looked up, blankly, at the sound of his voice, then went back to sifting out the onion.

Maggie finished dishing out the lasagne and sat down. For a while there was no noise except the scrape of cutlery. 'This is real y nice,' said Ben, dutiful y. To give Maggie her due, she was a good cook.

'Thank you. Nice to know someone appreciates me.'

Oh God. Scott and Andrew were giggling and nudging each other. 'If you two boys don't hurry up, you won't get any dessert,' Maggie said with forced jocularity.

'That's al right, because I don't want any,' Scott told her.

'Wel , perhaps we'l let you go without al week, then, shal we?' The bright smile was set on her face now, as convincing as a party mask on a mugger.

'Good.' Maggie's mouth twitched, and Ben hoped for a moment that she would resort to violence against her first-born. Instead she tore her eyes away and noticed Jacob, stil arranging the onions in a line.

'Eat up, Jacob. Don't play with your food when Auntie Maggie's gone to the trouble of cooking it, dear.' Jacob didn't even look up. 'Did you hear Auntie Maggie, Jacob?' she persisted, 'Be a good boy and do as you're told.' Because your brats certainly don't. Ben gripped his cutlery. He had seen Maggie in her picky moods before. They ran off Jacob, and usual y Ben took no notice. Right then, though, he wasn't in a good mood himself..;.Œ.

'He'l get round to it,' he said, as casual y as he could manage. "No need to push him.' Maggie's smile glittered. "Was I pushing? I'm sorry, I'm sure I didn't mean to. It's just a little annoying when you see something you've cooked go to waste.' Scott and Andrew had fal en silent and stopped eating, aware of the sudden tension between the adults. Only Jacob seemed unaware of it. Ben told himself to ease off. A scene wouldn't do anyone any good, and Maggie had been helpful since-

-since Sarah died. The thought snuffed the heat out of him.

'It won't be wasted. If the worst comes to the worst I'l finish it myself,' he said, doing his best to smile natural y.

Maggie backed off a little herself. At least she seemed to.

There was an interval while she put green salad on the side of her plate. Then she asked, 'Have you any idea yet what you're going to do about Jacob?" Ben felt the lasagne clog his mouth. He took a drink of water. I'm not with you.'

'About his school, I mean. Not that I mind running him backwards and forwards for you.' She smiled, saccharin again.

'He's such a treasure. But it isn't always convenient, and I expect you'l want to sort out something more … wel , more permanent, won't you?' His relief was fol owed by irritation. Here it comes, he thought. First the favour, then the bil . "Yes, I wil .' He knew he wouldn't ask her to col ect Jacob again, no matter how difficult it became.

'I don't want you to think there's any hurry as far as I'm concerned,' she went on, back-pedal ing now she had made the point. 'I know it's not easy for you, though, and I just wondered if you'd had chance to think about any other options.'

"What sort of options?' He could guess.

"Wel , I don't know, real y. Perhaps some sort of…' She

glanced at her two sons, who were no longer paying the slightest bit of attention, and lowered her voice conspiratorial y. '... of residential school. Of" course, it's only a thought. I don't know what you've got in mind, but with Jacob being a … a special little boy, and you being busy and al , wel …' Her smile was failing against his silence. "You don't mind my mentioning it, I hope?'

"Why should I? I~Ie stood up. 'Excuse me.' He left the table, knowing it was rude of him, but also knowing it was less rude than what he might have said if he'd stayed. The bathroom was at the top of the stairs. Ben locked himself in. He hadn't particularly wanted to urinate but now he was there he did anyway. It gave him something to do to take his mind off his anger.

When he had finished he put down the pink marble-efFeot seat and pressed down the gold-plated flush handle. The wasnt>asin taps were even more ornate, a pair of stylised and vaguely Japanese-style dolphins. As he dried his hands on one of the soft pink towels he remembered what Colin's room had been like when they had been students.

The decor hadn't run beyond posters and empty bottles of Newcastle Brown. It didn't take much guessing whose hand had been behind decorating the house.

He went back downstairs, cooler-headed than when he went up. It wasn't worth fal ing out with Maggie, if only for Colin's sake. And, after helping out with Jacob for the past three weeks, he supposed she had a right to ask what his plans were.

It wasn't her fault that he didn't have any.

The thick oriental carpet silenced his footsteps as he returned to the dining room. He heard voices from it before he reached the doorway.

'... wel , he is,' Scott was saying. 'I don't see why he's got to come here!'

'I don't care, I've told you not to cal him that!' Maggie snapped, trying to whisper.

"Why not? He can't understand.'

'That's not the point! It isn't a nice thing to say.'

'So what? He is a mong. And you don't want him here either. I've heard you tel ing Dad.'

"You shouldn't have been listening! I won't tel you again-' She broke off as Ben came in. 'Oh.' She hastily tried to assemble a smile. "We, er … we were just-' Tes, I heard.' He went over to Jacob. The boy sat with his chin tucked on his chest, eyes downcast. Ben's jaw muscles hurt to think of him sitting there as they talked about him. 'Come on, Jacob, time to go home,' he said, taking his hand. He shot a glare at Scott, who was sul enly staring at the table. 'Thanks for dinner, Maggie. Tel Colin I'l talk to him later.'

'Ben, there's no need to … I mean, I don't want you to think-'

'Don't bother to get up.' She stil fol owed them into the hal way, smiling anxiously.

'Are you sure you won't stay for dessert?'

'I don't think so, Maggie.' He opened the door and went out before she could say anything else. His Golf was parked further up the street. He hoisted Jacob up and carried him, even though it wasn't far.

He felt he wanted to cry. He thought about Maggie again and let himself feel angry instead.

He set Jacob down when he reached the car. As he unlocked it there was a shout He turned to see Colin hurrying from his BMW. There was no sign of Maggie.

"Where're you going?' Colin asked, breathlessly.

'Jacob's tired, so we're going home.'

'Home? I thought you wanted to talk.' He took hold of Ben's arm. 'Come on, you can have a quick drink-'

'It's okay, I'l give you a ring.' Colin let his hand fal . 'What's wrong?' Nothing. I just want to get Jacob home, that's al .' They looked at each other. Colin glanced towards the house. He seemed to sag slightly, then drew himself up. 'If you're in a rush let's talk in the car.' Jacob played with a puzzle in the back while they talked.

Ben described the meeting with Quil ey. When he'd finished Colin kneaded the bridge of his nose. The flesh of his face was pale and puffy. His scalp showed through his thinning hair. He looks middle-aged, Ben thought, with a slight shock.

'I'm sorry, Ben. If I'd any idea he'd pul something like this I'd never have recommended him.'

'You weren't to know.' But he stil felt resentment, unjustified or not.

'I know it doesn't help but I'l see to it he doesn't get any more work from our firm. I'l put the word out to other people as wel . It's just a pity you didn't tel him you'd got his name from us. I don't think he'd have tried anything if he'd known.'