Take Two

CHAPTER 37

Carolyn was surprised at how well the lunch went. Richards was very good company, he was funny and clearly intelligent, but he was a good listener, too. She’d picked at a Dover sole, not because she wasn’t hungry but because she was so involved in their conversation. Richards had chosen seafood spaghetti and most of it was untouched on his plate as well. She nodded at his plate. ‘Not good?’

‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘To be honest, I was having too much fun talking with you.’

She laughed. ‘I was thinking exactly the same.’

‘You should come to the club sometime.’

She lifted her glass of water and watched him as she took a sip. Then she smiled. ‘I might, at that.’

Richards grinned.‘If you need a chaperone, we could make sure Seb’s there.’

‘The problem is during the week we always have early starts,’ she said, putting down her glass.

He leaned towards her and lowered his voice. ‘Between you and me, there’s been a few times when Seb has gone straight from the club to the studio.’

Carolyn laughed. ‘I believe you,’ she said. ‘But Seb’s a guy and if he looks weathered that’s all well and good. We women have to look good at eight in the morning and make-up can only do so much.’

‘Weekends then,’ said Richards. ‘Friday is always a good night.’

‘Maybe,’ said Carolyn.

‘I won’t push you any more,’ he said. ‘I know it must be annoying being pressured by fans.’

‘Is that what you are? A fan?’

‘Of course.’

She raised one eyebrow. ‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously. Why else would I pay twenty-six grand for lunch with you?’

‘How many years has the show been running?’

‘Nine.’

‘What time does it go out?’

‘Eight.’

‘What car do I drive in the show?’

‘A Lexus Prius in town and a Land Rover Evoque in the country.’

She nodded, impressed. He grinned. ‘Do you want me to tell you what colour underwear you’re wearing?’

‘Now that would be creepy,’ she said.

Richards laughed as he speared a prawn with his fork. ‘Do you grill all your fans like this?’ he asked.

‘Only the ones that pay twenty-six thousand pounds for a plate of seafood spaghetti.’

‘I do watch the show. And I’m glad I got the chance to meet you. But, hand on heart, I like to help that charity out whenever I can. I didn’t have the easiest of childhoods and if I can help kids who’ve been dealt a shit hand in life then it’s the least I can do.’

‘I’m sorry if I sounded like I was quizzing you.’

‘You were quizzing me, but you’re entitled. I’m a stranger, and you can’t be too careful with strangers. He popped the prawn into his mouth, chewed and swallowed.

‘So is there a Mr Castle?’

‘There are three former Mr Castles,’ said Carolyn. ‘All well in the past, thank God. You?’

‘Never had a Mr Castle,’ said Richards.

‘What about a Mrs Richards?’

Richards shook his head.

‘So, no kids?’

‘No, I have a son. Jamie. But he’s with his mum. We never married. I see him every few weeks and over the school holidays.’

‘How old?’

‘Fourteen.’

‘Ah, so he thinks you know nothing and everything you do is an embarrassment?’ said Carolyn.

‘Got it in one,’ said Richards.

‘I’ve a fourteen-year-old son, courtesy of Mr Castle Number One.’

‘Does he live with you?’

‘I share custody, but he’s at boarding school so I see him mainly during his holidays. My work schedule is so stupid he tends to stay with his father. We Skype, though.’

Richards laughed. ‘Yeah, how did we manage before Skype? It’s brilliant isn’t it?’

‘I dunno, I think I prefer phones so I don’t have to see the look of contempt.’

They both laughed and Carolyn realised with a jolt that she was totally at ease in his company. That didn’t make any sense. She was still interviewing him as a potential murder suspect, yet here she was swapping stories about bringing up teenagers.

‘Can I make a confession?’ he asked.

Carolyn’s jaw dropped. ‘What?’

‘A confession,’ he said. ‘Before I met you, I really did think you were the bitch from hell.’

‘Seb telling stories out of school, was he?’

Richards laughed and his eyes sparkled. ‘Of course not. I’ve never seen him at the club. No, I guess I’d formed my impression from what I’d seen on TV.’

‘You really thought I was Diana?’

‘Sure. I think everyone does, right? Hardly anyone gets to see the real you.’

‘And your point is?’

‘My point is the real you is quite something.’ He clinked his glass of water against hers. ‘I’m glad we did this.’

‘You know, so am I,’ said Carolyn.

‘Is there any way I could persuade you to do this again?’

‘What, lunch in the staff canteen?’

Richards laughed. ‘I had in mind a proper meal with champagne. I tell you what, if you’re still worried I might be a stalker, why not come to the club with Seb? We can have a decent bottle of champagne and we can eat on the terrace.’

‘I never thought you were a stalker,’ said Carolyn. ‘And, like I said, I do feel bad about you paying twenty-six grand for a seafood spaghetti. But I prefer red wine to champagne, it has to be said.’

‘So is that a yes?’

‘It’s a definite maybe,’ she said. ‘One Saturday, maybe. Let me talk to Seb.’

‘You’ve got my card,’ said Richards. ‘I’ll leave the ball in your court.’ He sniffed and cocked his head on one side.’

‘I really like that perfume,’ he said. ‘Chanel?’

‘Coco Mademoiselle,’ she said. ‘It’s been my favourite for a while.’

‘Well it’s my favourite now,’ said Richards. He grinned. ‘How corny did that sound?’

‘Fairly corny,’ she laughed. ‘But I’ll take compliments in any shape or form.’

They finished lunch and Carolyn walked Richards out to the car park. ‘Nice,’ she said when she saw his Porsche. ‘I like SUVs. I always feel so much safer in them.’

‘What do you drive?’ asked Richards.

‘Most of the time I’m driven, these days,’ she said. ‘But I have an Audi TT.’

‘Now that is a nice motor,’ he said.

‘It’s nippy,’ said Carolyn. ‘It’s not the car of my dreams, though.’

‘Yeah? What would you prefer?’

‘If I had the room, a Bentley,’ she said. ‘But my parking space is tight and the house doesn’t have a garage. Leaving a Bentley on the street would be asking for trouble.’

‘Yeah, there’s a lot of envy out there,’ said Richards. He smiled as he looked into her eyes, trying to work out whether she was testing him about the Bentley or if it had been a chance remark. ‘Red,’ he said.

‘Red?’

‘That’s the colour of your underwear.’ He blew her a kiss and got into his car. She was still laughing as he drove away.