Murder in Mind by Veronica Heley Page A

Italy? Paris? Both? Evan was so shocked that she should wish to go through with her commitments after what happened to Abigail and Fiona that he—’
    â€˜He’s using it as an excuse to get rid of her?’
    â€˜You don’t understand.’ Diana seated herself opposite Ellie, drawing a tiny pill box from her handbag, extracting and popping a tablet into her mouth. ‘Indigestion. I can’t remember suffering so much when I was pregnant before.’
    â€˜What don’t I understand?’
    â€˜Evan feels Angelika ought to show more consideration for the family. Everyone thinks he’s a strong man and of course he is, but this has knocked him sideways. He looked to Angelika for support, but she thinks only of her career. She’s only cried once for her little girl. She says the best way to get over her grief is to get on with her life.’
    Ellie nodded.
    â€˜She’s never once tried to comfort Evan for his losses. He feels it keenly.’
    â€˜I’m sure you’ve tried to make up to him for Angelika’s lack of response.’
    Diana didn’t recognize irony. ‘I’ve done what anyone with even a small amount of charity would have done. He is aching for love and understanding.’
    â€˜Both of which you are happy to supply.’
    A tinge of pink in the pale face. ‘You may find this difficult to believe, but I do love him, you know.’
    Ellie did find it difficult to believe, but she tried to do so. She didn’t like having cynical thoughts. It was foreign to her nature. But she did fear that Diana loved Evan for his wealth and for his position in life, rather than for himself.
    On the other hand, what did she know about it? Maybe Diana really had fallen for him and was deeply affected by his losses.
    Diana’s head drooped. ‘I feel . . . I know I’ve made many mistakes in my life . . . but I do feel that I’ve been given a chance, at last, to love someone who loves me back unreservedly.’
    Oh? Ellie didn’t comment.
    Diana extracted a tiny handkerchief from her bag and touched it to the corners of her eyes. ‘I didn’t know either of the girls, really. I met Fiona at the office one day, when she called in for something. Probably wanting money. Those girls . . . Ah well, mustn’t speak ill of the dead. It’s a great help for Evan that I can take over the running of the office while he’s so distressed.’
    â€˜Of course.’ Again the irony slid past Diana without registering.
    A deep sigh. ‘I have to keep going for his sake and for the sake of our child.’
    Ellie said, ‘Do you have any influence on him?’
    A stare. ‘What a ridiculous question!’
    â€˜Does he still intend to sue everyone in sight for the death of Abigail?’
    Diana’s face hardened. ‘Why shouldn’t he? They were negligent, and it is his duty to put the play centre out of business, or someone else’s child will suffer. As for the au pair—’
    â€˜Scarpered. Disappeared. Didn’t you know?’
    â€˜The police will have to find her and bring her back, then. She must be prosecuted. She was criminally remiss.’
    â€˜Evan still thinks his family has had a run of bad luck?’
    â€˜I wouldn’t call two accidental deaths—’
    â€˜Suppose they weren’t accidents?’
    Diana put her hankie to her mouth and did a good imitation of a shocked and vulnerable woman. ‘How could you!’
    â€˜There weren’t enough fingerprints on the speedometer. Only Angelika’s.’
    Diana put down the hankie. Frowned. Gnawed at her lower lip. ‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜Yes. The police would very much like to write Fiona’s death off as an accident, but there’s a certain detective there who thinks otherwise and is going to push the investigation further. What of the disappearing clown? Was he a student hired to stage a stunt, or was