Exposure (26 page)

After a pause he said, ‘But she might admit it to you.'

‘Yes. She trusts me. She thinks I'm on her side. And I am, of course, so long as it's not a conflict of interests with you. Let me take her out to lunch and have a heart-to-heart with her. I may even be able to reassure her if she is afraid. A little morale booster.' She smiled at him. ‘Bluster doesn't always work, you know.'

William Western looked at his wife. Serene and beautiful, a kindly mentor for a young woman who could be in mortal danger.

‘You know,' he remarked, ‘you're more ruthless than I am.'

‘When something threatens you, I certainly am. Leave Julia to me.'

‘Did she say why she wanted to meet you?' Ben asked.

‘No, she just suggested lunch, and I couldn't exactly say no,' Julia answered. ‘She was always very sweet to me, especially when I started on the
Herald
. Ben, I was wondering – do you think I could ask her about Western? She might confide in me.'

He shook his head. For all her flair, Julia was still naïve about some people.

‘No,' he said flatly. ‘My guess is she's hoping
you're
going to confide in
her
. Sweetheart, I know she's a charming lady and she took you round the dress shops and all the rest of it, but she's his wife and you don't live with a prize shit like Western for forty years without some of it rubbing off. You told me they were hand in glove, so just be careful. Don't get conned and don't tell her anything you wouldn't say to him. Promise?'

‘All right,' Julia agreed. ‘But you're wrong about her. She's always been a friend to me. Don't be such a cynic'

‘Just remember,' he insisted. ‘She's on Western's side, not yours. Don't be too trusting.'

He hoped Julia would listen to him, but he wasn't sure.

They met at the Hyde Park Hotel.

Julia was early and, as usual, Evelyn Western was late. She came in smiling and apologetic. ‘My dear – I'm so sorry. I do hope you haven't been waiting long. The traffic was frightful coming through the park. Now, let's have a drink while we look at the menu, shall we?'

She had an ageless beauty; she was as distinguished in appearance as her husband was commonplace. People were watching her admiringly as she led the way into the restaurant.

‘I asked for a table by the window,' she said. ‘I love this view of the park, don't you? You're looking very pretty as usual. Charming colour that deep yellow. Most imaginative with your red hair.'

Julia warmed to her, she couldn't help it.

‘Thanks to you, Lady Western. One of the first dresses you advised me to buy was a buttercup yellow. I wore it till it fell to bits.'

‘Good heavens,' Evelyn said. ‘So I did. What a long time ago it was. How many years? And look how well you've done.'

‘Thanks to Lord Western. He gave me the opportunities.'

‘He's always promoted young talent. He recognized yours from the very beginning. He really thinks the world of you, you know.'

‘That's very nice,' Julia said. Evelyn Western gave her a confiding look, and said, ‘He's much maligned. People don't understand what a remarkable man he is, and deep down how genuine and sincere. I've often said to him his manner is so off-putting. He blusters.' She smiled indulgently. ‘I suppose men feel they have to be macho.

‘It would be a tragedy if he lost everything he's built up. This wonderful newspaper, all the other businesses. He's given employment to thousands. I don't have to tell you that the pension schemes are the most generous in the communications industry. William cares very much for his people. He'd never show it or say so, but, of course, he does to me.'

She leaned a little forward. ‘That's why he needs your help, Julia. That horrible creature King is out to smash my husband and take everything from him. He's raised a huge sum of money, millions and millions in America, to mount an attack on us and get his hands on the
Herald
. It would kill William if he succeeded. And I wouldn't be able to bear it, either.'

‘Lady Western,' Julia said slowly. ‘I'm trying, I really am.'

‘It's very brave of you after what happened to Jean Adams.'

Julia was unprepared for that. Evelyn Western went on, ‘My husband talked to me about it. He was worried that you might feel in danger and didn't like to say so. But you
must
say if that's what's the matter. He wouldn't blame you – nobody would. I'm sure Ben Harris would take over from you.'

