Читать книгу Til Death Do Us Part - Stephen Edger - Страница 18

The main reception desk in the grand lobby of Old Mill Lodge had the look and feel of living history; the thick varnish and ornate carvings were clearly made a time long ago. As Alice patiently waited in line for the checkout queue to process, she couldn’t help but wonder about the range of people who had passed through the hotel over the years, each with their own story and reason for staying in the grand building. How many of the brides and grooms who’d celebrated their nuptials in the same room as she and Ben were still happily married? She’d bet none had had their ceremony interrupted in quite the same way.

Ben had acquired a luggage trolley from somewhere and was busy transporting their luggage and stack of gifts down to the large taxi he had ordered. Although it had taken months of visiting different venues before she’d chosen this one, she wouldn’t now care if she never laid eyes on the hotel again.

The elderly couple ahead of Alice moved to the front of the queue and began to explain their enquiry to the young lady behind the desk. Olive-skinned and with jet black hair, the receptionist spoke with an accent Alice couldn’t place, but her grasp of English was as strong as any native.

‘It’s so inherently British, isn’t it?’ the man behind her commented.

Alice turned and looked at the man in the tan suit and red tie, smiling in her direction. He was alone with a small blue holdall at his feet.

‘Excuse me?’ Alice asked.

‘Queuing,’ he confirmed. ‘There’s nothing us Brits like quite as much as a queue, is there? I mean, on a day as glorious as this, when we should be embracing nature at her finest, we choose to stand in a stuffy room in an orderly manner.’ He smiled warmly. ‘I’m sorry, it always makes me laugh. This sort of thing just doesn’t happen in other countries.’

Alice politely smiled back. ‘No, I suppose you’re right. At least we’re nearly at the front.’

‘Are you checking in or out?’

‘Out,’ she said, smiling again.

‘Ah, well, did you happen to dine in the hotel’s restaurant last night? I’m looking for recommendations of where I can get a nice piece of sirloin for my supper.’

Alice forced a thin smile. ‘We didn’t eat here last night, I’m afraid.’

‘Not to worry,’ he continued, a mischievous look on his face. ‘Here, you weren’t at the wedding where the groom was arrested, were you?’

Shock went through her. ‘How did you hear about that?’

‘I overheard one of the staff talking about it. Were you there then?’

She nodded, and subconsciously covered her wedding ring with her right hand.

‘Oh, how awful,’ he continued. ‘The poor bride. Probably the last thing she expected to happen. Can you imagine how awful that would be? Just tied the knot and then learning that your husband is a murderer?’

Alice had to bite her tongue to keep quiet, and took a second glance towards the elderly couple in front who were still chatting away to the woman behind the counter.

‘I wonder if maybe she already knew,’ the man mused. ‘I mean, that’s what they say, isn’t it? Spouses always know deep down when their partner is up to no good. They might claim innocence, but it’s like a sixth sense, isn’t it? Are you friends of the couple, then?’ His cheeks suddenly reddened. ‘Heavens, have I spoken out of turn? You’re not related to one of them, are you?’

‘Sort of, but I won’t take offence.’

His cheeks were now glowing. ‘You’ll have to forgive me, I’m always putting my foot in it. Please accept my apologies.’

‘It’s fine,’ she said as casually as her bubbling anger would allow.

If the hotel staff were gossiping about the incident, it was possible the story could leak to the press, and the last thing she and Ben needed was their privacy to be trampled on, particularly as the police still hadn’t officially ruled Ben out of their inquiry.

‘Are you related to the bride or groom?’ the stranger pressed.

‘Bride,’ she said, still not prepared to tell him it was her horrid nightmare he’d just described.

‘How’s she coping? Have they said if or when the husband will be released from prison?’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said abruptly, ‘but I’d rather not talk about it. I think they should just be left to their privacy.’

‘Of course, of course, and far be it for me to be a spreader of idle gossip. Have you known them long?’

The couple in front moved on and the woman behind the counter thanked Alice for her patience and asked how she could help.

‘I’d like to check out please,’ Alice said absently, sliding the key across the desk.

‘You are checking out of the honeymoon suite?’ the receptionist asked.

Alice’s cheeks burned as she nodded, refusing to meet the eye of the suited man who could overhear the entire conversation.

‘How was the wedding? Did everything go as well as you hoped?’

Alice wasn’t ready to even try and answer that question, and simply nodded. ‘It’s a lovely venue.’

‘Was the catering and organization up to scratch?’

Clearly the receptionist hadn’t been working yesterday, and had yet to hear the gossip. Either that or she was doing an incredible job of playing dumb.

‘It was all fine. I’m sorry, can we hurry this up? My husband is waiting for me.’

‘Certainly, madam,’ the receptionist said, standing. ‘I’ll just go and get your receipt and you should be good to go.’ With that she disappeared into the small office behind her.

Alice could see the man straining to make eye contact with her, but she refused to acknowledge him.

He slid a business card across the desk towards her. ‘If you’d like to tell your side of the story, I’m sure we can make it worth your while. Right now, you’ll probably want to throw the offer back in my face, but think about it over the next day or so.’

She looked down at the card for ‘Liam O’Neill, Freelance Journalist’, and felt bile building in the back of her throat. So that’s why he was so interested in the details of the big day. Alice left the card where it was.

‘People will want to hear your story, Alice. I’m sorry if I misled you to begin with. You should know that I’m on your side with this. I don’t really think you knew what your husband was capable of, but to learn about what he’d done on your wedding day, it beggars belief.’ He paused, allowing her to process. ‘The story will get out, as these things do. It’s up to you whether people hear your side of it, or an amalgamation of other eye witness accounts and suppositions. Think about it.’

‘Here’s your receipt,’ the receptionist said, offering the sheet of paper to Alice.

‘All checked out?’ Ben’s voice suddenly said over her shoulder.

Turning, Alice was relieved to see him, and reached for his hand, pulling him closer.

‘Is everything okay?’ he asked. ‘You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.’

She turned back to point out the grubby little journalist, but saw that he had scarpered.

‘It’s nothing,’ she said. ‘Is the car all packed?’

‘Yep, and I even stopped by to speak to your mum, just to reassure her that I’m sorting everything. She wasn’t happy, but she listened to what I had to say. I suggested she come round tonight, unless you’ve changed your mind about the flights.’

The thought of escaping people like Liam O’Neill suddenly sounded very appealing, but then how would it look if she left Ben to face the music alone?

‘Let’s just go home, I’ve got a pounding headache. I feel like everyone is watching us, and I’d rather be somewhere alone.’

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her outside to where the taxi was waiting. Dave, Scott and Abdul were the only guests gathered to wish the bride and groom on their way.

Taking one final look at the venue that had promised so much joy and happiness, Alice wondered whether they had seen the last of Liam O’Neill, or whether he would just be the first in a long line of people wanting a piece of their lives.