by Charlot King
“Edward Wiley’s Pay as you go, sir. We retrieved it from the River Cam half an hour ago. We’re contacting the telephone company now for records.”
“Thank you.” Abley turns back to Dr Eruna. “So, Mr Eruna, will we find calls from you to this phone, or perhaps Edward called you from this phone?”
“No. I haven’t spoken to Edward Wiley.”
Abley frowns. He doesn’t believe Dr Eruna for a minute. Surely now they have the phone and will soon have the evidence it wouldn’t be wise to lie.
“Perhaps you’re telling him you were going to murder him. Perhaps you were trying to murder Professor Green in the department.”
“No.”
“You hit Professor Green, though didn’t you.”
Dr Eruna looks up at the Inspector and Dr Eruna’s solicitor looks agitated.
“You see the department has CCTV outside. It caught you going in around the time she was attacked.”
Dr Eruna knows he can’t deny this.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her so badly.”
Abley leans into the digital recorder, opening a packet of mints as he does.
“For the record, Mr Eruna has admitted assault of Professor Elizabeth Green.”
Inspector Abley pops in his mint and sucks. There is a long pause as he thinks of his next question. The solicitor shakes his head. Abley sighs.
“So are you going to tell me why?”
Dr Eruna, now red faced, fiddles with his tie.
“Edward was slandering my company, sending poison to Professor Flint. I just wanted the letter back.”
Abley is confused. He can’t piece the bits of the puzzle together.
“Go on.”
“Flint had told me Edward had brought back evidence about things we’d done abroad. I didn’t know what to find, what was out there. So I was looking for it, that’s all. But when I got there, she’d found it before me.”
Abley pushes harder, as Dr Eruna unravels in his seat, sweating.
“So you killed Edward and you tried to kill Professor Green.”
Startled, Dr Eruna’s eyes dart up to meet Abley’s.
“No, I haven’t killed anyone. And I wasn’t trying to kill her. I pushed her, that’s all.”
“That’s not what the medical report states. You hit her violently on the head, Mr Eruna. I am charging you with grievous bodily harm under the Offences Against the Person’s Act against Mrs Elizabeth Green. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand? For the record this interview is paused at 17.23.”
Dr Eruna nods and drops his head. Abley stands up and turns for the door, throwing a final comment, “Why should we believe anything you say now? This isn’t over.”
And with that Abley has left the room.
✧
Kara has her ‘mood’ box for the wedding out in the living room, and is rummaging through it. All those last minute things. Lists of replies, seating plans.
“Thanks for talking to your brother for me. What did he say?”
Rebecca is tired and could do without this conversation.
“I’m sorry, I tried to talk sense. I phoned him. We had a long chat. But, I think I made things worse.”
Kara picks up some ribbon and twists it tightly around her finger.
“But I thought you were going to help? You promised.”
Rebecca sighs, “I tried all right? He didn’t even want to bring it up. He seemed really preoccupied with matters there. I had to listen to all this cabinet appointment apprehension. To be honest, he said he thinks it’s a bad idea and he’d talk to you when he got back.”
Kara pours herself a drink, in denial, but her face can’t hide the cracks.
“No, he doesn’t mean it. He’s angry. He’ll come round.”
There is silence from Rebecca, she can’t give Kara false hope. She knows her brother meant what he said, and he was the most stubborn person - aside from herself - that she knew.
“He’ll come round, won’t he?”
“He said you shouldn’t even be thinking about a wedding now Edward has just died.”
Rebecca pauses, not knowing whether to cushion the blow. “That it didn’t show a good side to you. I’m sorry.”
Kara is now completely panicked. She can’t let this happen. Surely there is something to cling onto. “He wants to stop the wedding just for now though, doesn’t he?”
Rebecca just feels pushed, she can’t breathe. Won’t this selfish woman leave her alone. Hasn’t she been listening? “He doesn’t want to marry you, all right!”
Kara drops her drink. She stands frozen in the finality of the words. She can’t get them out of her head now, they are shouting at her. Just like Rebecca. He doesn’t want to marry her. It’s all been for nothing. All the nights alone, all the waiting. This Englishman, her true blue.
“I’m sorry. Kat, come here.”
Kara storms down the garden below the orchard and out along the footpath until Rebecca can’t see her anymore.
47. Evening Garden
The doorbell rings some time later. Rebecca has remained on the couch, dozing. She stirs and goes to answer, thinking maybe Kat will forgive her. Through the spy hole she sees Godric, standing against the Talbot, so she opens the door. He smiles at her and shrugs.
“Hello? I thought you were Kat, forgetting her keys. She left in a hurry. You’d better come in.”
Godric walks up the steps through the porch and into the hallway, flicking his fringe out of his eyes, he takes the chance to look around.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes, why?”
“Oh, just wondered. I was calling on the off chance. You said when Bunny was better she could come round for a cup of tea. She is otherwise engaged at the moment, so I thought, well, why didn’t I pay you a visit instead?”
“Lovely.”
Rebecca walks through into the living room, beckoning Godric to follow.
“See how you are, and all that?”
