The Revenge Trail by AA Abbott

Author:AA Abbott [Abbott, AA]
Language: eng
Format: E, P, U, B
Publisher: Perfect City Press
Published: 2018-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24.

Marty

“Tanya, my angel,” Marty said, “can you pop out for chocolate biscuits, please?” One of the perks of the area’s de-industrialisation was the opening of three convenience stores within a five-minute radius.

“I thought you’d be on a diet again,” Tanya said.

“My wife thinks I am,” Marty said. “We know better.” Alarmed by his expanding waist, as she seemed to be every January, Angela had announced that his New Year’s resolution was to cut his carbs. While she held sway at home, he didn’t see why he should take any notice in Florence Street.

“Well, I’ve brought some Quality Street in for the girls,” Tanya said. “You can have a few of those with your morning coffee, and I’ll buy biscuits later. By the way, Tim and Kat wanted to meet you. I put them in your calendar for four o’clock.”

“Fine,” Marty said. He settled down to work, thinking no more about the meeting until Tanya phoned to say his visitors were on the way.

He was about to ask her to fetch tea and biscuits, but thought better of it. It would only take one unguarded remark from Tim to Angela, and his wife would learn of his disobedience. “You’ll be bringing in drinks, won’t you?” he said to Tanya. “No need for nibbles too.”

A white china teapot and cups were waiting in his office when his PA ushered Tim and Kat inside it.

“Sit down,” Marty said. He remained in the imposing leather swivel chair behind his desk.

The room was large enough to accommodate a meeting table and half a dozen chairs. Tim pulled two of these closer to the desk, facing his father. He gestured to Kat to sit in one, taking the other for himself.

Despite his salesman’s polish, Tim’s body language was tense. His shoulders were crunched up near his ears. He leaned forward onto Marty’s desk rather than lounging back. Kat, too, in a sombre black trouser suit, looked apprehensive.

“Who’s dead?” Marty asked.

That elicited a grin from Tim. He almost relaxed. “I’ve got good news and bad news, Dad.”

“I’ll take the good news,” Marty said.

“Well,” Tim beamed at Kat, “it’s all of a piece. We’re pregnant.” His nerves seemed to have vanished. Pride shone from his face.

Marty managed to hide his shock with a passable smile. “Congratulations,” he said.

“Of course, we want to minimise the impact on the business,” Kat said. Her poise was perfect and her voice calm, the accent that of an English aristocrat.

She owed a lot to her posh boarding school, Marty thought. “I assume there will be an effect on your personal lives as well,” he said.

Kat had the grace to blush.

“We’ll take it day by day,” Tim said, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. “There’s almost nine months to go, so we’ve got plenty of time to get ready.”

“And that means we can ensure vodka production isn’t interrupted,” Kat said. “My team will step up, and I’ll find temporary operatives and train them. The Starshine business plan won’t suffer. Then I’ll be back as soon as I get childcare sorted out.

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