She showered and dressed, then set out for the house of Karen Lister and Jason Wensley in Carteret Drive. She’d driven them there that night after they’d had too much at a Monty do. Her clothes were more formal than she’d usually wear for her Keep Fit visits. She had on full-heel black patent shoes, a dark suit and crimson blouse under an all-wool, black, knee-length winter coat. She wanted Karen to realize that this was an important, special call. She wouldn’t mention she’d tacked it on to the curtailed gym trip. It would sound like an afterthought. She’d like Karen to feel flattered that Margaret had taken obvious care with her turnout for this meeting. It might help things along. To arrive unannounced at their semi was a gamble. She hoped Karen would be there alone. Most street and club trading went on in the evenings, and Jason should be out marshalling the sales people. Margaret knew she’d have to get very delicate with her questions if Jason should be at home. Well, not questions, plural – one central question: was a hit-back attack on Ralph and his family planned by the reshaped Shale company?
