A Question of Identity by Anthea Fraser

Author:Anthea Fraser [Anthea Fraser]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2012-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

NINE

Trish Cowley’s diary wasn’t particularly illuminating. As Glenda had said, a lot of space was taken up by recounting talks between herself and Susie about ‘Andrew’, Susie’s boyfriend, and what they’d done when she visited him in London at the weekends. At one point Trish had written, ‘Was horrified when Susie admitted she’d actually slept with him!!!’

Rona smiled to herself. How times had changed!

Trish had met the famous Andrew during the Easter holidays and did not appear impressed: ‘He’s quite good-looking, I suppose, but older than I expected and seems rather arrogant. It didn’t help that Susie was absolutely fawning on him. I tried to suggest afterwards that she tone it down a bit, but she nearly bit my head off.’

Hardly surprising, Rona felt, though as more talks about Andrew were detailed, she found herself sharing Trish’s dislike. Whether or not the arguments began because of her criticism, they seemed to grow in intensity, particularly by the end of the summer term, and as Glenda had said, they’d not met at all during the long summer holidays.

By the following term, the tone of Trish’s diary had changed and was no longer light-hearted; long talks (unspecified) frequently ended with Susie storming out of the room. Trish repeatedly wrote of her worry about her friend, about her refusing to listen, about her getting out of her depth, but frustratingly never said in what context. And the abrupt cessation of writing, midweek and mid-term, remained unexplained.

In all, having gone through the diary, Rona was none the wiser as to why it came to such a sudden end, or why the school had closed at the end of that term. She could only hope Heather Grayson would throw some light on it when they met at the weekend.

As she entered Debra Stacey’s sitting room for the book group meeting, Lindsey was wondering if, after their time together on Monday evening, there’d be any change in William’s attitude. Though she’d told Rona they kept catching each other’s eye – a confidence she almost immediately regretted – she knew that in truth he also flirted – if that was the word – with other ladies in the group, and, she suspected, with any woman he came in contact with. It was all a part of his easy charm and not meant to be taken seriously. Having met his wife and seen them together, she was pretty sure he’d run a mile if she attempted to take their acquaintance any further. A pity, but it looked as though she’d have to eliminate him from her list of possibilities. Which left Hugh and Jonathan.

William did, however, come straight over on his arrival, holding out an envelope. ‘Glenda asked me to give you this,’ he said. ‘It’s Trish’s graduation photo; I believe Rona asked for it. Would you mind passing it on to her?’

‘Of course. Thank you.’

He smiled. ‘We couldn’t get over how alike you are,’ he added. ‘I bet it causes confusion sometimes!’

‘It has been known to,’ Lindsey answered lightly, ‘but it can also be very useful!’

He laughed.

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