Free Death by Beauty by Gabrielle Lord Page A

down.
    ‘Where do you need to go now? I can drop you somewhere if you want to wait.’
    Steve shook his head. ‘This is fine. I can get a cab from here, no problem.’
    As they were getting out of the car, the brothel’s owner, Naomi, turned the corner, her hands full of shopping bags. When
     she saw them her face lit up and she hurried across the road. ‘Guys! Gemma and Stevie! Great to see you again.’
    ‘You too, Naomi,’ said Gemma as Naomi leaned the bags against the fence and threw her arms around her, kissing her on both
     cheeks, then giving Steve a slightly more restrained kiss. She stepped back and collected her shopping, Steve taking the heaviest
     bag. ‘Come in. This is really good timing. Today’s been pretty quiet.’ As she unlocked the door, she turned back and smiled
     over her shoulder. ‘And it’s just great seeing you two together again. I
knew
you guys would work it out. I just knew it!’
    ‘I won’t come in,’ said Steve. ‘I’ve got to get a cab.’
    ‘Call for one from here,’ said Naomi, smiling. ‘The cabbies know this address well. Come on, Steve. Have a drink while you’re
     waiting.’
    Steve hesitated then followed Gemma as Naomi led the way inside, past the comfortable reception area and the small bar, down
     the narrow hall to the kitchen at the back.
    ‘Naomi,’ Gemma began, as Naomi put the shopping on the table and started pulling out tins of soup. ‘It’s not quite like that.
     Actually, we’re – we’re not together. I’m living with Mike Moody. I’m just giving Steve a lift.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Naomi, pausing as she put a carton of milk in the fridge. ‘I knew about Mike, but I thought – you know – that eventually
     …’
    ‘Naomi,’ said Steve, ‘maybe you’ve heard something about Lorraine Litchfield. Where she’s living now?’
    ‘Last thing I heard, she and that brute Raimon Fayed were thick as thieves.’ She wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘We were allvery happy when Terry Litchfield died and Lorraine was jailed, but somehow she’s managed to get an early release. If I hear
     anything interesting I’ll tell you, Gemma, and you can pass it on to Steve. Okay?’
    ‘Good.’ Gemma nodded.
    ‘I’m having a chardy to celebrate your visit,’ said Naomi, opening the fridge and taking a wine glass from a cupboard. ‘Anyone
     else want one?’
    ‘I’d better not. I’m on the clock.’
    ‘And I’m going,’ said Steve. ‘But thanks, Naomi. I can find my own way out.’
    Gemma watched him leave and heard the front door close.
    ‘Oh hell, Gemma,’ said Naomi. ‘I’m sorry about that. I hope I didn’t embarrass you too much! You just looked so – so
right
with each other.’
    Gemma sighed. ‘There were always problems, Naomi. Steve just isn’t the type to make a commitment. He’s always said he couldn’t
     picture himself with a family.’
    ‘Has he seen the baby?’
    ‘He saw him at the hospital the night he was born. That’s when he found out he’s Rafi’s father.’
    ‘You mean you didn’t tell him?’
    ‘I was about to – once. I was just about to tell him when Julie Cooper interrupted me to show her engagement ring. That kind
     of took the wind out of my sails, so I shut up.’
    ‘Send him a photograph of his son. He’d like that.’
    ‘Yes, I think he would. So, how have you been? How is the fine arts course going?’
    ‘Not bad. I got two distinctions last term. I’m deferring thisyear. Uni life takes up a lot of time and this place needs a lot of work.’
    ‘Ever think of meeting a nice John and settling down?’
    ‘Like you?’ Naomi laughed. ‘Except you met a nice Mike. Nice Johns are thin on the ground in my line of work. Although there
     is one guy who’s pretty sweet on me. But you know my rules: if it’s friendship you want, then it’s no sex. And that means
     I lose a paying customer!’
    Gemma laughed. ‘I think your mother had the same attitude.’
    ‘She did. And she saved enough money to