Roses Are Red - Miranda Rijks Page 0,88

meet for the first time?’

I redden, even though I know I have nothing to hide and have done absolutely nothing wrong. ‘We met via 4everlove.com about three months after Adam died. Our relationship may seem hasty, but please remember that Adam and I were in the process of divorcing.’

‘Yes, so you have said on more than one occasion.’

‘Mr Arya claims that Mr Grant is planting ideas in your head; that he has some bizarre grudge against Mr Arya. What do you think?’

‘No! That’s nonsense. Patrick is just trying to protect his family.’

‘Mmm.’ DC Cornish doesn’t sound convinced.

‘So what’s next? Have you interviewed Ajay again? When are you going to arrest him for Adam’s death?’

‘We have interviewed Mr Arya and we will be doing so again. Rest assured, we are taking this very seriously. In the meantime, please call me if you have any further concerns.’ He stands up. DC White follows suit.

After they have left, I can’t stop thinking about Ajay. Whether or not he is guilty of everything we’re accusing him of, he is going to be livid, and that’s only going to make our fight over the business even more difficult. I simply can’t see a solution and just pray that the police will get to the bottom of everything, quickly now.

I spend the rest of the morning cleaning the house, tidying things away and trying to view my home through the eyes of a stranger. On Saturday, Gail Smithers has organised an open house. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., our home will throw its doors open to strangers, and anyone who might be interested in purchasing it has been invited to have a good snoop around. I hate the concept and tried to persuade Gail that our unique home was much better suited to individual viewings. She was having none of it. In her polite but firm way, she told me that she was the expert in selling expensive houses and that I should allow her to get on with her job to the best of her abilities. Patrick agreed.

By 2 p.m. I am, once again, exhausted and spend the rest of the afternoon asleep. I’m awakened by Gail calling me.

‘Just to let you know that we have had a great deal of interest in your house despite the downturn in the economy. I’m very optimistic for Saturday. My assistant and I will arrive at 9 a.m. to ensure everything is in order, and then I suggest that you and your family make yourselves scarce for the rest of the day.’

‘What!’ I say, trying to focus. ‘Are you saying we’ve got to go out?’

‘Absolutely. There is nothing worse than the owners of the house clipping the wings of prospective buyers. I’ve seen it time and time again. If for any reason the buyers don’t like you, that will get in the way of their liking of the house. And unfortunately, Mrs Palmer, there is a whiff of notoriety about you and your circumstances, for which, of course, you have my deepest condolences, and I would hate to encourage voyeurs and the wrong type of person to the open house. As it stands, I don’t see any reason why prospective buyers should know that you are the owner of the property.’

‘I suppose that makes sense,’ I say, faintly amused by her description of my ‘whiff of notoriety’. I can just imagine that nosey parkers would love to have a snoop around my home.

‘I suggest you remove any photographs of yourself and your immediate family. Let’s have plenty of vases of fresh flowers, and we’ll have coffee on the go in the kitchen, which will bring a lovely aroma to the place. Fingers crossed for a fine day.’

The kids are unimpressed that they need to get up early on Saturday morning, but Patrick has the day planned out for them. One hundred percent his idea.

At 8 a.m., they are both hunched over their bowls of cereal, still in their dressing gowns.

‘We’re going to a racing track this morning, and you’re both going to be driving a Lamborghini, and then a professional racing driver will take you on a high-speed circuit,’ Patrick explains. ‘When we’re done there, we’ll have lunch, and then you can go shopping. If you ask nicely, I’m sure your mum will give you some cash.’

I try not to bristle. Oliver literally bounces off his chair, his fists pumping the air. Mia glances up, a smile twitching at her mouth. I wondered if she would be