Charlie by Lesley Pearse Page B

complaining loudly about her treatment in hospital and demanding to be moved to a private nursing home, on the other she seemed terrified of everything and everyone.
    Charlie wondered why Mr Wyatt was taking so long to reply to her last question. ‘What if I telephone the Inland Revenue myself and explain?’ she suggested. ‘I’m sure they won’t do anything to Dad if I ask them not to.’
    Wyatt shook his head at her innocence. ‘I’m afraid you are wrong there. You see, they have to do it. They will make every effort to find him. Bankruptcy notices will be put in newspapers where he might see them. But if he doesn’t come forward very quickly, the order will be made in his absence, his possessions seized by the Official Receiver and his creditors paid. It has to be, otherwise anyone who wanted to evade paying their debts could just skip off.’
    Charlie fell silent for a moment, thinking about what that actually meant. Wyatt had said there were several debts apart from what her dad owed in tax. He hadn’t paid the mortgage, and there was no money in his bank account to pay it either.
    ‘They can’t take the house surely? Where will we live?’ She looked fearfully about her, she loved this house. She had believed it would one day be hers. ‘What will Mum do if she can’t walk again? She’ll go bonkers if you tell her any of this!’
    James didn’t relish being the one forced to tell her. He could imagine her screaming so loud Jin would hear her wherever he was in the world. And what of Charlie? She was such a beautiful and intelligent young girl, spoiled maybe, but that wasn’t her fault. How was she going to cope when ‘Windways’ was taken and she had to try to rebuild her life with a bitter, crippled mother in tow?
    ‘If the worst happens and your father doesn’t return, I will of course act on your and your mother’s behalf,’ he said, choosing his words carefully. ‘I will endeavour to get some financial provision made for you both. The house is in your father’s name only I’m afraid, but should it be taken, I’ll also do my best in helping find you somewhere else to live. So please don’t think you are alone. As for essential household items, clothes, etc., they won’t be taken by the Receiver.’
    Charlie heard the word ‘essential’ and it seemed to have great significance. ‘What does essential mean exactly?’
    Wyatt heard the alarm in her voice and felt for her. ‘Beds, bedding, table and chairs, a cooker, that sort of thing.’
    Charlie felt as if someone had kicked her in the stomach. She had never paid much attention to the many beautiful artefacts around the house, but she knew they were valuable and none would be considered essential.
    ‘And the rest of the stuff? They’ll take that too?’ she whispered.
    ‘I’m afraid so,’ he said wearily. ‘You see, in bankruptcy everything is sold off and the money goes into a pot to be shared out to the creditors.’
    There was utter silence for a moment. Wyatt looked at her stricken face and felt an absolute heel. He knew only too well what happened in cases of this kind. Between the Official Receiver’s fees, the auctioneers’ and lawyers’, including his own, everyone stood to gain something, often far more than the creditors got. It was a shabby business, the goods in this house would be sold for a pittance to slimy dealers who plotted between themselves to keep the bidding ridiculously low. The person who would buy this splendid house would almost certainly have someone on the inside in the palm of their hand and get it at a rock-bottom price. Charlie and her mother’s needs would be entirely disregarded. He felt he must do something to salve his conscience.
    ‘If I give you a little tip, Charlie, will you promise me you’ll keep it just between ourselves?’
    Charlie nodded. ‘Go on,’ she urged him. ‘I can be as secretive as Dad.’
    Wyatt half smiled – her bland expression which gave nothing away reminded him