Leah's Story Finding Jake Read online

  “Who would have thought you and my arsehole bro getting close” I almost dropped my tea

  “Close! We just hung out cause you weren’t there, he let me offload my day, besides he is alright actually, apart from his awful taste in women I quite like the chap” Lucy laughed shaking her head

  “I never thought I would see the day, I think he is in to you I have never seen him like this with someone, eek my best friend and my brother, my brothers best friend and me! How peculiar” I spat my tea this time

  “No way Lucy he tolerates me at best, anyway he goes for the svelte gingers! I am far too dumpy remember” We grinned at the memory. I cleared the dishes while Lucy got her stuff together it was Wednesday and for once we had a similar timetable so were driving in together. Dickhead was at his desk when I arrived he was concentrating heavily on something and didn’t notice my arrival. A file was dumped on my desk a case that was in court tomorrow;

  Defendant Simon James nineteen years old, he was driving whilst three times over the limit. A vehicle pulled out in front of him causing a collision the driver of the other vehicle is in intensive care. Unfortunately for Simon it is irrelevant who caused the accident as he was over the limit so is being charged with Reckless Endangerment.

  Seemed straight forward to me, couldn’t really excuse him but was it his fault she pulled out on him? It appears he wasn’t speeding; the court will probably give him a driving ban unless the person didn’t survive. I had no idea how to spin this story to make it interesting so decided to do some background research into Simon. In fact I would visit his mother, who would know him better than his own mother.

  Richard hardly responded when I told him where I was going so I just walked out. I was headed to Salford an estate called Chomlea Manor, nice area not underprivileged but definitely not affluent. Mrs James opened the door with red eyes and puffy face, she looked distressed.

  “What is it? I don’t do religion if that’s what you are here for” she was blinking in the sunlight

  “Mrs James my name is Leah, I have to write the story of your son’s accident in the paper and I want to let everyone know what kind of boy he is. It could help him when it’s over if people understand him better.” She was sobbing again “Mrs James let me come in and make you a cup of tea, if you don’t want to talk to me that’s is fine but let me take care of you for a moment.” She shuffled out of the way to let me passed.

  The house was on four levels, the kitchen was downstairs. Mrs James went to sit in the lounge on the next floor while I fumbled around locating tea bags and sugar.

  “Do you have sugar Mrs James?” she replied just the one, teas made I carried them up to the very seventies styled living room. Bright gaudy wallpaper and lots of nik naks, the décor reminded me of Grans. We sat in silence sipping our tea; she looked at me every now and then I guessed she was wondering if I could be trusted. I noticed a clock with garden birds set as hours, I had seen one before each hour it chimed a different bird song. We talked birds for a while, I was quite a lover of them myself Gran had a bird table and I sat with my binoculars watching for new varieties as a child. The conversation started to flow and I could tell she was warming to me.

  Fifteen minutes later she stood suddenly, I wondered if this was my cue to leave.

  “Come with me Leah I want to show you his room” I followed obediently intrigued by what she was to show me, posters of girls? Final Fantasy obsessions? So when she opened the door I was surprised to see a huge telescope. The room was covered in reading material, equations, planets periodic tables, anything to do with physics and astronomy.

  “Simon is a clever boy then?” she looked at me disparagingly like I had just insulted her “My Simon got an A star in all 11 of his subjects, he achieved A’s in Chemistry, Physics and Maths at A level. He had the grades to go to any University in the country. He has even published a book on Vacuum science, it was self published but has featured in the New Scientist magazine” I was struggling to relate this Simon to a drunk Simon in charge of a car

  “Mrs James what made Simon do this then?” she looked at the floor sadly

  “We can’t afford to send him to University, even a part scholarship is beyond our means he never drinks but that night he was so fed up as all his friends left that day to go all over the country studying and he had nothing but a job search. Who would give a geek a job serving food with a brain like his? He lost hope Leah that is all” this was a story; I asked if I could photograph his bedroom, took notes of his book title and promised to do her proud.

