Betrayal (35 page)

'Come along,' said Mrs Honeywood sympathetically. 'Let 's go and have a cup of tea and we'll discuss it.'

Once they were settled in the small drawing-room that had once been Naomi's, Mrs Honeywood realised that the worst was over for the younger woman. Many mothers turned almost hysterical themselves after the first session; obviously Mrs Gueras was tougher than she appeared.

'I'm afraid I was rather naive,' confessed Lisa, drinking China tea from a delicate bone-china cup. 'I hadn't thought it through properly. You did warn me but for some reason I still expected Jessica would begin to relax after a time, not fight me all the way.'

'She could fight you for weeks yet, but you handled her very well. The main thing is that you're sincere, that what she hears you saying—and, believe me, she does hear you—is the truth. It won't be easy for either of you, and it's often two steps forward and one step back.' Lisa finished her tea, glanced at her watch and quickly stood up. 'I'm sorry but I'll have to go now. I'm due in London this evening.'

'What time tomorrow will you be with Jessica?' 'I thought about two-thirty.'

'Would you like me here again?'

She nodded; the thought of going through all that emotion unsupported was quite intolerable. She needed Mrs Honeywood's assurance that Jessica wasn't being harmed.

Chapter Twenty-One

An hour later she was in the car with Mike driving her through the winding Berkshire lanes and up to London. 'How's the little one?' he asked.

'Alexi? He's thriving.' 'I meant Jessica.'

'She's not too good right now. Those weeks spent in a home upset her, and I'm trying a therapy that's meant to have spectacular results, but all it succeeded in doing today was throwing her into a blue fit and leaving me feeling like something the cat brought in.'

'Perhaps the film will cheer you up.'

'What I'd really like is twelve hours' sleep! I don't even know what the film's about.'

'A doomed love affair. It's historical: Lady Jane Grey and her token reign. Not my cup of tea at all.'

'Well, at least it's in a good cause. Leukemia research and cystic fibrosis, I think.'

'There's always something. Children dying here; children dying in Africa; cats dying in Venice. Makes you wonder where to draw the line!'

Despite her weariness, Lisa laughed. 'I think I'd pass if it was for cats in Venice!'

For a time they drove in silence. Then Mike, after keeping his eye on a car that had been following them for the past twenty minutes, told Lisa to put her seat belt on. 'In the back of the car? Whatever for?'

'I think we've got company. I'm going to try and shake it off .'

'Company?'

'We're being tailed. Don't panic this is what I'm trained for!' 'Why would anyone tail us?'

'Your husband's a wealthy man and he adores you. With me so far?'

'Yes.'

'Okay. Now, what better way to get some money than by taking this much loved wife and holding her to ransom?'

'You really mean I could be in danger?' She felt sick with shock. 'I really mean it. Hold on, there's a tight bend here. I'm going to drive through it and off to the right. With any luck they'll go straight on without realising they've lost us. Even if they twig what's happened, we'll have gained enough time to get free. Of course, if the driver's perfectly innocent he'll think I'm a total madman who shouldn't be allowed on the road! Here we go.'

The next few seconds were a complete blur to Lisa. The car picked up speed, tyres screeched, trees and fields spun crazily round and she was flung against the car door until the belt locked tightly. Then she held her breath in terror as a tree loomed in front of them.

Mike swore, spun the wheel again and this time they made it round the sharp right turn and were off along the winding lane, making short work of a stray chicken.

'No time to go back and collect it,' he said with a smile. 'Let's hope your London cupboard's not bare.' Lisa's teeth were chattering too much for her to reply and she kept glancing back over her shoulder to see who was behind them. Only when they reached the motorway did she begin to feel safe.

'Were you wrong?' she asked hopefully .

He considered lying and decided against it. 'No, I was right. Their reactions were too quick. I caught a glimpse of them when we nearly embraced that damned tree. They were attempting to turn as well. I don't think your average rep is going to try and imitate a rally driver, do you?'

