Page 61 of Bastard

I grind my teeth together yet remain silent.

“That horrible woman used to do his books. I discovered she’d been skimming off the profits. Of course, Barrington thought I’d made a miscalculation. But my numbers were accurate. Then, we discovered she’d opened private Swiss accounts in her name. She’d been depositing money for years.”

“Wow,” I say.

“To access the accounts, Barrington had to provide death certificates. Fifty in total.”

“That’s a lot of bank accounts.”

“I know. Barrington was so embarrassed by having to discuss her unusual death.”

That gives me pause, and I immediately wonder if Barrington killed her. Bruised ego. Bruised cock. Both would certainly motivate a bully like him.

“She was murdered during a business trip.”

¡De Verdad?“For real?”

Sabine drops my hand to clasp hers together. Does she really believe her situation has improved with the former Mrs. Ogdenhayer’s death? She must know Barrington is a bad man? I study Sabine more closely, thinking how there’s an innocence about her. A gullibility. Poor Sabine.

“Her entire entourage was gunned down. She took a bullet between the eyes.” Sabine’s expression fills with horror, and I try to look appalled. I decide, then and there, to offer her a few kind words and a friendly nudge toward restarting her life, one far away from dangerous men like Barrington.

“Ireland is a beautiful country, but you won’t catch me there.”

Ireland.

I frown. Hayden killed a woman in Ireland. Coincidence?

“Have I shocked you? Sorry, I’ve said too much.”

I recover quickly. “No, I was thinking how much I dislike beer. Isn’t Ireland famous for it?

“Yes.” Sabine giggles.

I push the thought aside as we continue the tour, stopping inside most of the rooms open to visitors, with me keeping mental notes on the locked rooms. I’ve located the study, library, and many other private rooms. Hayden should be pleased.

“This is the ballroom.”

The heavy scent of flowers fills the air, and I can’t help but react to Sabine’s excitement. She’s filled the room with bouquets, small and large, pale and bold. “I brought in a famous Cape Town florist to decorate the space.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Barrington said he felt like he was at a funeral.”

“Men like our husbands sometimes don’t appreciate what’s before them until it’s gone.” I bite my lip. In our time apart, did Hayden ever think about me? Yes, he had me watched, but did he miss me in the slightest?

“Can I ask you for advice?”

“I have a great sense of smell. I ran a successful business when I was younger and created my own trademark scent.” My laundry was in another time, another world away from the woman I am now.

“No. Not about flowers. Advice about my husband?”

I gesture to a nearby sofa. “Should I sit down for this?”

Sabine laughs, then quick as can be, grows serious. “Your husband is handsome. Does he ever ... wander?”

“Into the woods or into another woman’s bedroom?”

Barrington is unfaithful. Should I be surprised?