Free Off the Record by Dolores Gordon-Smith

asleep on the sofa.’ He ate his eggs thoughtfully. ‘There’s no point denying I’m worried about today. I know Gerry’s got right on his side, but if he tries to lay the law down to Dunbar, the entire deal might go up in smoke. The top and bottom of it is that Gerry can’t stand the man.’
    ‘You can’t blame him,’ said Molly. ‘I don’t like Mr Dunbar very much, either.’
    ‘Which is why,’ said Steve, ‘I’m so concerned to get our part of the deal tied up so tightly. I haven’t finished yet,’ he added between mouthfuls of bacon. He nodded towards Ragnall. ‘I’ll show you the costs I’ve worked out. Gerry’s not concerned with that part of the business, of course, but I promised I’d bring him up to date before we have lunch with Dunbar.’
    He broke off as the maid came into the room with a telegram on a silver salver. With a puzzled look he took the envelope and ripped it open. As he read it, his face altered. Molly was shocked by his expression.
    ‘Steve? What is it?’ she asked quickly.
    He handed the telegram to her. ‘It’s Uncle Maurice,’ he said in bewilderment. ‘It’s from his housekeeper.’
    Molly took the telegram from his outstretched hand. ‘Regret inform you Colonel Willoughby victim of attack,’ she read out loud. ‘Condition serious. Come at once. Tierney.’
    Ragnall gaped at her in astonishment. ‘Colonel Willoughby’s been attacked ?’
    ‘What on earth can have happened?’ said Molly. ‘He can’t have been attacked. No one would harm an old man, surely?’
    Steve took back the telegram, his forehead creasing in a frown. ‘That’s what it says. I wish to God he was on the telephone.’ He turned back to Molly. ‘I don’t know what’s happened but I’ll have to go and see him.’
    ‘Of course you will,’ she said quickly.
    ‘Who would want to hurt an old man like that?’ He looked at her in disbelief. ‘I can’t credit it. This is the absolute devil.’ He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘Oh, my God, and there’s so much else to do. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time. Ragnall, wait for me in the study, will you? Jot a note to Dunbar and cry off the meeting. I can’t possibly see him now. Tell him what’s happened. You can say ‘unforeseen family circumstances,’ if you don’t want to go into too much detail. He’s staying at the Marchmont Hotel in Southampton Row. If you hurry you can catch the post. Do it now and I’ll have a word with you before I go.’ Steve looked utterly distracted. ‘I need to give you some instructions for the day.’ He stood up, turning to Molly as Ragnall left the room. ‘I’ll have to get a move on. I can hardly believe it. Uncle Maurice! I know he’s difficult at times, but . . .’
    ‘What does that matter, Steve? This is awful.’
    ‘I know!’ He looked at her in utter frustration. ‘It would happen now! I really needed to see Dunbar.’
    ‘Can’t Hugo Ragnall go in your place?’
    Steve shook his head. ‘He’s got appointments of his own. They could be cancelled, but Dunbar’s such a tricky devil that he’s bound to put one over on him. Besides that, if there’re any documents to sign, I have to do it. What’s really worrying me is Gerry’s temper. Damn!’ He looked at her, struck by a sudden thought. ‘Can you help?’
    ‘Me?’ exclaimed Molly. ‘Of course I will, but how can I? I don’t know anything about business. Even if I did, Mr Dunbar wouldn’t talk to me. Not seriously, I mean.’
    Steve shook his head. ‘That’s not what I meant. You’re quite right about Dunbar, but can you see Gerry? After he’s talked to Dunbar, I mean? They won’t be able to decide anything about Otterbourne’s but I want to know what Dunbar’s agreed to about Gerry’s machine. If Gerry knows he’s got to tell you what happened, he might manage to keep the lid on his temper.’
    Molly hesitated for a brief moment. The thought of meeting Gerard Carrington alone was oddly unsettling.