Page 54 of The Grand Duel
“Yes. Yes, do that.” I turn on my heel and walk down the corridor, slipping into my office and shutting the door behind me.
Lissie
The journey to the meeting is made mostly in silence, Charles occasionally asking me questions about my notes on the files I gave him earlier.
His eyes don’t meet mine.
His voice is cold and detached.
It’s nothing new.
I tried my best, and I almost thought I had him. Thought that maybe he could see a way of this working, too. I don’t need sunshine and rainbows every day, but if the man can’t stand to be around me, what chance do we have going forward?
I keep replaying the moment he locked eyes with me in my office. And then he frowned as if I had shit smeared on my face before creating as much space as he could between us and disappearing.
When I woke up this morning, I knew I’d need to put my pride aside and apologise for yesterday. I let my emotions get the better of me, not something I ever do.
I still feel off even now, likely because of the meeting we’re about to step into.
“Hello, Hannah,” I say, smiling.
No emotion.
Focus on the facts.
The young girl gives me a closed-mouth smile. “Hi.”
My gaze travels from her loosely plaited light-brown hair to her dull grey eyes.
“Mr Aldridge.”
I look up at the little girl’s dad, Dennis, as he spots Charles and stands from his seat with a folder in his hand.
“Those text messages you asked for. You said it would help with the case. I’ve also called my provider and asked for my full phone records, but I’m still waiting on those.”
“Ah, that’s great, Dennis,” Charles tells him, placing his hand on the back of Dennis’s wrinkled suit jacket. “Shall we get seated inside?—”
“And those pictures of the mattress. I have those in here, too.”
I frown as Dennis starts pulling images from a blue folder, his hands working a mile a minute in his fluster.
Charles takes them and moves the pictures to his side, as if to shield Hannah from seeing them.
I look towards the young girl. Her head is drawn down, her eyes zeroed in on her sparkly boots.
“I also spoke to the doctor I was telling you about. There are records and notes of the night she was brought into the hosp?—”
“Dennis—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt at the same time Charles does, and all eyes shift to me. “Sorry,” I say to my boss now, knowing I’m already on thin ice. “Shall we maybe move this into the conference room? Hannah doesn’t need to be present for this part of the meeting.”
I see the man look towards his daughter. “Hannah, love, I’m sorry.” He looks to Charles and then me. “I just want to make sure I’m getting all the information you need.” He bends down to Hannah’s height. “Are you okay?”
She lifts her head and looks at him before nodding.
“Where is Kate?” Charles asks, referring to Hannah’s social worker.
One of the ladies who was waiting alongside Dennis steps forward. “She’s just a little behind this morning. Said she won’t be long at all.”