Betrayal (39 page)

He tugged at his wavy hair in mock-servility. 'Where to?' 'Carol's shop please, Mike.'

He hesitated. 'I don't think she's opening today.' 'Why not?'

'Bit of a heavy night by all accounts.' 'How do you know that?'

'Bishop told me. Weren't they together?'

'Yes, but she didn't seem very keen on him. She wanted someone else to take her home.'

'Obviously she changed her mind.'

It was hard to believe but if Mike had heard it from Bishop, it was presumably true.

'Anywhere else you fancy?'

'Not really. I know, I'll call at her flat over the shop. I'd like to hear what happened to change her mind!'

'I don't think… ' 'Come on, Mike!'

'Just remember, you were warned.'

She knocked on the flat door for ages before Carol opened it, and one look at her friend's swollen eyes and split bottom lip told her exactly what had gone on the previous evening. She hugged her friend. 'Carol, I'm so sorry. Why did he do it?'

'Because I wouldn't play his nasty little games. Christ, Lisa, he's a perverted bastard, and he hates you too. I've never met a man so full of hate. He'd do anything to destroy your marriage, anything at all.' 'I know he hates me. I don't think he likes anyone very much! As for my marriage, well, there isn't much he can do.'

'Don't you believe it!' Carol took down two mugs and plugged in the percolator. 'He was laughing last night about some surprise he'd got planned for you and Neal.'

The photo, thought Lisa. It hadn't been Toby as she'd thought. It had been Bishop. Not that Neal would believe her, especially if the only proof was the word of a woman with every reason to bear his deputy a grudge. 'I think we've survived his surprise.'

'I shouldn't have gone with him last night,' Carol admitted when they were drinking their coffee. 'It was really a sort of bargain. He said that if I went with him, I needn't worry about all the money I'd borrowed from your husband. That he'd see to it for me.'

'Why didn't you tell Neal you were worried about the loan? He'd never have pressed you for repayment until things were going better.' Carol knew it was more than her life was worth to tell Lisa that Neal had called in the loan, and then endorsed Bishop's promise of a longer repayment term provided she went along to the dinner. She'd known when she used him as a backer what kind of a man he was. She wasn't an innocent like Lisa, but she'd made the mistake of thinking she could use him and not pay any price for it, because she'd been totally confident of her business success.

She still didn't understand why business hadn't flourished. All she knew was that she owed Neal Gueras a vast sum of money and in order to repay it was going to have to join his select group of upper class young women who entertained foreign visitors whenever requested. This morning even that seemed preferable to any more evenings with Bishop.

'Why didn't you come to me?' pressed Lisa. 'I never thought of it,' lied Carol.

'I only wish Louise could see you. She's Neal's oldest daughter and besotted with Bishop. Which reminds me, they'll soon be home for Easter. I hope Louise has got over her resentment towards me. I could do with a few more friends at home. Only Rebekah and Mike are friendly, and Mike doesn't count because he's usually out chauffeuring.'

'That Italian likes you. I watched him last night. He kept looking your way, and when poor Jessica was crying he looked as though he wanted to take you in his arms instead of her!'

'Don't!' said Lisa quickly. 'Don't even joke about it. Neal already hates him because he thinks he admires me. If he heard someone else saying the same thing he'd blame me for flirting.'

'You didn't do anything. You didn't have to!' Carol added ruefully. 'I wish he'd fancy me. I think he's fantastic; incredibly handsome and so smoldering with passion you can almost feel it!'

'Perhaps he'd smolder for you if he could hear you now!' 'No, I'm short, plump and fair. Obviously not at all his type.'

'Do you want me to talk to Neal about your loan?' Lisa still felt guilty over her friend's ordeal.

'Honestly, Lisa, it's all right. I'll speak to him myself. He won't want you dabbling in his business affairs.'

'You're a personal friend!'

'Please, Lisa, promise me you won't?'

She hesitated. 'All right,' she conceded, 'but if you ever change your mind just ring me up.'