She thought of her children. Of little Alexi, still a helpless baby, and Jessica. Jessica who, if Lisa had died, would have been banished once again to a home, all hope gone. 'I could have died,' she murmured in disbelief.

'Not likely; you wouldn't be much use as a hostage if you were dead.'

'But after they'd been paid… '

'You could drop dead of a brain haemorrhage tomorrow. No use looking on the black side. Anyway, nothing happened did it?'

'I still don't understand why they'd want me. I know Neal's wealthy but so are plenty of other people. It can't only be because of his money. Has he got enemies? I don't understand commodity broking but I suppose you do make enemies in big business.'

Mike began whistling, hoping she'd stop turning the problem over in her mind because if she didn't let it go she might eventually stumble across the truth.

'Other brokers wouldn't resort to kidnapping,' she continued, her fear receding as she grappled with the problem. 'I thought it was only criminals who did that kind of thing to each other. It's more like an American Mafia-type crime!'

Suddenly she thought of Simon. He'd been crooked. She didn't know how crooked or in what way but he'd worked outside the law. And he'd known Neal. Neal had known him well enough to extend help to Lisa when Simon died. Had it really been because of friendship? Or was it because there were things he didn't want her to find out? Things that Stephanie might have told her.

Then there was Bishop. Bishop, who'd called on Simon and Stephanie just before Simon died. Coincidence? Her mind was in total confusion, memories flashing through her brain. Bishop had known Toby as well; had turned up just in time to save Lisa's life. Coincidence again?

As they arrived at the flat, Lisa was remembering the fortunate way in which Kay and Naomi had died just as she came on the scene. Remembering too the antagonism of Kay's friends. Had they suspected something? Even worse, had they thought that she'd known Kay hadn't died by accident?

By this time she was picturing Neal with a violin case in one hand and a fat cigar in the other, and when he came beaming down the steps to help her from the car she was so relieved at how normal he looked that she fell into his arms and promptly burst into tears.

'What on earth's the matter?' he asked, throwing a questioning glance at Mike over her head.

'Bit of trouble on the way here, sir. We were followed and had to shake them off. Your wife's upset.'

'That's terrible! Did you get the number of the car?' Mike nodded. 'Come along, darling,' continued Neal tenderly. 'Come upstairs and you can have a rest. I'll talk to you tomorrow,' he added in a quiet aside. Mike, aware that the incident had set the new Mrs Gueras thinking along dangerous lines, only hoped she'd have the sense to keep her fears to herself.

In fact part of Lisa's distress was reaction to her hour with Jessica. The incident in the car coming straight on top of that, when she was already feeling jagged with nerves, had proved too much but it was a relief to be able to cry for Jessica without Neal knowing. Now that she was with him again her thoughts in the car seemed the product of an over-active imagination. He was so obviously the perfect businessman, with the constant sound of the ticker-tape coming from his machine in the corner of the tiny study, that her stereotyped image of a crook would not allow her to imagine him involved in anything underhand.

He was kind, reassuring and supportive, all the things she most needed, and by the time they left for the premiere she had almost succeeded in dismissing her fears from her mind. The tiny niggling doubt that remained she pushed to the background. She couldn't really afford to be right, and her sense of self-preservation was strong. Now she understood why Jessica closed her eyes to shut out the world. If you couldn't see it then it didn't exist. All the same, the first doubt had been sown.

'I've arranged for you to see Sanders,' said Neal as Lisa sank thankfully into bed at two a.m. after one of the longest historical films she'd ever sat through.

'Who's he?'

'Only one of the top gynaecologists in London!'

'I haven't had my post-natal check up yet. Why have I got to see a new man?'

'Because,' he said patiently, sliding naked into bed beside her and pulling her against him, 'I'm tired of having a non-responsive wife.'

'I'm exhausted,' she murmured.

'You've been in bed in Berkshire nearly all day!' 'I think it was the fright traveling here.'

'I'll soon take your mind off that.'

'Please don't. I honestly can't keep my eyes open.'

