Murder My Neighbour Page 17

  ‘Do I have to?’ She sounded like a whiny child.

  ‘It’s my turn to scold you for not looking after yourself properly. For days now Miss Quicke has been saying to me that I’ve been falling down on the job. “You’ve let yourself fall into the doldrums, Rose,” she says. “You’re no good to man or beast at the moment, and this has Got to Stop!”’

  ‘Oh. Has it?’ Ellie was still finding the slightest movement a drag. ‘Do you know, I think I might be better going back to bed for a bit.’ She couldn’t think when she’d last pampered herself like this.

  Rose helped Ellie replace her dressing gown with a pretty cotton nightdress and plumped up her pillows before helping Ellie back to bed. ‘There, now. Don’t you worry about a thing because I’m back in charge again. You’ve all been very good to me these last few months when I was feeling so down, and that dear child Mia, although meaning to be helpful, has turned me almost into an invalid, which as you know is not really my cup of tea at all. Not to say she didn’t mean well, because she did, but what I say is that she ought to be going out and about now and picking up her life where she left it off, and if she won’t take it from me that that’s what she ought to do, then you’ll have to put your foot down with a firm hand, Ellie, and see that she does it.

  ‘Now, I should think you could manage a boiled egg with soldiers, and perhaps a pot of Earl Grey tea rather than coffee, which I shall have coming up in next to no time, right?’

  Rose whisked herself out of the room, and Ellie closed her eyes, thinking that she really needed to take some aspirin, but couldn’t summon up enough energy to get out of bed to fetch it . . .

  Friday noon

  Someone was stroking her hand, kissing her cheek.

  She opened her eyes, and there was her dear husband Thomas with her breakfast. Her headache was almost gone.

  He was smiling. ‘You’re better.’

  She smiled back. ‘I found Mrs Pryce, I sicked up my lovely lunch, and then I hit my head on the edge of the bath. Concussion.’

  In the same moment he said, ‘Shock.’

  Yes, it had been a terrible shock, and she hadn’t got over it yet. Diana . . .

  ‘I rang the doctor, explained. He said to watch you like a hawk, wake you every few hours, let him know if you had any visual disturbance. But you haven’t. You look so much better, but you’re staying in bed today.’ It wasn’t quite a question.

  ‘Yes. I love you, Thomas.’

  He blinked hard and turned his head away. ‘I was worried. Ellie, you really are the light of my life and . . .’ His voice faded out, and he swallowed, hard.

  With an effort she reached for the box of tissues and handed it to him.

  He tried to laugh. Almost made it. ‘Now I know you’re better, thinking of others before yourself.’

  She pushed herself further up on the pillows and reached for the tray. ‘And you? I seem to remember wanting to ask you something but . . . oh, I’ve remembered what it was now. Did you sort the bishop out?’ The ‘soldiers’ of toast and butter were crisp, the egg perfect.

  Thomas poured tea for her. ‘I shouldn’t have left you. A couple of minutes more and—’

  ‘Don’t let’s think about that. What about the bishop, Thomas?’

  ‘The bishop is in full flight. Or, at least, he’s no longer on my tail.’

  ‘How did you manage that?’ Around another mouthful.

  ‘He called in some favours; so did I. My favours were bigger than his favours.’

  ‘Tut,’ said Ellie, mock serious. ‘Two boys battling with conkers.’

  ‘Me, conker champion!’ Thomas flexed his biceps.

  She did her best to laugh, pushed the empty plates away from her and accepted the mug of tea. And sobered up. ‘Diana?’

  He was wary. ‘I caught her just as she lifted the radio above her head.’

  Ellie winced. Surely it would be best to pretend it never happened?

  Thomas said, ‘She was beside herself.’

  ‘My fault. I shouldn’t have taken the radio into the bathroom.’

  ‘I, er, threatened her with the police.’

  Ellie stifled a qualm. Nodded. ‘You did right.’ It had never occurred to Ellie before that she should be frightened of her daughter, but now she was. Oh Diana, where did I go wrong that you could even think of doing such a thing?

  ‘I didn’t call them, because she wept and begged and . . . I suggested she go on an anger management course.’

