Murder In Law Read online

  ‘I could mebbe tack some card over it till tomorrow, when I can get my mate to do a proper job on it. What about the bloke upstairs?’

  Susan said, ‘I’ll go and see who it is in a minute. Is the water back on again?’

  ‘This morning. I’m running the central heating now to check the new radiators aren’t leaking. It would be best you leave it on for twenty-four hours, get the house up to temperature, right? And what do you want to do about the hot water, seeing as someone’s sleeping here now?’

  So Diana had moved in?

  Susan said, ‘I suppose I’d better see who our visitor is first.’

  Marcy bristled. ‘I’ll come up with you, shall I?’

  Susan drew in her breath. ‘I’ve just realized who it might be. In which case … Yes, please, Marcy. I’d be grateful.’

  Marcy was ready for battle. ‘I need to see how bad it is upstairs, too.’

  They went up the old mahogany staircase together. Susan said, ‘He’ll be in the main bedroom.’

  The door to that room was open. More fresh paint.

  A big man was standing by the window, looking down on the ruined garden. Dark hair, long arms, good suit. He turned round when he heard the two women. ‘About time …!’ His voice trailed away. ‘Who the devil are you? And where’s Diana? She said she’s moved in here, but … Where the devil is she?’ He was very large and in a shocking temper.

  Yes, a duvet and a pillow had been unearthed from the linen closet on the landing and left on the bed in a straggle. The door to the en suite was open. Diana must have had a shock to find there was no water available in the sink, and that she couldn’t use the toilet.

  ‘Well?’ said the large man, clenching his fists and jutting his jaw at them.

  Marcy moved to stand at Susan’s shoulder. Marcy was going to fight at Susan’s side. Well, hurray for Marcy.

  Susan said, ‘Mr Cottrell, I presume?’

  He started. ‘What! How did you know …? Who are you, anyway? You’re too old to be Diana’s daughter.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘Ah, I get it. You’re the girl who’s been buttering up the old lady, the one who managed to wheedle her way into getting half the house. Diana’s told me all about you. She’s going to sue you for alienating her mother’s affections and make you hand over your part of the house to her, the rightful heir.’

  ‘I think,’ said Susan, trying to speak calmly, ‘that you have been misinformed. Ellie made over the whole of this big house to a trust fund which aims to provide affordable housing for those in need. The idea was to turn this whole building into two semi-detached houses, one for Ellie and Thomas to use for life, and one for my husband and I to rent. Incidentally, Diana and her husband Evan rented their own house from that trust, too.’

  ‘What? What? You mean …! No, that’s a lie.’ He glared at her, then narrowed his eyes, thinking over what she’d said.

  Susan kept quiet. Marcy shifted from one foot to the other at Susan’s side.

  Mr Cottrell began to pace the room. ‘No, I can’t believe that! Diana said her mother was going senile. You’re lying.’

  ‘Why would I?’ said Susan.

  ‘These things can be checked, you know.’

  ‘Yes, you should do so. It’s always worthwhile checking when people make claims about who owns what.’ That was a trifle impudent but it did stop him pacing. Was he beginning to suspect that Diana had told him a whopper or two?

  Susan said, ‘Diana told you what happened to Evan? You arranged to meet her here?’

  ‘Well, I … Yes, she did ring me yesterday morning to say he’d been taken to hospital. I had to cut her off. I was in the middle of … Then, when I rang her back, she said she’d had to move herself and the children out and was staying with her mother for the time being. She said she’d forgotten her keys and I was to use the back door when I was able to get away.’

  ‘Yes, Diana did intend to stay here with her mother, but it didn’t work out like that. She saw Evan off to the hospital and brought the children to me next door. That’s when she discovered that her mother’s return had been delayed and that this part of the house isn’t yet fit for occupation. She knew her husband was badly injured and might not survive but she dropped everything to ring you. Why did she do that? To tell you that Evan had been attacked and to ask if you knew anything about it?’

  ‘What! No, of course not! Why would I know …? Don’t be ridiculous.’

  I think Diana wanted reassurance that he’d had nothing to do with the events of the night. I think I believe him when he says he didn’t. Or do I?