  I couldn’t wait to type this one up, Dickhead was absent so I had the space to myself to get creative. I researched Simon’s book and yes it was highly rated, I contacted a chief scientist at Daresbury laboratories who had reviewed the book online. Professor Schubert was happy to be quoted in my article and was intrigued to hear Simons story, so much so he wanted Mrs James contact details to offer his help.

  The article was finished Gordon suitably impressed it would go to print page 11 in the mornings paper. The day was almost over Richard was back giving me smug looks which I found disturbing, I was ready to confront him when a call came through

  “Leah Fellows” there was a sniffling on the other end, it was Mrs James

  “Hello Leah, it is Mrs James here I so want to thank you, a Professor Schubert has phoned me to offer Simon a job including a day release to study for his degree at Manchester Polytechnic. Oh lovey I have just spoken to Simon and he is so thrilled, it is like the light has turned back on in his world. I can’t thank you enough please visit us anytime I would love to thank you in person”

  “Mrs James that is wonderful news, Simon deserves to use that mind of his, good luck I will be at court tomorrow to do the follow up so I will see you there” she hung up a happy woman, Gordon stepped out of his office to find out what the call was. I relayed our conversation; Richard was staring angrily at me.

  “Well done Leah, we will get a photo of you with Mrs James tomorrow a feel good end to the story, the defence will be able to use this as a plea to hopefully make the sentence non-custodial good work” he returned to his office. Richard leant across my desk

  “You share a flat with the Richmond girl don’t you? Sister of the big wig barrister Adam Richmond” I wondered where this was going

  “What of it?” he looked annoyed for some reason

  “Friends in high places won’t keep your past a secret you know Lovell” I gasped as he stood and left the room. How the hell had he linked me to my mums fake name, I scampered after him

  “Richard what the hell are you talking about” he turned to face me and I dreaded what his next words were going to be.

  Chapter 7

  Richards next words were worse than I had imagined.

  “When I was rookie I covered your mums murder, one of my first cases, they gave it to me cause nobody cared about a dead whore” the words stung me “she was given five lines at the back of the paper but I remember the name Fellows being her real identity, happened to wonder if you were the child clinging to her dead body” My head was swimming I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself

  “What is interesting is the police having no files on it, no post-mortem no investigation nothing, how did you manage that? Like I said friends in high places. But I have friends too Lovell and I will get the file perhaps dig up a story with you as the star” he started to walk away I debated following him to demand more answers but my body had other ideas so I let him go heading to the toilets instead.

  I threw up the instant I was inside a cubicle my head was pounding, what were the chances of working with the same guy who wrote my mum’s story? It was ludicrous; I needed to calm down, was it so bad he knew who I was? It would make me notorious for a while, an interesting bit of gossip for the staff room maybe. I decided to let it go and rise above it. If he planned on using the information as blackmail then I would ask for help.

  There was the question of why the file had disappeared though; maybe
someone didn’t want him to have it? It was time to go; Lucy met me down in the car park. As my only close friend she sussed me out straight away

  “Leah what has that awful man done to you today?” she knew me so well, I filled her in on the conversation we had in the corridor, she was horrified

  “I can’t believe he said those things to you, don’t let him rile you, we need to talk to Adam he can advise you perhaps even have a quiet word In his ear” I didn’t want anyone fighting my battles for me and said as much to Lucy she promised to keep it to herself, we drove home saying no more about it.

  I had dance training at the theatre tonight, they wanted me and Chris for backing the stars of the hit show We will Rock you, I was excited it was the second time we had done this show and the music was fab, I couldn’t wait. Chris and I were rebels so our costumes were very eighties and some of the moves involved were for us as a pair. so we trained hard until gone ten o’clock, happy with our routines we finished up.

