Free Missing by Susan Lewis

over as the bleep sounded, and once again there was a brief silence before the call cut out. She turned back to Vivienne.
    Vivienne merely shrugged. ‘Everyone who means anything to me is around this table,’ she pointed out, ‘except my sister who never calls me anyway, my gran who’s forgotten who we all are, Kayla who’s gone to the movies tonight, and my mother whom I’ve spoken to three times this evening, and who would definitely leave a message or call the mobile if she needed me urgently.’
    ‘What about Miles?’ Pete put in.
    Vivienne’s light-heartedness vanished. ‘Does he strike you as the type who’d hang up without speaking?’ she said shortly.
    ‘It could be Jacqueline.’
    ‘Pete! Just stop, will you.’
    ‘Or Justine.’
    As Vivienne sat back she threw down her napkin. ‘All right, that’s enough,’ she declared. ‘From now on those three names are banned in this house, and anyone who utters them has to leave.’
    In a very theatrical way Pete pressed a finger to his rosy lips. ‘Sealed,’ he promised.
    Alice glanced at Angus, who was helping himself to more pasta. ‘OK, getting back on track,’ she said. ‘We know Pete’s going to handle
La Belle Amie
and, poppet of a porn star that she is, she’s prepared to pay megabucks …’
    ‘Most of which you’re going to need upfront,’ Angus interjected gravely.
    ‘We also know that I’m going to take on Irwin’s movie – working title,
A Deed Undone
– serious megabucks, at least for us, and Vivi’s doing the auction which is going to earn us no bucks at all, but shedloads of goodwill, and there’s never any knowing what it might lead to. That’s me taking the positive view.’
    ‘And why not?’ Vivienne responded. ‘The potential for publicity’s pretty good considering who Sharon was married to. I’ve already contacted the local fire station, and at least six of Keith’s old colleagues are willing to put themselves under the hammer. I have yet to talk to them about the skills they’re offering, but it’s definitely a promising start.’
    ‘Absolutely,’ Alice agreed, laughing at the way Pete was fanning himself down at the mere idea of a group of firemen strutting their stuff.
    ‘Plus,’ Vivienne continued, turning to Angus, ‘I was wondering if your nephew might be willing to help out? It would be an amazing coup if we could get him.’
    ‘You mean Theo?’ Angus replied. ‘I’m sure he would, if he’s in the country.’
    ‘Theo?’ Pete enquired. Then, remembering, his eyes rounded with awe. ‘Of course, Theo Kenwood-South is your sister’s son. How could I have forgotten that?’
    ‘More relevantly,’ Alice said, ‘he holds the Olympic gold for freestyle
and
he knew Keith Goss.’ To Vivienne she added, ‘We’re having a family get-together this weekend, and Theo should be there, so we can put it to him then.’
    ‘Fantastic,’ Vivienne declared. ‘And please send him my love. It’s been ages since I saw him.’
    ‘Oh please send him mine too,’ Pete begged. ‘I know he’s never met me, but I simply adore him.’
    Laughing, Alice turned back to Vivienne. ‘When are you going to Devon?’ she asked.
    ‘Next Monday. There’s a lot to sort out here first, which Kayla’s helping me with. Has Irwin decided on locations for the movie yet?’
    ‘Scotland for three weeks, London for two. Listen, if you’re not going to answer that, will you at least let me?’
    Vivienne shrugged. ‘Be my guest.’
    Turning in her chair, Alice tugged the phone across the counter top and picked it up. ‘Hello?’ she said into the receiver.
    Everyone waited.
    ‘Hello?’ Alice said again.
    Still no response.
    ‘Is anyone there?’
    Vivienne’s appetite was starting to fade.
    Alice looked at the receiver, then at Vivienne.
    ‘Just hang up,’ Vivienne told her.
    Putting the phone down again, Alice said, ‘Has this happened before tonight?’
    All eyes were on Vivienne. ‘I can read your minds,’ she