“I caught sight of his screen a few times. It’s only a guess that he owes money but…”
“Charles is always bailing him out.” Alistair sighed. “Some excuse about his car or a new suit or… He made a mistake telling Scott we were going to search the pair of you. It gave Scott time to move the ring to Fen’s bag.”
“Maybe it wasn’t a mistake,” said his mum. “Maybe Charles was giving Scott the chance to blame Fen.”
Alistair sagged. “Maybe, but when Tara said Scott hadn’t gone to the workroom after he’d spoken to us…”
“She wants to go out with Scott,” Fen said. “I think she lied because he asked her to.”
“And now Fen has no job,” his mum whispered. “How can he keep his flat?”
“What happened to the ring?” Fen asked.
“Charles called Mrs Belmont to tell her we had it and he’s sent Scott to return it. I think if he thought there was any chance of us still getting the business, he’d have gone himself, tried to smooth things over, but…”
“But what?” his mum asked.
“She’s reported the theft to the police.”
Fen shuddered.“But she has the ring back.”
“It doesn’t matter that the ring is back with the owner,” Alistair said. “It was taken with the intention of keeping it so they may pursue a charge of theft.”
Fen clenched his fists. “I don’t know if they can get fingerprints off the ring but I didn’t touch it. Maybe Scott left fingerprints in the room he took it from. But I don’t understand why the police would go to the trouble and expense of any investigation if the ring has been returned.”
“I’ll request they don’t. I’ll go and see Mrs Belmont myself tomorrow.”
“Tonight,” his mum snapped.
“Just let it go,” Fen said quietly. “What’s the point? What will happen, will happen. She’s a very determined woman. I don’t think you’ll change her mind. It’s a slam-dunk, isn’t it? Ring stolen. Ring found. Guilt obvious.”
His mum put her hand on his arm. “It’s not fair.”
Fen managed a little chuckle. “Weren’t you always telling me life isn’t fair? I’ll sort something out. Don’t worry.” He pushed to his feet.
“Of course I’m going to worry. I’m your mum.”
“Well, don’t worry too much.” He backed towards the kitchen door.
“Don’t go, Fen,” his mum said.
“I’m tired. I need my bed.” He turned to Alistair. “Maybe you can find out if I’m right about Scott and the gambling. If he owes money, then that gives him a motive. It might make Charles think again.”
“You could get your job back,” his mum said.
“You know what? I don’t want it back. I don’t want to work with Scott or Charles. I’ll find something else.”
“Let me drive you home,” Alistair said. “I’ll drop you off, then go and see Mrs Belmont.”
“No to both offers. Thank you. You’d be driving for hours. Let it go, please.”
He left with his mum still trying to get him to stay. He might have if Alistair hadn’t been there, but now he wanted to be on his own.
On the bus to Peckham, he checked his phone. A lot of missed calls and one message from Ripley and one from the police.Shit!He let out a shuddering breath.
He listened to Ripley say, “I know you didn’t do it. Call me. Please.”
He allowed himself a few seconds of fleeting pleasure before he listened to the police.