'I will. Your chauffeur seems to want you. He keeps looking at his watch out there.'

'Heavens, I've got a hair appointment in ten minutes! You need something on that face, I'll ring in a couple of days to see how you are.' 'Thanks,' said Carol quietly. She watched her friend leave, knowing full well that within a couple of days she'd be installed in a different, far more spacious flat but without her dreams of becoming a second Zandra Rhodes. Carol Blades was yet another casualty in the shadowy world inhabited by Neal and his organisation, a world she'd been stupid enough to think she could take on and use without paying any price.

'Dead? What the hell do you mean, dead?'

'He made a fuss about coming so I did what you said.'

'I never told you to have him killed. He's no use to me dead!' Neal was beside himself with fury.

'I asked you what to do if he made trouble and you said remove him.'

'I meant from the television studio, not the bloody earth!' 'I'm very sorry,' said Bishop calmly. 'I misunderstood you.' Neal's eyes narrowed. 'That's most unlike you, John.'

The use of the christian name was a warning and Bishop heeded it. 'I thought you'd like him dead, all things considered.'

'Meaning?'

'That your wife might be happier knowing he wasn't around any more.'

'Is there any particular reason for you to think that?' 'Of course, the photograph.'

'Yes, the photograph, the negative of which I shall probably never recover, thanks to you. Neither shall I ever find out who sent me the original.'

'I assumed it was Walker.'

'Did you, John? I'm not certain about that. You see, I can't imagine what he had to gain by it. As long as he kept quiet about his life with her and continued to work for us when needed, he had a good life. No, I don't think it was Walker himself , and now he can't tell me who it was That's a great pity. I prefer to know my enemies.'

'It could have been Bellini.'

'He's never had any contact with Walker. Besides, he's too infatuated with my wife to get mixed up in anything like this. No, definitely not Bellini.'

Bishop shrugged. 'Another of life's great mysteries then.' 'Yes. How did he die?'

'Fell down the stairs at his flat and broke his neck. Drunk, of course. He hasn't been found yet.'

'How did you get him to his flat if you couldn't get him to my office?'

'We went there first. He said he needed to pick up some things to show you. Then, when I tried to hurry him, he refused and drew a gun.'

'You weren't quick enough to stop him?'

'I probably could have done, but as I've said I thought you were quite happy to have him killed.'

Neal studied Bishop carefully. It was impossible to read anything from that cold-eyed mask but he was sure he was lying. The thought disturbed him. 'How do you think this morning's meeting went?' he demanded, deciding to let him off the hook for now.

'Very well. With his inside knowledge, we should be home and dry.'

'Don't forget he'll be just as likely to betray us for the right money.' 'That's the trouble with traitors, you simply can't trust them!' 'When it's over you can remove him; after a suitable period of time, of course. And I do mean remove, as in permanently remove.' 'I don't think we should give him too long to think about this either. Six weeks maximum.'

'Six weeks?' Neal thought for a moment. 'Well, we could be ready by then but it will mean burning some midnight oil in Berkshire.'

'What about your wife?' 'What about her?'

'I only meant that when Naomi was alive she didn't notice the comings and goings but the present Mrs Gueras is far more alert. If you start disappearing to midnight meetings, I'm sure she'll miss you.'

Neal smiled pleasantly. 'It's kind of you to be concerned, John. I think I can deal with my own domestic affairs.'

'I'm very pleased to hear it.'

This was the nearest Bishop had ever come to insolence and Neal wondered whether to react openly or not. Finally deciding against it he waved a hand in dismissal and sent his secretary out for the evening papers. He wanted to see if there was any mention of Toby Walker's death.

Refreshed by a massage and facial, Lisa rested during the afternoon, had a light tea at Fortnums and then prepared for the trip to the theatre. After considerable thought she settled on a light, floral-patterned jersey two-piece. The top had a scoop neckline and was drop-waisted while the skirt had a mid-calf dipping hemline. It was one of Carol's originals and very comfortable to wear.

