Betrayal

by Margaret Bingley

  'I didn't intend to come back. Unfortunately certain events called for a change in my plans.'

  'Oh yes?'

  'I'd like to know what the hell you thought you were doing when you let those killer dogs loose on my wife. She's lucky they didn't tear her throat out, although I don't suppose she feels very lucky. Perhaps you'd give me an explanation of your behaviour?'

  Bishop stopped punching, picked up a towel and wiped non-existent sweat from his brow. 'She tried to get away. You told me to stop her at all costs.'

  'I told you to stop her, not half-kill her.'

  'At all costs, that's what you said.' Bishop's eyes glittered and there was a suggestion of a smile round his mouth that incensed Neal even further.

  'All you had to do,' he said slowly, 'was point a gun at her daughter. Presumably you had your gun with you?'

  'Sure.'

  'And you knew Jessica was in the car?' 'I assumed she was.'

  'Then why didn't you do that?'

  'I didn't get the chance. Your wife was by the gates and… ' 'Standing alone by the gates?'

  'Yes, trying to get them open so that she could drive her car out, taking Jessica and the precious Alexi with her. If I'd gone over to the car and threatened one of the children, she could have got away.'

  Neal glared at his son-in-law. 'You knew she'd never have left the children. You set the dogs on her for your own personal satisfaction, hoping to see them savage her, didn't you? It gave you some kind of twisted pleasure.'

  'If I'd wanted them to kill her they would have done. I only gave the attack command.'

  'How very generous! May I remind you that Lisa is my wife and should be treated as such. I suppose it made you feel very powerful, watching the dogs tearing her arms to pieces?'

  'Probably not as powerful as if I'd raped her.'

  Neal's face darkened. 'What the hell's that supposed to mean?' 'Come on! Louise heard what went on in the study before you left for London. You raped your own wife. Did that make you feel good?'

  'Just who the hell do you think you are?' exploded Neal, taking a step towards Bishop . 'You're not indispensable, no one is. I could easily replace you if I wanted to.'

  'I think not.'

  'What is it about my wife that gets to you so badly?' Neal's voice was deceptively soft.

  'She's ruined you. Clouded your judgement, pushed you into committing risky murders and kept you away from your work. Okay, so now the gilt's off the gingerbread and you're back in the swing of things, but you still come rushing home because she's hurt. It's pathetic. You wouldn't have come back here if Naomi had been savaged by a pack of wolves!'

  'Then it isn't my wife you hate, it's what she's done to me?' 'Right! I'm not the only person to see it. Don't you realise that's why Bellini's here? They've heard that we're weak; ripe for a takeover or even elimination. They want our casinos, our contacts and… '

  'All they want is their gold back.'

  'In that case they'd have picked up the phone and told you so. No, they want to make inroads into London and we're weak because of you. Bellini knows… '

  'Bellini isn't a crook!'

  'He's a member of P2. His loyalty is to them.'

  'Quite a number of important people in this country belong to P2. It doesn't mean they're all crooks. P2 is a divided lodge, and the Bellinis happen to belong to the law-abiding section.'

  'It's an illegal lodge! Besides, you're hardly likely to say anything else!' sneered Bishop. 'I'm sorry to inform you that yours isn't the majority view. Quite a few of us think our entire organisation is at risk because of you and your precious wife. A wife who doesn't even enjoy having you as a husband!'

  Neal's fist shot out and Bishop, entirely unprepared, took the blow on the chin and fell heavily to the floor. 'Don't ever speak to me like that again,' said Neal quietly. 'As you pointed out, I've committed several murders lately. Yours wouldn't cause me any distress whatsoever. I find it quite exhausting trying to control a psychopath. Remember too that if you ever injure my wife again you'd better find somewhere safe to hide because next time I shan't hit you , I shall kill you. Is that clearly understood?'

  'What if she needs killing one day?'

  'You don't give up, do you! If she needs killing I'll do it myself. And another thing, please stop knocking my daughter around.'

  'I'll do whatever's needed to control my wife. Perhaps you should have been firmer with her earlier,' he added insolently.

