Silent as the Grave by Bill Kitson Read Free Book Online Page A

room?’
    â€˜Harriet, that’s not really for me to say,’ I replied, diplomatically.
    â€˜Well, whatever it was, you must have made an impression because she was asking all sorts of questions about you later. She didn’t realize you and I had been together once.’
    â€˜Harriet,’ I said gently, ‘what’s the real reason for this visit? You didn’t come here to talk about Eve, did you?’
    â€˜No I don’t suppose I did. To be honest I’m not really sure why I did come,’ her face was suddenly twisted with an emotion I was unable to fathom. ‘The thing is, I thought it would be easy having you here, after all it’s been a long time since we were together, but then when I saw you again I realized it isn’t easy; it isn’t easy at all.’
    â€˜Whose idea was it to invite me?’ I asked, ignoring the pointed message behind her words. There was danger enough in one of us going along that route, far more so if both of us travelled down memory lane.
    â€˜I’m not sure, to be honest,’ Harriet confessed. ‘If I remember rightly, it was a discussion about the family curse one weekend when all the family was here that started it, and someone mentioned your name, that’s all. Tony took up the idea and I went along with it.’
    â€˜Are you and Tony happy?’ I asked bluntly.
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Harriet responded. ‘At least we were until recently. Tony won’t say anything but I know he’s dreadfully worried about the family curse, and especially now, thinking of what might happen with it being one hundred years since the last time it struck. The legend never used to bother him, but ever since his father died he seems more and more preoccupied with it – even more so at this time of year. Last Christmas was hell for the two of us, and this year we felt we had to do something .’
    â€˜In that case, I think the sooner you leave my bedroom the better it would be for all of us,’ I suggested.
    Harriet stared at me and I saw a look in her eyes that was as clear a danger signal as could be. Then it passed and she smiled. ‘Old flames don’t always die, do they?’
    â€˜Not unless someone acts firmly to put them out,’ I replied.
    She walked over to the door. I made to open it for her but she stopped me. She kissed me and there was nothing platonic in the kiss. ‘What if we don’t want them put out?’ she whispered; then she was gone.
    After Harriet left I thought about what she’d said. Was Tony’s concern a reaction to it being a hundred years since the curse – if one existed – had manifested itself? Or was there a more sinister underlying cause? Could it be that someone had deliberately stoked the fires of his anxiety?
    I was still pondering this disturbing notion, and wondering how to set about the task I’d been set, when there was yet another knock at the door. I was beginning to consider suggesting to Tony that he should fit a revolving door to the room. I’m not quite certain who I expected to be standing there, but certainly not the visitor in question.
    â€˜I thought you might like to share a nightcap with me.’ She had a bottle of malt whisky in one hand and a couple of glasses in the other.
    I smiled. ‘Why not? It’s like Piccadilly Circus in here anyway, so I couldn’t get to sleep if I tried.’
    I opened the door wide and she followed me in, heeling the door neatly to a close. We walked over to the armchairs and she poured us a generous measure each from the bottle. ‘Is this how you wind down after a busy day?’ I asked.
    â€˜Not as a rule,’ Polly said, ‘we’re usually too knackered.’
    â€˜It must be bloody hard work. No wonder you’re so slim.’
    She laughed. ‘Skinny, you mean.’
    â€˜No, I certainly wouldn’t call you skinny. All the curves seem to