Murder of Innocence Page 17

  She made tea for herself and Roy and took it into the living room, leaving a mug on the table for Gus. If Gus wanted to be antisocial, then so be it.

  The answerphone was blinking. There was a pile of letters on the chair in the hall – mostly bills by the look of them. She pushed the living-room curtains to with the broom handle, to shut out the light. Everything else could wait. Sinking down into her chair, she put her feet up. That was a mistake, because her eyelids decided to close on her.

  Roy hadn’t noticed anything wrong with the curtains. He was doing his Man of the House act, standing in front of the fireplace. ‘I’ve just heard that the plans have been passed for the redevelopment of that derelict house on the Green. Isn’t that splendid? I met the builders today – they’re the people my mother recommends and certainly gave the most sensible quote of the three who tendered for the job. I’ve accepted it and they’ll start as soon as the site’s been cleared.’

  Ellie congratulated him. ‘In a way though, I’ll be sorry to see that old house go. It’s been part of the scenery for ever. I know it’s past redemption …’

  ‘Yes, it’s hopeless, disintegrating more every day. You can’t even walk up the stairs now and the ceilings are falling in one by one. What we’re going to provide instead will buck the neighbourhood up no end. Town houses with patio gardens, integral garages, landscaped surroundings … just the thing. They should sell like hot cakes. I’ve been on to the demolition people. I wanted them to start on Monday next, putting up hoardings round the site, making it secure, but they may not be able to start for a couple of weeks, they’re ringing me back on that. They reckon four weeks maybe to clear the site. Then the builders move in and we’ll really see something happen.’ He rubbed his hands together, enjoying the prospect.

  ‘Good for you,’ said Ellie, sliding into a doze. She jerked awake. ‘Aunt Drusilla. I must get round to see her.’

  ‘About time. She’s been on to me twice today, asked me to stay overnight, which I might have to do, if you won’t. I’ll give you a lift and then perhaps we can have a bite to eat together.’

  ‘There’s Gus to consider.’

  ‘Give him a tenner to send out for a pizza or something. Come on, Ellie, we haven’t got all evening.’

  The sun was setting, a red ball glimpsed between the bare branches of the lime trees down the street. ‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight,’ said Ellie, hoping it was true.

  ‘What? Mind that puddle as you get out of the car.’ Ellie looked up at the great gabled front of the Quicke family house, and suffered the usual feeling of depression. A while back Aunt Drusilla had promised to do some repairs to the house but nothing seemed to have been done as yet. Paint was peeling off the portico. The steps to the porch were greening over with moss. The laurels and hollies that crowded around the semicircular drive had been cut back hard not so long ago and failed to soften the harsh exterior.

  Was the house really depressing, or was it all in her mind, a legacy of Aunt Drusilla’s critical attitude to her through the years? Was it really a very pleasant late-Victorian house which merely needed a softening touch here and there? It had been built with the intention of housing a large family and servants. One elderly lady plus itinerant cleaners did not give it the same ambience.

  There were no lights on inside. Roy switched on all the hall lights and made for the stairs.

  Aunt Drusilla’s bedroom was chilly and huge. She was sitting up in her great carved walnut bed, huddled into what looked like a black velvet evening coat, with only a glow-worm of a small bedside light on. The bedside table held a Teasmade, a mobile phone, a digital radio, an alarm clock and an interesting array of pills and potions.

  Ancient and Modern, thought Ellie, dutifully kissing her aunt’s cheek and enquiring how she felt today.

  ‘My blood pressure’s way up and I’m likely to dehydrate unless someone sees fit to bring me something to drink,’ snapped Aunt Drusilla. ‘The cleaner forgot to fill up the Teasmade – again – and the water from the bathroom tap tastes foul. You’ve taken your time. Thought I’d pop off and save you the trouble of a visit, did you?’

  Once Ellie would have winced and denied it, but she’d learned the hard way that giving in to bullies doesn’t pay. So she just laughed. ‘Roy, your mother requires tea, Earl Grey, in the silver teapot with a good china cup and saucer, no milk, no sugar. Extra hot water in the silver jug. And a slice of lemon. Can you manage that?’

