Betrayal (4 page)

On the morning of Wednesday 27th December, Lisa was woken by the sound of Stephanie crying. Not crying in her usual manner with temper or exasperation, but sobbing without restraint. Amazed, Lisa put on a robe and went out on to the upper landing.

The sobbing was louder now, but still coming from a considerable distance. She glanced down the well of the stairway. At the bottom, standing on the new green wool carpet that just failed to match the green fleck of the wallpaper she could see both Simon and Stephanie. They were not alone.

Her throat felt suddenly tight, as though some tension had made its way up the stairs and was closing in round her. Silently, her feet still bare, she crept down the first flight and crouched on the lower landing. By peeping through the banister rail she could just catch a glimpse of the visitor.

There was no obvious reason to feel afraid of him, or for Stephanie to be crying in such a heartbroken manner. He was only young, perhaps a little below average height and with a beautifully styled head of dark brown hair that fell forward over his forehead in a childlike cowlick. He was compactly built but not heavy, and his face was all angles; straight, thin-bridged nose, sharp cheekbones and a stubborn chin. She couldn't see his eyes clearly but his mouth was on the thin side, his complexion clear and pale. No, there was nothing frightening there, and his gloveless hands were held loosely at his sides without any hint of hostility. Yet she did feel afraid, and so obviously did Stephanie and Simon.

While Stephanie continued to sob noisily, Simon remained by her side. His head was shaking spasmodically and he seemed to be having trouble with his speech because there were long, halting pauses between his words. Although frightened, Lisa was also intrigued. She slipped back to her room, grabbed the nearest pair of slacks and a sweater off the back of her chair and then walked calmly downstairs as though unaware of anything unusual.

At the sound of her footsteps both Simon and Stephanie turned to look up at her. Stephanie's face was red and swollen with crying, but she managed to glare at Lisa with murderous rage. Simon on the other hand looked frightened; frightened not just for himself but also for her. He held up his right hand, gesturing for her to remain on the stairs, and she obeyed him instantly.

It was only then that she looked straight at their visitor. He'd been studying the older couple disinterestedly, but when he lifted his eyes to her a spark stirred in them. She was horrified at the coldness of the eyes. There was nothing behind them. No hint of passion or flicker of intelligence—they were like an X-ray machine, totally impersonal, and all the more terrifying as a result.

'What's the matter?' she asked nervously, aware that they were all looking at her as though she were in some way to blame for this strangely hostile scene.

'Where were you last night?' demanded Stephanie, blowing her nose as she spoke.

'I told you, at Sabrina's party.'

'Sabrina didn't have a party,' said Simon wearily. 'We've checked with her parents.'

Lisa glanced at their visitor. His eyes were moving from one to another of them without any visible emotion, yet she was quite sure that he was enjoying himself. She moistened her lips. 'I was with Toby Walker,' she admitted nervously. 'We were going on to a party but in the end we just listened to records and talked.'

'I see.' There was total resignation in Simon's voice. She'd obviously confirmed something he'd either suspected or been told and all at once he lost interest in her, turning away and glancing at the visitor. Stephanie, however, launched herself towards the stairs, screaming at the top of her voice.

'You stupid little tart! Do you realise what you've done? After all this time, after so much…'

'Be quiet!' interrupted the visitor softly. To Lisa's amazement Stephanie obeyed him, walking back to stand by her husband, suddenly an old and defeated woman. ‘Let’s hope he was good!' For the first time there was a spark of animation in the stranger's voice. 'As a matter of fact, he was,' retorted Lisa, feeling more and more frightened but taking the initiative herself in an effort to push the terror away.

'Compared with whom?' he asked gently.

Her eyes met his and she realised that for some unknown reason he hated her. Not in the way that Stephanie hated her but enough to wish her dead. For one fleeting second it was all there in his face, before he dropped his eyes and she was left standing on the stairs feeling sick and cold.

'She hasn't got anyone to compare him with,' said Simon quickly. 'I promise you she's… '

'It isn't me who's interested. I don't care if she's fucked her way from here to Cornwall and back. I'm only here to tell you that as a result of last night, the generous oversight of your last business transaction no longer exists. The amnesty's over, Mr Greene. You owe us, and you've got three days to repay.'

