Tragedy at Two Read Free Page A

of intruders, or he was planning to kidnap her and sell her into white slavery.
    The man put out his hand. “D’you want to come over and see the lady who owns the whippet?”
    He turned away and set off before Lois had a chance to answer. She hesitated, and then followed.

FOUR

    LOIS IS LATE, ISN’T SHE?” THE DAY HAD PASSED SLOWLY FOR Derek, and soon after he came home he had fallen asleep in front of the telly until troubled dreams had startled him awake.
    “She said she might be,” Gran replied without looking at him. “She was going to stay with Josie as long as possible.”
    “Hope the delay is nothing to do with Rob getting worse. Should we phone the hospital?”
    Gran didn’t answer, but cocked her head to one side. “Isn’t that the van? Sounds like she’s home.”
    Sure enough the back door opened and Lois came in, looking pale and tired. Derek went up to her and gave her a hug. “Not a setback, is there?” he whispered in her ear. She shook her head.
    “I’ve been off with the raggle-taggle gypsies,” she said.
    “Lois! What d’you mean?”
    “She’s trying to frighten us,” Gran said, dishing up food and insisting they all sit down while it was still hot.
    “No, no, come on, Lois,” Derek insisted. “Did those gypsies bother you? Where did you see them?”
    “I nearly killed one of their dogs. It ran straight out in front of the van. I stopped, of course. I saw it limp off through the hedge. Thought I’d better look for it. You’re supposed to report it, aren’t you? Anyway, I went in the field where they’ve got their vans parked, and one of ’em came across to speak to me.”
    “I’ll kill ’im!” Derek said, getting to his feet.
    “Sit down and don’t be ridiculous!” Lois said. “He was polite, and asked me if I’d like to go and see the woman who owned the dog, to make sure.”
    “You didn’t go, surely?” Gran was looking alarmed now.
    “Shouldn’t we start our supper?” Lois replied, and began to eat.
     
     
    AT THE HOSPITAL, JOSIE HAD NEVER FELT SO TIRED, BUT WOULD not leave Rob’s bedside. She stifled a yawn, and went over once again in her head what had happened that night. If they hadn’t had that terrible row, he wouldn’t have stormed out and walked off in the dark to God knows where. He’d been out for hours, and then there’d been the call from the hospital. If he’d stayed at home with her, he wouldn’t have been attacked and dumped in a ditch for maybe hours before he was found.
    She thought back to what he had said before disappearing into the night. He had once more suggested they get married, and she had refused to give him a definite answer. Then he had lost his temper and said if she had cooled off in their relationship she might have the decency to say so. He had repeated his accusation that she was having a secret affair with “that cop Vickers,” and called her a tart. And then he had gone, slamming the door behind him. She should have had the courage to tell him exactly how she felt. She was fond of him, of course, but he was about as exciting as the man who came round with the fish. She supposed they had got too used to one another.
    How could she look at him now and think these thoughts? She yawned again and her eyes closed. She swayed on her seat, and the nurse caught her in time.
    “Come on, Josie, let’s go and find you a bed for a few hours’ sleep. You’ll be no use to Rob in this state. You’ll want to be bright and chirpy for him when he wakes up.”
    Josie stood up. The heart monitor pinged steadily, and there was no sign of him waking. His face twitched occasionally, and that was it. She went with the nurse to the door and stopped. The pinging had become uneven. The nurse had gone on ahead, and Josie in a panic called her back. Before Josie had reached the bed, the pinging had stopped and a continuous sound pierced the silence. From countless television programmes, she knew what that meant.
    “Help, for God’s sake!