Murder for Nothing Page 24

  ‘Jake will … I’m sure that—’

  ‘You think Jake will kill him, too?’

  Angelica took refuge in noisy sobs. ‘Oh, you’re being horrible to me! How could you even think such a thing?’

  ‘I’m reading your mind, my dear. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought this through, because I wouldn’t believe you. Have you discussed killing Timmy Lee with Jake yet?’

  Angelica squealed, ‘Oh, how could you! I wouldn’t! You’re being beastly!’

  The phone rang. Ellie drifted out to answer it. She was thinking hard. Where would those two men have stashed a corpse in the middle of the night?’

  She picked up the phone.

  ‘Well?’ It was Milos again. ‘You think someone killed Clay – if so, where did they put the corpse and why?’

  ‘Why? To delay it being found. And to stop you from jumping on them.’

  ‘But where?’

  ‘Somewhere in the block where the party was held,’ said Ellie. ‘My first thought was that you should look for a house which has got scaffolding up or the builders in. They could dump the body inside that, away from the road. But then I thought the builders would have discovered a corpse when they returned to work yesterday, and there’s been no indication of that, no flashing lights or police cars. Then I thought that, if there was a house for sale, they might have put the body there.’

  ‘The estate agent might have been showing people round yesterday.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s inside the house. I think … it’s a horrid thought … we all have these big wheelie bins for rubbish nowadays, don’t we? They’re really big. I heard someone’s aunt actually fell inside one when she was trying to clean it out. Her cries for help were heard by a neighbour but she couldn’t get out by herself. Clay wasn’t a very big man, was he?’

  ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph!’ He clicked off.

  Indeed. We need all the help we can get on this one. But, goodness gracious, is Milos a Catholic? How can a drug dealer be a Catholic? Maybe he was brought up in the Catholic Church and has forgotten what being a Christian means until now, when he’s brought face-to-face with the death of one of his employees?

  A bitter wail brought Ellie back to the present as little Evan came staggering down the corridor towards her, dragging his pink hippo by one of its ears behind him. ‘Ganny, Ganny, Ganny!’ It was his version of ‘Granny’.

  Ellie picked him up and gave him a cuddle. One cheek was flushed and he felt slightly hot. Was he teething? Uh-oh. If so, he wouldn’t be his usual happy self until the tooth broke through the gum.

  Evan buried his face in her shoulder and snuffled. Then raised his head and wailed again. ‘Hurts!’

  ‘Teething?’ said Rafael, who had followed her into the hall. ‘My sister rubs their gums with something which knocks them out for a while. It’s probably against doctor’s advice but it works.’

  Ellie rocked from one foot to the other. ‘Poor little boy. Teeth are a pain, coming and going, aren’t they? Your mum refuses to let me use anything which I can buy over the counter …’ She met Rafael’s disbelieving eyes and grinned. ‘But yes, I do have a bottle of something which I bought at the chemist’s and it does seem to help. Come along, little man.’ Halfway to the kitchen, she called back, ‘Rafael, you haven’t left your phone in the sitting room, have you?’

  In other words, could Angelica have spotted he was recording her words and have taken advantage of his momentary absence to snaffle his phone?

  He lifted it in his hand to show her he still had it. ‘Teach your grandmother.’

  She smiled. No, he wouldn’t have let that happen, would he? Ellie sat Evan in the big chair in the kitchen. Once his gum had been rubbed, he relaxed. Instant relief. Instant happiness … so long as Diana didn’t find out. A cup of milk in a short while would disguise the distinctive aroma of the medicine.

  She switched on the light. A sudden rainstorm rattled at the windows and the sky had turned dark grey. Ellie had hoped to take Evan out in the garden, or for a walk around the block, but she wouldn’t do that in the rain. She was washing the tears off his face when the doorbell rang.

  Now what? She didn’t want to leave Evan alone in the kitchen, knowing what havoc he might create. She would have to take him with her, whether he wanted to be moved or not.

  He didn’t want to be moved. He expressed his disapproval by hitting her with Hippo, and throwing himself backwards as she picked him up.

  Well, tough! Someone was at the door and …

  What was that? Someone had opened the front door with a key?

