The Hornbeam Tree (11 page)

Michelle nodded. ‘Nineteen, actually,’ she said, ‘and I’d been going out with Clive for about a year by then. God it was awful. I hated the first time, didn’t you?’

Katie grimaced. ‘I don’t even want to think about it,’ she responded. ‘As I recall it was all lily-white thighs, goose-bumps and grunts in the back of an old Morris.’

Michelle laughed and groaned. ‘Oh the romance of it,’ she said, her mind drifting back to the many embarrassments and mistakes she’d endured over the years. Then, encouraged by how they’d finally managed to pass a few minutes without having it all collapse in a heap of old grudges and new fears, she tugged off her gloves and followed Katie inside.

‘So, no more calls from Tom,’ Katie commented, as Michelle began washing her hands.

Wishing she hadn’t sounded quite so pleased about it, Michelle said, ‘He’ll be caught up in the story he’s working on.’

Katie sniffed and nodded and unhooked a couple of mugs from the overhead beam. ‘Still, you
must
feel a bit miffed that he hasn’t made any contact at all since the other night, if your romance is so new.’

‘Concerned more than miffed,’ Michelle corrected. ‘But I have to get used to the idea that I’m here now, and that he’s going to carry on with his work, the way he always has.’

Katie dropped two tea bags into the mugs. ‘So he’s not planning to come and visit?’ she said, going for the milk.

‘Actually, he wants to, but I’ve no idea when it might be.’

A silence followed in which Michelle wondered what had happened to stir up the tension again, and Katie wished she could stop being snippy and just tell Michelle that she was sorry for the other night, and for coming between her and Tom, and for all the other injustices she’d done her over the years, but for some reason the words were stuck in her throat. Maybe she was just too much of a bitter and twisted old stick to be able to admit she was wrong, or maybe she was still too angry with Michelle for having a love life and a whole history of adventures with Tom when they’d had the freedom to be themselves and do the kinds of things Katie had only ever dreamt of. Whatever it was, she had to get her feelings under control, because being like this certainly wasn’t going to change anything for her now, nor was it going to make life bearable while they were all living under the same roof.

‘Can I read the article?’ Michelle asked, genuinely interested, though using it as another attempt to be friendly.

Katie was about to answer when the sound of someone running across the garden made them both turn round.

‘Mum! Mum!’ Molly cried, swinging round the door. ‘I forgot my phone this morning, like major crisis, and my thingy’s started, so I’ve had to come home.’

‘There’s a new packet in the bathroom cabinet,’ Katie told her, ‘and don’t throw the wrappers down the toilet.’

‘Nag, nag, nag nag,’ Molly muttered, running up the stairs.

Katie shot Michelle a glance. ‘Well there’s a relief,’ she commented quietly. ‘She’s still irregular and I’m paranoid, not a soothing combination.’ Then with a smile, ‘I thought I was long past the days of waiting for a period, now here I am again. My own, if you’re interested, have stopped altogether. Hysterectomy, instant menopause and chemotherapy. It’s been a lot of fun around here these last few months.’ Her eyes moved back to Michelle. ‘It might even account for how edgy I’ve been with you, women in my hormonal condition aren’t known for rational behaviour.’

More than willing to accept the olive branch, Michelle smiled and said, ‘I probably haven’t helped, so let’s just put it behind us, shall we, and have that cup of tea.’

Ten minutes later Molly still hadn’t reappeared, so Katie went upstairs to find out what had happened.

‘Molly!’ she cried, finding her at the computer.

‘Go away!’ Molly shouted. ‘This is private.’

‘I hope you’re not in one of those chat rooms.’

‘I said go away.’

‘Don’t speak to me like that. Now, you have to go back to school, so turn that thing off and get going.’

‘I will when I’ve finished,’ but she was already logging off, and after waiting for the screen to go dark she leapt up from her chair and came to give Katie a hearty hug and resounding kiss on the cheek.

‘And how did I manage to deserve that?’ Katie asked suspiciously.

‘You just do. Can I take the charger to school, because my mobile’s nearly flat?’

‘Kissed for a charger. Go on, and try to say something nice to Michelle on your way past.’

‘What for?’

‘Just do it.’

‘I’m not wearing those jewels …’

‘Stop it.’

‘You’re laughing.’

‘I am not. Now go.’

