by Helena Dixon
‘Vivien always neglects to say that I’m her husband as well as her agent.’ Bobby resumed his seat as Matt pulled out a chair for Kitty.
‘Your little town provided a warm welcome last night. It’s always a pleasure singing for an appreciative audience.’ Vivien held out her glass for her husband to top up her champagne. Matt noticed she’d ignored Bobby’s remark about her not mentioning that they were married, and her fingers were bare of a wedding band. Bobby finished pouring champagne all round and stood the bottle back in the ice bucket.
‘Yes, it went very well, lots of people came from all over the place. I’m glad you decided to take up our offer.’
Kitty’s reply gave Matt the opening he needed. ‘It must be quite a change for you after London. How long were you at The Cat’s Miaow club?’
Vivien leaned back in her seat and sipped her drink. ‘Three months. My doctor felt the city air was starting to affect my vocal cords and darling Kitty’s offer came at the perfect time. She said she’d been let down at the last minute and we had a little free time before returning home. I was looking forward to seeing the Dolphin and Kitty.’
Matt noticed Bobby appear slightly confused by Vivien’s statement, his expression altering slightly.
‘I’m sorry to hear you’ve been unwell,’ Kitty said.
Vivien waved her hand dismissively. ‘Oh, it’s nothing really, darling, you know how doctors do fuss so. I’m sure the air here will do me a power of good.’
‘Do you return to the US when your season here is completed?’ Matt asked Bobby.
‘Yes, back to Chicago. Vivien has a six-month residency at a very fashionable club there.’
‘It must be difficult with prohibition still in place?’
Bobby laughed. ‘Word is that it will be repealed before the end of the year and Chicago is hardly a dry city, if you know what I mean.’
The waiter arrived with the first course, stopping the conversation temporarily.
‘Did you know my parents too?’ Kitty asked Bobby as soon as the waiter had moved out of earshot.
‘No, honey. I only married Vivien ten years ago.’ He smiled at her.
‘Your ma was the image of you, same big eyes and blonde hair.’ Vivien’s gaze rested on Kitty.
‘What does my father look like? You know I’ve never actually seen him? I could pass him in the street and not recognise him. That’s rather sad, don’t you think?’
‘Oh, sweetie.’ Vivien dropped her soup spoon back in her dish and placed her hand against her breast. ‘I so feel for you. Edgar was a good-looking fella when he met your mother. Dressed well, always had a diamond tiepin. Blue eyes and a moustache.’ Vivien sighed, she appeared to be remembering the past.
‘Do you know why he wouldn’t come and see me? Or visit Mother?’ Kitty toyed with the bread roll on her side plate, rolling bits of bread into tiny balls.
Matt sucked in a breath and waited for Vivien’s reply.
‘Darling, Edgar Underhay is, or was, a very charming man. I know he visited you and your mother in London at the start of the war but then he came back to America. I ran across him a couple of years later in Chicago. He was keeping some very suspect company. Eddie always wanted easy money, gambling and high stakes. I believe he gambles professionally.’ She broke off her narration to lean across the table and take Kitty’s hand. ‘I don’t want to upset you, darling. I do think he intended coming back to see you and your mother, but he mentioned that your grandmother didn’t approve of the match and of course the war made things very difficult. Edgar was not the kind of man suited for the military. I don’t know where he’s been the last few years but the Edgar Underhay I saw at The Cat’s Miaow was not the smart, dapper gentleman I knew from before the war.’
Kitty blinked and nodded. ‘I understand, Vivien, and thank you for being so honest.’
Vivien shook her head. ‘He always said he was coming for you and Elowed. He always said your mother held his two biggest treasures.’ She shrugged her shoulders, making the diamante jewels on her lapel brooch throw tiny rainbows onto the tablecloth.
The waiter returned and cleared the soup bowls, giving Kitty time to compose herself.
‘And you’re sure it was Edgar Underhay? Although he had changed somewhat in appearance?’ Matt asked.
Vivien released Kitty’s hand and looked him in the eyes. ‘Yes, it was Edgar. He was older, slightly shabbier. The diamond tiepin and the swagger had gone but it was definitely him. I’d know him anywhere.’
‘Do you think he might come to see me now?’
Matt couldn’t tell from Kitty’s tone if she was excited or a little afraid of the prospect of meeting her father.
The waiter brought the second course and set it in front of them.
‘I don’t know, honey. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to send word to you or your mother,’ Vivien said. ‘He must know where you are. He has some kind of connection not far from here I think.’ Her brow wrinkled.
‘Unless he’s found out about Elowed disappearing and thinks he’s been gone too long,’ Matt murmured.
He still wasn’t sure about Vivien’s story and he wondered if she might be sounding out Kitty in preparation for Edgar’s return. He couldn’t tell from Kitty’s face how she felt about the possibility of seeing her father again after so long an absence. The bit about treasure hadn’t passed him by either and he was certain Kitty would have picked up on it too. What was this so-called treasure that suddenly everyone appeared to want? Maybe enough to kill for.
