A feeling of dread shot through her. Even while part of her brain was denying what Nikkis tears and the sealed envelope might possibly mean, Elyss began to experience panic.
Quickly she slit open the envelope. At speed she took out its contents. Oh, no! It couldnt be! Butit was. There, in her hand, along with her letter and details, was the cheque she had written to the insurance company. You didnt... she choked hoarsely.
I forgot, Nikki agonised, her distress quite desperate.
It was only whenin between worrying about Dave and your poor car, but thinking how your c-car insurance would pay for everythingI suddenly realised that Id never handed the cheque in. I know its no excuse, but I put that envelope in a separate compartment in my bag so it wouldnt get all crumpled. Only, as the hours and minutes ticked by and that job interview got nearer and nearer, I got so jitterythat everything else went out of my head.
And you didnt think about it afterwards! Elyss gasped, belatedly realising she had been remiss herself in not following up when no certificate of motor insurance had come through the post. When it hadnt arrived she had just assumed it had gone to her old address by mistake and would catch up with her. She supposed she should blame pressure of work, staying late reorganising, for making her forget all about it. But, oh, grief, she had been happily driving around these past two months without motor insurance. Oh, heavens, she was uninsured!
So much for thinking that there must be some clause in her insurance that allowed Nikki to drive her car. Neither of them was insured. Oh, my sainted aunt, to have moved that car so much as an inch on the highway had been a criminal act!
Oh, dont be cross with me! Please dont be cross with me, Elyss, Nikki begged, fresh tears falling. Everythings going so terribly wrong for me just now.
Oh, Nikki! Elyss answered helplessly, again aware of how very distracted Nikki was. She was starting to feel much the same way herself as it very quickly dawned on her that there would be no money forthcoming to replace her written-off car. But, worse than that, there would be no money from her insurance company to pay for the repairs to the car which Nikki had crashed into either! Criminal! If she couldnt find the money out of her own pocket, she could be sued in the courts for it!
She pulled herself away from her own worries as she became aware that Nikki was getting herself into something of a state again. Its all right! she tried to soothe. All right? Thanks to Nikki she could end up with a criminal record! Ye gods! It didnt bear thinking about. Yet she just couldnt ignore it and hope that it would go away. Sit down, Nikki, she instructed, and as Nikki complied, dabbing at her eyes, Elyss found it impossible to sit down herself. Ill make a pot of tea, she said as kindly as she was ableand got busy, her mind shooting off at a tangent.
She didnt have any money to pay for repairs! She could end up with a criminal record! Calm down. So, okay, she had been in complete ignorance about the fact that she wasnt insured. She had given her cheque to someone else to pay the insurance for heroh, that was certain to go down well in court! Heavensher parents! Theyd be thunderstruck that, within months of leaving them, she had landed herself in this mess.
But it wasnt her mess, it was Nikkis. Oh, Lord. Elyss could just imagine Nikkis reaction if she so much as mentioned court. She sighed, realising full well just then that it might be Nikkis mess, but she was the one who was going to have to clear it up.
She poured some tea and felt wretched when, as she handed Nikki a cup, she saw that Nikkis hands were shaking so much she could barely hold it.
Come on, Nikki, she said bracingly, sounding far more confident than she felt, though her initial shock was starting to wear off. Nothings as bad as that.
You reckon! Plainly Nikki didnt believe it, and Elyss wasnt convinced herself, but nothing was going to be achieved by both of them breaking down in floods of tears.
She tried hard to be objective. Perhaps, as shed told Nikki, nothing was so bad. Perhaps, if the damage to the other car was only slight, she might be able to settle. If she asked Howard Butler for an advance on her salarythough that would mean letting him know she lived from pay-day to pay-day, of course, and it would bruise her pride. Oh, grief, she couldnt do that! Hed wonder why she couldnt ask her parents for helpand no way was he, or anyone else, going to know that her parents were as hard put to stretch their resources as she was.
Erwas there very much damage to the other car? she asked Nikki with seeming casualness, glad to see that, for all her eyes were red and puffy, Nikki had stopped crying.
I s-sort of caught him semi-sideways on. I think hell need a new doorat least, Nikki answered.