'Three days! I can't find that sort of money in three months! For God's sake be reasonable, Bishop. You know how it is with me.'

'Indeed I do. You've been a fool and now you're going to pay the price. That's how it is with you. I see the same thing all the time. You're not special, in fact you're depressingly mundane; greedy and over-ambitious. A fitting epitaph perhaps. Simon Greene, beloved husband of etc., and then Greedy and Ambitious in beautiful Gothic script. Yes, very tasteful!' And he laughed without humour.

With a strangled shout, Simon stumbled forward, launching himself at Bishop with all the strength he possessed. Bishop stepped to one side while putting out a foot and sending Simon sprawling to the floor. He then bent over the fallen man and whispered in his ear.

Only after Bishop had vanished out of the front door did Lisa see the thin trickle of blood running from Simon's face on to the carpet. Ignoring the now hysterical Stephanie she ran and bent over him, crying out in horror when she saw that his nose had been slit along the bridge. A thin, clean line that could only have been made by a razor or very sharp knife. Dashing into the kitchen she picked up a fresh tea towel and then pressed it against the wound. Already the blood was only seeping; it had simply been a warning.

'You'll have to call the police,' she told a trembling Stephanie, but Stephanie, rapidly regaining her composure now they were alone, laughed bitterly. 'Call the police? You stupid girl! Do you think we can afford to have the police looking into our affairs? Open your eyes, Lisa. Look around you. Did you honestly think Simon paid for all this by selling his antiques?'

Until that moment she really had, and her face showed as much. 'Idiotic child!' continued Stephanie, not shouting now but sounding totally contemptuous of the tall, slim girl standing awkwardly in front of her. 'You think you know so much but really you don't know anything at all. You didn't even recognise your own value, did you?'

'I don't know what you mean. What kind of value?' 'You were wanted.'

'Wanted?'

'By a man, you silly bitch! He'd been waiting for you to finish your education before telling you, but you couldn't wait. You had to rush off and jump into bed with some second-rate gigolo who's not likely to give you anything except an illegitimate baby. If you only knew what you could have had, you'd weep! My God, when I think… ' 'But I don't know any men,' said Lisa, totally bewildered by the outburst. 'I've never met anyone who's showed the slightest interest in me before Toby.'

'You were too blind to see it, that's all, and of course you wouldn't listen to us. Oh no, you knew best. Well, look what's happened to Simon as a result of your piece of mindless bed-hopping.'

'That's not my fault! It can't be. I haven't done anything,' she protested.

'You didn't have to. Your existence was enough. He was as misled by your looks as we were when we chose you, only we're the ones who have to pay the penalty for his mistake as well. And to think that I could have had that baby girl with the blonde curls in the cot next to yours!'

Lisa swallowed hard. She didn't know who this unknown man was, or why Simon was in so much trouble, but obviously it was her fault. Apparently even when you grew older it was appearances that mattered. This unknown man hadn't bothered to get to know her, had never made his interest known, but he'd been willing to make some kind of bargain with Simon on the strength of her.

'Did he want to marry me?' she asked slowly, 'because if that's what was meant to happen, nothing's changed. Don't you see that? I haven't married Toby, I've only slept with him.'

'Of course he didn't want to marry you!' shouted Stephanie. 'He wanted to be your protector, your… '

Lisa was beginning to feel sick. 'Are you saying that you and Simon were trying to set me up as some man's mistress?'

'You'd have had a wonderful life. He badly needs someone, and he'd chosen you. He'd have made you very happy,' retorted Stephanie.

'That's the most revolting thing I've ever heard!' cried Lisa in disbelief. 'I'm only thankful that I found Toby in time. Perhaps he isn't rich and powerful, and perhaps he can't help Simon with his business affairs, but he chose me because he liked me, and I liked him as well. Surely I'm entitled to choose my own lover!'

'Choose!' Stephanie made a sound of contempt.

'Do you honestly value me so little that you were willing to give me away like an unwanted dog? Don’t you feel anything for me, Stephanie? Anything at all?' When Stephanie stayed silent it was as much as Lisa could do to hide her pain. Choking back tears she picked up the receiver. 'I'm going to ring Toby and ask him to let me move in. I can't stay here any longer.'

