Patty began to make small-talk but Diana just wanted to end the call.
When she put down her phone she noticed that Elizabeth looked serious.
‘What’s wrong, Liz?’ she asked instinctively.
‘Nothing,’ she said slowly.
‘Liz, tell me, what are you thinking?’
‘You know Patty helped Greg bankroll Canopus to get it started,’ said Elizabeth finally. ‘She has a vested interest in making that company work.’
Dread filled Diana’s throat.
‘Try calling Rachel again,’ said Adam quickly.
She tried, but there was still no reply. Rachel’s message to say that she was on her way to Hampshire had been sent almost three hours ago. Surely she must be there by now?
‘I want to go to Patty’s house,’ said Diana with a desperate need to do something other than sit in the pub.
Adam nodded.
‘But Jules killed himself,’ said Elizabeth, shaking her head. Diana felt a wave of solidarity with the woman. Her sister-in-law was not her favourite person, but right now she looked as confused and crushed as she herself felt.
Adam glanced at his watch. ‘Hop in the car. It shouldn’t take us more than an hour and a half if I put my foot down.’
‘An hour and a half?’ said Elizabeth, taking control. ‘We’re ten minutes’ drive from Dad’s and the helicopter’s there.’
‘We’d better get moving then,’ said Diana, beating them both out of the pub.
64
She thought she had been out cold for only a few minutes, but really she had no idea how long it had been. Rachel blinked hard, seeing the world at first in a soft, blurred focus; then, as her vision sharpened, she could make out Patty and Greg arguing a few feet away from her.
She closed her eyes once more, trying to listen to what they were saying. At first it was hard to concentrate. She was aware that she was lying on the floor; her hands and feet had been bound and sticky black gaffer tape had been stuck over her mouth.
‘What are we going to do?’ Patty’s voice was quivering with panic. ‘That was Diana on the phone asking where Rachel was. Believe it or not, she’s not completely stupid. Her bloody sister must have told her where she was going.’
‘Ask her,’ hissed Greg as Rachel felt her heart pump with fear.
‘Leave her whilst I think,’ snapped Patty.
But Rachel could hear Greg striding towards her, felt him tapping her with his foot to wake her up.
She stayed motionless, pretending to be unconscious.
He lifted her up, propping her against the kitchen units. He pressed his fingers against her eyelids to pull them back, and she blinked hard in the light, so he knew she had come round.
‘What have you told Diana?’ he growled, pushing his face so close to hers that she could see the lines and blemishes on his skin. He ripped the tape off her mouth and waited for her reply.
‘I haven’t told her anything,’ croaked Rachel, her lips sore and stinging.
‘Don’t fucking lie to me,’ he roared. ‘She’s just called Patty.’
Rachel gulped hard. ‘I said I might come and talk to her, but that’s it.’
Greg shook his head. ‘You’re way off base with this, you know,’ he said, wiping a line of dribble from his mouth.
‘Which is why you smashed me over the head with a tennis racquet and tied me up,’ she said, noticing the glimmer of metal sports equipment where she had been standing with Patty.