  With a final glare, Neal walked out of the gym, past a weeping Louise sitting huddled on the stairs, and back into the house to talk to Dr Hughes.

  At 8 a.m. Lisa woke. She wondered why her head hurt and why her arms were outside the duvet. Then, as she tried to sit up, pain shot from her fingertips to her shoulders and she had a sudden vivid picture of the two Rottweilers pinning her to the ground. She started to scream and was still screaming when Neal, closely followed by the doctor, burst into the room.

  'It's all right,' he assured her, sitting carefully on the side of the bed and trying to put an arm round her shoulders. 'It's going to be all right.'

  'Get away from me!' she sobbed. 'You let him do it. I hate you. Get out of here. Get out!'

  'I did not let him do it. Lisa, I… '

  'I don't want him here,' she told the waiting doctor.

  'Leave us alone,' instructed Neal, and naturally his order was obeyed.

  She lay back exhausted and as the memories flooded back she began to shake. 'Leave me alone!' she implored him. 'I'm in such pain and I keep seeing… What's happened to Jessica?' she added anxiously. 'Who took her back to Janice? I must go and see her.' And she tried to push the duvet off.

  'She's fine. I've been to see Nurse Anthony and Jessica's safe.' That was true, but he didn't add that she'd been hitting her head against the wall in a steady rhythm. 'I'll get the doctor to give you something for the pain,' he added, seeing her wince. 'Thank God they didn't touch your face.'

  'What did the doctor say about my hands?' she asked anxiously. 'You'll be scarred but there's no permanent damage to any ligaments. In time you'll regain full use of them.'

  'No thanks to Bishop!' she muttered. 'How could you let him do that to me?'

  'He acted on his own initiative, knowing full well that I would never have sanctioned such action. His orders were simply to keep you here . The dogs are for people trying to break in, not people trying to leave. I 'd never have allowed anything like that to happen to you. You must believe me. Just the thought of it makes me feel sick.'

  Lisa sighed. 'You live by a strange set of rules, Neal. Rape and physical abuse are acceptable; savaging by a dog isn't. Perhaps I ought to learn the code and save myself a lot of suffering.'

  He wasn't surprised that she sounded bitter but was surprised by the grief that suddenly overwhelmed him. Grief at everything that had happened. 'I didn't mean it to be like this,' he said slowly. 'When we got married I wanted to look after you. To make up for the life you'd had with Toby. I just don't know how we've ended up as we have.' 'Neither do I,' she said softly. 'Somewhere along the way we must have taken the wrong turning.' 'But where?'

  'I don't know.'

  For a moment they sat in silence then Neal stood up. 'Well, it's probably little comfort now but I promise nothing like this will ever happen again. I'll let Dr Hughes come and make you more comfortable. We'll talk later.'

  'Don't leave me alone here with Bishop.' There was panic in her voice.

  'I won't. You have my word on that.'

  She thought that for once she could believe him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  It was another three weeks before Lisa plucked up enough courage to leave the safety of the house for even a short walk in the garden with the children. As soon as she set foot outside the door her chest would feel tight and the palms of her hands grow damp with fear. Every sound made her catch her breath, certain it was a Rottweiler lurking nearby. Everyone was very kind but she knew that only time and her own determination would get he
r better.

  Neal stayed at home for two weeks, trying to repair some of the mental damage Bishop had inflicted, but was finally forced back to town by pressure of work. Once he was gone, Lisa found it easier to cope. He'd been very patient but in her mind he was still linked to Bishop and no matter how innocent he'd been she blamed him because he was ultimately responsible for everything Bishop did.

  Finally on a misty September morning, she got straight up from breakfast, put on her Burberry and went out along the front drive. Rebekah was back at school and so Lisa walked alone. She assumed someone was watching her from the house but that didn't matter. As long as no one could witness her fear as she approached the wrought iron gates she didn't mind.