  Aunt Drusilla’s face split into a nutcracker grin. ‘I’ve heard this new generation of women make the men do all the work. Well, Ellie? What have you been doing with yourself? Gadding about, spending money? How’s the boy?’

  Ellie drew up a chair, took the old lady’s hand in hers and began the sorry tale. Ellie wasn’t quite sure how it had come about, but over the past few months Aunt Drusilla had almost become a friend. Certainly, with her razor-sharp mind, it was never a waste of time for Ellie to try out theories on her.

  ‘Now this Armand,’ said Aunt Drusilla. ‘You’re absolutely sure he didn’t have anything to do with it?’

  ‘Yes, I am. For one thing, he didn’t get back from school till about five and took me out straight away to B&Q to look at tiles. We got back about six fifteen.Tod left the swimming baths about five and if he’d come straight home as he usually did, then he’d have got back while we were out. We’ve got to allow time for him to have been abducted and abused, and I don’t reckon that could be done in under an hour – do you? More likely two. Or more. By which time Kate would have got home.’

  ‘The lad could have dallied on the way back … gone home with a friend … spent some time in the Avenue … bought himself some sweets. Then when he reached the alley, this Armand could have pounced on him …’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘You think Armand would have been prowling about his back garden, waiting for Tod to come back home, on the offchance? That man doesn’t go into the garden at all. As far as he’s concerned, gardens are for looking at out of windows. He’d be perfectly happy with a concrete wilderness, provided it looked as if it were modern. Their garden at the moment is a muddy slope, awaiting the attentions of a bulldozer and landscape gardener. I assure you, nothing less than a full-scale emergency would get Armand stepping out of his back door.

  ‘And why would he want a boy like Tod? He could lay his hands on half a dozen boys at school, if he had that sort of urge – which he hasn’t, believe me. He’s very very heterosexual. And then, even if he were that way inclined, he wouldn’t go out looking for a boy at half past six in the evening, with Kate due home any minute. And supposing he did, where would he have hidden Tod until he could abuse him? In the airing cupboard till Kate had gone to bed? And then had his wicked way with him? In what room of that small house could he possibly have held the boy? There was a lot of blood, remember. The boy had been whipped …’

  Her voice failed her, remembering Tod’s injuries. She cleared her throat. ‘I did wonder if the boy had been abused in my garden shed where we found him, but it won’t do. There was no blood spattered there, so it’s not the crime scene.’

  Aunt Drusilla nodded. ‘You’ve convinced me. It’s not Armand. But you say that Armand’s given you the name of a man who might help you?’

  ‘Someone called Pearsall. I’ll go to see him tomorrow.’

  Roy came clattering in carrying an old wooden tray which had seen better days. On it rested a stained tray cloth, the silver teapot, a cracked mug and a milk bottle. No hot water, no lemon. The two women regarded this in silence.

  ‘Thank you, Roy,’ said his mother, eventually. ‘Now please go and see what that inefficient cleaning woman has left me for supper, will you?’

  Roy grinned. ‘I know when I’m not wanted. Has Ellie told you yet about the church wanting all her money?’

  Aunt Drusilla sipped at her mug of tea, watching her niece with hooded eyes.

  Ellie lifted her hands and let them fall with a sigh. ‘They say Frank promised them a milli
on pounds to rebuild the church hall. They’ll name it the Frank Quicke Memorial Hall.’

  Aunt Drusilla looked bland. She was probably working out bank charges on the proposed gift, taking into account interest rates and charity status.

  ‘No comment?’ asked Ellie.

  ‘None. I trust your judgement.’

  ‘I don’t,’ said Ellie ruefully. ‘One minute I think I should do it, and the next I think not. I’m taking a straw poll. Everyone at the church will want me to do it because it saves them the trouble of raising the money in the usual way. There’s also – this is embarrassing, but I don’t think I’m imagining it – there’s a sort of groundswell of envy there.You know? They think, why should I have been so fortunate to come into so much money when others are scratching around on a limited pension? I think they’d be not unhappy if I lost my money and was reduced to their level again.’