  But who had a key? Not Andy, no. Susan had one, of course, but Susan wouldn’t leave her class at this time of day, would she?

  ‘Hulloa!’

  Ellie struggled along the corridor with Evan in her arms, trying to hurry but, oh, Evan was getting far too large for her to carry … And there was Jake Hartley Summers, Angelica’s fiancé, standing in the hall. Surprise!

  The light in the hall was dim. Raindrops shimmered on the shoulders of his coat. Ellie hardly recognized the man. His skin was sallow. He looked as if he’d aged ten years overnight. He was wearing business gear but his tie was awry and his shirt was not pristine.

  Perhaps that was what being blackmailed into marriage did for you?

  Or was it guilt at having murdered Clay?

  Evan filled his lungs and roared into her ear. She put him down on the floor, holding on to him with a hand on the back of his blue dungarees. He tried to pull away. She held on but had to take a couple of steps as he threw all his weight against her. If she let go, he’d crash on to the floor … and then he’d raise the roof, wouldn’t he just!

  Angelica appeared in the doorway. ‘Oh, darling Jake! I’m so glad you came. I just don’t know how I’m to get through the hours till we’re married. Come here and give me a kiss.’

  He ignored Angelica to greet Ellie with a smile that flashed on and off without warmth. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Quicke. Forgive the intrusion. I did ring the bell, but when there was no reply I used the key Angelica gave me.’

  How many keys had Angelica had made? And she’d given one to Jake? Well, at least that one could be retrieved without too much aggro. Still holding on to Evan, who was panting to get away, Ellie held out her free hand. ‘Thank you for bringing the key back. I’m grateful.’

  He hesitated, but finally drew a key out of his pocket and handed it over.

  Evan swiped at Ellie’s leg with his hippo. It didn’t hurt, but she was caught unawares and relaxed her hold on him enough to let him slide out of her grasp and away into the sitting room. He ignored Angelica, making a beeline for the pieces of Lego which he’d emptied on to the floor earlier. At least he’d stopped yelling.

  Angelica, dimpling, stepped coyly to Jake’s side and presented her cheek for a kiss. ‘My sweetie, lovey-pie. Who’s my darling for evermore, mm?’

  Jake took his hands out of his pockets – he was definitely ill at ease – and put his arm around her shoulder in a sketch of a hug. He didn’t kiss her but said, ‘Your cousin Susan rang me. Said she had some things of Kate’s. She wanted to know if I wanted them, or if I would like to hand them on to Kate’s parents. She said she’d meet me here, so I took time off work although it’s very … It’s not exactly convenient for me to … My father is on the warpath, actually.’

  Angelica deployed her eyelashes at him. ‘Your father is a darling. I love him to bits. Did he jump up and down with joy when you told him his only son is getting married at last?’

  ‘Yes. Of course.’ The lines of strain on his face told a different tale.

  Another key turned in the lock of the front door and Susan let herself into the hall. What was she doing home at this time of day? She was wearing her usual outfit for uni, consisting of a black T-shirt and jeans over trainers. She had her tote bag over her shoulder. Pure student. So far, so scruffy. But she had allowed her guinea-gold hair to curl around her head and her complexion was peaches and cream. Perhaps sh
e had even swiped at her eyelashes with mascara for a change?

  Angelica wasn’t about to be upstaged. She advanced on Susan, waving her left hand with its engagement ring on it. ‘Congratulate me, Susan. Jake has finally got round to proposing. Isn’t he just too sweet for words, giving me this wonderful ring?’

  Susan blinked. She looked at the ring, at Angelica’s face and then at Jake. And lastly at Ellie. There was a question in her eyes. Isn’t this a bit soon? What about his feelings for Kate? Nevertheless, Susan managed to make the correct response. ‘Congratulations. I hope you’ll be very happy.’

  This was not enough for Angelica. ‘I realize that an engagement ring is not something likely to come your way, but you might at least pretend to be pleased for me.’

  Rafael was leaning against the doorframe. He said, ‘She can have a ring from me any time she wants.’

  Susan blushed and looked down at the floor. Yes, her eyelashes had definitely been treated with mascara.

