Murder by Suggestion Page 20

  Barbie left, leaving Ellie staring into space.

  Fenella, who was friendly with Rupert, was Bunny’s first wife?

  Could that be true?

  No, surely not. There must be more than one person called Fenella around. Except that it was an unusual name.

  Ellie shook her head. Pull yourself together, girl! What did it matter if Bunny’s ex-wife still met socially with the husband of one of Bunny’s friends? Why shouldn’t they? Rupert said they both sat on the boards of some company or other. They had interests in common. From passing the time of day they might suggest having a friendly drink together or going out for a meal. Fenella might ask Rupert for news of her ex-husband, and in turn he might ask her how she was fixed, financially. As she was on the board of at least one company, it followed that she had shares in that firm. Perhaps she had done well out of her divorce? It sounded as if she were a strong, independent woman with a comfortable lifestyle.

  It didn’t follow that Rupert had designs on Fenella, even if she were a wealthy woman in her own right.

  Of course, Fenella was going to come out of this business with Bunny’s house and whatever other property he might have left, which made her a good prospect for Rupert to consider if he were to take a third dip into the marriage market. Poor Barbie had been left with nothing except the clothes she had been allowed to take away with her.

  Fenella had been the winner in that game of ex-wives, hadn’t she?

  Presumably Rupert intended to come out of this affair smelling of roses, too. He’d got shot of penniless Kat and if, as gossip indicated, he succeeded in marrying Fenella, he would get Bunny’s property, too.

  According to Rupert, he was the only one of that group who knew about the emails before Bunny died.

  Which meant …?

  Could Rupert have engineered Bunny’s death in order to achieve another wealthy marriage and acquire his dead friend’s estate?

  It sounded very possible.

  Who would ever suspect another member of the group of devising the deaths of Bunny and Walt … unless they’d arranged for the surviving members of the group to inherit the dead man’s shares? That really was a possibility.

  Wait a minute. Didn’t Rupert have an alibi for Walt’s death? He’d been in a board meeting at the time, hadn’t he?

  Well, he might have been responsible for Bunny’s death, if not for Walt’s. Walt might have fallen down the stairs, exactly as they said.

  If it hadn’t been for the emails, no one would have thought to query either death. And the police were not really going to do anything about either death, were they? Or were they?

  Ellie decided to ring Lesley one more time to see if there were any news.

  But what was that?

  A child’s cry. Here came Kat carrying a clean and rosy-cheeked toddler down the stairs. She was singing something – a folk song? – to him and he was joining in now and then, off-key but to their mutual satisfaction. He was also clutching Eeyore the donkey, which was one of the soft toys Ellie kept for him to play with when he stayed overnight. What happened to the toy which had once been his favourite? The pink hippo? Was that the one which had been put into the washing machine by the new nanny and thereby lost its distinctive scent?

  Diana appeared in the doorway to the sitting room. There were dark circles under her eyes and she looked far from her usual pristine self.

  Little Evan held out his arms to her, and Kat skilfully transferred the boy into his mother’s arms. ‘There, now,’ said Kat. ‘I don’t know who is more tired – Mummy or baby boy. Come along, Mummy; let’s see what we can find to eat in the kitchen, and then you can put your little boy to beddy-byes. I don’t think you’ll be long out of bed, either.’

  Diana recognized, as did Ellie and Evan, that Kat had taken them both under her wing and, for a wonder, Diana actually accepted the offer of help. Even more miraculous, she actually thanked Kat. ‘You’re very good with him. Yes, I must admit I am rather tired.’

  Kat said, ‘You should take it easy, no? You are being sick much?’

  ‘A little.’ With Kat carrying little Evan, Diana allowed herself to be shepherded down the corridor to the kitchen.

  So Kat has worked out that Diana was pregnant again? Good for Kat.

  Ellie made for the phone. It was getting late. Lesley would have left the police station for the night, but Ellie had her mobile number and tried that.

  Lesley answered the phone. ‘Yes, Ellie? What is it?’

  ‘You sound worn out.’

  ‘I am. I’ve been looking through hours of video trying to trace a suspect in an acid attack.’

