Free Murder in House by Veronica Heley Page A

the flat, pulled out her mobile and asked the cab company to send someone round to pick her up straight away. Then she tried the number Mrs Belton had given her and left a message for Ursula to ring her, reversing the call.
    â€˜Daniel’s not going to do anything stupid, is he?’
    â€˜I shouldn’t think so, Dumbo. He wants a job in the Health Club when he finishes college.’
    â€˜He got rat-arsed last night. I’ve never seen him so drunk.’
    â€˜The problem with him is that little Miss Frigidaire refused to let him grow up. He’ll soon find out the joys of living in today’s world. She scratched me, you know.’
    â€˜Well, you did break her mobile.’
    â€˜The least she deserved.’
    â€˜I worry about Mia. I mean, she left so suddenly, and we don’t know anything about the man she went off with. She could be anywhere, out on the streets, starving.’
    â€˜You’ve an overactive imagination. I’m not bothered, and the parents certainly aren’t. She never fitted in, did she?’
    â€˜Yes, but suppose she’s, well, you know. In real trouble. Because of what we did. We don’t want her going to the police.’
    A pause. ‘I don’t think she’d dare, but I suppose I could ask around. Once I’d put my mind to it, it was easy enough to see who helped her get away. I’ll have words with the woman tomorrow when she comes.’
    â€˜Who, Anthony? The cleaner?’
    â€˜Who else? See if you can get Daniel to come along tonight. We’ve got hold of a really hot video. Might put some ideas into his virginal head. Take our minds off the financial situation. If The Man doesn’t pull something off soon, we’ll all be down the Job Centre.’
    â€˜I thought the architect—’
    â€˜Not as solvent as The Man thought.’

FIVE
    Monday evening
    E llie got home to find the house dark except for a light in the hall. She remembered just in time that she couldn’t use the front door because Thomas had bolted it, so made her way past the coach house that Roy had converted into his architect’s offices, and let herself into the kitchen quarters through the back door.
    What a sight! A splendid party was in progress round the kitchen table, with Rose presiding over their biggest teapot. Thomas – girded in his favourite apron with cats on it – was grilling a couple of pounds of sausages, while a frail-looking man in a dog collar sliced buns lengthways. Hot dogs were in the course of preparation, presumably. Ellie thought of the salad stuffs she’d bought to make them a sensible meal, and accepted she’d lost the battle for dieting before a shot had been fired.
    â€˜Just in time!’ cried Rose, who looked tinier than ever, but was flushed with enjoyment. She’d even dressed herself, after a fashion, in a purple cardigan over a fuchsia pink T-shirt and a decent skirt. No stockings, but she did have her bedroom slippers on. Ellie smiled, because Rose was obviously feeling so much better.
    A large, fair-haired man backed out of the larder, holding up various jars. ‘Is this the right mustard?’ Stewart: little Frank’s loving father, Diana’s ex-husband, and the invaluable manager of the Quicke properties to let. He saluted Ellie with the Dijon mustard. ‘I dropped in to see you with an update on the old house, and got roped into making tea. Hope you don’t mind.’
    â€˜Of course not. Especially if you’ve got some news for me.’
    â€˜All the utilities are back on. The decorators started two days ago, and are scheduled to finish within three days if we promise overtime.’
    â€˜Promise anything you like. Well done, Stewart.’
    â€˜I wish I could stay to eat with you,’ said Stewart, looking longingly at the sizzling hot dogs, ‘but Maria will kill me if I fail to do justice to supper at home.’
    Maria wouldn’t, as they