Rebecca wipes her forehead, as it is a sticky night. The doors are open to the garden and it is already dark outside, but the moon shines brightly. Godric continues, as he observes all the wedding material and box on the coffee table.
“You ran off like that from the car. I was worried about you, and was in the area. I’ve been to The Cutter Inn for a pub quiz.”
“Did you win?”
“Godric smiles again. “The Quizzicals always win. We’re getting a bit of a reputation.”
Rebecca looks at her watch. It is 10.30pm.
“Oh, well, Um. Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee, beer?”
“Perhaps a beer? Can we sit outside? I’ve been indoors all day. Yes, thought I’d come over and tell you they’re planning to resume the choir next week. The show must go on, or something like that in the email.”
Rebecca’s mind is so far from the choir, but she is pleased to see a friendly face.
“I’ll put the lights on by the pool. We can sit out there and pretend we’re somewhere else in the world. California maybe. I’m always pretending I’m somewhere else at the moment. Kara and Jonathan mean well, but I hate it here.”
Rebecca leaves for the kitchen as Godric walks through big garden doors. To his right is a huge swimming pool, perhaps forty or fifty feet, up on the terrace, with a marble area around it, a bar, tables, sun loungers and a swing chair for bathers to relax. Right in front of him are steps down onto the lawn, framed by two lions. He wonders how he missed noticing the lions last time. They are seriously imposing. Someone has placed a top hat on one of them, which makes him think there must be some good parties here. He smells the fresh scents from borders and many Mediterranean type pots along
the terrace wall. He can see the croquet still set out from when he was here last, and just manages to avoid a hoop in the twighlight. Rebecca comes out to join him with two beers still in their bottles, and some nuts in a bowl. Godric takes a beer.
“Bottoms’ up.”
“Down the hatch.”
“It’s not that strong stuff, is it? Shouldn’t really if I’m driving.”
“Just have the one.”
The two clink and then pause to drink, enjoying this semi-rural location. It is so quiet in the garden that they can hear the snails munching vegetation. Godric breaks the silence.
“This really is a lovely garden. I don’t think I noticed before. You know, when you kissed me.”
“Sorry about that. I was in shock.”
“Most people are when they kiss me. But you know I’m -”
Rebecca shakes her head and looks out down the lawn.
“I wasn’t sure. But, yes. I shouldn’t have. I know.”
Godric changes the subject, glad she’s understood and won’t misread his visit for something else.
“So, who’s the green fingered monster in this household?” He breathes in the summer evening air for effect and touches his chest before taking another sip of beer.
“Kara. She’s always out here. Growing some plants for her wedding over there. Tends them everyday. I think she studied horticulture when she was younger. Tells me it helps her relax. Maybe I should take it up.”
Godric looks at the breathtaking borders, which hang in the silvery air, motionless, asleep, waiting for tomorrow to blaze out their colour.
“I do like hostas.” Godric points at some peonies. “Great for a dry sunny spot aren’t they?”
Rebecca looks at the peonies, nonchalantly agreeing.
“Yes. They’re lovely.”
Godric continues to talk to Rebecca about the plants, watching her carefully.
“And the lavender. It must get watered a lot in this spot. They love loads of water and shade, don’t they? Simply shrivel up and die in the sun.”
Rebecca looks at the lavender. She strokes it with her hand.
“They do look dry. Maybe I should tell Kara to move them do you think? You seem to know a lot about gardens then?”
Godric smiles. Of course he knows a lot about gardens. He lives with the queen of botany. He’s sure she plays him tapes in his sleep to remember all the names of the plants.
“No, not really. But it can’t help but rub off living with Bunny, you know. Sometimes I think, she’s a gnome that’s come to life. Does your brother, you know, like gardening? Is that what the two of them have in common?”
Rebecca looks down the end of the garden to the orchard, wondering if Kara will reappear and worries where she’s gone. She didn’t mean to be so harsh, but Kara wouldn’t stop.
“Well he likes being in the garden. He likes to take off his shoes and socks when he comes back from London and put his toes on the grass, but I think that’s about the size of it.” Rebecca smiles fondly about her brother, then steps back up onto the terrace. Floor lights around the swimming pool illuminate her face as palm trees in four big planters at each corner give the area a tropical feel. Two parasols strung with pretty fairy lights stand beside the small bar with a straw roof. And nestled under the parasols are two little cafe tables with two chairs each, which look like they are set out for supper, having all the crockery, glasses, as well as candles flickering.
“Edward thought the pool and BBQ so passé. He was happy that we didn’t have to waste time on the manicured outdoors, what with the college doing all the formal lawns. He said it was the best of both worlds, the beauty with no work necessary.” Rebecca pauses. “He liked to sit out in the King’s Fellow’s garden with a cream tea, before it got busy.”
Godric joins Rebecca on the terrace.
“Yes, I like that, until it fills up. Can get quite busy in the summer holidays. And I’m with Edward on the whole BBQ thing. Why have another kitchen twenty feet from the one you’ve got. So Jonathan’s out here at the weekends, cutting that grass?”
