Dangerous Deception by Anthea Fraser Page A

were all the people you mentioned, this morning?”
    I tried to think back. “Morgan had some work to do – probably in his room. I met Clive on the hill. Mr Zimmerman and his wife went to the golf club, though I don’t know what time, but you say they’re in the clear anyway. Andrew and Cindy were playing tennis when I left, but I don’t know for how long. Still, I can’t see her being mixed up in this.”
    Philip said on a questioning note, “Cindy? Cinderella?”
    Briefly, my precarious world rocked again. Then I shook my head. “No, I’m sure that’s coincidence.”
    â€œBut have you considered that it could be a woman?”
    I hadn’t. I said incredulously, “Who killed Dick Harvey?”
    â€œIt could be, if she was working to Bryn’s orders.” He looked at me levelly. “It wasn’t you, was it, Clare?”
    The breath left my body as if I’d been winded.
    He continued, “It wouldn’t have taken much to push him over. Those cliffs at Pen-y-Coed are lethal, covered with slippery grass. Matthew and I went there one day. There are warning notices all over the place.”
    He added impatiently, “Oh, stop looking like that, for God’s sake. I wasn’t serious, but I want to bring home to you just what it is you’re involved in. And for what it’s worth, even if we knew who Sinbad was, there’s nothing we could do about it. Whether you like it or not, if he did kill Harvey, it was to protect us as much as himself.”
    I closed my eyes on a wave of nausea. “But Dick wasn’t a threat to anyone,” I protested faintly.
    â€œHe would have been, if he’d unearthed the loot. Just think about it – the whole operation scuppered at the last minute because he happened to bumble along.”
    I looked at Philip with something approaching hatred, and his eyes dropped from mine. But before he could speak, Pauline came hurrying into the room, her eyes wide.
    â€œHave you heard? Oh Clare, isn’t it terrible? I
knew
something was wrong! That nice little man! He gave Stuart one of his old coins.” Her eyes filled with tears.
    Philip moved behind the bar. “What can I get you? Mr Davies left me in charge and I expect a fair bit of medicinal alcohol will be called for tonight.”
    Clive and Morgan came in with the Zimmermans, whom I studied with covert suspicion. They looked so ordinary – he slightly rotund, balding, bespectacled; she with permed hair, small round eyes and a tightly corseted figure. Yet they were at least partly responsible for Dick’s death, with their eagerness to buy whatever it was that Bryn had procured for them.
    Mamie came hurrying over to Pauline and me. “Isn’t this horrible?” she exclaimed. “I just can’t believe it! I said to Elmer, ‘Not that nice little guy!’”
    His universal epitaph, I thought dully.
Here lies Dick Harvey, a nice little guy
.
    â€œCan I get you a drink, Clare?” Morgan was at my side.
    â€œNo, thanks, I’ve just had one.”
    â€œCome and join us, Mr Rees.” Mamie Zimmerman moved farther round the window-seat and Morgan sat down beside me.
    â€œThe police are coming,” Pauline said. “What a way to end a holiday! He came here every year, you know. Mrs Davies was telling me the other day that he enjoyed the company. Outside school, I think he was rather lonely; he never mentioned any relatives.”
    I felt tears sting my eyes and looked down quickly. Under cover of the table, Morgan’s hand closed reassuringly over mine. When I raised my head again, Philip was watching us from behind the bar. Morgan, catching our fused glances, withdrew his hand.
    â€œAm I encroaching?” he asked quietly, as the two women chatted beside us.
    â€œNo, of course not.”
    â€œPhilip mightn’t agree.”
    I didn’t reply. Whatever my own inclination, I must