  Angelica didn’t smile. Her voice became sharp. ‘Oh, we can’t possibly take anything Rafael says seriously, can we? Jake, are you taking me out to lunch somewhere nice?’

  ‘I …’ Jake didn’t know where to look, or where to put his hands.

  Ellie diagnosed a man on the verge of disintegration. Interesting. If she were to put pressure on him now, would he crack open like a nut? She said, ‘Jake, I’ve just had yet another phone call from Milos, looking for Clay. I told him to see if there was an empty house nearby, and if there was, to look in the wheelie bins stored in the front garden.’

  Jake turned a strange greenish colour and reached out for the newel post of the staircase. They all heard him try to work moisture into his mouth. He tried to lick his lips, which were dry. He let himself down on to the bottom step. He said, ‘Sorry. It’s very close in here.’ He pulled his tie down and fumbled to undo the top button of his shirt.

  ‘Jake!’ Angelica’s voice rose. ‘Pull yourself together.’ And then, bemused, ‘You didn’t put him in a wheelie bin, did you?’

  Rafael unstuck himself from the doorframe. ‘Clearly, that’s exactly what he did do. I wonder how soon the body will begin to smell. You want a glass of water, mate?’

  Jake didn’t reply. He let his head hang low. His city shoes were scuffed. A lock of hair hung over his forehead. Not romantically.

  Ellie was almost sorry for him. ‘That is where you put him, isn’t it?’

  A nod. A snuffle.

  Angelica didn’t know whether to support her fiancé or take to the hills. ‘You mean, you really …? Ugh! How could you? I can see it was a good idea in one way, but …’

  Ellie said, ‘Jake, you loved Kate, didn’t you? Maybe not enough to marry her, but you had a kindness for her?’

  He jerked his head, up and down. But didn’t speak.

  Susan took the plastic bag containing Kate’s purse out of her tote bag and put it down beside him. And stood back. She didn’t want to touch him.

  He put his hand over the purse. His throat worked but he made no sound.

  Ellie said, ‘At least her body was found and has been properly looked after. Did she look peaceful when she died?’

  This time he lifted his eyes to hers before he shook his head. Tears welled.

  Ellie pressed him further. ‘How did it happen that she took the drug that killed her?’

  He spoke to Ellie as if they were alone together. ‘I’d gone home. I was in bed when she phoned. She said that as I’d stopped loving her, she wanted to end it all. She said she’d taken a lethal dose of something. She said she was giving me one last chance. If I’d ever had any feelings for her, I would get her to hospital to be pumped out. I begged her to hold on, to get an ambulance. She refused. She was hysterical. I was afraid she meant what she said but I knew she liked to play games and I wasn’t sure whether she was serious or not.

  ‘I didn’t know what to do. If she had indeed taken a drug, I didn’t know how long it would be before she was past saving. On the other hand, if she were playing games, the ambulance people would be furious if I got them to go there and it was all a laugh. Who could I contact? I rang Angelica because I thought she’d still be at the party. I told her what Kate had said and begged her to check. It turned out that Angelica wasn’t at the flat. She was out clubbing but she did say she’d get back there as soon as she could.

  ‘I got there by breaking the speed limits; luckily there wasn’t much on the roads. Angelica and Timmy pulled up behind me as I arrived. We found Kate dancing around in the garden with Clay, laughing. Both of them. Laughing! So it was a try-on, she hadn’t meant to commit suicide at all! I was so angry! I think I swore at her. Yes, I think … to my shame. She began to cry. She said she really did mean to commit suicide if I had stopped loving her. She put something in her mouth, lay down on the ground and closed her eyes. I thought she was dead!’

  He rocked to and fro. ‘I tried to rouse her. No good. And Clay … Clay laughed! He actually laughed! So I clocked him one. He fell and hit his head on the edge of the pool. I was so surprised! I couldn’t believe it! I shook him and he went all floppy on me. I’d killed him! And then … And then, Kate sat up. She started to laugh. She said she’d held the pill under her tongue to fool me and look what I’d done to Clay! She said I’d killed him for nothing because she’d only been play-acting!