  ‘Nothing to do with Bunny and Walt, then?’

  ‘Oh, that?’ A long pause. ‘No, nothing to do with that. We should get the results on Walt’s death tomorrow afternoon. Actually, Ellie, I don’t want to worry you, but if they find bruising on his back, I think they’ll want to interview Diana under caution.’

  Ellie caught her breath. ‘You mean, they really think she could have a case to answer?’

  ‘You must know that He Who Must Be Obeyed is enchanted with the idea that he can have your daughter up on a murder charge. If the autopsy proves that Walt was pushed, then you can expect him round tomorrow. He’ll want to interview all the wives, I suppose, but he’ll concentrate on Diana.’

  ‘Two of the wives have left already. Russet has taken Barbie back home with her. No one seems to have objected. The other two are off tomorrow, to stay with Trish’s parents up north somewhere.’

  ‘That’s awkward. Couldn’t you have kept them?’

  ‘No. How could I? And why should I?’

  ‘You’re right, of course, but I’m afraid my boss won’t see it that way. He’ll want to know why you allowed suspected criminals to escape.’

  Ellie said, ‘Tchah!’

  Lesley managed a laugh. ‘Yes, I know. Nobody’s actually under suspicion till we get the results of the autopsy, and maybe not then … Which won’t stop him trying to put you in the wrong.’

  ‘You’re off the case?’

  ‘Yes. I’m so sorry, Ellie. I can’t help.’ Lesley sounded defeated, which was not like her.

  Ellie said, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll think of something,’ and clicked off as Trish appeared from the kitchen, phone glued to her ear, looking as if she were on the verge of tears. On seeing Ellie, she said to the phone, ‘I’ll get back to you,’ and shut it off.

  Ellie decided she was too tired to ask what was wrong, but Trish had elected her as her best friend, and Trish needed to unburden herself.

  ‘Oh, Mrs Quicke. It’s my sister,’ said Trish, holding back her tears. ‘She’s the eldest and so bossy, you wouldn’t believe. She says I can’t possibly be so selfish as to land back on Mum and Dad when they’re having health problems and have just moved into a retirement flat. Of course she’s right, but they do have a guest room and they did offer. They said they would expect me tomorrow and they said Kat could come, too, but my sister is right, and it would be all wrong of me to add to their troubles now.’

  Ellie stiffened her back. ‘Parents worry about their children. They worry even more if they can’t do anything to help.’

  ‘Do you think so? I was the youngest by so many years, and I forget … Because they are in their seventies now, and it’s true, Mum has arthritis and Dad is waiting for a hip replacement. I do tend to spread myself around a bit, and Mum likes everything just so, which means she’ll get in a state if I move back in, and I can see that it’s all wrong for me to impose on them but … What am I going to do?’

  ‘Grow up!’ said Ellie, and then was appalled at herself.

  Trish recoiled as if she’d been struck.

  Ellie castigated herself. How could she have been so cruel! She said, ‘I’m sorry, Trish. I didn’t mean …’ But of course she had meant it, and Trish knew it.

  A tide of red swept up from Trish’s throat and up to her hairline. She was silent. Quivering. Biting her lip.

  Ellie
winced. How could she have said that?

  Trish took in a deep breath and let it out again. ‘No, it’s I who should be apologizing to you, Mrs Quicke. It’s true. I’ve been behaving like a child.’

  Ellie shot into speech. ‘Your husband liked you to—’

  ‘Yes, he did.’ She was as pale now as she had been red before. ‘But I ought not to have let him keep me a child. I see that now. Yes, it is about time that I grew up and took control of my life.’

  ‘Don’t jump into making a decision you might regret later.’

  ‘I feel as if I’m swimming in a strange sea with no land in sight. There’s nowhere to put my feet down. Nothing settled.’ An attempt at a smile. ‘I’m a Cancer, you see. I like my shell. I don’t like change.’

  Ellie was never quite sure whether she believed in such things as star signs, although she supposed some people she knew did face both ways, and others were clearly bull-at-a-gate. She didn’t even know what sign she herself was supposed to be.

