The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1512 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

It was difficult concentrating on the children when I was so worried about Simon and James. Stella asked me what was wrong, and I hinted I’d tell her later.

Once I sorted out the kids, big ones down the mines, little ones up the chimneys, we were able to grab a cuppa and go to my study. “Right, Cameron, spill the beans,” she said.

“This is for your ears only, and you must promise me you won’t tell anyone, and I mean anyone.”

“You mean you’ve got some juicy goss and I can’t circulate it?”

“What d’you think you are, a water pump?”

“Who?”

“Look, either you swear to secrecy or I won’t tell you.”

“Oh all right, I cross my heart to lift and separate,” she said smirking. I simply shook my head. “Oh don’t go all superior on me.”

“This is serious, Stella, someone tried to kill my Simon.”

She snorted and put her hand over her mouth but the glare I gave her nearly melted the nylon in her bra straps, and she looked at me and said, “You’re not joking, are you?”

“I was never more serious, Stella.”

“Who was it?”

“Someone in the bank who ran off with all that money.”

“They tried to kill him–where? Where was he when they tried to kill him?”

“He was meeting the auditors, but their office was bombed moments before Simon and James were due to go in.”

“You’re joking.”

“Tell that to the families of the twenty five people who died.”

“Oh my God! That is awful–but Simon’s okay?”

“Yes, James let me know they were both okay.”

“I’m surprised it hasn’t been on the news, I mean a bombing like that is an act of terrorism. Where was it, London?”

“Kansas City.”

“So how was Simon involved?”

“He’s in America.”

“But he’s got to appear before the investigating committee on Friday.”

“He said they had evidence that the bank was on the rocks before they sold out, evidence that was suppressed. The auditors raised the alarm after hearing of the buyout and subsequent farrago. They’ve been helping Simon to build a case to take to the US courts.”

“Gee whizz, no wonder you’ve been so quiet about him. I thought he was hiding out somewhere.”

“He’s trying to clear his name. I only hope all the evidence wasn’t destroyed by the bombing.”

“How can someone justify killing twenty five people?”

“You tell me.”

“When’s he coming home?”

“As soon as they can, hopefully with enough evidence to clear his name.”

“Could that prejudice the court case?”

“I don’t know–I don’t know if this is an internal enquiry or something to do with the financial watchdog.”

“How did he get lured into it, anyway?”

“You’ll have to ask him that–but I suspect he was trying to broker a good deal for the bank and they hooked him before making off with a load of dosh.”

“Yeah, but they still made two billion profit.”

“Who did?”

“Our bank.”

“They made a profit of two million after Simon’s mistake?”

“Two billion, Cathy–least that’s what the telly said.”

“And they’re worried about a few measly quid he lost?”

“It was like five hundred million pounds.”

“So?”

“Well, that means they’d have profits of two and a half billion, so the top people could have sliced off extra bonuses...”

“Stella, that’s Simon and Henry you’re talking about.”

“Oh yeah, so we’re all fat cats then?”

“I know, it fills me with shame some days–I have no idea how much Simon earns or how much he’s got.”

“Lots.”

“How d’you know, Stella?”

“He usually gets a bonus of a million or two.”

I think I went white and had to sit down. “A million or two? I thought most of that was in shares.”

“Some of it is. He’s the second biggest shareholder after Daddy, then there’s a couple more and then there’s me and then you.”

“Me? Know I have a few shares, but not that many, surely?”

“I thought your accountant explained that to you. The family are paid out in shares mostly, but you see, the more shares, the more dividend you get, and if that’s shares, then you get even more next time–good fun isn’t it?”

“What about the other shareholders?”

“We hold the largest block in the family.”

“BP shares are on the up again too. Simon and Daddy have a wodge of those too. They buy cheap, hold on to them and sell when they’re at the top of the share price. You need money to do it, and to know what you’re about, otherwise you can lose a fortune. Simon’s very good at it.”

“Henry said he always told Si what to do?”

“He likes to think so. Simon knows what he’s doing most of the time–he gets it wrong now and again, but usually it’s in single millions, not hundreds of.”

“So why does Henry have such a low opinion of him?”

“Because of you.”

I looked at her in disbelief, “Because of me? How?”

She shook her head, “Puir wee naive Cathy,” she shook her head again. If she did it much more she’d become dizzy.

“What d’you mean, naive?”

“He fancies you like mad, and is jealous of his son.”

“But I don’t fancy him and I’m married to Simon.”

“That doesn’t stop men, so he runs Si down to make himself look big.”

“It just makes him look stupid, in my eyes anyway, because I only have eyes for Simon.”

“It’s a boy thing, they show off if a girl takes their eye.”

“Even if she’s not available?”

“Even if–you are so naive sometimes, girl.”

“So it would seem–I just can’t believe anyone who knows my past could fancy me.”

“We’re not holding that discussion again. You are a very attractive woman, most men would die to have you...”

“Especially if Simon found out,” I added, feeling uncomfortable with the whole idea. I cope with the idea that Simon finds me attractive, he even tells me so now and again, but when I look in the mirror–I just see me–and that does little for my ego. I think Stella is more beautiful than I am. So is Julie, and the younger girls will probably be gorgeous. I’m just so lucky that Simon fell for me even if I think he must be blind.

“Yeah, Si wouldn’t be best pleased.”

“Surely, there can’t be that many blind men about can there?”

“I’m not playing that game, Cathy. I told you earlier. You know what I think about my horrible sister in law.”

“Ah now you’re being honest, I’m horrible or grotesque.”

“You’re horrible because whenever you’re about I have to live in your shadow.”

“Only because I’m bigger than you.”

“No, you silly bitch, because you’re more beautiful than I am–and I hate you for it.”

“Yeah, in the book, Frankenstein hated his monster.”

“I don’t see the...oh, I see, you see me as a Frankenstein and you’re the monster–ha ha very good. Yeah, a bolt through your neck would do my ego no end of good.” She went out of the room laughing.

I sat there for a minute, rapt in my own thoughts until a text came through on my phone.

‘Back on Thurs LHR at 19.30–can you collect us? J.’

All I could think was, thank goodness, then realised he’d be facing the committee the next day after such a long journey–then I felt anxious.