  ‘Thomas, you are brilliant!’ She had tears in her eyes, didn’t know what to do with her mug of tea, needed paper tissues. He took the mug off her and handed her the tissues. Suddenly, she was tired. And wanted to cry again. She slid down in bed. ‘You’ll keep everyone away?’

  ‘Of course. It’s about time you had a rest, give everyone a chance to realize how much you do for them. The cleaners are here, or rather Vera’s here but she’s got another girl with her and neither Vera nor Rose is happy about that – but that’s not something you need to worry about, and they’ll not come in this room, I promise.’

  ‘I’d like to see Vera. She must have heard about our finding the body by now, and she was fond of Mrs Pryce. Besides, she could clean and dust in here and in the bathroom . . .’ Don’t think about the bathroom. ‘No hoovering. Just a quick dust. And maybe change the sheets on the bed?’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m sure.’

  ‘All right. Then I’m going downstairs to Google up a holiday for us. Where would you like to go? I thought we might take off somewhere for a fortnight or so. Do you fancy the Great Wall of China, or the spectacular scenery of New Zealand? Or perhaps Disneyland?’

  ‘Anything but Disneyland.’ She closed her eyes. He drew the curtains and took the empty tray away.

  Early Friday afternoon

  Vera tiptoed into the room. Ellie had been dozing, but she made herself sit upright and held out her hand in welcome to the girl.

  Vera dropped her cleaning things and began to cry. ‘I’m so silly, don’t take any notice of me, but Fritz came round to tell me last night and I haven’t been able to stop crying since. You know how fond I was of her . . . and now you’re poorly and Thomas said I wasn’t to tire you out and look at me!’

  ‘I know.’ Ellie motioned the girl into the chair beside her bed. ‘It’s all right.’ Ellie pushed the paper tissues towards Vera. ‘I see you’re still wearing the earrings she gave you.’

  Vera blew her nose and sniffed. ‘At first I thought I wouldn’t, and then I thought I would; so I did.’

  ‘She’d have been pleased to see you wearing them.’

  Vera tried to laugh. ‘She would, wouldn’t she? Every day she put on her make-up and picked out some jewellery to wear. She wore her diamond drops most times, but she had all sorts, all colours of the rainbow. And then her rings! Oh, my! Mostly diamonds again, though her eternity ring was alternately emeralds and diamonds, and she had others that she wore from time to time to match different outfits, you know. She would say, “Do you think this goes with my dress?” And we’d say, “Yes,” of course.

  ‘She was lonely, you know, because many of her friends had moved away or died, and she looked forward to our company. She’d sit down with us while we had a cuppa, and ask us what we were doing at the weekend, and tell us what she’d been doing. And she’d sort of flirt with Fritz, although it wasn’t really flirting, but asking if he liked her new eyeshadow, and was her skirt length all right, that sort of thing.’

  Vera blew her nose again. ‘I’m glad you found her. I’ve been wondering, was she in the garage all the time we were going round the house? So near?’

  ‘I’m afraid so. But she’d been gone a long time before. Think of her as you last saw her, making plans for her future.’

  ‘Mikey’s been asking after her, wanting to see the lady with the pretty things again. I had to tell him this morning that . . . Well, I didn’t tell him she was dead. I said she’d gone a long way away and wouldn’t be c
oming back. He was so sweet, he said, “Never mind, Mummy, I’ll draw you a picture of her to remember her by.” Wasn’t that lovely of him?’

  ‘It was.’

  ‘Do you think she suffered much? Fritz said she was wearing that long housecoat of hers and must have fallen downstairs and broken her neck. Do you think that’s what happened?’

  ‘I don’t know. The police, thankfully, have taken over and no doubt will let us know sometime.’

  ‘The only thing is –’ Vera’s brow wrinkled – ‘if that was how she died – and that seems very likely to me – then how did she come to be in the freezer?’

  That was the question, indeed. Ellie shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

  Vera sniffed and stood up. ‘Oh well, this won’t get the baby his supper, will it? What you must think of me, carrying on like this! You’d like your bed changed, right? And the bathroom cleaned.’ Still talking, Vera went into the bathroom and came back with the radio. ‘You had an accident? Thomas said you’d had a fall . . . over the radio? What a shame.’ She clicked the switch several times. ‘It’s quite dead. What shall I do with it?’

