‘What do you want, Rachel?’ she asked finally. ‘People like you always have a price.’
‘Let’s talk money.’
Rachel almost laughed at the look of relief that flooded across Elizabeth’s face. Finance was her business. If Rachel was prepared to settle this with money, Elizabeth felt back on solid ground – she could see a way out.
‘Okay, I have a solution,’ she said. ‘You’re a good investigator, Rachel, you’ve proved that these past few weeks.’
Flattery now? thought Rachel, enjoying the moment.
‘You know as well as I do that the media is screwed,’ continued Elizabeth. ‘So do you know where a lot of the very best investigators – detectives, hacks – end up these days? In private security work.’
She let that idea hang in the air for a moment.
‘As it happens,’ she continued, ‘I am about to make an investment in one such firm. I think with a few introductions and a little pressure I could get you a senior position there, maybe even an equity partnership. If the company takes off in the way I think it will, that would be a very lucrative career move for you. More lucrative than running diving courses in Thailand, I dare say.’
Rachel nodded, as if she were thinking the proposition over. ‘That’s a generous offer,’ she said slowly. ‘But it’s not the sort of transaction I had in mind.’
Elizabeth frowned, momentarily confused. ‘Then what do you want? A cheque?’
‘This challenge to Julian’s will,’ she said. ‘You mentioned it earlier. I understand that you’re the one behind it, correct?’
‘Yes. So?’
‘I have to say I wasn’t surprised. You didn’t want your brother to be CEO; you sure as hell wouldn’t want his poor adopted son to inherit the company, now would you?’
‘Where is all this leading, Rachel?’
Rachel raised her eyebrows. ‘Drop the challenge,’ she said flatly. ‘That’s what I want. No cheque, no job, just pull out of contesting the will. You know as well as I do that you probably won’t win anyway, so you might as well turn the situation to your advantage.’
‘And what’s in this for you, exactly?’
‘Nothing,’ said Rachel, shrugging. ‘Wel
l, maybe it’s to do with that guilt you mentioned earlier. Maybe I can do something good for someone else, for Julian’s son.’
‘His son?’ sneered Elizabeth. ‘That little bastard brat? He’s nothing to do with my family and never will be.’
Anger rose up inside Rachel. ‘Either you drop your challenge to Julian’s will or I will go public with your little scheme to set up your brother with a teenage girl. I told you before, Elizabeth, I have nothing to lose, but you? My guess is that if Denver’s shareholders ever heard the true story of how you so recklessly tried to destabilise your brother’s career – not to mention undermining the reputation of the company – they would have you out of the building and out of the company so fast it would make your head swim.’
Elizabeth glared at her for a moment, but Rachel could tell she knew she was beaten.
‘All right,’ she said, standing up and smoothing her skirt down.
‘Great. And whilst we’re at it. That security firm you mentioned you’re investing in? Get my friend Ross McKiney a job with them. He’s a good investigator. One of the best.’
‘You have a deal,’ Elizabeth said grudgingly.
‘Excellent,’ said Rachel with a smile.
‘Smile all you want,’ said Elizabeth, her eyes narrowing. ‘But know this: you’ve just laid down your only hand. You might have won this time, but nobody plays this game better than me. No one.’
Rachel watched her walk out of the park, her heels still clacking even after she was out of sight.
49
‘Charlie. Table five wanted two slices of the courgette and ginger cake, two cream teas and a soup. How are we doing with the order?’
Diana smiled as she watched her son, freshly arrived back from boarding school, throw a tea towel over his shoulder grumpily.