  Susan pressed on. ‘Whether she believed you or not, it left her wondering what to do next. She’d dumped the children on us which gave her freedom of action, so she decided to move into her mother’s house anyway. She didn’t realize there’d be no water here. That’s only been turned on this morning.’

  ‘Then she’ll be coming back here.’ It wasn’t quite a question.

  Susan shrugged. ‘She doesn’t know the water’s been turned back on yet. I suppose she’s out and about, consulting her solicitor, cancelling her husband’s credit cards. Did you think she’d hang about here, waiting to see if you could manage to fit in a visit to her in your busy day? Do you realize how that looks?’

  The skin around his nose went white as his temper rose. ‘You …! How dare …! Let me tell you that …!’ He took a quick turn around the room, calming himself down. Second by second, he turned himself back into a wily businessman, a man who could be trusted to come out best on any deal that was on offer, a man who knew how to deal with little people like Susan, who had dared to pass judgement on him.

  He said, ‘You really have no idea who you are talking to, have you?’

  ‘The police know that a man answering your description was seen with Diana early on the morning Evan died. Her bed had not been slept in. It’s known that you have been spending time with Diana. How long do you think it will be before the police come knocking on your door?’

  She saw him decide how to handle the matter. ‘I will tell the police – if they are interested – that yes, Diana and I have enjoyed one another’s company now and then, and that I am truly shocked to hear that her husband died as a result of a break-in. My sympathies are with the grieving widow at this dreadful time.’

  ‘Really?’ Susan spurted into laughter, and then told herself that it wasn’t wise to provoke the lion in his cage.

  His mouth tightened but again he fought his temper down. ‘I repeat, I admire Diana as I admired Evan. My wife and I have known them both for years and we have rejoiced in the birth of their children. They are the envy of all of us who have not been so blessed. And yes, when our friend Evan became housebound, we did treat Diana to a meal now and then. She is excellent company. My wife and I are happy to help her in whatever way we can in her present difficult situation.’

  Susan clapped, once, twice. ‘You should go in for politics.’

  ‘Well, I had thought I might …’ He gave her a sharp look. ‘I have nothing more to say.’

  ‘You don’t want to explain why Diana felt it so important to take time out of her race to the hospital in order to ring you? You don’t want to explain why you are here, looking for her, the day after her husband was murdered?’

  ‘It wasn’t murder, I tell you. It was a burglary that went wrong. And it was nothing to do with me.’

  ‘The police think it was murder, and I am sure they’ll want to ask you about your relationship with the grieving widow. Even as we speak, the police are investigating the contents of her laptop, and they are wondering why she doesn’t want them to find out what is in the safe. Is there something that compromises you on the laptop, or in the safe?’

  His eyes flicked to and fro. ‘What you are suggesting is totally out of line.’

  ‘Did your wife always accompany you when you were consoling Diana for her husband’s deterioration?’

  ‘My wife is happy to know that every now and again, I can find someone t
o have the odd drink with.’

  ‘That,’ said Susan, trying not to grin, ‘is something that needs to be checked and I am sure the police will be doing so.’

  Breathing hard, he took a couple of hasty steps in her direction. He was within her personal space, crowding her. ‘Little girls like you shouldn’t try to interfere with people like me.’ He put his hand on her shoulder, dug his fingers in and twisted, then grabbed her bosom.

  Hard.

  Susan screamed. Tears squirted.

  Marcy swiped at Mr Cottrell. He stepped back and she missed.

  He laughed.

  Susan fell to her knees, covering her breast with both hands.

  TEN

  Saturday afternoon, continued

  ‘You bastard!’ Marcy took another swipe at Mr Cottrell.

  Again, he stepped back out of her reach, laughing.

  A stir in the doorway, and there was the plumber, eyes and mouth wide open. He said, ‘What’s up?’ And to Susan: ‘Something wrong?’

  Marcy yelled at him. ‘Get that bastard out of here before I kill him!’

  ‘I’m going! I’m going!’ said Mr Cottrell. And to the plumber: ‘I can call you as a witness that she hit me.’