He suddenly snapped on the overhead light and sat up. 'Did you wear yourself out trying to communicate with that daughter of yours today?'

'No!'

'Because if you did, I'll be bloody annoyed. The whole idea of leaving you behind was so that you could rest.'

'I did,' she lied, hoping against hope that none of the staff would give her away.

'Good. At least let me hold you. If you don't want me to make love to you I won't but… '

'For God's sake, leave me alone!' she shouted and then—horrified by the expression on his face—burst into tears again.

'I think I'll come with you to see Sanders,' he said coldly. Lisa didn't reply; there was nothing she could say.

'Well, Mrs Gueras, everything seems all right,' said Dr Sanders, helping her down from the couch. 'There is the suggestion of an erosion but it's early days yet.'

'Try telling that to my husband,' she muttered, still seething over Neal's presence in the doctor's office.

'I most certainly will. Please join us when you're dressed.'

Behind his desk again, Dr Sanders looked at Neal Gueras and wondered why it was that men who professed devotion to their wives were frequently the most sexually selfish ones. 'Did you find anything?' asked Neal, already checking his watch because he was late for a meeting.

'A slight erosion which probably makes her sore. In addition, she's far from fully fit. She's at least twenty pounds underweight and probably anemic. Your own doctor should be able to help there. Also, she's very tense. Any sort of pressure is bad for her right now. Childbirth isn't the easy matter many people like to make out. She needs a little more time and then you should take things gradually. Some women take months to regain their normal sexual drive after having a baby.'

'I'm expected to pay you for telling me that?'

'There isn't any magic pill. Your wife needs time and affection non-sexual affection.'

'Send the bill to my office. Lisa, the doctor was just telling me that all's well but you need to put on some weight. You must have a word with Cook.'

Glancing contemptuously at the doctor, she followed Neal out of the room. So much for men, she thought wryly. A fat lot of explaining he'd done!

'Are you going shopping, darling,' he asked glancing again at his watch.

'I thought I'd have Mike drive me back to Berkshire to see Alexi.' 'Not Jessica?'

'Her too, of course, but Alexi's only tiny. After missing all the normal baby stages with Jessica this time with Alexi is all the more precious.'

He couldn't really argue with her sentiments, but being unable to get to Berkshire himself that night didn't want her absent from his bed. She had to learn that as her husband he had certain basic rights, mainly sexual. Unfortunately in his mind sex was rapidly becoming a battleground. 'I want you here tonight. Tomorrow you're at that N.S.P.C.C. lunch at the Mayfair. If you sleep here overnight you can lie-in tomorrow morning.'

She'd forgotten the lunch, but Princess Michael was going and she couldn't miss it. Neal was more delighted than she when the invitation came. With an inward sigh she realised she must go to Berkshire now, returning to London after Jessica's treatment, attempt a rest in the morning then go back to Berkshire later the following afternoon for further therapy.

'I'll be back by seven, ' she promised.

'Wait in my car while we call up Mike,' suggested Neal, all good humour now he'd got his own way. 'Incidentally, weren't you going to arrange some therapy for Jessica? Wasn't that part of our pre-nuptial agreement!'

'I've started making the right contacts,' she said vaguely. Her husband smiled to himself. If everything went as he intended she'd never have time to spend long with her daughter. He genuinely considered that what little spare time she did have should be devoted to Alexi.

Lisa kissed him on the cheek before hurrying off to where Mike had just stopped the Mercedes. 'Where to today, princess? New Bond Street? Harrods?'

'Berkshire and Jessica, then back to London by seven. We'll both be worn out before very long!' She certainly would, he thought, noting her pallor and the dark circles beneath her eyes.

Today she didn't approach her time with Jessica with any expectations. But for Mrs Honeywood's presence she'd probably have let Jessica free the moment she began to scream because it was obvious that memories of the day before were increasing her distress. After an hour she was released and again retreated to her favourite corner still sobbing quietly with her hands clapped over her ears in case Lisa continued talking to her.