How Laura Lewis Met Richard Brown

Chapter Twenty-Six

Laura had started the day at 5 a.m., waking with a throbbing head and the need for cold, freshly squeezed orange juice, which she did not have. As an alternative to the orange juice, she gulped down a pint glass of tap water and popped two ibuprofen, hoping that the headache from hell would go away and that it wouldn’t morph into a migraine. It had been a long time since she’d had one of those. They were usually brought on by stress and drinking far too much coffee.

No surprise she had one then.

Once showered and dressed, Laura went into the snug, switched on her phone and opened the app that Richard had installed for her — the one that linked the video footage from the secret camera in Gertie’s room directly to her mobile screen. Almost instantly the familiar scene of Gertie’s room appeared. It was now just gone 7 a.m. and Cerrie’s bright-pink hair could be clearly seen as she stooped down to make Gertie’s bed. Laura watched, completely mesmerised by what she could see happening in real time. She felt guilty, yet was captivated at the same time. The room seemed so much bigger on the small screen, and the bookcases appeared taller. It was strange for Laura to observe the comfort and familiarity of Gertie’s room in her own home. It was almost as if it wasn’t real.

Laura knew she had to watch as she had promised Richard. If she saw anything suspicious, she would tell him straight away. At such an early hour he would be busy with Henry. He wouldn’t have time to do surveillance, but she still felt a little uncomfortable watching her colleague. Cerrie had no idea that she was being filmed. It was an incredibly fine line that she, Richard and Gertie were treading. Laura just hoped that it all worked out and when the culprit was caught on camera, the other members of staff would understand.

If Laura was in their shoes, then she knew that she would understand the situation. But still . . .

She watched for a few more moments before closing the app. She had no concerns whatsoever about Cerrie. She trusted her and she did not want to violate that trust.

The long day now stretched ahead of her. Although she needed to keep tabs on the secret-camera footage, she had no intention of being glued to her phone screen all day.

She needed to get out, grab some fresh air while she could. Being cooped up indoors was no good for the soul. Once again Laura felt the urge to be surrounded by people, while still enjoying her own solitude.

But she needed to venture out of the house. She also needed that huge glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and she knew just the place to get it.

* * *

The Cottage Bun oozed a quiet and soothing atmosphere at seven o’clock on a Friday morning. There were only a handful of customers, most of them regulars at that time of day who had ventured in from the cold, grey drizzle to grab a quick breakfast before they set off to work. Sue was busy making cups of tea, buttering slices of toast and whipping up scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. Laura knew this was Sue’s favourite time of day, as she thrived on being busy. Sue had told her that she had been asked many times why she didn’t get some help in running the café, but she had always been adamant that as the café was only small and served only the local residents, even in the heart of summer, there was very little point in hiring someone to help out. They would soon get bored and yearn for something a little livelier, more challenging. Which was fine by Sue. The café suited her very nicely. It paid the bills, gave her a reason for getting up in the morning and she could chat to her friends while working. In her eyes, Sue had said, it was the perfect job.

It was shortly after seven and Sue didn’t even attempt to hide her surprise at Laura’s presence.

‘What are you doing in here at such an early hour?’ Sue waved the butter knife in mid-air.

‘It’s my day off,’ Laura replied, not quite knowing why she had to justify a visit to the café.

‘Oh, I know that.’ Sue huffed, all matter-of-fact. She placed the knife down onto the breadboard, much to Laura’s relief. ‘What I mean is, why are you in here so early when it’s your day off? Shouldn’t you be having a lie-in?’

Laura shook her head. A lie-in? Not when she had a thumping headache, but she didn’t want to say that, as she knew Sue would only worry and try to mother her. ‘I just woke up early and fancied a bit of fresh air. I was on a long day yesterday.’

‘Ah, well, yes, that makes sense.’ Sue nodded in agreement. ‘The home is lovely, but it isn’t half warm in there. Makes my mouth feel so dry. I love visiting the Knit-and-Natter group, but, oh my, I’m gasping for ice-cold water when I step outside. That and lungfuls of fresh air.’

