Under New Management (33 page)

“Jack Murphy...” He reads out loud, David jumps, spilling some coffee onto the duvet. “Of course! He’s the ex-boyfriend, Mollie’s ex-boyfriend! Well bloody hell!”

Going back to the front page, David reads it properly. There isn’t much of a story, just about Serena assaulting a mysterious blonde. His eye catches the bottom of the page. Do you know the victim?
Oh yes, he certainly does.
David’s mind starts to fill with possibilities. How much would they pay for the lowdown on Mollie? How ironic if he could sell a story on her and use it to pay back the money he owes her? That would serve her right for being a bitch to him. What a fabulous way to piss off Jim Brown, as well. David’s head is now buzzing with thoughts.

He throws the breakfast crockery back onto the tray with a loud clatter and dives from the bed. If he’s right he can give them a story that will be worth thousands.

He showers, shaves and dresses in double quick time. He brushes his teeth quickly and heads for the landing. Using a long pole, he hooks it under the catch attached to the attic door and opens it, releasing the collapsible ladder.

An hour and a half later David sits in the kitchen with Gordon Watts, a journalist, who is eagerly questioning him about Mollie, her family and her relationship with the McLarens, especially Jack Murphy.

David has an ace card. Mollie still has some belongings in the attic which she hasn’t got round to emptying. Truthfully, she hadn’t actually thought about it. The attic contains their old junk and memorabilia from their past lives.

Mollie kept her old university things in her grandmother’s battered trunk. There are photographs; a large number of photographs of her and Jack. David knew he had seen him before,
Jack Murphy is the ex-boyfriend, how convenient!

Gordon Watts had left London for Sedgwick at four this morning. He has spent a frustrating few hours wandering about the town in the hope of piecing together a story. This place was like a morgue. Only one shop was open which appeared to sell everything but the kitchen sink, although it wouldn’t surprise him to learn they did indeed sell sinks. On weekdays it is clearly also the Post Office. He had gleaned rather a large amount of information from a woman who works there who’d been very forthcoming. Only her unfortunate teeth made him uncomfortable; she clearly didn’t brush very often and appeared to have muesli stuck between them.

The woman is Mrs Jones and she gleefully filled him in on the mystery woman’s name. Mollie Pratt is her married name but since her husband has run off with the local policeman, Mrs Jones says that she has changed it back to her maiden name of Brown. Mrs Jones knows this because Mollie has had her post redirected and changed her post office account back to her old name. She also helpfully provided Gordon with not only Mollie’s, but her husband’s addresses. She explained to him how Mollie was the housekeeper up at Sedgwick Hall and that she had been for years. Of course now all the staff have been made redundant by the new owners, although she thinks a couple of them have gone back now, but she doesn’t think Mollie has.

Gordon loved these small places. You couldn’t move for gossip. The name of the game was to show a limited amount of interest and they tended to fill in the gaps for you. A little later that morning, his job became even easier when the office called to inform him they had a story. A man claiming to be the husband of the mystery blonde is demanding twenty five thousand pounds to spill the beans. When Gordon scoffs at the ludicrous amount he is swiftly told that the man also has photographs. Photographs of the mystery woman and Jack Murphy. Those photos would be worth the money. Gordon is despatched to check out the merchandise and to haggle the price with David Pratt. He is not authorised to offer any more than twenty thousand. Gordon wasted no time in hot-footing it to David’s door and on the way he phoned his sidekick and photographer, Ralph Ryder. Gordon gave Ralph Mollie’s address and told him to get his arse round there pronto, before the others turned up and trumped them.

Chapter 33

Mollie eventually plucks up the courage to go downstairs. She has showered, washed and dried her hair and is now dressed in slim-fitting jeans and an oversized jumper. She’s put on enough makeup to disguise the damage caused by her excessive crying.

She can’t put it off any longer. She sees Kieran from the door as she quietly enters the kitchen. He sips at a mug of coffee. There’s a large sandy-haired chap sitting next to him who has nearly finished one of her dad’s legendary fry-ups. Her parents are reading a couple of newspapers intently.

Kieran looks up and notices her in the doorway. She looks terrified and he wants to hold her until that look of fear goes away. Kieran puts down his mug and gazes at her, she stares back at him. He jumps up and moves around Dom to stand in front of her.

