Deep Blue Sea

He hesitated, and took another sip of wine. ‘We met in Washington a few weeks ago. We were attending the same economic forum. When we go to these things, Davos, TED, we try and stay in the same hotel, make it social . . . We went for dinner with some friends. Julian left early. I was walking back to my hotel, the Four Seasons, which was where Julian was staying as well, and I saw him with someone.’

‘A woman?’

‘Blonde, pretty, young. I think he saw us – actually, I’m pretty sure that he saw me, because they both scuttled off in the opposite direction.’

‘Who was she?’

‘No idea. I waited for Julian to mention it, but he didn’t, so I assumed he didn’t want to discuss it. What happens in Vegas and all that.’

‘Could it have been someone from the conference?’

Greg looked doubtful. ‘Perhaps, although she looked a bit too young and too beautiful for that.’

‘Just his type then. Could she have been a hooker?’

‘Hooker? You’ve got such a high opinion of him,’ he said sarcastically.

‘I’m not naïve, Greg. I’ve been to conferences like that; the hotel bars are full of them. Escort girls,’ she said pointedly.

‘Yes, she could have been an escort girl,’ he conceded.

Rachel glanced over towards the loos, checking that Diana was not on her way back.

‘So did he use them? Prostitutes – sorry, escorts?’

‘Come on, Rachel.’

‘Greg, this is important . . .’

‘I don’t know. Perhaps. I gather things weren’t electric in the bedroom department at home.’

‘How do you know?’

‘A few things he said. Besides, it figures after everything that Diana had been through recently. The babies.’

‘So the marriage wasn’t back on track?’ She looked at him sharply. What was he trying to imply? She let it slide, using the awkward silence between them to do the work – an old journalist’s trick. Leave a space and let the subject fill it.

‘They worked really hard on it, I’ll say that much. Beyond that, I couldn’t say.’

‘Can’t say or won’t say?’

Greg’s expression hardened. ‘I think I’ve told you more than enough already, considering what you did. More fool Diana if she thinks she can trust you with what you find out.’

‘Look, Greg,’ began Rachel, but he just smiled and pointed behind her. Diana was making her way back across the room. As Greg stood up, he bent to whisper in Rachel’s ear.

‘Watch your step, Rachel Miller,’ he murmured. ‘Diana may have forgiven you, but Julian had a lot of friends, and we’ve all got long memories.’

‘Is that a threat?’

He turned his mouth down into a ‘what, me?’ expression.

‘Everything all right here?’ said Diana as she approached, looking back and forth between them.

‘Of course,’ said Greg. ‘We’ve kissed and made up, isn’t that right, Rachel?’

Rachel forced a smile. ‘Absolutely,’ she said.

‘Was Greg any help?’