Murder in Time Read Online Free Page B

Their only surviving child, Diana, took after him in spades. She said, ‘That was the year Diana got married, first time round. Baby Frank was born that September – and look at him now, in the football team and doing well at school.’
    He grinned. ‘I shouldn’t ask, but was Diana still as … demanding … then?’
    Ellie gave a sad little laugh. ‘Worse. Her expectations were always high, and she gave her first husband a bad time of it. I suppose that that marriage never really had a chance. To think of it, there’s you and me and Diana all happily married second time round.’
    â€˜Well, Diana’s second is a man who’s up to her weight, and she’s got herself a new baby whom she adores.’ He grimaced. ‘I shouldn’t have said that about Diana’s husband.’
    Ellie grinned. ‘It’s unlike you to say anything bad about anyone. But yes, it’s true. He is a better match for her than her first husband, who was inclined to give in to her at every point. A bit like me and my first husband. In the old days, I believed it was right to give him his way about everything. It’s only later I realized that that comes at a price.’ She went to stand beside Thomas, nudging his shoulder with hers. ‘How very fortunate we are to have met one another.’
    He put his arm around her. ‘And here we are, getting along fine. Our lines have indeed fallen in pleasant places. Living in this big old house, waited on hand and foot—’
    She looked at her watch, which still said three o’clock. ‘Except, oh dear, we won’t have any supper unless I do something about it. Cold meat and salad do you?’
    â€˜I’ll do some chips. I don’t think Vera’s going to be up to cooking tonight, and Rose—’
    â€˜You shouldn’t have chips.’ Thomas was supposed to be on a diet, but he wasn’t serious about it. ‘Rose was going to bake a cake this afternoon, but she may not have been up to it, either.’ Ellie was worried. ‘That man wants Mikey, and he’s backed by wealth and power. If Abdi takes his claim to court, what chance does Vera have? She worked as a cleaner for years, and it’s only this last year she’s been able to go to college and study for a business degree.’
    â€˜Mikey’s a strong enough character to make his own way in the world without asking his father for favours.’
    â€˜But will he see it that way? He’s young. If he has the chance of living in a world where money is no object, if he’s offered foreign travel and the latest in gadgets, if he knew he could go to university without having to work too hard, wouldn’t he plump for that?’
    Thomas was silent.
    Ellie scrabbled around in her head for an idea. And one popped up, just when it was needed. ‘But … if … just suppose that it was Abdi who killed the doctor?’
    â€˜What?’ He dropped his arm from her shoulders. ‘Ellie, what grounds have you for thinking that?’
    Her smile was innocence itself. ‘I just thought it would be a neat solution if he turned out to be the murderer.’
    â€˜Now then …’ He shook his head at her. ‘You mustn’t start rumours.’
    â€˜Er, no. But you must agree it would be a satisfactory solution.’
    â€˜Don’t even think of it … Ellie, I know that look of yours. You mustn’t interfere. Vera and Abdi need to work things out for themselves.’
    â€˜Don’t you think Vera could do with a little help up against a man like that?’
    â€˜Indeed.’
    She knew what he was going to say about it, and he did.
    â€˜I shall put in some praying time.’
    She nodded, the very picture of a submissive little wifey. But, she told herself, she was no longer the browbeaten woman of her first marriage. She’d learned to stand up for herself. She had resources in the