Swindled (15 page)

Chapter 28

Since Brian’s death, Beth and Vickie had gone through every family and friend they had to notify them of Brian’s death and his funeral. His secretaries at the office had called around to do the same with all his business associates. By the big day, Beth felt they had contacted just about everyone possible. Where they couldn’t speak to people directly, they left messages to explain about the funeral.

The net result of all that work was that there could be any number of mourners turning up to pay their respects. Beth rather thought it was more likely to be in the single digits given the response of some of the people she had spoken to. Brian had burnt a lot of bridges.

At about eight in the morning of the funeral, Beth came downstairs to find Vickie and Scott making breakfast. Around them the caterers were starting to unpack the tools of their trade. All the pre-prepared food was already lined up on the kitchen counters. The bar was being set up at the one end of the kitchen and the doors to the garden were open. Thankfully the weather was nice enough that the majority of people would probably loiter outside with the help of the gas heaters scattered on the lawn. The perfect day, Beth decided, for a brunch with wine and a dead body holding court in the front room.

After a long discussion with the funeral brokerage earlier in the morning on the merits of a few of the finer points of funeral details Beth had extracted numerous apologies but no retrieval of the body. Apparently, if it were any consolation, there was a family not far from here who were irate that their dearly beloved was still packed away in a freezer rather then being ensconced in the family home. No Beth decided, it really wasn’t a consolation. The funeral home where the body was to be held in state was not available. The long and the short of it was that Brian’s body was staying with them.

Beth was downing some much deserved coffee as she walked up the entry hall to answer the door. There standing on her doorstep were Karin, Charlotte and Bee bearing comical expressions of extreme sadness. Beth laughed. It was just what she needed to help her face the rest of the day. En-mass they headed into the study to hide from any more disasters that might be lurking waiting for them. It was a room thankfully dead body free. Instead it was filled to the brim with lingerie in piles, patterns pinned to the walls and stacked boxes filled with fabrics. With sighs of relief, her three friends threw themselves into the overstuffed chairs that were buried under everything.

“Ugh I can’t believe that you have a dead body in the house,” Bee started after Beth explained about the uninvited guest residing in a coffin in the front room. Charlotte just rolled her eyes and Karin sat hunched in the chair quietly snickering. They had all come to expect this kind of thing when she was involved, Beth decided.

Charlotte smirked, “What, don’t you remember Beth’s last boyfriend? We had bets going to whether he had a pulse or not.” They all laughed including Beth. That had been a short-lived and uneventful relationship.

“To tell you the truth I sometimes wondered as well. Now tell me why all of you are here so early. I can’t believe that all three of you are willing to spend even a minute more time then you have to with Brian. Even if he is dead,” Beth said slinging her legs up on the desk as she leaned and surveying her kingdom.

“We thought you would need a little help getting ready for the party,” Charlotte muttered as she pawed through a box at her feet. She pulled out a bra and held it in front of her, “what do you think girls? Do I suit red lace and feathers?”

“Mmm, I think you might be more of a purple silk with pink ribbons,” said Beth as she tossed a version of it to her friend. “By the way, I am expecting all of you to last to the end of this. We need to celebrate another death in style.”

“Oh goodie… who are we going to kill today then?” asked Karin who was practically bouncing in her chair with glee.

“It’s not a joking matter Karin,” Bee said as she made a shushing movement with her hand. “They really think Beth may have had something to do with it.” Beth looked fondly over at her friend. Bee was sitting perched at the edge of her chair trying not to crush the materials under her. Charlotte had simply pushed most of the contents of her seat onto the floor and Karin was sitting squarely on top of everything. They really were all one of a kind.

“Nonsense,” said Charlotte. “They must know that they are barking up the wrong tree. Besides they don’t have any evidence to suggest any of us were anywhere near him. And at the time he met his untimely end he had made quite a few enemies. All we have to do is wait for the police to use their brains and find the real killer.”

“There’s no hope for us then is there?” Karin retorted and they all laughed. She continued, “Which brings us back to whose death we are celebrating after the funeral.”

