Relatively Innocent Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Copyright

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Epilogue

  RELATIVELY

  INNOCENT

  GILL MATHER

  About the Book

  This novel, the third in the Colchester Law World series and previously published under the pen-name of Julie Langham, explores the separate lives of two women, Alison and Sarah, tenuously connected through the solicitor Hugh Sutherland and his friend DI Andrew Hunter.

  Alison is a solicitor specialising in divorce and family matters. She is a partner in the Colchester solicitors' practice of Patterson, Watts & Trimble (PWT). Though it's her job to guide others through the turmoil of relationship breakdown, her own marriage is far from happy.

  Sarah is a modestly successful author and is also a resident of Colchester. She is independent and spurns serious relationships. Ultimately, she can't do without help from others, especially when she becomes drawn into strange and very unpleasant criminal incidents which arise in her neighbourhood.

  Without either realising it, the women's fates are intertwined and the courses of their romantic attachments run very much in parallel to one another, like threads through the fabric of time. Largely unconsciously, one woman’s almost passing decision to break a confidence affects the other. Andrew’s and Hugh’s actions also inadvertently affect the outcome.

  None of us can know what outcomes our actions will accidentally produce for ourselves and others nor the effect others’ actions will have on our own lives. We can only swim about in the soup of human activity. Each of us can only react to the well-spring of his or her sub-conscious mind and what it throws up to motivate and stimulate us. None of us in control, even if we think we are.

  This is the third story in the series and not the last. Familiar characters will return.

  To John T

  For his kind support

  All rights reserved

  © Gill Mather 2016

  The right of Gill Mather to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This book is a work of fiction and except in the case of historical fact and actual place names, any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or to locations or places mentioned in the book is purely coincidental

  PROLOGUE

  August

  THE BABY STARED intently up into his father’s eyes and the father down into the baby’s. Periodically, say every five seconds or so, the father planted a kiss on the baby’s head or face or sometimes his little clenched fists. And in between the kisses, he was telling the baby he was the most beautiful, bewitching, most adorable creature ever to have entered into existence, oblivious of the amused glances of the people circulating around him. By and by the baby, rocked gently by his father, fell into a slumber, utterly at rest, his previously closed fingers now relaxed,

  From time to time the baby would jump and then relax again into his father’s arms and a happy, contented smile spread over the father’s face as he continued to observe his infant son and wished that his paternity leave could last forever. That is if you could call it paternity leave with all the effort involved in leaving one solicitors’ practice and setting up his own. And he was taking cases already if any came his way. He couldn't afford not to.

  Though the garden was open to the picturesque Essex/Suffolk border countryside, there was hardly any breeze and the sun shone brightly over the gathering. Hugh Sutherland, rather hung over from a pre-christening stag night the evening before, sank down on a bench next to his best friend and the best friend’s girlfriend. The baby grumbled a touch in his sleep at having his position altered slightly and Hugh rearranged himself and the baby to be as close as possible to his previous stance. It was a sultry late August day but Hugh still fussed about whether Joshie was warm enough.

  “You should have one of these,” he said to Graham and Amanda.

  “We’ll see,” said Graham.

  “You couldn’t get me a drink could you?” Hugh asked Graham.

  “Are you sure you should? Wouldn’t Ali mind you being drunk in charge?”

  “I’m not drunk. I just need something to steady me after last night. Good night eh?”

  Amanda, left alone with Hugh, touched the baby’s hand nearest to her, telling Hugh he really was a lovely baby.

  Hugh sighed. “I can't imagine how we managed without him.” He glanced over at a new arrival. “Oh Christ. Not him. He wasn't in the church.” He frowned. “And he’s here on his own. I’ll have to go and see what he’s up to with Ali.”

  Amanda smiled when she saw the source of all the consternation. It was Ali’s ardent admirer Phil. Amanda had heard all about him from Ali and had seen the pictures of various office dos which included Phil. As Amanda already knew, he was a serious thorn in Hugh’s side.

  “I thought we’d seen the back of him when Ali left the Cambridge firm. But oh no. He has to turn up here,” Hugh grumbled. “Tell Graham sorry about the drink. I’ll come and get it later.” And he went off as quickly as he could with Joshie starting to object to being disturbed again.

  Hugh found his wife in the kitchen with Samantha who was helping with the catering. They always helped each other out like this. Hugh got in the back door just as Phil was bending to hug and kiss Ali. Hugh coughed but neither of them took any notice.

  “I think he might want feeding soon,” said Hugh loudly and stroppily. Phil turned, saw Hugh and looked at Joshie.

  “Oh he’s so cute. You are clever Ali. Can I hold him?”

  “`Course you can,” said Ali. “Well hand him over Hugh. Phil’s probably soberer than you are.”

