“Until she was on her deathbed.”
“Yes, until she was on her deathbed.”
“So what was it that your mother told you that made you come to Cornwall?”
Grace took in a deep breath. “The suitcase, the damn suitcase. You see, she told me that the possessions she and George had taken from David’s room at the hotel were hidden beneath floorboards in the attic of somewhere called Primrose Cottage in a Cornish village called Pentrillick where the family had all lived. Apparently George paid Peter to board out the loft after he bought the house just before the war broke out in 1939.” Grace paused to take a sip of water.
“Having the attic boarded out it seems was very opportune,” said the inspector, “as not many are even today.”
“Very true and I suppose when George put the case there he hoped that it would never be found.” Grace half-smiled. “I must confess that I took a lot of what my mother told me with a pinch of salt. I mean, she was ninety eight years old but even at that age she read a lot of novels and murder mysteries were her favourite genre. It occurred to me that she might have muddled fact with fiction and the suitcase didn’t exist.”
“But you had to make sure?”
“Yes. I Googled Pentrillick and found that Primrose Cottage was next to a guest house and so it seemed the obvious place to come and stay. Imagine my horror when I met Hetty and Lottie and discovered that the suitcase not only existed but that it had actually been found.”
“And so you offered to help find out something of David Tregear’s past already knowing exactly what had happened to him?”
“Yes, and I was relieved to realise there was nothing in the suitcase to link him to me. No photograph of, or mention of my mother and so even though I thought it likely that her name would eventually crop up in searches I knew she would be difficult to trace because no-one would have any idea where she had gone and whom she had married if indeed married she had. There was no evidence to suggest that at all.”
“But you knew nothing of the films?”
Grace shook her head. “No, they had already been taken away by Alex and so all I saw were David’s personal things like clothing, the boat, the teddy bear and so forth.”
“So why did you feel it necessary to poison Simon Berryman?”
“Hetty told me that he had a few old photos of the family and I thought my mother might be on one of them wearing the brooch. It was never my intention to kill him. I just wanted to make him ill for a while during which time I hoped he’d forget about the pictures and not visit Pentrillick again.”
“And the phone calls and the letter bomb?”
“The phone calls were done simply to scare Hetty and Lottie but when I saw they were having no effect I made up the letter bomb for the same reason.” She laughed, “But it seemed nothing I did in any way budged the sisters from their mission. They were very persistent and I admire them for that.”
Detective Inspector Fox leaned back in his chair. “And yet you tampered with the brakes on the sisters’ car. Surely that wasn’t done simply to frighten them.”
“It was, honestly, I just wanted to scare them. You know, make them think there was some nutcase out there who wanted them dead. My logic was that Hetty would be the driver when next they took the car out. She’s been driving for years, you see and so I reckoned she’d automatically pull on the hand brake when the foot pedal was ineffectual. The problem was, when they next went out, Lottie drove and she had only passed her test quite recently. And to make matters worse, Hetty was seated in the back, her movement restricted by her seatbelt. But she freed herself eventually and pulled on the handbrake. I can’t believe that I didn’t do it myself but I was terrified and couldn’t think straight. Everything appeared to go in slow motion and so my reactions were pitifully slow too.”
“So why were you in the car when you knew the brakes were not working?”
“I had no choice. I went round to see Hetty and Lottie and they said they were going to Pentrillick House to see David Tregear’s boat. They asked me to go with them. I couldn’t think of a good enough reason not to go and so had to say yes. Serves me right, I suppose.”
“So where did you learn about car mechanics?”
Grace smiled. “My father. He said that in order for anyone to be a good driver they needed to have some knowledge of how the engine worked. And so after my first driving lesson when I was seventeen he lifted the bonnet of his car, pointed out the different parts of the engine and told me their purpose. And although much has changed since those days, I’m talking of 1975, I’ve always kept up with how things work.”
“Tell me about the fire?”
