True Colours Part 21

'Should be able to. We have the original plans. And at least we'll be able to get the gla.s.s no problem. When it was built there was only one gla.s.sworks in England that could make the panels in four-foot sections. The whole lot had to be brought in by boat.' Sebastian grinned, reaching for the positive. 'It's not the end of the world. I always was a bit worried about the structure, that a pane could drop out of the roof and kill someone. But now we'll be able to triple glaze it, reduce the oil bills. We might as well have been heating the valley the way the place leaked heat. If they had a thermal imaging camera out in s.p.a.ce they'd pick us out faster than the Great Wall of China. Come on, let's get a cup of tea.'

Inside the hallway, the sound of their footsteps was softened by the thick layer of ash coating the beautiful marble tiles. In front of them, the Grand Staircase rose like a phoenix, coated in dirt but intact, untouched by the flames. Jocelyn looked around, digging her nails into the palm of her hand. The smoke had crept into every crevice like a cancer, the acrid smell coating her tongue, irritating the back of her throat. Trying to cover up, she said, 'Jackson rang, said New York's in the bag.'

Sebastian glanced at her over his shoulder, 'The guards said he was here last night. Had some papers or something.'

Jocelyn nodded, 'He said he needed to get out of the city so came down for the spin, had some stuff for you to look at.'

'But he would have seen me in the office today.' Sebastian looked at her, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.

Jocelyn shrugged, 'I think he just needed to get out actually. You know he gets claustrophobic if he stays in the city too long.'

Sebastian nodded. Jackson had become an integral part of the organisation from the day he'd left the Marines, knew the business as well as his mother Jocelyn, had been brought in by her. And Jocelyn had been right about his skills as a negotiator, skills learned out in the field. But Sebastian had always been a bit worried about him, couldn't quite put his finger on why. He'd always thought that the post-traumatic stress that had invalided him out of the service had affected Jackson more deeply than Jocelyn would admit. Being blown up and losing his team in Bosnia had to have had a ma.s.sive effect, and in Sebastian's book you had to keep an eye on anyone whose nickname was Peter Pan. Whatever regard Sebastian had for Jocelyn, he'd always been wary, hadn't wanted any of his a.s.sets spirited away like Wendy and the Darlings or the Lost Boys. And something didn't just ring true about Jackson Blake being down here last night. Caroline, Sebastian could understand after their row, but Jackson? Sebastian sighed inwardly, right now he was too tired to think about it. He'd have to ask Jackson himself when he saw him.

Unaware of Sebastian's thoughts, Jocelyn continued, 'You were very lucky.'

Sebastian rolled his eyes like he knew that only too well, 'Thank G.o.d we were at the back of the house the guest rooms overlook the lake.'

Jocelyn raised her eyebrows slightly and paused, wondering how she should phrase the question that had been consuming her since she had spoken to Sebastian in the hospital early that morning.

'And how did Alex end up staying the night? I didn't quite get that bit this morning when you said you were both okay.'

Sebastian didn't look at her, instead tried to change the subject, 'The builders are great. From Wexford apparently. Family business. I've never seen scaffolding go up so fast.'

Jocelyn nodded like she really wanted to hear all about the scaffolding but she didn't say anything, let the silence grow until Sebastian glanced at her, anxiously, reaching for the right words. He couldn't find them, instead opted for something offhand, more of an aside than a statement.

'She'd had a few gla.s.ses too many to drive, then she got a puncture.'

None the wiser, Jocelyn said with feeling: 'Goodness. That was bad luck.'

Sebastian looked at her, caught her raised eyebrows, the question in her eye, realised she wasn't going to ask, was waiting for him to tell her more.

'Thank G.o.d the staircase is okay.'

'Hmm. And what did Alex think of the place when she saw it? She must have been impressed.'

Sebastian shrugged, 'I suppose. It hasn't changed much since...' he stopped himself.

He'd said too much and he knew it.

'Really, since?'

Sebastian looked at her, pursed his lips, 'You're worse than my mother.'

'Me?' Mock innocence. 'So tell me. I'm missing something, I've known it from the moment she walked into the office. Are you going to tell me?'

Sebastian paused, chewing his lip. Then exhaling, he opened his hands in an expansive gesture.

'There's really no secret. She's Tom Ryan's daughter.'

