Jessica's Life Journey (12) - Empty Benches

“You can't blame the poor girl”, said Uncle Jeremy sympathetically.

He had summed up the situation spot on, pointing out that Katja, having realised that Will wanted to marry her on the rebound, had no alternative but to ditch him without compunction.

“As for the boy,” - he continued - “I would have expected him to act with more maturity. He let emotions run away with him.”

Didn't mention or reproach me for being the cause of all that happened by my refusal of accepting Will's proposal of marriage. In his eyes, I could do no wrong; I was his 'darling girl'.

“The best thing is to draw the line under all this and carry on with our lives”, he concluded with authority.

Aunt Lottie and I were his only audience as Will had surreptitiously left the room after answering his mobile phone.

From the window, I saw him hailing a taxi. I recognised the driver, my first client on my debut as a private investigator.

He had become our lucky charm and we had got a  few bookings plus a lot of enquiries through his recommendations.

#

It was only half-past nine, not quite time for my elevenses, but I strolled to Carlo's Bar for a cappuccino and a hot croissant.

I knew that it was the place that Gordon, the taxi driver, frequented during his morning break but he wasn't there.

He was back to the taxi rank after having delivered his last passenger to his destination and was about to light a cigarette when he saw me and wished me good morning.

I said 'hello' in reply and, casually, engaged him in conversation.

He's not stupid and soon spotted that my real purpose was to pump him for information about where he had taken my business partner who had left the office without any explanation.

Gordon affected to fall for my expediency and told me what I wanted to hear.

“You will probably acquire a new rich client”, he said innocently, “Mr. Browning has just met a beautiful lady in Postman's Park.”

What had impressed him more than her beauty, was her elegance and sophistication.

In order to divert his suspicion about my motives for the impromptu interrogation, I had to think fast for something to say.

“We don't bill our clients according to their wealth”, I said haughtily, 
our charges are the same for everyone and based on the time spent on the job,”

#

The park was within walking distance so I declined the offer of a free ride. I leisurely made my way towards it, perhaps a bit too leisurely, because when I got there, there were no occupants, only empty benches.

Who was the mysterious lady whose identity was until now only known to Will, I pondered, and why hadn't he mentioned her and the secret rendezvous?

I would have to keep my curiosity in check until he returned to the agency.

© Luigi Pagano 2022