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Back The Widow
Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PART I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. PART II
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. 82
  87. 83
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. MORE FROM VALERIE KEOGH
  90. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  91. The Murder List
  92. About Boldwood Books

More concerning was his controlling behaviour coupled with a definite tendency to override her wishes. Perhaps it was a hangover from his chosen profession, but even his final ring me was somewhat dictatorial. Allison lifted the mug and drained it. If she was serious about this blossoming idea to marry for money, wasn’t she being overly fussy? With her social life a non-starter, it was hard to meet men. Harder to meet decent ones. Peter seemed both decent and suitable and, as such, was worth considering. Tossing the card onto the table, she got to her feet. Time to get on with daily living.

* * *

She decided to call him but left it until the Monday afternoon. No point in looking too keen. She’d half-expected to have to leave a message, surprised into silence when her call was answered after one ring. ‘Hi,’ she said on a long exhale, grasping for the correct words. ‘It’s Allison. I’m having a hell of a day and wondered if you’d like to meet after work for a drink?’ After work. She would get away with going as she was and had chosen to wear the best she had for that very reason.

‘Allison, how lovely to hear from you. Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Where were you thinking?’

They agreed on a rendezvous spot, and she hung up, satisfied.

* * *

When she walked into their chosen venue – a quiet pub Allison had heard one of her colleagues recommend – he was already there, seated in a corner booth with a clear view of the entrance. She saw him immediately and felt her colour rise as she lifted a hand in greeting.

He stood to greet her; they exchanged the usual social kiss to each cheek, his lips lingering longer than they should.

‘A glass of wine,’ he said as he stepped away. It didn’t sound like a question.

‘I’ll get them.’ She smiled and nodded towards the bar. ‘What’ll you have?’

‘No, I’ll get them, I insist,’ he said, pressing her into a seat with a firm hand on her shoulder.

There didn’t seem any point in arguing. She watched him as he stood waiting at the bar to be served. His suit was sharp, well-cut. He held himself like a man who was used to getting what he wanted.

He returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. ‘I’m not driving tonight.’ He gave her a wink and poured wine into both glasses. ‘Tell me about your day. It’s good to talk.’