The Shadow Project. Scott Mariani

picked up her bags and ushered her inside.

      ‘Coffee would be great. Oh, here. I got you something.’ She unzipped one of her bags and took out a little package. ‘Happy birthday. Forty-five.’

      He took it. ‘Forty-six. And it was nearly two months ago.’

      ‘What a close-knit little family we are. Well, aren’t you going to open it?’

      He tore the wrapper. ‘Handkerchiefs.’

      ‘Irish linen,’ she said. ‘Had to scour London for them. I got them embroidered, too, see? Adam O’Connor.’ She exaggerated the ‘O’.

      ‘I know you think it’s stupid, me changing my name. But it’s important to me. It’s heritage.’

      She shrugged. ‘Do what you want. Fine by me.’

      ‘Nice hankies.’

      ‘Kind of a lame present, huh?’

      ‘No, really. I like them.’

      Sabrina glanced around. ‘Where’s Rory?’

      ‘Tennis camp,’ he replied instantly.

      ‘Tennis camp? You’re kidding me, right?’

      Adam shook his head. ‘Nope. Tennis camp.’

      ‘When?’

      ‘I drove him up there yesterday.’

      ‘Where?’

      He made a vague gesture with his hand. ‘Up in Donegal.’

      ‘They even have things like tennis camp in this place?’

      ‘Whatever they call it. Activity holiday, something like that. Why, you think we’re all bog paddies living in mud huts out here?’

      ‘Oh, give it a rest with the whole Irish thing, Adam.’

      ‘Anyway, so he’s at tennis camp.’

      She shrugged. ‘Fine. It’s just I thought he hated sports.’

      Adam headed for the kitchen to put some coffee on. ‘You know what kids are like. One of his friends plays and so he wanted to have a go. It’ll do him good. Get him away from that damn chess computer of his.’

      ‘When will he be back?’

      ‘Couple of weeks.’

      Sabrina made a face. ‘Jesus, Adam. You didn’t think to tell me about any of this before? I was really looking forward to seeing him, you know.’

      He sighed. ‘Look, the truth is that I totally forgot. I was meaning to call you about it ages ago. It just slipped my mind. I’m sorry.’

      ‘I spoke to him on the phone not long ago, and he never said a word about going to any tennis camp.’

      ‘Well, you know Rory. He moves in mysterious ways sometimes. Like I said, I’m really sorry.’

      ‘I’m sorry too.’ She sighed. ‘Just disappointed, that’s all.’

      The coffee was beginning to bubble up in the percolator. Adam took two mugs from the shelf and poured it out for them. Sabrina settled on a stool at the mahogany breakfast bar and sipped her coffee. She felt soft fur brush her leg, and a Siamese cat jumped up on her lap. ‘Hey, Cassini.’ She stroked the cat and it rubbed its head against her.

      ‘You’re the one visitor he doesn’t bite,’ Adam said, pulling up another stool. ‘He likes you.’

      She forced a smile. ‘Anyway, here I am. Rory or no Rory.’

      ‘It’s really good to see you, sis. Really good.’ She watched him. ‘Is something wrong?’

      ‘Like what?’

      ‘I don’t know. You just seem a little tense. Things going all right here?’

      ‘Things are fine.’

      ‘Thought maybe you’d heard from Amy or something.’ He snorted. ‘Who? No, I don’t think so.’

      ‘How’s business?’

      ‘Business is great.’

      She touched his arm. ‘Look, I know that you and I aren’t that close. But you’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?’

      Adam forced a laugh. ‘Don’t be silly. You know I would. I’m just a little tired. I’ve been working late a lot the last couple of weeks. New project.’ He paused. ‘Speaking of which—’

      She glanced up. ‘What?’

      He hesitated. ‘I have to go away too.’

      ‘What? When?’

      ‘Tomorrow morning. Something really important just came up. There’s this conference in Edinburgh, and someone dropped out, and I’ve got to speak in their place, and, well…’

      ‘I just love your sense of timing.’

      ‘I know. But you’re more than welcome to stay here. As long as you like.’

      ‘All alone?’

      ‘You’ve got Cassini for company. And you don’t even have to worry about feeding him or letting him out. All automated. The house takes care of everything.’

      ‘Wonderful.’

      ‘You should have everything you need. But if you need to go out for anything, the password to open the front door is “Constantinople”.’

      She raised an eyebrow. ‘Constantinople?’

      ‘Just say it into the sensor. It’ll recognise any voice. And if you want to lock the guest bedroom door, just tell the house “lock” and it’ll hear you. OK?’

      ‘Yeah, like I’d need to, out here.’

      ‘And if you lock it, I’ve set it up so you just say “Cassini” and it’ll unlock again. It’s the same password for all the bedrooms. Popular security feature. We never use it ourselves, though.’

      She glared at him. ‘Fantastic, bro.’

      ‘Look, I’m really sorry. There’s nothing I can do about it. Just bad timing, like you said. Why don’t you call Nick? Maybe he could come over and join you.’

      ‘Nick and I aren’t together any more. Not since he started screwing the model I used in his last shoot.’

      ‘That’s a real shame,’ Adam said absently. He bit his lip. ‘Listen, I’ve got to go and get my things sorted out for this conference. Help yourself to more coffee. See you in a little while, OK?’

      Sabrina watched him leave the room. He definitely seemed odd. She poured herself another cup and sat stroking Cassini. ‘Tennis camp,’ she muttered.

       Chapter Eight

      When Jeff walked into the office at Le Val, Ben was slamming down the phone. He sat down heavily in his desk chair, clapped his hands to his head and swore loudly.

      ‘Listen, Ben, I’ve got to tell you something. The doctor said—’

      ‘I already know what the doctor said,’ Ben replied without looking up.

      ‘You’ve spoken to him?’

      ‘I didn’t need to. Shannon’s lawyer’s just told me. Multiple contusions, possible lower back injury, out of action for at least three weeks.’

      Jeff looked perplexed. ‘The bastard’s been talking to his lawyer? Already? From his hospital bed?’

      Ben got up from the chair and went over to the window.