Contents (71)
- THE
- DAUGHTER
- MICHELLE FRANCES
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FORTY-THREE
They were all crammed into Rob’s front room until Abby, his daughter, suggested they go into the garden. Outside on the overgrown lawn was a bench-and-table set, like the sort found in pubs, and the villagers sat or perched with a couple spilling onto folding garden chairs. Everyone was there with the exception of Nick and Grace, who were in hospital with Arnie.
Kate tried to speak to everyone in turn, small snippets of catch-up conversation. Sunita was next to Ian and Hazel. Helen, Rob’s wife, had managed to come to the meeting and was sitting in a garden chair, with Abby at her feet. The evening was warm, and the sun was just beginning to dip in the sky, bathing everyone in a golden light. Behind them, in the fields, the oilseed rape was aglow. A blackbird was singing his heart out, his melodious call amplified on the still, warm air.
Rob came into the garden looking harried. ‘Does anyone want a coffee or a tea?’ he asked feebly and everyone, perhaps sensing his exhaustion, declined. He turned to Kate: the floor was hers.
She stood and faced everyone. Some faces were more trusting than others, but all of them had the battle-hardened look of people who had experienced more heartache in their lives than was fair. Right at the front was Abby, who was looking at her intently. Kate had been surprised, and a little uncomfortable, to see that she was there. The outcome of this meeting had a direct impact on her, but that, Rob had insisted, was exactly the reason she was there.
Kate cleared her throat. ‘Thank you, everyone, for coming here today. As you know from my email, the reason we’ve met is that one of you has been approached by—’
‘They know who it is,’ interrupted Rob.
She looked at him and he shrugged.
‘OK . . . so, Rob has been approached by Justin Holmes and has been made a financial offer, a compensatory offer. However, the stipulation is that he – and the rest of you – would need to withdraw from any legal action in order for this payment to be made. If only one, or a few of you agree to pull out, the offer is off the table. It would have to be everyone.’
A low murmur started up and Kate held up her hand, so she could continue. ‘Rob has also said that Justin indicated further payments would be available to other families who decided not to sue, although this hasn’t been confirmed.’
‘He seemed pretty certain,’ said Rob.
The murmur started up again and Kate spoke louder. ‘This is one route to explore. The alternative is that we continue, and we take this case to court. I have to be honest, I do believe the rewards would be greater – and just as importantly, this scandal would be out in the public.’
‘And how long,’ said Hazel, ‘until we take this to court?’
It was the question Kate knew would come but dreaded answering. ‘I don’t know. I’m not going to lie to you people. There’s work I still need to do but I’m doing my damnedest to get all the pieces in place.’