Written in the Wind by Gwen Kirkwood

Author:Gwen Kirkwood [Kirkwood, Gwen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2015-09-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Back in London, Dean sat in his office facing Alice Pringle across the desk wondering how he could bring himself to tell her the truth about Derek Moxon’s death. One thing was for sure, he had no intention of letting the slightest rumour leak out to the press, however much it cost the company. He owed Moxon that, at least. But Alice was the most discreet and trustworthy of people. It was possible she had a right to know. He rubbed a hand wearily over his eyes.

‘You look dead on your feet, Dean,’ Alice said, pushing a mug of black coffee across his desk.

‘Yes,’ he grimaced. ‘I need a shower, a shave, and a sleep, I’m afraid. But there are several things I must do first.’

‘Whatever you have to do, I think you will do it better if you have a couple of hours sleep,’ Alice Pringle said firmly. ‘If you would rather stay at the office, I shall see that no one disturbs you.’

‘I expect you’re right, Alice. You usually are. It’s certainly not going to be easy facing Julie Moxon…’

‘N-No…’ Alice frowned anxiously. ‘I wish I was always right,’ she muttered half under her breath. ‘If only…’ Dean looked up at her.

‘You look somewhat shattered yourself, Alice,’ he frowned, staring at her over the rim of his coffee mug.

‘Y-yes… It was such a dreadful thing to happen and Derek was such a good man, so quiet and reliable – a- and a wholly worthy man,’ she said with unexpected vehemence. ‘I- I… Oh, Dean, I feel I’m to blame for his death. You see…’

‘Blame? You, Alice? That’s nonsense. You weren’t even there.’

‘No, but I knew he… he was troubled. I- I should have guessed he might have his mind on other things… make a mistake perhaps… How are the other men who were hurt?’

‘One wasn’t hurt at all, just shocked. The other will be fine. He’ll be out of hospital tomorrow and none the worse, thank God. Neither of them were as bad as the first reports made out. But Alice…?’ He stared at her. ‘What did you mean about Derek Moxon’s mind being on other things?’

‘He came to see me. He swore me to secrecy before he would confide in me, but he said he had to talk to someone. He looked so desperate… When he did tell me what was troubling him, I pleaded with him to tell you, perhaps to take some time away from work. He- he said that was the last thing he wanted, and you…’ She broke off and bit her lip.

‘Yes, what about me, Alice? Why did he think he couldn’t talk to me?’

‘He respected you more than anyone else he knew, Dean.’

‘As I respected him. He was the finest engineer we have. But…?’

‘He said you would never make the sort of mess of your life he had made of his. You’re not married. He said you had probably never been in love – at least not so blindly that you’d rush into marriage the way he did… Oh, Dean, I feel terrible about it all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.