Murder By Committee Read online

  Ellie noted the ‘we'. Obviously she'd have to jettison whatever she'd planned for that day - except for visiting Mrs Dawes. ‘I'll look out a couple of suitcases for you.’

  She noticed that one of the replacement glass panes in the conservatory was letting in water. Not enough putty? Bother. ‘Let's make lists, shall we?’ There was no point both of them feeling dreary. ‘At nine o'clock we'll ring Bill for an appointment. Then you can ring the garage and find out how much your car's going to cost.’

  ‘Too much. I'll have to leave it there.’

  ‘Felicity, I have a trust fund which disburses money for deserving causes. Kate is one of the trustees, and I'm another. I'm going to suggest we make you a grant of a couple of thousand pounds to tide you over.’

  Felicity gaped. ‘Why would you do that?’

  ‘Because I was once as downtrodden and apologetic a little wifey as you. I couldn't say boo to a goose, and that's partly why Diana is like she is. When my husband died, I had good friends to help me sort myself out, and now I'd like to help you in the same way. No strings. A proper loan, to be repaid when you get your maintenance sorted out.’

  ‘Arthur won't want to pay me anything.’ She shivered. ‘Honest, it would be better not to ask.’

  ‘You won't ask. Your solicitor will. Right? So ring the garage, discover the total, and get your car back.’

  The phone rang, and Felicity jumped. ‘Sorry. I keep thinking he's going to come round and … stupid of me!’

  It was Mrs Dawes on the phone, booming away. ‘Ellie, dear. Did you get my message last night?’

  Ellie explained that no, she hadn't, unfortunately. It turned out that Mrs Dawes had forgotten to ask Ellie to fetch some powder for her athlete's foot from the chemist, so would she …? Of course Ellie would. And added it to her list. ‘Did you sleep all right, then?’

  ‘Like a top. The knee's a lot better today, too. Oh, and my friend who lives by the park is coming round this morning. She says Mrs Meadows-Fitch is moving out of London very soon, so you'd better get round there if you want to catch her.’

  ‘Mrs Meadows-Fitch?’ Ellie couldn't for the moment place her. Then she remembered Rose and Aunt Drusilla talking about the ex-mayor's wife, who'd been accustomed to the high life when her husband was alive and allegedly had helped Sir Arthur to push some highly questionable planning permissions through. It wasn't worth going to see her now, though. Was it?

  As she put the phone down, it rang again. Aunt Drusilla, at her most imperious.

  ‘Ellie, do you know when the police are coming round to collect this hard drive? I really don't care to have such sensitive material lying around.’

  ‘I'm not sure. Thomas asked …’

  ‘I wasn't particularly impressed with either of the junior police we saw yesterday. Don't we know someone a little higher up the chain?’

  ‘I suppose that …’

  ‘Ah yes, I remember now. There's a detective inspector I met some time ago. A difficult woman, but then, it's a difficult job, isn't it? I'll get on to her straight away.’ The phone clicked off. Trust Aunt Drusilla to get things done.

  ‘Come on, Felicity. Ring the garage.’

  Felicity took the receiver as if it would bite her, but did ring the garage. When told the cost, she bit her lip, but said she'd be round in half an hour to pay the bill and collect the car. ‘Then I can drive us over to the house.’

  ‘First we find out if Bill can see you today.’ He could, that afternoon. ‘Bill's nice,’ said Ellie. ‘You'll like him.’

  ‘Who's Mrs Meadows-Fitch? Did she kill Rex?’

  ‘I really don't know. She's someone else your husband's done down, and who's feeling annoyed about it.’

  Felicity brightened up. ‘I think I met her at some reception at the town hall. I used to go with Arthur sometimes. Awfully hot and crowded, but he knew so many people, and liked to keep in touch. She's funny.’

  ‘Funny as in making you laugh?’

  Felicity screwed up her face. ‘Funny as in how many Botox injections can you have before your face falls apart? She ought to wear a wig because her hair's got awfully thin. Also, she doesn't like dogs. What makes you think it wasn't her? I'd really like it to be her.’

  ‘I don't really think we can go crashing in on people just because they don't like dogs.’

  ‘I do.’ Felicity's chin came out. ‘If I could find out who killed Rex, I'd … I don't know what I'd do, but I'd make them pay for it. If you won't go and see her, then I will.’

