Yours Unfaithfully (24 page)

It was part of the security that each member of staff knew the other’s, so no intruder could try to pass themselves off as a new member of staff. There were passwords which could be used covertly in normal conversation to alert other members of staff to a situation. These words were banned from normal conversation, only to be used if needed. It was becoming apparent to Tim how seriously this household took security. He was now a member of a professional team, which meant he had to think security at all times.

“On your way to work in the morning you take a note of anyone following you. If you think you have a tail you drive straight past the gates and phone this number, which you save on your mobile under the name wife. If your phone gets stolen by no-goods that’s the first number they’ll ring. As soon as they do, we know we are on ‘Red’ alert. If you call the number, I’ll ask you what’s going down, but only after you’ve given me the codeword, so I know it’s you and that you don’t have a gun to your head. If you do have a gun to your head, you say whatever they tell you to, and I’ll know you’re in trouble. How long are you keeping that van?”

“Not long, why?”

“Every vehicle here has GPS tracking so I can watch it on screen every minute it’s out of here. As soon as you get something you intend to keep, I’ll get it fitted with a tracker. That way I can follow you if you get jumped. Look, don’t worry about all this, the chances are nothing will ever happen, but the best way to make sure nothing can go wrong is to have a system in place to deal with it, right?”

What Ian was saying made sense, everything he’d done today made sense, yet none of it was what he’d expected. One thing was nagging at him though. Was this job putting Mel or the kids in any kind of danger? He would have to talk to Mel about it tonight, let her decide. It did seem as if Ian was professional and everything was in place to make it as safe as possible.

“Ian, supposing I am at home one evening, one of my kids answers the door and before I can say or do anything a guy with a gun tells us to do exactly as we are told. Now I’m not about to get brave, or stupid, with my wife and kids to think of am I? How do I let you know I’m in trouble?”

“Do you know, Tim, I’ve been hoping you’d ask me that question all day. It proves beyond doubt that you’re the right man for this job, it proves I can trust you to be thinking, even in a difficult situation. OK here’s what you do. You take this tiny black box which you keep in your pocket and press it, like this.”

At once a shrill noise came from the control panel on Ian’s desk and a red dot flashed on the centre of a map on one of the screens. That map is showing me where the red situation is, so right now it’s showing here, see take a look, but this is also a GPS device so if I fix the control box up in your loft, one press of this button will tell me that you have got visitors. I can give you a second switch so you can hide it in another good location. Think of it as a panic button, keep it by the bed maybe, but it doesn’t sound an alarm in your house, it sounds one here. OK, Tim, you’ve done really well, so now it’s time to take you into town for your uniform.”

“Hang on a minute, Ian, Simon, I mean Mr Stonewood told me there was no uniform. He told me I would be wearing a suit and tie.”

“And so you will, Tim, which is why we are going to see Stefano, he’s the best tailor in town, have you heard of him?”

“Never, where is his shop?”

“Shop? Stefano doesn’t have a shop, he has an upstairs studio, not far from your wife’s bank. His clients know where he is and he doesn’t need to advertise, in fact most people have to wait a few weeks to get to see him. Mr Stonewood doesn’t have to wait, hence when I phoned him just now he said to come on down, you ready?”

Apparently when ‘Mr Stonewood’ spoke people jumped. The bank, for example, had gone to great lengths to fix him up with one of their trusted employee’s spouses. It seemed that the very mention of his name in high places would meet with an instant response.

“I suppose he doesn’t have to book for a table in the local Bistro either?”

“Well seeing as he owns it, I guess not.”

Ian drove them into town in his Renault Megane. They walked down the High Street until they reached the estate agent’s building on the corner, not far from Melanie’s bank. At the side door, Ian rang the bell and within seconds they were going up the stairs to the sound of Italian opera. Like so many artisans of Italian origin, Stefano was a character, expressive and assuring, happy in his work, for which he no doubt charged excessive amounts.

Before Tim could ask about fabric or colour, Ian had given Stefano his instructions. “The boss wants him to look the part, you know what he wants. When can we pick up the first suit?”

