Free HIDDEN SECRETS by Catherine Lambert

husband, just nod your head. The body is covered with a sheet, and you will be shown the face only,” he spoke slowly in a comforting tone.
    Kate was unable to speak, and continued to nod her head in agreement.
    The door opened, and she walked unsteadily into the room, which was bare and cold with a large table in the centre. A body draped in a white sheet lay in the middle. Straightaway she knew it wasn’t Ben; he was shorter, and slimmer. She wanted to laugh out loud and cry with relief. The sheet was lifted and she saw an unfamiliar face, motionless and mottled. Congealed blood stuck to the unfortunate man’s head, as he lay anonymous in death. His appearance couldn’t have been more different than Ben’s. Kate shook her head.
    “That’s not my husband,” she spoke the words slowly and clearly.”That’s not my husband,” she repeated the words.
    “Thank you Mrs. Preston, and I’m sorry for the distress you’ve been caused.”
    The body was covered, and Kate was led out of the room. Her relief was immense, but the stress of the occasion was too much, and she broke down and cried.
    Alex put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
    “Let’s go,” he spoke softly to her.
    “You will have to make a statement about your husband’s disappearance Mrs. Preston,” a police officer informed her.
    “I can’t do it now, I need to get out of here,” Kate’s voice was weak and emotional.
    “I have already given Sergeant Jefferson a detailed account of the circumstances,” Alex replied, and led Kate back to the car. The initial dread of seeing her husband’s body had faded, and she began to wonder who the dead man was. He would have been some other unfortunate woman’s husband or son, but thank god it wasn’t hers'. It might sound heartless and selfish, but that was how she felt, even though Ben was still missing.
            The car arrived back at the hotel, and Kate dashed towards the entrance without waiting for Alex. She went straight to the nearest ladies toilet and vomited violently until her throat hurt, and the bitter taste of bile filled her mouth. After splashing her face with cold water, she dragged a comb through her hair, and went in search of Alex, whom she found engaged in a conversation with an elderly lady behind the reception desk. Unaware of her presence, she waited for a lull in the conversation before she spoke.
    “Could I talk to you Mr. Lawton?”
    “There you are I wondered where you’d got to.”
    “I need to talk to you in private,” Kate repeated her request.
    “Of course, but I would prefer it if you called me Alex,” he smiled at her.
    “That’s fine, and I’m Kate,” she replied.
    “We can talk in my office if you like,” he offered.
    “O.K., do you think I could have a coffee?” she asked.
    “Would you prefer something a bit stronger?”
    “No thanks, coffee will be fine really.”
    “Could I have your car keys? I’ll send someone to get your case and take it to your room. I’ve given you a ground floor suite, you should be comfortable there. Now if you follow me we can talk in private.”
           Kate followed him along a narrow corridor which led to his office, where his name was elaborately inscribed on a brass plate. The interior was as ornate as she had expected, with a stunning deep crimson decor. A mahogany desk and chair stood in the bay window, where plush velvet curtains brushed the carpet. Positioned around the room were various items of office furniture, overlooked by a magnificent oil painting above an open fire place of marble and brass. Alex ordered coffee as she studied the room.
    “Would you like to take a seat?” he asked.
    “I was just admiring the painting, it’s beautiful,” she replied as she sat down.
    “It was a gift from a wealthy guest. I believe it’s a Constable, but I’m no expert.”
    A young waitress arrived carrying a tray, which she placed on one of the tables. Alex poured the coffee.
    “Help yourself to cream