Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(134)

“What is it?” one of the police asked.

“Well, it’s only that, Cash here,” she motioned to Cash with a flick of her wrist and Abby’s hand flexed spasmodically in his, “see, his father died in a car wreck,” Suzanne finished, what sounded inanely.

Both policemen shifted awkwardly on their feet, their eyes going to Cash.

“I’m sorry, sir,” one of the police mumbled.

“No,” Suzanne went on to announce, “you don’t understand. Foul play was suspected.”

Cash felt Abby’s body jerk through his hand and his own eyes riveted on Suzanne.

“It was?” the policeman asked.

“Yes, indeed it was,” Suzanne answered blithely. “They never pinned it on anyone but, you know, it does seem an odd coincidence that Cash’s father might have been murdered and here we are, decades later, and Cash’s expensive, high performance, Italian sports car which was, I assume, running smoothly last night during its trek from Somerset to Devon, this morning, with no warning, strangely both accelerates on its own and its brakes go out, both at the same time.” Suzanne licked her lips, sat back in her chair and finished. “I mean, don’t you think that’s utterly bizarre?”

Alistair cut in and all eyes moved to him as he declared, “Nothing was ever proved.”

“I know nothing was every proved, Alistair,” Suzanne shot back. “That doesn’t change the fact that foul play was suspected. The police, you’ll no doubt agree, should have all the facts.” Her eyes moved to the police. “It was a long time ago but I’m sure there’s still a case file somewhere.”

Alistair moved further into the room, his eyes narrowing on Suzanne.

“Nothing was ever proved,” he insisted.

“You said that already,” Suzanne returned mildly.

Alistair’s gaze flicked to Cash then to the police. “There’s no reason to dredge that up again just because of an accident. We’re planning a celebration tonight and it will only serve to distress my family, my nephew –”

“It does seem weird,” Fenella piped up, interrupting Alistair.

“Very peculiar,” Honor added.

Cash saw Nicola’s mouth twitch in a way that looked like she was trying to control a smile before she turned her face away.

“You see,” Suzanne smoothly carried on, “Anthony Beaumaris was a rich and powerful man. Now his son is. It could be someone has it out for him and his family. We could all be in danger.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Alistair spat.

Nicola turned to her husband. “I don’t know if it’s ridiculous considering Abby and Fenella were in that car. If someone’s after Cash they couldn’t know Abby would drive his car. It was the first time Abby ever touched the steering wheel. And it could have been any one of us sitting beside her. If someone intends Cash harm, what happened this morning proves that we could all be in danger.”

“You’re not in danger,” Alistair retorted.

“I was today,” Fenella reminded him and Alistair’s narrowed eyes shot to her.

Then Alistair turned to the police declaring, “This is rubbish.”

“It doesn’t sound like rubbish to me,” Honor commented. “How often does this happen? I mean, this kind of thing doesn’t happen to most people even once, but now it’s happened to Cash twice? That’s just plain weird.”

“We’ll look into it,” one of the police muttered, obviously desiring not to be caught in the middle of a family squabble and they again turned to leave.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Suzanne encouraged, standing and giving them a charming smile as she moved their way and Cash watched her eyes warming to an inviting, suggestive allure that Cash was used to having directed at him. She touched one of the police on his arm and murmured, “I’ll just walk you to your car.”

Watching her walk the police out, Cash reconsidered allowing Suzanne to stay at the castle.

And definitely Honor and Fenella could stay.

Abby’s hand released his as she rose and looked at Nicola.

“I’m so sorry. Every time I’m here it seems I’m having some kind of acci –” she started.

Cash watched, surprised, as Nicola’s eyes sliced to Abby and her voice was unusually forceful when she interrupted, “Don’t you apologise. You have nothing to apologise for. Not one thing.”

At the fierceness in her tone everyone in the room went still except Cash. He moved to Abby’s side and slid an arm around her waist.

Abby and Nicola stared at each other and finally Nicola blinked and turned away.

“Right!” she exclaimed shrugging off her mood. “I’ve a million and one things to do. Honor, go rescue those policemen from Suzanne, I need her. Fenella, you take a rest and when you feel up to it, find me. Abby, you and Cash try to salvage your afternoon,” her gaze turned to Alistair, “and you…” she paused giving him an unreadable look, “do whatever it is you do.”

Then she hurried from the room.

Honor glanced at Cash and Abby before she followed her mother.

Cash put pressure on Abby’s waist and started to lead her from the room but he was intercepted by Alistair putting a hand to his arm.