  ‘Before or after you get yourself a job and somewhere to live?’

  The girl flushed. ‘I'm sorry. I'm all over the place, aren't I? One minute I feel fine and strong, and the next - you'll laugh - I want to crawl to Arthur, beg him to take me back, tell him that I don't mind what he does with Diana so long as I don't have to see it.’

  Ellie patted her arm. ‘But you won't. Now your bike's still here, but it's not safe for you to ride it in this rain. Let's get a minicab to the garage and collect your car. Then do a bit of shopping in the Avenue and take it up to Mrs Dawes. After that, we'll swing by your house and collect what you want, have a spot of lunch back here and then I'll take you up to see Bill this afternoon. Isn't that enough for one day?’

  ‘We could drop in on the ex-lady mayoress before we do the shopping.’

  Ellie shrugged. Well, why not? She went to ring Kate to make sure all was well with her - it was. Armand had gone back to school now the half term was over, Catriona was teething, oh dear, and Gwyn had reported overnight dealings in the corporation's stock which were - rather surprising.

  ‘Aunt Drusilla?’ guessed Ellie. ‘I think she had Jock set up the hard drive for her on his laptop last night, so that she could access Sir Arthur's secrets without us knowing.’

  ‘I wouldn't put it past her,’ said Kate, who admired Miss Quicke.

  Ellie said, ‘She's handing the hard drive over to the police this morning.’

  ‘I wouldn't have minded a sight of it.’

  ‘Neither would Chris Talbot, but he didn't get it. Any news of young Julian?’

  ‘Nothing new. Did you get the information I left for you? If you want more, I can always get it for you.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Ellie, frowning. ‘I found it surprising, and it made me worry a bit about someone I've met recently. But then, what do I know about it?’

  ‘You know people. Who do you suspect? Will you drop by later? Of course I'm not bored. How could I be, with Catriona to look after? She's quite adorable. But I'm screaming inside, Ellie. I should be up in the City, working out how to foil Sir Arthur's little plots, but I can't leave Catriona. I don't want to leave her.’

  ‘No, of course you don't,’ said Ellie, wondering if she ought to offer to babysit, but deciding that babysitting Felicity was enough for one day. The girl had washed up the breakfast things and was fidgeting, ready to go.

  ‘Hold on a mo,’ said Ellie. ‘There's a couple of umbrellas in the hall which we'll need today, and I'll get out a couple of suitcases while you ring the minicab people. The number's by the phone in the hall. Then if you can find Mrs Meadows-Fitch's number in the book, perhaps you'd give her a call, ask if we can drop in for a few minutes … that is, if you still want to.’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ said Felicity, her chin coming out. Ellie shrugged. If the girl wanted to chase shadows, then why not?

  The garage first. It was the sort of place that was a proper workshop and didn't try to sell cars on its forecourt. ‘Arthur put some money into it, I think,’ said Felicity. ‘They always service our cars.’

  They stood in the rain while Ellie paid off the minicab driver, settled the garage bill, and transferred her old suitcases to Felicity's car, which was not new but was dent-free. Felicity was a competent driver, Ellie noted.

  As Ellie belted up, she said, ‘Are you sure you want to go chasing up Mrs Meadows-Fitch?’

  ‘Positive,’ said Felicity. ‘I hate loose ends. She said she'd be in, but couldn't give us long
, because she's moving at the end of the week.’

  Mrs Meadows-Fitch lived in a second-floor flat in an expensive block overlooking Haven Green. Felicity shook out her umbrella as she led the way to the lift. Ellie rang the bell, and they were let into a big, airy flat which was currently being dismantled. Brighter patches on the wallpaper showed where large pieces of furniture had once stood. Cardboard boxes were everywhere.

  Mrs Meadows-Fitch advanced to meet them. Felicity's description of her had been cruelly accurate. The woman was wearing a brightly coloured scarf over her curls. The scarf was tied in a coquettish knot but didn't disguise the fact that the hair beneath was too thin, and too peroxided.

  She looked disappointed at seeing Ellie and Felicity. ‘I thought you said your husband wanted to see me?’

  ‘Just me,’ said Felicity. ‘I heard you were having to move and I wanted to say how sorry I was to hear it.’