Michelle was sitting at the table reading Katie’s article when Molly thundered down the stairs and unplugged the charger.

‘Has your lost bag turned up yet?’ Molly asked.

Surprised she’d remembered, Michelle said, ‘No. Not yet. I called this morning to see if there was any news, they said they’d get back to me.’

Molly shrugged, and apparently satisfied with her attempt to be nice, sailed off out of the door to where the PE teacher was waiting in her car.

‘Well, seems we’re not devil-spawn today,’ Katie remarked, coming into the kitchen and watching Molly go. ‘Honestly, I thought my mood swings were bad enough, hers make me feel positively
centred
. Speaking of which, it’s about time for my meditation, so I’ll leave you to it. Feel free to try calling Tom if you like.’

Michelle glanced at the clock. ‘Actually, I wouldn’t mind checking my email, if I can use your computer. Robbie’s probably sent a message, and some of the kids at the camp …’

‘Help yourself,’ Katie told her, gesturing towards the laptop she’d left open on the table, and she was about to start up the stairs when a car caught her eye out of the window. ‘Is that someone coming in here?’ she said, frowning.

Michelle peered over her shoulder and watched two middle-aged men in jeans, shirtsleeves and dark glasses getting out of a silver saloon car.

‘Anyone you know?’ Katie asked, as they headed towards the gate.

Michelle shook her head. ‘I don’t know anyone,’ she reminded her.

‘Then we must have won the lottery,’ Katie decided, ‘which would be a miracle since we don’t do it. Do we have any long-lost relatives who might have passed on? They look a bit grim.’

‘As far as I know it’s just us,’ Michelle answered, starting to feel vaguely uneasy.

‘OK, let’s find out who they are and what they want,’ Katie declared, as the front doorbell rang, and walking round the side of the house, she said, ‘Hello. Can I help you?’

The shorter and stockier of the two men reached into his pocket and started towards her. ‘Detective Inspector Wilding,’ he told her. ‘This is FBI Legal Attaché Fellowes. We’re looking for Michelle Rowe. Is she here?’

Katie turned as Michelle came to stand next to her.

‘I’m Michelle Rowe,’ she said, praying this wasn’t going to be about Tom, while knowing it must be – just please God let him be safe, and don’t let it be something to send Katie off the deep end again. ‘How can I help you?’

Wilding hadn’t removed his sunglasses, so it wasn’t possible for her to read anything beyond his words. ‘We’re making enquiries about a friend of yours, Tom Chambers?’ he told her.

‘What about him?’

‘The Pakistani authorities are interested to know when you were last in contact with him.’

Michelle’s eyes flicked to the other man – and he needs an FBI agent to hold his hand while he asks this, she was thinking. ‘Why would they want to know?’ she enquired politely.

‘He’s been reported missing,’ Wilding answered.

A pang of fear hit her heart. ‘By whom?’ She was looking straight at Fellowes. ‘Who’s reported him missing?’

Once again Wilding answered. ‘The Pakistani authorities are trying to locate him,’ he replied, which was actually no answer at all.

Wishing she’d made Tom tell her more about Josh Shine and the documents so she’d have a better idea of what she was dealing with now, she said, ‘Why are they looking for him? Has he done something wrong?’

Ignoring the question again he said, ‘Do you know where he is?’

‘I assume still in Pakistan, but I can’t tell you exactly where.’

‘When was your last contact with him?’

Willing Katie not to contradict her, Michelle said, ‘The day I left Pakistan.’

‘You haven’t spoken to him since?’

‘It’s only been five days.’

He allowed several seconds to elapse, then said, ‘Are you aware that he has connections with certain fundamentalist groups in Pakistan?’

Her hands began clenching at her sides. ‘He would call them contacts, or sources,’ she responded.

‘I’m sure he would, but if there’s anything you can tell us about these
contacts
you’d be wise to.’

She said nothing.

He sighed. ‘Miss Rowe, I doubt you need me to remind you what can happen to American journalists who get tied up with the wrong people in Pakistan,’ he said.

Michelle knew very well what he was alluding to and felt disgusted that anyone would use the tragic and barbaric murder of one of Tom’s colleagues in such an invidious way. ‘Can I see your ID again, please?’ she said, wanting them to know that she wasn’t quite as intimidated as they’d no doubt like her to be.

