The One You Fear by Paul Pilkington

about them. Well, if this was the way they went about conducting their research, then she was doubly glad she had dismissed their offer.
    ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I know I’ve probably gone about this the wrong way. I should have been upfront with you. To be honest, I don’t know why I used that cover story. It was stupid, I understand that.’
    Emma didn’t want to hear it. ‘You wanted to cover your bases, in case I said no to Diana Saunders about collaborating on the drama documentary. You wanted to get quotes from us, and that way you could still go ahead with the programme, without our direct input. You figured that we would be more likely to provide a few quotes for a newspaper article. And if I’d said yes to Diana, then no doubt someone else from Firework Films would have been liaising with us, and we’d never connect you and your shady practices with them.’
    He smiled back. ‘You know, I wish you were as helpful as your father.’
    ‘What?’
    Again he smiled. ‘It’s just that if you were all as open as he was, it would make the programme so much better, so much more powerful, to really know what was going on in your heads.’
    Emma felt sick. He had to be lying. ‘He didn’t talk to you. He wouldn’t have done that.’
    ‘Oh he did, Emma – on more than one occasion. But don’t worry, he was generously reimbursed for his time. Generously reimbursed.’ He went to stand, and Emma nodded at Dan to let him go. She was reeling at the revelation. But Adrian Spencer hadn’t quite finished. ‘Next time you see him, pass on my thanks on behalf of Firework Films.’

 
     
    13
     
     
     
    ‘I still can’t believe he would have done it. I just feel so angry.’
    Emma, Dan and Lizzy had returned to their apartment to regroup. It was late afternoon, and they were in the kitchen, sitting around the table, all still reeling from what Adrian Spencer had told them. The thought that Emma’s dad had spoken to that man, for money, really hurt.
    ‘It does explain the note that he left Miranda,’ Lizzy said. ‘About betraying us all.’
    ‘Which makes it sound like he regrets doing it,’ Dan added. ‘Try not to be too hard on him.’
    ‘You think that’s why he ran away?’ mused Emma. ‘Because he realised what he’d done, and just couldn’t face us?’
    Dan shrugged. ‘Maybe. Look, I’m not making excuses for him – well, maybe I am – but Adrian Spencer was extremely persistent, and he was offering money to someone who’s been really worried about his income. You know how he’s been stressing about losing his clients, and Miranda mentioned that he’d said about not being able to support her and the new baby, just before he left. I know he’s brought some of this on himself, but the guy is obviously really suffering.’
    ‘Your dad has been under a lot of pressure,’ Lizzy acknowledged. ‘He might have just got tempted, and then really regretted it.’
    Emma could see how it might have happened.
    Just a few minutes of your time…
    I can recompense you…
    This way we can make sure we get the story straight…
    ‘You’re probably right. But running away isn’t going to solve anything. It just makes things worse. He’s abandoned Miranda and caused even more hurt. Can’t he see that?’
    ‘Maybe,’ suggested Dan, ‘now that he’s run, he doesn’t know how to come back and make things right. He might feel too ashamed about it all. He also might genuinely believe that we don’t want to see him again.’
    Emma shook her head. ‘I just wish he’d get in contact, or turn his phone back on. At least we’d know he’s safe.’
    ‘Safe?’ Lizzy said. ‘You think he might not be?’
    ‘Oh, I’m sure he’s fine, Lizzy. But we don’t know that for certain. If he is in such a state, then we don’t know what he might do. People can do really irrational things when they’re not thinking straight.’
    ‘It’s best to stay positive,’ Dan advised. ‘We’ve got enough to worry