Jean looked at her diary again, not that she needed a reminder. She knew what was on her schedule.
10 AM Mckendrick
Jean rose from her chair as her assistant ushered in her guest and then closed the door.
"Hello Mrs. Innocent." The woman approached the desk and held out her hand.
"Please, have a seat, and call me Jean."
As she sat looking at her from the other side of her desk, Jean realized this was all wrong. She got up and came around to the front of her desk and gestured toward a small table. Jean poured coffee for the two of them and they sat more casually.
"Thank-you for seeing me." The woman held tightly to her handbag.
"It's my pleasure. What can I do for you Mrs. McKendrick."
"Please, call me Flora. I need your help." She stared into her coffee then looked up. "I don't like to ask. You have done so much for us already."
Jean took a sip from her mug. "Something's bothering you. I'll do what I can to help."
"My husband doesn't know I'm here."
Jean gave Flora her most sincere look. "Husbands don't need to know everything. We'll keep this just between us."
Flora nodded. "First I should say, I know who you are, although I can tell that you have figured that out."
"Yes."
"I should thank-you for giving Fiona life, giving her to us, and for twice saving her life."
"Twice?"
"Yes, donating blood after her accident, and then coming to her rescue when she was kidnapped."
"Sorry?"
Flora released her grip on the handbag and waved one hand in the air. "I know what you did. I followed you after you interviewed us. I'm not usually very brave but Fiona was in danger. I was prepared to help but you appeared to have everything under control." She paused to recall the scene. "I would have been more of a hindrance than a help."
It was not often that Jean Innocent was taken by surprise. She tried to maintain her composure. "Mrs. Mckendrick, Flora, if you need to report what you saw, I can give you the contact details for Detective Inspector Anderson. He is in charge of the investigation and has not been able to locate any witnesses."
"I see no need to report anything. Fiona is safe and that's all that matters." She finally picked up her coffee to take a drink.
Jean straightened up in her chair. "So what do you need my help with now?"
Flora swallowed. "Someone has been harassing Fiona." She saw Jean's eyebrows go up. "Well maybe that's not the right word. It all started with a letter. Fiona was upset by it but of course as is her way did not say anything. After she left on her trip there were some odd phone calls, a strange man asking for Fiona, wanting to discuss the letter he sent her."
"Did you feel threatened by him or more to the point, did he threaten Fiona?"
"Well…" She hesitated.
"Because if threats were made it's a matter for the police. Is that what this is?"
Flora made a decision. "Yes, I felt threatened. It's a matter for the police. I'm sure if I remember correctly threats were made."
"Do you have anything that can help identify this man?"
"Yes." She pulled a folded piece of paper out of her handbag and handed it to Jean. "I photocopied the letter while Fiona was sleeping."
Jean quickly read the letter with the familiar handwriting. "Don't worry, Flora, I'll take care of this." Jean used a tone of voice that instilled fear into her junior officers. "I would much prefer it if you do not follow me this time." Then she softened her voice. "You don't need that unpleasantness."
"Yes, of course. I knew you could help...Jean. Thank-you." She hesitated a second then reached into her handbag again. "I have some pictures of Fiona when she was a girl. I wonder if you wouldn't mind looking at them. I do like to show off my daughter."
"That would be lovely Flora, thank-you."
Jean took her time looking at the pictures of the young Fiona, inwardly sighing over the sights of the girl on her first day of school, winning awards, on holiday, and even riding a pony. She smiled and neatened them up in a stack and handed them back. Then her face took on a serious expression. "There is something I must warn you about. Diane Turnbull is planning to write a book about Nicky and wants to speak to the press, specifically about the child he fathered."
Flora's lips tightened. "I see."
"So far, we've been able to prevent it with her in custody. I'm not sure how long we can keep her quiet. I will try to give you as much warning as possible before it's made public."
A few hours later, Jean turned and looked over her shoulder before she entered the pub. Once inside, as her eyes got accustomed to the semi darkness, in contrast to the bright sunlight outside, she spied her target and approached him. Jean nudged his drinking companion in the ribs and commanded. "Excuse me, I need to borrow your seat for a few minutes." The slightly inebriated man gave her an examining look and decided to visit the gents rather than protest.
She addressed her soon to be former husband. "I see the company you keep hasn't improved any."
"You should talk, what with your past and all."
"That's why I am here. You have stepped over the line."
"What's that?"
"You know what I mean, threatening phone calls, and an anonymous letter."
He smiled. "I'm just sharing information."
"Let me share something with you. A restraining order has been issued. Any further contact with Fiona or her parents will get you at least one night in the cells."
He shrugged.
"I can assure you that just one hour in prison for the husband of the Chief Superintendent will not be pleasant. They are not to know how much I loathe you."
That got his attention.
"Do we have an understanding?"
He nodded.
Jean got up to leave as Alec Pickman was returning to his seat.
Ellen Jacoby was entering the pub and before she knew what was happening Jean took a firm hold of her elbow and steered her back out into the street.
James, Liv, and Fiona spent some time helping to fix up an orphanage in Pravia, Spain and were now on their way back to Oxford. Liv had a favor to ask of her brother.
"James, you said that Laura, Dr. Hobson, lives with Inspector Lewis."
"That's right. By now, they should be all moved into the house they bought together."
"Would you see if you can get me invited over to their place…when I'm ready?"
"Yeah, sure, ready for what?"
"To talk to the last person who saw my mother alive." James and Fiona exchanged a look that could only be understood by a police officer.
"Rimini? Are you sure, Laura? Don't you want someplace a little quieter?"
Laura and Robbie were using her laptop to research places in Italy for a holiday when Laura could get some time off work. They had already finished Chapter One of their Italian lessons.
"We want to go somewhere lively Robbie, not a seaside resort full of pensioners."
"Do I need to remind you that I am a pensioner?"
"Do I need to remind you to stop acting like an old man?"
Later, upstairs in the one place where they had no trouble communicating and Laura allowed Robbie to put her first, Robbie gently rubbed circles into Laura's back while her head rose and fell gently on his chest, listening to the calming rhythm of his heart.
"Did that remind you of an old man?"
"Mmmm no, much better."
"Ti amo, Laura."
"Ti amo, Roberto."
A/N: WhyAye, author of the wonderful story Fortnight in Rimini, told me that Rimini is a beach/party town, and not a likely destination for Robbie and Laura's Italian holiday.