  What she did know was that she was a woman whose lines had fallen in pleasant places. She was happily married to a wonderful man, had good friends, enough money to live on comfortably and plenty of charity work to keep her occupied. She didn’t deserve such good fortune but there it was, and she was grateful for it. The least she could do was to try to help others when they were in trouble.

  ‘I suppose,’ she said, ‘you could tell your parents that you appreciate their concern but would like to stand on your own two feet now. Ask their advice about what you should do? Perhaps you could check into a hotel or a B and B nearby. You could pay for Kat, couldn’t you?’

  ‘Yes. That’s a good idea. I’ll do that.’ She accessed her phone, making her way up the stairs but stopped halfway up. ‘Oh, Susan said to tell you that supper’s nearly ready.’ Trish continued on her way up to her own room.

  Ellie thought of calling the girl back to say that if supper were ready, it was going to cause extra trouble all round if Trish went off by herself just as the food was being dished up. Instead, she shrugged and went along the corridor to call Thomas to the table.

  Evening into night.

  It had been a tiring day, emotionally and in every other way. So supper was raggedly served and quickly disposed of, almost completely in silence.

  Diana had been withdrawn throughout, watching her son’s every move, eating very little herself but accepting Kat’s help. Ellie couldn’t remember when her self-sufficient daughter had last been so quiet. Little Evan, on the other hand, was noisy, happily banging away with a spoon on his tray while Kat spooned food into his mouth. Kat was a natural with children but was wise enough not to exclude Diana from looking after her little boy. In fact, Kat fussed around Diana almost as much as she did around little Evan. She even asked Diana if she would like a massage to ease her tired body and a tisane to settle her stomach. Amazingly, Diana actually agreed to both! Kat took mother and child off to settle them down, and for a wonder little Evan didn’t even grizzle when she carried him upstairs.

  Kat decided to sleep in the room Barbie had been occupying. This meant that she could deal with little Evan if he woke in the night, allowing Diana to have a good rest. This left Susan’s guest room empty. Everyone avoided looking at Rafael when he said he’d make his own arrangements for the night. Everyone but Ellie probably thought that he’d end up in bed with Susan, but that was their affair, wasn’t it?

  Thomas looked weary, too. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts and hardly spoke. When Ellie enquired, he said he’d done a good day’s work and the magazine would go out on schedule with the new printer, but he didn’t ask what had gone on in his absence and she didn’t volunteer any information.

  Trish wandered back into the kitchen and ate the plateful which Susan warmed up for her. Trish was distrait, and probably had no idea of what she’d eaten. She still had her phone glued to her ear, talking to her parents and then to her sister.

  Once the table had been cleared and the dishwasher set going, Susan and Rafael went up to her flat and the house began to quieten down. Ellie felt restless and would have liked a few minutes in the Quiet Room, but Thomas felt better after he’d eaten and wanted to talk through the problems he’d met with that day. He did ask her how long she thought they’d be having guests, and he did make an attempt to listen when she told him what had been happening, but she could see it was an effort for him to concentrate on her affairs, so she kept it short.

  He yawned mightily. ‘As usual, you seem to have everything under control. Let’s have an early night, shall we?’

  Together they fed Midge his last meal of the day, turned off the lights and made sure that all windows and doors were shut and locked.

  As they went upstairs – perhaps more slowly than usual – Thomas said, ‘Bless this house and all who sleep in her.’

  Ellie glanced at the door leading to the flat upstairs. Susan and Rafael would probably still be up.

  Ellie decided to leave the landing light on, so their guests would be able to see where they were going if they had to get up in the night, which she sincerely hoped no one would have to do. Nevertheless, she left their bedroom door ajar so that she might hear if someone moved across the landing.

  Thomas was fast asleep by the time Ellie got into bed beside him. She tried to pray a little, but she really was too tired to think clearly. She thought, Bless this house and all who sleep in her … bless this house …

  And was woken by a bell screaming in her ear!

  An alarm?

  She sniffed. Was something burning?

  A strange light flickered beyond the open bedroom door.

