The Determined Widow (The Matthew Holland Mystery Series)

by Adam Melrose

  Now it was just a case of waiting to see if Eva would indeed show up, or whether this operation had been a complete waste of time. Things seemed to slow down, and before long it was ten minutes past their agreed lunch date. Bella was beginning to get anxious. She began to question the moral aspects of what she was doing. She certainly felt guilty, and some shame that it was her intention to make an elderly woman, who clearly still worked long hours, who held down two jobs, probably for little pay, sit in the sun and get drunk. All in the name of hoping to loosen her tongue, and getting her to help get to the bottom of how Pete died for once and for all. It was her last chance, and if it worked; or even if it didn’t and it was all for nothing, Bella would be sure to make amends. If she was unable to do that to Eva directly, then she would make sure to find some way to repent for what she was about to do. Perhaps a substantial donation of some of her remaining life insurance pay out to an age related charity.

  ‘Hello Mrs Stone, I’m sorry I’m late, I was waiting inside. I didn’t see you out here.’

  Bella quickly composed herself.

  ‘Not a problem, that’s my fault. Sorry, I was just closing my eyes and enjoying the sun on this lovely day. Please take a seat.’ Bella’s stomach tightened. She felt bad already, but this had to be done. Her husband had not deserved to die, and the worst-case scenario for Eva was a blinding headache for a few hours.

  Eva took her seat across from Bella.

  ‘I think it might take a few moments to get served. I didn’t think it would be this busy mid-week, but of course it is summertime.’

  ‘That is no problem,’ said Bella, ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I have taken the liberty of ordering a bottle of Bollinger champagne. Just a small celebration of Pete’s life. It would mean the world to me if you would be prepared to join me?’

  Bella was worried that there were many reasons Eva might object to drinking champagne. She began to castigate herself for picking something like that, she should have waited to find out what Eva enjoyed as a tipple, if she even drank at all.

  ‘That would be lovely,’ said Eva, ‘I do like champagne. Mr Evelyn gives us some very nice champagne at the Christmas staff party.

  ‘Oh, that is great, I am glad.’

  Not wanting to push her luck, or risk any early mistakes, Bella changed the topic to her cycle trips; how stunning this part of the world was, and how busy it seemed at this time of year.

  Right at the allotted time, the waitress appeared with the champagne wrapped in a white cotton napkin and placed it in a cooler with two glasses. They really do things properly here, thought Bella.

  As instructed previously, the waitress just set the items down on the table and left. Bella poured the champagne out. A third of a glass each. She didn’t want to alarm Eva, and stop her drinking. She needed to do her best to get Eva to loosen her tongue and spill anything she knew. This was Bella’s only chance and she knew it.

  Bella handed Eva her glass, and picked up her own glass. She raised it.

  ‘To Pete.’

  Eva copied Bella’s movement with the glass.

  ‘To Pete.’

  They both drank.

  Eva was clearly savouring the taste. Bella was glad she had bought an expensive bottle. Eva can enjoy something she doesn’t often get to drink, thought Bella.

  ‘That is nice, a real treat, Bollinger is my favourite. Is this an R D?’

  Bella had to actively ensure her face did not give away her surprise.

  ‘Err – yes, it is the R D, 2004. Wow you really know about champagne.’

  Eva looked down at the glass. Bella wondered if she was avoiding making eye contact. She guessed probably not when Eva then looked at her directly, though she did look a little flushed. Probably embarrassed, thought Bella.

  ‘It is my one guilty pleasure. I have learned from my boss, and every now and again I treat myself to something special. I don’t really drink, so it’s a couple of times a year, but I have learned a little.’

  ‘Oh, come on Eva,’ Bella said, ‘You just named the vintage from a single mouthful.’

  Eva smiled, ‘Yes, I get that looks impressive, but this is my local and once you said it was Bollinger; I know they only have two Bollinger options on their wine list, and this has that subtle hint of wood and nuts that I don’t find in the non-R D version they sell here.’

