Buying the Virgin
Chapter 93: The Girl Who Was Hunted - Chapter Nine
ELIZABETH
Richard puts down his phone, addressing Corby. “Charlotte is quite right to be ‘upset’. The circumstances of how she and James met are well known to us all, and there are no outstanding issues. It is strictly a private matter between the two of them. You were invited here to interview her regarding the Blessingmoors investigation, a topic which she finds very difficult to discuss, and it was only with reluctance that she agreed to it. You have gone well past any possible remit you had, in what you have done so far.”
His phone rings. “Hello? Ah, yes, Will. Thanks for calling back... Yes, she’s here. Yes, so is he. We’re having some difficulties I’m afraid….” He holds Charlotte’s gaze for a moment, then alternates to James’. “I understood that the object of this interview was to learn anything that Charlotte could offer regarding the Blessingmoors’ investigation. Instead, it’s opened with an attempt to blacken James Alexanders’ name regarding the business with the auction house... Yes, that’s right… Yes… I’ll pass you over to him.”
He passes the phone to Corby, who puts it to his ear, then recoils as a voice blasts down the line at him. Pale-faced, he turns to Charlotte. “It seems that Commissioner Stanton prefers that I only question you regarding Blessingmoors…”
Charlotte says nothing, simply staring him down.
“Perhaps we could return to the other room and continue our discussion?”
“No,” she says. “I’m not discussing anything with you. Or with anyone else, for that matter. I want an assurance that no attempt is being made to damage James before anybody gets another word out of me.”
Richard raises his eyebrows, but hands steepled under his chin, says nothing.
Corby protests. “Miss Conners, I assure you….”
“Forget it.” she snaps. “And I want it in writing. And until I have that, you’ll get no cooperation from me.” She nods to Michael and James. “C’mon. We’re leaving.”
My husband calls her. “Charlotte, wait…. Please.”
She looks at him, her face lowered, but there is nothing subservient or submissive about her. Regarding him from under lidded eyes, she softens a little. “Alright, Mr Haswell. Since it’s you….”
He tilts his head in acknowledgement, then turns to Corby.
“I’d like you to leave, now. We’ll rearrange the interview for another day, and with another officer.”
Tight-lipped, Corby gathers his papers from the conference room and leaves.
Richard pauses, weighing up his words, then turns to Charlotte. “I promise you that I knew nothing about that.”
She nods. “I believe you, but you can’t give the guarantee I’m looking for, can you?”
He shakes his head, glancing over at James. “No, I can’t.”
Police thought they
get back to you when I’ve had
*****
CHARLOTTE
you?” His
hands me the phone, then stands, arms folded, eyes downcast,
“Hello, Richard.”
about what happened the other day. He’s not very happy, but there are protocols he must follow. The business with Jasmine Hardacre and her treatment after the auction opened a whole can of worms.
“So…?”
is happy to give it to you, but he wants to talk with you first, face to face, so that he is covering himself. If he can discuss it with you in person, and you reassure him that James did nothing wrong, did not in any way abuse you, I
“Yes, I am.”
home, say for dinner, and make it all much more informal. Will can ask you whatever he needs to, and you will have James and Michael, and for that matter, me and Elizabeth, on
fine, Sir. I’m quite happy to do
Pass me back to
who nods a couple of times, then gives me
*****
ELIZABETH
counters in the Police Department, Richard believes that an informal setting will be much
agree
Ross’ starter of immaculately cooked sea bass with buttered caper sauce, is flanked to either side by Michael and James,
girl’s got something. Her living arrangements might be unusual, but when I see James, with his aggressively
at Michael, that ‘Angel’ has a dirty halo…. He holds my eyes for the briefest of moments
the possibilities do fairly boggle the
my smile to myself, placing
Police Commissioner, and Richard’s friend of some years, sits at the head of the table, where he can command the scene, but not sitting directly opposite Charlotte, is not too
lamb in mint, he
Richard’s here, and firstly, I wanted to apologise for what happened the
nods a, slightly frosty,
at Richard, “…. about the identity of someone he knew, being one of the girls involved; since then, we have spoken at length on the subject, and it appears to me,
plate forgotten in front of her, she