Part 34 (1/2)

'I'll see what I can do,' Helen said suddenly. 'I'm sure Christopher will drop this nonsense when he realises I won't back him up.'

'I really appreciate it,' Gwen said carefully.

'He kicked my dog,' Helen snapped. 'It's nothing to do with you.'

'Right. Bye, then.' Gwen was halfway down the path when Helen called out, 'You should burn it all. But make sure everyone knows you've done it.' Then she raised her hand in a half-wave and shut the door.

Gwen got into Nanette and turned the heater up full. It wasn't a bad idea, actually. Holding a public bonfire might make her look like a lunatic, but appearing normal didn't seem to be on the cards any more. In for a penny ...

Back at home, Gwen looked up the number for The Chronicle on Ruby's second-best laptop and dialled. The helpful woman who answered the phone explained that Ryan was on his lunch break and, with minimal prompting, that he was taking it at The Red Lion. Twenty minutes later, Gwen walked into the pub. Both fires were blazing and Gwen, already warm from her speed-walk into town, pulled off her coat and scarf.

'All right, Gwennie?' Bob hailed her, then turned his attention back to the pint he was pulling. The place was packed and Gwen was surprised at just how many people she recognised. Stranger yet were the number of nods, smiles and greetings as she made her way to the back room.

Ryan was sitting on his own, his back to Gwen. She had no trouble recognising him, though, and complimented herself for her restraint in not slapping the back of his rosy-red neck. There was a spare chair at the little table and she sat down. Ryan looked up and did a double-take. 'Um-' he began, less than brilliantly.

'I'll be honest with you,' Gwen said, stealing one of Ryan's chips and pointing it at his chest. 'You're not my favourite person at the moment.'

'What?' Ryan seemed mesmerised by the chip, but he managed to drag his attention to Gwen's face. 'What do you want?'

'I want to put an advert in the paper but I'm broke, so I want you to write an article instead so it doesn't cost me anything.'

'And why would I do that?' Ryan said.

'Why wouldn't you? I thought this town was all about being neighbourly.' Gwen bit the chip. It was cold so she put the other half onto the edge of Ryan's plate. His gaze followed it and she said, 'Don't worry; I haven't got a cold or anything.'

Ryan looked her in the eye with what appeared to be some effort. 'I don't owe you any favours.'

'I was thinking more from the goodness of your heart,' Gwen said. 'Or, perhaps, to cleanse your soul a little after that unfortunate rabbit incident.' Suddenly the hurt and anger of that moment flooded back and Gwen leaned forward. 'My niece could've found that poor creature. Did you even think of that?'

'I didn't have anything to do with-' Ryan said quickly. Then he caught himself. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'Nice save.' Gwen selected a slice of cuc.u.mber from Ryan's side salad and gestured with it. 'Just run the piece.'

'Or what?' Ryan said, lifting his chin and trying to look tough.

Gwen fixed him with her best steely stare. 'Use your imagination,' she said, and popped the cuc.u.mber slice into her mouth.

'This is insane,' Ryan said. 'What did you want me to write about, anyway? The paper won't publish it if it isn't in the public interest.'

'It's as much in the public interest as that fascinating piece on Martin Bower's prize-winning cabbage.'

'Small town news, what do you expect?'

'It was on the front page, Ryan. Really.' Gwen shook her head. 'I'd say you should be thanking me for filling some column inches.'

'So, what is it? What's the big story?'

'I'm holding a bonfire.'

'You're a bit late for Guy Fawkes.'

Gwen ignored him. 'On the green outside here on Sat.u.r.day night.'

'You can't do that,' Ryan said. 'There are rules, by-laws, all kinds of permits.'

'I've cleared it with the council and the community council and with Bob in the pub. When I say bonfire, I'm being symbolic, really. It's more of a brazier.'

'A brazier.' Ryan frowned. 'What the h.e.l.l?'

'Bob is lending it to me. He uses it in the garden.'

'I don't really understand-'

'That's okay. Here are all the details.' Gwen put the article she'd carefully typed up that morning. 'I'd like it in Thursday's edition.' She pushed back her chair, the legs sc.r.a.ping on the stone floor.

'You can't just expect-' Ryan said and Gwen lost it. She leaned over the table, her face close to his and said, very quietly, 'Don't f.u.c.k with me, Ryan. I'm not known for my patience and I reached the bottom of the barrel a long time ago. I know you broke into my house.' Gwen was only guessing on that last point, but she figured that Lily didn't have too many friends to call on. Ryan swallowed and then nodded.

Gwen straightened up. 'Excellent. Thank you.'

Chapter 22.

Gwen was investigating the overgrown herbs in the garden when she heard the telephone. It was Harry, sounding less calm than usual. 'Are you busy? Can you get down to Cam's office?'

'What's wrong?' If another person was taking legal action ...

'It's Cam. Do you know about his granddad?'

Gwen went cold. 'What's happened?'

'He died last night. Cam found him.'

'Oh no.'

'Can you come?'

'Why don't you call Felicity?'

Harry didn't say anything. He just stayed silent long enough for Gwen to feel petty and stupid. 'Fine,' she said. 'I'll be there in ten minutes.'

'Thank you,' Harry said politely.

'Do you think he'll want me there?' Gwen asked quickly before Harry could hang up.

'Christ, Gwen. I don't know what he wants. He's trying to take out all the furniture in his office. It's built-in, though, so it's-' Harry broke off and Gwen heard a m.u.f.fled struggle. Harry came back on the line slightly out of breath. 'He's going to rupture something.'

Gwen got to the firm in time to see Elaine Laing putting on her coat in the reception area.