Page 103 of Cover Story

‘I’ve got the unedited Ring doorbell. I kept it for a rainy day, as insurance. He stayed in February, then April, the last time was in June. Younger women every time, I don’t know who they are, though you tell me the one in spring was this redhead.’

‘OK. Wow,’ Bel looked to Connor, having stifled anoh my Godyelp.

‘What will you do with it if I give you the film? Give me the step-by-step,’ Amber said.

‘We’d check it ourselves and then send it to editors and lawyers at the paper, to be sure it’s him. We’d tell them you’re cooperating on condition of anonymity. I’d interview Erin on record this time, we’d get our story together and then call Bailey the day before it’s going to run and tell him we have this proof, and does he want to comment. Obviously, he knows you had those files in your iCloud so it’s up to you what you want to tell him about how we obtained it. But we won’t tell him who our source is and only mine and Connor’s names will be on the story in public.’

Amber blew air out.

‘I curse the day you sashayed my way, Bella. Bel, Becky, what the fuck. All right. Text me your email address and I can text Rick on my way back– he’s in the office. You’ll have it in fifteen minutes.’

‘Than—’ Bel began.

‘Don’t thank me. Don’t you dare. I am up a fucking tree because of you and this is my best way down, that’s all,’ Amber said.

Bel nodded.

As Amber left, she turned to Connor.

‘I shouldn’t be this much of a stupid romantic, but eff-why-eye: she was always telling me you two were dynamite in bed and that you were The One. I thought Bella might be bragging. But when she begged me to incriminate her and let you off yesterday, she properlypleaded. I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her, but you should marry her. I’ve never seen a girl more smitten.’

The door closed and Connor said: ‘Thank you, Bel,’ and she muttered embarrassedly:oh no need, did what I could.

‘She was fucking with us, with me, there, wasn’t she? Amber figured out we’re not a couple, either.’

‘Yeah, most likely,’ Connor said.

Despite the extreme cause for jubilation at this miraculous turn of events, it was five minutes before either of them could fully look the other in the eye again.

At 10.00 a.m., having seen film where they both shouted, ‘shit it’s him, it’s really him!’– they were ready for a wholly different sort of meeting with Toby than the one envisioned.

He appeared on Bel’s laptop: ‘Morning, my favourite folie a deux! What news? Are we toppling the leader of the north this week, in our little remake ofHouse Of Cards?’

Bel looked to Connor.

‘I’d have thought so, Toby, yes.’

57

No low was lower than thinking she’d have to ring Ian and tell him the story was sunk, and possibly him with it. No high was higher than battling through a dropping-in-and-out 4G connection to Ian at the site of Roman archaeological remains in Northumberland to say:we got him.

‘It’s fair to say I don’t regret meeting up with you in Southern Cemetery. We were surrounded by illustrious personages that day but little did I know I was meeting a living VIP, too,’ Ian said.

‘That’s very kind but far too much, I’m only doing my job. And thank me once GB’s safely resigned,’ Bel replied.

‘Admirable caution and restraint from you, as always. I think you should accept the applause and take a bow.’

‘Ian, you’re the only person on this planet who thinks I am cautious and restrained, so thank you for that alone!’

After agreeing he’d liaise with Erin and Erin and Bel could use his house to meet, Bel got off the call and Connor said: ‘You’re not wrong there, Irene. You’ve taken years off my life.’

He grinned and chewed on his pen, looking considerably handsomer and fresher than someone on little sleep, in yesterday’s clothes, deserved to. Bel thought how pure thepolitics of this win was, between the two of them. Connor had been so philosophical and willing to shoulder blame when it was a catastrophe, that it all coming good at the last minute was something he’d earned, many times over. She revelled in sharing it with him. The hot resentment at his intrusion felt like another lifetime.

‘I don’t know how much praise I deserve for the blind luck of Amber’s change of heart. I feel like I’m getting back slaps for finding a winning lottery ticket in a hedge after gambling the house away.’

‘You’re too modest. Not only did you do the legwork to get here, you pointed out to Amber and Rick they’d be implicated. That was wily. If they’d caught me, I’d have said fair enough and burst into tears. I’d say you bet on yourself and won.’

‘Amber being disenchanted with her mum is what did it, I think. She was subconsciously or not looking for a big point of difference between them and here it is.’

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