Laura smiled, trying to ignore the wincing pain behind her eyes.

‘So, what can I get you?’ Sue asked.

‘Do you have any fresh orange juice?’ Laura quickly scanned the menu. She couldn’t see it listed.

‘Yes, I do, and what about something to eat? You need a good breakfast to see you through the day.’

Now she thought about it, Laura realised that she was hungry, and as if on cue, her stomach growled in protest. ‘Just some jam on toast, please.’ Laura hoped Sue wouldn’t try to persuade her to eat a full English breakfast. She couldn’t stomach that.

Sue nodded and gave her a friendly and efficient smile. ‘Go grab a table and I’ll bring it over to you.’

Laura thanked her and made her way over to her favourite window table. A quiet sit-down as she watched the world pass by was just what she needed. When she got back home after a quick visit to the village shop, she’d check in again on Gertie’s room. What would she see?

She spent a pleasant hour in the café and then wandered along to the village square to grab a few essentials from the village shop. She felt guilty about the two large bags of jelly babies she bought, but she was going to ration them. Once stocked up with bread, cheese, milk, coffee, tea bags, some frozen pizzas, sliced ham, a microwave lasagna and some yogurts, she returned home to catch up on laundry and housework. It was only once the chores had been done that Laura made herself a cup of tea and settled herself down at the kitchen table to check the app. As she did so, her heart was in her mouth. She wanted to catch the thief in the act, but at the same time she wished for ignorance, as seeing it would make it real. She couldn’t understand how a person could work with vulnerable older people, gain their trust, their confidence, care for them, and then steal from them. It just didn’t bear thinking about.

Laura picked up her tea and glanced at the screen.

Nothing to see.

The room was empty.

She clicked on the history tab and scrolled back to seven that morning. The camera hadn’t picked up any movement, but she scrolled through the footage anyway just to make sure. Nope, there was no sign of their thief.

What she did notice was that Gertie had placed her handbag on the bed, as they had all agreed. It was in full view of the camera. If anyone was going to snoop in her room again, then the first thing they would do would be to have a look in the bag, open up her purse and take out the twenty-pound note that Richard had planted in there.

Laura sipped her tea. The seconds ticked by.

She needed a biscuit to dunk. She walked over to the worktop and took the lid off the biscuit tin. She was greeted by a selection of custard creams, Bourbon biscuits and chocolate-chip cookies. She took one of each and told herself that once these biscuits had been eaten, she would buy no more. That healthy eating plan needed to start soon.

Laura sat back down and munched on the custard cream. Still no action. It was nearly lunchtime, so all the staff would be busy preparing meals and settling residents in the day room. It was probably the wrong time of day to do surveillance.

It was only as Laura was having this thought that she saw movement, a shadow in the corner of the screen, which indicated that the door was being opened.

Sure enough, a figure could now be seen on screen.

Laura froze. She slowly placed her cup down onto the table as she peered at the screen. At the moment she could only see the back of the person, but that and the fact that they were wearing a different uniform was enough to identify them.

It was Hazel.

Laura held her breath, safe in the knowledge that the app was recording what was happening now. Laura glanced at the time, made a mental note. She carried on watching, now unable to look away. She didn’t want to miss a thing.

Perhaps Hazel was just going in to have a quick check. Laura would often go around and check each room for any washing or the odd cup and saucer. But something in Hazel’s movement and the way she loitered by the bed told Laura that this wasn’t the case.

Laura watched with her heart in her mouth, her cup of hot tea now growing cold, the biscuits forgotten.

Hazel turned briefly and looked at the door which Laura assumed she had closed. Laura wished she could hear what was going on.

Hazel reached over the bed and picked up the bag. Gertie’s bag. Her hands worked quickly as she unzipped it and then dipped her hand inside. Within seconds, she’d taken out the purse.

Laura felt sick.

Once again Hazel glanced quickly towards the door before turning her attention back on the purse. Laura continued to watch, feeling helpless and like a voyeur who couldn’t change what was unfolding on the screen, as Hazel opened the purse, pulled out the twenty-pound note and shoved it in her tunic pocket.

