Hidden in Plain Sight (Detective William Warwick 2)

“Am I dreaming?” said Beth, as she raised her glass. “Because I can’t believe the airline does this for every customer who’s held up overnight.”

“Don’t let’s ask too many questions, or we may find ourselves back in the airport lounge,” William said, as he looked at the double bed and began to unbutton Beth’s jacket.

“Caveman,” she said.

“Some cave,” he replied.

* * *

“She wants what?” said Faulkner.

“Limpton Hall, with all the fixtures and fittings. That includes the seventy-three oil paintings, although she says you can keep the statue of yourself.”

“Anything else, dare I ask?”

“Twenty thousand a year to pay for her staff,” said Booth Watson, “as well as a final settlement of one million pounds.”

“I presume that’s it?”

“Not quite. She keeps all her personal belongings. Jewelry, clothes, etc., plus the Mercedes and Eddie, your chauffeur, who’ll remain on your payroll.”

“Tell her to get lost.”

“I already have, if not in precisely those words.”

“Don’t forget she slept with Warwick in Monte Carlo, and they’re still lovers.”

“I don’t think so, Miles. As you found out first-hand when you turned up at a wedding I advised you not to attend.”

“You wrote my script, in case you’ve forgotten,” Faulkner reminded him.

“Reluctantly,” said Booth Watson.

“But I wasn’t to know Christina would be there.”

“Because unlike you, she’d received an invitation, which would rather suggest they’re not lovers.”

“In any case, it’s still her word against mine.”

“If a jury had to choose between a tearful, wronged wife and a man serving a suspended sentence for fraud, which side do you imagine they’d come down on?”

“It wouldn’t matter, because as you’ve so often told me, a jury can’t be informed about any previous convictions I’ve received.”

“A ridiculous rule, but one that I admit works in your favor. Unless of course any of them have read a national newspaper during the past year.”

“You think it might end up in court?”

“Bound to, if you’re not willing to settle.”

“I’m not going to let go of any of my pictures without putting up a fight,” said Faulkner. “It’s taken me a lifetime to build the collection.”

“If you want to hold on to them, Miles, she’s going to expect something in return. And unfortunately the collection’s worth more than all three houses, the yacht, and the plane put together, none of which she has shown any interest in.”

“Delay the settlement for as long as you can, BW. I might just have another card up my sleeve.”

* * *

Breakfast was served in their suite at ten o’clock the following morning, with copies of the The Times and Telegraph on a side table.