Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (best book club books of all time .txt) 📕

She marched past him and into the kitchen. ‘Which cupboard?’ she yelled.

‘To the right of the fridge.’

She made herself a coffee and munched her way through a bag of crisps and then half a packet of biscuits.

‘That’s better, I’ll be fine now until this evening.’

‘You shouldn’t eat rubbish like that all the time, it’s not good for you.’’

‘Yes, Mum,’ she said, sighing. ‘How many times do I have to tell you? I already have a mother.’ Her face clouded over. ‘Two even.’

‘Two? I don’t understand.’ This wasn’t Birdie’s usual attempt at humour. Something was troubling her. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

She stared directly at him for a while, twisting strands of hair around her finger. ‘I was dealing with this on my own, but … yeah. I’ll tell you, because it’s eating me up inside.’

‘Anything you say to me will be kept confidential.’

It had to be serious if it had caused her to go from her usual breezy, cheeky self to being so morose.

‘I’m adopted and want to find my birth mother. I finally broached the subject with my adoptive parents who, by the way, are wonderful. I know it hurt them, I could see it in their eyes, but I can’t stop myself. It’s like part of me is missing. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true, and I’ve felt like this for a long time.’

‘I’m sure they’ll understand if you explain your feelings to them.’

‘Maybe,’ she said, shrugging. ‘I’m the only one who’s adopted in the family. After they had me, my mum got pregnant. Twice. I’ve got two younger brothers. I’ve done my research and have applied to be added to the Adoption Contact Register to say that I’m happy to be contacted and now I’m waiting to hear if my mother is also on there. But it’s such a slow process. If she is on there and has agreed to be contacted, then they’ll put us in touch with each other. If she isn’t on there, then I’ll have to think again.’ She let out a long sigh, the relief at having told him evident on her face.

‘Do you have your birth certificate?’

‘Yes. It has my birth mother’s name, but no father’s name, and shows that I was born in Leicester.’

‘Surely you can search yourself as you have access to plenty of databases.’

‘I can only see if she has a criminal record and I’ve done that already and found nothing. Also, she may have got married and changed her name. Or she could’ve moved overseas. There are so many things I don’t know about her, including how old she was when she gave me up and exactly where she lived in Leicester at the time. It’s not going to be an easy job, but I’ve got to do it.’

‘If the Adoption Contact Register doesn’t come up with anything, you could always try social media.’

‘I will, but it’s going to take a while and at the moment I don’t have the time.’

‘I’m glad you confided in me. I do understand your need to find your birth mother, as it will give you a sense of identity.’

‘Yep,’ she said, her eyes glistening with tears. ‘Anyway, enough about me and my two mothers. Let’s go see Sarah. I take it you told her what’s happened?’

Her serious expression had disappeared. Birdie had hidden depths, which he was fortunate to have witnessed as he got the feeling much of the time she put on an act. A defence mechanism. It shows she must trust him.

‘I didn’t want to alarm her, so decided not to.’

‘Seriously? So instead, we’re going to turn up at her front door and she’s going to see you looking like this. You used to be a DI which should mean you have some intelligence. I have to tell you that’s not an intelligent way to behave.’

‘Says the woman who gets grounded at work because she can’t stop being late.’

‘That’s different.’

‘I’ve been beaten about the head and I’m not thinking straight,’ he said, by way of an excuse.

‘You think? Maybe I should leave you in the car when we get there and warn her first.’

‘I suppose that could work.’

‘I’m kidding. We’ve known each other ages and you still don’t get my sense of humour.’

‘Just over a week, actually, even if it does seem longer.’

‘That’s charming, I … you’re joking, aren’t you?’

‘You’re not the only person who can.’

‘Enough. Let’s go.’

‘You drive a Mini, don’t you?’

‘Yes, a clapped-out old one.’

‘In which case, we’ll take my car.’

‘Good idea.’

He gave her directions to Rendall Hall and as they drove through the gate and approached the house she slowed down.

‘Wow,’ Birdie said, letting out a low whistle. ‘So this is where the money Witherspoon stole went.’

‘Not in buying it, they’ve lived here for over twenty years and it was bought with Sarah’s money, I believe. Donald used much of the money he’d embezzled for the upkeep, which is high. Old properties like this swallow the cash.’

She pulled up outside the house and they walked slowly to the front door and knocked.

‘Stand behind me so I can warn Sarah when she answers. Turn around as well, or she’ll see you over my head.’

After a few seconds, the door opened.

‘Hello, Sarah, I’m Birdie. I’m a DC with the Market Harborough police force, and I’ve been helping Seb with his research into Donald’s death. I wanted to give you a quick one second warning because he’s decided to spring this on you. He was attacked on Saturday night and it’s not a pretty sight.’

Seb turned and stepped to the side of Birdie so his cousin could see him.

‘Oh, my goodness,’ Sarah said, slamming her hand to her mouth, the colour draining from her face. ‘What on earth happened?’

‘Let me tell you inside as I could do with sitting down, it hurts to stand for too long.’

‘We’ll go into the kitchen, or would you rather sit on an easy chair in the drawing room?’

‘The drawing room will be more comfortable.’

They followed her and Birdie looked