  Chris suggested a catch up drink he hadn’t seen me since the wine throwing drama, so I agreed to a quick bottle of beer at Henry’s bar just down the road. We were chatting away when I felt eyes on me, I looked over to the bar and there was Adam. He was in a smart suit, drinking with a man I recognised from reports in the paper, this must be Victor Bosic. He was a very attractive older man grey hair that gave him a distinguished air, he oozed power you knew instantly the kind of man he was. Victor followed Adam’s gaze to me and our eyes met, there was a glimmer of interest then he looked away. I focused on Chris who was telling me about Todd’s new romance which sounded very sordid. I wasn’t in the mood for idle chatter though I needed my bed and a good night’s sleep before I had to deal with Dickhead in the morning. I stood to leave Chris gave me a hug then left to pay the drinks bill, I headed for the door.

  “Leah Hi are you okay you look a little pale tonight” I smiled wearily at Adam who had wandered over to catch me before I left.

  “Thanks I am fine, a difficult day at work I will fill you in if you are round over the weekend” he smiled squeezed my arm then went back to his client; it was nice of him to check on me. My eyes were fighting a battle with themselves when I got home, a quick shower and I collapsed.

  As tired as I had been last night I hardly slept a wink, my night had been full of dreams mostly involving the night my mum was killed. So waking today my face looked twenty years older than it should

  “Good Grief Olay won’t fix me today” I did my best with my appearance choosing to leave my hair down as it hid some of my face. I was going to be photographed with Mrs James and the Professor from Daresbury Labs after court; we hoped Simon would be in them if the hearing went well. I made an effort with a shorter pencil skirt white blouse and left the jacket off today as it was feeling rather warm for May. Lucy had already made me a brew.

  “You are a life saver Lucy Richmond I so need this right now. Hey I saw Adam with Victor Bosic last night, he is certainly charismatic, a perfect villain” she grinned, she had met him a few times he made her tongue tied, now I could see why.

  “Leah I am being whisked away by Rob tomorrow it’s a surprise I have no idea where he is taking me. Anyway you will have the flat all to yourself” I was a bit gutted she was going away it would have been our first girlie weekend together, but it didn’t matter I had a matinee to do Sunday. Maybe tomorrow I would dig out my paintings and try them around the walls.

  “Lucky you, it will be fun I wonder where you are going? It could be Blackpool” she looked at me scornfully

  “Blackpool I think he would know better than to drag me there, I would so be unimpressed” It wasn’t often the snob came out in Lucy but there it was. Me I loved Blackpool chips in a cone with a wooden fork, walking along the pier riding the Big One, all sounded like heaven to me.

  We left in separate cars and I shot to the office to get everything ready for court, no sign of Dickhead yet, he was cutting it fine. I spent an hour writing the follow up piece so all it needed was a couple of quotes, the outcome of the hearing and the photos. Still no Richard, he was taking the photos so he better be here.

  It was now an hour before the case was due in court we needed to park up, get our passes and find seats. Gordon shouted from his office

  “Leah I can’t get hold of Richard his phone is not picking up, I can only assume he is meeting you there, take the camera and go but keep me informed. I did as I was asked feeling nervous all of a sudden; maybe Richard had more information about me and was planning something. I put this out of my mind and headed off; parking was a nightmare I was running in my heels just reaching the court steps with fifteen minutes spare. I stood waiting for Richard, tried his phone but it kept going to answer machine, I wouldn’t be able to get inside without him he was the senior reporter. This was a bad situation and Gordon would go mad, I was just debating calling him when I spotted a Maybach roll up.

  Now that was a luxury car. I watched surprised as Adam and Victor stepped out, he caught my gaze immediately, I saw him excuse himself and walk over to me. He looked particularly delicious in a black suit with crisp grey shirt and silver tie. He was looking me up and down in quite a predatory manner, I felt naked under his gaze.

  “Leah is everything okay? You are meant to be inside aren’t you? Court 3” How the hell did he know my schedule?