  Ellie suppressed a shudder. She wanted to say, ‘Throw it away,’ but decided against it for some reason. ‘Put it in the bottom of the wardrobe for now.’ She struggled into her dressing gown and made it to the chair by the window. What was the time? Perhaps she could manage some more food soon? She told herself not to think about who would have to make it; Mia or Rose. They’d have to sort that out between themselves. Perhaps Thomas would do it?

  ‘Vera, Thomas tells me you’ve got a new partner today. What’s happened to Pet?’

  ‘Holiday time, innit?’ Vera set about changing the bed. ‘Didn’t give us much notice this time. Some cousin of her husband’s wants them to house-sit, down on the Isle of Wight. Jammy whatsits. Wish I had a cousin in the country who wanted me to house-sit. Lovely weather, too. When we go out for the day, it’s raining, likely as not.’

  The doorbell rang downstairs. Ellie had heard it ringing every now and then that morning but had managed to ignore it.

  Vera floated a clean sheet on to the bed. ‘That’ll be another bouquet for you no doubt, and Fritz said he’d be popping round sometime. Said you have something of his you were keeping for him.’

  Ellie suppressed a grin. Yes, Fritz should be grateful to her for concealing evidence on his behalf. She wondered what form his gratitude might take. A basket of vegetables taken from the Pryce garden, perhaps?

  Vera shook up pillows and placed them on the bed. ‘There was one huge bouquet came, but Thomas told the florist to take it to the church or something. From your daughter?’ Curiosity leaked out of her eyes.

  ‘Possibly,’ said Ellie, trying to be non-committal. ‘Who else called, do you know?’

  ‘Dunno. Thomas said as how he was guarding the fort, and no one else was to answer the door or the phone. He got Rose to lock the back door, too. He don’t do things by halves, do he?’

  No, he didn’t. Ellie relaxed, closing her eyes. Vera whipped around the room, almost without sound. Vera was very good. Better than Pet . . .

  Ellie dozed off again . . . and woke out of another nightmare, dragged herself up out of the howling wind and the water closing around her as Diana lifted the radio above her head . . .

  She was sweating, crying, fearful, her heartbeat far too fast. She wiped her eyes, made herself breathe deeply. Look, you’re at home in bed, no one else in the room.

  The house was quiet around her. She relaxed, yawned, and stretched. She felt her strength returning. She was also hungry.

  She found her watch and discovered it was past three o’clock. Hadn’t anyone thought to bring her some lunch? There was no sight of a tempting snack in her room. Had they all forgotten her?

  FOURTEEN

  Friday afternoon

  Every movement was a drag, but she pulled on the minimum of clothing – it was a warm day so she could manage with fresh undies and a light grey cotton frock. She brushed her hair, didn’t bother with make-up. Had she lost weight? Possibly. Good.

  She found it necessary to hold on to the banister as she went down the stairs into the hall. She could smell freshly-made coffee and wondered peevishly why they hadn’t thought to bring her some.

  Everyone was in the kitchen. Rose and Mia, Thomas. Vera and her new sidekick were picking up their bags, ready to depart. They chorused, ‘Bye, Rose. Bye, Mia. Bye, Thomas. See you next week.’

  And Fritz. Of course. This was the time of day when Fritz would normally have popped into the Pryce garden to attend to his vegetables, but he couldn’t go round there with the police on the spot, could he?

  Thomas hastened to pull out a stool for her. ‘My dear, are you sure you ought to be up?’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Though she wasn’t, really. But getting there. ‘I could do with a bite to eat and some tea perhaps.’

  ‘Coming up,’ said Rose, smiling away. ‘Tuna sandwich on brown bread, salad on the side?’

  Mia scowled at Rose. ‘I wanted to take something up for her half an hour ago.’

  ‘And I said, “Wait till she wakes.”’ That was Thomas. ‘Ellie, why don’t you go to sit in the other room and we’ll bring it in to you?’

