Person or Persons Unknown by Anthea Fraser Page A

hadn’t booked, but a Monday evening shouldn’t be too busy, and she was confident he would squeeze her in. She and Max were regular customers and, hating cooking as she did, she often went alone when he was working.
    Ten minutes later, with Gus at her side, she set off down the avenue and turned into Fullers Walk, at the top of which lay Guild Street, the main shopping area. Dean’s Crescent, however, branched off about two thirds of the way along, winding its way past the restaurant and the offices of
Chiltern Life
to the upper end of Guild Street, and, having crossed it, became Dean’s Crescent North, where she’d left Max an hour or so earlier.
    Dino greeted her with his usual exuberance. ‘Ah signora!
Benvenuto
! You are alone this evening? We will find you a nice table.’
    She was following him across the room when a voice hailed her, and she turned to see Gavin Ridgeway rising to his feet at a table nearby. ‘Rona! Max not with you? Come and join me.’
    â€˜Hello, Gavin. Are you on your own, too?’
    â€˜Magda’s off on a buying trip. Let’s be lonely together!’
    She hesitated, not sure she wanted an evening in Gavin’s exclusive company; it unsettled her that he should look so exactly the same as when they’d been together – attractively irregular features, thick, ash-blond hair. However, she could scarcely decline. With an apologetic glance at Dino, she went to join him, and he pulled out a chair as Dino signalled a waiter to lay another place. She was being foolish, she told herself; their romance was five years in the past and both were now happily married. All the same, an underlying guilt remained that, while considering his proposal, she had met and fallen for Max.
    He handed her the menu and, recalling the appetizing smell of Max’s supper, she ordered
lasagne al forno
.
    â€˜It was a good party the other week,’ she began, as he poured her some wine.
    â€˜Glad you enjoyed it. The trouble with that sort of do is there’s never time for a proper conversation, especially if you happen to be the host.’
    Rona toyed with the roll on her plate. ‘That couple I was talking to when you “rescued” me,’ she began diffidently.
    â€˜The Cranes?’
    â€˜Yes. You were right; I
was
in need of rescuing.’
    He smiled. ‘To be honest, I wasn’t sure they’d fit in, but I like young Crane and he’s been a bit down in the mouth lately.’
    Rona looked up quickly. ‘Oh?’
    â€˜Turns out his wife was adopted, and, now they’re expecting a family, she’s set her heart on tracing her parents.’ He hesitated. ‘And strictly
entre nous
,
they had rather a shock when they looked into it.’
    â€˜Oh?’ Rona said again, conscious of her quickened heartbeat.
    â€˜Her mother had been
murdered
, would you believe?’
    She took a quick decision; Zara had not requested secrecy, and if she undertook the task, her involvement would soon become common knowledge. ‘Actually, Gavin, I know about it,’ she admitted. ‘That’s what I meant about needing to be rescued. She wants me to find her killer.’
    He put down his glass and stared at her. Then he gave a shout of laughter. ‘God, Rona, you’re not serious? How the hell did she …? Ah, I remember now: Magda was proclaiming your successes in that field last time we saw them. I thought at the time young Zara seemed unduly interested. Did she ask you at the party?’
    â€˜Only to discuss something; I went round this afternoon.’
    â€˜Are you going to do it?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’
    Their plates were set before them and they began to eat in silence. Then Rona said tentatively, ‘You say her husband seems depressed?’
    Gavin shrugged. ‘He wants her to drop it, obviously. Thinks it might harm the baby if she has any more upsets. Whether that’s feasible or