Elyss inwardly paled. A new doorthat would cost hundreds. What sort of car was it? she followed on, praying for something small: a mini would suit, but even that wouldnt come cheap.
Nikki swallowed. A Ferrari, I think.
A Ferrari! Elysss legs went weakforget hundreds, she needed to think thousands. Great! The way her luck was going Nikki had most likely crashed into some judge, or, at the very least, some chief constable. You exchanged names? She sat downthis was a nightmare!
Nikki put her hand into her other dressing gown pocket and withdrew a small card which she passed over. Elyss took it. It was a business card. Saul Pendleton was neither a judge nor a top policeman, Elyss saw. She registered the fact that Saul Pendleton worked for a firm called Oak International. His card gave both his home and office address, and he had a flat in a very plush area of London. Suddenly she became aware that Nikki was looking at her as if she had something on her mind.
What is it? Elyss asked quietly, having heard enough to be going on with, and not certain that she wanted to hear any more.
I was a bitershaken up last night, Nikki confessed.
Yes? Elyss encouraged.
I wasnt thinking clearly.
Elyss didnt like the sound of this. Idont suppose you were, she answered apprehensively.
HeMr Pendleton, he was a bitblunt. Well, she had banged into his Ferrari! Heumasked my name, and...
And?
And... Nikki swallowed, and then whispered, Iergave him y-your name.
Elysss jaw dropped. As well as your own, you mean?
Nikki shook her head. I was too terrified to give him my name. He wasersort ofoverpowering. I couldnt think straight. I just told him I wasElyss Harvey.
Elyss was staring at her in stunned silence when Louise came into the kitchen. She looked from one to the other, observing one totally astounded expression and the puffy red eyes on the other occupant. What goes on? she asked.
I hardly know where to begin, Elyss answeredand Nikki burst into tears. Ten minutes later, and Louise knew all that there was to know. Elyss concluded by passing her the card which Nikki had given her. Mr Pendleton works at Oak International. I...
Saul Pendleton is Oak Internationalor will be at the end of this year when the present chairman retires and he takes over, Louise interrupted quietly.
You know him? Elyss asked.
Not personally, she denied. But were in fibre optics toowere not a multi-million concern like Oak, of course, but we have small dealings with them from time to time.
You know him? Elyss asked.
Not personally, she denied. But were in fibre optics toowere not a multi-million concern like Oak, of course, but we have small dealings with them from time to time.
Louise worked as a PA in a forward-looking group and, Elyss had already gathered, knew quite a few people of note in the business world. You know of him, though? she pressed. Louise nodded. And?
Louise gave a hasty glance to Nikki. Hesergot a reputation for being a tough operator. Straight, resolute; try to put one over on him at your peril.
Oooh! Nikki squealed, and at her fresh outbreak of tears, Louise took a firm hand.
You havent had much sleep, have you? she sympathised with Nikki. Come on, back to bed.
Between them they got Nikki into bed. Dont worry about a thing, Elyss heard herself saywhen she was a seething mass of worry herself. Just try and get some rest.
Logic tells me we should be tougher with her, Louise opined when they got back to the kitchen. But she sort of gets to you.
I know, Elyss agreed. Shes in a shocking state.
I thought the same myself. I dont think Victorias going to work todaysomething to do with a day shes owed, she was saying on Saturday. Well get her to keep an eye on Nikki. Now, what are you going to do about...?
Ill have to get in touch with Mr Pendleton, I suppose, Elyss answered; like her, Louise appeared to think that Nikki wasnt up to dealing with it. Is he really as tough as you say?
Believe it!
Oh, hecktry to put one over on him at your peril, Louise had said, and what had Nikki done but given him a false name? What else do you know about him? Elyss asked. Perhaps he was good to his mother and stray animals. Perhaps he hadnt got a mother. How old is he? she asked, following that train of thought.
Young to be in the position hes in. Still in his thirties, I thinkand a bachelor with it.
He doesnt like women? Elyss questioned, seeing any chance of appealing to his chivalrous side going up in smoke.
On the contrary. While its said he keeps his work and his private. life in two very separate compartments, it seems hes not lacking for female company.
Trust him to have a Ferrari, Elyss commented, knowing she was being unfairly sour, but getting stabbed by darts of panic from time to time.