  Hugh had no choice. He noted sourly that the baby settled in Phil’s arms as though he belonged there.

  “Sorry I missed the church. But Caroline took forever to get ready. I nagged and nagged but it didn't do any good.”

  “Caroline!” said Hugh perking up and he fixed Ali with one of his wicked smiles.

  “Yes,” said Ali, “Phil’s been telling me about her. They’re practically engaged.” Hugh’s smile broadened, though he wondered when all this information got exchanged. He had only arrived in the kitchen a millisecond after Phil.

  A flame-red-haired vision of loveliness wafted in at that moment. She took Phil’s arm possessively, jolting the baby who stirred and started to grizzle. She said her hellos to Ali and Hugh but as soon as she decently could, she demanded that they go outside to the marquee where the food and drink was laid out implying that a strenuous sex session before they
set out had given her a huge appetite. She more or less ordered Phil to hand the baby back. Joshie was looking at Caroline with a down-turned mouth, a sure sign that he was about to howl.

  “Darling, if we have any,” said Caroline as they went out, “you’ll have to employ an army of nannies. I always think babies look their best in magazine photos when you can't hear them and don't have to touch them.”

  Hugh pulled a face and said: “Well I’m glad to see Phil’s found himself such a nice girl. Ali I really think he does need a feed though.”

  “Come on then,” she said and they disappeared upstairs.

  ALISON, ONE OF Hugh’s former partners at PWT and a junior partner as Hugh had been, was chatting and laughing with another partner Baz and his outsized wife. But eventually, gluttony had got the better of Baz’s wife and Baz had to be led back to the marquee for seconds.

  D I Andrew Hunter, who had been at Hugh’s pre-Christening stag night and was therefore considerably hung over himself, saw Alison standing alone and moved in her direction. The hang over was giving him dutch courage. Ordinarily he might not have.

  They made desultory conversation (haven't seen you for years etc) for a time until he said:

  “Well you look happy.”

  “Yeah. Delirious.” Alison looked away.

  Something in her manner prompted him to say: “You still with….what was his name….Dave?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Daniel. Yes,” she said rather aggressively.

  “Don't say it like that,” he laughed.

  “How am I supposed to say it then? In Japanese? Or maybe standing on my head or turning triple back somersaults?”

  He recalled she’d always had a bit of a mouth on her and smiled in response. So, he concluded, there was something up there.

  “Is, er, Daniel here then?”

  “No,” she said shortly reinforcing the impression. She didn't ask about his personal circumstances and he was glad she hadn't. Who wanted to admit a failed marriage and two children, somewhat traumatised from the fallout, now having to get used to a new step-dad. He supposed it was common enough but he’d found it unspeakably traumatic himself. He was going to ask her if she’d ever had any children but decided it was probably best to steer clear of family issues, about him and her at least.

  “So the proud daddy seems to be taking to fatherhood like a duck to water. I didn't realise he was such a big softy.”

  “Neither did any of us until Ali came on the scene. But, you know, he was just the same as before at work. It would have been a bit nauseating if he’d gone all soppy in the office too.”

  “Cynic!”

  “Well life’s little iniquities tend to make one so. Not to mention the work. One gets an overdose of human nature in my job. Yours too I expect.”

  “Very much so.”

  He found that their eyes had become locked. As always in these situations he wondered if he should be the first to look away or not. He started to recall what he must have been subconsciously aware of when he went over, which was that he’d had quite a thing about her years ago when she was a young solicitor still doing crime and appearing in the mags court and he was a young DC, and they were both in their mid-twenties. It actually wasn't aeons ago. Ten or eleven years maybe. She was already married by then and he’d tried not to show it. But their eyes had met before on a few occasions, just like now. The messages were unclear now as they had been then.

  “Your glass is empty,” he said at length. “Shall we go and get a refill?”

  ALI WAS TRYING TO JOSTLE with what seemed like a huge crowd of people in the kitchen while making more sandwiches and chatting to her very best friend Samantha about Joshie.

  “Thank goodness he sleeps almost through the night apart from a feed but he goes straight back to sleep. It’ll be invaluable when Hugh goes back to work properly.”

  “You’re lucky. Mine screamed non-stop the little buggers. Oh hello,” Sam said to Amanda and Graham. “We were hoping sandwiches would keep people happy at this juncture. Do you know, they’ve eaten everything. Ali and I’ve been in here since about six this morning putting together mountains of little bites and I spent the whole day at home yesterday doing it too. The greedy so and sos have eaten the lot. Ali’s worn out aren’t you? I can tell.”

  “Well we’ve raided every cupboard in the place and we’re down to chicken, mayo and salad. And I’m having to make the mayo. And we’ll have to grill some more bacon. And unfreeze some more bread. Graham you couldn’t open a few more wine bottles could you. And put some beer in the freezer. It’s been so warm everyone’s guzzled it far faster than we’d thought they would.”

