HIDDEN SECRETS (6 page)

“Can’t, or won’t Ben?” she turned round to face him.

“We’re alright as we are,” he stroked her arm, and smiled.

“I’m pregnant Ben, and it certainly isn’t by Charles.”

“You’re what?” he leapt to his feet

“Don’t sound so surprised. I told you I couldn’t take the pill, anyway Charles would be suspicious; he’s infertile remember, and you never took precautions.”

“I thought you did.”

“And I thought you’d be pleased, I thought you loved me,” she drew closer to him.         

“I do love you, but I never expected this to happen. I’ll tell Kate I promise,” he muttered, unable to look her in the eye.

Emma finished dressing and stood at the bottom of the bed.

“I shall have to go now Ben; aren’t you going to kiss me?”

He moved slowly towards her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly, but she sensed tension in his touch. 

“Are you going to tell Charles?” he asked cautiously.

“I don’t have a choice,” she picked up her handbag and walked towards the door. Ben followed and kissed her again before she left. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he contemplated his future with Kate. He had considered leaving her, but now his hand was being forced; he was unsure of whether he could do it. His clandestine relationship with Emma was not so appealing now; her pregnancy had changed that, and he did not intend to tell Kate. Still deep in thought, he was surprised to hear his mobile ringing, and glanced at the clock. Assuming it was Emma, he answered it without looking at the screen. A woman spoke to him, but it was not Emma.

“Hello, who is this?” he asked sharply.

“Where the hell did you get my number from?” he sat upright. 

The woman spoke again, and this time Ben slammed the phone down in anger.

        He tried to sleep, but his mind was in turmoil. Sitting up in bed, he switched on the bedside lamp and threw back the covers. Overwhelmed by irrational thoughts, he got out of bed, opened the mini-bar and poured a single malt. Taking a sip, he agonised over telling Kate about his affair, and the baby. He knew he loved Emma, but the thought of a baby had never entered his mind. It changed everything, and something drastic would have to be done. Still deep in thought, Ben’s was riled to hear his mobile ringing again.

CHAPTER 5.

SATURDAY 1
ST
OCTOBER.

It was five past ten, and Alex Lawton was surprised to discover that Ben had not appeared for breakfast the following morning. Perhaps he had succumbed to the temptation of free alcohol? Deciding to check his room, he instructed Joseph, one of the waiters, to investigate.

“Report straight back to me,” he ordered.

By now the dining room was almost empty as breakfast was coming to a close, and the guests were preparing to check out of the hotel. A team of waitresses were clearing the tables and placing fresh flowers in the vases, in preparation for the afternoon meals. Bernard the chef was heading in Alex’s direction, and from the look on his face, he had another problem.

“May I speak with you Mr. Lawton?”

“What is it Bernard?”

“I have trouble with the dish-washer again,” he spoke in broken English and gesticulated wildly.

“You need to speak to Mr. Hughes; he’ll sort it out Bernard.” Alex turned his attention to Joseph, who was waiting to speak to him.

“Well, is Mr. Preston still in his room?”

“No Sir his room’s empty,” he replied.

“He must be in the hotel somewhere, go back to the dining room, he can’t just have disappeared,” Alex was baffled as to where he could be.

“I don’t think he’ll be there Mr. Lawton, his clothes and briefcase, are not in his room. He must have left earlier,” Joseph informed him.

“He can’t have left; he knew we had matters to discuss. Check at reception, this is very odd,” Alex began to pace nervously up and down.

Joseph returned a few minutes later.

“Mr. Preston checked out of the hotel at 6.30 this morning Sir.”

“Are you certain it was him?”

“Mrs Oliver is adamant, but she said he seemed tense, and in a hurry.”

“O.K. Joseph carry on with your work, I’ll have a word with Mrs. Oliver myself,” he dismissed the young man.

Alex questioned the receptionist over Ben’s untimely departure.

“He didn’t give a reason, he just rushed away. He left the key to his room, and asked me to thank you for your hospitality.”

Perplexed as to why Ben would walk away from such a lucrative contract, Alex took the lift to the third floor to inspect the room himself. Inside he found the room immaculate; the bed was made and the wardrobe empty. A further inspection of the bathroom, revealed the same standard. There were no signs of soap lather or toothpaste stains in the basin, and the towels were draped neatly over the bath. Convinced that a member of staff had cleaned the room, Alex locked the door and took the lift back down to reception, where Mrs. Oliver was handing over a key to a young couple, who had just arrived.

