Rough Cut Read Online Free Page A

trying to work out why anyone would want to kill her brother. She couldn’t believe that it was simply because he had caught a burglar in the house. Nicole cried quietly throughout the short journey.
       In the black Daimler limousine behind them were Jeremy and Anna with Nicole’s father, Philippe Lacoste, who had flown in from Nice the night before. Philippe knew the Baineses quite well, both through Nicole and also as a result of renting boats to them on their frequent visits to the South of France. Several other cars followed on behind.
       Watery sunshine broke through the clouds for the first time that day as the cortege passed through the bleak, wrought iron cemetery gates and wound down the narrow road to the bottom of the hill. When all the cars had rolled to a halt, the funeral director led his men to the back of the hearse where, slowly and reverently, they removed the coffin and placed it on their shoulders. Led by Nicole and Eloise, the mourners followed on behind, their footsteps silent on the freshly cut grass. At the grave side the minister from their local church delivered the final words.
       “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust… in sure and certain hope…”
       Eloise squinted up at the sun and felt the warm rays on the soft skin of her face as she did. Her brother was dead and yet, somehow, she felt strangely peaceful in that place. She could hear the birds singing in the nearby trees and the scent of flowers from the many bouquets drifted past her.
       And then it was over and the coffin was lowered into the grave. First Nicole and then Eloise tossed a small scoop of earth onto the coffin and left to return to the cars. Eloise sighed a deep sigh and turned to her mother.
       “They will catch whoever did this, won’t they?” She looked up at her mother’s face and saw the tears welling up in her eyes.
       “Of course they will, sweetheart. Of course they will.”
       But Eloise knew that in the week since Rob’s death the police had made virtually no progress with the case. The post mortem had told them nothing new and their effort had been reduced to two men, for whom the case would just be one of many.
       Back at Darrington Hall, the mourners wandered between the sitting room and the dining room where the food which Anna had prepared was laid out. On each visit they piled their small plates high with a selection from the lavish spread.
       Eloise watched her mother smile painfully at the people who went over to convey their sympathy. She knew how difficult she was finding it and she was glad that mostly people were leaving her alone. She felt for her mother having to deal with this without her father and recalled what her mother had told her about how they had met. They had both been students at Oxford University at the time and they had met a few months after Nicole had experienced a difficult break up with her previous boyfriend. A whirlwind romance had followed and Nicole had never looked back. Eloise sighed and hoped that one day she would meet someone about whom she would feel that strongly. As she was lost deep in thought, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.
       “Hello, you,” said a sympathetic voice; Jeremy Baines had crept up behind her.
       “Oh, hi Jeremy.” Eloise’s voice lacked any real conviction that she was pleased to see him but her smile was warm.
       When, a month earlier, Jeremy had offered her the job with his company, she had been happy to accept it. The offer had been an attractive one, good pay and interesting work organising and managing the company’s promotional events throughout Europe.
       As her mind wandered back to the scene before her, Jeremy continued to try to engage her in conversation.
       “How are you liking the job?” he asked, “Have you settled in all right with us?”
       “Hmm? Oh, yes. Fine, thanks,” replied Eloise, reluctantly dragging herself back into Jeremy’s presence and giving him her full