  Thereby Amanda and Graham were pressed into service. Hugh had taken Joshie outside again to walk him around.

  “So when’s the grand opening of the mighty Sutherland Chambers?” Sam asked. She and Ali had put all the extra food in the marquee and left it for the hordes to fall upon.

  “In two months’ time. About the beginning or middle of October. We’ve yet to set an exact date. I’m still trying to sort out staff. Apart from Sheila of course.” Sheila was Hugh’s trusty long time secretary at Patterson Watts & Trimble. “And getting the place properly decorated. It’s costing a fortune.”

  “Tell me about it,” said his guarantor in the next seat.

  “Don’t worry. Your guarantee won't be called upon.”

  “I’ve every faith in you.” Graham rolled his eyes. “After all. You’ve got a family to provide for. No time for slacking.”

  “Who says crime doesn’t pay.” Hugh retorted. “I reckon we should break even in the first year. No trouble.”

  Graham actually wasn’t worried but liked bugging his friend. He knew that one of the biggest outlays had been the several tens of thousands of pounds Hugh had had to shell out to PWT for breaking his covenant with the firm not to practice in Colchester or within 30 miles of Colchester for five years. Wattsey had been prepared to release him for nothing but Baz Trimble insisted that the firm would lose a lot of money by Hugh leaving and setting up shop practically next door. Hugh could have gone outside the 30 mile radius but wanted to stay in Colchester.

  But they didn’t talk about that in public. In fact there was a confidentiality clause preventing it. Baz felt the firm would lose sympathy if it became known they’d saddled a young twenty six year old solicitor practically in his first post qualifying job with a wide punitive covenant restricting his future employment possibilities, and then later had extracted a large payment to release him. Hugh could have fought the restriction but wanted to remain friends with the partners.

  Both parties knew these restrictive covenants, especially if unfair, were sometime difficult to enforce and wouldn’t always be upheld by the courts especially if, like Hugh, lots of the business came from way outside the 30 mile zone. That had been a bargaining tool in Hugh’s hands to secure a lower payment. Certainly much lower than Baz had wanted him to pay. Baz was minded to screw as much as possible out of Hugh. However Wattsey was sympathetic and the fact that Hugh was newly married with a baby coming was also a factor that led Baz to agree a smaller compensation figure.

  Hugh hadn't been able to afford a freehold in the centre of Colchester and they were hard to come by. But he’d managed, with the help of Samantha’s partner Darren, someone who would previously have been an untouchable in Hugh’s eyes as a friend and ally, to secure a very long lease of the upper three floors of a building near the castle with a sizeable car park. It had the advantage of having quite a large porticoed ground floor entrance which, with a lick of paint, would look very grand.

  Hugh had wondered whether “The Sutherland Chambers” sounded rather ostentatious but on balance he thought his name would attract more business. And everyone else these days seemed to promote themselves shamelessly. He roped in Darren to help him with that side of things. Darren’s motto seemed to err on the side of no publicity being bad publicity and he certainly knew business inside out and had ideas coming out o
f every orifice. He was going to help Hugh with the grand opening and the splash that would be made in the local papers at the time.

  So all in all Hugh was very optimistic, and determined to do his best for Ali and Joshie.

  ALI AWOKE WITH a start. She hadn't meant to go to sleep and it must be well past Joshie’s next time for a feed. How rude to fall asleep during a party at one’s house! She dragged herself up off the sofa and into the kitchen. There was no-one around at all and, looking at the clock, she could see she must’ve been asleep for at least a couple of hours. She’d only meant to have a quick sit down but had dropped off irresistibly. Damn! Practically everyone would have left by now and without the lady of the house there to see them off the premises.

  The heat was still oppressive, or at least it was to her, two stone heavier than normal with breasts huge and now aching to be rid of the next delivery of milk. She hoped Hugh was coping all right with Joshie. She knew he was terribly hung over and had had a few today as well. He hadn't wanted a church Christening claiming to be an atheist or at least undecided but had bowed to pressure and in fact had been moved to tears over the font earlier as she knew he probably would. He just adored Joshie. Joshie was the icing on the cake. Joshie and the way Hugh was over him made her love Hugh all the more if such were possible.

  She walked outside in a contented frame of mind and saw the stragglers on the garden bench, apparently supporting each other. Incredibly Hugh and Phil were leaning against each other unsteadily and at the other end Alison and Andrew Hunter were eyeing each other up appreciatively. Hugh, looking at peace and serene, and Phil both had their hands on the handle of the buggy, gently pushing it backwards and forwards and it was obviously working so far since Joshie wasn't making a sound. If she got close enough for him to get a whiff of his next meal however she knew things could change in a trice.