  ‘I could have throttled her! And then she started to choke and … there I was, trying to give Clay the kiss of life, and Kate clutching her throat … I thought she was pretending again, but no, she’d actually swallowed the pill! By mistake! And there was I, trying to get my phone out to call the police and the ambulance people … and …’

  Ellie said, very softly, ‘Angelica and Timmy prevented you from calling for help. How did they manage that?’

  He writhed, remembering. ‘Angelica tried to get my phone out of my hand but I hung on to it and tried to push her away. And then Timmy hit me. At least, I think he did. From behind. Suddenly I was flat on my back looking up at the sky and the music had stopped and it was all quiet and—’

  ‘What music?’

  He looked bewildered. ‘I don’t know. There was music coming from inside the house when I got there. Kate and Clay were dancing to it in the garden. When I woke up again, the music had stopped and I was lying on the ground. Shivering. I was so cold. I couldn’t think what I was doing there at first. My head hurt. It still does, a bit.’ He rubbed the back of his head. ‘I suppose Timmy must have knocked me out. Then I remembered. I thought it must have been a dream. I hoped it was a dream. But I got up and Kate was lying there, looking somehow not like herself any more. I touched her and she was getting cold. Clay had gone.’

  Ellie said, still speaking in the soft voice that seemed to work on Jake, ‘Timmy and Angelica moved him?’

  ‘They’d dragged him as far as round to the side of the house but they needed me to help them get him into the boot of my car. I’d been knocked silly. I wasn’t thinking straight. They told me to take hold of Clay’s legs, and I did. They told me to lift him and carry him, and I did. They told me to put him in the boot of my car and I did. I was like a zombie.’

  He wailed, ‘I’m so ashamed! I killed Clay. For nothing. She’d taken the pill to frighten me. It was all play-acting. She hadn’t meant to die. And he was dead and she was dead and I hadn’t meant any of it to happen.’

  ‘But you drove your car round to find somewhere to put Clay?’

  ‘Timmy said to drive. And I did. He said to stop. And I did. He told me to get out and help him. We tipped Clay head first into a wheelie bin. Timmy said that was good riddance of bad rubbish. I got back into my car and went home.’

  Ellie said, ‘Leaving Timmy and Angelica to get back in their own time. And you didn’t phone Angelica the following day?’

  He shuddered. ‘No. How could I? And I had to pretend I didn’t know what had happened to Kate all that day and the next.’

  ‘But you took Angelica in yesterday with all her luggage? An
d agreed to her terms?’

  Jake turned to look at Angelica, who was on her phone … or rather, on Kate’s phone. He said in a dead voice, ‘Angelica has given me a life sentence. My father’s found out that I’ve stolen money from the firm. I can’t cope. I’ve tried to tell her that I can’t marry her but she won’t listen. She says everything will be all right if I just keep quiet and behave normally.’

  ‘Of course it will,’ said Angelica, interrupting her phone call to give him a bright smile.

  Jake shook his head. ‘I can’t stop thinking about what I’ve done. I’ll keep you out of it, Angelica. I’ll say I went back alone to the flat and found Kate dead. I’ll say I killed Clay because he laughed at my distress. I didn’t mean to, but I did. I’ll say that I panicked and hid his body all by myself. I won’t mention you were there, or Timmy. I’ll say it was all my fault. I’m sorry if this upsets your plans for us to marry but you must see I can’t carry on as if nothing has happened. I’m going to go to the police. I understand I’ll have to go to prison. I killed two people but I didn’t mean to hurt either of them. Maybe they’ll understand and let me off with manslaughter. But I can’t let this lie go on and on.’

  The front door clicked open … How many keys had Angelica handed out? Susan was right: Ellie would have to get the locks changed.

  Timmy Lee walked in warily, his eyes everywhere. He was wearing a waterproof poncho, black and shiny with raindrops. So it was still raining outside. His hair was also black and shiny but his face was white in the shadowy hall. He stripped off his poncho and tossed it on the floor.

  ‘Timmy, darling!’ Angelica greeted him with a big smile. ‘You’re just in time. Jake here has gone all suicidal. Wants to go to prison or to kill himself, or both. Would you like to take him outside and reason with him?’

  Ellie gasped. What did Angelica mean by that? It sounded as if … No, surely she didn’t mean that she wanted Timmy Lee to take care of Jake, did she? To silence him? Or to kill him?