The Dead Wife. Sue Fortin

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СКАЧАТЬ After I’ve been on the official guided tour?’

      Something must have caught Harry’s attention. He looked over Steph’s shoulder and his expression darkened.

      ‘Shit,’ he muttered.

      Steph turned to follow his gaze. ‘Shit,’ she heard herself echoing. Sonia Lomas was heading straight for them. What the hell was she doing here? Sonia had never mentioned to Steph that she was coming to the resort. How was this going to play out in front of Harry? She turned and looked for a reaction, but Harry’s gaze was fixed on his mother-in-law. Steph had a second to decide how to play this. She opted to say nothing and see how Sonia was going to react, but couldn’t help feeling irritated at the unexpected appearance. It could ruin everything.

      Harry stepped forward. ‘Hello, Sonia,’ he said, his voice the epitome of professional politeness. ‘I didn’t know you were coming.’

      ‘I didn’t tell you, that’s why,’ replied Sonia. She looked at Steph and then back at Harry. ‘And who’s this? Your new girlfriend?’

      Steph silently thanked Sonia for the coded message.

      ‘No. This is one of the guests.’

      Steph held out her hand to Sonia. ‘Stephanie Durham. Vacation Staycation website and magazine. I’m here to cover the reopening of Conmere Resort Centre.’

      Sonia shook Steph’s hand. ‘Sonia Lomas. My daughter was married to Harry.’

      Steph feigned a thoughtful look, followed by what she hoped was one of realisation. ‘Oh, I see. Er … Elizabeth—’

      Harry cut her off. ‘Nothing that needs discussing here.’ He turned to Sonia. ‘Would you like to go somewhere more private, where we can talk?’

      Sonia raised her eyebrows. ‘No. I wouldn’t actually. I’m quite happy to talk right here.’

      Steph looked from one to the other. She had no idea what Sonia’s game was. As far as Steph was concerned, she was supposed to be here to make discreet enquiries, but now Sonia had turned up it was clearly putting Harry on his guard. She felt she should excuse herself, but the professional side of her knew she should stay rooted to the spot to glean as much info as possible.

      ‘I’d sooner we didn’t,’ said Harry, and then he turned to Steph. ‘Would you mind excusing us?’

      ‘Oh, yes, of course,’ said Steph, although it was the last thing she wanted to do.

      ‘Why don’t you stay?’ said Sonia. ‘I’d prefer to have someone else here.’

      Harry leaned closer to Sonia and said something in low tones that Steph couldn’t make out above the buzz of the room. Sonia listened for a moment, her face hardening before she took a step back. ‘Please, Sonia,’ said Harry. ‘Not here. Not today.’

      ‘What? Are you worried I’m going to cause a scene? I don’t suppose you want me to start reminding everyone about what happened here two years ago, do you?’

      Steph looked at Sonia, who swayed on her feet, and she and Harry simultaneously put a hand out to keep the older woman from stumbling. It was then Steph got the whiff of alcohol from Sonia’s breath.

      ‘Get off me,’ said Sonia, her voice rising enough to make the guests nearby turn around. There were tears in her eyes. ‘Don’t you care, Harry? Don’t you care what happened to your wife?’

      Before Harry could answer Dominic appeared, his manner rather more abrupt than his brother’s. Steph could see the anger blazing in his blue eyes. ‘What the fuck is she doing here?’ Dominic hissed and then, noticing Steph, made a clear effort to regain his composure. ‘Mrs Lomas, this afternoon is strictly for the press. I’m afraid you can’t stay.’

      ‘That’s what you think,’ said Sonia.

      Dominic turned his head and wrinkled up his nose. ‘Jesus. You’re drunk,’ he said. ‘Honestly, Harry, you need to get her out of here before I call Security.’

      ‘Go easy,’ said Harry, eyeing his brother. ‘I don’t think we need Security.’

      Dominic looked at Steph. ‘And don’t even think about reporting this,’ he said. ‘You do what you’re here for. OK?’

      Steph was rather taken aback at Dominic’s aggression. She was about to pull him up for it, but Harry spoke first.

      ‘No need for that.’ He turned to Steph. ‘Apologies; my brother didn’t mean to sound so rude. Did you, Dom?’

      Dominic took a moment to collect himself. ‘No. Sorry. Very sorry. Please, let me get you a drink while Harry sees to his mother-in-law.’

      Steph was pretty sure Dominic was anything other than sorry, but she accepted his apology all the same. However, she wasn’t about to be bought off with a drink. Fortunately, Sonia started up again.

      ‘Look, you two, don’t try to silence me like you did my daughter. I’m not scared of either of you. Any of you.’

      ‘No one wants you to be scared,’ reassured Harry. ‘Let’s talk about this – somewhere else. Please, Sonia.’

      Steph watched Harry put a hand on her arm and offer a sympathetic smile. He seemed genuinely concerned about Sonia. He had a kind and calming way about him. Hardly the reaction of someone who might have murdered his wife.

      ‘Don’t touch me,’ snapped Sonia, clearly not ready to accept the olive branch.

      Steph moved towards Sonia. ‘Why don’t you come outside with me?’ She smiled warmly at the other woman. ‘There’s no need to cause a big fuss here. If you want to be taken seriously, there are better ways to do it.’ She willed Sonia to agree to come with her.

      ‘I don’t know if that’s a good idea,’ said Dominic.

      ‘It bloody well is if you want me to leave quietly, and just because I’m going it doesn’t mean you’ve heard the last of me,’ said Sonia. She linked her arm through Steph’s. ‘I’d like to leave now. With you. No one else.’ Sonia looked defiantly at the older Sinclair brother.

      ‘Just get her out of here,’ said Dominic, glancing around the room. ‘Quietly. There’s a room directly across the hall. She can sober up in there. I’ll get someone to bring in some coffee.’

      ‘Thank you,’ said Sonia as she staggered slightly on the turn and allowed Steph to lead her towards the door.

      Steph glanced over her shoulder at Harry, whose eyes she was sure had tracked them the whole way across the room. She could see the brothers muttering to each other and then Harry give a slight nod in her direction.

      Across the hall and in the sitting room, Steph sat Sonia down on the sofa. ‘What are you doing here?’ she whispered. ‘I thought you were going to leave this to me.’

      ‘I changed my mind,’ said Sonia. She flopped back on the sofa and closed her eyes. ‘I’m not drunk, by the way.’

      ‘I’m not so sure about that.’

      ‘I’ve СКАЧАТЬ