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we’re now partners, if that would
suit you. I know you’ll make a great job of the conversation and
show me a better return on my money than any off-shore bank ever
could.”
    “ I will, or die in the attempt,”
he said savagely.
    “ You’ll have to apply for
permission to convert the place into two apartments, of course.
That’s what you plan to do with it, isn’t it?”
    “ Yes, and that could hold things
up a bit.”
    “ Oh no, Ryan isn’t the only one
with contacts. Who do you think introduced him to some of the
planning committee in the first place? My charitable works come in
handy sometimes.”
    Noah covered her hand with his. “Should we
draw up a partnership agreement of some sort?” he asked.
    She blinked at him. “Whatever for?”
    “ Well, we can’t just do this on
trust.”
    “ Why not? I trust you, but want my
name kept out of things. It’s enough for me to know that I’ve
helped you get on your way, and if Ryan were to find out that I’m
behind it all, well…let’s just say he’s got a vicious temper.
Besides, it would raise questions about my finances that I’d prefer
not to answer.” She drained her glass and stood up.
    “ Now, I suggest you get back to
work, but just remember, discretion is vital. Not even Joey should
know where the money came from. Can I rely on you to keep it to
yourself?”
    “ Do you need to ask?”
    He kissed her cheek as they parted on the
pavement, too stunned to properly appreciate all that had just
happened. She waved over her shoulder and left Noah standing there
with his hands thrust in his pockets, struggling to come to terms
with the turn his luck had taken. The papers from the auctioneer’s
office rustled in his jacket pocket, and he smiled at the sound
they made. He was barely twenty years old, and already a property
owner! It was surreal. All of a sudden he was frightened by the
daunting project he’d set for himself and plagued by self-doubts,
terrified of letting Kitty down when she’d just demonstrated such
astonishing faith in him.
    * * * *
    “ How the hell did you pull that
off?” Joey asked in stunned disbelief. “I thought old Wattsie
turned you down.”
    “ He did at first, but I told him
I’d been offered a job by John Diamond’s mob.” Noah was referring
to Ryan’s deadliest local rival. “He obviously decided he didn’t
want to risk losing me.”
    “ Christ, you took a bit of a
chance, didn’t you?”
    “ Nah, not really, you know what
Wattsie’s like. You and I have stuck with him long term and
wouldn’t be easy to replace.” Noah shuffled his feet, feeling
awkward about lying to his friend. “The thing is, Ryan doesn’t want
anyone to know he financed it. He’s worried he’ll be accused of
favoritism, or of going soft, so we have to keep mum about
it.”
    “ Fair enough. I won’t say
anything, but people are bound to find out.”
    “ I suppose they will but we
mustn’t be the ones to tell ’em.”
    Noah and Joey conducted this conversation as
they walked home from work. They parted at the door to Rachel’s
mother’s house.
    “ Rachel’s dead excited already
because she’s been short listed for the permanent contract to do
the catering at the tennis club.”
    “ That’s great! Let’s hope she gets
it.”
    “ Well, she reckons she stands a
good chance because Cassie’s mum’s on the committee and will put in
a good word for her.”
    Noah didn’t like the idea of Joey’s girlfriend
having to rely on Mrs. Turner’s goodwill to kick start her career,
but he kept his reservations to himself.
    “ I’m gonna see Maxine now,” he
said instead. “She’ll be dead chuffed to hear our news. Tell you
what, why don’t we have a night off for once? If this ain’t a cause
for celebration, then I don’t know what is. We’ll meet you in the
pub in a bit.”
    “ You’re on!”
    Noah, anxious to share his news with Maxine,
headed straight for her house. She opened the door to him, a book
in her hand as