Murder in House Read online

  Thomas put her in a hall chair, and proceeded to take off her heavy winter shoes, and rub her feet in his warm hands.

  She’d finished her paper tissues. She sought for a hankie, and didn’t find one. Her nose was running. He put a hankie in her hand and she blew, hard.

  ‘I bought them for your supper but then I had something to eat with Kate and Armand, but you mustn’t tell anyone because I don’t want to put them in danger, and Mia’s all right really, at least, she will be – I hope – though she’s been terribly badly treated and she’s pregnant and you mustn’t ask me where I’ve put her because I don’t know.’

  ‘My dear love.’

  He half carried her into the sitting room, installed her in the big armchair by the fire and wound a rug around her cold feet, putting them up on a stool. ‘Thank God you found Mia, and that you’re safe.’

  ‘You’ve been praying for us?’

  ‘Pretty well non-stop since early afternoon. I got so fidgety in my meeting, I couldn’t have got through it without prayer.’

  She was still crying, and still blowing her nose. ‘But I lost your lamb chops!’

  ‘You retrieved the lost lamb. You wonderful woman. Here am I, a simple scribe, idling away my time in a meeting discussing a moot point in theology, while you go out and fight the powers of darkness.’

  ‘Oh, don’t be silly. It wasn’t that bad.’

  ‘Wasn’t it?’ His eyes always saw more than most.

  She didn’t reply. Yes, it had been bad, but it was the threats to Mia and the relentless hunt after her which frightened her really, not what she’d actually seen. Except that, come to think of it, Mia’s bruises had been a testimony in themselves. The doctor had said there’d been bites, which needed antibiotics. Where were the bites? Don’t think about it. And then the pregnancy.

  Thomas held both her hands in his. ‘Can you tell me?’

  At that moment, Rose brought in a Thermos of hot soup and sandwiches. Chicken soup and ham sandwiches. With her husband and her friend seated one on either side of her, Ellie told them what had happened.

  ‘. . . And I’m so afraid I’ve left a trail which they may be able to follow and, if the worst comes to the worst, they may come here for Mia. I’ve tried to protect Armand and Kate, and it may never happen, but I get the shivers when I think of what they might do to everyone I love. They know my name, you see, and I left my phone number here with ever so many people.’

  ‘Fear,’ said Thomas. ‘It makes us give in, even before a finger has been laid on us. Put it in proportion, Ellie. They – whoever they are – are not going to go round beating up ordinary citizens because, if they do, the police will be called in to deal with them.’

  Ellie tried to calm down. ‘I don’t think Anthony cares, so long as he gets his own way. You didn’t see what he did to Mia. At least I assume it was him, because it’s him that’s trying to find her. Whoever did that is looking at a long prison sentence, and it looks as if the family have closed ranks, because they told the police she slept around, which is a lie. We mustn’t forget that Ursula believes Lloyd’s death was murder. Perhaps Mia saw something, could witness to it? She’s too confused, too ill at the moment to make a statement, but when she’s recovered her strength she could explode the Prior family reputation and send at least one of them to jail.’

  ‘One thing’s for sure.’ Rose, sitting on the other side of the fireplace, seemed to have taken on the mantle of Miss Quicke herself. ‘You won’t let them get away with it. And if any bully boy shows his fists around here, I’ll set about him with the frying pan.’

  Ellie tried to laugh, but couldn’t quite make it.

  Thomas poured out some more soup for her. ‘We will pray for protection, and take a few precautions. Giving in to an aggressor only makes things worse. Now I’ve been thinking; all this is hearsay, and we need to check some facts. What do we really know? The girls in the flat pointed the finger at the stepbrother, but he might be protecting someone else, a friend of his, for instance, and that’s why he’s trying to find her.’

  ‘She was locked in her room,’ said Ellie, pushing the emptied tray aside. ‘Her mobile phone was smashed. She needed help to get away.’

  ‘We have only heard about that through the girls in the flat, who got it from Malgosia, whom you haven’t spoken to at all.’

  ‘Why would Malgosia make it up?’

  ‘A good point. And we mustn’t forget Ursula’s brush with Anthony and her smashed mobile. Hmm. I think on the whole we’re justified in getting involved. You should tell the police what’s happened.’