‘Got you,’ Laura mouthed.

But the violation of Gertie’s room and property did not end there.

Hazel began to open drawers. She rummaged around in them, pulling out all of Gertie’s personal things. Laura shouted at the screen in sheer frustration for her to stop, tears pricking at her eyes. This was just awful, disgusting. How many others had she subjected to this?

Now Laura had a dilemma. Contact the police or phone Richard? After a moment’s thought, she knew what she had to do. Reluctantly, she closed the app and scrolled through her phone contacts. She quickly located Richard’s number and hit the call button.

It was nearly lunchtime. She hoped the odds were in her favour and that he’d be able to take the call.

The phone rang once, twice, three times.

Laura waited.

On the sixth ring, just as Laura was about to lose hope, he answered.

‘Hi, Laura,’ he said. His words came out rushed, as if he was walking somewhere in a hurry. ‘I’ve just seen the footage. Is that why you’re phoning?’

‘Yes,’ Laura said. ‘I thought I’d phone you and then if I couldn’t get hold of you, I was going to phone the police.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that, Laura. I can’t believe what she did. Listen, I’m in a rush. I’m heading to the home now.’

‘Okay,’ Laura said. ‘I’ll let you go. I’m just glad that we caught her.’

‘Me too,’ Richard said quickly, before adding, ‘and thanks again.’

Laura stared at her phone and wondered what would happen next? What would happen to Hazel now?

Then Laura realised it was absolutely none of her business. The only thing that mattered was that Hazel had been caught and that she wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone else again in Cedar House, and hopefully any other care home.

* * *

Laura spent the remainder of her day pottering around the house. She read for a while, then she tidied the kitchen while she listened to the afternoon play on Radio Four. Before she knew it, it had grown dark and her thoughts turned to what to cook for tea. It was a choice between the frozen lasagna or pizza, so she opted for the lasagna, thinking that at least it had been made with more vegetables.

Laura had loved to cook. Mark had disliked cooking, always preferring to grab a takeaway or warm up some beans. It had been left to Laura to cook the meals, even batch-baking and freezing them so that Mark would have something to eat when she worked lates or nights. That had been before the relationship had turned sour. Before he’d started to look at other women and had then been unfaithful. There’d been no more batch-cooking and freezing of meals after that.

Laura sighed as she placed the slab of frozen lasagna into the microwave. What had happened to her? Why had she let things slide so badly? She really did need to take better care of herself.

She set the timer and sat down at the kitchen table with her book for company.

She was so engrossed in the story that when her mobile rang and vibrated along the table, she physically jumped. Her heartbeat quickened, pulsing in her chest. It was so quiet in Church View Cottage.

Laura glanced at the screen and was surprised to see her mum’s name displayed alongside her smiling profile image. For a fraction of a second she considered not answering the call, letting it go to voicemail, but then she felt guilty. She would have to talk to her mum eventually.

‘Hello, Mum,’ Laura said, trying to make herself sound happy and relaxed. Her mum always picked up on her tone and could tell if she was feeling tired, sad or simply fed up. Her mother had a sixth sense.

‘Hello, love . . .’ There was a pause and Laura could hear her breath down the line. ‘Listen, I know I said I wouldn’t phone until you phoned me, but I was worried. And even though Lottie has told me that you’re okay and are making friends, I just . . . well, I just wanted to hear your voice.’

‘Oh, Mum,’ Laura said, her words sounding strangled as her throat thickened with tears. It seemed such a long time ago that she had heard her mum’s voice. What had she been thinking? Trying to shut everyone out of her life? Especially her mum? ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Sorry? What for? You haven’t done anything wrong. There’s no need for any of that.’

Laura gulped back the tears. She couldn’t cry as that would really upset her mother and she would be on the next train and bus. Nothing would stop her. So, Laura moved the phone away from her mouth, took a deep and steadying breath, and then slowly exhaled. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t called,’ she eventually said. There was so much else she needed to say sorry for, but doing so would set her off.

‘Don’t be daft. Anyway, we’re talking now. So, how are you?’