She knew that. Jocelyn waited a moment longer. Sebastian cleared his throat. Then it came. 'We used to know each other.' He screwed the toe of his boot into the mess on the floor. 'All right, we dated, sort of, the summer after I started Uni. But she left.'

Sebastian made it sound like it didn't matter. But Jocelyn knew him better than that.

'What do you mean she left?'

Sebastian sighed. 'She left. Disappeared off the face of the earth. Didn't get in touch. Nothing. When she came to the office it was the first time I'd seen her in sixteen years.'

'But she was in Spain, studying wasn't she?'

'Obviously.'

'Didn't Tom tell you?'

'I think she must have sworn him to secrecy. I asked him a few times but he didn't seem to know where she'd gone to start with at least. I got over it.' Like h.e.l.l he did. Jocelyn looked at him quizzically, like she was reading his mind.

'And then she came back.' Jocelyn's voice was soft.

'That's it. Then she came back.' Sebastian stuck his hands in his pockets, like that was the end of the conversation, but Jocelyn wasn't finished.

'And have you told her how you feel?'

'Feel?' Sebastian looked at Jocelyn like she had grown a horn, or maybe a bow and arrow and wings.

Jocelyn shook her head in despair.

Why was he so stubborn? He was just like his grandfather.

'Well you're in love with her aren't you?' Sebastian blushed bright red. Ignoring his discomfort, Jocelyn barrelled on, 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.... You'll have to tell her. If she's not interested that's one thing, but at least you'll have tried. You don't get many chances in this life to fall in love, not really in love, to find your soul mate. Trust me, I know. You've got to tell her.'

Sebastian screwed up his face, looked like he was about five years old, had been ticked off by his teacher for kissing the girls. Then, stubbornly, he tried to defend himself, 'I did...nearly.'

'Well done. So do it properly. Ring her now and tell her.'

'Has anyone ever told you how bossy you are?'

She smiled, 'Frequently; so...?'

'Her mobile's going straight through to her voicemail. I tried it this morning when they hooked the phone back up,' Several times.

'Perhaps she left it in the car. Why don't I drop it over to her and then you can ring her. She's probably been trying to get hold of you.'

Sebastian nodded, his mind back in the bedroom if only the b.l.o.o.d.y fire hadn't started, not really listening to Jocelyn certainly not listening closely enough to wonder how she knew where Alex's mobile might be, or how she was planning to get it back to her.

'I think I left mine in the den. Not that it works here anyway.' As he spoke, a phone began to ring, an eerily normal sound, totally out of place in all the mess.

Sebastian looked around, confused. He'd forgotten to ask the engineer where he'd put the new phone. Then he saw it, on the other side of the stairs, stark white, sitting in the midst of the grime on an ancient oak settle, its high back carved like the staircase. He half-smiled; the engineer had said he liked a challenge.

The sound continued as Sebastian strode over and picked up the receiver, instinctively holding it away from his ear as the voice on the other end boomed out, filling the hall.

'h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo? Sebastian is that you?'

'Good G.o.d Cormac I'm not deaf, where are you?'

'In the vineyard on the mobile. Line's terrible, I can hardly hear you.'

On the other side of the hall Jocelyn couldn't resist a grin. Whatever the sound quality was like at the other end in France, they could all hear Cormac Audiguet-O'Reilly here.

Sebastian rolled his eyes to Jocelyn, 'I can hear you, the whole house can hear you old chap.'

'What's going on? That silly b.i.t.c.h just rang Dad. She's been arrested and I can't believe it, she says the wedding's off.'

'We've had a few problems... there's been a fire here, my grandfather's, well I hope he's going to be okay...'

'A fire? Jesus. She never said anything about that. What the h.e.l.l happened? Are you okay?'

'I'm...I'm fine. We don't know what started it...there was a tin of paint...it might have been a cigarette. We don't know.'

'Is the old man bad?'

Sebastian paused for a heartbeat, the words catching in his throat, 'Yes. Bad.'

'Christ, Caroline never gets anything straight. Did you have a row? What a time for her to go and get p.i.s.sed. Dad said she's being charged with drunken driving. Sounds like she's going to need OJ Simpson's lawyer to get out of it.'

'It's not looking good...'

'Christ, she was always was as mad as a f.e.c.king hatter. Totally irresponsible. I'm sorry man I feel awful...'