“I’ll take a few measurements now and then I’ll get my cutter onto it first thing tomorrow. If you can bring him back for a fitting on Wednesday morning I’ll have him looking marvellous first thing on Thursday. That’s the best I can do.” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled. Even for Mr Stonewood my girls cannot sew any faster. Some things are worth waiting for. Mr Stonewood knows about quality, he understands that my work cannot be hurried too much or the quality will suffer. That would never do, so Thursday it is ...OK?”

Ian knew there was no point in pushing Stefano. He knew what was needed and, in any case, Ian wouldn’t want to upset Mr Stonewood’s favourite tailor.

“That’ll be fine, do what you need to now and well see you again on Wednesday.”

Twenty minutes later they were in the Renault heading back to Nempsall Manor. “Funny isn’t it? You start work here and within a week your house will have better security than it had after your wife’s ten years in the bank.”

“I suppose the bank employ thousands of people in jobs like Mel’s, they couldn’t install security in all their houses could they?”

“Depends if they care enough about their staff? You will quickly learn that Mr Stonewood is a very generous man. Don’t ever do anything to offend him and he will take care of you and your family like you were part of his family. He likes loyalty and respect, but in turn he gives the same to his employees. We all think very highly of him. You won’t ever hear anyone bad mouth him for example, if you ever did do that he would know about it in minutes and you’d be history.”

“Thanks for the warning, but I wouldn’t do that. I’ve worked for my old firm for a long time and I’ve never said a bad word about them. When I rang to say I was leaving without notice I apologised and said I’d forfeit the money owed to me. They were very good about it, but I know they were unhappy at me leaving. I was their top mechanic for the whole fleet.”

Tim’s first day in his new job was almost over. It hadn’t been a bit like he’d expected. They headed straight for Ian’s office, where a fellow Tim had not met before was sitting at Ian’s desk.

Ian spoke first, to Tim. “I suppose you’re wondering when you’ll get to meet the boss... and when you’ll get to see the car?”

“Yes, I am if I’m honest.”

“Well, the answer is now and in five minutes. Simon, this is Tim Fisher.”

Simon Stonewood was nothing like Tim had expected, a small man, slightly bent over from rheumatism, with a slight hump on his back. He had a kindly face, sort of like Father Christmas, but not the usual fat one. Tim took Simon’s extended hand into his and they smiled at each other like old friends. He had only spoken to Simon once before and that was from France.

Ian tells me you’ve done well today. He’s got you sorted out with something to wear – that’s good. Tomorrow I need to go up to town so you’ll just have to wear what you’ve got on. You’ll be fine. Oh, and we’ll be back by seven or thereabouts. Your wife will get used to our odd hours, but tell her not to worry, she’ll see plenty of you. I won’t keep you apart more than I have to, but we sometimes have to stay away overnight, you knew that of course.”

“I kind of expected it,” Tim said. I’m really looking forward to working with you and I’ll give you one hundred per cent, you can rest assured of that.”

“I know, Tim, I did a lot of checking on you before I asked them to get you to ring me. Well, I think Ian wants to show you the car, so I’ll leave you to it now. Please pick me up at the front of the house at nine, once you drop me off in China Town you can go over to the Mercedes dealer where I’ve arranged for you to have a four hour course on the car. Your mechanical experience will be most helpful and I shall be reassured knowing you have been shown all of the devices on the car.”

After wishing them both well, Simon departed and Ian led the way to the garage. This is what Tim had been waiting for all day. The next hour felt like ten minutes as Tim went over the car. It’s got a V12 lump in it, develops five hundred and fifty horse power, goes like shit off a shovel, but take my tip, don’t push it until you’re used to it. This isn’t like one of your trucks; this is more like steering a rocket, just watch you don’t take off!”

Driving home was surreal. Five minutes ago he had been in the seat of one of the world’s most expensive cars; now he was driving this excuse for a van. Tim wondered if Simon would ever let him take the Maybach home for the night. Just imagine sticking that on your drive. It was half past six when he walked through the door and Mel was waiting to serve the meal, which had been ready for half an hour.

“If it’s ruined you can blame your new boss, or maybe yourself. Do you think you could ring me if you’re going to be late? Come on, sit down before you tell me everything.”