  ‘That’s human nature for you.’

  ‘Yes. I asked my neighbour Kate for her opinion. She didn’t actually put it in so many words, but I could tell she thinks they’ve got a nerve asking for so much money. Diana expressed shock horror. She’s going to be against it, for selfish reasons … which perhaps I ought to discount. Roy was sweet. He thinks I’ll do it and leave myself penniless. He’d have offered me his hand and his heart again, if Kate hadn’t been there to cramp his style.’

  ‘He’s not a bad lad.’

  ‘No, not once he’d abandoned his original plan to live off his rich longlost mother and cousin.’

  ‘You wouldn’t consider …?’

  ‘Marrying him?’ Ellie shook her head. ‘Too like my dear Frank. As far as he’s concerned, a woman’s place is in the kitchen first, and then in bed. Oh, and she’d better not have any ideas of her own. It’s no wonder his marriage to a younger woman broke down. He’d make a good husband and father if we could, perhaps, find him a sensible divorcee who’s got a couple of children from a first marriage and doesn’t hope for too much in a second.’

  ‘You astonish me, Ellie. Though you’re probably right.’ Miss Quicke laid down the mug. ‘I asked him to stay here overnight but I’m rapidly reconsidering my invitation. This tea is disgusting.’

  Ellie peered into the teapot. ‘He’s put three teabags in. Shall I make you some fresh?’

  ‘In a minute. Do you want my opinion about the money or not?’

  ‘I think I know what you’ll say. No matter what verbal promises he may or may not have made, when he made his will Frank decided what he thought he should give the church, and that’s that. On the other hand, you’re also going to point out that this might be a good opportunity to start a rumour that I’m not as well off as I was.’

  ‘It saves a lot of trouble. When people think you have money to burn, they reach for the matches. Did Roy tell you I want you to move in with me?’

  Ellie opened her mouth to say that yes, she’d do it. But found she couldn’t. She simply could not give away her liberty like that. So she fudged the issue.

  ‘I’m flattered and I’m thinking it over. Surely what you need is a housekeeper.’

  ‘If you’re planning to throw away all your money and pass your house over to Diana, you’ll need a job.’

  ‘Not if you pay me a proper rent for this house.’

  ‘The very idea!’ Miss Quicke dwindled into a little old lady. How on earth did she manage to shrink herself like that? On demand.

  Once Ellie would have hastened to reassure Miss Quicke. Now, very much amused, Ellie said, ‘Remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood? You remind me of the wolf in bed in granny’s nightclothes.’

  Aunt Drusilla cackled with laughter and returned to her normal size. ‘Listen, my girl, I’m not leaving this house to go into any retirement home, is that clear? They’ll carry me out in a box and not before. No nonsense about cremation, either. Into the family vault, if you please. No flowers, by request.’

  ‘Have you made a note of what hymns you want sung at your funeral?’

  ‘Of course. The instructions are in the top drawer of my bureau.You and Roy are joint executors. He gets a third of everything, you get two-thirds. Nothing to the cleaning woman. I had to sack her today. She wanted to move in and act as my official carer. You’ll have to get me someone else.’

  ‘Roy could move in permanently.’

  ‘Yes, and pigs might fly. Ham-fisted. Can read a plan for a building, but can’t find a china cup to save his life. I’m putting a considerable sum of money into this development of his. Should be foolproof, and he’s no fool.’

  ‘I suppose there’s always Diana. If she moved in …’

  ‘She’d want to get me sectioned so she could take over the house herself. She thinks that just because she’s family, I’ll leave her well provided for. She’s trying to be pleasant to me at the moment, agreeing with everything I say. Stupid girl. As if I can’t see through that. It’s about time she grew up and stood on her own two feet, instead of relying on handouts from other people.’

  ‘She might change, start pulling her weight, now she thinks I’m giving all my money away.’

  ‘You aren’t going to do it, then?’

  ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do. My brain’s made of tissue paper at the moment and I can’t think straight. I’ll get on to the employment agencies in the morning, see if I can find you a good housekeeper and another cleaner.’