  ‘I tried that.’ Ellie got to her feet, moving stiffly. ‘They didn’t want to know. And until Mia is able to give a coherent account of what happened to her, I’m not sure they’ll change their mind. After all, her parents have given her a shocking reputation.’ She looked at the clock. ‘If you don’t mind, I think I’d better go to bed.’

  She grumbled her way up the stairs, telling herself that she really ought to have made sure that Rose was all right before she went, though really Rose looked a lot more lively than Ellie felt tonight. As for Thomas, he hadn’t seen Mia’s injuries. Thomas was a big, strong man and didn’t understand that normal people felt fear when they were threatened. Thomas wasn’t taking the matter seriously enough.

  Midge the cat was nowhere to be seen. Just as well. If he’d come winding round her legs at that moment, she’d have shoved him out of the way.

  She shed her clothes and stomped into the bathroom to have a good long shower in hot water, and it didn’t lift her black mood at all. When she came out, Thomas was switching on the electric blanket. And so he jolly well ought!

  Thomas said, ‘You’re overtired.’

  ‘Is that so surprising?’ Her voice rose. ‘Here I’ve been, going round trying to solve everyone else’s problems, and when I get home I find Little Miss Stick Insect all over you.’

  ‘Ellie, don’t tell me you’re jealous?’ He made the mistake of laughing.

  Ellie lunged at him with both fists. ‘I hate you!’

  Thomas drew her close to him. ‘There, there.’

  She despised women who burst into tears and took refuge from the world in a man’s arms. ‘She’s size six and anorexic—’

  ‘Yes, yes.’

  ‘And stinks of perfume and someone ought to take those trailing scarves and strangle her—’

  She could feel him laughing. ‘You are jealous!’

  ‘First Diana, and then that bundle of bones—’

  He picked her up and deposited her on the bed, lying down beside her. ‘I do love you, Ellie Quicke. Here, have a tissue.’

  Ellie sniffed, took a tissue and blew, eyeing him sideways. ‘I’ve been making a fool of myself, haven’t I?’

  ‘Mm. Delightfully. I enjoyed it.’

  ‘I don’t normally make scenes. Do I?’

  ‘You’re allowed one every time you save someone’s life. And I promise to fend off all the women currently vying for my favours. Is that a bargain?’

  She sniffed, and blew again. ‘How’s your cold coming on?’

  ‘An early night with some hot honey and lemon should see it off. How about you?’

  Wednesday late evening

  ‘Are you there? Can you talk? Yes, I’m still at the dinner, but I’m in the foyer. I wanted to be sure—’

  ‘Yes, the boys came down to the pub after, and I paid them off in the Gents. No, no one saw. They said it went off all right, although I think they were a bit heavy-handed. I told them to throw a scare into her, but I gather they spilt the red stuff.’

  ‘What do you mean? Wine?’

  ‘Blood. But she’s all right. I mean, they phoned for an ambulance for her when they left. She got the message all right.’

  Anthony laughed, and cut off the call.

  Thursday morning early

  Ellie was on her way downstairs next morning when the phone rang. She squinted at the grandfather clock in the hall, which said five to e
ight. She scooped up the newspapers from the mat on her way to the phone, wondering if Rose had been able to get herself to bed last night. She felt bad about having walked out on her like that.

  ‘Mrs Quicke? Is that you?’ An unfamiliar woman’s voice, commanding but woolly, as if the speaker was talking through a mouthful of food. ‘Mrs Belton here, Ursula’s mother. I need to contact her, urgently. She told me you’d given her your mobile. Only . . .’ A break in the voice. Almost a wobble. ‘Only, she can’t work out what the number is on the phone you’ve given her.’

  ‘Oh, how stupid of me. I forgot to give it her. Hang on. I’ll get it for you. It must be somewhere in my address book.’ Ellie dropped the newspapers, trying to open the address book.

  ‘The thing is . . . the thing is . . .’ Was that a sob?

  Ellie abandoned her search in the phone book. ‘What is it, Mrs Belton? Is something the matter?’

