Page 55 of The Truth Will Out
“Tell me about it. If you want to call the wedding off because of the way I’ve treated you, I quite understand.”
He stared at his cup and scratched his head. “I’m going to need to seriously consider what our relationship means to me because, from what you’ve just said, you seem undecided about whether you can trust me.” He pushed back his chair and left the table.
Sam was mortified that he would choose to walk out on her, but after a moment’s reflection, she shrugged.
Who can blame him? I’ve treated him no better than a common criminal and blamed him for something that he apparently had no control over.
The waitress appeared like a fairy godmother beside her. “Sorry to intrude. You seem upset. Is everything all right?”
“I don’t know. Thanks for the coffee; it was lovely. Although I’m surprised it didn’t choke me.” She stood and pushed her chair under the table.
“Please don’t leave like this. You’re obviously upset. I’d hate it if you got in your car and had an accident.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve had to deal with more than a relationship breakup in the past.”
“What? But you’re supposed to be getting married. Didn’t you say he was your fiancé?”
“He was. I don’t know if he still is, not after this. I guess I’ll find out the answer to that when I go home this evening.”
“How sad. Wishing you all the best. Perhaps it’s a case of wedding day jitters.”
Sam smiled. “If only that were true. Thank you for caring.”
“I hope your day gets better for you.”
“Christ, it can’t get any worse.”
Sam smiled again and weaved her way back through the tables to the front door. She peered down the street and spotted Rhys marching towards his office, his head bowed low and his shoulders slumped in resignation. Sam’s heart went out to him. She cursed herself for overreacting and causing a rift in their relationship.
I’ll be lucky if it is a rift. I’m fearing the worst—that this might be the end of us.
She crossed the street, got back in the car, and even thought about chasing after Rhys, but the second she set off, she changed her mind.
Sam didn’t have time to dwell on it. Her phone rang, and Bob’s name showed up on the screen. “I’m on my way back. I should be about ten minutes. What’s up?”
“Good. You can pick me up. We’ve got another body.”
“Shit! I’ll be there soon.” She ended the call and slammed her flattened hand against the steering wheel.
Haven’t we got enough? Give me a lead that will bring me face to face with you, at least, you bastard!
6
At the scene, Sam struggled to figure out how a doctor could be found dead in his consulting room halfway through the day. She asked for clarification from the receptionist.
“I was asked to cancel all his appointments until this afternoon. He also told me to come in late today as I wouldn’t be needed.”
Sam glanced around the empty waiting room. The second surgery she’d visited this week, both empty, and yet there was outcry from the general public about the need to sit on the phone every morning in the hope of being offered an appointment. The new system was a sham, a disgrace to society, especially if this was the result.
“I see. What time did you arrive?”
“Just after two. I saw Dr Trigg’s car was out the back, and when I came in, his door was closed. I presumed he didn’t want to be disturbed and that he was either catching up on paperwork or on a call to a patient.”
“What time did you find him?”
“It was a good half an hour later, so around two-thirty, give or take.” She sniffled and wiped her nose. Tears dripped onto her cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m trying my best to hold it together. It’s not easy, not after seeing him like that. It was such a shock.”
“I’m sure it was. Are you alone here?”
