The Unseen by James McKenna Page A

negligence. Jan and Chad looked in at 8 p.m., enough excuse for a gathering in the pub.

    One beer and thirty minutes later he headed for home. The car CD played Rachmaninov’s No 2. It cleared his mind of murder, but not Victoria Lawless. He pondered on her re-entry into his life, her considerable attractions and, more alarmingly, her failure to inform on vital evidence. He reasoned the woman had allowed contempt of Creech to cloud her judgement, or more deviously, she played a political game not yet apparent.
     
    Sean switched off the car lights and stepped out onto the cobbled drive of his detached home. For moments he stood in cynical pleasure of ownership. He no longer resented the house, just accepted the place as a burden of fatherly love.

    Danielle sat cross-legged in the family room, her figure draped in a pink wool tracksuit. She waved from where she sat before the laptop, momentarily shifting her concentration from the video game she played. In her moment of distraction she was zapped.
     
    “You’re getting worse than my daughters,” he said, from the doorway.

    “A new business opportunity to help my thesis.” She smiled and switched off. “Part is on the psychological affect computer games have on children and young adults. For some it becomes an obsession with sub-psychic influences. Because many games have no social contact, the players may become isolated and detached from reality. For certain minds drawn into deep concentration, there exists the possibility of subliminal psychotic induction. I believe this is a possible means of corrective education, particularly for computer-orientated delinquents.”

    “Sounds scary. You got my kids involved?” He returned her smile and watched the round, soft movement of her body as she stood.

    “Sophie and Becky are keen to help.” She eased past, heading for the kitchen. It left him with the sweet aroma of a woman just bathed. For brief seconds he closed his eyes and imagined.
     
    “And the business?” he questioned, placing his briefcase in the hall and following the lure of her scent.

    “Through Finch Distribution I am now a home agent for PKL Computer Games and Starways Software,” she said. “I sell their products and make small money to help pay university fees.”

    “PKL came up in a meeting today.”

    “Now, monsieur, I am also part.” She poured red wine for them both, placing his glass at a single setting on the table. “I discover and apply two weeks ago. Now I am accepted, they give me my own website, half price games-console and lots of free software. I will put it on your PC. The girls can also play trial games for Princess Kay-ling II. Everybody wins.”

    He watched her dish potatoes and casseroled beef. She placed his plate on the table then turned to the sink. “Camilla phoned, she goes this weekend to New York with Bradley. She asked if girls could stay again. I said, OK.”

    Sean watched her movements, watched the taut stretch of her tracksuit bottoms. “Nice casserole,” he said, and began to eat, realising celibacy was no longer compatible with domestic harmony. Victoria smiled into the vision of his mind. He drew back and looked again at Danielle.
     
    She hung up the tea towel, collected her wine glass and came opposite. He glanced up as she sat and saw the subtle smile of a scheming woman.

    “I have a present for you, monsieur.” She drew an envelope from her pocket and slid it across the table. “A chance for you to take your girls somewhere Bradley would never think of. A little gift before my departure.”

    She was looking at him over the rim of her glass. He had seen Camilla look that way. He slit the envelope with his finger. The contents took away his suspicions.

    “A complimentary, half-price weekend reservation for Morrison Hotel, Brighton, one family room for Saturday night. That’s great,” he said, searching for excuses to reject.

    “It came free with my PKL business package. They have some