Page 55 of Fe
When Ripley checked his phone as he left court, he saw five missed calls and three voice messages from his mother, and one message from Petra.Bloody hell.What the hell had happened? He waited until he was on the train, cup of coffee in front of him, before he listened to the messages in the order they’d been received.
One of those men who came to the house to value our belongings stole my diamond ring. Do something about it.
Ripley gritted his teeth. Stolen not lost? Because this wasn’t the first time his mother had claimed someone had stolen something from the house and it had turned up shortly after. The first message had been sent at ten this morning. The next arrived at noon.
I’ve called both companies and demanded an explanation. It’s appalling. Call me, Ripley! I shouldn’t be having to deal with this. You chose the companies. You were supposed to be supervising.
Of course it was his fault, even though he’d told his mother and Petra anything of value should be put in the safe.
Petra saidYour mother is very distressed. I think she’s right. The ring has been stolen from her dressing table. I remember seeing it yesterday morning.
The final message had been sent at four.
In your absence, I’ve sorted it out. The ring was found in the backpack of the young man with the crutch. It’s being returned tonight. I’m going to contact the police.
Ripley sucked in a breath.What the hell!He called his mother.
“About time. Why didn’t you answer your phone?” she snapped.
“Because I was in court.”
“There’s no point phoning me now. I’ve reported the crime to the police.”
“If you have the ring back, why bother?”
“He’s a thief! He’s been sacked anyway.”
Oh God, Fen!“He didn’t take it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was found in his possession.”
“I was with him almost the whole of the time he was in the house.”
“Well, you just said it. Almost. Not every minute.”
“He didn’t take it. It was far more likely to be the other young man.”
“Ripley, you’re an idiot. I saw the way you looked at him. I’m not a fool.”
She cut him off. He called Fen. When Fen didn’t answer, Ripley left a message.
“I know you didn’t do it. Call me. Please.”
By the time he was back in London, an hour and half later, there had been no contact from Fen. All of Ripley’s calls to him had gone unanswered. He dropped his briefcase off at the office, then went to Peckham. There was a light on in the flat above the betting shop but no answer when Ripley rang the bell. He banged on the door, then called through the letterbox. “Fen! It’s me! Let me in. I’m not leaving until I’ve seen you.”
Ripley stood up and leaned back against the door. He tried calling Fen again, but it went straight to voicemail. Ripley kept ringing the bell and banging but Fen didn’t appear. He didn’t want to go home until he’d spoken to him. Ripley looked around for a place where he could get something to eat and still see Fen’s door.
Fen used his key to get into his mum’s flat, and called, “Are you there?”
If she wasn’t, he’d go back to his place but she shouted, “I’m in here!”
He left his bags and coat in the hall and went through to the kitchen. He’d wondered if Alistair had called to tell her what had happened, but she had her usual wide smile on her face, so he guessed not. Fen walked into her arms and she hugged him. He didn’t want to pull away.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” she whispered. “Is it your BMD?”
“No.” Fen pressed his face into her hair, and breathed in his mum whom he loved so much.
She took hold of his fingers. “You’re cold! Sit down. Let me make you a drink. Do you need something to eat?”