'Don't Cormac...' Sebastian paused. He was about to say it's just one of those things but it wasn't, it was a b.l.o.o.d.y mess. But despite everything, Cormac was his friend, his best friend. A sob caught in Sebastian's throat.

'Can I talk to you later? There's a lot happening here. I'll ring you tonight.'

'Okay boyo, and Christ I'm sorry.'

Sebastian's hand was shaking as he replaced the receiver.

FORTY SIX.

The Court House in Ballycastle was an impressive Victorian building, its broad granite steps sweeping down to the footpath like it was taking a bow. As Sebastian pulled his battered Jaguar into a parking s.p.a.ce on the opposite side of the broad main street and looked back at the building in his rear-view mirror, he could see the media, photographers and camera crews already beginning to gather outside, jostling for position like wasps on a jam sandwich.

Why the h.e.l.l was he here? He knew Joe Griffin and Sergeant O'Hanlon would keep him posted on the verdict, knew he'd find out soon enough what Caroline's sentence was for the drink driving fiasco, but somehow he wanted to see her, to get a look at her with fresh eyes, to see if she really was capable of burning down Kilfenora.

For a brief moment Sebastian felt guilty that he hadn't offered to go to court with her, hadn't even called to see how she was after probably spending a night at Kilfenora Garda station. But the guilty feeling didn't last. Sebastian mentally kicked himself back into the real world. Why should he be worried? She hadn't called him after she'd wrecked his car, and Alex's car, and smashed Alex's laptop. Or even phoned to see if he was still alive after the fire. It would be interesting to see if she called him at all today.

The guards would be questioning her later, after the hearing, about the fire, would no doubt be talking to Jackson Blake as well. She'd probably be in touch then it would be just like Caroline to call when she needed help. As Sebastian watched, the photographers on the courthouse steps stirred, started to get into position, and something dark swirled at the back of his mind what the h.e.l.l had Jackson been doing in Kilfenora last night? Jocelyn's explanation about needing to get out of the city had sounded weak at best...

Inside the courthouse, Caroline, dressed in a smart black wool Chanel skirt suit, was sobbing on Peter's shoulder. Standing to one side of the broad black and white tiled hallway, heavy wooden doors opening into mysterious anterooms on either side, Peter put his arm around her protectively and rubbed her shoulder. The hearing had only lasted a few minutes and, for once, Caroline had done what she was told, had pleaded guilty on the instructions of her elderly counsel, had stood penitently in the dock with her gleaming head bowed as the court clerk had read out the charge.

'But how can they take away my licence? For a whole year?' Caroline sniffed and broke into a whole new volley of sobs, 'How can they?'

'It could have been a lot worse. You could have got a custodial sentence.'

Caroline pulled away from Peter abruptly, her mascara streaked, her eyes wide with fear, 'Prison? Me?' She shook her head vigorously, 'How could they? I can't even remember getting into the car last night.'

'That,' Peter paused, looking towards the front doors of the court building, taking in the huge moon-faced clock above them, trying to judge if this was a good time to make a break for it, 'is the problem. You're going to have to be very careful when you're questioned this afternoon.'

'Questioned about what?'

'The fire.' Peter looked at her in disbelief. She must have been in a bad way yesterday to be so slow this morning, or perhaps her terror of the courtroom had prevented her from hearing him explain that she was required to give a statement about the damage to the cars in Kilfenora, to explain her actions the night before. Losing her licence could be the least of her problems.

'But I don't know anything about a fire. I really don't. I can't remember anything.'

'Can you remember giving back your engagement ring?' Peter tipped Caroline under the chin and looked into her brown eyes.

'Did I do that?'

'You did,' Peter smiled, his lips fluttering over hers. 'You certainly did.' He kissed her again, this time teasing, full of promise, 'You told the guard that Sebastian was a lying cheat and you said you didn't want it back apparently.'

Caroline dabbed her nose with a tissue, her brow furrowed as she tried hard to remember. 'It was that b.l.o.o.d.y Alex Ryan wasn't it? I knew there was something going on.' She paused, sniffing loudly again, pouting 'It was all too much, you dumping me and then arriving at Kilfenora to see her b.l.o.o.d.y car parked outside.'

Peter shook his head. 'How many people do you know who send 150 roses to dump someone? I said I'd be in touch'.

