False Diamond--An Abbot Agency Mystery by Veronica Heley Page B

Benton getting rid of Dilys. Bea had jumped to the conclusion that Benton planned to divorce his wife. She hadn’t thought of murder. ‘Do you think that he planned to have you staying in the house as an impartial witness when an “accident” kills her?’
    A level gaze from eyes which were more hazel than brown. ‘What do
you
think?’
    She did not want to get involved. ‘I have no idea. There is always gossip, of course.’ She brushed a crumb off her lap. ‘Supposition. Rumour. Slander.’
    â€˜Who is your rumour-monger? You have proof?’
    She shook her head. ‘A loose wire may be no more than a loose wire. Loose talk costs money.’
    One of the office girls came in with a cafetière of coffee and some cups on a tray. She said to Leon, ‘We want to thank you, all of us. It was a lovely thought.’
    â€˜My pleasure.’ Another charming smile. The girl left, also smiling.
    Bea poured coffee.
    He said, ‘Oops. I’ve forgotten the after-dinner mints.’
    â€˜It’s lunchtime.’
    â€˜We’ll have to make sure we have some after dinner tonight, then.’
    â€˜Not tonight. Soon, perhaps.’ She sat back in her chair and tried to think. Max was in trouble, needed her to rescue him … and if she didn’t, if she did nothing, then he’d take out a loan at prohibitive interest rates, knowing him … and lose his money, because Benton was not the man to rescue the fortunes of H & B, was he?
    She said, ‘Why don’t you accept their offer, take charge of the firm and get rid of Benton?’
    â€˜Throwing good money after bad? I know nothing about that sort of business. It would be a disaster. Besides, why should I?’
    She grimaced. ‘You want me to pull your chestnuts out of the fire for you instead?’
    He grinned. ‘It’s worth a try, isn’t it? You have all the skills needed, you dislike Benton and you don’t like the thought of Dilys being hounded to her death. Plus, you’re already involved through Max.’
    Bea looked at the clock. ‘I have a three o’clock appointment. Someone’s references haven’t checked out and I’m not going to find the woman a job until I know what’s happened. I don’t take anyone on without references, you see.’
    â€˜From me, you mean?’ He produced a couple of cards and laid them on her desk. ‘You can check out the sale of my business and my house, if you wish. I believe that sort of information can be accessed through the Internet. Of course, I could be deep in debt and these sales might be keeping me from a debtor’s court. Now, how do you check that?’
    â€˜Have we a mutual friend or acquaintance?’
    â€˜How about my member of parliament? I’m an active and generous supporter of the Liberal party, so he’ll remember me. What else? Do you need a reference as to my character? I promise you I have contracted no particular disease; I am a member of a gym, swim several times a week but don’t do press-ups or weightlifting.’
    Bea tried not to laugh. ‘What about your morals?’
    He raised his hands in mock indignation. ‘No grubbier than most. I am told I was baptized, I know I was confirmed, but I can’t say I go to church on Sundays, except at Christmas and Easter. I sleep soundly, I enjoy my meals and a glass or two of beer in the evenings. I like the Beatles but not the Rolling Stones. I adore Gilbert and Sullivan but abhor Wagner. I read James Patterson, but not Dostoevsky. Will that do?’
    Now she did laugh. ‘I will check, you know.’
    â€˜So you should.’ There was a tap on the door, and he stood. ‘Your appointment, I assume. May I call for you at eight this evening?’
    She nodded, forgetting she’d intended to keep him at arm’s length for a while. Well, why not? ‘Nothing elaborate. A steak house, perhaps? Oh, and