Fraser said, ‘Verity, can you organise the security here? We have to leave our crime scene chaps to go over everything, but someone should stay here in the house.’
‘I have to go with Nick,’ said Verity. ‘I can’t stay. Wait, where’s Amy? She can stay here for me.’ She raised her voice slightly, ‘Merlin, can you reactivate Jeannie, please. I have to go but Amy will be here. You know what to do.’ A soft tone from her watch was all the acknowledgement she needed.
‘I’ve contacted Amy. She’s on her way and knows what she has to do. So let’s go.’
The paramedics worked on Lara until she was stabilised, though still unconscious. The gunshot wound to her head seemed severe and they didn’t expect her to live. They loaded the barely breathing woman into an ambulance which pulled away, siren screaming, heading for the emergency lane and the nearest hospital. The other one, with its walking wounded took a more leisurely pace, Verity clinging to the hands of the two men she loved best.
Epilogue
Lara Nash survived to confirm everything that Nick, Verity and the police had uncovered. Between bouts of unconsciousness and rambling incoherence, she gave them enough information to find Gray’s various bank accounts, his lists of informants and helpers, even the passwords for his computers. She had known deep down he was just using her as a convenience, but was helpless against her feelings for him. She had thought she loved him but therapy and a counter device quickly developed by Verity had brought her out of that delusion.
Now the bitterness of his treatment of her allowed them to get every scrap of knowledge about the murders, how and where they were done.
She had met him in Chicago where she was a professional shoplifter who had never been caught until the day he followed her from the shop and smilingly threatened to turn her in if she didn’t have lunch with him.
Verity told Nick, ‘She said she was so shocked she agreed, then next thing she knew she was in his bed. The sex was incredible and she was hooked. They stayed there in bed, she said, for two days and it just got better. I think he may have been using an illegal sex drug at this time, probably Bacchus. That psych device of his wasn’t fully developed then. He sent her to a security guard training course and the rest, as they say, is history.’
‘Of course, Marcus would accept whatever Gray told him about her. He had no reason to doubt him. And she made a pretty formidable bodyguard too.’
‘I’m sort of sorry she chose to die. She was a murderer but …’
‘Verity, just stop there. She was a murderer, period. She chose to end it rather than live the rest of her life in the prison system. Let’s lay it to rest.’
He wrapped his arms around her. ‘Come on, we’d better get to the wedding. I have to go and pick up Richard before he decides to make a quick getaway … ouch. That was a joke.’
Verity said, ‘And I’d better see if Adelaide’s ready, though she doesn’t really need me with Amy and Lucy fussing around. I’ve never been a bridesmaid before—hope I don’t mess it up.’
Nick blew her a kiss as he left. ‘Good practice for our wedding.’ He grinned as he left her standing there open mouthed.
THE END
If you enjoyed STRANGE BODIES by ANTONIA MARLOWE you may also enjoy her romantic thriller BLUE DIAMONDS
She picked the wrong man to reject. Now he wants her dead.
After a failed attempt on her life by vengeful ex-SAS captain John Stratton, a young British woman takes on a new identity and life for herself in Australia as Chloe Clarke. When a chance encounter leads to a whirlwind romance with the charming and wealthy businessman Tom Wentworth, it seems her fortunes have taken a turn for the better. But as her past life quickly catches up with her and her secrets are revealed, will Tom be able to save her from the danger of Stratton’s murderous intentions?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QFQ9QNU
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QFQ9QNU/
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STRANGE BODIES (a gripping crime thriller) Page 30
