The Sting of Death by Rebecca Tope Read Free Book Online Page B

suggestion of foul play. So instead she’s asked Drew to help. That’s why she phoned.’
    ‘I’m beginning to see,’ Laurie nodded. ‘So, what did you tell her?’
    ‘To calm down and not jump to any conclusions. What could I say? I can’t see any use in invoking the law. But you’re right that this Philip needs to be spoken to again. I wondered if you might be the person to do that.’
    ‘What? You’re teasing … aren’t you?’ He looked at her intently. ‘This has nothing to do with me. I’d make the most awful mess of it – you know I would.’
    Roma pursed her lips, her mouth suddenly an old woman’s display of pleats and puckers, the upper lip leathery and brown. Far from repelling him, it had the effect of increasing Laurie’s fondness for her. She was always so tough and decisive, but the weight of getting through the years was inexorably dragging her down. It seemed a shame that this had happened – whatever this might be. He knew she didn’twant to be bothered with it, but to get on with her gardening and beekeeping in peace.
    ‘It’s rather a pity Penn chose to confide in you,’ he suggested. ‘Don’t you think?’
    Roma tossed her head dismissively. ‘Not at all,’ she asserted. ‘If my daughter’s in some sort of trouble, it’s only right that I should know about it.’
    ‘That’s not what you said ten minutes ago,’ he observed.
    ‘I know,’ she admitted.
    ‘Well, I hope I’ve made it clear that I’m not going to do any detective work for you,’ he said flatly. ‘I’m not up to anything like that, and I can’t believe any good would come of it. If the girl’s in trouble, it’s a matter for the police. And if she’s deliberately done a bunk, she won’t thank us for ferreting her out.’
    ‘But …’ Roma sighed. ‘Oh, well, I suppose you’re right. Come on – we’d better have runner beans with those chops, I suppose.’
    ‘Of course,’ he confirmed, in mock indignation. 

CHAPTER FOUR
    Justine had lost count of the days, drifting in and out of a nightmare state where she dreamt of being attacked with a hammer, or buried alive in the desert for the ants to eat. How long could people live without water? She tried to assess the damage that was being inflicted on her body. The blood thickening, moving more sluggishly, carrying its essential cargo less and less efficiently. Hands tied behind her, she had nonetheless managed to make a complete investigation of her prison, and hazard a guess as to where she might be.
    It was a small stone house, with trees growing all around it. It didn’t seem to have been lived in for a long time. It was very dark and it hadtaken her hours to adjust to the gloom. When she did, it was to see thick cobwebs everywhere, drifts of dust and dead leaves around the edges of the ground floor rooms. There was a kitchen, with a sink and taps. She struggled to turn the taps with her mouth, licking desperately at the rusty orifices where water should emerge. But the supply had been turned off, or the pipes ruptured by frost. Nothing but a very unpleasant metallic taste met her tongue.
    Upstairs had two small rooms, neither with running water. If there was a lavatory or bath anywhere, they must be in an outbuilding, to which she had no access. All she found was a large damp patch on one outer wall, where glistening beads of moisture still lingered. It was foul and disgusting, but she scooped them into her mouth when the thirst became unbearable.
    Having her hands tied behind her back had been the first intimation that this was not some weird kind of game. To start with, that’s what she had assumed: that her abductor was in fact only teasing. It had taken her slow befuddled brain far too long to grasp the seriousness of what was going on. Then, with wrists lashed tightly together, she’d gone berserk, running in a horrible bent position as fast as she could away from this inexplicable danger. In no time, she’d fallen over, rolling