Murder in House Page 24

  ‘Supposition,’ said Thomas.

  ‘Yes, but I saw a Halloween mask on one of the student’s doors in that house, and I’m thinking that one of the Prior brothers asked Dan to find some lads willing to do a job for them. Dan certainly knows more than he’s let on. He knew where the stolen laptop could be found, didn’t he, and how to retrieve it? Which means he had contact with those who stole it.

  ‘We mustn’t forget that Ursula believes Lloyd’s death was murder, not an accident. Now, she wasn’t there. Dan wasn’t there. She didn’t have contact with Anthony and his lot afterwards, except for a confrontation that ended badly for her. Dan, on the other hand, continued to see his old friends. I’m thinking Dan learned something about Lloyd’s death afterwards, something that he doesn’t want to take to the police, possibly something that proved Tim was involved? Whether she’s picked up a hint from Dan, or whether she’s just acting on her knowledge of the people involved, Ursula refused to go along with the official cover-up – which is why we’re all here today.’

  Thomas said, ‘More supposition, but it does feel right. It seems to me that Ursula is the key to unlock the cabinet of mysteries. She’s no shrinking violet, but a player of some strength. Is it a good idea to keep her out of the action?’

  ‘She’s also vulnerable,’ said Ellie. ‘The Priors want her to help them snare another rich businessman. Remember what happened to Mia. Should Ursula risk the same fate? She knows the group has access to drugs through someone called “Bullseye”, so-called because he always scores with women first time. Is “Bullseye” using Rohypnol, the date rape drug, to make sure he always scores with women?’

  ‘You think that he might have used the date rape drug on Mia—’

  ‘I fear so. Let’s consider the following scenario. We know that some councillor or other wanted Mia’s company at the Grand Opening, and that she was a virgin at that point. We know that Anthony got her to go upstairs only because he said the councillor had left the party. Suppose he hadn’t? Suppose she was drugged, and raped, and that after that others took their turn to . . . oh, it doesn’t bear thinking about. Is this what’s in store for Ursula if she returns?’

  ‘I’m not suggesting that Ursula walks into the Priors’ net,’ said Thomas. ‘But it occurs to me that she may not be safe from predators, just because she’s in Portsmouth. How long did it take for her to come up to London the other day?’

  Silence. Reluctant nods.

  Ellie was worried. ‘You think she’s actually safer up here with us?’

  Roy was twisting his hands. ‘For how long? How long is this going to go on for? I’ve got twenty-four hours to find the money – which I can’t do – and after that, I’d not be able to leave Felicity alone for a minute.’

  Thomas reminded them, ‘If fear is faced, it can be dealt with.’

  ‘Precisely,’ said Ellie, though her heart was beating far too fast. ‘Now, let’s take a good long look at these threats. If any of us are taken to court, well, I can afford as good a solicitor as Mr Prior. Probably better. Threats to sue are merely that: threats. We can deal with those in the courts in the usual way. As a matter of fact, I don’t suppose it would ever come to court, because then everyone would hear what we thought about the Priors and their reputation would be called into question.’

  ‘But the very real threats to our wives and children!’ said Roy.

  ‘Oh, them. Well,’ said Ellie, ‘I think I know how to neutralize the boys who think they can get away with murder in masks. They’re only students, after all.’

  Armand said, ‘Hah! Students! I know students all right. Half flash and half foolish. Have any of them been through my hands? Give me some names.’

  ‘Ursula Belton, Daniel Collins.’

  ‘Belton. Hah! Intelligent. Could have become an academic, but decided to be artistic instead. Collins: brains of an ox, and muscles to match. Into team sports; captain of this and that. Not one of mine. Never been in trouble that I know of. But, Collins, Collins? Is there a younger brother?’

  ‘Yes, there is,’ said Ellie. ‘You know him?’

  ‘Average brain. Bit of a tearaway. Exclusion for setting off fireworks? By the name of Kyle. That the one?’

  ‘Sounds like him,’ said Ellie. ‘I know there’s a younger brother still at school. I do hope he’s not involved, but if he is . . . oh dear, poor Mrs Collins.’

  Thomas had his diary out. ‘If we pay the Collins household a visit first thing in the morning, I could still make the eleven ten train. It’s a trifle early for students to be out of bed, but—’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘Thomas, I wouldn’t hear of it. That’s an important conference you’re going to, and you’ll miss the first session if you don’t catch the nine o’clock.’

