Under New Management (32 page)

Brian reaches his hotel at ten fifteen. He had found a cheap motel less than ten minutes’ drive from the Hall. It takes him less than fifteen minutes to send a description of his photographs to all his contacts. As he waits for a response he undresses and inspects his injuries, then showers. Nothing more than bruising and he can live with that. Oh yes, all the bruises would be well worth it.

Brian is a well known pap. He may be a weasel of a little man who only produces a steady stream of C- and D-list stuff but he is honest in his craft. His contacts know it and if Brian says he has these photos, it is safe to say that he really has. He has a collection here which will sell worldwide. Clear shots of Serena Bonart launching a physical attack on an unknown woman. Serena, violently scratching multi-millionaire Kieran McLaren and to top it off Serena snogging Johnny Morgan. Johnny has his arm in plaster, which importantly helps to date them. All of these photos, not to mention the others of the evening’s events are a veritable treasure trove. The chances of taking this sort of bulk footage are millions to one. Brian has managed to capture an entire storyboard of a very interesting evening.

Brian quickly contacts various other paps and journalists and gives them the low down. He quickly manages to secure a fee from each of them for the precious location of his shots. There is always more to tell and if the celebrities haven’t buggered off, there is the possibility of more footage and of course, a story to build.

The excitement that Brian is generating in his world is reaching phenomenal proportions. When Brian’s email hits, the bidding war begins in earnest. Before eleven he has managed to sell his haul of photographs for a staggering half a million pounds and has ensured a deal that will produce royalties for any future publication. Brian has done very well indeed. It is safe to say that he is over the moon.

Chapter 31

Kieran wakes at six forty-five the next morning in a different bedroom. He hasn’t slept much at all. He showers and puts on a pair of jeans and a cashmere sweater which his mother had taken from his room the night before. He hadn’t wanted to go anywhere near Serena.

Marylyn had left the boys in the dining room late last night and had gone upstairs to find her daughter. She then let herself into her son’s bedroom. She saw Serena sparked out on the bed fully dressed and breathing heavily. Quietly finding Kieran’s clothes she left the room without covering his guest. ‘Serves her right. With any luck she would get hypothermia’, Marylyn had thought nastily.

Kieran inspects his face in the mirror. The scratches have scabbed over a little but are still a livid red. He glowers into the mirror; he hasn’t time to worry about his injuries, he has more important things to do. He swiftly heads downstairs to the kitchen and brews coffee. While it is still hot he gulps it down and leaves the Hall. He’s going to the local newsagent. Scratched face or no scratched face he needs to see if they are all to be front page news today.

Pulling out of the courtyard and round to the front of the Hall Kieran stops the car as he realises he has company. Two large black minibuses and a BMW are parked on the drive. He turns off the engine and gets out to greet the security detail.

As Kieran walks to the vehicles eight burly looking men, most of whom he knows, get out and mess around opening doors and boots to retrieve their kit.

Kieran calls “Hello” to them all as he heads towards the BMW and the friendly, open face of his Head of Security.

Dominic Blake has worked for the McLarens since the beginning. Dominic and Kieran have been friends since school and Dominic was leaving the army at the same time as Kieran inherited.

Kieran had given him the money to set up his own security business, along with the contract for overseeing the McLaren hotel chain. Dom has built up a lucrative solid business and with Kieran’s help he landed other contracts and has a good team around him. Dom would do anything for Kieran.

“Dom! Great to see you mate!” The two men greet each other with a bear hug. They are both the same height at 6ft 2ins, but Dom’s build makes him stand out. He has wide shoulders and bulging biceps. He’s a nice looking chap with a friendly face, but he has a keen mind and can be far from friendly if called for. Dom knows his stuff and he isn’t happy with Kieran for getting himself into this situation. As they pull apart, Dom gives Kieran a look that tells him he has been a total knob. Kieran, who doesn’t need telling, has the decency to look shamefaced.

“Don’t say anything mate. I know, I know, I should have listened to you.”