“Lunch is served between 12.30 and 1.30. Enjoy you stay,” she smiled.

The couple walked away hand in hand as a porter carried their luggage to the lift. Alex smiled dutifully as he passed them, but the smile soon left his lips as he approached Mrs. Oliver.

“I want you to leave room 137 vacant for the rest of this week,” he spoke sharply.

“I think it’s booked for two nights on Friday,” she replied checking the reservation book.

“Then un-book it,” he replied abruptly.

“Is there something wrong with it?” she asked.

“No not at all. Just leave it vacant until I tell you otherwise. By-the-way was the room cleaned after Mr. Preston left this morning?”

“No Sir. The rooms aren’t cleaned until after ten. I’m surprised you’ve asked. It was you who insisted that the guests shouldn’t be disturbed until breakfast was over,” she reminded him as the phone rang.

“Don’t be flippant, just answer the phone,” he snapped. 

After the call ended, he instructed her to ring Ben’s mobile.

“It’s gone straight on to the answering machine thingy,” she informed him.

“Mobile messaging service Mrs. Oliver, not a thingy,” he corrected her.

“Shall I ring him again?” she asked.

“Of course, and leave a message.”

“Let me know when he answers will you?” he spoke over his shoulder as he walked away.

Alex couldn't spend any more time searching for Ben, and turned his attention to inspecting the Blue Room, which was being prepared for a meeting of local M.P’s Annual General Meeting.

“Put the tables on the left side of the room, and change the curtains,” he ordered the staff.

“Joseph, bring me the menu’s please.”

Alex checked the final details on them, and then made his way to his office. As he walked past the reception area, Mrs. Oliver stopped him.

“I can’t get any response from this number Mr. Lawton, are you sure it’s the right one?”

“Just keep trying will you I’m rather busy at the moment,” he dismissed her and pushed open his office door.

Once inside, he called the number himself, but was instantly transferred to the answering machine. Realising that Ben should have been back in his office hours ago, he dialled the number. His call was answered by a woman’s voice informing him he was connected to        

I.T.C. Cleaning Services.

“Could you put me through to Ben Preston please?” Alex asked.

“I’m afraid Mr. Preston is away on business Sir. Can I take a message for him?”

“No, when are you expecting him to return?”

“He should have been back this morning, he must have been delayed. I can give you the number of the hotel he’s staying at,” she offered.

“No that won’t be necessary.”

“Can I ask whose calling?” The line went dead as Alex hung up.

“Where the hell has the man disappeared to?” he spoke the words out loud as he paced around his office in frustration. His phone was ringing and he snatched it, desperate to hear Ben’s voice.

“Is that Mr. Lawton,” Kate enquired.

“Yes it is; how can I help you?”

“I believe my husband Ben Preston had a business meeting with you yesterday?”

“That’s right.”

“Could I speak to him? His office says he hasn’t returned yet, and I can’t get an answer from his mobile phone,” he sensed tension in her voice.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Preston, he isn’t here. He left the hotel at 6.30 this morning without speaking to me. He seems to have disappeared and we have unfinished business. It’s very odd.”

“I don’t know what you mean, he must be there. He hasn’t contacted his office; he can’t just disappear,” Kate was alarmed.

“Well he appears to have done just that Mrs Preston; I’m as puzzled as you are. When did you last speak to him?” Alex asked.

“Last night. He said he’d be calling in at the office before he came home. If he left at 6.30 this morning he should have been back hours ago,” she tried to suppress the anxiety that was threatening to overpower her.

“Try not to worry; I’m sure there’s a simple explanation.  He could have been involved in an accident, or taken ill.”

“Oh my god, I just thought he’d been delayed. You don’t think anything’s happened to him do you?” Kate was close to tears.

“No not at all, but if he has been involved in an accident the police will know,” he tried to pacify her.

“Try to stay calm Mrs. Preston. I’ll phone the police and then I’ll get back to you, O.K.?” Alex replied reassuringly.

“Alright, but hurry up please.” She hung up and spent the longest five minutes of her life pacing up and down the kitchen, willing the phone to ring. When it eventually did, she stared at it, dreading what she might hear. Slowly, she picked up the receiver and listened.

