A Chance Encounter by Rae Shaw (best ereader for academics .TXT) 📕

hopped upstairs to the floor where the internal auditors worked and borrowed one of their desks. She was typing up a lengthy report when her mobile rang.

‘Julianna?’

Her heart sank slightly. ‘Yep. What can I do for you, Chris?’ She saved the document and closed the lid of her laptop.

‘Sorry for the short notice, but Tess had to dash off with a vomiting bug—’

‘That’s what happens when you share a car with babies—’

He emitted a low rumbling that resembled laughter. ‘Probably. I need you to collect Hettie from her gallery A.S.A.P. and take her home.’

‘She's working?’

‘Just this week. New exhibits going up. Tess is very apologetic.’

‘I understand. I take it there's a car waiting downstairs?’ Speed was essential. The boss wouldn’t tolerate his wife being unmarked at a public venue. Julianna sped along as quickly as the traffic allowed. She parked outside the gallery and found Hettie in the back office, somewhat bemused by Julianna's appearance.

‘Rabbit’s hat? Tess in and you out?’

‘Tess really isn’t well. So, I jumped out of the rabbit hole,’ Julianna said. ‘Backup girl to the rescue.’ But no cape; she didn't come with accessories.

‘I thought she looked a little pale earlier. I'm about finished. I need to get home.’

Julianna helped Hettie lock up and set the surprisingly complex alarm system. The traffic was especially horrendous, and rain lashed the windscreen. Winter crept closer every day, adding to the sense of bleakness. The gloom spilt into the car. Not being able to see Hettie's face perhaps made Julianna unusually trusting. Why not come clean with her? It wasn't as if Hettie hankered after Mark. She had had some dealings with him, was possibly party to some information about his past, things Mark wasn't happy revealing to Julianna, but might have done with his attractive client.

‘Mrs Haynes, I thought you should know, well...’ Julianna lost momentum before she had uttered a complete sentence.

‘Go on, Julianna. The road is long, as they say,’ Hettie said, encouragingly.

‘Mark Clewer and I are in a relationship.’ Julianna exhaled and waited for a reply.

‘Okay. He once was my accountant. It’s not something that bothers me. I get the feeling that my previous dealings with Mark are bothering you though.’ Hettie leaned towards the centre of the car and came into view of the mirror.

‘We’re not in love or anything.’ There was nothing romantic about what she did with Mark in her bedroom, only that it served a mutual purpose. ‘But I do care about him. Can we just be honest with each other, Mrs Haynes?’

‘Sure, fire away.’

‘I’ve being seeing Mark since the gala ball. But my question goes back to before them. To be blunt, I drove you and your husband to the clinic, remember?’

‘Ah. We spoke about Mark in the car on the way, didn’t we? Whoops.’

‘Yes. You implied Jackson was being less than kind about how he was treating Mark.’

‘I did?’ Hettie feigned surprise. She had shifted back in her seat again, hiding whatever expression was painting her face. ‘I probably over-egged it, that's all.’

‘I know about his father being in prison for murder. I assume that was what you were referring to.’

‘Yes, naturally,’ Hettie said slowly. ‘That's quite a lot to get to grips with, isn't it, on top of everything else. Poor Mark.’

On top of everything else? Hettie hadn't known about Mark's father. Julianna now knew she and Jackson had been discussing something else. Julianna had unwittingly told Hettie about Mark's father. Jackson would not be pleased. There again, Jackson had not laid down his own agenda and what was she expected to do with the sporadic amounts of information flying in her direction? Duck or charge at them?

‘He's so frustrated by the lack of closure.’ Damn Jackson's secretive nature. Julianna decided to go for bust. ‘His mother insists on taking the case to appeal. She's driving him nuts.’

‘Domineering, then. Oh dear.’

Julianna blinked. She hadn't expected such a harsh comment from Hettie. It implied Mark was weak-willed. Wasn't Hettie somewhat in the same boat with regard to Jackson? Pot calling kettle black?

The traffic moved off and Julianna tracked the leading car's brake lights.

‘I guess she is. I've not met her.’ Julianna wasn't keen to either. ‘Or Ellen.’

‘The sister? I have. At Razzles. Sweet girl. Out of her depth in London. I think her ambitions lie elsewhere. She's very keen to become an archaeologist. Jackson has this friend she should meet.’

Hettie was far more perceptive than she let people think. It was what made her a good artist. All those observations were filed away and brought to life in paints or inks, occasionally sculptures. She had talented hands and observant eyes, an excellent combination.

Julia pulled up outside the house. ‘So, with regard to Mark, I shouldn't be worried about him? I mean, what Jackson implied was there was things he didn't know—’

‘Your question poses a dilemma. If Jackson wanted you to know, he'd have said, wouldn't he? You see, I know that it's to do with Mark's job in Manchester, and that it troubles Jackson that Mark hasn't pieced things together – he doesn't think it's his responsibility to tell Mark. But frankly, beyond knowing that Mark hasn't, I've no clue as to what Mark is supposed to know. Jackson doesn't tell me everything. He is very protective of me, as you might have noticed.’

Julianna turned to face her. ‘Doesn't it get too much, this cocoon he keeps you in? I'd feel smothered.’

Hettie’s hand was on the door handle. ‘Oh, that’s why I love him. Married him. I crave that kind of control. I'm quite capable of doing things my way, don't get me wrong. People don’t get to see all of Jackson, I do, somebody has to, and I will always have that advantage. I didn't tell him I was working today. He'll be