Page 38 of A Curious Ending

‘Yes, ah,’ Abby repeated with some asperity.

Lara wished Kate (and Abby) would just stop. Sarah shot her a sympathetic look.

Kate obviously decided nothing would do but for Lara to know the truth about Mr Armstrong. ‘Got it. Right. Mr Armstrong. What can I say.’ Kate downed her sherry in one. ‘Gorgeous of course, unbelievably sexy. The man has just got it. But unbelievably selfish. Acts all concerned, but I don’t think he’s ever helped a soul in his life. Met him a few years ago when I was new in town. He started buzzing around. That’s what the man does. Spots the newest woman and off he goes like a randy hound.’

In the reflection in the window, Lara saw Abby place her fingertips on her forehead. This might have been to shield her eyes, but Lara suspected she was laughing.

‘I will say this for the man, he makes it very hard for a girl to say no. I mean that face, those lips, that arse. There’s just something about him…’

‘They said exactly the same of Major Norton, the Margate Strangler, and we know how that ended,’ Abby offered to the room.

‘Oh my God!’ Kate exclaimed, as if remembering something. ‘When I saw you out with him in that restaurant I wasn’t laughing at you.’ Kate leant towards Lara, her anxiety returning. ‘My God, did you think that? No, no,’ Kate shook her head, ‘it’s just the man and I have history.’

Kate continued, more moderately, as if trying to explain something. ‘He finds something you’re into. With me it was bands. Then he pretends he is into the same stuff. Clever really,’ she reflected.

All Lara could think of was freesias. In particular a large and very beautiful bunch that had once been left on her backstep after an argument. She had thought they were going out but had seen Julian in town with another woman. He had explained it away… she stood out against him. But then when the freesias appeared she had weakened.

Kate hadn’t finished. ‘At the end of the day it’s really all about him playing the field while having a current target that’s top of his list to keep things interesting. The man likes a challenge. He pretended he was confused by how much he liked me. He was “working things through”, didn’t want to “lead me on” but I was like this drug… we had this connection. Connection my arse.’

Lara felt herself go rigid with shock. The familiarity of the phrases made her squirm with embarrassment. So these were just his usual lines. How could she have fallen for all of them?

Kate wasn’t finished. ‘Bloody cheek!’ she said, warming to her theme. ‘Assuming I wanted to end up with him!’ She suddenly grinned. ‘But there’s no denying he’s hot. Decided best get it out the way or we would be circling each other for months. Life’s too short for all of that. So I went over to his office, knocked on his door, grabbed him by his tweedy jacket and old school tie and shagged him on the desk. Only way.’

Sarah sat back laughing. Lara was speechless.

There was something between a giggle and snort from behind Lara.

Kate leant across the table and patted Lara’s hand. ‘And you know what? He may call himself an Exclusive Rural Property Consultant but at the end of the day he’s just an estate agent.’

“’Hear, hear!’ cheered the ghost.

‘Did you see him again, you know, afterwards?’ Lara was intrigued.

‘No. No need. Got it out my system.’ Kate was adamant.

Lara suddenly joined in with laughter. ‘Wow, you make me feel better,’ she told Kate. ‘I’d thought everyone was talking about me and Julian,’ she confessed.

‘He’s not worth it, Lara. Kick him to the kerb and move on.’ Kate poured them both another glass of sherry and clinked her glass with hers.

‘She’s right you know,’ Sarah agreed, and Lara felt something shift in her. Maybe next time she saw Julian she would feel different, recognise him for what he was. Really be able to move on instead of slipping back into his bed.

Sarah placed another tray of tapas on their table. She took one plate of sliced avocado and salsa and put it in front of Abby. ‘For absent friends,’ she said.

Lara smiled. She thought Abby might be smiling too but it was hard to tell from a reflection.

‘Anyway,’ Sarah said to Lara, ‘back to Lady Porter. Have you been thinking about who else might have...’ she seemed reluctant to say the word.

‘Murdered Lady P?’ interposed the helpful Kate.

Abby clapped.

Lara took a deep breath and took them through their thinking so far. She included the visit to Jason’s shop, but implied she had spotted the Meissen china while arranging the flowers in the back, and then vaguely referred to Jason hanging around Gillmore House. She talked about the vicar’s expectation of a legacy for the church and what she knew of the will, but didn’t mention Joe. (She made this all sound like hearsay.) Then she discussed in general terms what she knew of Lady Porter’s relationship with her son and daughter-in-law and how they appeared to be short of money. Without including the other things she had found out with Abby it did not seem to her that it amounted to much. However, Sarah and Kate seemed to think there was food for thought and they discussed it while finishing off the last of the tapas.

Kate then recalled Lady Porter mentioning some paintings or it might have been ornaments she thought had gone missing, and they added this into the mix. When they pressed her for more, Kate admitted she wasn’t concentrating on her words at the time as she had reached a tricky bit in the colouring of Lady Porter’s hair.

Lara asked, ‘Did Lady Porter ever mention her will when you were with her?’

Kate shook her head. ‘It’s not the sort of thing you chat about when you’re having your hair done.’