  The woman's face settled back into lines of disappointment. Judging by the downward slant of her mouth, this was her usual expression. ‘Well, I did think, after all we've done for him … but there's no expecting thanks or gratitude nowadays, is there? If there was any justice in this world, I wouldn't be moving into a poky little granny flat at the back of my son's place on the south coast, where I won't know anyone and there are no decent shops! It'll take me hours to get back up to Harrods, and the salt in the air will ruin the car. I'll have to leave it on the street in all weathers, which, as you can imagine, would make my poor husband turn in his grave if he were to see it.’ She applied a tissue to the inner corner of each eye.

  ‘So sad,’ murmured Ellie. Their hostess had not invited them to take a seat, but Ellie did so, and gestured to Felicity to do the same. ‘Everyone thought your husband was so close to Sir Arthur too.’

  ‘Yes, he was.’ The woman sniffed. ‘I can't offer you coffee, I'm afraid. The good cups have all been packed up, though goodness knows when I shall have opportunity to use them, in my exile.’

  ‘I thought the south coast very nice,’ said Felicity, and was stopped by Ellie pressing on her foot.

  Ellie gave Felicity a warning look, and continued, ‘But no doubt your solicitor will be able to-’

  ‘Huh! Him! My dear husband was conned into using Arthur's own solicitor, and it seems I haven't anything in writing to prove what we were promised, only four months ago! The life insurance! The portfolio of gilt-edged! Everything gone! I blame my husband, I do, even though I shouldn't, I know that. It's wrong to speak ill of the dead, but when I think …!’ Here the tissue was applied again. Her mascara was beginning to smudge.

  ‘Dear me,’ said Ellie, all sympathy. ‘Surely Sir Arthur didn't intend this?’

  The woman sniffed. ‘I've never been so completely taken in, in all my life. I thought him a perfect gentleman. He's all sorrowful now, of course. Says he's lost a packet, too, or otherwise he'd have done his best to see me right, which I don't believe! I've spiked his guns, I can tell you! I wasn't Lady Mayoress for nothing. I know a lot of important people. I heard he was keen to be elected to the Inner Wheel, so I've blackballed him!’ She nodded in triumph.

  ‘You didn't!’ said Ellie, wondering if the woman had lost all her marbles. No word of censure from her was going to mar Sir Arthur's election to any club, however exclusive.

  ‘I did! And the chairman told me himself that he was going to pass the word around. That'll larn him!’

  ‘It will, indeed,’ said Ellie, getting to her feet, and signalling to Felicity to do the same. ‘I'm sure he'll really feel it. I do wish you all the very best in your new home.’

  ‘Are you going already?’ Mrs Meadows-Fitch had been glad of a sympathetic ear, and was not that keen to let them depart, but Ellie and Felicity managed to escape with only a few more polite words.

  It was still raining when they got out again.

  ‘Phew!’ said Ellie as they got back into the car. ‘Poor creature. I feel sorry for her. Well, it definitely wasn't her who sent the poisoned pizza.’

  ‘How do you make that out? I'd really like it to be her.’

  ‘Because …’ Ellie thought about it. ‘Because she took her revenge another way.’

  ‘She's still a horrid thing,’ said Felicity, turning on the ignition and setting the windscreen wipers twitching. ‘Shopping next?’

  Ellie was trying to remember everything Kate had dug up for her about poisoners. She really must go through it with Kate sometime. Meanwhile …

  ‘Do you ever get time to yourself?’ asked Felicity, as they drove down the hill. ‘I mean, you're always running around after other people. Don't you get tired of it?’

  ‘Sometimes. I like people.’

  ‘You mean as in, “Love One Another”?’

  Ellie blushed. ‘I wouldn't say I'm that … I just do things. You know? Or try to.’

  The shopping was soon done. As they got back into the car, Ellie noticed that Felicity had become very silent. She was probably dreading the return to the Kingsley residence. ‘Mrs Dawes next, to drop off her things.’

  Felicity nodded. ‘You won't mind if I don't come in with you, will you? I've got a lot to think about.’

  ‘Not at all. I'll be in and out in a trice, and then we can get the things from your house.’ Ellie was as good as her word, flitting in and out under her umbrella, glad to hear that Mrs Dawes' knee was improving and that she had another old friend with her. It was still raining when Ellie got back into the car.

