His eyes narrow. ‘Explain.’
She smiles at the memory of the half-dozen, clearly fake letters that arrived before his. She’d known, the day she met his mother, that the grieving, unbalanced woman was their most likely author. ‘I’ve received lots of letters from inmates in prison,’ she says. ‘I can tell when they aren’t genuine. I knew you hadn’t written those early ones. They were decent fakes, I don’t imagine most people would have spotted the difference, but I did.’
Now the smile looks real. ‘So all I had to do was ask. Not a question, by the way.’
‘As you said yourself, I wanted to meet you. Thousands of women secretly want to meet you. The charismatic killer fascinates us. Don’t over-rely on its effect, though. Curiosity got me here first time. Then you appealed to my better nature. You’ll have to work hard for a third visit. Is it my turn again?’
He nods.
‘What do you miss most?’ she asks him.
His eyes fall. She is about to remind him of the immediacy rule when he answers. ‘My dog.’ He looks up and his eyes are a little brighter. ‘Just about everything else I can replicate to some extent. I still see my parents. I have company, of sorts. I can read. I can shut my eyes and go to all sorts of places in my head. I can dream that I’m climbing, running, flying my plane, but I will probably never see my dog again.’
‘Why is she called Daisy?’
He doesn’t hesitate. ‘Because she’s sweet, and faithful and beautiful. And because she adores me. And you’ve jumped your turn. Where did you do your law degree?’
So far he is being easy on her. ‘I didn’t. My first degree was in a science subject. I did a Graduate Diploma in Law and then my Bar Professional Training Course at City University. Pupillage with Gray’s Inn.’
‘But you never appear in court?’
‘Is that your third question?’ she asks.
‘No. My third question is why don’t you appear in court? Why do you avoid the limelight?’
Another prisoner passes close by their table, forcing her to lift her bag from the floor, giving her a few extra seconds. ‘Bestselling authors are anonymous celebrities,’ she says. ‘That’s how I like it. My privacy is important and appearing in high-profile court cases would jeopardize that.’
He leans forward. ‘What are you trying to hide?’
She mirrors him. ‘Do you really believe the only people who value privacy have something to hide?’
‘Is that your fifth question?’
‘No, nor is it my fourth.’ She glances down and finds the folded sheet of paper she’d brought with her. It is a copy. The original magazine article is in her files at home. She puts it on the table and turns it to face him. ‘My fourth is, how do you feel when you see this?’
Chapter 40
Hello! magazine, September 2015 issue
CLAIRE AND TOM CELEBRATE THEIR HAPPY NEWS
Claire Cole was beaming with health and happiness as she showed off the Chelsea home she shares with her fiancé Tom Flannigan. Just days after announcing Claire’s pregnancy, they welcome Hello! staff to their stylish penthouse apartment on Chelsea Embankment, with its stunning views over the river.
The baby (the couple are keeping mum about the sex) is due in March, and the parents-to-be are hoping for a straightforward, uneventful delivery at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, ideally not on a match day.
‘March is mid season for Tom,’ Claire says, one hand holding tight to the man she clearly adores, the other resting lightly on her barely discernible bump. ‘So we just have to keep our fingers crossed the baby doesn’t arrive during a big game. I’m not sure how José will feel about losing his star striker at a moment’s notice.’
The supermodel’s new-found happiness is in marked contrast to the difficult time that surrounded the break-up of her previous engagement, to eminent surgeon Hamish Wolfe. ‘Hamish’s betrayal nearly broke me,’ she has previously admitted. ‘After two years together, it was heartbreaking to find out I had no idea who he really was.’
Those dark days are behind her now. Tom’s eyes seldom leave his beautiful fiancée. The future of this young family looks assured.
(Maggie Rose: case file 062/118 Hamish Wolfe)
Chapter 41
MAGGIE ESTIMATES IT will take Hamish two minutes to read the article. He looks up after several seconds.
‘Fourteen women and two gay blokes sent me this cutting,’ he says. ‘One woman sends me every clip on Claire and Flannigan that she can find.’
‘So how do you feel about it?’
He shrugs. ‘Glad she’s OK. Not sure about the future being assured business. I met that twat. He must have had a fistful of coke up his nose.’