Page 122 of Wife After Wife

“Harry?” said Janette.

“Ms....”

“Morrissey. I’ve been with Mr. Rose for many years. Could I ask—”

“Sorry, ma’am, we can’t give you any information at this time.”

Harry swung back, wiping his eyes.

Janette gasped. “Harry, whatever’s happened?”

•••

Harry and Eliza stayed with Charles and Megan for the rest of the week. No one could think further ahead. Handfuls of painkillers quieted the voice in Harry’s head. The voice that was calling him a wife murderer.

He argued with it. They were still awaiting the autopsy results, and surely those would show this was a tragic case of... what? A heart attack? Brain hemorrhage? One of those, surely.

He mixed more pills with whisky and cried for his beautiful Ana, until Megan told him to pull himself together; she was hurting too. And he needed to get a grip for Eliza’s sake.

•••

The autopsy revealed an unusual cause of death—toxic shock syndrome. At first, everyone assumed it was a case of a forgotten tampon, but it appeared the bacteria causing the fatal condition had entered her body through a deep cut on her index finger, which the investigation suggested she’d acquired a few days earlier after a slipup with the office guillotine.

After the funeral, and a family conference, Megan, Charles, and Harry decided to accept Katie’s thoughtful invitation for Eliza to jointhem in Wales for a while, until Harry had made firmer plans for her future.

In the weeks that followed, IQ Design was taken over by Ana’s team in a management buyout, most of the substantial proceeds going back into Rose Corp., the sole investor.

Harry’s leg continued to improve, and he began a daily regimen of Thames-side walks to build up its strength. His fitness increased, and his trousers were no longer too tight. Newly aware of the fragility of life, he reduced, little by little, the size of the daily pile of pills, although giving them up altogether remained a terrifying prospect. No way could he sleep at night without them.

Janette was an enormous help, her visits distracting him from dark thoughts, from his fear of the knock at the door that could herald the arrival of Scotland Yard. Or MI5.

Harry’s first meeting with Andre after Ana’s death was at the Rose offices, around a table with the Football TV team. Without the threat of the divorce settlement, they were able to proceed with an alternative plan for the channel. As well as lower division and cup matches, it would feature magazine-style programs heavy on nostalgia.

As everyone filed out of the meeting room, Andre was the last to leave, ahead of Harry.

“Harry, my English brother,” he said, turning. “Time we saw a football game again. Life will be easier for you now, I think.” And he winked.

CHAPTER 38

Janette

June 2003

Bloody brilliant,” said Terri. “You gotta see it, Harry.”

Terri had recently interviewed Tracey Emin for theRack, and was full of praise for her new exhibition. “I particularly enjoyedFuck Off and Die You Slag.” She smirked at Janette as she said it.

“Sounds delightful,” said Harry. “Though I’m probably more of a Van Gogh man myself. Or one of the great portrait artists. Rembrandt, Hans Holbein.”

“Oh, I love Van Gogh!” said Janette. “Especially the ones with all the stars.”

Terri made a small noise in her throat. “Well, anyway, Harry, here’s to you on your fortieth. May you continue to avoid an untimely death by a hairsbreadth for the next forty years too.”

“An excellent sentiment,” said Harry, raising his glass.

A few members of staff had been invited to Harry’s office for Friday drinks to celebrate his birthday, which was the coming weekend. It was just heads of department, and Janette. Harry still found big parties too tiring. Janette could tell he was already in pain from standing for an hour or more, though he was too proud to sit down.

She’d make sure they left soon. At least Harry’s troublesome leg meant she didn’t have to endure these dos for long. Janette wasn’t sure who found them more awkward—the staff, who were coming to terms with her being Harry’s partner, or herself, trying to be that person.