Free Four Warned (Quick Reads 2014) by Jeffrey Archer

They’re in my wash bag.’
    ‘Of course, my darling.’ Once he’d found the pills, he filled a glass with tap water, before returning to his wife’s side. She had taken off her dress, but not her
slip.
    Dick helped her to sit up and became aware for the first time that she was soaked in sweat. She swilled down the two aspirins with the glass of water Dick offered her. He lowered her gently down
onto the pillow before drawing the curtains. He then strolled across to the bedroom door, opened it, and placed the
Do Not Disturb
sign on the door knob. The last thing he needed was for a
concerned maid to come barging in and find his wife in her present state. Once Dick was certain she was asleep, he went down to dinner.
    ‘Will madam be joining you this evening?’ asked the head waiter, once Dick was seated.
    ‘No, sadly not,’ replied Dick, ‘she has a slight migraine. Too much sun I fear, but I’m sure she’ll be fine by the morning.’
    ‘Let’s hope so, sir. What can I interest you in tonight?’
    Dick took his time reading the menu, before he eventually said, ‘I think I’ll start with the foie gras, followed by a rump steak –’ he paused – ‘medium
rare.’
    ‘Excellent choice, sir.’
    Dick poured himself a glass of water from the bottle on the table and quickly gulped it down, before filling his glass a second time. He didn’t hurry his meal, and when he returned to his
suite just after ten, he was delighted to find his wife was fast asleep.
    He picked up her glass, took it to the bathroom and refilled it with tap water. He then put it back on her side of the bed. Dick took his time undressing, before finally slipping under the
covers to settle down next to his wife. He turned off the bedside light and slept soundly.
    *   *   *
    When Dick woke the following morning, he found that he too was covered in sweat. The sheets were also soaked, and when he turned over to look at his wife all the colour had
drained from her cheeks.
    Dick eased himself out of bed, slipped into the bathroom and took a long shower. Once he had dried himself, he put on one of the hotel’s towelling dressing gowns and returned to the
bedroom. He crept over to his wife’s side of the bed and once again refilled her empty glass with tap water. She had clearly woken during the night, but not disturbed him.
    He drew the curtains before checking that the
Do Not Disturb
sign was still on the door. He returned to his wife’s side of the bed, pulled up a chair and began to read the
Herald Tribune
. He had reached the sports pages by the time she woke. Her words were slurred. She managed, ‘I feel awful.’ A long pause followed before she added,
‘Don’t you think I ought to see a doctor?’
    ‘He’s already been to examine you, my dear,’ said Dick. ‘I called for him last night. Don’t you remember? He told you that you’d caught a fever, and
you’ll just have to sweat it out.’
    ‘Did he leave any pills?’ asked Maureen.
    ‘No, my darling. He just said you were not to eat anything, but to try and drink as much water as possible.’ He held the glass up to her lips and she attempted to gulp down some
more. She even managed, ‘Thank you,’ before collapsing back onto the pillow.
    ‘Don’t worry, my darling,’ said Dick. ‘You’re going to be just fine, and I promise you I won’t leave your side, even for a moment.’ He leant over and
kissed her on the forehead.
    She fell asleep again.
    The only time Dick left Maureen’s side that day was to tell the housekeeper that his wife did not wish to have the sheets changed, to refill the glass of water on her bedside table, and
late in the afternoon to take a call from the minister.
    ‘The President flew in yesterday,’ were Chenkov’s opening words. ‘He is staying at the Winter Palace, where I have just left him. He wanted me to let you know how much he
is looking forward to meeting you and your wife.’
    ‘How kind of him,’ said Dick, ‘but