Beth took a deep breath and put her feet back down on the floor. “Not whose… what. We’ve decided its time to call it a day with the business,” she said quietly. She didn’t want it to be a big issue. After all the discussions and debates, it seemed like it was the right thing to do.

“I’m sorry Beth,” Karin said. Her former gaiety stilled. The study was quiet and all three friends had sat up to look at Beth.

“So am I,” Bee said looking sincere and sad. None of them would have wanted it to come to this Beth knew.

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” Charlotte, ever the optimist, asked. She had stopped fiddling with the bra and looked like she was really concentrating as if she was trying to come up with one of her outrageous ideas.

“Look there is no real option. If we don’t get orders in by the end of the week, as in tomorrow, we won’t be able to make the payments,” Beth took a deep breath and tried to smile. “So we’re going to mortgage this house to make the repayment in full. That way, in a few years, we can try and launch the company again. It just makes sense,” Beth explained with a shrugged. It didn’t even hurt that much to think about it anymore. The tears would come she was sure but for now, well they had a plan and a plan that would work. She couldn’t ask for anything else.

“How are you feeling about it?” Bee asked gently.

“Doesn’t this add a big financial drain? You might loose the house if you can’t make the repayments. You’ve managed so far to keep it free and clear. Isn’t there anything else you can do?” Karin looked like she was going to cry for Beth. They had come so close to realising their dream. It was an emotionally charged moment.

“Well Vickie, Scott and I figured it will be okay. With the baby coming and trying to sort out things, it’s probably better to take time out for a few years. I’ve even got a job interview lined up. Repayments shouldn’t be too difficult. Scott and I will pool our salaries. We’re just really lucky that Vickie and I inherited this house; otherwise it would have been a complete disaster. It could be a lot worse.” Beth explained. She had actually come to terms with putting the company on hold. It was heartening though that her friends were heartbroken for her. They would always be there with their support and to Beth that was worth more then any company.

“Agreed,” Charlotte said pulling herself upright. She had done the bra up over her top and looked ridiculous but she sounded serious.

“Yup if you are feeling okay with this then we’re behind you,” Karin nodded.

“Hey I think we should see the company out in style,” Charlotte suddenly said smiling at Beth.

“What?” Bee glanced at Charlotte and started giggling.

“Let’s see it off in style,” she repeated tossing a bra at Beth and another at Karin. “I think we should use the funeral to parade your wares one last time. It’s what Brian would have wanted,” Charlotte continued earnestly. Well it was one of Charlotte’s crazy ideas, Beth had to admit. It wasn’t about to save the company but it might be fun so why not she thought.

“This is his funeral! How could he have wanted that?” Karin asked with a big smile on her face. Beth started laughing. She couldn’t help it. Only her friends would consider doing what she thought they were about to do. Beth shook her head in mock despair as she picked up the bra that Charlotte had thrown her way.

“Well a load of women in sexy underwear wandering around his sublime body would have made him a very happy man.” Charlotte said with a shrug as she dug once again through the pile of silks next to her.

“He’s dead!” Bee exclaimed outraged. Apparently she wasn’t sure that what they were planning was entirely appropriate for the occasion.

“Yes, well you can’t have it all. Or rather he couldn’t,” Charlotte said nonchalantly and shrugged again. “Think of it as a kind of launch,’ she pursed her lips at one of the outfits she found and then dropped it back into its pile. She gave a cheerful grin at Beth and winked.

“Okay you’re on,” Beth agreed suddenly moving into action. “Why not?”

Ten minutes later, Vickie poked her head around the door and burst into laughter.

“What on earth are you four doing?” she asked coming more fully into the room with a hand over her mouth. She was trying to stifle her giggles but it wasn’t working. Beth smiled at her sister fondly. It was fun to see their creations at work so to speak. It was the levity they needed.

Standing in the middle of the room Karin was braced against the work table. She was being tied into a black leather bra and corset combo with black faux feathers which framed her pushed up bust. With her pale porcelain doll like face and her blond hair falling in curls from a high up ponytail, Karin looked like an exotic dessert in bondage. A topless Charlotte was cursing under her breath as she tugged at the ribbons at Karin’s back trying to get everything tucked in. Karin, Bee, Vickie and Beth were beside themselves with laughter watching as Charlotte fought with the ties.

