‘It might’ve been Moody. Jason’s dad.’
‘Why?’
‘He’s involved with the company,’ said Helen, ‘and he has a hold over Letitia. Or maybe she has something on him.’ She paused. ‘And there’s something else.’
‘What?’
‘Something to do with my mother’s death. He knows I’ve been trying to find out what happened, and he doesn’t like it. The irony is, I don’t actually know anything, but I doubt if he’ll believe that, so I’m going to search Letitia’s flat to find out what’s going on between them. Ruth gave me her spare key. Letitia’s gone out of town.’
‘Blimey, they don’t like each other much, them two sisters.’
‘Can’t stand the sight of each other.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ said Charlie.
‘No.’
‘Why do you get to do all the fun stuff?’
‘This isn’t about having fun. I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.’
‘Nothing will happen if she’s away.’
‘Christ, you can’t take no for an answer, can you?’ Helen rolled her eyes. ‘Okay then, but we’ll go later when it’s dark.’
She’d go through Letitia’s private papers, and in hindsight it was a good idea Charlie came too because whatever else she was, she was a person who worked systematically and methodically. Perhaps they could find something – anything – to get Moody off her back and help Letitia in the process. They had to at least try.
They returned to Fay’s bedside but found Fay drifting in and out of a drug-induced sleep, occasionally mumbling something unintelligible. Unable to make contact with her, they whispered their final plans for later to combat their anxiety, until the nurse told them they had to leave.
Charlie went to the loo, and Helen cast one final glance at Fay, making sure she was comfortable.
Suddenly her eyes flew open, and she gave a drowsy smile. ‘You’re safe,’ she whispered.
‘Yes, I’m safe.’ Helen took her hand. ‘Thanks to you.’
‘The … car …?’
‘The police are questioning witnesses. They’ll find it. Please don’t worry about it. Just concentrate on getting better.’
Closing her eyes again, Fay heaved a sigh. ‘Don’t … do anything … stupid.’
‘I won’t,’ said Helen, but Fay was out cold again.
Still shaking with anger, Jason left his father. The knuckles on his right hand were sore from where he’d hit him, and now that he’d put some physical distance between himself and Derek, his own actions appalled him. Although he’d been angry with his father many times and even tempted to hit him, he never had. Resorting to violence just wasn’t his thing.
Not even close.
This time, however, he’d almost lost all reason. When Helen told him about the car, his first reaction had been disbelief, that she was making it up because it was in her interest to widen the gap between himself and his father.
Then he’d realised that this was the last thing she’d ever do. Didn’t she always talk about families and loyalties? She wouldn’t want it on her conscience, creating a breach between a son and his father. Derek had threatened her, but that was the same old story, no one was good enough for his son unless the choice was Derek’s own.
He’d dismissed it. Rarely did he allow himself to become involved, and on top of that it had been different with Helen from the start. His father had sensed that. It never occurred to him there was more to it, not until Trevor’s revelation.
But how far did it go?
Back at his father’s office he’d threatened Derek with the police, but did he really have what it took to send his own father to prison?
Jason returned to the hospital. He had to talk to Helen but hardly knew where to start. For years she’d been haunted by what happened to her mother, obsessed by it even. No matter how angry Jason was with his father, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that he’d run her over deliberately. Jones perhaps, acting on his own, but surely not Derek? And if he was wrong, he was in possession of the answers to all her questions.
Helen had been right about questioning his loyalties. Whatever his feelings for her, he couldn’t imagine himself as the one to bring his father down. Not unless he was left with no other choice.
In ICU the nurse told him Fay had woken up briefly. ‘Her friends saw her for a short while, but I warned them not to stay too long. Mrs Cooper is very weak, and we don’t want to tax her.’ She looked down at a clip board, then up again. ‘You wouldn’t be Jason, would you?’