Wilding reached into his pocket. After scrutinizing his badge, she turned to the FBI agent and waited for him to produce his. ‘Thank you,’ she said, satisfied that they were who they were claiming to be.

‘Don’t you want to help him?’ Wilding enquired.

‘If I thought he needed it, of course I would,’ she replied.

‘Oh, where he is, he needs it,’ Wilding assured her.

Her face was taut as she said, ‘I thought you didn’t know where he was.’

‘You understand what I’m saying. You know the territory. You know it’s not a good place to disappear.’

Her only response was to stare at him, while the fear inside her grew. However, she and Tom had had too many run-ins with the likes of Wilding and Fellowes over the years for her to tell them anything until she’d tried tracking Tom down herself first.

Wilding shook his head in dismay. ‘You’re not doing him any favours,’ he warned.

Still she said nothing.

He turned to Katie.

Michelle tensed, but to her relief Katie stayed silent.

‘There comes a time,’ Wilding told her, ‘when it’s wiser to reveal the identity of a source, or the whereabouts of someone who’s in danger, who might not even know they’re in danger, than to keep it hidden.’

‘I’m afraid I don’t know who his sources are,’ Michelle responded. ‘And I’ve already told you, I don’t know where he is.’

Finally the FBI legal officer spoke. ‘If you suddenly recover your memory,’ he said, removing a card from his shirt pocket, ‘my cell is on twenty-four/seven.’

Taking the card she folded it in her palm and watched as both men turned to leave. Katie remained at her side, watching too. The sun
seemed
suddenly very hot, and neither of them spoke until the car had reversed from its parking spot and disappeared up the lane, leaving them with birdsong and butterflies and the bizarre tranquillity of an idyllic country setting.

Michelle was on the point of turning round when Katie said, ‘OK. I want you out of my house now.’

Michelle took a breath to protest.

‘I don’t want to hear it,’ Katie raged. ‘You just lied to them. They’re police for God’s sake, and this is the second time terrorism’s raised its head since you’ve been here. I’m not waiting for the next. So just go upstairs, pack your belongings and go back to wherever the hell you came from.’

‘Katie! Will you just listen?’

‘I’ve heard enough. I don’t want you here, Michelle, with all your lies and secrets and covering up for Tom. Now just take whatever’s yours and please be gone by the time I get back,’ and before Michelle could utter another word she marched across the garden and slammed out of the gate.

‘I’m sorry,’ Katie sobbed as Judy hugged her. ‘I know I’m probably overreacting, but I was so incensed when I heard her lie …’

‘Sssh, you don’t have to apologize,’ Judy soothed. ‘You know my door’s always open, and I’m glad I was here.’

‘I just don’t know what to do,’ Katie said, pulling away and attempting to calm down. ‘I thought we were getting somewhere, I started to open up and then the next thing I know the police are on my doorstep – what am I talking about, the
police
, like
it
was Reg Killet on his pushbike just popped over from Chippenham nick. It was the anti-terrorist squad, or Special Branch or …’

‘You don’t know that …’

‘I saw her face, Judy. And the other one was American. FBI, no less, and she damned well lied to them.’

‘You need to talk to her,’ Judy said. ‘Let her explain what’s happening, why she said what she did, and I’m sure it can all be sorted out.’

‘Judy, for God’s sake, we’re talking about terrorism here. I know that’s hard to digest when we’re in the middle of Membury Hempton where the worst explosions we get are from George Arnold’s rear end in church on Sundays … Don’t laugh, it wasn’t supposed to be funny. She’s brought it with her, Jude. Whether she meant to or not, it’s here, and I can’t deal with it. You must understand that. Molly has to have someone she can feel safe and secure with, and while Michelle is …’

‘Katie, stop! Take some deep breaths and count to ten. Make it a hundred, I’m in no hurry. No! Just do as I say. In, out, in, out. This is probably nowhere near as bad as you think, and if you just give her the chance to explain I’m sure you’ll find she’s needing to take a few deep breaths too. After all, she’s the one who’s just been told someone she loves is missing, or whatever he is, and we all know what happened to that poor American boy they took captive over there, so she’s probably got the fear of God in her now. Keep breathing, then take some time to think about how she’s feeling right now, and if, after you’ve discussed it, you still feel
it’s
better for her to go, I’m sure it’ll be a mutual agreement. I’m absolutely certain the last thing she wants is to cause you and Molly any more stress than you’re already going through.’