  ‘I’ll go with you, Ellie,’ said Armand, cracking his knuckles. ‘Students! Hah! Do I know students! The earlier the better; rout them out of bed, bring the might of the law down on them. They’ll crack all right. You and I, Ellie. We could take on the world and win.’

  ‘Yes, but I thought Roy or Denis . . .’ She looked at Roy, and then at Diana and Denis. All three looked away.

  Roy said, ‘Nobody better than you for dealing with things, Ellie. A great relief. Let me know how you get on, right?’

  ‘That’s it,’ said Diana, her arm tightly through Denis’s. ‘I’m not letting Denis risk life and limb again.’

  But, thought Ellie, you’re quite prepared to let someone smaller, frailer and much older confront the baddies for you. Armand’s a shrimp compared to Roy and Denis. On the other hand, come to think of it, I’d rather have Armand on my side in a fight than anyone else. Except Thomas, of course.

  Goodnights were said. Roy and Armand went out together. Denis and Diana drifted up the stairs, also together. Ellie called out after them, ‘I haven’t had time to change the sheets on Mrs Belton’s bed, Diana. I hope Denis won’t mind?’

  They disappeared, still locked together. Ellie shrugged. She didn’t like the idea of their sleeping together under her roof, but if they did, well, it was just too late for her to do anything about it.

  Thomas was looking worried. ‘I really ought to be with you tomorrow. Should I cancel?’

  ‘Certainly not. Put in some extra praying for me when you’re on the train.’

  Ellie shook Rose’s shoulder gently. Rose had fallen asleep early on in the discussion, but woke with a smile. ‘All settled? That’s good. Miss Quicke has been telling me it’s about time those boys were sent to the naughty step.’ Yawning, she collected used coffee cups and saucers and went off to the kitchen.

  When she’d gone, Ellie said, ‘Thomas, about Rose.’

  He put his arm about her shoulders and gave her a hug. ‘I’ve seen it before, haven’t you? Someone so near the end of their lives that they imagine they’re really hearing and seeing the one they love who’s already gone across. They project what they’d say to one another as if they were both still here. Rose loved your aunt, and your aunt loved Rose. Let’s leave it at that, shall we? Will you ring Ursula now, or in the morning?’

  Ellie was tired, but said she’d ring now. Thomas went to help Rose tidy up in the kitchen. Midge the cat strolled in to wind around Ellie’s legs now that Diana had gone upstairs. He looked well fed. Perhaps he would settle on her lap, even if Diana was still in the house? Ellie sat and he leaped on to her lap as she got through to Ursula.

  ‘Ursula, my dear. There’ve been some developments that you ought to know about . . .’

  Saturday morning

  Armand collected Ellie at half past eight next morning. ‘Kate says she wants to come home tonight so we’d better get ourselves sorted. I agreed. So let’s up and at ’em. First, tell me everything you know about the attack on Mrs B. And I mean everything.’

  They arrived at the Collinses’ house and sat in the car while Ellie cudgelled her memory for everything she’d been told, or had observed. ‘We haven’t any proof they’re involved,’ she said, wondering if they we
re making almighty fools of themselves.

  Armand twitched his nose. ‘It smells right. When you’ve been dealing with teenagers as long as I have, you get to sense when they’ve been up to something. I phoned one of my colleagues last night to get the low-down on this particular piece of dirt, and the verdict is that he’s heading for Juvenile Court as fast as he can. So let’s go crack the little tyke open, right?’

  Ellie allowed him to brush aside her uneasiness, and stood beside him as he hung on the doorbell. Dan’s room was to the left of the front door. No lights visible. No lights visible in any of the other windows, either. A glow-worm advanced from the back of the hallway, and Mrs Collins said, ‘Yes? Who is it?’ in a voice that declared its owner had only just risen from her bed.

  Ellie would have gone for a softer approach, but Armand took over. ‘Mrs Collins, this is Kyle’s class teacher from school. It’s urgent that we speak.’

  Both heard Mrs Collins’s indrawn breath. Had she been expecting a visit from officialdom? What did she know of her younger son’s goings-on? Keys were turned and Mrs Collins let them into the shadowy hall. She was wearing a full-length pink woollen dressing-gown over pyjamas, and bedroom slippers with a bunny face on each of them. There was a twist of pink tulle around the curls on her head.

