Gallery Whispers by Quintin Jardine

Author:Quintin Jardine [Jardine, Quintin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Police Procedural, Mystery & Detective, Fiction
ISBN: 9780755358663
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing
Published: 1999-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

46

'This is nice, Andy.' Alex looked at her fiance across the dinner table,

as the waiter topped up their wine glasses. 'It makes me feel a bit

special again. I like it.'

The candle-light shone on his green contact lenses as he met her

gaze. 'You make me feel special all the time,' he said softly, once the

girl was out of earshot. 'But if this is what it takes to make it work for

you, I'll go along with it.'

He smiled, ruefully. 'You know, Brian Mackie, of all people, gave

it to me straight between the eyes this week; he told me I was a selfish

bastard where you were concerned. However I try to twist it around, I

have to accept it. He's right.

'I'm sorry if I've been suffocating you, honey. I'll give you room to

breathe from now on. Promise.'

She shook her head. 'Let's not go over all that again,' she whispered

across the table. 'Let's just enjoy ourselves now. It was a nice idea of

yours, coming back to the place where we told Dad and Sarah we

were engaged. It was an even better idea that we should come on our

own this time.'

'You coming back to my place later?' he asked her, abruptly.

'Of course.'

'Good,' he grinned. 'That's the awkward bit out of the way. Now,

what sort of a week have you had?'

'Work-wise, interesting as ever. Mr Laidlaw had a big instruction

from an insurance company this week; they're fighting with a travel

agent over who should compensate a man who was taken ill on

holiday.'

'How's that?'

'The chap had a previous medical history; the insurers say they

weren't told about it, and that such a material nondisclosure

invalidates the policy.'

'And does it?'

'We say it does, and in the absence of proof from the travel agent

that he did make the full circumstances known to our client, that's

what the Court will say as well. The other party's case is that they

149

made disclosure orally, to an employee of the insurer. No one's arguing

about whether such a conversation took place, it did. The dispute is

over what was said.'

'Meantime what happens to the guy?'

Alex shrugged. 'He waits, I'm afraid.'

'That's a bit rough.'

'Maybe, but it's not our fault.'

'Of course it is,' Andy insisted. 'It's your client who's refusing to

pay the guy. Bloody insurance companies: they take the money then

look for ways to weasel out of meeting their obligation, and firms like

yours help them.'

'What should they do then?' she shot back at him.

'Pay the client then sue the travel agent over the alleged nondisclosure.

It'd make no difference to you and Laidlaw. You'd still get

your fees. I tell you this; if the victim in this case wants to make a

fraud complaint against your client, I'll investigate it.'

'Keep your voice down!' she hissed. 'I .eyou this, Andy; it's the

last time I'll discuss my work with you. Christ, I thought you just

resented my job. I was wrong; you've got a down on my whole bloody

profession.'

'Change the subject; change the subject!' he said. 'I'm sorry; let's

not ruin the evening.'

They finished their meal in virtual silence, Alex's outrage still

simmering quietly. 'Okay,' Andy ventured gently, as their coffee cooled

in front of them.

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