The body quickly disappeared from view as if it had been swallowed up. He then repositioned the grass carefully.
Standing back, he surveyed the area for signs of disturbance. He could see none and he felt satisfied that the body would not be easily located there.
“I will plant some dense shrubs to cover the area. Yes, that’s what I will do,” he said more to himself than his partner in crime.
“It will be okay, Zack. The worst is over now, my friend.”
Zachary turned and looked at him. His expression was thoughtful. He scratched his chin absently.
“Thank you, David, and I need to ask you something, but it’s a really big something.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Zachary cleared his throat and looked directly at David.
“If I pay you £5,000,000, will you take the blame for this if the body is ever found?”
“Fuck! That’s a big ask, Zack.”
“I know, but I have to protect my children and I will do so at any cost, David. I am all that Jasper and Scarlett have left now.”
Zachary rubbed his dirty hands down the front of his shirt and exhaled noisily. He pushed his hand through his unkempt thick blond hair.
Minutes ticked by as David mulled over the proposition.
His greed eventually won.
“Okay, Zack. You are on,” he informed him, shaking his hand.
“Thank you, David. I will make the arrangements. It will have to be in cash. We can’t leave a paper trail.”
David nodded. His lips started to twist into a smile.
“Should I go back to the office, Zack?”
“Yes but nip home first and clean up. I will go back there too. I need an alibi. Billy is off today and Alan went home some time ago. I will need to speak to him and make him forget that he saw me earlier. I was heading to see Olivia in Tunbridge Wells for a meeting but she cancelled. She will cover for me though I am sure.”
“She will, Zack, she loves you.”
“I know, I hate to ask her to lie for me, but so be it.”
“Right, I will go. Sorry for your loss, Zack.”
“Thank you, David, for everything.”
“See you at the office, Zack.”
“You have been a good friend to me, David, but our friendship must be between ourselves now. The police will be suspicious of both of us. We must keep our distance. Phoebe was going to leave me for one of her many toyboy lovers and you hated her. We both have a motive. They could suspect that we were in it together. If anybody ever gets close to finding out the truth, I expect you to deal with them however you see fit. Can I count on you for that, David?”
“Yes, Zack, of course you can.”
They briefly shook their dirt-ridden hands together. David trudged back to his car and Zachary Cole took one last look at his wife’s resting place before he started walking quickly back to the house.
The gun lay heavily in his pocket and he would need to get rid of it quickly.
He felt wretched about what his son had done. Jasper would have to live with his actions for the rest of his life.
As would he.
He tried to push the picture of a lifeless Phoebe out of his tormented mind.
Hot tears of guilt and unbearable shame pricked his eyes and ran lazily down his devastatingly handsome face.
He didn’t bother to brush them away.
If he could just get through the next few months, everything would be alright. He had to protect his family and he would do so without hesitation. If he remained calm and focused, the truth would hopefully stay buried.
He would pack some of Phoebe’s clothes and destroy her passport. Make it look like she had gone to start a new life with a lover. Anyone who knew her would know that she was capable of leaving her husband and children behind.
Suddenly a strange feeling of freedom and liberation washed over him in huge waves.
He didn’t love his wife as he once had. She had been his world and the love of his life. Phoebe had meant everything to him before she had ripped his heart out over and over again with her endless sordid cheap meaningless affairs. He mourned the loss of the wonderful woman she once was.
Now there was a real chance he could be happy again.
He had Olivia and he did love her in his own way, but she was needy and boring, especially in bed.
It was time to break off their affair.
Zachary Cole thought, as he often did, of the stunning brunette that he had briefly met four years ago.
Her name was Jennifer.
He had met her in a bar just once.
She had been wearing skinny black jeans and a red low-cut top that barely restrained her heavy breasts. He had watched her as she worked behind the bar serving customers, laughing with the other staff and flirting outrageously with him. He had invited her out but she had turned him down after she saw his wedding ring.
So she had principles. He admired that in a woman.