A Banquet of Consequences

 

THIRTY-NINE MONTHS BEFORE

 

 

8 DECEMBER

SPITALFIELDS

LONDON

Since it was only to be a weekend jaunt to Marrakesh, Lily Foster reckoned they could use one suitcase, and a carry-on at that. What did they need to take, really? It had been deadly cold, grey, and wet in London since the middle of November, but it wasn t going to be that way in North Africa. They would spend most of their time lounging round the pool, anyway, and when they weren t doing that, they d be getting romantic in their room, for which, obviously, they needed no clothes at all.

Packing took less than ten minutes. Sandals, summer trousers, a tee-shirt for William. Sandals, a clingy frock, and a scarf for her. Swimming suits for them both and a few other essentials. That was it. Then began the wait, which confirmed by a glance at the plastic wall clock ticking away above the cooker should have been less than thirty minutes. But it stretched instead into more than two hours during which time she texted him and she phoned him as well, only to receive no response. Just his pleasant voice saying This is Will. Tell me and I ll tell you back, to which she said, Where are you, William? I thought the job was only in Shoreditch. And why re you still there in this rotten weather? Ring me soon as you get this, okay?

Lily went to the window. The afternoon was spitting rain outside, the sky dark and angry with erupting clouds. In the best of weather, this particular housing estate was grim: a mixture of filthy brick blocks of flats tossed by the handful across a level plain, which was crisscrossed by cracked and heaving pavements that the residents ignored in favour of trudging across a dying patchwork of lawns. In weather like this, the place looked like a death trap and what was at risk of extermination was hope. They didn t belong here, and Lily knew it. It was bad for her; it was worse for William. But it was

Elizabeth George is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen psychological suspense novels, three young adult novels, one book of nonfiction, and two short-story collections. Her work has been honored with the Anthony and Agatha awards, as well as several other prestigious prizes. She lives in Washington State.

Praise for A Banquet of Consequences

George s mystery unfolds with great psychological depth, finely drawn characters and gorgeous portraits of the English countryside. . . . [George] is an essential writer of popular fiction today.  
The Washington Post

Irresistable.
The Seattle Times

Undoubtedly one of Ms. George s best mysteries, original in concept and fascinating in the breadth of its characters.
The Washington Times

As absorbing as her first book in this acclaimed series. . . . [George is] one of the reigning queens of the genre.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Praise for Elizabeth George

"Elizabeth George is a superstar of the crime-fiction world, British Inspector Division. Deservedly so: Her tales always provide nuanced character studies and insights into social issues along with their intricate mysteries."
The Seattle Times

"It s tough to resist the pull of [George s] storytelling once hooked."
USA Today

"Ms. George can do it all, with style to spare."
The Wall Street Journal

"George's . . . ability to continually enhance the portraits of Lynley, Havers, and other recurring characters while generating fully fleshed new ones for each novel is nothing less than superlative, and her atmospheric prose, complete with lovely and detailed descriptions of her setting, combines to add literary gravitas to her work . . . A worthy addition to her portfolio and one that simultaneously disturbs and satisfies." 
Richmond Times-Dispatch

"[Lynley is] one of the great character portraits in contemporary crime fiction."
The Boston Globe