“Mollie, are you OK? I’m so sorry for Serena’s behaviour last night.”

Mollie gulps slightly. She looks up at him and feels the tears well in her eyes again. She whispers a choked, “Sorry.”

Kieran loses the fight with his self control and grabs her in a bear hug. “No Mollie, please don’t be sorry; you’ve done nothing wrong. I promise you Serena will be gone for good, just as soon as I get back to the Hall and kick her out. You will never have to see her again. I’m going to look after you.” He buries his head in her hair. Mollie can’t help herself and puts her arms around him, hugging him back.

Whether she is feeling guilty or not, how can she resist him? Sod Serena! Sod everyone. Mollie only wants Kieran to keep holding her until it all goes away. She closes her eyes and snuggles her head into his chest. She relaxes into him and it feels perfect. The others in the room are staring at this display of affection and each of them has a broad smile.

When he realises they are the centre of attention, Kieran releases her gently, not that he cares who sees. He’s not going to hold back anymore. He needs to be with her and if she’ll have him he’ll never let her go.

Mollie self consciously pushes her hair back from her face. She’s blushing furiously as she looks around the room at the delighted faces. Shyly looking up at Kieran she takes a sharp breath as she notices the livid marks on his face. She’s appalled and wants to take the bitch’s head off for hurting him. As she gazes into his eyes, without thinking she raises her hand and trails her fingers gently down the wounds.

Kieran blinks at her and then smiles, “Hey, it’s OK. It looks worse than it is. It’ll heal.”

Mollie’s eyes harden with anger, “That may be so, but if I get my hands on that nasty cow Serena, I’ll return the favour,” she tells him with feeling.

Kieran smiles at her and takes her hand. “Come on, I want you to meet Dom.”

As he leads her back to his seat and moves past Dom, he lets go of her hand. He takes the chair further into the room, allowing room for Mollie to take a seat.

“Mollie, this is Dom, Dom is my Head of Security and has been my best friend since school.”

Dom stands and holds out his large hand to her. They both say, “Hello” and shake hands. Mollie thinks he looks a really nice chap and gives him a bright smile and receives one in return. The two of them instantly like one another.

Once she is settled and before they show her the pictures, Kieran explains the situation. Mollie is dumbstruck as she stares at one front page. The headline screams:

SERENA ON ASSAULT CHARGES!

Mollie’s mind processes the information. Is she? Who did she assault? She squints slightly as she stares at the accompanying photo. The photographer has the perfect shot of Serena hitting her. They are obviously side on to camera. Serena’s face is screwed up in temper, her hand at Mollie’s face. Mollie’s head is moving back from the force of the blow, her eyes shocked at the assault. Mollie luckily looks gorgeous in her beautiful dress. Her hair is still immaculate and her makeup still visible!

Mollie feels momentarily superior as she takes in Serena’s vicious face. It is far from flattering but there is no doubting that it’s her. As she opens the paper, the next two pages are filled with more photos. Two big ones are really prominent. One is a shot of Serena and Johnny in the throes of a full on kiss which shocks Mollie.
Poor Megan!
The other is of Serena attacking Kieran, below is a running group of photographs showing the attack in great detail, including Johnny’s rescue attempt. Serena has been snapped in various poses and then there is a photograph of Kieran’s face as he turns away, the scratches and blood on his face apparent.

There are more photos of her and the family outside with Jack, by the limo and others of Serena at dinner, each one with a drink in her hand.

Wow! Someone must have been outside the entire time.

Mollie frowns. Something is niggling at her; something that she can’t quite put her finger on. She shakes her head and concentrates on the photos. As she stares at the headline again she asks, “Are you suing her for assault, then?” looking at Kieran. “What? No! Why?” he asks, confused.

“That’s the headline. Serena on assault charges,” Mollie states as she turns the paper for him to see, nodding towards it.

Kieran smiles, “Oh sorry, yes. No! That’s just an attempt by the papers to grab the reader’s attention. They make up half of it. Though clearly, with these, we could both sue her. You’d make a fortune,” he teases her.