  When she put her hand on the heavy latch her legs seemed too weak to support her but she forced herself to continue and finally walked slowly out into the country lane that led to the village. The clothes beneath her coat were drenched with sweat but once outside the boundaries of the house she started to feel better. There were no memories here, it was simply a quiet lane where she could wander without unseen eyes monitoring her every move.

  She wandered along the grassy verge, relieved to find that the panic-induced weakness had passed. The mist was slowly lifting and she decided that if the sun came out she'd take Jessica into the garden later. Not that Jessica would show any pleasure. She no longer smiled and laughed, she didn't even rock or walk on tiptoe, instead she sat in the corner of the room pulling tufts of hair from her head and chewing on them for comfort, ignoring everything that went on around her. It was Jessica who'd been the most badly damaged by Bishop's cruelty and Lisa wasn't sure that the child would be able to cope when she herself felt strong enough to renew the holding therapy.

  Lost in her thoughts she was suddenly aware of a car slowing as it approached her. It was an insignificant silver-blue Volvo but there was no doubt at all that the driver had recognised her and was stopping, though whether as a friend or an enemy she didn't know. Too late she realised the stupidity of straying away from the house. Renato Bellini had been waiting day after day for an opportunity to see Lisa. He'd been staying at the local hotel under a false name, and when Mike's call had finally come through he could scarcely believe his luck because today was his last day in the area since Luciano was missing him. He also had to meet Neal for discussions concerning the second bullion robbery.

  As he drew the car to a halt he noticed that Lisa was standing transfixed on the grass, her eyes huge in a face far thinner and sharper than when he'd last seen her. Hastily he got out of the car and walked round to the passenger side. 'It's all right, Lisa, it's me!'

  The fear ebbed away but her relief at seeing him was so intense that a lump in her throat prevented her from speaking.

  'How are you?' he asked urgently, glancing round to make sure they were unobserved.

  She swallowed hard but the words simply wouldn't come. She'd kept her feelings to herself for so long now that she knew if she actually told him about the pain, the terror and the extent of her injuries, she'd start weeping and not be able to stop. She only shrugged.

  Renato was shocked by her appearance. He'd expected to see a change, but she looked terrible and the dark rings under her eyes showed that she was sleeping very badly. Her wedding ring hung loosely on her finger and she fiddled nervously with it.

  He stood as close to her as he thought she'd allow. 'Tell me the truth,' he urged. 'How are you feeling?'

  She stared at him and her lips moved but no words came out. He realised that she couldn't tell him and unless he did something quickly she might never recover from what had happened to her. 'Listen to me, Lisa. There is talk in London about your husband and the Phillips woman. He is worried about this, because of the knighthood he so badly desires. Make yourself well enough to be shown in town. He is anxious to demonstrate to people that you are still a happily married couple. You must do this soon.'

  'I don't want to go to London with him,' she said tonelessly.

  'It is your only chance to leave him. Choose a big occasion. A Ball perhaps? Then, early on, you will feel ill and tell him you must leave. This he will have to allow, especially if you talk loudly about your illness. Once you have left you must go to the safe house where I will join you. You understand?'

  She understood very well and knew that he was right. Unless she left soon she was never going to get away. 'What about my children?' she whispered.

  'I will have the children brought to you.' 'How?'

  'It is enough that I say it will be done. I do not wish you to know too much.'

  'I can't leave without the children. He'd kill Jessica.'

  'You are not helping her living like this. You have to get away, and you must trust me.'

  'I don't trust anyone any more,' she said sadly. 'Then you will die.'

  Shocked by his brutality she lifted her head and found that his eyes were anguished. She realised he was right and for a third time she must put her trust in a man; only this time if she was wrong it wouldn't matter because she wouldn't be allowed to live long enough to realise her mistake. 'I'll do it,' she agreed softly.

  Glancing down the road he saw a silver Renault pulling out from the drive. 'I have to go. Be brave, cara. Soon it will be over.'