  ‘What’s happened? What has he done now? I’m afraid –’ a despairing look up the stairs – ‘he’s not up yet but, well, you know what teenagers are, they lie in bed till noon at weekends. Forgive my . . . I haven’t had time to dress yet, and I haven’t had my first cup of coffee. Always so civilizing, don’t you think? Coffee. Will you have some?’

  Ellie gestured to Dan’s closed door. ‘Dan not up yet?’

  ‘What? No, he . . . I mean, yes. He went off early with some friends, a trip down to the coast, I believe. I think he’s hoping to see Ursula.’ Still talking, she led the way down the hall to the sunroom in which she lived by day. She switched on lights, revealing the same disorder and air of faint decay that Ellie had observed earlier.

  Armand hung back, looking up the stairs. ‘Which is his room? The sooner I can speak with him, the sooner we can sort this out. I’m sure he’s been misled by older heads. Maybe we won’t have to involve the police—’

  Ellie laid a hand on Armand’s arm. ‘Hold on a minute.’ She’d spotted something that hadn’t been on the big table on her previous visit. A Bristol blue vase, which she’d last seen in Mrs Belton’s flat. It was of an unusual shape, with a chip out of the rim. It now contained a bunch of tulips. ‘Mrs Collins, where did you get that vase?’

  ‘Why, Kyle gave it to me. He knows I like pretty things. It’s not precisely to my taste but . . .’ She licked her lips, looking from Ellie to Armand and back again. ‘What’s he done? He hasn’t stolen it. No way! He’s a good boy, really.’

  Armand set off back to the stairs. ‘Which room? I don’t want to wake the whole household.’

  Mrs Collins got in front of him, somehow, a bunch of keys in her hand. ‘I’ll show you. He’ll have locked the door. He always locks his door, but I have a master key, of course. You will be gentle? He’s only fifteen, you know.’

  ‘Sixteen,’ said Armand. ‘I checked. And already known to the police.’

  Ellie followed them up the stairs and across the landing. Mrs Collins unlocked the door; Armand flung it open and strode in. A television set flickered at the end of the bed, on which lay a youth, headphones on, music tinnily echoing throughout the room. Green pinpricks of light showed where a computer was on standby. The room stank of stale beer.

  Mrs Collins bleated, ‘He’ll be in a terrible temper if you wake him too quickly!’

  ‘I’m in a worse temper already,’ snarled Armand. He pulled the duvet from the sleeping figure, and hauled him upright.

  Ellie switched on the lights and closed the door behind them. She stumbled over a couple of empty cans of beer. Two more lay under the bed, together with a half-eaten, cold pizza.

  ‘Whaaat?’ said the slack-mouthed but otherwise good-looking youth. At least, he would be good-looking if he’d been washed and shaved and brushed. Wearing boxer shorts only. And the headphones, which Armand removed in one deft swoop.

  Kyle cracked open one eye, and then another. He recognized Armand, and cringed.

  Armand thrust his face at Kyle. ‘You know me, don’t you? You little idiot, how do you think we’re going to be able to keep you out of the courts now?’

  Ellie appreciated Armand’s masterly technique. He’d threatened, but at the same time given Kyle hope that somehow or other Armand could get him out of trouble. She looked around. Kyle wasn’t one to hang his clothes up at night, was he? A black, fake-leather jacket lay on the floor in a twist of T-shirts. And on the back of a chair hung a skeleton mask.

  ‘Armand, look. That’s the jacket he wore when he put Mrs Belton in hospital and wrecked her flat, and there’s his mask.’

  Kyle tried to pull the duvet up over him, creeping further up the bed till he was jammed against the headboard. ‘Whaaat? Who?’

  Mrs Collins wailed, hands over her ears. ‘Oh, Kyle! No! You didn’t, did you?’

  ‘Shut up, you!’ But his heart wasn’t in it.

  Armand gave vent to a great sigh. ‘All right. Get some clothes on, and we’ll take you down the station. If Mrs Belton pulls through—’

  ‘We didn’t hurt her that much! Honest! It was just a bit of fun, like. Only she would struggle, and . . .’ He squinched his eyes shut, realizing what he’d admitted.

