Page 4 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
I dial the number at the top of the letter and wait, expecting to be greeted by an answer phone or a receptionist, but instead I suddenly hear a smooth and very polished voice say: ‘Good afternoon. Alexander Benjamin speaking, how may I help you?’
‘Oh, hullo . . . ’ I reply, thrown for a moment by the voice. ‘Er . . . my name is Amelia. Amelia Harris. I . . . I mean Chesterford. Harris is . . .wasmy married name. Chesterford is my maiden name.’
‘Ah, the elusive Ms Chesterford at last! How wonderful to finally speak with you. As I just said, I’m Alexander Benjamin. You got my letter, I presume?’
‘I did.’
‘Now, if you’ll just give me a moment I’ll locate your file.’
The line goes quiet for a few seconds.
‘Right, I have it to hand now,’ the voice says, coming back on the line. ‘Now, would you mind confirming a few details for me?’
I’m immediately suspicious, but Alexander simply asks me for confirmation of the same details he had in the letter. He doesn’t ask me to divulge anything new, like my bank details or credit card number, as I’d originally suspected he might.
‘That’s super, Ms Chesterford, or would you prefer me to call you Harris? Thatisyour name now?’
‘I’d prefer Amelia, actually.’
‘Of course, Amelia it is then. Now—’
‘How did you find me?’ I suddenly blurt out.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘How did you find me – to send me the letter?’
‘Ah, I have many resources that I use to trace people. You were a particularly difficult case, I have to admit.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you seem to have had several addresses in the past few years, and you are yet to show on the electoral register for your current one. When clients are not on the register it makes them much harder to find.’
‘Oh, I see.’
‘You’ve moved quite a lot, have you?’
He’s right: I have, but I don’t see how that’s any of his business.
‘Yes.’
‘I see. Anyhow, that is of no consequence when it comes to the estate in question.’
‘You kept mentioning an estate in your letter. What exactly have I inherited?’
‘I have to say it is most thrilling,’ he says, sounding excited. ‘When John Davies came to me with this particular case, I was incredibly eager to take it on.’
‘Yes, I’m sure,’ I say, trying to remain patient. ‘But what is it?’
‘Subject to certain checks and verification of the appropriate documents, you, Amelia, have inherited—Beeeep.’
‘Hello . . . Hello . . . Mr Benjamin, can you still hear me?’ I shake the phone in my hand and stare at it, but the line has gone dead.
Immediately I attempt to call him back, but my worst fears are confirmed when a text message pops up on my phone to tell me . . . I’ve run out of credit.
Two
The next morning, after I’ve taken Charlie to school, I walk slowly back to the flat. My shift at the supermarket doesn’t start until this afternoon, so I have the rest of the morning to tidy up and take our dirty clothes to the local launderette – a job I detest. So I’m in no hurry to get home.
