Page 103 of Dead to Me

Rachel was listening in at this point because she wanted an excuse to talk to the handsome guy.To this James.But after she’d positioned herself for a proper look she found herself staring.And not at him.

The tall blonde woman in the silver-and-black dress looked… terrified.

She was sheet-white, and standing absolutely stock-still between them, looking like she wasn’t on the same planet.The person she was looking at–staringat– was an older guy across from them.

Rachel retrieved the glass she’d been bending to get and turned to look at the other guy.He looked… odd.Like he was in a film instead of just being one of the guests.He was maybe forty, but not bad-looking either, and clearly buff.His way of standing advertised that he worked out.And even though it was dark, he was wearing sunglasses.

Why’s she scared of him?Rachel thought, her skin prickling.

But while she was trying to make sense of it two other guys came over.They were student age, and not threatening-looking, but they looked like they could handle themselves in a fight.She felt better, seeing them arrive.

If she’s worried about this guy, they can look after her,she thought.

The blond newcomer slid his arm round the girl in the silver-and-black dress and said, ‘OK, all set.Time for some fireworks.’

The group moved, blocking the silver-and-black figure from view.But Rachel could still hear it when the girl said, ‘Is this how it happens?Is this how you murder someone in public?’

She felt her heart jerking at that.Why was she saying that?What was going on?

‘What…?Are you OK, Aria?’It was the guy who’d put his arm round her.‘You look seriously out of it.Did you take something?Fucking hell, your pupils…’

Rachel glanced back towards the man with the sunglasses.He took a step forwards, and then stopped.

Did he… give her something?

‘She needs some water, that’s all.’It was a loud, firm comment.Surprisingly so, coming from James, the super-hot guy she’d first caught sight of.He’d seemed kind of shy, before.Her type.‘Come on, Aria,’ he was saying now.‘I’ll get you sorted out.You guys find us somewhere to stand.’

Rachel found herself frowning at them, watching as James looped the blonde girl’s arm round his shoulder and started steering her away.She looked barely able to walk.She was leaning heavily against him, and when she briefly glanced back towards the guy in sunglasses it was with wide, terrified eyes.

She’s definitely taken something,Rachel thought, feeling a shudder run down her spine.Not party drugs, though.Unless she’s just taken too much?

She thought about stepping in.About telling them this woman needed help.

‘Look, I should be the one taking care of her,’ the blond guy said.

‘Honestly, I want something to take my mind off the sodding fireworks,’ James shot back.‘It’ll take me five minutes to take her to get some water.Please.’

The blonde girl turned and grinned at the other guy.‘I’m OK.Don’t need looking after.Just need a little H2O.See you in a second, Kit.’

OK,Rachel thought with a feeling of intense relief.She’s OK.

The taller guy, Kit, seemed torn for a moment, but then gave her a nod and a smile.

‘OK.Bring me back a champagne, will you, James?’

‘On it,’ James called, already leading the girl away.

Rachel watched them weave away across the grass, illuminated by the fairy lights and orb lights around the bar.And then they crossed the boundary of the lit area, and the two of them vanished into shadow.

40.Reid

Reid could tell that Seaton was both hurt and angry, but he wasn’t sure whether it was aimed at him.

He knew he could have explained about Esther and Philip earlier to soften the blow, but he’d been afraid of what might happen if he’d started throwing accusations around without any proof.At the worst end of the spectrum, Seaton might have warned Philip.And if Anna was still alive, then the last thing he should do was to make Philip feel under threat.

Reid also hadn’t beencompletelysure about Philip.There had still been a chance Esther had been having an affair with Kit’s father, Roland.There was even a tiny chance of her boyfriend being Marcus Jaffett, who was apparently a known womaniser.Though he’d pretty much counted that out, given Ryan had been the one blackmailing everyone.

A very small part of him had even wondered, fleetingly, if the older man might be Seaton himself But every instinct he had about him had fought with that, and his instincts had been right.

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