  Thomas slept on. She shot out of bed and on to the landing.

  A sheet of flame flickered across the floor of the hall!

  The house was on fire!

  FIFTEEN

  Wednesday, very early morning.

  Ellie screamed.

  The siren yammered through her head, hurting her teeth.

  The house was full of people! Thomas! Little Evan! Susan, on the top floor, with no fire exit! Diana, Kat and Trish!

  Ellie shook Thomas’s shoulder. ‘Fire! Wake up!’ How could he sleep through that racket?

  The cat was asleep on a chair by their bed. Ellie picked him up, thinking that she could at least rescue him – and then placed him on the floor. People were more important than pets.

  She plunged back to the landing.

  There was no fire exit anywhere, except by the main staircase, which was being fast approached by the flames.

  Someone turned the lights on downstairs in the hall. Midge the cat shot around the landing and disappeared in the direction of the back stairs.

  The siren was doing her head in. Was it Thomas who was shouting at her? She couldn’t hear herself think!

  Ellie screamed again. ‘Susan!’ She ran round the landing and pulled open the door to the top floor. ‘Susan! Fire!’

  The hall floor was normally kept clear, but the piles of luggage now strewn around could easily catch fire. All that those poor women had left in the world.

  If the flames take the grandfather clock, I will be seriously annoyed! As if that mattered, when …

  Thomas appeared in the doorway to their bedroom. He shouted over the siren. ‘What …?’

  Ellie yelled at him. ‘Fire! Get Diana and little Evan out!’

  Clutching the handrail, she toiled up the stairs to the top floor where Susan slept. And Rafael, too? ‘Susan!’

  She realized she couldn’t be heard over the siren.

  A swishing sound behind her, down below.

  Thomas shouting.

  Someone else shouting. Another man. Rafael?

  Ellie stumbled on the top step and nearly fell. She pounded on the door of Susan’s bedroom. ‘Susan! Fire! Get up!’

  More confused shouting from downstairs. There was a light on inside Susan’s bedroom. Where was she?

  Someone – a woman? – screamed.

  Susan wasn’t respondi
ng.

  A pungent smell. Smoke was creeping up the stairs behind her? She’d heard that smoke can kill faster than flames.

  Ellie burst into Susan’s bedroom.

  The bed was empty. What!

  Ellie lunged for the other doors in the flat.

  Her voice had gone. She tried to shout Susan’s name, and failed. Croaked, rather. The rooms were all empty. Susan must have got out, somehow.

  Someone was calling her name. ‘Ellie! Are you all right?’ Thomas was calling from down below. Urgently. On the verge of panic.

  As suddenly as it had started, the siren ceased.

  Silence banged her ears.

  Back down the stairs she stumbled. People were on the landing, in their nightclothes. Diana holding little Evan, Kat putting a duvet around Diana’s shoulders.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  Thomas! Where was Thomas?

  ‘Ellie! Thank God you’re all right!’ Thomas, wrapping his arms around her.

  She croaked, ‘Susan!’

  ‘Downstairs. She’s safe.’

  No flames. No bright flames.

  Some smoke. Not much. A strong smell of burning.

  Heaps of charred luggage and two figures in the hall, squirting red fire extinguishers around.

  Susan in pyjamas. Rafael in jeans and a T-shirt. Both wearing shoes.

  Rafael called up to them, ‘Don’t come down yet! Make sure you’ve got strong shoes on before you do. The floor’s hot.’

  Bleary-eyed, Trish came out on to the landing on the far side. ‘What’s happened?’ She clutched at the banister and looked down at the charred floor below. ‘Oh, my God!’

  ‘Yes, quite!’ said Thomas, making sure Ellie still had her arms and legs. ‘Thank God!’

  Ellie had a dreadful desire to giggle. ‘Bless this house and all who sleep in her.’ She told herself not to be frivolous. She was in shock, of course.

  ‘The fire’s out,’ said Rafael, ‘but we’d better call the fire brigade, just in case.’

  Susan reached for the landline phone. ‘I’ll do that.’

  The grandfather clock chimed. One, two, three.