  ‘What!’ said the plumber. He knew who was going to pay his bills, and it was the housing trust, and not this intruder. He flapped a hand towards Susan. ‘You all right, missus?’

  Susan gasped, ‘He hurt me. Get him out of here!’

  Mr Cottrell picked up a briefcase he’d left by the window. ‘You’re delusional, woman! Why would I want to touch you?’

  Marcy faced Mr Cottrell down. ‘I know your kind! You’re a bully, but only with those that are smaller and weaker than you. And cleverer. Susan got you tied up in knots, didn’t she? And I know where those scarlet undies came from and who paid the bill for them, too.’

  Mr Cottrell looked as if he wanted to take a swipe at Marcy, too, but thought the better of it. He brushed past the plumber and thundered down the stairs and out of the house.

  Marcy helped Susan to her feet.

  Susan cried out. ‘Oh, oh! Ouch!’ The pain was intense. ‘You saw? You heard?’

  ‘I did,’ said Marcy. ‘You have witnesses to what he said and what he did. You’ve got to report this. Have you got your mobile phone on you, or shall I use mine? We’ll take some photos, shall we? And get you checked out at the doctor’s. That way, we’ve got him bang to rights. Now, let’s see the damage.’

  She helped Susan to the unmade bed, pulled up her T-shirt and undid her bra to reveal one reddened breast which was already darkening in colour and becoming swollen. The marks of Mr Cottrell’s fingers were clearly to be seen.

  The plumber gawped.

  ‘Thank you, that’s quite enough,’ said Marcy, shooing him away. ‘Go and bleed your radiators or whatever it was you were doing, while I attend to Susan.’

  Susan managed to manoeuvre her mobile out of her back pocket but was trembling so hard she couldn’t get her fingers to work. She handed it to Marcy, whispering, ‘Call Lesley. On the contacts list.’

  Marcy found Lesley on the list, got through to her, and handed the phone back to Susan.

  Susan forced herself to sit upright. ‘Lesley? I’m at Ellie’s. Diana’s lover was here. A man called Keith Cottrell. He’s most unpleasant. He …’ Here she broke down.

  Marcy said, ‘Tut!’ and took the phone off Susan to speak to Lesley herself. ‘Lesley, you don’t know me, but I’m Mrs Diana’s cleaner that was and I’m here with Susan at Ellie’s looking at what needs to be done. It’s all right, we chased him away, but he assaulted Susan and she’s a bit shaken up. She got him to admit he was seeing Diana, and that he was the person she rang on her way to the hospital while her poor husband was dying. I’ll take some photos of Susan’s bruises and stick with her till her husband can get her to the doctor’s, right?’

  Marcy clicked off, saying, ‘She’ll be right round. Now, will you let me take some photos? Those bruises are coming up nicely.’

  Susan sat and suffered while Marcy took photos, and then bathed her breast with cold water from the basin in the en suite, thanking the Lord that there was water there at last.

  The pain died to a dull ache. Susan even managed to speak to Rafael, minimizing what had happened, but she did not object when Marcy took the phone off her to tell Rafael that he ought to get round there sharpish, as his wife was not fit to get to the doctor’s by herself and that someone called Lesley was coming round, too, if he knew who Lesley was from Adam, because she, Marcy, did not.

  At which Susan managed a weak sort of laugh.

  ‘That’s it,’ said Marcy. ‘You have to report it, otherwise that man will think he can do it again, if he hasn’t already. He reminds me of my brother-in-law that was. Used to knock my sister around something rotten till I caught him at it, and laid about him with my husband’s walking stick, the collapsible one, which did it no good at all, but made me feel a lot better. Ten to one, this Cottrell’s wife feels the back of his hand every time the wind shifts to the east. I wish I’d had something heavy to hand when he hit you.’

  Susan said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t. You might have killed him.’ She pulled Marcy down on to the bed beside her. ‘I need you to say, “There, there.” Please? It will make me feel better.’

  Marcy put her arm around Susan, tentatively, and then strongly. ‘There, there. If there were more of your sort around, the world would be a better place.’

  Susan sighed, closed her eyes, and rested against Marcy. ‘Thank you. That’s just what I needed.’

