The Merry Widow

Richard thinks his client’s widow is hiding something – and he’s going to find out what it is.

- Catherine Young

WHAT a dreadful business,” sighed Judith, studying the front page of the local newspaper and shaking her head in dismay. “They were such a nice couple too, by all accounts.”

“Hmm . . .” Carol looked up from her computer and nodded solemnly. “That poor Mrs Wilkinson. Widowed in her thirties, cruelly robbed of the man she adored. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

“Life has never been fair, ladies,” muttered Richard Cooper, striding moodily through the reception of Cooper & Webb Insurance Services Ltd and hurrying into his office.

“What’s up with him?” asked Judith.

Carol leant a little closer and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “Rumour has it he wasn’t too happy about paying up on the Wilkinson case.” They both glanced over their shoulders to check that Cooper’s office door was closed.

“Between you and me,” Carol went on melodramatically, “Stephen Wilkinson was insured for . . .” She whispered a figure in Judith’s ear.

“Wha-at?” Judith choked on her coffee. “Good grief. If my Harry was worth half that much, I’d have bumped him off years ago!”

“Judith! What an awful thing to say!” “Hey, it was just a joke.” Judith laughed.

“Still, it makes you think, doesn’t it? About Fiona Wilkinson, I mean.”

The women looked at each other for a moment, then giggled uncomfortably.

“No,” they murmured in perfect unison. “Surely not.”