“We’re dressing up for the occasion. Care to join us?” Beth asked holding up a peek-a-boo number. Charlotte was right she figured. This might be the only chance to ‘launch’ the range. It seemed sort of fitting somehow that it would be at Brian’s funeral.

Vickie giggled.

“Why not?” she asked echoing Beth’s feelings and stepped up to the table.

Bee pulled a white frothy creation from the pile in front of her and said “I have just the thing.” Beth smiled as she looked up. That little number would just perfect. In minutes, Vickie had pulled off the stretchy low black scoop necked top she was wearing and was pulling it on. When she was redressed, there was a soft flutter of white peeping over the edge of the neckline. It showed Vickie’s engorged cleavage off to its full pre-birth advantage.

Bee meanwhile had opted for a turquoise number that offset her chocolate brown eyes and sleek black hair. She had added a matching piece of ribbon to tie all that hair back from her face making her look exotic and sophisticated. Leaving her top unbuttoned Bee managed to reveal just the ideal glimpse of the turquoise lace. With a sheer black shirt over the lace trimmed satin brassier she looked like a Christmas present waiting to be unwrapped.

Having finally got Karin into her leather corset, Charlotte put on a halter necked black velvet bra top. Closer up there was a faint pattern of tiny embroidered leopard paw prints marching across each breast in bronze thread. Her hair was tousled after her fight with Karin’s outfit. Charlotte looked wild, sexy and like a combination of Barbie meets Tarzan.

On the other side of the room, Beth had dug through another box and slipped on a bright red velvet piece with trailing ribbons. With her black wrap around sweater tied low, her breasts looked lush and full, cupped in luscious red. To top the outfit off she tied a beaded red ribbon around her neck as a choker. Beth looked in the mirror over the fireplace. The ensemble against her dark auburn hair and bright blue eyes gave her the look of a fallen angel. Perfect.

Finally all of them were ready. Laughing they headed into the kitchen where Scott could happily look down their tops. Around them the caterers seemed to have a hard time concentrating on their work as they cast furtive looks at the outfits. The friends ignored the chaos they were causing.

“Celebrating?” Scott asked with a big smile on his face as he looked at his wife then glanced at her companions. He looked like a kid in a candy store.

“Just seeing Brian out in style,” Karin said as she pulled herself up to sit on the countertop. She reached over to a close by platter of food and snagged a cut carrot. She smiled back at everyone with her ankles crossed munching away and looking elegantly relaxed. They all laughed.

“Hey I’ve just realised… this is the first conversation we’ve all had in ages without the illustrious David Andrews interrupting,” Charlotte said sneaking a glance at Beth. She was leaning against the kitchen table and had raised an inquiring eyebrow at Beth. She wanted dirt. Beth smiled a secret little smile at her. There was no way she was going to tell them that she had spoken to David every night this week. No way at all!

“You’re right!” Bee exclaimed in mock surprise turning to grin wickedly at the group. She had been watching the caterers struggling to set up the outdoor heaters but was distracted by the conversation inside. “Call him Beth. It doesn’t feel the same without saying hello to him. We live for hearing his narky comments about us following you around like lambs to the slaughter.”

“Anyone would think you might be a murder suspect,” Scott commented chewing on another carrot. He shared a knowing glance at Beth. Both he and Vickie knew that she was speaking to David on a pretty regular occasion. Not that Beth had told them so but more by watching Beth flitter around the house chatting away to him. Scott wasn’t about to let the secret out though.

“What and the rest of you are the poor innocent lambs then I take it?” Beth laughed playing along. “Why do I not think that will hold up in a court of law?!” she asked.

“I have to agree with Bee,” Vickie said giggling at the expression on Beth’s face. “I think you should call him so we can get some sympathy.” Beth mock glared at her. Vickie was playing devil’s advocate. She knew good and well about the phone conversations.