  Armand shook his head. ‘I daresay you didn’t mean to hurt her that much, but your mate did a proper job on her, didn’t he? And now you’ll have to pay for what he did.’

  ‘No, I . . . it’s not like, I mean, The Man said to give her a fright, but Charlie let her fall and then he said we might as well take . . .’ He wound down with a groan. ‘But we did phone for an ambulance before we left, honest we did.’

  ‘Charlie?’ said Mrs Collins, in a faint voice. ‘I should have known he’d be trouble. Upstairs. Overlooking the front. A student at the University, but hangs around the amusement arcades most of the time. Dan did warn me, months ago, that Charlie didn’t seem to care how he got his hands on the money for his new stereo, but I needed his rent. Oh!’ She seemed to take in the amount of expensive equipment laying around. ‘Kyle, you told me you paid for all this with a win on the scratch cards. Was that true?’

  ‘’Course not! Only an idiot would have believed that.’

  ‘Kyle!’ said Armand. ‘Don’t speak to your mother like that. Now, get dressed and let’s see what Charlie’s got to say for himself. But if he starts laying the blame on you, or another of your friends—’

  ‘Only Jase. He goes out with Charlie, usually, but . . .’ His eyes slid away from them.

  ‘Yes?’ said Armand.

  Kyle swallowed. ‘Charlie’s gone down to Portsmouth with Dan, to see Ursula. They asked Jase, but he wouldn’t, I don’t know why. They didn’t ask me, because I’m too young.’

  ‘Not too young to be charged with burglary and assault,’ said Armand. ‘Let’s go see Jase, see what he has to say for himself.’

  Jase was roused from sleep, and when confronted with Armand and Kyle, who’d developed verbal diarrhoea, was happy to fill in the gaps. Between them they spilled all the details of what they’d done and when; what they’d stolen and who they’d fenced cards to. Also, how they’d got hold of the masks, which was through a friend of Dan’s who often came round. Name?

  ‘“Dumbo” because of the way his ears stuck out. He told Charlie to rough up the old woman. It was his idea, honest.’

  ‘Drugs? No, never. We never took no drugs.’

  ‘But you know someone who . . .?’

  ‘Yes, well, maybe. Some friend of Dumbo’s, called Bullseye.’

  ‘Full name?’

  ‘Dunno.’

  ‘Where can he be found?’

  ‘Dunno. At the pub, maybe. Charlie knows him.’

  ‘And Dumbo’s real
name? Come on, you know him well, don’t you?’

  ‘Timothy Prior. He was at school with Dan, yonks ago.’

  Mrs Collins wept for a while, then sniffed and made herself some more of her coffee-plus. She said she was going to murder Charlie when he got back, as it was obviously him who’d led her boy astray.

  Armand said, ‘I expect you’re right, but it’s a good thing this has all come out now, with the boys happy to cooperate. Suppose you get dressed, and then we can all go down to the police station and see what can be done to reduce the charges. Perhaps the lads will only get probation.’

  Ellie went out on to the landing to phone the police station. DI Willis was, predictably, unavailable, so Ellie left a message. ‘You asked me to find the masked youths who’ve been terrorizing the neighbourhood. I’m bringing two of them in to see you in half an hour’s time.’

  It was another hour and a half before they were free to leave the station. It was DI Willis’s day off, and someone Ellie hadn’t seen before had taken charge. For once, the name of Prior hadn’t reduced a policeman to grovelling servitude. Good. Kyle and Jase were put through the mangle of making statements about everything they’d done and their connection to the Priors, and finally were sent home with a still-tearful Mrs Collins.

  As soon as they themselves could leave, Armand settled Ellie in his car, before burying his face in his hands, and then hitting the steering wheel. ‘The stupid, dim-brained, incompetent . . .’

  ‘You really care about these youngsters, don’t you?’

  ‘After all these years of dealing with the stupidities of youth, I should be used to it. I am used to it. There’s always some climb out of the pit. But there’s others, easily led, you can see it coming and you can’t stop it.’

  ‘Kyle’s got a chance, if you stand by him.’

  Armand turned the key in the ignition. ‘Not much of one. Where to now, Mrs Q?’

  ‘Home. Armand, can I ask you another favour?’