  She was amazed at how quickly he moved. Within seconds both he and the car were gone and as she turned back to the house she saw the Renault drawing out into the lane and realised that Steve hadn't recognised the Italian. In case he was suspicious she raised a bandaged hand in greeting as he passed and he sounded his horn in acknowledgement. She thought that they'd got away with it, but her relief was blunted by the realisation that now she had to act well enough to convince Neal she'd be fit to go to the Leukaemia Research Ball at the Grosvenor House in three weeks time. Hopefully, if he was as anxious as Renato had said to show her off in public, he'd accept her word for it. Even so, it wasn't going to be easy.

  'I was wondering if I could come to the Ball next week,' she said casually, two weeks after her brief meeting with Bellini. 'I'm much better and beginning to feel I'd like to get dressed up again.'

  'I'd love to take you but what about your arms? '

  'I'll get a stunning new dress with long sleeves, and my hands don't look too bad now. I could always get some plastic skin put on them for the one night.'

  'There's still the risk of infection.'

  'In that case I'll keep my gloves on.'

  'Why the sudden urge to rejoin the social whirl?'

  'I thought people might be beginning to talk,' she said lightly. Neal flushed. 'Well?'

  'People always talk. I've explained that you had an accident, but probably some of them don't believe me.'

  'They will once I've shown them the bandages!'

  He considered the idea for a time and Lisa tried to look unconcerned as she waited for his verdict. 'I suppose you could do with some fun,' he conceded, but she knew full well that it was only the fact that her appearance was to his advantage that counted. 'I'll have a word with Dr Hughes.'

  'Can I order a new dress?'

  'I think someone should come here for the fittings. I don't want you wearing yourself out travelling to town all the time.'

  'It 's a pity Carol went out of business,' commented Lisa, but Neal pretended not to hear.

  In the end she decided to make one trip to London and try to find something off the peg from one of the collections. The thought of having to display her arms in their present condition was too humiliating. Neither did she want strangers in the house.

  As Mike was about to drive her there, Jessica and Janice came out of the front door. Jessica was wearing a pair of designer jeans with a Dash tracksuit top, and when she paused for a moment she looked absolutely beautiful. Her hair, so like her father's, shone with a blue-black sheen.

  'Wait!' said Lisa quickly, watching from the car window as her daughter began descending the steps. Once she moved it became obvious she wasn't normal. Her brief moment of graceful beauty vanish
ed as she lurched awkwardly before jumping down the last two steps and rolling around the gravel path like a tiny toddler. Then she set off across the immaculate front lawn, running on tiptoes with her hands held at eye level in front of her as she watched her fingers making intricate patterns in the air.

  Lisa sighed. 'We'd better go.'

  'Shame about the kid.' Mike's comment was casual but deeply felt. 'Sometimes I think she's lucky,' said Lisa bitterly. 'I wish I could shut out the world.'

  'Self-pity won't get you anywhere.'

  He was right but at times like this, when her arms were aching and she was forced to face Jessica's regression, it was difficult not to allow herself the luxury .

  Ironically, she found just what she wanted in Romeo Gigli's latest collection: a deceptively simple canary yellow silk sheath dress with a wide black satin belt and suitably long sleeves to hide her bandaged arms. At £3,000 it was expensive, but Neal wouldn't mind. He wanted her to shine for him at the Ball, and in this dress she couldn't fail to. Feeling drained by her first outing she called in at Pamela Steven's for a massage and facial. They were pleased to see her again, expressing concern over her accident and the resulting tension in her upper back and neck. By the time they'd finished she felt much better and decided to have tea at Brown's before going back to Berkshire.

  She'd just started a tiny cream cake when there was a stir of interest in the room and she looked up to see the large figure of Renato in the doorway. He had little Luciano with him, clutching a large Hamley's bag, his eyes shining with excitement.

  Neither Renato nor Lisa knew how to react but then the Italian walked slowly to her table and gave a small bow. 'How nice to see you back in town, Mrs Gueras. I trust you're recovered from your accident?'

  'Yes, thank you. In fact I've been buying myself a gown for next Thursday's Ball at the Grosvenor House.'

  He let out a slow breath. 'I hope you enjoy it. For myself I am unfortunately engaged elsewhere that evening but no doubt I will see your photograph in the papers.'