Dom shakes his head. “Well that’s good to hear but it isn’t going to put this right.” He reaches into the front seat and drags out a number of papers. He shoves them at Kieran. “Now, how the hell are you going to get out of this little lot?”

Kieran grabs the bundle and stares at the front page of the top one. He takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “Come on. We’d better go in. I’ll fill you in. You can bring the cars round the back. Just follow me.” Kieran heads for his car, gets in and reverses it back through to the courtyard behind.

Half an hour later, the security team, with Kieran, are all sitting in the dining room tucking into a mountain of bacon sandwiches made by a shifty looking Angela.

Angela started early this morning. Before going to bed she’d realised what had happened last night. She’d had a feeling they wouldn’t sleep much.
May as well be prepared and get an early start.
She didn’t want to appear guilty. She’d seen the vans pull up as she drew the curtains in her pretty attic room before rushing down to the kitchen to start cooking. It wouldn’t hurt to earn some brownie points and in her opinion men were always hungry.

Angela took three frying pans from the cupboard, greased them and filled them with bacon. She then set to buttering three loaves of bread and took the tea urn and a large cafetiere out of the cupboard.

She knew she had a large sum of money coming to her. Fifty thousand pounds, to be precise. Brian had phoned her last night, his voice ecstatic as he triumphantly told her he had just made over one hundred thousand pounds. She had no way of knowing if Brian was telling the truth or not and to be fair she didn’t really care. Fifty thousand was way more than she had expected, she’d thought perhaps five or ten if she were lucky. Angela is delighted and she is due to leave here at the end of the week.

In order not to arouse suspicion, she will work hard and keep her head down whilst quietly planning the holiday she intends to take. Fifty thousand is a large amount of money but it’s not enough to retire on. She is, however, still hoping that the family will keep her on and she can live with a little guilt. It isn’t as if she’s hurt them, only that bitch Serena Bonart. As far as Angela can tell, none of them likes her much anyway. She ignores the gnawing of guilt that persists and gets on with setting up an early breakfast in the dining room.

Over the next half hour, the others drag themselves downstairs in dribs and drabs. They enter the dining room and see the gathering. Serena is the only one who doesn’t show her face and no one bothers to ask where she is. As they all say their good mornings, help themselves to tea or coffee and settle themselves, they know their worst fears are confirmed as they watch Kieran’s grim face. It’s just a matter now of how bad.

None of them slept very well. Johnny looks pale and very sorry for himself. Megan hasn’t spoken to him yet and has red puffy eyes which makes Johnny feel even worse.

Marylyn is also not in the best of moods. She’s angry with Johnny, absolutely seething at Serena and very upset for her daughter.

Jack is possibly the cheeriest out of the bunch, mainly because, unusually, he isn’t dreading the papers. Normally they’re in this position because he’s committed some sort of misdemeanour. It makes a nice change that for once it’s not his fault. And of course, there’s the gorgeous Lou. He can’t wait to see her; he wants to get to know her better. Jack has a good feeling about Lou and thinks they could have some fun together.

Dom explains that the team will secure the area; he needs to see the plans of the estate to decide on his strategy. They cannot stop anyone from being on public land; he expects there are public rights of way, footpaths etc. He has already informed Kieran that there’s a camera crew at the entrance up on the road. He expects a lot more to arrive, given the coverage.

In silence, they all read through the papers. They need to know what they’re dealing with. Dom sends his men out to get themselves ready while he, Kieran and Jack leave the dining room to look through the plans in the library, whilst figuring out how best to ensure damage limitation.

Chapter 32

At nine fifteen the same morning, Mollie is still feeling very sorry for herself. She had gone straight to bed when they arrived home last night and cried herself drunkenly to sleep.

She is mortified. She feels dreadful about her behaviour the previous evening. How awful of her to flirt with Kieran at all, let alone in front of his girlfriend. What had she been thinking? She is really giving herself a hard time as she huddles under her duvet. She refuses to get out of bed this morning.

A soft tap on the door, followed by Jim announcing he’s coming in, forces her to lift her head out from its hiding place. He puts a mug of tea down on her bedside table and then sits on the edge of the bed next to her. He waits for his little girl to sit up, which she does slowly. As soon as she’s upright she promptly bursts into tears and throws herself into her father’s arms.

