Free Fatal Liaison by Vicki Tyley Page A

only caught the tail end of what he was
saying. Something about bush fires. She nodded her head hoping it was the
appropriate action. He continued talking, the mellow tone of his voice
hypnotizing her. On one level, she was listening to him, but on another, her
thoughts were faraway pondering Lawson’s abrupt and moody departure, Pauline’s
clingy overprotectiveness of Lawson, Mata Hari’s absence, and Gregory’s missing
sister. As far as she could deduce the only common denominator was Lawson.
    A pat on her hand broke her trance. “Earth calling Megan.”
    Megan looked up, her eyes focusing on the source of the voice.
Brenda sat perched on her barstool opposite, grinning at her, her head tilted
to the side, waggling her hand in a royal wave.
    “Another?” Brenda nodded at Megan’s empty wine glass. “The boys are
just on their way to the bar. Aren’t you?” she said, bestowing her most
charming smile on Joe and Ginger Moustache. Neither man had the temerity to
refuse her.
    As soon as the two men were out of earshot, Megan seized the
opportunity to tackle Brenda about Ginger Moustache. “What possessed you to
hook up with…” She paused and flicked her head in the direction of the men’s
retreating backs. “…him?”
    Brenda didn’t miss a beat. “Business,” she replied matter-of-factly.
    “What do you mean, business?”
    “Business. What I do.” Brenda unzipped her handbag, fished out a
business card and presented it to Megan with a flourish. “Real estate business.
Not only is Robert looking to add to his property portfolio, but do you know
how hard it is to find good landscapers, let alone specialist presale ones. So
be nice to him.”
    While Brenda talked, Megan studied the business card, a simple
two-tone green background with a stylized leaf overprinted on the left. The
name on the card was Robert Lockwood. Under the name, in smaller block letters,
were listed a mobile phone number, an email address and a P O Box address.
    “Don’t you think it’s a bit suss?” Megan asked, as she handed the
business card back to Brenda.
    “What?”
    “He doesn’t have a street address or landline.”
    Brenda glanced at the card, a slight frown creasing her forehead.
“No, not really. He’s a contractor. He probably doesn’t have a fixed office.
Not everyone does, you know.” She dropped the business card into her handbag,
closing the bag’s zip as she turned back to Megan.
    Brenda’s face lit up with a cheeky smile. “Enough about business.
Your new lover-boy is far more interesting. C’mon, spill the beans. Tell me all
about him.”
    Megan rose to the bait. “Lover-boy?” she spluttered. “I’ve only just
met the man.”
    As soon as Brenda started cackling, Megan realized her friend was
indulging in one of her favorite pastimes, winding her up. Even after all their
years as friends, Megan still occasionally allowed herself to be reeled in.
    “What’s up with Lawson?” Megan asked, changing the subject. “He was
really down in the mouth.”
    The slight frown reappeared on Brenda’s forehead, the corners of her
mouth drooping. “God knows what his problem is. I sure as hell don’t. He really
was moody though, wasn’t he?”
    Megan opened her mouth to reply, but Brenda continued, talking more
to herself than to Megan.
     

CHAPTER 9
     
    Strike three. How
many strikes was he allowed?
    Greg stood on the footpath just far enough away from the bar he’d
been banished from to be out of sight. He shivered as the wind lifted, crossing
his arms over his chest and using his hand to pull the open neck of his shirt
closed. Ties had a practical use, after all.
    Had he really the audacity to think he’d fare better than the
police? Using his friend’s name as a subterfuge had opened a door, but from
thereon in his strategy had failed miserably. All he’d succeeded in doing was
to antagonize Pauline Meyer – his only link to Sam’s disappearance. The woman
was like an unrelenting guard dog