A Woman About Town (Fox & Oakby Murder Mysteries Book IV)

Triangles and Spades

"Do you have any idea why your husband insisted on your presence here?" Imogen asked. "I assume he gave you no choice."

"Giving choice and ensuring consent was never my husband's style," Danielle answered, pressing her lips in distress.

Imogen remembered the information regarding the drugs discovered in Hugo Staunton's luggage. The more she learnt about the man, the more sympathy she felt towards Ms. Witt. Leaving an abusive relationship was never easy; and years spent with a man like him would have warped the strongest and most upright person.

"He also told me to come as well," Will suddenly spoke up. "He never gave a toss where I was and what I was doing. And suddenly I was told to pack an overnight bag. I'd never been to Fleckney before."

Imogen whipped her head. Looking at the young woman now, Imogen could see how the appearance of Wilma Staunton could wreak havoc among the Holyoakes. Her sharp gaze, and her distinct features, especially the strong line of her curved lips - everything reminded Imogen of the family's shared countenance.

"And what do you think his goal was?" Imogen asked Wilma.

The brunette didn't answer and turned to her Mother.

"Do I need to spell it out to you, Ms. Fox?" Danielle said with a dramatic sigh. "My late husband was under the same impression as most people who meet Will. That is, that she's an offspring of the Mighty Holyoakes. Having her with me here was supposed to further convince John Holyoake to agree to the unreasonable sum Hugo was demanding for whatever share of the Stardome Publishing that he still possessed. I assume Hugo was planning to indulge in his favourite business tactics - blackmail and extortion."

Something in how Danielle had phrased it had made Imogen do a mental double take.

"And why would he be under such an impression?" Imogen asked.

"Because he somehow found out that John and I had been 'childhood sweethearts,'" Danielle said bitterly, clearly mocking the sentimental term. "Despite how hard I always tried to conceal this fact."

"Why?" Imogen asked.

"Because I'm not exactly proud of that part of my biography," Danielle snapped, her composure slipping, and then she shook her head. "And what does it matter now? It's been years. I moved out of the county, and I left all of it behind me."

"But you did visit the Holyoakes after the reading," Imogen pointed out softly. "So it does matter to you."

"Hugo told me to!" Danielle exclaimed. Her hands moved at the table, nervously, picking up and dropping the bits and bobs scattered around. "After the reading. I reckon he didn't achieve what he wanted... He'd talked to John and Will before it, at lunch, and of course it didn't go well. He cornered me, and told me to take Will and go to the Holyoakes."

That explained Danielle's crying after the event in the bookshop. Imogen sorted out the timeline in her mind.

"He sent you two to Mrs. Holyoake's cottage. And where did he go after that?"

"I wouldn't know," Danielle grumbled. "He never had the habit of reporting his movements to me." She twirled her coffee spoon in her fingers. "We haven't had much interest in each other's lives in ages. What am I saying, we never did. You can tell by the sheer fact that he never questioned Will's parentage, and hadn't known of my connection to the great John Holyoake up until recently."

"Was it John Barnett who told him?" Imogen voiced out what she thought was the most logical assumption.

Danielle jolted and rushed to answer, "No, no, of course not! John would never tell him, not after I specifically asked him to keep it between us." She frowned and anxiously tucked a glossy copper curl behind her ear. "John is my friend. We didn't interact much when we were children, but we reconnected in London. If anything, it was his idea to keep it secret from Hugo, since it's such an easy thing to exploit. He was so shocked to see me at the reading!" Danielle shook her head again. "No, John would never..."