Jim strokes her hair just as he had when she really was a little girl and croons softly to her until the tears stop, only leaving juddering breaths.

“Drink your tea, Molls,” he tells her, “and then get yourself dressed. I’m afraid there are people here to see you.” She jumps and stares up at him.

“No Dad, I’m not seeing anyone. Tell them to go away. I don’t think I’m ever going to see anyone again,” she tells him firmly.

“I’m sorry darling, normally I would, but I’m afraid this isn’t going to go away. You’ve gone and got yourself on the front page of the Sunday newspapers,” Jim informs her with no pleasure.

Mollie is dumbfounded.
Christ, what next?

As she takes in the significance of her dad’s statement she has an overwhelming urge to leave the country. With a tinge of fear in her voice she asks, “Who’s downstairs?” Jim tells her quietly, but firmly, that Kieran and a security bloke are here and Kieran will not leave until he has spoken to her.

“Your Mother explained a few things to me last night, girl. I’m sorry I should have noticed. I think he’s got a soft spot for you and I also think that you need to put on your stiff upper lip for this one. You can’t hide up here; you’ve done nothing wrong my girl. So come on, I want you downstairs as soon as you can manage it. I’m making breakfast and I’ve asked that chap of yours to eat with us,” Jim stands up with a no nonsense air and heads for the door.

Mollie shakes her head as she allows her thoughts to process, “Dad, he is not my chap.” Turning at the door, Jim gives her one of his annoying, knowing smiles and leaves the room.

Earlier that morning, at eight, Kevin delivers a breakfast tray to David who is still in bed. Kevin has some amazing gossip and he doesn’t have long to tell it before he leaves for work.

“Come on sleepy head. I’ve some breakfast for you and you are so not going to believe who is on the front of today’s paper.”

As David wakes up grumbling, Kevin flicks the light on with his elbow and puts the tray down on the floor by the bed.

“God Kevin, it’s too early. I don’t want to wake up yet. Haven’t you heard of a lie in?” he whinges sulkily as he sits up slowly.

“Stop moaning lover boy. Now look at this!” Kevin throws the paper at David who rubs his eyes and focuses. He sits bolt upright, now fully awake he takes in the picture of his wife on the front page, with none other than Serena fucking Bonart!

“Nooo way! What the hell is all this about?” He stares wide eyed up at Kevin.

“I know, amazing isn’t it? I only went down the shop to get croissants; I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. Causing quite a stir in the town, I can tell you. How the hell does Mollie know Serena Bonart?”

David raises an eyebrow at Kevin for asking such a stupid question. “Well, clearly she doesn’t know her. Must be something to do with the new owners of the Hall. Anyway looks like she’s pissed off Serena. That looks like quite a slapping she’s getting.” David smirks nastily and Kevin gives him a look that says ‘don’t be mean.’

“Look lover, I have to go. You have fresh coffee and a croissant to keep your strength up. Fancy going out for dinner tonight?” He leans down to give David a lingering kiss on the mouth.

As they pull away, David gives him a bright smile, “Yes I’d love to. I’ll see you later darling and thanks for the breakfast. I’ll make it up to you.”

Kevin minces out of the bedroom sarcastically and turns back to throw a meaningful look at David. ”Oh I know you will - it’s the only reason I made it.” They both laugh as Kevin, on leaving the room, sends him a camp air kiss and David playfully throws a pillow at him

David settles down to his breakfast and reads the paper. Turning the page he focuses on a small picture of the guests arriving at the Hall. Mollie is talking to a tall man with shoulder length blonde hair. The rest of the family are there, including her awful friend Lou. David snarls slightly at the sight of Jim and Dan all dressed up.
Bastards!

He looks again more closely.
Hang on! That’s the bloke who pushed him into the buffet table.
In fact now he looks closer he’s sure he’s seen another picture somewhere of Mollie and the same man. He reads the caption underneath, ‘Jack Murphy welcoming his mystery guests.’