  This revelation had thrown Bella off track, but she wanted to relax Eva, so they talked further about champagne. Bella kept it on that light subject whilst they consumed the rest of the first bottle. Without Eva noticing, Bella had managed to make sure Eva had drunk the lion’s share.

  Once the second bottle had arrived, and they had eventually ordered lunch, Bella decided it was time to launch her enquiry.

  ‘Thank you coming and meeting me like this. I hope you understand that I have to ask this; but do you know anything of what really happened to my husband?’

  Eva’s eyes widened, ‘Would you excuse me a minute?’ She then got up and left the table.

  Bella started to panic, thinking she might have blown it. Had Eva just left? She would give it ten minutes and then accept she had just lost her one chance.

  To her surprise, Eva returned after five minutes.

  ‘Sorry about that, I needed to freshen up.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Eva lent forward so as to be able to lower her voice whilst ensuring Bella could still hear her.

  ‘I have worked for Mr de Varley for a great many years, and he would never hurt anyone. Yes, he is a successful businessman, but he is a money man, a finance geek; he got rich by being clever, not using brute force. I will concede that his behaviour has been a little off in the last couple of years, but nothing at all to the level of having someone killed. Besides Mrs Stone, he was very fond of your husband.’

  ‘I am sorry,’ Bella said as genuinely as she could, ‘I just had to ask. I hope you can understand?’

  Eva nodded but said nothing. They sat in silence for a few moments. Silence was not something that Bella wanted. She didn’t want this open chat to close over.

  ‘He has been a little off you say?’

  Bella modified her tone to be as gentle as she could make it. ‘I hope he’s OK, and it is nothing serious. Not money worries or problems with the business?’

  ‘No, I think he is just stressed, he carries it all on his shoulders. He has a bright team working for him, but it is his name on the letterheads and his name if things go wrong.’

  ‘And are things going wrong?’

  Eva looked very awkward, Bella guessed she was not comfortable with talking about her boss like this, even if the champagne had loosened her tongue. Bella filled up their glasses again, and the food arrived. Eva looked relieved.

  ‘Your Dover sole looks perfect,’ added Eva as Bella’s lunch was placed on the table.

  ‘Thanks, I am getting food envy looking at yours though. That Pan-fried Red Snapper looks cooked to perfection.’

  Bella was having mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was having heavy feelings of guilt at her moral wrongdoing, but on the other side of things, she felt things were going well. The previous near two years of relentless pushing for what really happened was proving an extraordinarily strong magnetic force in keeping Bella’s moral compass from pointing true north; for now anyways. She had come this far. It’s not like anyone is going to get properly hurt. That’s what Bella told herself.

  ‘Evo certainly seemed to be a very decent and kind man,’ Bella said next. She had decided to go for the positive approach, and hope that her appearing to think highly of Eva’s boss would help move things along.

  Eva finished her mouthful of food.

  ‘He is he really is; I have worked for him for as long as I can remember. He is a truly good man.’

  Bella struck whilst the iron was hot.

  ‘It must worry you considerably then if his behaviour is off.’ Bella chose her next words with care, ‘And it must be difficult for you carrying these worries
on your own.’

  Eva looked sideways and down at the ground. Bella wondered if she was having doubts about whether she should be speaking like this.

  ‘To be honest Mrs Stone it is. It is a worry. I am not sure what to do, I am just keeping an eye on him, and I keep a little notebook detailing any incidents I think merit recording. Then I look back and watch for any dramatic increase in his odd behaviour. So far I haven’t seen that, and I am not sure what to do if I do.’

  ‘My mother was a nurse. If it would help, I might be able to shed some light on Evo’s behaviour from what I have learned growing up in a house with a medical professional for a parent.’

  Again, Eva waited until she had finished what she was eating.

  ‘That is very kind Mrs Stone, it’s not easy to pinpoint. It all seems to centre around that portal. Life was much simpler before that came on the scene. He has been obsessed with it ever since he first discovered it was potentially for sale.’

  Bella went as slowly as she could so as not to cause Eva to back off.