‘Ben would love me to give up on this. He's tried to talk me out of it, he even went to your husband … but I'm not giving up. I want to see Harold King in jail and I'm going to put him there. He's a murderer. I cut my teeth as a journalist on those terrible child murders in Rhys. I was very green, very inexperienced. But I stuck it out because I wanted whoever did it caught and punished. That's how I feel about King. Don't worry about me, Lady Western. I'm going on and I think I may just have found a clue. Would you do me a favour?'

‘Of course,' Evelyn Western said. ‘If I possibly can. What is it?'

‘I'd like a week's leave. Would you suggest it to your husband? Say I need to have a short break away from the office. If I ask him myself he'll think I'm bottling out, or else he'll want to know why and where and what for. And at this point I can't tell him. Could you do it?'

‘I should think so. He knows we're lunching. You can't tell me, I suppose?'

Don't be too trusting
, Ben had insisted.
She's on his side, not yours
… For a moment Julia was tempted to confide. She looked into the fine blue eyes that were gazing into hers with such intensity.

‘I'd rather not,' she said.

‘Forgive me for asking,' Evelyn Western said. ‘It's just that I'm so anxious about what may happen. Time is the enemy, my dear. We have so little to spare. Don't fail, will you?'

‘No,' Julia promised. ‘I won't. I promise you.'

‘You were wrong,' Julia said. ‘She wasn't pumping me.'

Ben shrugged. Evelyn Western hadn't tried to prise information out of Julia.

What she had done was apply the most powerful pressure on her to continue without regard for her own safety. It was all very subtle, playing on Julia's gratitude for her help in the past. Western – a man who cared about his employees. Genuine and sincere. Ben had kept his temper while Julia repeated the conversation. She couldn't see through it. She liked and trusted Evelyn Western. ‘He'll give you the leave and pretend he doesn't know it's a put-up job between you. Darling, she'll tell him everything you said. Not that it matters.'

‘Nothing matters,' Julia insisted. ‘Except that I get to Jersey before Christmas. And everyone thinks I'm on holiday.'

‘It would be more convincing if I came with you,' he suggested.

‘No. I couldn't stay with my cousins. That's all part of it. It's got to look absolutely genuine. You can't hold my hand all the time.'

She reached out and squeezed his. ‘Even though I like it,' she added. ‘Let me do it my way, Ben. If I come up with something we'll be on course again. And flying.'

She changed the subject.

‘Any news of Lucy?' He was in regular touch with his daughter.

‘She called this morning. She's feeling sick, but otherwise she's fine. God, I'll be a grandfather by next April. I'm rather looking forward to it.'

Julia laughed. ‘I know you are. You talk about other people conning – you're the biggest fraud of the lot. Grouchy old Harris, hates the world. It was just a big act.'

She kissed him lightly. ‘You're a soft touch.'

‘If I am,' he said, ‘it's thanks to you. What do you want for Christmas?'

Julia pretended to consider. ‘Mink coat – no, that's old-fashioned. I don't want to get spat at in the street. Some little number with a few diamonds.' She loved teasing him. Then seriously. ‘A weekend at Fordingbridge after Christmas. To make up for the one that rotten Felix promised me. That's what I'd like.'

‘That's what you'll have,' he promised. ‘But I don't fish.'

‘I don't either. We can get lessons. Who's going to look after poor Pussy?'

‘I'll ask the porter. If I give him a fiver, he'll feed her while we're away.'

They spent a quietly happy evening, watching television and talking. Before she went to sleep beside him, Julia thought suddenly, this is like marriage, this mix of passion and companionship. I've never been bored since the day I went to the pub and we had our first drink together. Angered sometimes, frustrated, confused by him, but never bored. She slid her arm round him and moved closer, then fell asleep.

‘He's asked me out to the theatre and dinner,' Gloria said.

Her father looked up suspiciously. ‘You're not going? With that creep?'

‘He's got seats for the new Branagh production of
Othello
. I'd like to see it. Besides, you told me to chat him up, Daddy.'

‘That was then,' King said abruptly. He thought she looked disappointed. ‘Do you want to go?'

She hesitated. ‘Not if you don't want me to. I'd like to see the play, that's all.'

