Read Online Swindled by June Mayes - Free Book Online

anything?” Scott asked. Beth shook her head and they left. The two of them just needed some time together. She envied them their closeness and was so happy that they had one another. They had met on a blind date set up by one of Scott’s friends. The two of them had taken one look each other and that was it, they were in love. It made Beth smile just remembering the first few weeks of the romance. The two lovebirds had eyes only for one another and nothing had changed.
    Thinking about Scott and Vickie made Beth think about David. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. That night together was enough to awaken every nerve in her body. Who was he? Beth realised that she knew nothing about him other then his name and his more then capable abilities to seduce with searing efficiency. He was a one night stand but Beth got the feeling that it wasn’t the norm for him. He made her feel as if being with her was his whole world at that moment.
    Beth shook her head and turned back to her design. After trying to focus for another ten minutes, she finally tossed the lace aside. It was hard to remain cool and detached while her whole body kept sending soothing thoughts to the brain along the lines of ‘let’s do it again’. Maybe she should have waited for him to wake up or woken him up. That would have been fun, waking David up. Beth leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes letting her imagination take over. All it would have taken was a strategically placed kiss here and there, maybe a gentle nudge or shake as she was exploring some of his more interesting facets. Ugh, she needed to focus and tried to submerge herself back in her work.
    After an hour or so Beth gave up again and picked up the phone instead. She barely managed to get anything done. When her treacherous nerves weren’t reminding her of the night before, all she could think about was Brian lying lifeless somewhere. It was time to seek solace with her friends.
    Outside of Vickie and Scott, there were three other people in Beth’s life that knew everything about her. They were her best friends, Karin, Charlotte and Bee. They had shared snacks, boyfriends, tears, laughter, toys and cocktail dresses throughout the years. Nothing got in the way of their friendship.
    When it came to Brian’s death, these three would truly understand all the nuances of what that meant. They knew how miserable he had tried to make Beth and Vickie’s lives. They would be able to understand the detachment she felt and the anger and the frustration. Picking up the phone, Beth dialled.
    Karin answered at first ring.
    “Oh Beth are you okay?” she said as soon as she heard Beth’s voice. Beth could just picture her sitting elegantly on a chair surrounded by packing boxes and the odd empty bookshelf. Give Karin a month and she would have the entire place looking state of the art.
    “You know?” Beth asked surprised. Had it been on the news?
    “Two detectives came by this morning to ask me some questions. They wanted to know when I had last seen Brian and if I was involved with him. It was a shock to find out he was dead I can tell you. The fact that he was murdered is just unbelievable,” Karin explained. ‘How are you keeping up?” she sounded worried.
    “We’re fine,” Beth answered “It’s been a shock but we’re dealing with it. We didn’t have a great deal to do with Brian most of the time. We saw him a bit more when dad was still alive but not much then either. It’s just awful to think someone, anyone has been murdered; even Brian.”
    “I know. He was a sleaze but a related sleaze,” Karin agreed as something ripped across the phone. It sounded like she was opening boxes as they talked. It made Beth feel better somehow. Karin would be like this for the next month until everything was unpacked and sorted. It was a reminder that life kept on going even in the face of death or rather murder.
    “Karin, why did the police call you to talk to you about it?” Beth