  ‘He wasn’t bothered about the Shadow Tide stories?’

  ‘He checked them out,’ said Eva, ‘He said it was all nonsense, just superstition.’

  ‘But it isn’t,’ said Bella. ‘Whatever it is, it nearly killed us.’

  ‘Oh, there is something there right enough. I just keep out of all that, I have no idea what is going on. Evo sneaks down there at all hours of the day and night, and gets quite aggressive with me if I ask too many questions, so I have just stopped asking. It is easier not to and besides, I am his housekeeper, his business is none of my concern.’

  ‘What can be down there that makes this so involving. I thought it was just to be a tourist attraction.’

  ‘That,’ said Eva finishing up her lunch, ‘Is a good question, and one I do not have the answer to.’

  Bella poured out the last of the second bottle, she was expecting Eva to protest, but she didn’t.

  ‘Would you like some desert Eva?’

  ‘Oh no – thank you Mrs Stone I am very full; it has been a very spoiling lunch. I will need to walk home, and rest for the afternoon, before sorting Mr de Varley’s evening meal out.’

  Bella realised her window of opportunity was beginning to close. Correct timing or not, she would have to put her final strategy into play now. She began to speak quicker than normal, putting more purpose in her voice, in the same way a lawyer might do when cross examining a witness, though obviously she had to be careful not to overdo things and annoy Eva. She made sure to retain her genuine concern.

  ‘Do you need a taxi home?’

  ‘No, thank you Mrs Stone.’

  ‘Will you be OK to get to Nalebury later?’

  ‘I will be fine thank you.’

  ‘Was my husband’s job in the tunnel?’

  ‘Yes – I mean…’ Eva’s face went bright red ‘Well that is to say, I think he did, I assume he did; though Mr de Varley would never talk business in front of me.’

  ‘Does Evo have anything else around here, business wise?’

  ‘Just the estate.’

  ‘Yes, but my husband didn’t know anything about agriculture.’

  ‘Oh right.’

  ‘Eva, I need to know, did my husband die at the portal or in it?’

  ‘No, of course he didn’t. He was found in a quarry, you know that, you were present at all the proceedings.’

  Bella was beginning to get angry.

  ‘That is not what I asked Eva. I asked you; did my husband die outside the portal, or inside it?’

  Eva stood up.

  ‘Look I am sorry, it has been a very pleasant lunch, I know you are grieving for your husband, but this has all been dealt with. My boss has quite enough to contend with, and he feels bad enough that Pete died whilst up here, but he is not to blame for what happened Mrs Stone; I am sorry, but there we are.’

  Bella stood up also.

  ‘I do appreciate you coming Eva, and all that you have shared with me, thank you. Let me walk you out.’

  The pair of them wandered into the pub. Norton and Matt looked at each other, not sure whether to follow, or wait for a few moments. They decided on the latter. Then they would follow at a discreet distance, though looking at the way Eva had stumbled out of the courtyard, neither of them thought much harm could come to Bella just now. As they passed the table Matt noticed a large wet patch on the ground. Ah clever Bella, he thought. She must have been subtly pouring some of her champagne out on the floor to keep from getting too hammered.

  Eva had politely waited while Bella settled up. With the tip included, Bella didn’t think she had ever paid that much for lunch before in her life. If this led to resolving what happened to Pete, she would frame the receipt.

  They wandered out into the car park.

  ‘Well, Mrs Stone as I said, thank you very much for the pleasant lunch, it was most enjoyable.’

  ‘My pleasure,’ replied Bella. ‘I really do appreciate you coming and thank you for all you shared. I am sorry if I got a bit pushy at the end there. My bad.’

  ‘Really not a problem,’ said Eva, ‘Please don’t give it another thought.’

  Bella grabbed her hire bike and walked with Eva across the gravel until they got to the edge of the main road and the tarmac.

  ‘Are you heading back to the hotel then? Please do ride safe if you do. You do know you can be done for riding a bicycle over the limit too. Maybe you should get a taxi?’