“Goodness gracious no. Jonathan? Hardly. They hire someone to do that actually, but Kara really just gets him to do the manual labour. I’ve seen him trim the hedges and cut the grass in the past. Looking a bit long now. Haven’t seen him for a while.”
“Tell me more.”
“Godric, you’re wearing me out. I simply know nothing about gardening. Can we talk about something else?”
“All right.” Godric puts down his beer. “Family, why don’t we talk about family? My family is so dysfunctional. My mother doesn’t talk to my nanna. My sister doesn’t talk to my mother. My father doesn’t talk to anyone. You know, I think I’m the only normal one in my family, yet I’m the least normal person outside my family that I know.”
Godric picks up his beer and takes a swig.
“Your nanna is lovely, I’m sure it isn’t as bad as that.”
Godric raises his eyebrows, as if to say she doesn’t know the half of it. He’s happy that she’s opening up.
“What about yours?”
“My brother is my best friend. Yes, he is. Jonathan and I have always been close. He’d beat up boys at school who were nasty to me, and wanted to beat up the girls too, but his pride stopped him. I know he’s a politician, and a busy one at that. But he is always there when I need him.”
“He sounds like he loves you very much, and also that he loves a scrap.”
Rebecca smiles and takes a sip of her beer. It’s the first time Godric has seen her smile.
“No, that was when he was younger. He’s a law abiding citizen now.”
Godric has Rebecca right where he wants her. He leans towards her, almost falling off the lounger, just so he can get closer to her. He picks out a bit of grass from her hair.
“What about the rest of your family?”
Rebecca likes Godric. She feels safe. He’s such a gentleman, and wicked all at the same time. She feels the need to unburden herself.
“We have parents in the Cotswolds and family in Scotland. But the distance stops us being close. We go back on daddy’s side, uncle has a seat in Norfolk. Proper aristocrats, you know, the ones money can’t buy and all the rest of it. All very tame really. It doesn’t mean anything anymore, being wealthy from an estate.”
Godric would like an estate. He can see himself with two lurchers, standing on the porch of a huge Edwardian pile. Yes, that would suit him very well. He can’t believe that others may deserve this more than he. No. There is too much injustice in the world.
“What about Jonathan? Is he looking forward to the wedding?”
Rebecca takes another sip of her beer, the bubbles fizzing as she sets it back down.
“Do you know, I happen to think that might be off right now.”
Godric is surprised. Wasn’t Jonathan going to marry that attractive woman? I mean, he was not into women, but if he was, then she surely would have been his type; a party girl, full of bounce, athletic and sexy. He could see that, even if he wouldn’t want to touch anything.
“Perhaps Edward’s death has caused too many unintended ripples. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy looking after me. Maybe they’ll patch it up. Would you like a nut?”
Godric takes a few nuts from the bowl and pops them in his mouth.
“At least you have them both to look after you right now. I’m guessing Kara is quite a caring soul.”
Rebecca stands and goes to sit by the pool, then dips her toes in the water.
“She’s growing on me I guess. She’d never really be one of us though.”
“What do you mean?”
Rebecca can see that Godric is upper middle class, intelligent and cultured. Someone who’d fit right into an aristocratic circle.
“We’re old money, she’s new. And, she’s a foreigner.
Not that I care. I’m just saying, the English aristocracy are a tight circle. You’d be most welcome, Godric.” Rebecca continues, “I think Jonathan has always had trouble accepting some of her more brash friends and I’m not sure mummy likes her much.”
Godric thinks this a little harsh of Rebecca, watching her face twist with spite makes him immediately think less of her.
“We’re all from somewhere, Rebecca.”
Rebecca moves her toes about and then turns her head back to Godric, still harsh.
“I sometimes wonder if Jonathan loves her because of her money.”
Godric looks around at the gardens and house. They are very comfortable, but not of mansion proportions.
“But you said your family is loaded.”
Rebecca flicks her feet causing ripples in the pool.
“No, I mentioned the estate. But death duties of my grandfather almost crippled pops, and upkeep of the land and property and all the rest of it. You know it eats money.”
Godric walks over to join Rebecca by the pool, bringing the beers and nuts. He squats down on the edge, but doesn’t remove his shoes.
“So what are we talking then, in terms of Kara’s wealth?”
Rebecca sneers.
“Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“She’s a billionaire, I mean a big one, she’s always in those society magazines.”
Godric picks up a nut and tips his head back and throws to catch it in his mouth. He misses.
“They’re on my piles of must reads at home by my bed.” Godric is being sarcastic and Rebecca knows it. Godric throws another nut and catches it in his mouth.
“They only keep this property to look good for the voters. He makes her stay up here, for the image. You know, it shows they live locally and are normal, not insanely elite and removed. You should see her place in Mayfair. It’s like a town. I think her family own a part of Africa the size of England. Not that I’m jealous. I don’t really care about money.”
48. A Friend in Need
Inspector Abley is standing outside the interview room with a coffee cup in his hand. Through the little window in the door he can see Dr Eruna still sitting inside, looking beaten. Sergeant Lemon walks up to him.