Stephanie followed Lisa to the phone. 'That's right, run out on us now that we're in trouble. You fool, do you think that a man like… '

'Stephanie!'

At the sound of Simon's voice, Stephanie fell silent. Lisa turned to look at this man she'd once believed cared for her. 'How could you?' she asked in disbelief. 'How could you have done it to me?'

'I had no choice.'•

'But didn't you think about me at all? Surely you must have imagined how I'd feel?'

'Yes,' he murmured. 'I thought about you, but there was nothing I could do. Naturally you don't understand, and I'm truly sorry for that.'

'I can't listen to any more,' she cried, trying to hold back the hot tears. 'I trusted you, Simon. I believed you cared for me, but it was all a lie, wasn't it? You were the same as Stephanie, but I was too stupid to understand. Well, now I do, which is why I'm leaving here and never coming back. All I can say is that I wish I'd never met either of you.'

When Toby collected her forty minutes later there was a brief delay as he tried to put all her cases in the back of the Lotus, and he was so busy calming a distraught Lisa and wondering whether he was doing the right thing that he didn't hear the faint click of the camera, or see the teenager sitting high in the branches of the oak tree taking snap after snap of Lisa's hasty departure from her home.

Chapter Four

Toby deposited Lisa's suitcases on the floor of his living-room and stood looking at her. She was shivering with reaction and totally unaware that she wasn't as welcome as she'd automatically expected. 'Now what?' he asked at last. 'I hope you don't expect to live here?'

Flustered, she glanced around the small maisonette. 'I thought that just at first, until I get some money… '

'Where do you think that money will come from? Your loving father?'

Remembering what Simon had done, she flinched and shook her head.

'Well then?'

She hesitated. It was the first time she'd had to consider money, or the lack of it. 'I'll sell my fur coat and some of my jewellery. They should fetch a reasonable price so that I can get myself a flat. Until then I'll keep out of your way.'

He gave an exasperated laugh. 'And how exactly do you intend keeping out of my way? By hiding in the loo every time I bring someone home?'

'I'll stay in the bedroom reading.'

'I usually want the bedroom when I bring people back!' She hadn't thought of that. 'You mean… ?'

'You didn't think we were going to spend all our time together surely? Last night was great and I certainly intended repeating the experience, but I've got quite a lot of other girlfriends!'

'I didn't think,' she said quietly.

'What exactly happened this morning? '

After she'd told him he was very quiet. 'You're sure the man who came to see you was called Bishop?'

'Absolutely! He was horrible. To be honest, I was terrified.' 'Why on earth did you phone me?' he asked despairingly, uncomfortably aware of the danger in which she'd placed him.

'Because you're not a friend of Simon's! I couldn't go to Sabrina's—her parents and mine spend half their social lives together. You were the only person I could think of who wasn't involved, except through me.'

'Couldn't you go back once things have calmed down?'

'No! I can't face seeing them again. It wouldn't be the same. Surely you can see that?'

'The trouble is I do have to work.' He was beginning to sound impatient. 'When filming starts I have to be on set by seven and I'm often tied up until seven or eight at night.'

'I won't mind being on my own,' she assured him. 'Besides, it won't be for long.'

He had a nasty feeling that she was wrong about that but he didn't want to discourage her and kept his doubts to himself. They spent the rest of the day storing her luggage in cupboards and under any convenient table or shelf. In between work they made love twice, and he was amazed by her enthusiasm.

When they were drifting off to sleep that night he wondered if perhaps this was going to turn out all right. A grateful and willing bed partner on tap day and night was rather appealing, and he could always go to his other women's houses when he wanted a change.

His telephone rang at 4 a.m. Completely exhausted by the events of the day, Lisa didn't stir and it took Toby several minutes to locate the phone which was buried beneath two of her shoulder bags.

'Yeah?' he mumbled, fumbling for a cigarette. 'Bishop here.'

His stomach lurched and he dropped the unlit cigarette. 'Bishop?' 'Yes. You owe us, Walker. You owe us quite a debt.'

'I don't know what you mean.'

'We think you do. You'll be needed on 28th January from 7 p.m. on. Make sure you keep it clear.'