  ‘I’m afraid, yes. I’m at the hospital, you see. Been there all night, ever since . . . but they’ve stitched me up and I’ll only have to wear a sling for a couple of days. I’m sure I’m perfectly all right to go home and they need the beds, don’t they?’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  Mrs Belton tried to laugh. ‘Oh, nothing out of the ordinary, just a mugging on my own doorstep. I should have known better, shouldn’t I, at my age? Two of them wearing masks, would you believe? And the police don’t seem able to stop them. The worst of it is that . . . so sorry –’ her voice thickened – ‘I’m afraid I can’t talk properly at the moment.’

  ‘That’s dreadful.’ DI Willis had spoken about some mask-wearing yobs, hadn’t she? ‘You want me to phone Ursula for you, to tell her what’s happened?’

  ‘I’m using the phone at the hospital, waiting for a taxi. At least, I was till I realized they’d taken my handbag with all my money and cards in it, as well as my keys and my mobile. And what they got up to inside the flat, I daren’t think. So now I haven’t any money to pay a taxi, and I’ll have to wait for an ambulance to take me back.’

  ‘The police know?’

  ‘I suppose so. I wasn’t conscious when they brought me in. The nurse said someone would be coming to see me from the police, but they haven’t turned up yet and I’m desperate to get back home, to see what damage they’ve done.’

  Thomas came galloping down the stairs, pulling on an outsize navy blue sweater which made him look more like a seafaring man than ever. Ellie held up a hand to check his progress while Rose appeared from the kitchen, hair awry but decently dressed. Rose was holding a box of eggs. ‘Two boiled, or scrambled with bacon?’

  Ellie said, ‘Hold on a minute, Rose. Mrs Belton, I’ll ring Ursula straight away. Stay where you are. I’ll be round to collect you in half an hour, maybe three quarters.’

  Putting the phone down, Ellie told Thomas and Rose what had happened. ‘So I’d better ring Ursula straight away.’ She stopped. ‘I’ve just had a thought. It’s as if Mia was standing beside me and shaking her head. She was desperate that Ursula shouldn’t come back. Do you think this could be related to . . .? No, it couldn’t possibly. Could it?’

  Thomas stroked his beard. ‘There’s no point alarming Ursula at this hour of the morning. Let’s see what the damage is first, shall we? If it was just a bit of rough-housing by a couple of yobs then Ursula will have to know, but there’s no need to drag her back. What could she do that her mother’s friends couldn’t do better?’

  ‘Not sure she’s got many friends. I’ll get a minicab and fetch her; settle her back at home. I must have some breakfast first, though.’

  Thomas followed her into the kitchen. ‘She’ll be in shock, and if she’s lost her cards and her money, she’ll need help to get sorted. I’ll drive you both.’

  ‘Have you time? What are you supposed to be doing today?’

  For a moment his face reflected panic. Obviously he had something important on. But then he smiled. ‘I’ll make time. This is more important.’

  Rose crashed plates on to the table. ‘Whatever is the world coming to? You’ll both have eggs and bacon, with mushrooms and tomatoes. You’ll need it. Fortify yourselves for the day ahead. My mother always used to say, if you start the day with a good breakfast, you can cope with most things.’

  TWELVE

  Thursday mid-morning

  Mrs Belton agonized all the way home from the hospital about how she was to get into her flat without a door key. Of course Ursula had a key, but she wouldn’t make it back to London for hours, would she?

  Ellie didn’t say that she hadn’t phoned Ursula yet.

  Thomas suggested, ‘Has a neighbour got a spare key?’

  ‘Most certainly not.’

  Ellie remembered Mrs Belton saying that she was not on speaking terms with her neighbour. Oh dear. Did this mean a call to the locksmith? Ellie was sorry for Mrs Belton because the woman had been through a tough time. Her neat clothing was blotchy with blood, her right arm in a sling, and her face a patchwork of cuts and bruises. One of her shoes was missing and her tights were torn. And she sniffed, perpetually, although she declared she didn’t want a handkerchief, or tissues. Ellie tried hard to make allowances but had to admit the woman irritated her profoundly.

  ‘Steady does it,’ said Thomas, helping Mrs Belton out of the car. The front door of the flats was closed. Ellie scanned the facade with its carefully netted windows, but not a curtain twitched.

