A Cornish Revenge (The Loveday Ross Cornish Mysteries Book 1) by Rena George Page B

hand shook as she punched in Martin’s number, then immediately cancelled it. Wait, she told herself. Think first! In her mind’s eye she could see Paul, as he’d looked last Friday evening, striding across the room towards her. He hadn’t expected her to return. She’d forgotten her mobile. His grip tightened round the brandy glass he was holding as he tipped the contents down his throat. He slammed it down on the desk, his face contorted with rage.
      ‘Did you think I didn’t know about your fancy man?’ He’d moved forward, and his mouth was twisted into an evil grin. She could feel his breath on her skin. ‘I’ve had you followed…Oh yes,’ he scowled, ‘you didn’t know that, did you? Well you and your holy boyfriend – or should I say unholy boyfriend? – You’re going to get what’s coming to you…won’t that be a nice little scandal?’
      Magdalene’s throat tightened. She’d tried to speak, to explain, but no words came.
      ‘Well, what’s wrong little girl?’ he leered, ‘Is Daddy not here to bail you out any more?’
      Magdalene moved away from him, but Paul grabbed her arm, ‘You didn’t really think I was going to let you get away with this…did you?’
      Her fists tightened and the fear that had initially gripped her suddenly turned to fury. She rounded on him, lifting her chin to match his venom with her own. ‘No Paul, not this time! This time I’m giving the orders…and you’ll do nothing.’
      He raised his hand and she thought he was about to strike her, but he stepped back, his face registering disbelief. She took courage from that and pushed him further away. ‘It stops here!’ she screamed. ‘All your evil plots…they stop right here!’
      But the sneer was back on his face. ‘Oh yes?’ he taunted. ‘And just what do you plan to do about it?’
      Suddenly she knew exactly what she was going to do about it. He stared after her as she ran. Her mind was made up. There was no other way!
      Reliving the ugly scene had left her drained. She poured herself a gin and drank it down straight, then rang the mobile she had bought Martin for their exclusive use.
    His voice, when he answered, was muffled. ‘For pity’s sake, Mags. We agreed not to call each other. I’ve had to come out of a meeting.’
      Magdalene’s temper snapped. ‘I’m sorry if this is inconveniencing you, Reverend.’ She hated hearing the sarcasm in her voice but was helpless to stop it. ‘You haven’t heard the news, have you?’ She tried to keep her tone steady but it rose alarmingly on the final word.
      ‘What news?’ he snapped. Martin had moved along the corridor of the youth centre where his meeting was taking place.
      ‘It’s him! They’ve found him, Martin.’ Her voice wavered and she held the edge of the table to steady her. ‘I think they’ve found Paul’s body.’
      Hesitantly she recounted the details of the news bulletin.
      ‘Calm down, darling.’ Martin tried to speak soothingly. She sounded as if she was falling apart. He had to think fast.
      ‘I’m going to the police.’ Magdalene said flatly.
      ‘No! We need to think about this.’ He could see his world collapsing. They had done a terrible thing and there would be no forgiveness once it came to light. It had all started so innocently that first day when she came to him. He’d noticed her in church, of course. Who hadn’t? A chic, stylish, beautiful young woman stood in his church. But she didn’t seem to notice the envious glances of the other female parishioners, or the more meaningful stares of the men in his congregation. That Sunday, as he stood at the door of the church after the service shaking hands with his parishioners as they filed out, she had held his hand just a bit longer than the others. It prompted him to ask if she was all right. She smiled and nodded her thanks, but he noticed that she had lingered in the churchyard until the last people had gone. He waited as she