HIDDEN SECRETS (29 page)

“I’m sorry love, but we must take the body away now,” a man’s voice informed her.

“The body is my husband; his name was Ben, Ben Preston, remember his name,” she began to cry again as his body was covered and placed on a stretcher.

Pat was talking to Inspector Salt, but their voices sounded distorted and distant. Kate suddenly felt light-headed as the room began to spin and a veil of darkness descended on her, as she fell heavily to the ground.

CHAPTER 23.

SUNDAY 9TH OCTOBER

It was an unusually warm and bright morning, allowing the sun to flood through the thin curtains. Kate sat up and opened her eyes. She was aware of a figure sitting in a chair positioned by the door. Her heart fluttered as the events of the previous evening came flooding back into her head. Ben was dead, and truth of his death hurt so much she thought her heart would burst. Her eyes burned from crying, and her skin felt tight and dry. Could she possibly have any more tears left to cry?

“How are you feeling this morning?” Pat got up slowly from the chair; he had barely slept a wink.

“I don’t feel anything Pat, I’m numb with pain,” she replied absent-mindedly.

“What happened last night; I can’t remember anything after the police arrived?”

“You fainted; the doctor said it was due to shock. He gave you a sedative to help you sleep.”

“What time is it?”

“Ten thirty in the morning.”

Kate sat up and looked around the room.

“Are we still at the hotel?”

“Yes; but we’re free to go home whenever we want to.”

“Home; I don’t know where that is any more.”

“It will get better Kate.”

“You mean I’ll get used to being alone, don’t you?” she closed her eyes and lay back.

“I wish I could just close my eyes and never wake up again,” Kate buried her head in the pillow. Pat moved slowly forward and sat down beside her.

“It’s alright to cry; you have to release your grief,” he held her tightly.

He felt useless; there were no words to take away her pain. This was a process she had to endure in order to move on with her life, but it would be a long hard ordeal for her. She was still quite young and had time to start again, after the initial grief had left her.

         Life was very cruel; Pat knew that alright; but Ben’s death seemed completely pointless. There had been no reason for it other than a rash and cruel act from a crazed woman. All it had achieved was to expose Anne Parish as a brutal murderer who didn’t have a compassionate bone in her body. Paradoxically, her compassion for the suffering of animals manifested itself in harming human beings. There was nothing she could gain from Ben’s death other than control; but she would pay dearly for her deluded image of self-importance. Kate’s tears eventually subsided and she pulled away from Pat feeling slightly embarrassed by the closeness of his body.

“Feeling a bit better now?” he asked.

“Better than what Pat; I feel numb.”

“I’ll leave you to get dressed. Would you like a cup of tea? I could make you one if you like?”

“I’d prefer a coffee.”

“No problem.”             

Pat was about to leave the room when Kate suddenly remembered something.

“What happened to the little boy?”

“George? He ran away when the gun was fired,” Pat replied cautiously.

“When he heard the police sirens he thought his dad had come to get him. He was hiding in the kitchen.”

“Is he back with his father?”

“Well, not yet, “Pat was reluctant to tell her the full details.

“What do you mean; has something happened to him now?”

“No, he slipped on the floor when he rushed out of the kitchen. He caught his head on the corner of a cupboard. It needed quite a few stitches I believe.”

“So is he still in hospital?”

“Just overnight as a precaution; concussion I think.”

“He was a nice boy; I’m glad he’s safe. Let’s hope he can forget about his ordeal.”

“He’s young; he’ll be alright,” Pat assured her.
”Yeah; I suppose so.”

“I’ll make that tea for you,” Pat stood up to leave. “Coffee,” she corrected him.

When the door closed, she dragged herself out of bed, slipped her dressing gown on, and headed towards the bathroom. She emerged ten minutes later, and dressed in the only clean clothes she had left. Outside her room, the silence of the empty hotel added to her already solemn mood. Only a few days ago the place was buzzing with life, now it was silent, and marred by death.

      At the bottom of the stairs, Kate could see the kitchen door was open and Pat was moving around. As she entered the room, he placed a pot of coffee on the table as she took a seat.

“You left your handbag in the lounge last night. I think you’ve got a few missed calls on your phone,” he slid the bag across the table.

“Thanks,” she took it and searched for her phone.

“I can never find the damn thing.”

“I always know where mine is, but I keep forgetting to charge it,” Pat smiled.

“I’ve got it,” Kate said noticing three missed calls from her mother.

“Could you do me a favour Pat?”

“Of course; just name it,” he leaned forward.

“Can you phone this number and tell my mother what’s happened?” she pleaded.

“I really think it’d be better coming from you.”

“I know but I really can’t face her; not yet; she’ll only upset me, please Pat,” she begged.

Reluctantly, he took the phone and left the room.

When he returned, Kate looked up at him with an anxious expression on her face.

“How did she take it?”

“It’s hard to say she didn’t say much, I think she was too shocked. I told her you would call her later.”

“Thanks Pat.”

He just smiled at her, and picked up his drink.

Kate stared vacantly at the wall deep in thought. She was so engrossed in her misery that she failed to notice someone enter the room.

“Morning Sebastian,” Pat spoke to Alex’s brother.

