Free The Lily-White Boys by Anthea Fraser Page A

reported it to the police.
    She fended off their sympathetic queries with a smile. ‘No, I didn’t look inside, thank God. By the way, Hannah, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve left your phone number with Mrs Bedale. There’ve been two unexplained calls today, both of which I’ve missed. Chief Inspector Webb thinks I should take the next one.’
    â€˜Of course – no problem,’ Hannah replied, adding casually, ‘He knows you’re coming here – Mr Webb?’
    â€˜Yes, but he’d have found out anyway, since I have watchdogs on my tail who follow me everywhere.’
    Gwen frowned. ‘I don’t understand. The fact that the van happened to be left outside your door surely doesn’t put you in any danger?’
    â€˜Unfortunately I saw it being left.’ That, at least, hadn’t been in the paper.
    â€˜But he – the murderer – couldn’t know that?’ Dilys this time.
    â€˜Again unfortunately, yes, he does. Because he looked up and saw me watching him.’
    There was a short silence. Then Hannah said jerkily, ‘No wonder you have police protection. Why didn’t you tell me? You could have come and stayed here till it blew over.’
    â€˜That’s sweet of you, and Justin and Eloise said the same, but it wouldn’t have done any good. He must have looked me up in the electoral register, because he rang the store too. Short of holing myself up somewhere and remaining completely incommunicado, there’s really nothing I can do.’
    â€˜In your place that’s exactly what I’d have done,’ said Dilys with a shiver.
    Monica smiled. ‘Fortunately my imagination isn’t as fertile as yours.’
    Hannah said determinedly, ‘Well, if the phone does go, at least we’re all here to back you up. So let’s forget about it and enjoy our evening. Gwen, your glass is empty: more sherry?’
    The evening passed. The conversation was as bright and interesting as usual, but for Monica at least the underlying strain could not be forgotten. Occasionally her eyes strayed to the squat shape of the phone on the polished table. It remained uncompromisingly silent. Had he rung home again, and panicked when given another number, suspecting a trap? Should she have cancelled this engagement and stayed in to speak to him? Most certainly she should not! she answered herself indignantly. As she’d told Justin, she refused to have her life disrupted by this stranger. And what had he replied? Better than losing it, I’d have thought.
    â€˜Monica?’
    She looked up guiltily to meet Hannah’s concerned eyes. ‘I’m sorry – did you say something?’
    â€˜I wondered if you’d like more coffee?’
    â€˜No, thank you. In fact, I think I should be going. I mustn’t keep my watchdogs from their kennels.’ She looked round the table at their carefully unconcerned faces. ‘I’ve been like Banquo’s ghost this evening, haven’t I? Sorry if I’ve spoiled things.’
    They protested loyally, but Monica suspected they were relieved when she left them. Getting into her car at the gate, she was aware of the other vehicle parked a few yards back and grateful for the reassuring flick of its lights. She did not, however, realize that from a darkened window on the top floor of the building she’d just left, DCI Webb himself watched her set off for home.
    For a while she was able to keep the police car in view in her mirror, but on reaching the town centre she lost it in the traffic. No doubt it was behind there somewhere. She circumvented Gloucester Circus and turned into the High Street, its pavements still busy on this warm evening but with a crowd different from the harassed shoppers who populated it by day. The night people, she thought fancifully. Then she had left it behind, and as the buildings grew more sparse the gap between the street lamps