‘I’m good,’ Laura said, realising that she actually meant it. ‘I’m busy at work and as Lottie has probably told you, I’ve made some friends. It’s harder than you think trying to isolate yourself in a small village.’

Maureen huffed down the phone. ‘Well, I did tell you that.’

‘Yes, you did, but I’m still glad I moved here.’ It was true. Laura had been given the chance to take a step back, to breathe, to think about what had happened. This wouldn’t have happened if she’d stayed in her little flat, doing the same job, surrounded by the same people. The people who also knew Mark. And she wouldn’t have met Gertie, and she knew deep down that she had needed to meet someone like her, to make her look at her life in a different way. Gertie understood her.

‘Well, I’m happy as long as you’re happy, and that’s all that matters,’ Maureen said.

‘Thanks, Mum.’

The microwave pinged three times, signalling that the lasagna was ready.

‘Is that the microwave I can hear?’ Maureen asked, the indignation clear in her voice.

‘Yes, I’m having lasagna.’

‘From the microwave?’ Now she seemed even more shocked.

Laura couldn’t help but laugh. Her mother never cooked anything in the microwave. Everything was cooked from scratch. Come to think of it, her mother didn’t even own a microwave.

‘It’s a one-off, Mum. I usually cook on the Aga.’

‘Laura, don’t lie to me,’ Maureen said, but Laura could detect the humour and the fact that her mum was trying not to laugh. ‘Listen, I’ll let you go.’ Laura could hear the hesitation in her mum’s voice before she spoke again. ‘But, remember, I’m always here, whenever you need to chat.’

‘I know,’ Laura said. It was just that, sometimes, it was the hardest thing in the world to talk honestly and openly with those you loved the most.

* * *

Laura was washing up when the doorbell rang. It had just turned eight o’clock, but even so it was unusual to have visitors, unless it was Megan? Laura hadn’t spoken to her since they’d had that awkward conversation in the pub. She really needed to give her a call.

She opened the door, not even thinking to ask who it was. Which was why she was startled to see Richard standing on the doorstep holding a huge bouquet of flowers in front of him. They obscured half his face.

‘Hi,’ he said.

When Laura had closed her mouth, she said, ‘Hi.’

‘I just wanted to say thank you for your help with this whole secret-camera business,’ Richard said. He thrust the flowers towards her and Laura grabbed them awkwardly, hugging them to her chest.

‘Thank you,’ she said.

The two of them stood there for several moments until Laura remembered her manners. ‘Come on in. I’ll make us a cup of tea if you like?’

For a moment it looked as if Richard was about to decline the offer. He had stepped away from the door, placing his hands in his pockets. But to Laura’s surprise, he nodded and followed her down the hallway.

Once in the kitchen, Laura placed the flowers in the sink which she then filled with cold water. She popped the kettle on, while Richard stood by the Aga.

As Laura busied herself making the tea, Richard informed her that Hazel had been suspended.

‘She’ll be charged, no doubt,’ he said.

‘Yes, and hopefully she’ll never be allowed to work with elderly or vulnerable people again.’

Richard nodded in agreement and wrapped his hands around the hot mug of tea she passed to him as they sat at the kitchen table.

‘I’ve removed the secret camera,’ he said. ‘Just in case you were wondering.’

‘I thought you would, now that it’s no longer needed.’ Laura wondered why Richard was talking to his cup and not to her face. He hadn’t looked at her once since setting foot in the cottage.

‘Right then. Well, erm, I’d better be off. I’ve left Tracey looking after Henry.’ Richard stood, scraping the chair’s legs on the flagstones.

‘Okay,’ Laura said, surprised. He hadn’t touched his tea.

She followed him back down the hallway and opened the front door, standing aside to let him pass.

It wasn’t until he reached the gate that he turned to face her.

‘Thanks again, and, Laura . . .’ He hesitated, looked down at his shoes and then his gaze fell on her face.

‘Yes?’

Richard looked down at his shoes once more. Shook his head. ‘It was nothing, never mind. See you at the home.’

And with that, he turned and strode down the narrow lane, back to his house.

Laura stood on the doorstep and wondered what the hell had just happened.