  “Err yes but Richard hasn’t shown, I can’t get in without him, he is not picking up and I have ten minutes to get seated” I was babbling now the stress beginning to show, Adam took my elbow sending a pulse of static down to my toes, I noticed he flinched too but did not release his grip

  “I will get you in on my pass, you need this story come follow me” I looked up at him gratefully,

  “Thanks Adam I owe you one, and yes this story is important to me” he nodded and we went through all the checks together. We parted ways at court three after I thanked him yet again.

  The hearing went very well; Mrs James kept beaming over at me. Simon was confident and wellspoken the news of a future had motivated him to help himself and he pleaded his case very well. The Professor took the stand confirming his admiration of Simon’s achievements and his book. It turned out that the book was based on theory the laboratories were currently investigating, his new ideas were crucial to the development of a new energy being trialled there.

  All in all the judge was impressed Simon was given a six month suspended sentence and a driving ban for one year, he looked forlorn at that, his job was in Warrington so he needed to drive. We left the court and I asked a rival journalist from a local rag to take the pictures for me. Mrs James pulled me to one side to thank me again, I saw Adam pause on his way past giving me a warm smile before he carried on his way.

  “I am going to drive Simon to work every day, my sister lives over that way so we will stay there some days or I will just spend the day with her until I need to pick him up. Thank you for all you have done, this will change his life” I blushed

  “Really it was the professor who did all this I just gave him your number, I hope everything works out for him, he is going to be something special I feel” She smiled and crushed me in an embrace. I stood back and watched them all leave the court, Simon was the same age as my brother would have been, I looked at him trying to imagine what Jake was doing now. I felt quite up beat leaving court but then suddenly curious, where the hell was Richard? Something was off but I didn’t know what so I went back to the office to see if he had turned up again.

  Chapter 8

  Still no Richard, I decided to stop worrying about him, he wasn’t my problem after all. I packed up my things; Simon’s story was heading for page five in the morning so I had completed an excellent day’s work. I made my way downstairs to the multi storey car park, I noticed Richards’s car was still here, walking over I looked inside. Why would he leave it overnight? I was getting a bad feeling but shrugged it off. Richard was a drinker maybe working with me had sent him mad and driven him to the bottle.

  I dro
ve straight to the Theatre for tonight’s show. Chris was waiting for me we went to get Changed into our costume, my hair was sprayed and back combed so it stood out like Toyah’s we had five songs in the first act, all high energy. Chris stood by my side back stage waiting to go on.

  “Let’s give it hell babe, full house tonight even the boxes” that made my stomach churn, when the boxes were full the audience felt closer. I loved the adrenalin of performing but it did strange things to my guts. Our first number was on so we burst in to life on stage to Don’t Stop Believing, panting and out of breath we paused for the applause I looked at the VIP seats and to my embarrassment spotted Natalie and Adam, with Victor, a glamorous woman who I presumed was his wife and a very handsome young man.

  Adams eyes locked with mine and the hunger in them almost knocked me off my feet, I leant against Chris for support noticing Adam tensing visibly. We left the stage to change outfits and the rest of the show went by in a blur, I forced myself to not look at Adam for the rest of the performance or my concentration would go. Chris and I hugged after the final curtain fell

  “Babe are you up for some fun tonight I could do with some one on one” normally this would be an invitation I would accept but for some reason, being intimate with Chris did nothing for me tonight

  “Sorry Chris I think that boat has sailed for us, drinks and gossip anytime though” he smiled totally unoffended, he knew what I was like after so many years, I watched as he wandered over to a pretty dark girl instead. They left giggling together, I wished I was still blasé about sex but I felt the past few weeks had changed me, maybe I was growing up at last.

  I walked outside, in my jog pants and hoody, my hair still a tangled mess, glitter all over my face. I spotted the Maybach out front and peeped around the corner watching Natalie clasping Adams arm, he actually looked bored. The way he had looked at me tonight wasn’t boredom, if he wanted me so badly why was he with her, there was a puzzle! Too tired to try and work it out I drove home, my flat would be empty and actually I fancied a drink with a friend it was going to be a dull night.