Authors: Marian Babson

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âShe tripped and fell.' He was going to stick with that story. âPerhaps I wasn't quite as quick as I might have been in picking her up â and then it was too late. I was thinking about Lynette â¦ about what such a story about her mother might do to her â¦'

âNot about what it might do to your political career?' Henry stepped out of the shadows. He patted Margot's shoulder. âGood work, you kept him talking. We heard it all.'

âWe?'

âIt would mean goodbye to that Cabinet post in the next reshuffle.' Emmeline stepped out beside Henry.

They made a formidable pair.

Chapter Twenty-Two

âDon't worry, I'll talk to Comfrey first thing in the morning,' Kingsley assured them. âHe'll be able to work out some sort of discreet arrangement with the authorities.'

Richard and Henry, flanking him as they came out of the study, exchanged glances. Could they trust him?

âVerity can drive me back to town.' Kingsley was trying to give the impression that he still controlled events.

âYou'll be all right?' Margot felt compelled to ask, perhaps for old times' sake.

âEventually â¦' He gave her a wry smile. âI'll have to have a word with the Prime Minister and tender my resignation as soon as I've talked with Comfrey. Spare the party as much embarrassment as possible, they've had too many scandals in recent years.'

âScandal?' Verity was quick to pounce. âWhat do you mean? What's going on?'

âNothing. It's all over. I'll explain on the way back to town.' He would have one fully sympathetic listener, at any rate. The discrepancies in his story, already becoming apparent to Margot, would not matter. In Verity's eyes, he could do no wrong.

âWell â¦' Kingsley opened the door and hesitated. Uncle Wilfred nodded. Allowing him a few hours' grace to try to sort out his affairs had been agreed. It would look a lot better if he went to the police of his own accord.

âTell Lynette â¦ Tell Lynette â¦' Kingsley shook his head, looking from one to the other. âWell, you'll think of something. Just make sure she knows I've always loved her.'

âKingsley -?' There was a sharp note of anxiety in Verity's voice. âKingsley, what -?'

âWe must be going now.' He took her arm. âCome along â¦ my darling.'

âOh!' Verity gasped and looked around to make sure everyone had heard what amounted to a declaration. âYes. Yes, my love.'

The door closed behind them.

âI suppose he
will
go back to London?' Richard questioned uneasily. âThey won't go and wrap themselves around a tree, or anything?'

âMy money's on a dash for the nearest port,' Henry said. âA quick trip across to the Continent and then onward to some country we don't have an extradition treaty with. Too bad he killed his best contact for that sort of thing.'

âBut the police â¦?' Margot leaned against the wall weakly, although perhaps not as weak as she had been.

âIt doesn't matter.' Uncle Wilfred flourished the sheets of paper containing Kingsley's handwritten confession. Whatever happened, Chloe's release was ensured.

âThe Prime Minister â¦?'

âIt will be in his interests as well as ours to play this down as much as possible,' Richard said.

âIt can't be long before there's a plane crash, or natural disaster, or even another scandal.' Emmeline spoke thoughtfully. âThe media will go off chasing that and we'll be forgotten.'

âReally forgotten, this time,' Henry agreed. âA husband murdering his wife isn't nearly so newsworthy as a twin killing her twin. And with a second woman dead, the whole thing will be presented as some sort of eternal triangle.'

Much more palatable than the real truth about Claudia â for all concerned. Memories would fade. Perhaps in another term or two, Emmeline could go back to her school. Aunt Milly would improve with Chloe back home where she belonged. The others could go back to their jobs and take up their lives again.

And Lynette â¦?

Behind them, the stair creaked and they turned to see Lynette slowly and carefully descending, cradling Tikki in her arms. She looked up and became aware of her audience.

âEmmeline took my bell away,' she complained. âAnd Tikki's hungry. He wants his dinner.' She glanced uneasily at Uncle Wilfred and added, âHe's going to be a good boy and stay home now. He promised me.'

âHe's been spending a lot more time here of late,' Emmeline said. âPerhaps he is back.'

âPerhaps?' Uncle Wilfred gave Tikki an indignant glare. Tikki gave him a melting look in return. He softened. âOh, well, give him the benefit of the doubt, eh? Live and let â' Automatically, he broke off, then seemed to realise that such care was no longer necessary. âLet live!' he finished triumphantly. âLive and let live!'

âThat's the spirit!' Emmeline applauded. âJust a little while longer and we can all get back to our own lives.'

A little while longer.
What a comforting euphemism for
âone last scandal' â
or possibly not, depending on Kingsley's next move. Surely he would try to shield Lynette from any more hurt; wouldn't he?

No one quite dared to remark on Lynette's sudden appearance among them, perhaps afraid that they might startle her into a retreat. It had been a big step for her to take. There were still so many steps to go. So far, so good. Softly â¦ softly â¦

Margot closed her eyes briefly and was aware of the comforting pressure of Richard's arm supporting her and Nan's hand patting her shoulder. She opened her
eyes and smiled at them. Whatever happened about Kingsley, life would go forward and she had steps of her own to take.

She'd have her good cameras sent on to her from New York. Yes, and she'd keep the apartment there. If the show transferred to Broadway, it would be useful for Christa to have a place to stay. Nor was it likely to be too long before Justin and Fenella got a New York booking. Yes, a family pied-a-terre in Manhattan would be endlessly useful.

âOur Margot has come home,' Uncle Wilfred put an arm around Lynette's shoulders, urging her forward. âYour Aunt Chloe will be home any day, so why not Tikki, too? Come along, I happen to know there's a very tasty bit of salmon hidden away at the back of the fridge. I was saving it for myself, but â' A beatific smile lit his face. âI'm not all that hungry somehow. I'll share it with you and Tikki.'

Also by Marian Babson

To Catch a Cat
The Company of Cats
CanapÃ©s for the Kitties
Break a Leg, Darlings
The Diamond Cat
Even Yuppies Die
Nine Lives to Murder
Shadows in Their Blood
Past Regret
Encore Murder
Guilty Party
Fatal Fortune
Reel Murder
Weekend for Murder
Death in Fashion
Death Swap
A Trail of Ashes
The Cruise of a Deathtime
A Fool for Murder
Death Beside the Seaside
Death Warmed Up
Bejewelled Death
Queue Here for Murder
Dangerous to Know
The Twelve Deaths of Christmas
So Soon Done For
Tightrope for Three
Murder, Murder, Little Star
The Lord Mayor of Death
Untimely Death
There Must Be Some Mistake
Murder Sails at Midnight
Unfair Exchange
The Stalking Lamb
Pretty Lady
Murder on Show
Cover-Up Story
A Tealeaf in the Mouse

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin's Press.

www.minotaurbooks.com

First published in Great Britain under the title
Deadly Deceit
by Constable, an imprint of Constable & Robinson Ltd

eISBN 9781466819528

First eBook Edition : April 2012

First U.S. Edition: April 2002

BOOK: The Cat Next Door

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