  Ellie nodded and made her way to her sunny sitting room. Fritz followed her, as she’d known he would. She sank into the big high-backed chair by the fireplace, and he stood before her, brown hands clenching and unclenching, looking around him. Not caring to sit unless she told him to do so.

  ‘Sit down, Fritz. I’ve got your things in my handbag. I’ll get them for you in a minute.’

  He nodded, didn’t take a seat. ‘I wanted to say “thank you” for helping me out. I owe you, big time. They’d have had me for breaking and entering, if they’d found that screwdriver, and if they’d known about the lighter . . .’ He shrugged, spaniel eyes on hers.

  Oh dear. She’d made a friend for life. ‘Think nothing of it. I didn’t discover them till I got back home. Besides, I know you didn’t kill her.’

  ‘She fell down the stairs, you think? That housecoat of hers was on the long side.’

  ‘It could be. But if it was an accident, then why did someone put her in the freezer?’

  ‘I been thinking about that. Only reason would be to delay discovery; so it wouldn’t be that nasty stepdaughter of hers, who’d want the body found straight away so that she could inherit, right?’

  ‘I don’t think Edwina Pryce had a clue where her stepmother had gone and was worried sick about her.’

  He shifted his feet. ‘She might still have pushed the old dear down the stairs, which is what it looks like. But she’s a poor, weak sort of creature and could never have picked the missus up, her being well built and all, to put her in the freezer. My money’s on that pesky window cleaner, Jack. I reckon he popped back that last day on some excuse, putting on more padlocks maybe, and asked her for a “present” or maybe found her with her jewel box in her hand and snatched it, making her tumble. He panicked, put the body in the freezer, padlocked the doors and bingo, off he went.’

  Ellie was tiring fast, but could still see the flaw in that argument. ‘Taking her car off for sale somewhere, you think? What about his own transport? He must have a van or a car to carry his ladders and other equipment around with him. I suppose he might have left it round the corner somewhere while he took her car away, and then come back for his own. But if so, why didn’t he put her in her car or his van and take her off somewhere to bury her? None of this makes sense to me. Fritz; you should tell the police what you’ve told me, and if they think the window cleaner’s involved, they’ll search for him.’

  A sideways look. He had no intention of approaching the police about anything. ‘That your handbag over there?’ He nodded towards where it was sitting on the settee. ‘Shall I . . . ?’

  ‘Help yourself.’ Which he did, taking only what was his.

  Preparing to go, he twisted his hands. ‘I brought you an orchid, left i
t in the kitchen. One of my customers has a big greenhouse, big as this room maybe. I grow orchids for him, and he won’t be missing it. Thought you might like it. Semi-shade, water not too often, right? It’ll do nicely on that table near the window.’

  He left Ellie trying not to giggle and wondering how many other customers let him use part of their gardens or greenhouses to grow his own plants. Well, that wasn’t her concern, was it?

  Thomas brought her a tray of luscious looking food. She ate most of it and felt better. He sat nearby, watching her every mouthful.

  ‘Diana called. She brought a bouquet of flowers. I told her to take it to the hospital and sent her away.’

  Ellie nodded, sipped tea.

  ‘The police came round. I said you weren’t up to seeing them.’

  She nodded. She wasn’t.

  ‘Diana said . . .’ His eyes dropped from hers. ‘She’s got a black eye.’ Was there something else on his mind? Well, if there was, it could wait.

  Ellie pushed her tray away. ‘I think I’ll have another little nap. All this detecting is tiring.’ And having a near death experience was even more so.

  She transferred to Thomas’s big La-Z-boy and relaxed.

  She woke again in the twilight, feeling much, much better. She flexed her arms and stretched. Yawned. Felt almost well enough to tackle a domestic problem . . . Well, only if it were a very small domestic problem, like deciding what she wanted to eat for supper.

  She’d been conscious, vaguely, of the door and telephone ringing from time to time. Thomas must have muted the bell on the phone, but nothing could be done about the doorbell. She stretched once more, heard the doorbell ring out again. And again.

  Thomas put his head round the door. ‘You have a visitor from Hoopers Estate Agency. Most insistent. I said I’d ask if you were up to seeing him for five minutes.’