Betrayal by Margaret Bingley Read Free Book Online Page A

right?'
    'Do what you like but leave me alone. I'll come out when I've learnt this episode. Until then, just stay away from the bedroom!'
    'Of course,' she agreed quickly. 'You are on the pill, I hope?' 'Actually, it gives me migraine.'
    He had the feeling that this wasn't going to be one of his better days. ‘Then get yourself fixed up as soon as clinics re-open after Christmas. Until then you'd better leave it to me. When are you due?' 'Three days' time.'
    'We should be OK then. Off you go now.'
    Closing the door quietly behind her she wandered round the dining area. The telephone was on a small coffee table, and after glancing nervously at it once or twice she finally made herself lift the receiver and dial home. It was a man who answered; a man with a flat London accent who sounded totally indifferent until she said who she was and asked for Simon.
    'You'd better come home, Miss Greene. Your father's dead.'
    Lisa's fingers tightened convulsively round the receiver and she gave a small cry of disbelief. 'He can't be dead! I saw him yesterday and he was perfectly… ' Her voice tailed off as she remembered the small trickle of blood, but the injury had been a minor one, it couldn't possibly have killed him.
    'I'll fetch your mother,' said the man. Stephanie was sobbing hysterically, crying about a gun and not having known Simon owned one.
    'You mean he killed himself?' Lisa still couldn't believe that she'd never see Simon again.
    'Yes! How did he expect me to cope? The police keep asking so many questions and I don't know any of the answers. He shouldn't have done it. He knew that I…'
    'I'll come right round,' she promised, and ran to the bedroom.
    Toby's face darkened. 'I thought I told you to stay out?'
    'Simon's dead!' she sobbed. 'He shot himself, and the police are there asking Stephanie all sorts of questions that she can't answer.' He was already out of bed and dressing.
    On the short drive there he did nothing but hurl instructions at her, instructions that made no sense at all. 'Don't mention anything about that jewellery he gave you; don't tell them that he owed money; and above all, don't mention Bishop's visit.'
    She wasn't really taking it in until he said that, then she turned on him in astonishment. 'Of course I'll mention Bishop. It's all his fault. He must have frightened Simon so much that he couldn't go on.'
    'I very much doubt if Simon killed himself,' said Toby softly. 'For once in your life trust someone and just keep quiet, for your own sake if not for Stephanie's.'
    Lisa knew that it was going to be a very long time before she trusted anyone again. 'Why should I trust you?' she asked shakily.
    He put a hand on her knee. 'Because I love you?'
    She shook her head. 'You don't, and I'd rather you didn't pretend.'
    'Most women like to hear it said.' 'I'm not most women.'
    'You're certainly not. Most women don't bring as much trouble with them!'
    'Oh, Toby, I'm so sorry, but it isn't my fault. Besides, you're not really involved. You needn't even come in with me if you don't want to.'
    'I never had any intention of coming in.'
    'So much for love,' she remarked sadly as she climbed out of the car.

    What Lisa always remembered about the period following Simon's alleged suicide was the strange way people behaved. The police, particularly the ones present when she first arrived back, weren't in the least sympathetic or tactful. They acted as though Simon had committed a crime, not so much by his suicide—which was technically a felony—but by removing himself from their reach.
    They asked endless questions about his antiques shop and his most recent trips abroad. They took away his passport and his desk diary; they bullied the two women endlessly for names of business contacts; and never once did they offer even a pretense of sympathy.
    After one brief outburst of sobbing on Lisa's shoulder, Stephanie pulled herself together remarkably quickly. Although outwardly still prone to tears she proved