Page 112 of Next in Line

‘Legend has it that a civil servant added the A as an afterthought, thinking it made the committee sound more important, while others suggest it’s simply Committee Room A.’

After a long silence, Beth gave up and turned her attention back to the package in front of her.

‘What could this possibly be?’ she said as she began to unwrap it. ‘A diamond necklace, perhaps?’

‘I think you’ll have to wait for our tenth anniversary before you can hope for that.’

‘Pearls, rubies, or gold?’

‘Thirty, forty, and fifty years,’ teased William as she slowly removed the red wrapping paper before opening the box to reveal an eternity bracelet.

‘How did you know this was exactly what I was hoping for?’

‘Possibly because you’ve been unsubtly hinting about it for the past month,’ said William, slipping it onto her wrist, clicking the clasps shut and using the tiny gold screwdriver to lock the bracelet into place.

‘A life sentence,’ sighed Beth, ‘and no one to defend me.’

‘I’m sure Booth Watson will be only too happy to represent you, as he’s a bit short of clients at the moment.’

‘I can’t afford him,’ said Beth, placing a forearm across her forehead and sighing. ‘So sadly, caveman, I’m stuck with you.’

‘Who gave you that?’ William asked, when he spotted a Tank watch on her wrist that he’d never seen before. ‘Do I have a rival?’

‘Several. But the answer to your question, Superintendent, is Christina.’

‘What a remarkably generous gift. I can assure you that her ex-husband didn’t give me anything for fixing his early release.’

Beth raised an eyebrow, but William didn’t oblige.

‘As always with Christina,’ said Beth, ‘it’s not quite as straightforward as it seems, because I remember her wearing the watch at the Frans Hals opening. But the crocodile strap looks new, and if I’m going to be offered hand-me-downs, who better than Christina to supply them?’

‘Does that mean your joint enterprise is flourishing?’

‘It certainly does, not least because I recently had a little coup with a Russell Flint watercolour.’

‘Father or son?’

‘Stop showing off,’ said Beth. ‘I was able to sell it on to a collector for a handsome return, and as Christina continues to reinvest her share of the profits, I’ve made her a fifty-fifty partner.’

‘You’re fast becoming a vulgar capitalist,’ said William, after raising his glass once again.

‘But for how much longer,’ mused Beth, causing William to raise an eyebrow. She took a sip of champagne before answering his unasked question. ‘I had a call from the chairmanthis morning, to let me know that Gerald Sloane has resigned as director.’

‘Why would he do that?’ William paused before adding, ‘There has to be a reason.’

‘If there is,’ said Beth, ‘they’re keeping schtum about it.’

‘How did you find out?’

‘Christina found out when the chairman asked her if she would consider coming back on the board.’

‘So she’ll know the reason,’ said William, then added, ‘which means, so do you.’

‘Let’s just say that three of Sloane’s secretaries handed in their notice during the brief time he was director, which the board may have considered to be one too many.’

‘There has to be more to it than that.’

‘You tell me what you know about Faulkner,’ said Beth, ‘and I’ll tell you what I know about Sloane.’