“Well, for starters I’m off to London tomorrow, so I won’t be back before seven; I’ll eat in the day if you like to save you getting food at that time of night.”

Tim related the day’s events, proudly detailing how he’d shunted two cars to escape from an ambush.

“I’ve now got the best tailor in town, Stefano. He’s just near your bank but I bet you’ve never even heard of him, right?”

“Wrong actually, Randy gets his suits there, reckons he knows more about cutting fabric than anyone outside of London. We all reckon it’s because he likes having Stefano feel his crutch at the fitting. Did they tell you he’s gay?”

“No they bloody didn’t and anyway that’s bullshit. Stefano’s as straight as I am, I’d put money on it. Last thing tonight I met the man himself, not a bit like I expected. A nice guy though, I think I’ll get on well with him, I’ll soon know tomorrow.”

“Well that’s tomorrow, Tim, but tonight you’ve got another little task to take care of... remember?”

“Can’t it wait Mel? I’ve had a long day and I need to be up early tomorrow. Nina can wait until the weekend. After all it isn’t like I’m going to give her good news is it?”

“Tim, she knows you were going to see Ben last night, so if you don’t get round there soon she’ll be round here and I don’t want to be there when you tell her what he’s decided. Please get round there and stay there until she’s OK... you hear me? Don’t just give her the bad news and then piss off back here, leaving her to cry all night. Your mate got you into this mess, you sort it out. I’ll see you later, but if I’m asleep when you come in be quiet, you can tell me all about it tomorrow after work.”

Tim put his shoes back on and begrudgingly made for the kitchen door. This was a task he could do without, one that Ben should be sorting out, instead of which Ben was probably out clubbing with Beckie while he had to break the news to Nina. Typical of Ben. At least she was pleased to see him and sat herself down next to him on the cream leather sofa. “Come on, Tim, tell me everything he said. Has he finished with that little tart yet?”

Tim felt a sense of revulsion at her description of Beckie. She was so bloody unfair, what did she know of her to call her a tart? He had spent some time with Ben and Beckie last night and he knew for certain that Beckie was not a tart, far from it. He wanted to say, ‘She’s a lovely, vibrant full of life young woman who’s transformed Ben’s life into something better, better than it could ever have been with you,’ but there was no way he could say that and escape alive.

“Nina, it’s not as simple as you seem to think. Firstly they are still together and I know you’re going to be angry, but last night when I met Ben at the Globe he had Beckie with him. I promise you I didn’t know he was bringing her.”

“What’s she like, is she still in school uniform?”

“Nina, she’s at least twenty and I have to be honest with you... she’s a nice person, I’m sorry, but she is. They seem really happy together. Nina, he isn’t coming back, not at the moment anyway.”

“Well, you’ve changed your tune. Some friend you’ve turned out to be, especially after what happened last time you came round, or have you forgotten?”

“Nina, I haven’t forgotten that night. I will never, ever forget what we did that night. It was so wrong. I love Mel, as you well know, and I took advantage of you when we were both feeling low. I shouldn’t have and I’m very, very sorry. I don’t know what else to say except I hope we can stay friends. I would have loved to come round tonight and say Ben will be back next weekend, but he won’t. What more can I do Nina?”

She was crying again, and not without good reason, given the news he had just imparted to her. He watched for several minutes, thinking that she had brought all this on herself. How could he have any pity on her? But as the minutes passed, it became more difficult to watch another being suffer, and she was suffering. Despite her part in driving Ben away, she didn’t deserve to be so desperately unhappy. He placed his arm around her shoulder and she instantly pushed herself into his side, seizing the protection he was offering from the misery that was now her life, her life alone. She wanted the luxury of someone to hold her, someone to care if she was happy or not, but the strange thing was that she had never had either of these things when she was with Ben and she hadn’t needed them. It was only now he was gone that she understood the pain of loneliness, of knowing he wasn’t coming back, not tonight, not ever.

She clung to Tim, desperate for whatever affection he could spare her. She knew it would be hard for him to give her the support she wanted now that his relationship with Mel was back on track. She shouldn’t even be thinking like that, but it was easy to be righteous when you had the love of a man; much more difficult when the only man who would share any time with you was the husband of your best friend.