clean clothes. I think it’s inevitable that she’ll be arrested. They have the text she sent him to set up the meeting at the farm, and they have her there all covered in blood. But it’ll be okay Max. We’ll find out who did it, I can promise you that. Ellie asked me to contact a solicitor for her, so we just need to offer as much support as we can.’
Leo put a glass down on the table in front of Tom, but much as he looked like he needed it, she wasn’t surprised when he didn’t touch it. No doubt he thought there would be some more driving ahead tonight. Clearly deciding that nobody would mind, Tom walked over to the kettle and switched it on.
48
Gary Bateman was seriously sick of his wife. She had no idea what his life was like, and how he had to cope with a crap job just so they could live in a half decent house and not have to look like the riffraff of the village. Not that she would care. No aspirations - that was her problem. ‘I just want to be happy,’ was her favourite moan. Stupid bitch.
He walked over to the curtains and released them from their absurd tie backs. He didn’t want the world to see what she had coming to her. Of all the brainless things to do. He couldn’t believe it when she’d admitted she had told Leo Harris about the Porsche - what day he’d picked it up, and how long he’d had it. He always knew Penny would be the weak spot in the plan. The whole world thought he’d been driving a bright red Porsche since last Thursday, and then blob-gob Penny had to screw it up. It was okay her saying that Leo didn’t notice or comment, but Leo was nobody’s fool. He’d told Penny not to let her in the house. He knew Leo’s type – they wheedled their way in until they found everybody’s darkest secrets.
He was fairly confident that Ellie hadn’t seen him that night - or at least not recognised his car. He would love to know what she’d been up to, but could never ask. He would have been in the clear. Nobody even knew he’d been out; well, at least nobody who was going to admit it. Fucking Penny.
He pulled the curtains together in anger, but just as they were closing he thought he saw some movement in the garden. He pulled one back again and peered out, but there was nothing there. Must have been a cat, he thought. Once he’d finished with Penny, he would go and chase the damn thing off. He didn’t want a handful of cat crap next time he was weeding round the roses. Where the hell was that stupid Smudge when he was needed?
But he knew where he’d be. Lying by Penny’s feet as she sobbed again. Christ, what a life.
Sean had improved things a bit with the wodge of cash that he’d handed over last night. He’d still not said who his private investor was, but Gary suspected it was that supercilious twat Charles. And wouldn’t he like to stuff ’em both so that Charles lost his money. Nothing would give him greater pleasure. He had a good mind to delay the permission, just to put the wind up them both. Or maybe he would find some reason to refuse it altogether. Hah!
On second thoughts, he wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Sean Summers. He appeared to be the gentle giant type, but Gary had seen his jaw set firm when somebody wound him up, and much as he could look after himself, he suspected that Sean might play dirty. He’d have to think about how best to deal with him - but for now, Penny needed teaching a lesson.
‘Penny,’ he yelled up the stairs. ‘Get down these bloody stairs. Now. You don’t want me to have to come and get you, do you?’
This last week had been shit. His cock tease of a would-be mistress had given him the brush off too. She was talking bollocks, though. He was going to sort it after the weekend. Nobody treated Gary Bateman like crap.
‘Penny! I’m not telling you again. Get down these fucking stairs.’
Penny appeared on the landing. Her face was blotchy with tears, but there was a stubborn set to her mouth that Gary didn’t like at all.
‘No,’ she said. She put her hands on