Dead Man's Dinner - Una Gordon Page 0,16

that he wouldn't be able to visit that evening because he wasn't feeling too well. Less than five minutes after that call, the phone rang. It was Diana, agitated to say the least. When he spoke to her, he was amazed at how calm he sounded – how easily the lies slid off his tongue. “Oh, darling, sorry about this. I've developed quite a bad throat. I saw the quack at work ( didn't want Diana checking up with their own doctor) and he said it was just a slight infection and that it would be safer not to expose you to it. Not in your condition.” He gave a forced laugh.

“You're sure it's nothing much.” He recognised the mother hen note in her voice. Oh, yes, she'd make an ideal mother, but apparently it wasn't the only thing she was good at. He felt his heart momentarily harden, but he just could not say or do anything to upset her.

“I wouldn't even have thought twice about it if it hadn't been for your condition.”

“Look after yourself then. Daddy's got to be well.” She uttered some silly phrases which they often used when speaking to each other in private and he had great difficulty in replying in like vein.

He had intended to take a couple of Diana's sleeping pills and go straight to bed, but he sat down with a drink and started to watch television. Some time later the doorbell rang and standing at the door were Diana's parents.

“We looked in on Diana this evening and she was so worried about you that we said we'd call just to make sure you were all right. You know what she's like,” burbled her mother. “She's such a sweet girl - always so concerned for others, even in her present condition.”

If only you knew what your sweet girl had been up to, thought Gary!

There was no alternative, but to invite them in. Mrs Steadman, Diana's mother, insisted on making tea which he didn't want. She went on and on about Diana and all her virtues until Gary could have screamed, but without being extremely rude there was nothing he could do. George, his father-in-law, as usual, said very little except to agree tacitly with his wife.

“Now, I've been thinking,” said Doris ( Mrs Steadman) after about an hour and a half, “it isn't good for you to be here on your own. You must come home with us. It'll stop you worrying and there'll be a hot meal waiting for you when you come home at night. We shan't take no for an answer, shall we George?”

“No, Doris dear,” replied George who would have agreed to anything his wife suggested.

Gary thought fast. “It's very kind of you, but this is nearer the hospital.”

“Not all that much nearer.”

“And my clients have this phone number in case they want to contact me.”

“How often does that happen – only once in a blue moon? As she said this Gary was aware that the phone had remained uncooperatively silent since his parents-in-law had arrived. He was beginning to feel desperate when the doorbell rang again. Hurriedly he made his escape, hoping he'd be able to think of some other excuse before he came back.

At the door stood Eric, the husband of the couple who lived in the flat below and with whom they were quite friendly.

“We were just wondering how Diana was?” said Eric.

“She's as well as can be expected,” replied Gary, at the same time putting his finger warningly to his lips. Eric looked puzzled and even more so when Gary went on, “I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it's nothing serious. Going tonight, are you? Of course I'd be pleased to feed and walk the dog for you – no trouble at all.” At Eric's look of blank amazement, Gary pointed frantically to the sitting room door. “Diana's parents,” mouthed Gary silently and Eric cottoned on. He nodded in comprehension.

“Oh, that's very good of you, Gary. I hope the news of Diana continues to be good.”

“I hope she soon recovers,” Gary responded.

“What?” said Eric. “Oh, yes, my mother-in-law. Oh yes, yes. I'll be off then. Give our regards to Diana.”

Gary leaned against the closed door in relief. He knew Doris would not have missed a word of what was said. She looked up sharply as he returned to the sitting room. “I thought you weren't supposed to keep pets in these flats.”

Damn, she would remember that, thought Gary – memory like an