'But I might be working.' ‘That’s our intention!'

'At the studio, and they don't take too kindly to actors changing schedules.'

'If you don't do as we say you won't have any schedule to keep. Actors of your calibre are two a penny, as I'm sure you know. We got you the job and we can just as easily take it away. After all, you have something of a drink problem.'

'That's a bloody lie! I admit I used to knock it back a bit, but since

I began this job I… '

‘Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic, Toby. Don't you remember what they told you at your group meetings?' 'Sod off you fucking nuisance!'

'Remember, keep the 28th clear,' continued Bishop smoothly, totally oblivious to the insult. 'Incidentally, is she worth it?

'I… '

'I understand. Hard to say at this point in time, isn't it? After all, who knows what kind of a price you'll end up paying. One more thing. Make sure you look after her well.'

'That's none of your business.'

'I'm not the one who's telling you.'

'I'm sorry, I… ' The line went dead, and when Lisa awoke at 8 a.m. he still hadn't managed to go back to sleep.

She snuggled against him. 'How about breakfast in bed? Or would you prefer something else first?'

'Just coffee,' he growled, wishing he'd never set eyes on her. She looked surprised but went into the tiny kitchen and started the percolator going. She quite enjoyed playing house. It was much more fun doing it on a small scale than learning how to plan a banquet for forty or a business dinner for twelve.

When she took in his coffee he was reading through a script. She perched on the edge of the bed and looked over his shoulder. '"It's better for both of us that you tell me now,"' she read aloud in a pseudo-American accent, '"otherwise it will simply take longer and be far messier ." I don't believe it! How on earth do you manage to make words like that sound convincing?'

'It's not that bad.'

'I suppose you've got to defend it! Aren't you going to drink your coffee?'

He had a momentary desire to fling it in her face but swallowed hard and picked up his cup. 'Lisa, I'd rather you didn't knock my work. It's difficult to suspend disbelief when someone's hooting with laughter in your ear.'

'Don't other people laugh?' 'Not to my face.'

'Then I'll let you play cops and robbers in peace. I wonder if I ought to ring Simon, make sure he's all right?'

'Do what you like but leave me alone. I'll come out when I've learnt this episode. Until then, just stay away from the bedroom!'

'Of course,' she agreed quickly. 'You are on the pill, I hope?' 'Actually, it gives me migraine.'

He had the feeling that this wasn't going to be one of his better days. ‘Then get yourself fixed up as soon as clinics re-open after Christmas. Until then you'd better leave it to me. When are you due?' 'Three days' time.'

'We should be OK then. Off you go now.'

Closing the door quietly behind her she wandered round the dining area. The telephone was on a small coffee table, and after glancing nervously at it once or twice she finally made herself lift the receiver and dial home. It was a man who answered; a man with a flat London accent who sounded totally indifferent until she said who she was and asked for Simon.

'You'd better come home, Miss Greene. Your father's dead.'

Lisa's fingers tightened convulsively round the receiver and she gave a small cry of disbelief. 'He can't be dead! I saw him yesterday and he was perfectly… ' Her voice tailed off as she remembered the small trickle of blood, but the injury had been a minor one, it couldn't possibly have killed him.

'I'll fetch your mother,' said the man. Stephanie was sobbing hysterically, crying about a gun and not having known Simon owned one.

'You mean he killed himself?' Lisa still couldn't believe that she'd never see Simon again.

'Yes! How did he expect me to cope? The police keep asking so many questions and I don't know any of the answers. He shouldn't have done it. He knew that I…'

'I'll come right round,' she promised, and ran to the bedroom.

Toby's face darkened. 'I thought I told you to stay out?'

'Simon's dead!' she sobbed. 'He shot himself, and the police are there asking Stephanie all sorts of questions that she can't answer.' He was already out of bed and dressing.

On the short drive there he did nothing but hurl instructions at her, instructions that made no sense at all. 'Don't mention anything about that jewellery he gave you; don't tell them that he owed money; and above all, don't mention Bishop's visit.'

She wasn't really taking it in until he said that, then she turned on him in astonishment. 'Of course I'll mention Bishop. It's all his fault. He must have frightened Simon so much that he couldn't go on.'

