Death at Presley Park

Chapter 1

Chapter 1TWO WEEKS BEFORE

“What time are we meeting up with Bee and Johnny?” Mandy called as she fiddled with her hair. She was trying to get it just right and one cowlick simply wouldn't lie down. She sprayed on more hair lacquer. With her eyes smarting she began to cough as the cloud of gluey droplets engulfed her. “Damnation,” she spluttered. A tear escaped over her eyelid threatening to make her mascara run. Quickly, she pulled a tissue from the box on the dressing table in front of her and carefully dabbed at her cheek. Then she heard the doorbell ring.

“Sitter's arrived,” Theo called. “You've got ten minutes then we really must leave.”

Mandy rose from her dressing-table stool and stood at the full length mirror for one final look. Then, brushing her hands over her hips admiringly, she grinned at her image, checking her teeth for lipstick smears. There's nothing more off-putting than facing lipstick stained teeth when you're trying to eat, she thought.

“Are you good to go? I'd like to arrive on time for once.” Theo's irritation was clear as his voice boomed up from the bottom of the stairs. He didn't used to get irksome. He used to make jokes about Mandy's timekeeping, or lack of it, but now everything she did seemed to annoy him. Mandy didn't care she was bored with Theo and his pettiness. After twelve years of marriage she'd expected more from him.

She could have married anyone. All the boys had fancied her, helplessly drawn to her flashing eyes, luscious lips and curvaceous figure. With her blonde hair, she looked like a young Marylyn Monroe and, whilst there were lots of pretty girls at her school, many of whom would easily put out for a bottle of cheap wine and sweet words of undying love, Mandy was different. She fascinated her classmates. She had mastered the knack of making the boys think there was a chance of a s****l encounter whilst keeping them at arm's length. She was the prize they all desired and every one of them would have turned cartwheels to impress her. But in the end she chose Theo because he was the most popular boy in school, sporty and clever his family came from the wealthiest part of the suburbs. He was also tall and handsome, with a broad, lean frame and even features.

They became the golden couple, the pair everyone envied, the ones everyone else wanted to be. Mandy and Theo married as soon as he finished university. As an accountant he was a good earner and their first home was a small semi-detached in an upmarket suburb. Coming from a poor background, Mandy felt as if she'd won the lottery. Their son Charlie was born a year later and now they lived in a four bedroom detached in the best street.

“If you don't come now I'm leaving without you. I can't be late for this dinner. I'm going to the car and I'll only wait five minutes then I'll be off. You can get yourself a cab.”

Oh s**t, Mandy thought. She knew he wasn't making empty threats. Grabbing her bag she quickly made her way down the stairs in time to hear the front door slam.

“Bye Charlie, Bye Annie,” she called to her son and the sitter then she practically flew out of the door. Theo had already reversed out of the driveway and, as she approached the car, he was revving the engine, itching to be on his way.

“So what's this dinner all about? What's so important that we can't be five minutes late?”

Theo was tight-lipped, he inhaled deeply before answering.

“I told you before,” he said, his voice full of frustration. “We're dining with Carlo and Carlotta Donatelli. He owns 'Delectra' and we're trying to get signed up as a supplier. If Johnny can pull this off we'll be sitting pretty for the next three years. There're not many companies able to guarantee work for the next three weeks these days. That's why we can't be late. We're hosting the dinner. They're our guests.”

“Who else will be there? Will it just be the six of us?”

“Donatelli's accountant Phil McKay and his wife Jean will also be there. It's important that you and Bee keep Carlotta and Jean entertained while we talk business. We can't afford to f**k this up. We don't want to lose this contract.”

Mandy was disappointed. She'd been looking forward to spending time with Johnny. They'd met up twice now without their respective partners knowing and Mandy couldn't keep her hands off him. Who would have thought that Johnny Rigby, the class clown, would turn out to be a business genius? All the time she and Theo were living what they thought was a golden lifestyle, Johnny Rigby was wheeling and dealing and becoming a multi-millionaire. To think she'd turned down his proposal in favour of Theo. You live and learn, she thought wryly. Anyway, she reasoned, now she could have her cake and eat it. Now she'd have both men under her thumb.

Mandy and Theo barely spoke during the journey to the restaurant. He was occupied with thoughts on strategy for the business ahead, she with thoughts of her liaisons with Johnny Rigby. She'd dressed to impress tonight knowing that his wife could never compete. Even if Bee was dressed in designer gear and she wore a bin bag, Mandy would still be more glamorous, more alluring. She knew she'd just have to snap her fingers to have all the men in the room at her beck and call.

Johnny had already planned for them to spend a whole weekend together. In three weeks time his wife and her sister were going to Prague for the sister's birthday celebration. Theo was being sent to Birmingham to represent the company at a trade show and Charlie was going camping with the scouts. Mandy didn't know what their affair would lead to, but for the time being, the attention Johnny gave her and the feeling of power she held over him were enough. She wasn't quite ready to give up on her marriage just yet. Not until something better, something tangible was being offered. Who knows, she thought to herself, maybe she could do even better than Johnny. She was the wrong side of thirty now, just, but didn't look a day over twenty-five. There was still plenty of time to secure an older man with money, lots and lots of money, and maybe a chateau in France or an island in the Caribbean, someone super-rich, a billionaire perhaps. s*x was power and power led to wealth and Mandy was the queen of s*x appeal, she had it in spades.

“Mandy, Mandy,” Theo's words cut through her daydream.

“Wwhat?” she stuttered.

“I asked you to get out and guide me into the parking space. It's a tight fit for a car of this size. If you don't get out now you'll not have room to open the door.”

“But it's starting to rain,” she protested. “Couldn't you drop me right at the door then go and park? It took me ages to do my hair.”

Theo sighed. He didn't want to have to put up with Mandy whining all evening. She could put a damper on the entire meeting if she didn't get her way. With pursed lips showing his annoyance, he put the car into gear and pulled forward at speed, braking hard at the entranceway. Mandy was thrown forward, the seatbelt locking her to her seat.

She scowled, struggling to free herself. “I'll see you inside,” she said leaping out of the car and slamming the door behind her. “Asshole,” she muttered as she straightened her dress.

“I hope you're not talking about me,” a voice from behind her said and she spun round to see Johnny. “I've just been out for a smoke,” he explained holding aloft his silver cigarette case.

“Oh, hi Johnny, of course I'm not talking about you. Theo makes me so mad sometimes. Where's Bee?”

“Not close enough to see this,” he replied slapping her bottom playfully. He glanced at the front door to check Theo wasn't about then, grabbing her round the waist, pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately on the lips, his tongue exploring her mouth.

Mandy returned the kiss then quickly pulled away looking around furtively. “If you carry on like that we'll get caught,” she hissed.

“It's the risk of being caught that heightens the passion. You know you want me. I bet we could sneak out during the meal and no one would notice. My car is parked in a dark corner of the car park. How about a romantic f**k between the main course and dessert? You could be my dessert,” he added with a leer.

“You're incorrigible Johnny, you know that. Don't even think about it. We'll soon be spending a whole weekend together. We can't risk being caught, it's far too dangerous. You are a very bad boy,” she added smiling and wagging her finger at him.

“But you love danger and you can't get enough of this bad boy,” he replied, l*****g his lips suggestively. “Theo, hello, I'm just briefing this lovely gal of yours about Donatelli and his wife.”

Mandy hadn't noticed Theo walking towards them and she was startled when she realised he was beside her. She hoped he hadn't overheard any of their conversation.