  They parked in Sir Arthur's drive, both looking at a well-known car by the front door. Diana's. Felicity was very pale, but she got out of the car, ignoring the umbrella which Ellie offered her, and rang the doorbell. Ellie extricated the suitcases and followed her into the porch.

  A stout, middle-aged woman came to the door, breathing heavily. When she saw who it was, she held the door wide open, while rolling her eyes to one side to indicate that all was not well within.

  ‘Thank you, Maureen,’ said Felicity. ‘I'm glad you're here, so that I can explain what-’

  ‘I think I explained everything to her, quite perfectly,’ said Diana, who was standing in the hall with a clipboard in her hands. ‘You're the ex-wife, and I'm the new Lady Kingsley. So what are you doing here?’

  Felicity crimsoned. ‘You're not Lady Kingsley yet. I keep the title, unless I marry again, of course.’

  Ellie silently applauded, then turned to lug the suitcases inside. ‘Mother, you here? You've hitched your wagon to a fading star this time, haven't you?’

  ‘I don't think so, dear. Now, if you'll let me have the key to my house? I asked you for it yesterday, remember? I'll just help Felicity pack one or two things, and we'll be on our way.’

  Diana twisted a key from her key ring and threw it on to the table. Ellie retrieved it.

  Diana turned back to her clipboard. ‘Now, if you don't mind, I have some measuring-up to do. This house needs redecorating from top to bottom.’ She wandered up the stairs and out of sight.

  Maureen watched her go. ‘I'm not going to work for her, that's for sure. Not unless she doubles my wages. Where will you be, Lady Kingsley? In case there's some post for you?’

  ‘I'm staying with my friend Mrs Quicke for a while. I've only come back to collect one or two things.’

  ‘You fetch what you need,’ said Ellie. ‘Bring them down here, and I'll pack.’

  It didn't take them long, because there wasn't all that much Felicity wanted to take, when it came down to it.

  Felicity kissed Maureen and promised to keep in touch, they piled everything into the car and left. Was Diana watching from an upstairs window? Possibly.

  Ellie fingered Diana's key, and put it in a side pocket of her purse. It occurred to her that Diana might well have thought to have a duplicate made, after Ellie had asked for it. It was - regrettably - the sort of thing Diana might do. Best get the locks changed.

  Ellie and Felicity both tried to be cheerful over a scratch lunch. Felicity said how much she liked Ellie's conservatory,
and could they eat out there? Which they did.

  The rain thudded down on the glass roof. Ellie considered saying how cosy it was to be inside in the rain, but refrained.

  Felicity said, ‘I feel so odd. As if I'm waiting for something. Is there thunder in the air? I feel like that. I mean, we're quite safe now, aren't we?’

  ‘Of course we are.’ They were safe, weren't they? But yes, Ellie felt the tension too.

  The phone rang and they both jumped. It was Roy, asking if Ellie might be free for a meal that evening. Ellie said no, because she had a guest staying. She didn't say it was Felicity, and Roy didn't ask. He sounded miserable.

  As she returned to the kitchen, where Felicity was washing up, Ellie said, in a flat voice, ‘That was Roy.’

  Felicity nodded. ‘Another casualty of my husband's.’

  Ellie put into words what had been worrying her about Roy. ‘Did he sign anything, promising to give your husband all that money?’

  ‘They all do. I have to provide a savoury meal, which makes them drink a lot. I don't think Arthur puts anything in the wine, but they do all get drunk quickly, while Arthur never seems to be affected. Then Arthur holds out a plan for a golden future to them, and they swallow it whole. He always tells them there's a risk, but they never believe him. He said everyone wants something for nothing and that “when stupidity is allied to cupidity, he's on to a winner”.’

  ‘I thought you liked Roy.’

  ‘I did at first, but he's let Arthur walk all over him, and I don't like that.’

  Ellie made a note to get Roy to talk to his mother, soonest! Only she could sort this out.

  The phone rang again, and again they both jumped. It was Thomas this time, ringing to see how they were coping. Felicity went into the study to speak to him privately. Ellie dusted and hoovered and paid the outstanding bills. She made another list of things to do. She knew some people found solace in making lists, but she wasn't normally one of them. Only, somehow it helped when you were trying to organize someone else's life as well as your own. Or when you were trying to get through a tiresome patch.