'Exactly, you'd be in touch what's that supposed to mean, thanks but no thanks?' Caroline pouted again.

Before she could say more Peter turned her gently towards the door, 'We'd better get moving. I told the Sergeant in Kilfenora you'd be in after the court hearing finished.'

'Will they arrest me?' Caroline's voice was small, fearful. Peter wrapped his arm around her, 'Not if I can help it. Do you want to fix your face before we go out? There's bound to be a few press.'

In his car, Sebastian checked his watch. This was madness he'd no idea how long the court hearing would take, had a million things to do back at the house. He reached for his mobile, wondering if he should try Alex again. He'd already rung and the phone had gone straight to voicemail. Should he try her again? Before he had second thoughts, Sebastian pressed the speed dial. He didn't even know what the h.e.l.l he was going to say to her, but he needed to know she was okay. Voicemail again. He took a glance in the mirror and almost dropped the phone.

On the steps of the court building, pus.h.i.+ng her way through the swarm of photographers, Caroline was trying to hide her face with her hand. Beside her, with his arm around her shoulder was the unmistakable bulk of Jackson Blake. Peter b.l.o.o.d.y Pan. What the h.e.l.l?

Jumping out of his car, Sebastian dodged behind a van and was across the road in a second. A second in which he realised his mistake. The photographers turned on him in a blaze of flashbulbs. It was all the distraction Peter and Caroline needed. Hustling her across the footpath, hauling open the door of a gleaming Land Rover Discovery parked at the kerb, Peter bundled Caroline into the back seat, jumping into the driver's seat and gunning the powerful engine. Realising they were missing the action, the photographers turned back to the Discovery, jostling each other to get a shot of the interior, running along beside it as Peter deftly reversed into the road and pulled away.

d.a.m.n! How could he have been so stupid? Holding his hand up, trying to block the shots of his face Sebastian doubled back across the road. A couple of the photographers followed him, trying to get a shot through the windows as he slipped in behind the wheel of his Jaguar. Clicking his seatbelt on, flipping the car into reverse, he slid out of the s.p.a.ce, the photographers scattering as the car started to move. Pulling into the main street he could already see the Discovery heading out of the town.

Sebastian followed, his eyes scanning the road looking for the child or stray dog that might run out in front of him. Pa.s.sing the petrol station on the right, a parade of shops, a minute later he was on the outskirts of the town, the Discovery right ahead. It reached the T-junction with the Dublin road, but instead of turning left to head back to the city, indicated right, heading for Kilfenora. What the? Then Sebastian realised where they were going back to the village the guards needed to question Caroline about the fire.

The Discovery was rugged, but the Jaguar was built for speed and Sebastian knew the road like the back of his hand. There were a few questions he wanted answered RIGHT NOW, and there was no way he was waiting until Jackson and Caroline got to Kilfenora. Heading out into the open country, fields spreading out on either side of the road like a gesture of welcome, Sebastian kept the Discovery in sight. Around the next bend Sebastian saw his chance. He put his foot down, accelerating around the Discovery, flas.h.i.+ng his hazard lights. Glancing in his mirror Sebastian could see Jackson behind the wheel, face expressionless. Like a mask.

The lay-by was cut deep into the hedge, muddy, overgrown with brambles and hawthorn. Long enough for the two vehicles to pull off the road, stopping a few feet apart. Peter was out of the Discovery before Sebastian had his seatbelt off, striding towards the Jaguar. Sebastian pushed his door open, swung his legs out, but Peter was at the open door before he could climb out, towering above him, holding the advantage.

'Sorry, saw you across the road when we came out, but I wanted to shake those snappers. Christ, it's good to see you. Mum said she was down this morning and the place is a wreck.'

Sebastian looked up at Peter, his face stony, 'It's a b.l.o.o.d.y disaster. How is she?' Sebastian indicated the Discovery with a curt nod of his head 'She's grand. She was p.i.s.sed as a fart last night, can't remember a thing. Did the guards tell you? I came down this way for a spin and found her car in the ditch. Thought she'd been kidnapped.'

'And why did you come down here exactly?' Sebastian fought to keep the suspicion out of his voice to keep his tone light, friendly.

Peter took a step backwards, giving Sebastian room to get out of his car, leaned against the side of the Jaguar. Grimacing, he tapped the palm of his hand on the roof like he was trying to find the right words.