  ‘I’m perfectly capable of doing that for myself.’

  Ellie applauded her. ‘Of course you are. You do it, then. But I still don’t like your living all alone in the house at the moment. Not till you feel strong enough to skim up and down those stairs and do your own cooking again. Can’t you put up with Roy for more than one night?’

  ‘Certainly not. This is an emergency measure, for one night only. What about you? No, I suppose you’re still buzzing around after that boy Tod. What about that other lame duck of yours – Gustavus or some such ridiculous name.’

  ‘Yes, to both, but I rather think Tod’s beyond my help. A professional would—’

  ‘Give him the love and support he needs? What about his mother?’

  ‘His mother’s got a lover, unless I’m mistaken. The police think I’m barking mad suggesting the stamps are at the bottom of it. They’ve got another lead. I don’t know what.’

  Aunt Drusilla patted Ellie’s hand. ‘Go home and get some sleep. You look as if you need it.’

  Roy appeared, carrying a tea towel. ‘Finished with the tea things? I’ve found a frozen shepherd’s pie on the table, but it’s almost completely defrosted already. Will it be safe to eat, do you think? Shall I shove it in the oven?’

  Aunt Drusilla shuddered and Ellie shook her head. ‘I’ll see to it, shall I? Unless – Aunt Drusilla, would you like to put some clothes on and come out for a light supper with us?’

  ‘Am I made of money? You only say that because you think I’ll foot the bill.’

  Both Ellie and Roy laughed.

  ‘We know you better than that.’

  ‘Get away with you both. Roy, please see to drawing the curtains and putting some security lights on. Ellie, see what else there is in the freezer

  – it should be stocked with frozen meals – and make me another cup of tea. Then you can both go out and enjoy yourselves.’

  Twelve

  Roy never asked Ellie where she’d like to eat, but assumed she’d be happy and grateful to go along with his wishes. This usually annoyed her but tonight she couldn’t have cared less where they went so long as the seats were comfortable and the food tasty and hot. She knew that after that cream-laden lunch she ought to be content with a salad – Diana’s remark about Ellie needing to lose a stone had rankled – but it had been a long and tiring day and yes, the Carvery was just right.

  Roy happily talked away about his new project, which was all right by her as it meant she could just nod and smile every now and then. And eat. And try not to fall asleep at the table. Until he asked her a question which she had to get him to repe
at.

  He said, ‘I can see you’re tired, but this is important. I’ve been worrying about you being short of money. My mother and I have formed a company to redevelop the site on the Green and we’re the sole directors. How about us employing you as a secretary, just to do the odd letter now and then, not a full-time job or anything?

  ‘I know you’ve been taking a computer-training course, and you used to work as a secretary years ago, didn’t you? Not that we’d ask you to do much – just the occasional letter now and then, perhaps? It would mean we could put you on the payroll. I’m sure I can swing it with my mother, and maybe I can even get her to agree that you be a director as well. I couldn’t offer much at first, but if all goes well and the units are sold quickly – well, it could give you some sort of income.’

  Ellie found her handkerchief and blew her nose. Obviously Roy had no idea that Ellie owned the house Aunt Drusilla lived in. He really was rather a dear. Not much of a financier but then, he could leave all that to Aunt Drusilla, who was. Ellie said she was most touched and that she’d think about his proposition seriously.

  It was, of course, quite dark by the time he took her back home. There were no lights on in the house, so maybe Gus was in and maybe he wasn’t. The road was lit well enough to show that all the windows on this side of the house were intact. But suppose someone had thrown another brick through a window at the back?

  Suddenly she was afraid. ‘Roy, I know I’m being silly but do you think you could come in with me, look under the beds to see if there are any burglars or anything …?’

  ‘Reds under the beds?’ A hearty laugh. Of course he didn’t mind. Big men like Roy like to show off in front of weak little women like Ellie.

  He took her key and opened the front door to let her in. She stayed in the porch. Pointed. Roy hadn’t seen it.

  ‘PERVE OUT!’ Someone had spray-painted the message across the front door.