  After a minute or so, Susan straightened up and looked around her. She felt as if her breast was aflame, but perhaps it wouldn’t hurt so much if she concentrated on what needed to be done.

  She said, ‘I’ll feel better if I keep moving. Now, before Lesley and Rafael arrive, shall we sort out what needs doing here? Putting this house straight is more than one person can do in a week. Marcy, do you think you can project manage the job? The trust will pay. If you agree, I’ll get on to the agency. Oh dear, it’s the weekend, and they won’t want to work on a Sunday. I’ll get them to send a couple here, preferably people who know how Ellie likes things to be, on Monday morning. I’ll make it clear that you’re in charge and that the bill goes to the trust.’

  Marcy narrowed her eyes, considering the extent of the job. Then nodded.

  ‘Can do. I’ll stay on here now till someone comes to look after you, and then I’ll make a list of what needs to be done. I’ll get rid of the dust and those windows need cleaning in and out, for a start. Before I leave today, I’ll set about that no-good plumber, see what he’s done about making the back door safe.’

  Susan’s fingers were working again now, thank goodness. She got through on her phone to the head of the cleaning agency and made the arrangements while Marcy straightened the bed and tutted over the state of the toilet.

  Susan felt as if she were one great ball of hurt.

  The doorbell rang below. Susan managed to get to her feet with a helping hand from Marcy and slowly made it down the stairs to find Rafael letting himself into the house with the trust’s keys.

  Lesley was at his elbow.

  Susan dissolved into her husband’s arms only to recoil for her breast was too sore to be touched. She collapsed on to the hall chair without bothering to dust it, and let Marcy tell them what had happened.

  Rafael took charge, getting an appointment for her to see the practice nurse at the surgery, while Lesley took photographs and a statement from her.

  Susan felt like a doll, pushed hither and yon.

  She wanted Fifi. She was not going to cry. That was stupid. She wept.

  Rafael handed her a handkerchief and whisked her into the car and away to the surgery while Susan tried to think of something, anything, but the pain in her breast and shoulder.

  She told herself that she’d seen or heard something important, something that made sense of everything that had happened. Then she told he
rself that she was delusional, to use the word Mr Cottrell had thrown at her.

  Pain engulfed her.

  Rafael phoned Coralie and had a report back from that stout damsel to say that all was well back at the ranch. Susan didn’t think it was, but couldn’t do anything about it while the nurse attended to her shoulder and swollen breast. Painkillers were prescribed and she was told there was no great harm done and the ‘discomfort’ would probably last for a day or two. Rafael asked for, and received, a written report on the visit to the surgery which they would need in order to prosecute Mr Cottrell for the assault.

  Susan tried to concentrate on something other than the pain. Mr Cottrell had said something or reacted to something important, but it slipped away from her. Well, it didn’t matter for the time being, did it? The painkillers began to work.

  Saturday teatime

  Home again. Rafael decanted Susan from the car, with care. She could hear Fifi’s thin wail as Rafael opened the front door. Coralie was walking up and down the corridor, with Fifi in her arms. Fifi wasn’t a happy bunny.

  Susan reached for her baby, who clung to her – never mind that it hurt – and sobbed and sobbed. ‘Poor little one. Did you think I’d deserted you?’

  Fifi gave a little hiccup, was put over Susan’s shoulder to bring up her wind, and then subsided into Susan’s arms with a pleased look, her colour returning to normal.

  Susan felt a nudge at her knee. There was Evan, holding up his Hippo. ‘I gave her my Hippo, but she wouldn’t stop crying.’

  Susan wanted to say that Fifi had needed her mummy but didn’t, because Diana’s poor children had possibly never been comforted by their mother as Fifi was now being comforted by Susan.

  It was Coralie who said it. ‘She needed her mummy. Evan, you are a very brave little boy, and thoughtful, too. Now, let’s fetch Fifi her bottle and then you can help me find something for your tea.’

  She nodded to Susan. ‘We had a good walk in the fresh air and played in the park till it began to cloud over. There’s some post. I put it on the kitchen table. Lucia put some money on her phone and has been texting someone ever since.’ Having dumped the problem of Lucia upon Susan, Coralie led Evan away.