“Hello Mrs. Preston it’s Alex Lawton,” his voice sounded sombre, and Kate didn’t reply.

“Are you there Mrs. Preston?”

“Yes,” she replied quietly.

“I don’t want you to say anything until I’ve finished speaking. I’ve reported your husband’s disappearance to the police. They can’t really do much until he’s been missing for more than twenty four hours, but they’ve informed me that a body was discovered,

“Oh god no!” she interrupted.

“Please let me finish Mrs. Preston,” he pleaded.

“It’s very unlikely that this person is Ben, but the police are treating it as a suspected suicide.”

“Suicide; that’s ridiculous, Ben wouldn’t kill himself,” Kate felt sick.

“The police have no missing persons on their files at the present time, so they have to be sure it’s not Ben,” he explained calmly.

“I’ll leave right away.”

“I could send a car for you?” he suggested.

“No thank you I’d prefer to drive myself.”

“I understand I’ll see you later.”

Kate replaced the phone, and dashed up stairs to pack an over-night case. After hurriedly grabbing her toiletries and a warm coat, she headed back down stairs to call her mother.

Scrolling down her contact list she found the number. When she heard her mother’s voice, she broke down and cried. Through her tears, Kate eventually managed to explain what had happened to Ben.

“They must be wrong love, Ben wouldn’t kill himself,” she replied gently. 

“They haven’t said its Ben yet, please don’t say things like that mum,” she began to cry again.

“I’m sorry love I just meant,

“I know what you meant,” Kate butted in.

“Why don’t you come and stay here for a few days?”

“I have to go to Exeter Mum, I have to know it’s not Ben they’ve found.”

“You can’t go on your own; let me come with you,” she attempted to persuade her.

“No I need to be on my own, I’ll phone you as soon as I know what’s happening,” Kate insisted.

“You really shouldn’t have to do this on your own love, please let me come with you,” her mother pleaded.

“I’ll be fine mum really, I feel better now I’ve spoken to you,” Kate insisted.

“Phone me as soon as you get there then.”

“I will I promise, thanks mum,” she ended the call and picked up her bag.

After double checking the house was secure, she drove directly to the nearest filling station. The journey seemed interminable as she constantly glanced at the clock willing the time away, while her turbulent mind fought to suppress the mental image of her husband lying in a mortuary. Her concentration became so impaired; she pulled into a lay-by fearing she would cause an accident. She shouldn’t have driven, why had she have been so stupid? Getting out of the car, she paced up and down the lay-by taking deep breathes.

        After a few minutes she re-took her seat in the driving seat as the traffic whizzed past the open window. Forcing all images of Ben out of her head, she turned the key in the ignition and re-joined the road.

*********************

At the same time that Kate Preston began her journey to find her husband, Danny Wilder left his office to meet Patrick Hinds. He felt apprehensive and began to regret his decision to meet up. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the man- he had been more than just a good friend to him for over twenty years- but he had heard Pat vow his drinking days were over one too many times. Why should it be any different today?

“I’m going out for an hour or so Bill. If anyone wants me tell them to phone back later, and don’t give them my mobile number, got it?” he informed his co-editor.

“O.k. Dan, see you later,” Bill didn’t look up as he continued to type out a report on his laptop.

It was now quarter to one, and Danny had his doubts as to whether Pat would even turn up at Benny’s. Pushing open the door to the cafe/bar, Danny was shocked to discover Pat sitting alone in a corner sipping a coffee. His appearance was different, and he could almost pass as a smart, albeit somewhat dated human being.

“Danny, sit down its good to see you,” Pat stood up and shook his hand.

“Hi Pat, what’s with the clothes and coffee mate? I almost didn’t recognise you,” Danny smirked.

“I’m off the drink for good. I want to come back Danny. I’ve had enough of being in the gutter.” Pat was convincing, but Danny still had his doubts.

“I’ve heard it all before. The last time I saw you it was the fags you’d given up. How am I supposed to believe you?”

“I need nicotine to help me concentrate; it stops me from thinking about alcohol.” Remember when we worked together on the Dorkins case?”

“Of course I do, it was our biggest story ever,” Danny nodded.

“It was just me, you, cigarettes and coffee day and night until we cracked it. We even made the police look inadequate. It can be the same again.”

“I’ve given up smoking. It’s not allowed in the office anymore. Passive smoking and all that jargon,” Danny replied bluntly.