Eighty One – Laura's Story Pt. 07

24

Over the past week Laura had made good progress on the Simpson’s presentation and had even met with Shaun Cooper to discuss the technicalities. Gaining the bishop had boosted her morale, she felt more confident that she could collect the rest and they would beat Weston.

While she was in the right frame of mind Laura decided to work through lunch and get the job finished. There were only a few details to sort out and it was looking good. She decided to take a break, a walk out in the fresh air would do her the world of good and she could pick up a sandwich for a desk lunch.

The warm sun filtered through the trees as she sauntered round to Junio’s. She walked up to the counter rather than choosing a table and the girl anticipated her order, “The usual?” she asked. Laura hadn’t realised that she was so predictable, perhaps she should be as adventurous with her food as she was with the rest of her life.

Laura was only out of the office for a little over half an hour but, no sooner had she walked through the front door when Jane—the young girl manning the reception area—called her over. “Laura, that woman left this for you.” She handed over a card. Laura read the front, ‘Amelia Chambers’, she turned it over. ‘Hope you enjoyed your meal and the afters.’

“Who left this?” Laura almost shouted at the poor girl.

“The woman who just left, you must have seen her.” Laura thrust her sandwich bag at the girl.

“Hold this.” She rushed back through the door, narrowly missing a passer-by. She looked along the street in both directions desperate to catch a glimpse of the woman. Nobody looked out of place, just the normal: people with bags, looking at smart-phones and a couple holding hands. She had gone.

Whilst retrieving her sandwich bag from Jane she asked her about the woman. She fit the description well, it must have been her. Laura had missed her by seconds, was that her intention? “What did she say?” she asked Jane.

“She just asked if I could give you the card, and that was it,” the girl answered, shrugging her shoulders.

“Did she ask to see me, or if I was here?”

“No. Just to give you the card.”

“Okay, thanks Jane.”

Laura made her way to her office. Stopping at Abbie’s desk on the way.

“Look at this,” she said, handing her the card.

“Amelia Chambers. So?” Abbie handed the card back.

“Turn it over.” It took a minute for the significance to register.

“You think that’s her, from your lesbian thing? Which one?”

“I would imagine the younger one. And it’s not ‘my lesbian’ thing, I was an innocent bystander, the same as you.”

“So, you think she’s going round London handing out cards to all the ‘innocent bystanders’ from the restaurant? I suppose you could be right.” Abbie’s cynicism had reached new heights. “And just how did she know to leave one here?” Laura paused, her brain putting it all together.

“It’s bloody Weston isn’t it, he’s behind this—again. I just know it.”

After eating half of the wrecked club sandwich she decided to call Andrew, suspecting that he was in on the latest development.

“What was Weston telling you yesterday about a woman doing something today?” she asked him.

“He was telling me about a friend of his and a project they were working on. Why?”

“You know why. One of the women I told you about, from the restaurant, she was here a few minutes ago.”

“Really? How do you know it was her?” Laura could tell from the tone of his voice that he was stringing her along, but for a while she was happy to let him.

“She left a card, referring to the meal at the restaurant.”

“Why would she do that? If it was her of course.”

“That’s why I’m calling you. I was rather hoping you’d tell me.”

“Are you sure you’re not jumping to conclusions, you have been known to in the past and it turned out to be pretty embarrassing didn’t it?”

“I’m not so stupid to think this is all a big coincidence you know. I’m thinking that she probably has one or more of the pieces, and probably, that I’m supposed to find her to get them back.”

“Why don’t you call Graham and ask him?” There was a slight amused edge to his voice.

“Oh yes, I’ll just call ‘Mr straight talking’ shall I. Look what he tricked me into last time.”

“Give the woman a call then, ask her.”

“Duh, how stupid of me. I hadn’t thought of that. There’s no number on the card. And before you say it, yes I have looked on the internet and on Facebook and there are loads of Amelia Chambers.”

“Look I’ve got a meeting in a minute but I’ll have a think about it and get back to you, OK?” Andrew said, and had to end the call.

It looked like she was on her own with the problem, and it wasn’t fair, they were supposed to be playing the game together. She berated herself for that stupid thought. Very early on it had become clear that it was never going to be fair and perhaps that was what made it so appealing. Being used for the amusement of those people, her husband included it would appear, should have angered her but it didn’t, she had learned too much about herself.

