Forget Me Never

to be right. It makes too much sense not to be.’
    ‘Cherie must have told Aiden right from the start that I was your mate. They were one step ahead the whole time – and we played right into their hands!’
    I wondered why Cherie had agreed to arrange the work experience if she knew we wanted to poke about. Perhaps she’d thought we’d approach someone else at V-B if she said no, or maybe she’d wanted to check us out. Either way, Reece had walked straight into the lions’ den.
    As for how Cherie fits into this . . . whatever ‘this’ is . . . She and Aiden are – or were – in a relationship, I thought. There was no other explanation I could think of as to why else he would keep a photo of her in his organizer. Maybe their relationship was secret. I bet Cherie had got in there quickly after Danielle had died. From what Reece had said about her, she didn’t strike me as the kind of woman to hang about if she wanted something.
    ‘Let’s go over everything we know again,’ I said.
    Reece sighed. I couldn’t work out his attitude – was he scared, reluctant or simply bored? For a second I felt bad for getting him into this, though it had been his idea to go into V-B.
    I took a breath. ‘So . . . Dani starts working at V-B. She and Aiden get together. With Cherie and this other guy Patrick they come up with a plan to make lots of money, probably involving some new drug. It involves Dani getting access to some files. Whether she did that before getting out, we don’t know.’ Maybe she’d been afraid – or maybe she’d realized what they were doing was wrong. I had to hold on to that. ‘Aiden had unfinished business with Dani, because a few weeks after she leaves V-B he goes to see her in Bournemouth.’ I frowned. ‘I wonder why they haven’t got the money yet. They can’t have, else surely Aiden wouldn’t still be at V-B. He’d have got the hell out, in case he was discovered . . .’
    Reece sat back in his chair, folding his arms. He closed his eyes a second, then opened them. ‘Trial results.’
    ‘What d’you mean?’
    ‘Aiden’s email mentioned waiting for some trial results. That’s not something they can rush. That’s why things are still ongoing and the deal’s not been finalized.’
    How had this got so complicated? All I’d wanted was to know what had happened to my cousin. And here it was taking me into something far bigger than I’d ever anticipated – something that was scary and real. Drug trials, payments, secret data – I didn’t care about any of this. I’d happily walk away if it wasn’t for Danielle.
    Reece must have known what I was thinking, because he said, ‘Aiden didn’t kill Dani, Soph. We know this for a fact. We also know that there was no one else on that balcony. If she was murdered, something clever went on.’
    I sighed, wishing things were clearer cut. ‘I know Aiden didn’t kill her. The police have his credit-card receipt. That couldn’t be faked.’
    ‘Maybe the service station on the M3’s in on it too,’ Reece said.
    I shot him an annoyed look. ‘Be serious.’
    ‘I am! You suspect Danielle was murdered. I’m trying to come up with theories.’
    ‘Stupid ones!’
    We glared at each other. Realizing there was no point taking this out on Reece, I held up my hands. ‘Let’s chill. All we’re doing is getting each other’s backs up. Shall we call it a day and meet up tomorrow?’
    ‘OK. Half five here?’
    ‘You’re not seriously thinking about going into V-B again? Come on! Whether Cherie meant what she said or not, that’s just being stupid for hell of it. It’s not worth the risk.’
    ‘Maybe I’ll make up my mind when I get up in the morning,’ Reece said airily, getting to his feet. There was no getting through to him in this mood, I could see. I hated it when he was like this. Part of me was just a little bit impressed though.

REECE
    I went into Vaughan-Bayard the next day.
    Mr McIntyre was chatting with the receptionist when I came through the doors. He looked surprised to see me.
    ‘Hello, Reece. Donna here was just telling me you called Cherie to say you had some kind of bug.’
    ‘I got better quickly,’ I said.
    McIntyre blinked several times, then evidently decided to let it go. ‘Well, good. Wouldn’t want you to miss out on the barbecue tomorrow. I’ve friends coming who I think you’ll want to meet.’
    I bet he meant retired cricketers! I tried to get him to tell me, but he