Free Empire of Gold by Andy McDermott Page B

reason, especially not in front of Nan and Holly.’

    ‘Told you plenty of bloody reasons.’

    ‘You’re hardly an unbiased source. And it all happened a long time ago—’

    ‘It still fucking happened, though.’

    ‘Then maybe it’s time you put it behind you!’ she cried. ‘What happened with Girilal and Shankarpa in India certainly made you think about contacting him, so why didn’t you?’

    ‘Changed my mind.’

    ‘Why?’

    ‘’Cause my mind changed.’

    ‘That’s not an answer!’

    ‘I don’t fucking care! I don’t like it when people think they know what’s best for me, that’s all. I decided I didn’t want to see him; that should have been enough. But no, Lizzie had to stick her oar in, and then you backed her up!’

    ‘He’s still your father, Eddie. What would you have done if it had been Larry in that bed instead of Nan?’

    They reached the car. ‘I wouldn’t have come.’

    She was shocked by his coldness. ‘What?’

    ‘Look, he had an affair while my mum was dying of cancer!’ Eddie snarled. ‘Some things you just don’t forgive. I don’t, anyway. To be honest, I couldn’t give a shit if I never see him again as long as I live.’ He got into the Mondeo and slammed the door.

    Nina entered on the other side. She sat in silence for a moment, then turned to him. ‘There’s something I never told you,’ she said quietly. ‘I once got into a huge fight with my parents – they were going on their expedition to Tibet right in the middle of my exams, and they absolutely refused to let me go with them, said my exams were more important. And I was so mad at them. I was a teenage girl being denied something she really wanted, so I said all kinds of things I wish I hadn’t. But they went without me anyway, and . . . that’s when they died.’

    She lowered her head. ‘It was just a one-off thing, a stupid argument. I loved them. But . . . ’ She looked up at him, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. ‘I can’t change the past, I can’t bring them back. But I would give anything to have been able to apologise to them before they left. I’m not saying you’ve got anything to apologise for, but if you’ve got a chance to settle your differences you should take it. If this is the last time you ever see him, do you really want it to be like this?’

    After a long pause, Eddie blew out a frustrated breath. ‘All right. We’ll go for dinner,’ he said, reluctance clear in every word. ‘But I’m only doing it for you, okay? Not for Lizzie, and definitely not for him.’

    She wiped her eyes and smiled. ‘Thanks. But you’re not only doing it for me – you’re doing it for yourself too.’

    He squeezed her hand, then started the car. ‘Well, whoever I’m doing it for, let’s hope it’s not a huge fucking mistake.’

3

    L arry Chase’s home was not in Bournemouth, but further east along the coast, about nine miles from the busy port of Southampton. ‘Wow,’ said Nina as the Mondeo pulled up. ‘Your dad’s place is huge.’ It was an old red-brick farmhouse, but one that had been extensively renovated, surrounded by a couple of acres of lush grounds. A brand new silver Jaguar XKR sports coupé was parked outside, an open double garage revealing a black Range Rover and a lipstickred Mazda MX-5 roadster within. ‘He must be doing well for himself.’

    ‘Making a few quid was never one of his problems,’ Eddie said. ‘ How he makes it . . . that’s another story.’ He got out of the car before she could ask him to elaborate.

    Nina had made an effort to dress up, wearing a skirt and a pair of high heels. Eddie, however, was in his usual jeans, T-shirt and black leather jacket, not even having bothered to shave. He trudged to the front door and rang the bell as Nina joined him.

    Larry opened the door. ‘Hello, welcome!’ he proclaimed. ‘Come inside. Here, let me.’ He took Nina’s jacket as she entered and hung it in a small cloakroom