Racing For Love

Chapter Twenty Nine

Tears stream as I shower and prepare for the day ahead. I couldn't lie to Jono again, but I'm now back to a situation where any warmth he has towards me is gone. I felt paralysed by what to do next, I thought about messaging - picking my phone up and putting it down several times before this shower seemed the logical solution. I have things to do today and focus on my list, rather than the hurt I saw in Jono's eyes, and what i've broken between us.

I call Kate and let her know i'll be in late, explaining the situation. She offered for me to take the full day, but I know that I need work to distract me, and provide some normality.

I have to call the alarm security company and try to work out why the system didn't work when the door was broken. I spend far more time than I want on the phone to them, before their report comes through and suggests a power cut in the area led to the system failing. They are sending out engineers to renew the system, but my worries are eased that it was definitely set it in the morning before I left, and I didn't leave my home, and Joe's belongings, unprotected.

My next stop is the police station where I take the paperwork they need and make my statement. They provide me with a crime number so that I can begin to speak to the insurers, and alert jewellers of my missing locket.

As I tick more things off my list, I make it into the office during lunchtime - my next task is to find Ingrid ask her about Susan. I'm so desperate to find out information, but Ingrid isn't here - she's travelled to France with the team.

Frustrated and dejected, I head to my department, shoulders slumped as Kate greets me "How are you Annie? Have you got things sorted? Oh, what a horrible thing to deal with" she says as she pulls me in to a hug. I'm so glad I came to work and there's someone here who offers kindness, especially after Jono's coldness earlier this morning.

"Annie, sorry, but there's someone here to see you. She used to work with your uncle? When I said that I didn't know when you'd be in, she said she'd wait...she's been here most of the morning. Do you want me to call someone - security?"

I look across the office and see a dark haired lady sat next to my desk, her hands tightening around her handbag strap as she gazes into the middle distance, lost in her own thoughts. Kate allows me to use her office for some privacy, and we make a plan whereby I'll signal if I need her help. I have a feeling I already know who this woman is, and my curiosity is peaked.

Susan introduces herself to me and I look at her face, realising that I do vaguely recognise her, but struggling to place from when and where. I think it is probably one of Joe's gatherings, but i'm not concerned about that now. I'm more concerned why, hours after discovering who she was to Joe's, that she's here.

"Susan. Why are you here? Look, sorry to be blunt, but i've had a really horrible 24 hours, and I think it has something to do with you"

"I'm so sorry Annie. I think I know what might have happened. Um, I have something that belongs to you."

Susan reaches into her bag and passes me over my locket. My stomach lurches and I look across to Kate, about to gesture to call security before she continues.

"I'll make a statement, but I know who broke in to your house...It was my husband, Mark. Well, ex-husband."

"Mark who used to work here? In this department?"

She nods and I think she sees my stunned reaction as she elaborates on what she knows; "Mark came to see me in a rage last night. He'd seen some video online where you were talking to the drivers...he was ranting about how you and some other lady had got him fired? I think he went to see Joe and worked out that you lived at his house and wanted to hurt you. When he showed me the locket, I knew instantly where he got it because I helped Joe chose it years ago. Annie, i'm so sorry."

"But why did he smash up the wine?" I ask, still confused why if he wanted to hurt me, he would do such a thing.

"Joe and I...had an affair many years ago. Things fizzled out around the time your parents passed away, and I never told Mark, even after we divorced. I'm pretty sure Joe confirmed what Mark had suspected for years. I know Joe's been a bit more...confused lately when i've visited him. Annie, i'm so sorry."

My head swims with all of the revelations of the last few minutes. I already understood from the wine inventory that Susan and Joe had been together, but not that it had been an affair, and not that she'd still been visiting him. And then there was Mark! After how he treated Kate when he left, I shouldn't be surprised at his temper, but this was beyond that. I was so thankful I was not at home, my mind imagining what could have happened if the situation was different. Whilst I'd love to speak to Susan more about Joe, I have so much to do after finding out this information, so I take her number and confirm that i'll call and we can meet up soon to catch up.

Regardless of what has happened with her ex-husband, Susan seems to genuinely care for Joe still. Having someone to share the burden of his illness with is something I hadn't expected to get out of this situation. I think that after today, there's a chance that we could be friends.

As she leaves, Kate comes back into her office and I fill her in on all of the details and the surprising revelation of Mark's involvement. Kate apologises to me before revealing that she has a restraining order against him. After he was fired, he bombarded her with calls and followed her home from work on several occasions - nearly running her off the road at one point. I wish she had told me sooner, wondering if I could have been a better support for her if I wasn't so wrapped up in my own dramas. She looks concerned, saying that she feels responsible for not telling me but I dismiss her concerns - she was not to know that he would hold a grudge against both me and Joe.

Kate calls HR for an emergency meeting to make sure that we are protected against Mark. The complexity of the situation with an ex-employee and myself taking a while to sort out, but I don't think Mark will be a problem after Susan has given her statement to the police.

Despite going into the office, I end up leaving soon after the HR meeting finishes - making arrangements for Kate to come over this evening. There's no way that I will be able to focus on the revelations of today.

I have to go back to the police station and give them the details about Mark, as well as discussing my own restraining order against him. I also need to visit Joe and speak to the nursing home staff - I'll put in place a visitor list and make sure I have a better understanding of who he is seeing. As his memory becomes more blurred, I need to protect him - from himself as much as from others.

Kate arrives at my house in early evening to chaos - the handyman is finishing repairing the door and the alarm engineers are here fixing wiring and fitting additional motion cameras at my request. I should have updated the system before now, but it had only been two years since Joe signed over the house to me, and I mistakenly thought that the system was still perfectly functional...another bit of life admin that I should have sorted sooner.

As the tradesmen leave, the house feels quieter again, but I feel much better knowing that I'm making it secure again. The responsibilities of owning properties is more than I had expected at this age. My parent's estate was consolidated on their death, and their property management outsourced to a professional company, so i've never have to do any of the upkeep or admin, other than a meeting once a year. It often feels like 21 is too young to be dealing with all of this. I wish I could retreat, and lead a more normal life, but I have to remind myself of the strength I know I have to cope with all of this - the challenges are mine, and I will make a success of them, if not for myself, but for my parents and Joe.

Kate and I sit down with a glass of wine from the bottle she had brought with her. We chat amiably whilst deciding on a takeaway to order. The events of today have brought us closer, and her openness about what she had gone through with Mark doesn't go amiss. I'm still holding so much back, afraid of her reaction. After another glass of wine our conversation drifts back to work and I clear my throat to reveal my biggest secrets to her.