Those Left Behind - 29. I’m still here

“You’ll be pleased to know that Jacqueline Wilson’s information all panned out.”

“They found the money?”

DI Donaldson gave a grim smile, “A tidy nest egg by all accounts. The SFO is pleased. Her information pointed them in just the right direction. Paper trail and all.”

“So, it’s all wrapped up?”

“As far as our end is concerned. There’s enough to keep the SFO guys busy, and the prospect of him being detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure for a long time.”

“Strange though.”

“Graham?”

“If he’d stopped before this job. If all that business with Jacqueline Wilson and her husband hadn’t happened…”

“They’d have been an age finding Andreas Huber. My thoughts entirely. Got greedy.”

“Looks like it.”

“Supposedly it was one final caper.”

Graham Marcus shook his head, “If you believe that, you’ll believe anything. It’s never enough for blokes like that. Too clever by half.”

“You still in contact with the husband?”

“I’ve been over there”, Graham Marcus grew silent, wary.

DI Donaldson simply nodded, “He’s a good bloke, I reckon. Keep an eye on him.”

“Sir.”

***

Ludo

Damian’s holiday diary arrived safely; I thought you’d like to know. How funny, you holidaying with the hausfrau, but perhaps it’s appropriate. Still, Damian seems to have had plenty of fun. God knows what the powers at be here made of his pages of information about bloody trees when they were checking the diary over.

I still can’t quite picture you with boring Arthur. Perhaps that’s me though, bit too fixed in my view of things. Something to work on.

Thanks for sorting all my things. No doubt you’re right. I’ll end up chucking everything, but it can sit in storage, pro tem.

Tell Damian that I’ll answer properly and give him my love.

J X

***

“Lesley. How was the move?”

>Fucking awful, frankly. But we’re here. Just temporary digs and from what I’ve seen of it so far, Bedford’s a dump.

“Jumping to conclusions?”

>Who me?

She laughed.

>But the transport’s a lot better. I can leave easily.

“And Dot?”

>Fallen on her feet. Nice little number at a consulting firm. Watch this space.

“That’s great news.”

>But the reason for the call is that former colleague of Dot’s got in contact. Finally.

“About the child psychologist?”

>Behavioural therapist. All they do is talk.

“You think…”

>For God’s sake, give it a try at least. One session.

“OK”

>They are reassuringly expensive.

“Thanks a bunch.”

Lesley sniggered.

>I’ll send you the details. Look don’t be a stranger. There’s plenty for the kids down here, Wrest Park’s not far away and that’s got something for everyone. Plan a trip.

“Aye, aye sir”, he laughed, “I think it might be just what we need. Thanks.”

>My pleasure. I gather that they have found all of the German bloke’s hoard.

“Yeah. Jackie’s evidence got them going. Plenty more to charge him with, evidently.”

>Selfish bugger. Too clever by half and no thought for anyone else.

“Who?”

>His missus, Jackie, you, Damian…

“Mmm?”

>The poor sods left behind to pick up the pieces after the vultures have gone.

“I think I feel a blast of Gloria Gaynor coming on.”

Lesley laughed.

>Christ, what age are you?

---

Unusually, it was Arthur who was out at a meeting. When he came home, he was surprised to find Gloria Gaynor’s I will survive belting out and Ludo dancing. If you could call the demented jerking dancing. But Arthur smiled and allowed himself to be drawn in to dance.

When it finished Arthur nuzzled Ludo’s neck, “I rather think that Sondheim’s I’m still here would have been more appropriate.”

He felt, rather than heard, Ludo’s chuckle.

When the boys appeared, allowed to walk home from school again, they found their Fathers doing a slow dance to Eartha Kitt’s rendition of I’m still here, the two men joining in raucously.