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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

‘There isn’t a practice manager,’ Ian said. ‘It’s just Carstan Moller and his wife.’

‘In that case, if it’s an NHS clinic then you could contact the ombudsman.’

‘It’s not. It’s private,’ Ian replied, struggling to hide his impatience.

‘I think you’ll need to take it up with the independent adjudication service then. There’s information about their organization online.’

‘So you definitely can’t investigate?’ Ian asked, disappointed.

‘Not unless a crime has been committed, and from what you’ve told me it hasn’t been. I am sorry, but I don’t see how I can help you.’

Frustrated and feeling let down, Ian said goodbye and ended the call.

Now what? he thought.

He stayed in his car, staring out of his side window. If he took DC Beth Mayes’s advice and contacted the adjudication service, he’d have to go through everything that had happened all over again, and then wait for the outcome of any investigation. How long would that take? Probably forever, especially if Moller prevaricated or lied again. He needed answers now. Perhaps he should return to his first plan and visit Carstan Moller in person. He had the DNA evidence now and that couldn’t be ignored. If he showed him the results, Moller would have to tell him the truth, wouldn’t he?

Ian couldn’t think of a better plan. He’d go now. But before he started his car he sent an email to his boss: I have a doctor’s appointment today so I’ll be working from home. He then switched on his satnav and drove out of the office’s car park. The DNA test results proved Moller had lied and Ian was ready for a fight.

FORTY-TWO

It was 9.15 a.m. as Ian passed the village shop with its advertising easel outside. Wound up and ready to confront Carstan Moller, he drove up the hill and parked in the road at the front of the clinic. There were two cars on the driveway, a BMW he’d seen there before and a Vauxhall Corsa. Ian wondered if that belonged to Edie or a patient. If it was a patient it could work in his favour. Moller wouldn’t want him creating a scene if he had someone with him.

Ian took his briefcase containing his laptop from the passenger seat and got out of the car. He walked purposefully up the path to the front door. He turned his back on the CCTV as he pressed the bell, although he had little doubt he could still be identified. He waited and pressed the bell again, for longer this time. He’d stay there pressing their damn doorbell for as long as it took them to answer. He wasn’t going to be fobbed off again. He had evidence now.