She stared at her desk, at the unfinished work, at the half eaten sandwich and, right there in the centre, at the card, which continued to taunt her. Did Laura’s enthusiasm for finding the woman focus solely on recovering the pieces? No. The woman, the whole incident in fact, had been in and out of her thoughts ever since the night it happened. Running it through her mind time after time, she pictured each of them leaving the cubicle, so cool and composed without a hint of embarrassment. How she envied their confidence. She’d put herself in both roles trying to imagine how it felt from both angle’s but her preference always went with the older woman, the lucky victim. The choice troubled her but she wasn’t sure why; she felt it was right but the rationale for it eluded her thinking.

There had to be a way of contacting the woman or there would have been no point in her leaving the card. The only thing they had in common was that one evening at the restaurant so that had to be it. Then, all of a sudden, it came to her. She rushed out to check with Abbie.

“Abbie listen, you booked the restaurant when we went out, how did you do it?”

“Same as any other time. Searched for them on Google, got the number and called them. Why?”

“So you called them and what?” Laura wanted the one detail that could be the answer.

“I booked the table, two of us for eight. How is this important?”

“Did he ask for your number, after you’d booked?”

“Yes, in case there was a problem. That’s normal. Shouldn’t I have done it?”

“No, no that’s fine. But if you did then they would have as well, the restaurant will have her number.”

“They might not give it to you though.”

“I’ll give them some story, don’t worry. Have you still got the number?” Abbie found it for her. As she made her way back to her desk Abbie called after her.

“If you get the number what will you say to her anyway, won’t she ask why you’re calling?”

“I don’t think it matters what I say, the outcome has probably been decided already.”

The ringing seemed to go on for ever. Laura countered her instinct to hang up and avoid the consequences of the call, but, as usual her curiosity won through. The single word “Hello”, spoken in that haughty tone rejuvenated the overused memories of the restaurant.

“Hello,” was all Laura could manage as her well rehearsed speech deserted her. “Is that Amelia Chambers?”

“It is, and who am I speaking to?”

“Laura Miller, you left a card at my office earlier.”

“Oh my, you are a sharp one. Graham said you were good, so what can I do for you?”

“I know it sounds silly but I don’t know yet, I was hoping you could tell me. I assumed this had been arranged by Mr Weston, I just don’t know why.”

“He thought I might be able to help you,” she paused, “with what you’re looking for.”

“And what am I looking for?” Laura asked, cautiously.

“Your future probably, the same as the rest of us.” Oh I see, Laura thought, she’s been to the school of talking round in circles, I should have known. “So it all depends on what direction you want it to go in.”

“So who are you and how do you fit into this?”

“Who I am isn’t important, it’s who you are that’s important, and do you know that yet? You’ve had some time to reflect since our encounter, any deductions?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it until I got your card.” As soon as the stupid lie left her lips she wished she could take it back.

“Oh I’m sorry,” Amelia said, “there must have been a misunderstanding I’ll let you get back to your work.” Panic set in. Laura couldn’t get so far and let her slip away.

“No,” she almost shouted, “I mean no, I don’t think there has. I was a little intrigued after that evening.”

“Telling lies can be seen as a lapse in judgement,” Amelia said, “which can often be overlooked, depending on it’s frequency. Now, it’s time to decide, you can step into the unknown to find out if I have what you want or you can take the easier option and look elsewhere.” There was a deafening silence. Laura was unsure if those last words were a question or not. “Well, what’s it to be?” The question was delivered in a relaxed manner, with no hint of impatience.

“I think I need to find out.”

Laura listened carefully as the woman set up a meeting. She gave the time and place, without enquiring whether the arrangement suited Laura’s schedule.

After rearranging her diary with Abbie she called Andrew to tell him that she was seeing the mystery woman the next day. He didn’t seem surprised by the meeting, only by the speed with which it was achieved.

25

While waiting impatiently for Amelia to arrive, Laura wondered how the meeting would turn out. She didn’t even know why she was there. The woman hadn’t said, or even implied that she had the chess pieces-only that she ‘may be able to help her with what she was looking for’. Still, what did it matter, she could afford the time away from the office and it would be a whole lot more fun than going over boring figures with the accountant.

At least she had made a good start. The night before she had checked the place out online. It was one of the better hotels in a wealthy area so she had put a bit more effort into her dress and presentation than she normally would for a working day. After seeing the woman at the restaurant she couldn’t imagine that she would turn up in jeans and T shirt. Not wanting to appear the poor relation, but also not be over dressed, Laura chose a light blue dress. Finishing just above the knee which left just a discrete amount of shapely leg on view. The heels of the matching blue shoes were medium height and suitably racy for the daytime. She had considered stockings but it was too warm and her tanned legs didn’t need them.