  ‘What’s that?’ Mrs Belton pointed into the flower bed beside the path. A good quality handbag, rain-soaked and gaping, but recognizable. Before Ellie could say anything about fingerprints, Mrs Belton swooped on it, and with a cry of relief produced a bunch of keys, which she handed to Thomas.

  ‘Thank goodness, my keys! They’ve left me my diary too. Oh, but my purse is empty, the cards gone. Even my library ticket! And my mobile!’

  Ellie stifled the comment what did you expect? as she helped the woman over the step into the hall. ‘Left hand flat, Thomas.’

  Thomas opened the door, and stood back to let Mrs Belton enter.

  ‘Oh, no!’ Chaos and destruction ruled. Mrs Belton dropped her handbag, making little gasps of distress. ‘What have they done? Oh, how could they! Look at . . . Ursula’s pictures! Oh, it’s too much!’

  She would have sunk to the floor, but that Thomas managed to lift her into an upright chair with a broken back. The vandalism had been thorough. No pictures had been left on the walls, no item of furniture left upright. Books and smashed china lay higgledy-piggledy around. The television screen had been kicked in. The landline phone had been placed, with precision, on top of a settee that no longer offered comfortable seating.

  Mrs Belton rocked to and fro. ‘Oh, I can’t bear it. All my lovely things.’

  Ellie darted into the kitchen. Untouched. The bedrooms? Also untouched. Now what did that mean? Presumably the gang had been after money and valuables, but they’d already taken Mrs Belton’s purse and cards, so why bother wrecking the flat? Were they looking for things to sell, but if so, why hadn’t they searched the bedrooms for jewellery, clocks, watches?

  Thomas had his mobile out and was calling the police.

  Ellie put her arm around Mrs Belton’s shoulders. ‘There, there. It’s only things, and things can be replaced. I know, because I lost my old home to fire and it was horrible at the time, such a shock. You are insured?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I . . . all my papers are . . .’ she pointed to an old-fashioned wooden desk, which was now lying on its side and lacked its sloping lid. The papers that had been inside were in a heap beside it. A cheque book amongst them.

  ‘Oh!’ Mrs Belton struggled to her feet. ‘My laptop’s gone! All my work schedules, my reports!’

  ‘Are you sure it’s not here?’

  ‘I left it open on my desk there when I went out last night. It was connected to the mains. You can see they’ve unplugged it and taken it! Oh, what am I going to do?’

  Thomas tried to calm her. ‘Do you back up regularly?�
��

  ‘Yes, of course, I . . . a girl at work nearly got the sack when she forgot to, so I always back up.’ She scrabbled in her handbag, taking out a plastic make-up bag. Opening that up, she produced a memory stick. ‘At least I’ve got this.’ She started to shake.

  The doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of a policewoman who said she’d expected to see Mrs Belton at the hospital. She gave her name, but Ellie failed to catch it. Milford, or Milbrook, something like it. She seemed capable and made the right sort of noises to Mrs Belton, while Ellie made cups of hot, sweetened tea all round. Mrs Belton, getting paler by the minute, tried to tell the policewoman what she knew.

  ‘I’d been out to a lecture at the Town Hall by the Historical Society. I was offered a lift back, but it would have been quicker by bus as it happened, because they had to drop two other people off first. Anyway, I suppose it was about half past ten when I got back. It was very dark. I remember thinking the light bulb must have gone again over the front door. I walked up the path, taking out my keys to open the front door, and then someone – someone tall, wearing a horrible mask, I only caught a glimpse but I think it was a Dracula mask – leaped on me from nowhere and hit me on my cheekbone – here. Someone else grabbed at the strap of my bag from behind. I had it across my body, and I went over backwards. I must have hit my head as I fell.’

  She touched the back of her head. ‘And then, it’s all a blur. They used me as a punchbag. And laughed!’

  ‘There were just two of them? Both masked?’

  Mrs Belton shuddered. ‘Yes, two of them, but I don’t know what the other mask was. Something white with a big, gaping, red mouth, I think. I seem to remember being dragged into the hall, but then nothing till I came to at the hospital.’