Grace’s shoulders slumped. “The fire was a moment of madness. When I heard about the films and how they intended to watch them that night, I didn’t know what to do. I panicked. I couldn’t think clearly at first. And then I thought of starting a fire. I bought a petrol can and filled it at the garage. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I just wanted the damn films destroyed.”
“You were prepared to risk all those lives just to destroy the films?”
“No, because I knew they’d get out alive. I mean, most people die in fires when they happen at night and they’re sleeping. I wasn’t concerned too much about damage to the property because the insurance would cover the cost of repairs and I knew Hetty disliked the pampas grass so in a way I thought I was doing her a favour.”
“You didn’t know then that they had no insurance?”
“What! Oh no, didn’t they? Oh, that’s terrible.” Grace’s voice croaked with emotion.
“Apparently not.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Before you started the fire did you lock the back door?”
“Yes,” Grace hung her head, “When Hetty said about the film show I crept into the kitchen and removed the key so that I could lock it later from the outside.”
The inspector shook his head slowly. “They could all have died.”
“No, no, because I knew they’d get out somehow. I had to make it a little difficult though in order to ensure the films were destroyed. Anyway, part of my plan once I’d discarded the petrol can and the top I’d worn which I’d bought that afternoon, was to arrive in time to put out the fire and save the day but Luke Burleigh got there first which was probably just as well because when I heard the screaming I became a trembling wreck.”
The inspector leaned back and folded his arms. “And you did all of this to prevent skeletons tumbling from your closet. A little extreme, don’t you think just to protect your name?”
Grace shook her head. “But I didn’t do it to protect my name. I did it to protect my partner of these past twenty years. My darling John, he’s a barrister, you see and I didn’t want this to tarnish his spotless reputation.” She bowed her head. “But I have failed him dismally.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I’m glad,” whispered Hetty, when Alex called round on Sunday morning to say that Grace had been released on bail, “but I’m not sure that I want to see her again. I mean, I can understand her feeling the way that she did but she could have killed us both and Simon too.”
“I think if that’s what she’d wanted to do then she would have done so,” reasoned Alex, “after all, the police said although Simon was poisoned the amount of poison administered was not sufficient to kill anyone but just to make them ill.”
“But what about the brakes incident? Surely it was only luck or providence that saved us that day,” cried Hetty.
“True, but she probably thought you’d use the handbrake,” said Alex.
Lottie nodded. “Which you did, Het. And had you been driving instead of me we’d have stopped before we reached the bottom of Long Lane.”
“Well, whatever: it’s very sad though because I really liked Grace and I feel betrayed. I feel cross.” Hetty sighed deeply.
“That’s quite understandable,” sympathised Alex, “Anyway, I must go and I’ll see you both later.”
>
“Yes, of course, I’ll see you out,” Hetty walked with him to the door. As she returned to the kitchen, Lottie looked towards the ceiling having heard footsteps in the bathroom above. “Sounds like Zac’s up.”
“Yes, I’m really going to miss him when he’s gone. It’s been lovely to have young people around.”
Lottie smiled. “I’m sure he’ll be back the first opportunity that arises. He gets on well with the youngsters here, especially Emma and hopefully next time his two sisters will come with him, not to mention Bill and Sandra.”
“Hmm, be a bit like the chocolate box holiday we had at Sea View Cottage.” Hetty forced a smile, “What a crazy three weeks that was.”
Hetty and Lottie were both in the kitchen making a few bits and pieces for Zac’s farewell and pond-warming party that afternoon and although both were feeling a little dejected they were determined that Zac’s last day would be one to remember.
“Do you really think that was the knife used to take poor David’s life?” Lottie asked as she glanced at the rusty knife lying on the kitchen window sill which Mark had dug up in the garden.
“We’ll never know for sure but I wouldn’t be surprised. I mean, you could hardly lose something that size when cutting cauli or whatever so I reckon it was buried deliberately.”
Lottie nodded. “Probably by George. I mean, I hardly think he’d ever want to see it again after what Polly had used it for.”