Hell be as mad as hell when he knows hell probably have to pay for the repairs himself, Louise volunteered.
Elyss wished she hadnt. Insult added to injury, she sighed. Id better phone him.
Do it nowit might not be as bad as you anticipate, Louise advised.
Elyss was reluctant. Its too early. He might not be up yet.
You think hes got where he is by being a lie-a-bed?
Point taken. Illerring him from my room, Elyss decided. If she was to be verbally slapped down, shed rather it was privateeven if what Saul Pendleton had to say could not be overheard.
Id better go and shower, or Ill be late, Louise commented and went off to the bathroom, while Elyss went to the sitting room to collect the phone.
Pendleton, a clear concise voice answered.
Oh, good morning. Im sorry to contact you so early, but I thought you might have a busy day ahead.
Did you, now? Cool, polite, waiting.
My names Elyss Harvey. She quickly got herself together. The pause that followed was almost tangible. He was still waiting. If he was clever enough to be in line for the chairmanship of Oak International, then he was clever enough to remember the name Nikki had given him last night, Elyss thought sniffily. My car was in collision with yours last night, she felt obliged to remind him when he still hadnt said anything.
That did bring forth some response, and his reply sounded every bit as tough as Louise had promised, albeit delivered in silky tones. I trust youre not ringing to suggest the mess your vehicle made of mine was my fault.
Iermy vehicle wasnt looking too clever either, she stated stiffly, something in Saul Pendletons tone needling her.
True, he agreed. According to the mechanic who came out, it could be a few days before its drivable again.
Her heart leapt. Her car wasnt the write-off Nikki had said it was! Elyss busily tried to estimate the cost of repairs while at the same time frantically searching for some tactful way to let him know that she had neither insurance nor money for her own car repairslet alone his.
Then she found that her tact, for the moment at any rate, would not be needed. Because clearly Saul Pendleton was not a man with a lot of time to spare to be cluttered up with incidentals. Ive an appointment shortly, he stated. Youd better come and see me tonight. He was also a man to whom nobody said no, apparently. Ill see you at eight.
With that the line went dead and Elyss was left staring at the phonestunned! It wasnt eight oclock in the morning yetand he had an appointment! Whewthat was life in the fast lane, if you pleased!
She didnt know how she felt about having to meet him that night, at his home presumably, but didnt see that she had very much choice. It would be pointless asking Nikki to go with her. Nikki was in pieces now; shed fold completely if she had to stand in front of that tough-sounding man and, on top of everything else, had to confess that last night she had lied to him when she had given her name as Elyss Harvey.
Elyss sat on her bed deep in thought for some minutes. It would be wrong to go and meet Saul Pendleton and to pretend that she was the one who had crashed into him last night. She knew that. But it seemed to her that whichever one of them had been driving, the outcome was going to be the same. Elyss had never done anything dishonest in her life, but with Nikki feeling so low and, Elyss judged, unable to take much more pressuremight it not be such a bad idea to keep her out of it completely?
CHAPTER TWO
LOUISE was ready to go to her office by the time Elyss had got herself a little together and emerged from her room. How did it go? Louise asked.
Im to go to his home tonight, Elyss answered.
He didnt wish to discuss it over the phone?
Hes busyunfortunately Im not in a position to say no.
Im afraid so, Louise commiserated. Im sorry I cant offer to go with you, but...
Thats all right, Elyss smiled, aware that Louise was seeing her ex-husband that evening about a financial matter. She realised, too, that Louise seemed, like her, to know that it was out of the question for Nikki to go. Id better get the Yellow Pages out and start ringing round the all-night recovery services. Apparently my vehicle isnt the write-off Nikki thought. Saul Pendleton called a mechanic out.
You could ring and ask him which garage, Louise suggested.
Elyss recalled the no-nonsense tones of Saul Pendleton. Somehow, given that the Ferraris owner was somewhere fulfilling his appointment, she felt she would much prefer to hunt through the business section of the telephone directory.
First, however, she went and got ready for her day. That done, she again picked up the phone and found, in actual fact, that it took less time than she would have thought to track down the correct garage. Prompt Motor Services sounded a very efficient companyand expensive. She asked for a rough estimate of how much it would cost to repair her carand was quoted a figure that made her eyes water.