“Bloody hell! He’s right, our Molls. Maybe you should think about it,” Jim pipes up from across the table.

Mollie is horrified, “Dad! Don’t even think it! I’m not suing anyone. Christ, this is embarrassing enough as it is! The sooner it’s tomorrow’s chip paper the better.”

Dom and Kieran throw her admiring glances and Dom gives Kieran a little wink. Dom thinks his friend has found himself a good one here.

“Oh well,” sighs Jim, “it was worth a thought. Anyway, the bitch deserves it. Although your mum gave her a good slap last night, too, so sort of makes up for it.”

Mollie’s head snaps up and she stares at Lindy, horrified, “Christ Mum, you didn’t, did you?”

Lindy looks defiant. She’s certainly not going to apologise for it. “Yes, of course I did. She deserved it, nasty cow. Maybe she’ll think twice before throwing her weight around in future.” Lindy looks around the room and raises her chin.

Mollie’s mouth opens in shock and all the men look at Lindy with admiration.

Jim brings the conversation back as he points out, “I ain’t too happy with this at the bottom of the page though, Kieran mate.”

“What?” Lindy and Mollie ask.

“The bit where it says ‘Do you know Serena’s victim? Who is the mystery blonde? Phone!’ then it gives a number. “What’s that all about?” asks Jim.

Lindy sighs, “That isn’t particularly good. It basically means anyone who remotely knows Mollie, or us, can cash in. They ring the paper and tell them where we live etc.”

“And that’s why we’re here,” Kieran tells them.

Jim, Lindy and Mollie wait; this doesn’t sound good.

Dom pipes up, “Look I’m sorry about this but I’m afraid they’re going to want to know everything there is to know about Mollie here. As of right now, you,” nodding at Mollie, “are a minor celebrity. They’ll figure out from the pictures that Kieran and Serena are, were, together and that you came between them.”

Mollie throws a horrified glance at Kieran. Dom notices but continues, “I’m sorry but I have no doubt there are more photos. Now, they’ll want a story to accompany them making them even more valuable, even if they have to make most of it up. You’d be surprised what they can build with only a very few facts.”

Mollie pales, “Oh, I get it. This isn’t good then, is it? How long will it take someone to sell them the juicy titbit that my husband left me for another man?” Mollie puts her head in her hands.

Jim and Lindy stare pathetically at Kieran and Dom. Kieran knows they expect him to fix it, but he’s not sure if he can.

A flash of movement at the kitchen window draws their attention. As Mollie still has her head down, the others glance towards it. They all see the same thing, a man with a camera. All the men immediately jump to their feet and fly out of the kitchen towards the front door. Mollie is startled out of her own self pity as she’s shoved towards the table when Kieran pushes past her.

“What the hell is going on?” she shouts.

“There’s some bloke outside with a camera,” Lindy tells her. “I think they’ve gone out to kill him. I’m going to close all the curtains just in case. You stay there young lady. They are not getting any more pictures of you, unless you pose for them.” She says dramatically as she dives out of her chair and drops the kitchen blind before heading to the lounge. There’s a lot of shouting coming from outside and Mollie can’t contain her curiosity. She goes to the front door to spy.

As the three men fly through the door onto the drive they’re greeted by a grinning Dan holding a weedy, grubby looking chap up off of the floor by the back of his shirt. The man is struggling to get away and shouting all sorts of insults at him.

“Now mate, that’s not nice, is it?” Dan says, as in one movement he lets him go at the same time as he grabs his camera.

“Expensive these, ain’t they? That’s a shame, that is. Still, I expect you’re insured, eh?” The man flies at Dan who holds the camera high out of his reach. He starts to kick out, but is prevented by Dom who runs up behind him and restrains him. The photographer starts shouting and swearing.

“Alright?” Dan says to Dom in greeting as he ignores the flailing man and leisurely messes with the camera.

Dom smiles, “Yes thanks mate, you? Dom, by the way, head of security.”

Dan nods at him, “Nice to meet you. I’m Dan, Mollie’s brother and not even head of me own household. Not that I let the Mrs know that.”

They laugh as Dan deftly removes the memory card, deleting the photos from the camera as he does so and then drops it onto the drive. Dan stands over it, his leg raised ready to stamp on it.