“If she had.”
“Yes, if she had.”
Lottie sighed. “This poor house has seen some horrific happenings, hasn’t it? I mean, not many houses have witnessed two murders, not linked of course and with seventy plus years between them.”
“Three,” corrected Hetty, “you mustn’t forget Simon’s mother, Betty. She died here too and it was no accident.”
As Hetty bent down to put a quiche in the oven, the phone rang.
“I’ll get it,” Lottie wiped her hands, “At least I know it won’t be Grace larking around.”
As she piled dirty dishes by the sink, Hetty could hear Lottie chatting and she figured it wasn’t anyone they knew because her sister’s voice sounded formal.
“That was Graham from the art gallery,” smiled Lottie, as she returned to the kitchen, “he said he’d like to call tomorrow if that’s okay. I said yes but to make it in the afternoon because we have to take Zac to the station in the morning. So he’ll be here some time between two and half past.”
“Wonderful,” cried Hetty, “I’m longing to know if Old Jimmy is genuine. Not that it’ll make any difference as he’ll always have a place on my wall.”
The sun shone brightly all afternoon on the thirty guests who attended the pond-warming farewell party, and to Hetty and Lottie’s surprise and delight, several people brought gifts for the sisters; flowers, chocolates, bottles of wine and from Chloe and Colin who ran the guest house next door they received a large realistic looking heron.
“Now all we need are some fish,” laughed Lottie, as she stood the heron beside the pond.
“We’ve already thought of that,” said Kitty, as she arrived with Tommy each carrying fish in polythene bags of water.
“Snap,” giggled Natalie Burleigh, who carried a similar bag.
“Oh thank you but you shouldn’t have,” muttered Hetty, as she took the bag from Natalie and Lottie took the bags from Kitty and Tommy.
Hetty squeezed Natalie’s hand, “I’m really glad you’ve come.” She turned to Luke, “You too Luke.”
To Hetty’s surprise Luke kissed her on the cheek. “I’ve never been one to bear a grudge,” He laughed, “anyway, I wanted to see your pond as we intend to have one when we get our house.”
“Any luck yet?”
Luke crossed his fingers. “One of the little cottages down in the village along the main street has just come up for sale. We’ve seen it, we like it and we’ve put in an offer. Now we’re waiting to see if it’s accepted.”
“Well, I hope it is. I really, really hope it is.” Hetty spoke with sincerity.
A familiar voice caused her to turn round. Sid had arrived carrying a lovely white iris. “This is to go in the pond,” he chuckled, “and I’m hoping Hetty will be slipping into her bikini when she puts it in the water.”
“Cheeky,” laughed Hetty, taking the plant from Sid, “but fortunately that won’t be necessary as irises prefer shallow water and so it’ll go on the marginal shelf. Anyway, how do you know I put my swimsuit on to put the waterlily in the pond?”
Sid laughed. “Grace told me.” He bit his lip, “Whoops, I shouldn’t have mentioned her, should I? I suppose she’s persona non grata.”
Hetty squeezed his hands but couldn’t find the right words to reply.
Everyone gathered around the pond as the fish were released into the water and several sat mesmerised as they tried to spot the fish as they settled into their new home; Albert shared in the fun, wagging his tail excitedly.
Hetty and Lottie’s neighbours along Blackberry Way had loaned them garden furniture for the day and so there were plenty of places to sit and blankets on the grass for those who preferred to lie down.
Zac and Emma who had worked all morning getting the garden ready for the celebration, were glad to take their ease and sit on the lawn with Kyle and his girlfriend, Suzie.
“I didn’t know Kyle had a girlfriend,” Lottie said to Zac, when they stood side by side at the table beneath a pop-up gazebo helping themselves to food and drinks later in the afternoon.
“No, I suppose we’ve not mentioned her because she’s been away and only came home a couple of days ago. She’s been away on a gap year.”
