Read Online For the Sake of the Children: The first Chloe Webster thriller (Chloe Webster Thrillers Book 1) by Alex Highcliffe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alex Highcliffe
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call and also try to speak to the police officer dealing with it to see what went wrong.’
‘Thanks Chloe.’
‘No problem. I’ll be in touch soon.’
Chloe hung up. She couldn’t believe that bail had been granted. There must have been a complication somewhere along the line. There’s no way the court would let him out knowing what he had done to George.
‘Hi Chloe.’ It was Ben, smiling widely. ‘How’re things?’
‘They’ve been better to be honest, Ben. I’ve had a bit of an issue with one of Ray’s clients this morning and I’ve got a worrying child abuse case on my hands too. Plenty to think about shall we say.’
‘Which of Ray’s clients is it?’ He seemed genuinely interested.
‘Mr Crawford. I assume you’ve heard of him?’
Ben winced. ‘Oh dear, he’s important. I know Ray has been advising him for a while now on various matters. What happened?’
‘He tried to give me a hundred thousand pounds in cash and I refused to take it for obvious reasons.’
‘Sounds reasonable.’ He straightened his tie and fiddled with his cuff.
‘I can feel a but coming on…’
‘I guess he’s a regular client who we know well. I think we’ve let him do it before. It’s a tricky one I suppose.’
Chloe sighed. ‘Especially on your second day. I wish Ray had just come to the meeting with me.’
‘Don’t worry; I’m sure he’ll sort it out. Listen, do you like the theatre?’
‘I do yes. Not that I go that often, but if something good comes along…’ It suddenly occurred to her what he was about to ask and she was surprised that her heart seemed to trip over itself for a moment.
‘I’ve got a couple of tickets for tonight. There’s a great comedy on at the Crucible if you fancy it? No strings, I just thought it might cheer you up.’
Chloe hadn’t expected this and she was lost for words for what seemed like an age. Ben sensed her hesitation and he spoke again.
‘No problem if you don’t want to. As I say, no strings…’
‘Sorry Ben, you took me by surprise that’s all. Yes, of course, why not? That’d be fun. I could do with getting my mind off of this place for a while. Shall I meet you in town?’
‘No, I’ll pick you up,’ offered Ben, enthusiastically. ‘I live out on the west side so it’s no trouble for me to drive out to Derbyshire. Just text me the post code and I’ll find it. About seven?’
‘That’s very kind of you, Ben. See you later.’
Ben walked back to his desk, his grin not visible from where Chloe was sitting.
25
Nathan held on to his daughter’s hand tightly as they made their way through the busy, unfamiliar streets of Amsterdam. Although he’d been here once before, he was just a child himself at the time, and so far nothing he had seen of the place brought back any clear memories. Of course, he remembered the water, and the bridges and the tall narrow houses that looked like they should be in a jigsaw puzzle vista, but nothing specific jogged his memory.
‘I wish mummy could’ve come with us,’ said the girl who skipped along by his side, her blonde hair streaming out behind her in the breeze.
He looked down at her and a pair of blue eyes glinted back at him in the sunlight. He never ceased to be amazed at the startling brightness of his daughter’s eyes. Even strangers had been known to comment on their mesmerising beauty. He knew one day they would serve her well in this world.
‘Daddy wishes that too Francesca, but she’s busy. We know mummy has to work whilst we’re here, but it’s still better than being back at school in London isn’t it?’
‘Yes!’
He smiled and knelt down in front of her, pulling her red duffle coat back up onto her shoulders and buttoning it securely against the cool air. He loved spending time with his daughter, and cherished the opportunity to have her to himself for a few hours. His wife worked for an international marketing company which had its
‘Thanks Chloe.’
‘No problem. I’ll be in touch soon.’
Chloe hung up. She couldn’t believe that bail had been granted. There must have been a complication somewhere along the line. There’s no way the court would let him out knowing what he had done to George.
‘Hi Chloe.’ It was Ben, smiling widely. ‘How’re things?’
‘They’ve been better to be honest, Ben. I’ve had a bit of an issue with one of Ray’s clients this morning and I’ve got a worrying child abuse case on my hands too. Plenty to think about shall we say.’
‘Which of Ray’s clients is it?’ He seemed genuinely interested.
‘Mr Crawford. I assume you’ve heard of him?’
Ben winced. ‘Oh dear, he’s important. I know Ray has been advising him for a while now on various matters. What happened?’
‘He tried to give me a hundred thousand pounds in cash and I refused to take it for obvious reasons.’
‘Sounds reasonable.’ He straightened his tie and fiddled with his cuff.
‘I can feel a but coming on…’
‘I guess he’s a regular client who we know well. I think we’ve let him do it before. It’s a tricky one I suppose.’
Chloe sighed. ‘Especially on your second day. I wish Ray had just come to the meeting with me.’
‘Don’t worry; I’m sure he’ll sort it out. Listen, do you like the theatre?’
‘I do yes. Not that I go that often, but if something good comes along…’ It suddenly occurred to her what he was about to ask and she was surprised that her heart seemed to trip over itself for a moment.
‘I’ve got a couple of tickets for tonight. There’s a great comedy on at the Crucible if you fancy it? No strings, I just thought it might cheer you up.’
Chloe hadn’t expected this and she was lost for words for what seemed like an age. Ben sensed her hesitation and he spoke again.
‘No problem if you don’t want to. As I say, no strings…’
‘Sorry Ben, you took me by surprise that’s all. Yes, of course, why not? That’d be fun. I could do with getting my mind off of this place for a while. Shall I meet you in town?’
‘No, I’ll pick you up,’ offered Ben, enthusiastically. ‘I live out on the west side so it’s no trouble for me to drive out to Derbyshire. Just text me the post code and I’ll find it. About seven?’
‘That’s very kind of you, Ben. See you later.’
Ben walked back to his desk, his grin not visible from where Chloe was sitting.
25
Nathan held on to his daughter’s hand tightly as they made their way through the busy, unfamiliar streets of Amsterdam. Although he’d been here once before, he was just a child himself at the time, and so far nothing he had seen of the place brought back any clear memories. Of course, he remembered the water, and the bridges and the tall narrow houses that looked like they should be in a jigsaw puzzle vista, but nothing specific jogged his memory.
‘I wish mummy could’ve come with us,’ said the girl who skipped along by his side, her blonde hair streaming out behind her in the breeze.
He looked down at her and a pair of blue eyes glinted back at him in the sunlight. He never ceased to be amazed at the startling brightness of his daughter’s eyes. Even strangers had been known to comment on their mesmerising beauty. He knew one day they would serve her well in this world.
‘Daddy wishes that too Francesca, but she’s busy. We know mummy has to work whilst we’re here, but it’s still better than being back at school in London isn’t it?’
‘Yes!’
He smiled and knelt down in front of her, pulling her red duffle coat back up onto her shoulders and buttoning it securely against the cool air. He loved spending time with his daughter, and cherished the opportunity to have her to himself for a few hours. His wife worked for an international marketing company which had its
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