“Is it?” he replied bluntly and added, “is the coffee still warm?”

“Freshly made, shall I pour you one?” Pat offered.

“Please,” Sebastian took a seat.

“Did you sleep alright?” Pat passed his drink.

“Reasonably well, but the bed was a little too soft.”

“This is Kate Preston?” Pat introduced her

Kate looked up.

“Hello, you must be Alex’s brother,” she smiled faintly, “when did you arrive?”

“Late last night, Pat let me in. I’m sorry about your husband,” he laid a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss,” she whispered.

“Did you know my brother well Kate?” Sebastian looked across the table at her.

“Reasonably well, he was a real gentleman,” Kate was thoughtful.

“I wish I’d have seen him one more time before he died. I should have made more effort.”

“We all have regrets when someone dies,” Kate agreed, her head was over-loaded with regrets. Why had she been so stubborn with Ben? He had tried to apologise and begged for forgiveness, but she just wanted to watch him squirm, and now she would have to live with her regrets for a long time.

“Are you alright?” Sebastian was staring at her.

“I was just thinking about my husband,” she replied vaguely.

She studied his features; he was very much like his brother; but a younger version. Unlike Alex however, his clothes were very casual. He wore denim jeans and a polo shirt; Alex certainly wouldn’t approve. His biceps and pectoral muscles were well defined, giving the impression he was a regular visitor to the gym.

“How long do you intend to stay in England?” Pat asked.

“I’m leaving after the funeral on Tuesday. There’s a flight in the afternoon; I intend to be on it,” he replied bluntly.

“Do you know if Alex left a will?” Pat asked.

“Yes his solicitor has already phoned me about it. I have to see him in the morning.”

“I suppose he’s left everything to you?”  Pat asked as he poured another drink.

“I shouldn’t think so; he’d been living with his partner Simon for nearly twenty years; I imagine he’ll get most of the properties and assets. I assume someone has told Simon?”

“I think the police will have seen to that,” Kate replied.

“It’s a terrible blow for him; I don’t know how he’ll cope so soon after his accident.”

“I know just how he feels,” Kate replied sadly.

“Unfortunately I never seemed to hit it off with Simon; I think it was a clash of personalities; not that he’d got much of one. Alex must have seen something I didn’t; but I’ll never know now,” he fell silent; deep in thought.

“This hotel has bought nothing but misery; it should be bulldozed to the ground,” Pat shook his head.

“Strange you should say that; Alex intended to do just that, but it’s a listed building. It also has a very colourful past. This hotel was built as a residence for Queen Victoria when she visited Exeter, but she never actually arrived due to a last minute change of plans, and the building was sold to a silver merchant. He lived here for about ten years before his business failed; I don’t know why, but he had financial problems and his creditors were closing in. He managed to escape by using the network of passages that run under the city. It’s said that he was never seen again, but his ghost still haunts the cellar, supposedly searching for the silver he left behind.”

“There’ll be a few more ghosts joining him now,” Pat spoke without thinking.

“That’s a bit insensitive Pat,” Sebastian remarked catching sight of Kate’s troubled expression.

“I’m sorry Kate I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s ok, I thought Alex had built this hotel?” she remarked.

“I suppose he did really, it was in a bad state of repair when he bought it. He had to preserve certain features though, but he extended and spent a lot of money to make it what it is today,” Sebastian explained.

“Perhaps it’ll open again one day,” Pat remarked quietly.

“Maybe, is there any coffee left in the pot?” Sebastian asked.

“It’ll be cold by now; I’ll make a fresh one.” Pat offered getting to his feet.

Kate took the opportunity to question Sebastian.

“You knew Emma and Charles Lewis didn’t you?”

“I knew Emma far better; I found Charles was a bit too judgemental. He had conservative opinions on many issues, but I think he generally didn’t like me. Some people are like that though; taking an instant dislike to certain individuals for no apparent reason. I could never understand why Emma married him; she was so young and full of vitality. I hate to say she was attracted to his money, but it seemed that way to me.”

“I can’t really say I never knew either of them myself.”

“Emma was a very caring person. I was so shocked when she told me she’d left her son behind. Leo; her first husband wasn’t the boy’s father. She never confided in me who was, but she did say she’d been seeing someone else for several years; while she was still with Leo.”

“I know,” Kate replied quietly.

“I’m sorry; what did you say?”

“The boy’s father; I know who it is.”

“I don’t know what you mean, you never met Emma.”

“My husband was having an affair with her; but I didn’t realise how long it had been going on for. We were only married for six years and George is five years old. He must have been seeing her before we married. How could I have not known?” Kate was completely devastated as realisation suddenly dawned on her.

“I’m really sorry; I should never have said anything, you’ve suffered enough without this,” Sebastian leaned across the table and placed a comforting hand over hers.

“Does Leo know the truth?” Kate asked.

“I don’t know. Do you think he should be told?” Sebastian asked.

“Here’s your coffee. Would you like another Kate?” Pat returned to the table.

“Please,” she replied without looking up.

“Did I just hear you say Ben is the boy’s father?” Pat was taken back.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Sebastian replied.

“Surely that’s a good thing. You have something to remember him by,” Pat said.