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

risk so I jumped out of the car at some traffic lights.’

‘Jumped? What the hell were you thinking? Did you hurt yourself?’

‘It was a tricky move because I waited until a moment before the lights turned to green. I didn’t quite land right and ended up rolling a bit.’

‘Bloody hell, Seb. Are you okay?’

‘A few more bruises, that’s all,’ he said, forcing a laugh.

‘Did you ask Andrea whether she was being blackmailed?’

‘I mentioned it to her when we were standing in the street waiting for Aaron, but she wanted to speak about it in private, which is how I ended up in her car.’

‘Or she engineered it and had planned to kidnap you, and do God knows what to you. What the fuck were you thinking when you agreed to get into the car?’ Her voice was low and expressionless, but he could sense her annoyance.

‘I didn’t know about the driver until we were moving. He could’ve put the child locks on the back doors and then I’d have been in trouble. But thankfully he didn’t. I’ve already got Rob onto it. I’ve asked him to find out the full name of this Aaron and where he lives so I can stake it out and see what else I can discover.’

‘What if he sees you?’

‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t.’

‘Because you’re so small and inconspicuous that you’ll easily blend into the scenery. I seriously think you’ve lost the plot.’

‘Trust me, I know what I’m doing. I have no intention of doing anything to endanger myself. As soon as I’ve got something I’ll come back. At least now we’re getting somewhere.’

‘At what expense? You getting beaten up and still putting yourself in harm’s way. If I’d have known you were this stupid, I’d have insisted on going with you. How you ever got promoted to DI at the Met is totally beyond me.’

‘Stop overreacting. I’m going to be fine. London’s a busy place and no one will be able to walk off with me. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m back at the house which should be this evening.’

‘Just keep in touch.’

He ended the call and picked up a magazine on the table and flicked through it, except he wasn’t taking anything in. He was now one hundred per cent convinced that Sarah was right. Donald’s suicide had been staged to hide his murder and it was most likely to do with the blackmail. What was Andrea Wood being blackmailed over? He sensed that was the key to all of this. But how was he going to find out? He strummed his fingers on the table deliberating.

His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was Rob.

‘What have you got for me?’ he said, not bothering to say hello.

‘I’ve found your man. He’s Aaron Dunkley and he’s been working for Andrea two years.’

‘Thanks. Where does he live?’

‘If I tell you I don’t want you going there alone to accost him. That’s not going to help.’

‘I don’t intend to approach him. I want to watch and see what he does. I’ll also take a few photos. Did you check whether he has a record’?

‘I didn’t have time. You’ll have to do that yourself.’

‘How did you find out who he was?’

‘The same way as I got you in to see Andrea Wood in the first place. I used my contact. And, no, I’m not going to tell you who they are.’

He hadn’t intended asking. Rob didn’t want to divulge his contact before, so he was hardly likely to do so now.

‘I understand. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.’

‘You’re welcome. He lives in the flats at 104 Lee High Road in Lewisham. Let me know how you get on.’

‘I will.’

‘After this is over, we’ll get together for a drink. No excuses.’

‘It’s a deal.’

Seb took the train to Blackheath and positioned himself on the opposite side of the road to where Dunkley lived, so he had a view of the car park. He waited for over an hour and finally saw the Mercedes driving in. He crossed the road until he could see Dunkley get out of the car. After taking out his phone, he zoomed in and took several photos. The man went into the back entrance of the flats. Seb checked he’d got a good set of photos and then decided he’d leave. He didn’t want to be spotted.

He hailed a taxi to take him to St Pancras. The way he was feeling, there was no way he could face walking the couple of miles back to Blackheath. On the way he texted Birdie with Dunkley’s full name and address and asked her to find out what she could about him.

Birdie stared at the unopened email in her inbox. It had arrived fifteen minutes ago, and she’d been doing everything other than open it. It was from the Adoption Contact Register.

What were they going to say?

Did they have her mum on the database?

Were they going to tell her where she lived?

Or were they emailing to say they had no record of her? People only go on the register if they want to be found. That’s if they even know it exists. Birdie had been researching the adoption process when she came across it. She’d never heard of it before.

‘Are you okay?’ Twiggy said, coming up beside her.

‘Yeah, fine. Just preoccupied.’

‘By what? Not this suicide investigation still? Have you got anywhere with it?’

She couldn’t tell him, or he’d wonder why it wasn’t now a case with CID.’

‘It’s still progressing,’ she said, shrugging. ‘Nothing to report yet.’

‘If you do have anything, you need to tell Sarge.’

‘What made you say that?’ He wouldn’t meet her eyes. ‘You’ve been talking to him, haven’t you? I bet he told you to check up on me.’ Twiggy still didn’t speak. ‘I knew it. He doesn’t trust me. And now you, Mr Suck Up, are spying on me for him.’

‘Hey. That’s not fair. I admit he did mention it to me, but I haven’t been reporting back