  ‘That is kind, no I am fine,’ replied Bella. ‘I am going to cycle to the portal actually. I am going to have one last explore before I leave tomorrow.’

  Eva looked horrified at the suggestion.

  ‘I really must insist you do not do that Mrs Stone. Mr de Varley does not want people poking about there, especially until they can get to the bottom of the violent, sudden flooding issues. Have you not learned your lesson?’

  Bella swung her head around sharply to look at Eva.

  ‘Is that a threat?’

  Eva for her part looked confused, ‘A threat? Of course it is not a threat. I am concerned for your welfare, and I know my boss doesn’t like people snooping around there. It’s not safe. You already know that.’

  Eva paused for a moment before speaking again.

  ‘I really must implore you not to go anywhere near the portal Mrs Stone. Stay away.’

  With that, Eva wandered off into the village, and in what Bella assumed was the direction of her home.

  For some reason Bella was now adamant that she was going to cycle to the portal. Her blood was up, and her gut just told her that she finally had hold of the lead that was going to get her the truth about what happened to her husband. There was no way she was not going to the portal right now. She began to cycle forward when a strange force slowed the bike down and brought it to a halt. A familiar voice spoke. It was Matt, he had hold of the rear of the bike.

  ‘Where are you going Bella? We agreed we would talk after the meal and plan together.’

  Bella managed to quickly shake herself out of her weird mood.

  ‘Sorry Matt. I have just managed to wind myself up, and also I am not a heavy drinker so I think I am fairly drunk.’

  Matt was concerned things needed to cool off.

  ‘Let’s sit down and talk things through; you can fill Norton and me in with what was said. We couldn’t hear anything.’

  Slowly, Bella got off. Matt was relieved once she was separated from the bike.

  ‘Come on, let’s sit in the shade over there, and you can tell us both what you have learned.’

  ‘I will do Matt,’ Bella looked at him with a serious expression, ‘But first there is one thing I need you to do, in fact the last thing I am going to ask you to do for me. Can you get us a taxi? I want to go to the portal and see if Eva or Evo turn up there. I am not talking about going in; just watching the road from a safe distance. Please do this for me.’

  Matt could sense the earnest desire in Bella’s voice, and he saw no ha
rm in observing any comings and goings on the portal access road from a distance.

  ‘Sure Bella, no worries. Firstly, how drunk are you?’

  ‘Probably too much to ride safely. I didn’t think about that.’

  ‘Well that is fine.’ Matt took out his phone. ‘Let’s get a taxi to take the three of us down and drop us off near The Portal, then you can tell us what was said whilst we wait for it to arrive.’

  They sat in the shade and waited. Matt arranged for the hotel to come and collect the hire bikes, and Bella filled him and Norton in on what was said. When she explained she had got Eva to admit Pete died in the portal they were both amazed.

  ‘Well, you broke the case open then Bella. Fair play. Your determination paid off. You got where I don’t think anyone else was going to.’

  Bella forced a smile, ‘Yes but that might be as far as we get. I still might never know if it was an accident or deliberate.’

  ‘Well,’ said Matt, ‘Why don’t we wait and see, we still have some more time. I would not have thought we would have got this far, so never say never.’

  ‘Indeed.’ Bella’s smile was more natural now. ‘I do feel bad about using Eva like that, I will make amends to her once we are all complete.’

  After about twenty-five minutes a taxi turned up and took them down to the portal. Matt got the taxi to stop short, and they walked in along the hedge line, and laid up on a vantage point waiting to see who, if anyone turned up. Bella reckoned that if Evo turned up in a panic, then she would be more inclined to murder than an accidental death, though what she would do with that supposition, she was not sure.

  Matt, Norton and Bella settled into their vantage point, and Matt dug out his binoculars. He scanned up the access road, it all looked quiet. ‘Of course he may have already arrived, or he may not come at all.’

  Neither of the other two answered, they would just sit and wait. Matt was about to put his binoculars away when he realised he had not swung them to the left. He didn’t expect to see anything, but he reckoned it was worth a glance; and indeed, it was.