Heart Stopper by R J Samuel Read Free Book Online Page A

talking about this to you, today. I haven’t spoken to anyone about it.”
    Catherine took Priya’s hand and squeezed it. “I may not look like it right now,” she grinned and the grin turned her face into that of a child, “I’m a healer.” She smiled at Priya’s expression. “Yes, I know. I broke with the family tradition. They don’t mention it much. But you’d understand that.”
    Catherine looked around before leaning in to whisper, “I found Daniel, you know.”
    Priya nodded. Her throat felt swollen.
    Catherine continued in a whisper, “The GP said it was a heart attack. I’m not too sure.”
    Priya could smell the brandy coming from Catherine’s breath. She would forever associate that smell with death she thought. She remained silent. What was she supposed to say to this woman?
    Catherine said, “There was someone there with him. A woman. In his bed. I know it.”
    Priya felt a wave of panic. She couldn’t understand why she was feeling guilty again. She knew she hadn’t been in bed with Daniel. But she had found him. And left him.
    Catherine’s voice was still quiet, but she wasn’t whispering any more. “I am not going to just leave it like that. Daniel was my son. If there was some woman involved I am going to find out.”
    Priya stayed silent, aware of the thudding of her heart in her chest.
    Catherine said, “You’re going to help me. You knew Daniel well. He spoke about you a lot. He liked you.”
    Priya said, “I really didn’t know him too well. I don’t think I’d be much use.” She looked around the room, hoping someone would come and rescue her, but people were absorbed in their own conversations.
    “You’d be more able to find out those kinds of things.” Catherine sighed deeply. “I have to mingle; these people need to tell me how sorry they are for my loss. I’d better let them.” She looked at Priya as if seeing her for the first time. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you. I would really like it if you would come and stay with me in Connemara for a little while. I have a little healing center there.” Catherine nodded almost to herself. “Yes, my dear, I’ll see you there. We’ll discuss it more; find out together what happened to Daniel. I’ll send you the details, it’s not very accessible, I keep it private. I don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder.”
    ∞
     
    Priya felt shell-shocked as she went into the other room to join the staff from the clinic. James and Sean were speaking with a few of the other doctors there; from the snippets of conversation, she gathered they were mostly cardiologists as well. Priya was silent as she stood beside the three women from the clinic.
    Clodagh looked even smaller than she usually did perched on her raised office chair. “This place is grand, isn’t it?” Her voice was hushed. “Did you see the way all that silver is laid out on the table? I knew they were rich, but this is something else.”
    Sheila and Mary were both gripping saucers, the delicate china cups they held giving out a scent of chamomile tea. Mary had chosen to wear a brown suit and she looked as faded and uncomfortable as the rough fabric outfit.
    “Did you see the spread?” Clodagh asked. “I wish Aidan could have come with us, you know how he likes all these things.”
    “Speaking of the Lynches, there’s the odd couple.” Sheila was trying to point with her chin.
    “Sheila! Don’t let them hear you,” Mary said. Their voices were low and Valerie and Gerry Lynch were in the other room heading their way, but Sheila and Mary still looked like two middle-aged schoolgirls caught copying homework.
    Priya watched their approach. She wasn’t sure she could handle seeing Valerie now. Gerry was a step behind Valerie as usual; his hand resting on the small of her back as if to reassure himself that she was still within reach. Valerie was wearing a black suit, its blackness setting off her dark blonde hair with its restless bronze highlights swaying