Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,97
tell me, you’re always suspicious of people who delay making a complaint!”
“No!” I protest at an extremely loud volume, “I need more proof. Just give me a little more time, ok? I have an idea.”
He looks at me with an understandable expression of concern.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” I say in an attempt to reassure him.
I sit at his computer and open the now familiar Facebook page. It doesn’t take me long to set up a new profile in Serena’s name. I add a photograph of her from my phone for good measure and sit back to admire my handiwork.
“What on earth are you doing?” enquires Sebastian, leaning over my shoulder.
“You’ll see,” I mutter distractedly, concentrating on the task at hand. I’ve found Stephen Walker’s profile and click on the link to send him a private message. I type frantically:
‘Just checking to see you’re satisfied with your end of the deal. I hope you spend the money wisely. Enjoy!’
Without stopping to consider whether or not this is a good idea I press ‘send’ and log out.
Sebastian spins the chair around so I’m facing him.
“Was that a good idea?” he asks, with a concerned expression on his face. I put both arms around his waist and squeeze tight.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
Chapter Twenty One
Almost two weeks later, we jump in his car and make the journey back to the police station. I’m having real trouble breathing and am having vivid flashbacks to my hellish time in custody. Sebastian keeps giving me reassuring pats on my leg and I have to remind myself over and over that I’m going of my own free will and can leave accordingly.
We seem to arrive in record time and it takes every inch of willpower that I have to force me to leave the car and make my way to the main entrance. There are uniformed officers all around me and I grip Sebastian’s hand tightly. He squeezes back.
It’s been a tough thirteen days. I’ve spoken to Serena a few times, although understandably, I’ve been trying to avoid her at all costs. She wasn’t particularly happy about my quick exit from her dress fitting, but she’s obviously put that to the back of her mind and has been barking orders at me like a warped army general.
So far, I’ve been forced to chase up the printers to check her orders of service are going to arrive as scheduled and call the hairdresser she had originally booked and tell her that Serena no longer needs her services as she has found ‘A celebrity stylist that she simply has to use.’ The first stylist informed me that Serena would have to forfeit her deposit, but somehow I don’t think she is going to be bothered about a hundred pounds.
Sebastian thinks I’m crazy to still be doing her dirty work, but I have to think of the bigger picture. I can’t do anything to let Serena think I’m at all suspicious of her. I can’t risk her attempting to cover her tracks. The worst bit has been having to listen to her boasting about the huge volume of work she’s been getting. My work. The work I spent years building up my practice to get.
Cassie called me the other day to let me know that some of the solicitors who used to send me a lot of work were questioning the decision to suspend me. That really perked me up. She’s a really sweet girl and is still on tenterhooks waiting to find out if she is going to be made a permanent member of Chambers. Given the way they’ve treated me, I have to say I have mixed feelings on her behalf.
We walk into the foyer of the police station and stand behind a rather dubiously smelling man. I tap my foot as we wait to be seen, anxious to get this over and done with as soon as possible. When we finally do reach the counter, a surprisingly friendly uniformed lady greets me with a cheery smile.
“Hello. How can I help you today?” she enquires chirpily. For a moment I’m lost for words. Sebastian gently nudges me in the side with his elbow.
“My name is Lauren Chase. I’d like to see Detective Inspector Connelly please.” I finally manage. The officer looks at me curiously.
“And may I enquire what that would be about?”
“It’s about a matter in which he is the officer in charge of the case.” I say, trying to sound as