Read Online I Remember You by Martin Edwards - Free Book Online

excitement. The carefully contrived anxiety of her frown didn’t fool Harry. Joy-in-gloom was Suzanne’s speciality; the misfortunes of others were her meat and drink.
    Act soft , he told himself. Ten to one all that’s happened is the temp has walked out in a huff .
    â€˜Heard it? I was actually in the studio when it was broadcast. Sterling’s at an all-time low, unemployment’s on the rise. Anything else you want to know?’
    A cloud of bafflement passed across her face.
    â€˜You what? Oh, you were doing your thing on Radio Liverpool! God, I forgot to listen. I always tune in to Radio City, you see - the music’s better. No, I was meaning the news about Mr. Crusoe.’
    â€˜What’s up? Lost a bundle of deeds, has he?’
    â€˜No, no, nothing like that. He’s had an accident!’
    Harry felt a sudden sickness in his stomach. ‘What sort of accident?’
    â€˜A car crash.’ Suzanne lingered on the words. No question, she was in her element. ‘There was a pile-up in the fog last night.’
    Christ, yes, he’d heard something about it on the air earlier that morning. Not paid much attention, of course; other people’s tragedies seldom strike us as significant compared to our own preoccupations. Now his apprehension whilst waiting to join Baz Gilbert seemed like self-indulgence. His heart beating faster, he demanded, ‘And Jim - is he all right?’
    â€˜He’s alive,’ said Suzanne. ‘His wife phoned, she’s been with him at the Royal through the night. The rescue people had to use special equipment to get him out of his Sierra, she said.’
    The girl sounded sorry she’d missed the chance of sightseeing at the scene of the carnage. Harry could barely restrain himself from grabbing her by the throat.
    â€˜So what’s happened? Is he badly hurt?’
    â€˜He’s fractured a couple of ribs and his face was cut by the flying glass. And he’s still very groggy, not able to make much sense, according to Mrs. Crusoe. The doctors say it’s too early to tell how bad things are. They have to make tests.’
    Harry swore. His knees felt as though they were about to buckle and he sat down hard on one of the chairs reserved for clients. Jim Crusoe was more than merely a business partner. He was Harry’s anchor.
    â€˜Where is Heather? I must talk to her.’
    â€˜She said she’d call again in ten minutes.’
    â€˜Let me know as soon as she does. Never mind if I’m with a client, interrupt.’
    Suzanne smiled at him. She’d had her pleasure and could afford kindliness. In a motherly tone, she said, ‘So how was the show?’ Before he could reply, a bleep from the switchboard distracted her.
    â€˜Crusoe and Devlin. Oh, Mrs. Crusoe ... yes, he’s just got back. Shall I...’
    Harry snatched the receiver from her hand. ‘Heather? How is he?’
    â€˜Could be worse, Harry. Could be better. He spent the night in intensive care, but he’s lucky to be in one piece. Some of the others in the crash aren’t.’
    Stress shortened Heather Crusoe’s comfortable Wigan vowels, yet her characteristic calm had not altogether deserted her and in a handful of sentences she answered Harry’s agitated questions. Jim didn’t remember anything about the accident, but the police thought it had been caused by a car travelling too fast round a blind corner in the opposite direction, hurtling to disaster on the wrong side of the road. Three dead and a dozen injured, by the latest count. Jim’s windscreen had shattered and his face was a mess - she said it as matter-of-factly as if she were describing a cut finger - but the main concern was whether he’d suffered any internal damage. Soon the truth would be known.
    â€˜No point in panic,’ she said. ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine. Jim’s so strong - it would take more than some maniac with more