Read Online Heart Stopper by R J Samuel - Free Book Online

woman's contempt burned in Priya's memory.
    Priya said, “Catherine thought there was a woman in the apartment with Daniel. She said she was going to find this woman no matter what.”
    Michael said, “Does she think this woman had something to do with Daniel’s death? I thought you said the GP said it was a heart attack?”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “Then what…? Does she think Daniel and this woman were, you know, having sex or something?”
    “I don’t know, Catherine didn’t come out and say it. Though Reyna thought I was the woman with him and she did pretty much come out and say it, that we’d been having sex and he died and I left him.” Priya’s voice faltered. “Reyna was pretty disgusted with me.”
    “Priya, you wouldn’t have been in the apartment if she hadn’t brought you there. I know she didn’t know that you had some kind of unpleasant history with Daniel, but still, she could have put you in danger.”
    “I guess from her point of view I must look like a real bitch. I mean, she thinks I’m Daniel’s girlfriend, I must have flirted with her, she has to take care of me as I’m too drunk to get home, she leaves me in her brother’s apartment, my boyfriend’s, and then her mother finds him dead and says there was a woman with him, in his bed. Jeez, Michael, when it’s put like that! And now her mother is going to keep digging to find out who was there.”
    Priya put her face in her hands and lay back on the deckchair and let the sun beat down onto her skin
    “Valerie and Gerry were there too.” Priya said through her fingers after a few minutes. .
    “Well they knew Daniel really well.” Michael swung his legs over the side of his deckchair and sat up. “I wish you didn't have to see that woman ever again.”
    “It was okay. I was okay. I think what happened on the night of my birthday sort of loosened her hold on me you know.”
    “You still haven't told me what happened that night.”
    “And I still don't want to talk about it. Michael, I couldn’t bear to see the look in your eyes. I know you think I shouldn’t feel guilty about what happened, but I can’t help it.”
    “And when are you going to talk about what happened with Kathy?”
    Priya remained silent.
    “You know Priya you're going to have to deal with this stuff. You’ve had a bad few years. And it all started with that bitch Valerie Helion or Lynch or whatever she is!”
    “Talking about it is not going to bring Kathy back, or my mom for that matter,” she said. “I'm not asking for help. I'm just trying to get through without hurting anybody.”
    “You mean, without letting yourself get hurt. You won’t let anyone close now. For Christ’s sake, Priya, you won’t even get a dog! You’re crazy about animals, in fact, you’re the craziest person I know when it comes to animals, but you won’t get a dog in case something happens to it.”
    “I've just come back from my boss's funeral and it's just been a week since I discovered his dead body, I’ve got his crazy mother searching for a woman in his bed, his crazier sister thinking I screwed him to death and you're giving me a lecture about dogs?”
    “I’m sorry, I know, it’s just been driving me crazy, especially for the last year, what you’re doing to yourself. And this is just like you now. What happened to the Priya I knew, who’d stand up for herself, who’d take on anybody anywhere, who, God forbid, would be in a relationship? Who wanted a family?”
    “You mean the one who thought everything in life was black and white till she got drowned in grey? Michael, I can’t talk about it, not yet. Why can’t you understand that I just want to get on with my life? Without thinking about what happened. You know, hold on to the job, and build some sort of career. Have you noticed how many people are losing their jobs? I can’t afford that. I’ve now got a mortgage, Michael, I can’t lose this house, it’s the only thing I’ve got now, the only place