Neal arrived home late and harassed. He took Lisa's diamond necklace and earrings out of the wall safe without even glancing at her outfit. Then, muttering something about a terrible day, disappeared into his study and spent over thirty minutes on the phone. As a result they arrived late at the Barbican, and the rest of their party were standing waiting in the foyer. They only just managed to find their seats before the lights went down and Lisa realised that her husband hadn't spoken more than a dozen words to her since they met up. Concerned about Carol and Neal, she found it difficult to concentrate and the play's plot proved totally incomprehensible. During the interval she was relieved to find it was incomprehensible to everyone else as well.

Amanda, fresh from a trip to the ladies', was the most animated of the somewhat quiet group but even she seemed slightly subdued, and while the others were discussing the actors' performances she steered Lisa into a quiet corner of the room. 'It must have been a dreadful shock to you,' she murmured, fixing her glittering eyes on Lisa's face.

'Not really, I didn't expect to enjoy it.'

'Not the play, darling! I meant the news about your first husband.' 'Toby? What's happened to him?'

'Didn't Neal tell you? It's in all the evening papers, he… '

'Lisa, darling, I don't think you've met Donald and Natalie Chambers, have you? Excuse us, Amanda, but I'd like to introduce them to my wife.' With one swift movement Neal moved her back into the group.

She shook hands with Donald and Natalie—neither of whom had a word to say for themselves—and then tried to take her husband to one side but he stood solidly next to an American couple and ignored her. When they were taking their seats for the second act, she grabbed him by the arm. 'What's happened to Toby? '

'I can't tell you now!'

'Amanda said he was in all the evening papers. What's he done?' 'Be quiet!' he hissed, and for the rest of the performance she sat silently wondering what Neal was keeping from her. They returned to the flat at midnight and as soon as the door closed behind them, Lisa repeated her question. Neal turned away and poured himself a brandy. 'I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't want to spoil your evening. Toby's dead.' 'Dead?'

'He fell down the stairs of his maisonette and broke his neck. Presumably he was drunk.'

Lisa stared at his broad back and felt a terrible coldness in the pit of her stomach. 'You killed him,' she whispered. 'You killed him because of the photo.'

'Don't be silly, darling. I've been tied up in meetings all day, how could I possibly have killed him? In any case, I'm not in the habit of murdering everyone who annoys me!'

'I don't believe you.'

'It's true. Be grateful, otherwise your precious Jessica wouldn't be around today!'

'Neal, please look at me.' She was amazed at how calm she sounded. Slowly he turned towards her but she couldn't tell anything from his face. It was as much a mask as Bishop's, and that alone was enough to convince her she was on the right track. Pull back, she warned herself. Don't turn yourself into an enemy. 'You really didn't have anything to do with it?' She forced a note of doubt into her voice.

'No, I didn't. I'm bloody annoyed he's dead because I don't know how to lay my hands on the negative of that photograph.'

'So his death was an accident?'

'Unless he knocked some other wretched girl around and she pushed him. In that case I imagine she'd have your fullest sympathy.' 'I'm not sorry he's dead,' said Lisa slowly. 'I was always afraid he might come after me one day. Now I can really put him out of my mind.'

'I'm relieved to hear it. Did you enjoy the play?'

'I didn't understand a single word. Why don't they stick to Shakespeare?'

'Because he's stopped writing good plays! Now, if you don't mind, sweetheart, I've got to go out again. I'll be very late back so I'll probably sleep on the couch. It's business.'

'At this hour of the night?'

'Lisa, if I say it's business then it's business.' 'I see.'

'No you don't! It really is business but I can't give you any details. I thought you'd be grateful for a full night's sleep!'

She turned and went into the bedroom, well aware that no matter how strange it seemed, Neal wasn't likely to be blatantly visiting a mistress at this hour of the night. It was far more probable he was dealing with something shady, in which case she certainly didn't want to know about it.