TOYL

never set eyes on the baby, you’d probably do anything for it, wouldn’t you?’
    ‘I hope so,’ Miranda said. ‘But I don’t understand, Edward, what’s this all about? Are you nervous about being a father again? I could understand if you were.’
    ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been a father,’ Edward replied, sitting down on the edge of his desk.
    ‘But you are a good father,’ Miranda said, moving over to put an arm around him. ‘I know you’ve had a few problems with Emma and Will, mostly because of me, but things seem to be improving now.’
    ‘Don’t you dare blame yourself,’ Edward said, pulling away. ‘It started long before I met you. When their mother died, when my children needed me the most, I wasn’t there for them. All I cared about was myself.’
    ‘But you were upset too.’
    ‘I was selfish. And I haven’t changed.’
    ‘I don’t think you’re selfish.’
    Edward turned to look at her. ‘You know, Miranda, I don’t think you know me at all.’

    ***

    It had been worth the journey – ten minutes of frantic motorcycling across the capital, dodging London buses and weaving through lanes of traffic. But that was why he loved this job – the adrenalin rush, the chase for the picture. He imagined hunters got the same buzz. They were both stalking prey, of sorts – one with a gun, the other with a telephoto lens. And in many ways, the lens could be just as damaging.
    ‘Hi,’ he said into the mobile phone. ‘I’ve got some fantastic shots here.’
    The first shot had been of Will talking to the police – fortunately he had parked at some distance, away from the unmarked car.
    Then he got a few great ones of Stuart Harris being carried into the ambulance, including a fantastic close up of his face.
    The guy looked in a really bad way.
    And finally, when he thought things couldn’t get any better, Will Holden appeared at the front of the flats, kneeling down with his head in his hands.
    It was pure soap opera.
    ‘I don’t know what’s going on with all this,’ he said, ‘but Emma Holden’s brother was at Stuart’s flat… I’ve got shots of that, yes. Then the police arrived, followed by an ambulance… no idea… but from what I could see, it looked pretty serious to me.’
    He looked over at the flats. Will was still sitting there, head in hands. If he’d thought about it for too long, he could have felt sorry for him. But there was no time for such emotion, with such money at stake.
    ‘Yes,’ he said, turning his attention away from Will, ‘should be able to get them developed quick sharp. More than time enough for the morning papers – they’re going to love this.’

53

    ‘So what are we going to do now?’ Lizzy said to Emma, as they sat in her flat. ‘You tempted to go and look for Eric again?’
    ‘I don’t think it would do any good,’ Emma replied. ‘The state he was in, I don’t think we’d learn anything new.’
    ‘Probably right. I wonder whether the police have found out anything yet about who sent the package?’
    ‘They must have found out something by now.’ Spurred into action, Emma pulled out her mobile and searched for the number Gasnier had given her those days ago.
    Lizzy nodded her agreement.
    The call was answered on the second ring.
    ‘Hello?’ Gasnier’s tone was clipped and impatient.
    ‘Hi, it’s Emma Holden here. I was wondering if you’d found out anything about who…’
    ‘Now’s not a good time,’ he interrupted. ‘We can talk later.’
    ‘So you’ve found something?’
    ‘Not now,’ he said, sounding distracted. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
    And with that the line went dead.
    ‘What did he say?’ Lizzy asked.
    ‘That it wasn’t a good time.’
    ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Lizzy replied, pulling a face.
    ‘I’ve no idea. But it sounds like something has happened. You could tell – he was distracted by something.’
    ‘I suppose they’ll tell us when they decide to,’ Lizzy mused. ‘But that just leaves us hanging around in the dark.’
    ‘I feel completely helpless,’ Emma admitted, stretching back and looking up at the ceiling. ‘And I don’t like it.’
    Then her mobile rang.
    ‘Maybe it’s the right time now,’ Lizzy smiled, as Emma reached for the phone.
    But the number wasn’t Gasnier’s.
    ‘Hi, is that Emma?’
    ‘Speaking.’
    ‘It’s Sister Donahue here from the hospital. I’ve got some news about Richard – he’s woken up.’

    ***

    ‘Try not to get your