‘Ms. Hutchens said she knew Leon in
person. I didn’t believe her at first.’
Vince’s
mouth quivered. ‘Amy, I think…’
‘But
it so happens she did meet him. That night of the crash.’
‘Amy…’
‘She’s
that harlot who was snapped leaving the Nexus with you earlier that night. I
couldn’t figure it at first. Nora in a cheap cocktail dress, tiara and her face
all caked-up. Take a closer look at that face in the tabloids, Mr. Jonas and
you’ll see the real Nora. Thank Jesus she wasn’t the one in the limo with you
when it actually crashed or you’d be dead by now.’
Vince’s
crutch slammed against the floor. A vein twitched at his temple and the scar at
his throat flushed purple. ‘Amy,’ he said quietly. ‘I think you have said
enough.’
Amy’s
volume matched his, yet retained evenness. ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Jonas. It’s just
been a distressing few days. The police are on their way.’
Vince
blinked. ‘The police?’
‘Of
course. She’s an imposter. She entered a private property without proper
consent; she gained access by deception and blackmail; she made false claims of
professional qualifications.’ Amy glanced Nancy’s way. ‘I checked out your
Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act and there ain’t no Section 9B, but
there is a Section 13 which says that it is an offence to deceive by words,
writing or by a badge, claims to possess nursing qualification or anything of
that kind.’
Vince’s
voice emerged choked. ‘I do not wish to press charges. This is a private
matter.’
Amy’s
wedged heels took a staggered retreat. Rouge blotched over her neck. ‘With
respect, I think you should. It won’t look good if the press find out.’
‘This
has nothing to do with the press.’
Amy’s
tone grew adamant. ‘Mr. Jonas, if you do not press charges, the papers can
infer anything they like about you. Think of how it will look if you do not
take action against a woman with her character, who lied her way into your
home, who damaged people’s lives.’
Vince’s
eyes slackened as his gaze crept over to Nancy.
‘Every
murky detail about her will come out and your name will be next to hers.
They’ll hound you to the ground with questions and conjectures, like…like why
you would let her get away with it. People will accuse you of condoning what
she’s done and what she is and…God forbid, speculate there’s somethin’ goin’ on
between you.’ Amy’s gaze levelled up. ‘You need to press charges and then you
must wash your hands of this woman.’
Vince’s
eyes had remained steady upon Nancy.
‘I
think it’s only fair Mr. Blakemore speak now. He’s been tearing his hair out in
there, but I told him I would speak with you first at it seemed only right.’
The
woman’s ability to orchestrate people left Nancy cold. The pinstriped man
seemed to have the hearing of a bat. His stout form glided across the room, belying
the shortness of his legs. ‘Mr. Jonas, I must speak with you before the police
arrive.’ His baritone filled the room, making objection difficult.
Vince
conjured a clipped tone from nowhere. ‘Mr. Blakemore, please convey my
apologies for wasting police time.’
Blakemore
took the liberty. ‘Vince, Amy is right. The story is sure to get out that Ms.
Hutchens here deceived her way onto your private property. Her face has already
appeared in the tabloids for that walkabout with you from the Nexus. Her
back-story will come out to be exaggerated, distorted and hyped-up in the name
of a good story. If you do not take the logical step of pressing charges, your
reputation will come under fire by association.’
Sweat
beaded Vince’s forehead. ‘Bill…I cannot do that.’
Blakemore’s
bushy eyebrows compressed into a swirl. ‘Vincent, I am speaking to you now, not
as your attorney, not as an adviser, but as a friend. If you do not press charges
against Ms. Hutchens, this could be end of you; not today, not tomorrow, but
one day soon.’
‘Don’t
tell them, Mr. Jonas.’
