Page 34 of Fool Me Twice

“It’s a very long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. If I get back.”

“Hang up the phone, Regan,” Leland barked down the line.

There was a loud tut, followed by another one of those exaggerated sighs, and then a click.

“That girl is driving me crazy.”

Peter laughed.

“It was her mother’s idea. She thought it was about time Regan learned some responsibility. But I swear to God, she is going to put me in an early grave if she stays here much longer. Right, down to business.” His tone changed, suddenly becoming more serious. “So, I’m assuming you’ve read my emails?”

“I have, yes.”

“Then you know she’s still refusing to sign.”

Using two fingers, Peter began massaging his left temple slowly in a circular motion, hoping to ease the niggling pain building near his pressure point. “Did you ask her to name her price?” He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest.

“I did,” Leland reassured him. “I said exactly what you told me to say.”

“And?”

“And nothing. She said you were bluffing and that you’d soon come to your senses.”

Peter’s brow furrowed as the pain in his temple increased. “Bluffing? Why would I be bluffing about wanting a divorce?”

“Beats me. There was something else. I’m not sure it’s even worth mentioning.” Peter could hear the intake of breath down the line. “I called around to the house one evening on my way home from the office, to see if maybe I could reason with her face to face.”

“And?” Peter demanded as the silence stretched out. “Just spit it out, Leland.”

“Well, I don’t want to speak out of turn... I don’t know for sure, but...”

“For God’s sake, Leland, just tell me.”

“I’m pretty sure she’d been drinking, and then she started going on about her trump card, a bargaining chip. Does that mean anything to you?”

“No,” Peter replied, trying to think what she could have meant.

“Is there something I should know about? As your lawyer, I mean.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, anything?”

“No, I swear to you, there’s nothing,” he said, frowning. The whole thing with Jaxon had been as much of a surprise to him as it had been to his lawyer, but if he was asking if there could be other kids hiding in the closet, then he was barking up the wrong tree.

“Well, she seemed pretty sure that she had something that... I don’t know exactly. I can’t put my finger on it, but it was like she had something on you she intended to use.”

“Leland, I promise you, I have nothing to hide from you or anyone. You know what she’s like, has to be the centre of attention.”

“Yeah,” Leland said. “You’re probably right. I’ll call her lawyer first thing tomorrow and see if we can get rid of her once and for all.”

Chapter nineteen

Of all the times for Reeva to be sick, Evie cursed, slyly checking the time as a couple of stragglers from the class chatted to her. Reeva’s migraine had come on suddenly, she thought, before quickly dismissing the idea that she’d been faking. They were friends as well as colleagues, and Reeva knew how important today was to her.

“Hmm.” Evie nodded, unsure what or who she was agreeing with. Watching the minute hand mark time on the wall clock, she saw her plans of enjoying a leisurely shower, styling her hair and maybe even applying a little make-up disappear with every tick. Even Peter’s massage would have to be rescheduled for later that afternoon.

“Yes, well, I really have to go now.” Evie tried to make her escape just as another class member joined their little group, blocking the path between Evie and the door. Don’t you all have homes to go to? Evie wanted to ask. Kids to pick up from crèche? A dog that needs walking? Anything? Taking a couple of steps backwards in an attempt to disconnect from the group, she was dismayed when they followed her, closing the gap once more.

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