“What, for a whole year?”
“Near enough. She went at the end of September last year.”
“Goodness me, I know youngsters do things like that these days but I should hate to have been away from family and friends for that long when I was young and I’d like it even less now. Kyle must have missed her dreadfully.”
“Well no not really. They’d only been an item for a couple of weeks when she went. Although I think he’s known her for some time.”
“So has she been anywhere nice?”
“Australia. Apparently she’s brilliant at surfing now and is going to teach Kyle and Emma.”
“Lovely, and so did she go with friends?”
“No, she went all on her own, back packing and had a brilliant time.”
A look of horror crossed Lottie’s face. “She must be one very brave young lady. It gives me the shudders just thinking about it.”
Much to the delight of Hetty and Lottie everyone present made favourable comments about the pond, the colourful flowers in the back garden, the food and drink on offer and the choice of music.
“I find the pond compliments hard to swallow,” sighed Hetty, when she went into the kitchen to fetch more food and saw Lottie slicing up pizzas she had just taken from the oven, “I mean, it wasn’t just the work of you, me and Zac, was it? Much of the credit should go to Grace. I wish she could hear what people are saying but sadly under the circumstances, she can’t and she never will.” Hetty’s bottom lip quivered.
Lottie squeezed her sister’s hand. “I feel the same way, Het and I’m sure we’ll always think of it as Grace’s pond.”
Inside her Tuzzy-Muzzy room, Grace Dunkerley sat on the broad sill of the open window with her head leaned back against the white wall. From the garden next door she could hear voices chattering and the sound of happy laughter. Music played in the background and through the trees she caught the occasional glimpse of people milling around the pond and strolling along the garden paths.
“I should be there,” she whispered, as a tear trickled down her cheek. “And I would be were it not for my brooch.” She tried to laugh but the attempt was no more than a squeak. She looked to the sky. “Why did you do it, Mum? This is all your fault and I’m left to pick up the pieces. Simon hates me because you killed his mother. Hetty and Lottie hate me because they th
ink I tried to kill them even though it was not my intent. The only good to have come from this is the knowledge that poor David will eventually be laid to rest with his brother in a proper and respectable manner.”
As she leaned forwards the sun caught the blue stones in her brooch. Grace unclipped it and held it in her hand. “And as for you it seems there is a lot of truth in dragonfly folklore.” She looked towards the back garden of Primrose Cottage where a glimpse of the pond’s water was just visible through the branches of a tree. “If a dragonfly suddenly appears in your life,” she whispered, “it means you need to take care because something is hidden or the truth is being kept from you.” She laughed scornfully, “The truth was certainly kept from me until earlier this year and now everything I’ve ever held dear is gone.”
She pinned the brooch back onto her collar. “And what I fear most is that I may have inherited the reckless gene that caused my mother to behave so badly.” With a heavy heart she stood up. “There’s only one thing to do.” She then picked up her handbag and left the room.
Zac woke the following morning, looked from the window and saw there was a misty haze hanging over the back garden and the field beyond was completely hidden from view. Feeling sad that the sun wasn’t shining for his last morning, he slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom for a shower.
In the kitchen his grandmother was taking a cherry cake that she had made especially for her son, Bill, from the oven so that Zac could take it home with him; his aunt was washing up glasses and dishes from the previous day.
“Just as well the garden party was yesterday and not today,” Zac said, trying to sound cheerful.
Hetty nodded. “Your grandmother and I said exactly that ourselves.”
“Are you all packed?” Lottie asked, as she picked up a tea towel to dry the dishes.
“Near enough. I did most of it yesterday.”
Lottie placed plates she had dried back in the cupboard. “And have you enjoyed your stay with us?”
“It’s been the best,” said Zac, as he sat down on the stool, “and it’s going to feel strange waking up at home in my own bed tomorrow. I’m so glad you asked me. I’ll have so much to tell everyone when I get home.”
The Suitcase In The Attic Page 18