As Easy as That

Kate Lucas is happy. She is married to advertising exec Fred
and works as personal assistant to the leading trial lawyer in the country.
A member of the smart set, Kate believes that having a baby is all she
needs now for total fulfilment.

That is until a tragic accident reveals her circle friends in a new and
shockingly deceitful light. As proof of immoral and illegal behaviour
unfolds, Kate is forced to find answers to some very difficult questions.
Her quest for the truth leads her from Ireland to Budapest.

Along the way her relationship with her husband weakens while her
relationship with her boss grows into something far more than loyalty to
her employer.

Kate's journey leads her back to her home-place where she eventually finds
true happiness with the man she loves.

The contrast had a certain beauty. Warm blood on cool silk.
Kate threw the stained scrap of fabric in the laundry basket. She sat on
the side of the bath and waited for the tears to come. Her eyes remained
dry. She was beyond crying. Getting up she opened the drawer in the
cabinet, took out her pristine pregnancy testing kit and threw it against
the mirror. It bounced off the glass and tumbled into the wash basin. It
lay there, taunting her, mocking her failure.
The front door opened Fred dropped his brief case on the hall table with a
thump. He called up the stairs.
"Hi Kate. Sorry I'm running so late. Are you nearly ready?"
She grabbed the battered pregnancy test kit and shoved it back into the
drawer. With eyes closed she whispered a prayer. "Next time. Please let it
be all right next time." When she heard him walk up the stairs, she quickly
plastered some cleanser onto her face. She smiled at him as he came to the
door.
"Just about to shower now. Your clothes are ready in the bedroom. Busy
day?"
"The meeting with Super Store went on and on. Pernickety crowd. But I
think we just about clinched the contract."
"Well done Fred! You'll feel like celebrating tonight then."
He took a step towards her and slipped his hand inside her robe.
"Want to know what I feel like doing tonight?"
"Your timing's a bit off," she smiled as she pushed him gently away.
Kate stood under the shower and tried to make her mind as empty as her
belly felt, tried to stop the grieving for a baby that had not been
conceived, tried to wash away the fears and doubts. It was party time and
her party time husband was waiting.



The Cochranes were nouveau riche. Everything from the electronically
controlled gates to the porticos and pillars on the house spoke of a need
to advertise their new found wealth.
"No doubt about it, there's money in muck." Fred remarked as they parked
the car in the court yard.
Kate flipped down the mirror and checked her hair and make-up. Snapping the
mirror back in place she looked at her husband.
"We have got to talk, Fred. We --."
He kissed her on the lips and smothered her words. She gave up. He was
probably right. Now was not the time. But there just did not seem to be
right time for Fred to discuss ... their problem. How could he be so
insensitive? So selfish?
She slipped into her role as beautiful wife of the advertising executive
and linked his arm as they made their way towards the vast foyer of the
Cochrane mansion.
"Fred! Kate ! Welcome. You look wonderful Kate."
Shiela Cochrane grabbed their hands, kissed their cheeks and dragged them
into the lounge all at the same time. It was as if she had read rule one to
ten of hostess etiquette and was trying to apply all rules at the same
time. A quick glance around the huge reception room told Kate all she
needed to know. Carefully arranged on and around the state of the art
furniture were the same tanned faces and honed bodies that had peopled the
last party. And the one before that. And probably the next twenty. Drawn to
potential business like a magnet , Fred went. He zoned in on the retail
group. Nigel Greenway, the car sales supremo, owner of a string of garages,
was holding court in front of the bay window. A circle of respectful
disciples surrounded him.
Kate watched as Fred slipped into a slot that seemed to have been reserved
for him. He shook hands, smiled, struck a pose half way between
subservience and assertiveness and suddenly became the moon orbiting the
retailing super planet. His handsome features were animated, his body
tensed, the hunter ready to pounce on any business prey. This was his
milieu, this was what Fred was about.
"Kate Lucas! How do you do it?"
Kate turned around and smiled when she saw Patty Molloy. They touched
cheeks and stood back to look at each other.
"You are always perfection itself, Kate. Not a hair out of place or a
spare ounce of flesh."
Kate smiled at the petite woman standing in front of her. So tiny and yet
she had produced three children in quick succession. Number four was
obviously well on the way.
"You look great too Patty. When is the baby due?"
"The next, and last, baby Molloy is due in three weeks time. I love them
all dearly but enough is enough. I feel like a baby-making machine at the
moment. Anyway, I'm boring. Tell me about life in the fast lane. I see a
lot of your boss on television these days. Must be exciting in your
office."
Exciting? Yes, there was a lot more work to do lately Richard Gordon's law
office. Research, cross referencing, press releases. Being personal
assistant to the leading trial lawyer in the country was demanding,
especially since he was defending in the highest profile case in years. But
exciting?
"It's very busy in the office Patty. A lot of nose to the grindstone and
very little else. How are the children?"
"They all take after Brian so they are a handful. And stop changing the
subject. Did he do it? Did our sainted Minister murder his mistress?"