Immediately King softened. ‘Go on then, darling, if you'll enjoy it. You won't have to go to Mummy's charity gala!'

They laughed.

‘I wasn't anyway. That sort of thing bores me as much as it does you, Daddy,' Gloria said.

Leo Derwent. She was surprised by the invitation. And intrigued. She had gleaned from her father that he had peculiar sexual tastes. She wondered what they were.

She put on some very expensive jewellery that night. Leo Derwent paid her a nice compliment. ‘You're looking great, Gloria. Love the dress.' He thought she looked like a big cabbage doll hung with diamonds. Grotesque. He wished he hadn't booked at such a smart restaurant for dinner afterwards. He was sure to be seen …

The play absorbed Gloria. That was a relief to him. She didn't talk through the performance; they had champagne in the interval, and she surprised him by making intelligent comments on the play and its interpretation. Briefly he forgot how unattractive she was. But dinner was laboured. She had no small talk after the subject of the play was exhausted. Mindful of the motive for the evening, Leo prompted her to talk about her trip to the States.

She became animated. ‘It was fascinating. I'd gone on trips with my father before, but this was special. You know, he's teaching me everything.'

Leo smiled at her. ‘Grooming you for stardom?'

She smiled back, a little colour in her pale cheeks. ‘Yes. One day he wants me to take over.'

‘Really?' Leo wasn't bored any longer. ‘What a challenge – think you can do it?'

She was defensive. ‘Why not? He thinks I can. He says I've got the same kind of business brain.'

He said, ‘You're too attractive to be that clever.'

She didn't simper. She didn't blush. She stared at him with King's pale eyes and said, ‘I'm not attractive to men.'

He wasn't fazed. He laughed at her. ‘Come on, Gloria, you know that's not true. You've got a hell of a lot going for you. Why be defensive about it?'

‘I've got Daddy's money going for me, I know that,' she said.

‘I think you've got it wrong,' he said. He was enjoying playing this odd creature like a fish. More of a barracuda, he suspected. ‘Money like yours could be a real turn off for most men. It'd scare them to death. How to cope with a girl who has everything … How to live up to a father-in-law like Harold King. Have you ever thought of it like that? Have you had a lot of boyfriends?' Then he played it softly. ‘If you don't mind me asking … Just say so …'

She considered for a moment. Other men had dated her, but seldom more than once or twice. She'd been bored and so had they. Manifestly. This foxy-faced man with his sharp mind was a challenge. He wasn't talking to her as if she was a rich dumbo.

‘I'm not attracted
by
men,' she said and stared at him. She wondered how he would field that. He allowed a little smile to appear on his lips. They were thin lips over sharp, narrow teeth that were very white.

‘I'd say that was because you've never met a man who knew how to cope with you,' he said. ‘You're very like your father. Strong personality, quite a challenge to a man. Do you like girls?'

‘Everyone knows
you
like them,' she said. She was rewarded by a change of expression. Just a flash of antagonism. She wondered why.

‘Some girls,' he said. He smiled at the bitch, probing the remark for hidden malice. She hadn't answered his question about her own sexual preferences. She had avoided that one. He decided it was time to change direction. He had found out one interesting piece of information. King was grooming her as his successor. Taking her on trips to the States. Letting her in on some of his business activities. He would like to know what those activities were, and pass on the information.

If King had set out to destroy him, he was going to hit back at King where it would hurt him most. By using his daughter, with the help of Julia Hamilton. They ordered a last course, and Gloria chose the richest pudding on the menu. He was careful with his figure. He made do with sorbet, which he didn't even like, just to keep her company. She didn't speak, absorbed in eating. Then she said, ‘Don't you like food? I love it.'

‘I'm as greedy as the next man, but I have to watch my weight. Fat politicians aren't a good example in our health-conscious society.'

She looked at him in faint contempt. ‘Do you care about things like that? I wouldn't.'

‘I care about making the right impression,' he said. ‘I'm an ambitious bastard. Everyone knows
that
, too. I want to get to the top of the ladder. If it means watching my waistline, so be it.'