'I very much doubt if Simon killed himself,' said Toby softly. 'For once in your life trust someone and just keep quiet, for your own sake if not for Stephanie's.'

Lisa knew that it was going to be a very long time before she trusted anyone again. 'Why should I trust you?' she asked shakily.

He put a hand on her knee. 'Because I love you?'

She shook her head. 'You don't, and I'd rather you didn't pretend.'

'Most women like to hear it said.' 'I'm not most women.'

'You're certainly not. Most women don't bring as much trouble with them!'

'Oh, Toby, I'm so sorry, but it isn't my fault. Besides, you're not really involved. You needn't even come in with me if you don't want to.'

'I never had any intention of coming in.'

'So much for love,' she remarked sadly as she climbed out of the car.

What Lisa always remembered about the period following Simon's alleged suicide was the strange way people behaved. The police, particularly the ones present when she first arrived back, weren't in the least sympathetic or tactful. They acted as though Simon had committed a crime, not so much by his suicide—which was technically a felony—but by removing himself from their reach.

They asked endless questions about his antiques shop and his most recent trips abroad. They took away his passport and his desk diary; they bullied the two women endlessly for names of business contacts; and never once did they offer even a pretense of sympathy.

After one brief outburst of sobbing on Lisa's shoulder, Stephanie pulled herself together remarkably quickly. Although outwardly still prone to tears she proved surprisingly adept at handling their inquiries, pleading ignorance and a total inability to understand any aspect of her husband's business affairs.

No, she hadn't ever asked him about his work; no, she didn't entertain for him; no, they rarely went out, let alone mingled socially with anyone in the public eye. He was a hard working, self-employed businessman, and that was all she knew. Other women? How could they think of such a thing? She and Simon had been devoted to one other.

Lisa, nervously following Toby's advice, pretended that she'd been away on a visit when it happened, explaining that there hadn't been any argument about her leaving home since she was in any case due to return to finishing school in ten days' time.

The policeman assigned to Lisa asked why she'd taken so much luggage away for a few days. She smiled, telling him that she was quite hopeless over packing and always took enough clothes to last a year for an overnight stay. She wasn't a nightdress and toothbrush person, she explained with a laugh.

As the days passed the police became less polite. The presence of Simon's solicitor didn't deter them; they had their job to do and the discovery that Simon Greene had left debts of over a quarter of a million pounds, while giving credibility to his apparent suicide, made them very interested indeed in his business and where the money had gone.

After a few days, Lisa lost all sense of time. She wished that Toby would ring but sensed that until the police left she wouldn't hear from him. She and Stephanie spent a lot of time together yet said little. Lisa knew Stephanie blamed her for the disaster but wouldn't say so aloud because there was always the fear of someone listening outside the door.

Finally, to their mutual horror, a senior officer from New Scotland Yard’s Fraud Squad was appointed to the case. When he arrived—middle-aged, jaded but surprisingly polite—Lisa thought that now they would learn all about Simon's probably numerous indiscretions. She was totally wrong. Within forty-eight hours the police had finished and left. The Chief Superintendent apologised for all the harassment the family had undergone.

He explained that no one had thought to talk properly to the family doctor. Simon had been ill; a heart condition and blood disorder combined had dramatically shortened his life expectancy, and ahead lay only the prospect of illness with increasing pain. He'd decided to die quickly, and spare his family the long drawn out suffering. As for the money—well, everyone knew the antiques business was risky. His creditors had all come forward, but none of them had been pressing him for payment. He'd gone through bad times before and come through. No, it was his health that had been to blame and the Superintendent couldn't apologise enough for the innuendos that had been appearing in the daily tabloids.

After the funeral, Toby rang. He didn't say anything about his long silence but asked Lisa if she wanted to go back to him. 'I'm not sure,' she said slowly. 'You didn't really want me there, did you? Perhaps it would be better if I stayed with Stephanie. There isn't any money for finishing school now so I ought to start thinking about a job.'

'I miss you!' he laughed. 'I didn't expect to, but I do. It was fun having you around. I'd like you to come back.'

She was surprised, not remembering a great deal of fun. 'How about your other women?'