Betrayal by Margaret Bingley Read Free Book Online Page B

surprisingly adept at handling their inquiries, pleading ignorance and a total inability to understand any aspect of her husband's business affairs.
    No, she hadn't ever asked him about his work; no, she didn't entertain for him; no, they rarely went out, let alone mingled socially with anyone in the public eye. He was a hard working, self-employed businessman, and that was all she knew. Other women? How could they think of such a thing? She and Simon had been devoted to one other.
    Lisa, nervously following Toby's advice, pretended that she'd been away on a visit when it happened, explaining that there hadn't been any argument about her leaving home since she was in any case due to return to finishing school in ten days' time.
    The policeman assigned to Lisa asked why she'd taken so much luggage away for a few days. She smiled, telling him that she was quite hopeless over packing and always took enough clothes to last a year for an overnight stay. She wasn't a nightdress and toothbrush person, she explained with a laugh.
    As the days passed the police became less polite. The presence of Simon's solicitor didn't deter them; they had their job to do and the discovery that Simon Greene had left debts of over a quarter of a million pounds, while giving credibility to his apparent suicide, made them very interested indeed in his business and where the money had gone.
    After a few days, Lisa lost all sense of time. She wished that Toby would ring but sensed that until the police left she wouldn't hear from him. She and Stephanie spent a lot of time together yet said little. Lisa knew Stephanie blamed her for the disaster but wouldn't say so aloud because there was always the fear of someone listening outside the door.
    Finally, to their mutual horror, a senior officer from New Scotland Yard’s Fraud Squad was appointed to the case. When he arrived—middle-aged, jaded but surprisingly polite—Lisa thought that now they would learn all about Simon's probably numerous indiscretions. She was totally wrong. Within forty-eight hours the police had finished and left. The Chief Superintendent apologised for all the harassment the family had undergone.
    He explained that no one had thought to talk properly to the family doctor. Simon had been ill; a heart condition and blood disorder combined had dramatically shortened his life expectancy, and ahead lay only the prospect of illness with increasing pain. He'd decided to die quickly, and spare his family the long drawn out suffering. As for the money—well, everyone knew the antiques business was risky. His creditors had all come forward, but none of them had been pressing him for payment. He'd gone through bad times before and come through. No, it was his health that had been to blame and the Superintendent couldn't apologise enough for the innuendos that had been appearing in the daily tabloids.
    After the funeral, Toby rang. He didn't say anything about his long silence but asked Lisa if she wanted to go back to him. 'I'm not sure,' she said slowly. 'You didn't really want me there, did you? Perhaps it would be better if I stayed with Stephanie. There isn't any money for finishing school now so I ought to start thinking about a job.'
    'I miss you!' he laughed. 'I didn't expect to, but I do. It was fun having you around. I'd like you to come back.'
    She was surprised, not remembering a great deal of fun. 'How about your other women?'
    'What other women?'
    'Obviously you've found a way round the problem! If you're quite sure, then give me until Saturday. Stephanie's got a lot to do here. The house is on the market and we keep getting the most ghastly people looking round. They're not really interested in buying, they're just fascinated by Simon's death. People can be utterly revolting at times. Anyway, she needs some help. Her sister's coming at the weekend, I ought to stay until then.'
    She told Stephanie that evening. The older woman shrugged. 'Go where you like. He's probably as good