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Declan shook his head. “Only that he managed to get a hold of Luke, who’s still in LA. When asked about whether Dad had a thing for hiring professionals, Luke explained that he did so occasionally.”
“But why take a sleeping pill first?” I asked.
“That’s the thing, he might have taken the sleeping tablet after the sex. It could have been a completely different person who happened to arrive after he’d been with whoever it was.”
“In other words, two mystery visitors,” I said.
He shrugged. We always hit a wall.
The sensor lights came on, and Manon, who was working in the kitchen during functions, stepped outside. Crisp followed her out. They must not have seen us because we sat a few feet away in the dark.
“Manon, c’est un joli nom français pour une belle fille.”
She pulled a face. “I haven’t got a clue what you’re saying.” She popped a cigarette in her mouth.
He lit it and his cigar. “I said that’s a pretty French name and for a pretty girl.”
She shrugged. “Don’t know. My mum came up with it.”
“You’ve never been to France?”
“Nope. This is my first time out of London.”
“Do you like Merivale?” he asked, puffing out smoke.
“Not sure. It’s a bit posh, I guess.”
She leaned against a wall, sucking on her cigarette, and blew the odd smoke ring.
I tipped my head in their direction. “She’s rather precocious for an eighteen-year-old.” I referred to her short skirt and skin-tight top. She was a younger version of her mother. They both wore heavy makeup and made the most of their feminine gifts. I wasn’t attracted, however.
Declan nodded. “He’s hitting on her. That’s fucking plain to see.”
“She’s not exactly pushing him away.”
“No.” Declan didn’t hide his hatred for my mother’s business partner.
I shared my brother’s dislike. Deep down, I suspected he was our father’s killer. He and Mother stood the most to gain. It was an uncomfortable theory I tried to quash, though, despite it floating back to the surface like a cadaver dumped at sea.
Manon screamed, “Don’t!”
Within a second, Drake raced over and grabbed Crisp by the scruff of his neck, shoving him away.
The older man stumbled back and fell on his bum. He got up, smoothed himself down, then pointed his finger into Drake’s face. “How dare you! I’ll have you sacked.”
We ran over to see what was happening.
“Did he try to touch you?” Declan asked Manon.
She seemed more interested in Drake, gazing starry-eyed at the security guard who, in a matter of seconds, had gone from tough guy to mouse as he returned a shy smile.
“Are you okay?” Declan asked her.
Looking unconcerned, she stubbed out her cigarette on the ground. “We were just playing.”
Crisp combed back his hair with his hands and lit another cigar.
Manon swanned off, and the older man’s eyes shone with contempt. “You have no right charging over here like a thug.”
