Page 147 of Fe
Why?Fen had meant to say the word but it didn’t come out of his mouth. How had this guy got his number?
“We’d love to do a feature about you and your dad. Hear your side of the story. Take some pictures. We’re outside the door. What do you say?”
The doorbell rang again.
“No,” Fen managed to force out.
“Have you read whatTodayis saying? The story’s out but you have a chance to tell your side. When’s convenient?”
Fen ended the call and with shaking fingers, even as another call came through, powered down his phone.
“Who’s at the bloody door?” Ripley groaned.
“Turn off the doorbell.”
When the sound stopped, Fen took a deep breath. He looked up to see Ripley heading for the window. “Don’t!”
“What’s wrong?”
Ripley’s phone rang and he went back to get it.
“Only answer if it’s someone you know,” Fen said.
“It’s your mother.”
“On your phone?”
“Have you turned yours off?”
“Yes. Put it on speaker.”
“Hello,” Ripley said.
“Ripley, it’s Daisy. Alistair’s with me. Is Fen there?”
“Yes, he’s listening.”
“Fen, I’m so sorry.” His mum was crying.
“What’s happened?” Ripley asked.
“Scott,” Alistair snapped. “The little bastard took your mother’s box.”
“What box?” But Fen thought he could guess.
“It had things in it about your father. The DNA test she had done. Letters to him that were returned to her. Cuttings about him. Pictures.”
“We had a call this morning,” his mum said. “I’m sorry, Fen. We’ll come home.”
“No,” Ripley said. “You’re better off staying where you are. Don’t talk to anyone about this. Don’t be fooled into thinking someone is your friend. They won’t be.”
“But we’ve seen the article inToday,” she sobbed. “They’ve printed lies.”
“Even so, not saying anything is the way to go.” Ripley glanced out the side of the curtain. “Dignified silence. Don’t talk to the press. Stay put. Got it? I’ll deal with this.”
“Let us know if we can do anything,” Alistair said.
“Fine. Bye.” Ripley ended the call and went back to the bed to a frozen Fen. “Fen? Fen! Listen to me. We need to know what’s being said.”