After luncheon Kitty went back to her grandmother’s suite. She called the hospital to enquire if Mrs Craven was any better and learned she had been transferred to a private nursing home in Torquay to convalesce. Vivien’s information had left her restless and confused. Was her father really in England? Why didn’t he want to see her? Was he in some kind of trouble? Vivien’s description had been that of a man who had lived a slightly disreputable life and had now fallen on hard times. She was no fool, she’d heard about Chicago, the speakeasies and the gangsters. The newspapers often carried lurid descriptions of some of the more disturbing incidents.
Matt had gone to talk to Mickey about extra security precautions for the hotel, so Kitty decided to take some air along the embankment. She left a note at the front desk for Matt and set off at a leisurely pace, enjoying the breeze on her face and the welcome sights and sounds of normal life all around her.
She nodded hello to some of the people she knew as she walked and paused to admire a baby in a perambulator. Pleasure craft made their way along the river, some carrying trippers out to see the castle at the mouth of the estuary. The sounds of chat and laughter reached her from the people on deck. Other boats chugged upstream with the sunlight sparkling on the white wash. It was hard to believe that poor Cora had met such a terrible end here, in such a peaceful spot. A shiver danced along her spine at the thought.
She had reached the boat float. The other big hotel in town was situated right opposite, near the shops and tearooms.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Underhay.’ The gentleman speaking to her raised his hat and she recognised him as the stranger who had spoken to her the previous evening. His appearance was clean but slightly worn like so many who had suffered a downturn in fortune since the Great War.
‘Good afternoon.’ She went to continue with her walk but to her surprise he addressed her again. ‘I hope you don’t mind my enquiry, but I am an old acquaintance of your grandmother, Mrs Treadwell, may I ask after her health?’
A prickle of unease tickled the nape of her neck. ‘My grandmother is well, thank you. She is away at present, visiting family.’
‘And your mother?’
Kitty swayed on her feet.
‘I beg your pardon. You appear distressed.’ The stranger took hold of her arm and guided her to a nearby bench.
Kitty sat and took a deep breath to recover her wits. ‘I’m sorry, sir, clearly you cannot have seen my grandmother for some time. My mother disap
peared many years ago and we are unsure of her whereabouts. It has been a number of years since anyone asked after her.’
She thought she heard him murmur, ‘So it is true.’
‘Forgive me, Miss Underhay, I did not mean to cause you distress. I have been abroad for some time for my health and have only recently returned to the area. I had hoped to see your grandmother at the musical soirée last night.’
‘It is understandable then that you wouldn’t know what had happened, Mr…?’
She waited for him to give his name. Her curiosity was greatly piqued by the identity of this stranger, especially after Vivien’s description of her father. This man would be the right age, had a faint accent and had been abroad. Her heart raced at the possibility but yet she felt no connection to him.
‘Mr Kelly.’ His eyes locked with hers. ‘Are you sure you are quite recovered, Miss Underhay?’
‘Yes, thank you.’ She stood and adjusted her skirts, brushing off a few flakes of paint from the bench seat. ‘Are you staying in the area for long, Mr Kelly? My grandmother hopes to return soon and I’m sure she would like to renew an old acquaintance.’
‘Alas, I’m uncertain about how long I can stay, but I hope I shall see you again before I leave.’ He touched his hat and before she knew it, he had disappeared from sight somewhere into the high street.
‘Bother.’ Kitty stared after the direction in which he’d vanished for a few minutes. Who was he? The hesitation when she had asked his name meant she was pretty certain he really wasn’t called Kelly. She hardly dared entertain the thought, but was that her father? He had matched Vivien’s admittedly loose description. Or perhaps it was someone more sinister, attempting to find information about this mysterious treasure. There had never been any mention of treasure before and the comment had been so vague her father may have been referring to herself and Elowed.
The encounter had left her feeling even more unsettled, and without Matt at her side, vulnerable. She wondered if she should have told Inspector Greville about the attempt to push her into the road.
‘My dear Miss Underhay.’ The unwelcome sound of Walter Cribbs’s voice sent her spirits plummeting. She hoped he was not about to attempt any renewal of the unwelcome advances he’d made towards her at Christmas.
‘Mr Cribbs.’
The reporter moved in front of her, effectively blocking her from returning back towards the hotel unless she physically stepped around him. Sunlight glinted on his round, black-framed spectacles.
‘Any news from the police on the arson attack on the Dolphin? Or on the investigation of the murders of Cora Wakes and Mr Blaas?’
Kitty eyed him with distaste. ‘Mr Cribbs, surely those questions would be better put to Inspector Greville?’
He ignored her and carried on. ‘Colin Wakes is still missing and now a source has informed me that you have received threatening letters?’ His notebook and pencil were ready to take down her replies.
‘I think your source is misinformed, Mr Cribbs, and I have no idea about who the police may be looking for. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to return to work.’ She made to walk forward, hoping he would move out of her way.
‘What about the rumours of treasure?’ Walter’s face was uncomfortably close to hers and she noticed a small pimple on the side of his nose.
‘Treasure?’ Kitty did her best to appear baffled and to prevent herself from recoiling at his proximity. Another mention of treasure coming out of the blue. Where had these rumours begun?
An unpleasant smile spread across Walter’s face. ‘Treasure. A fabulous jewel, entrusted to your mother.’
Nausea rose in her stomach. ‘I know nothing of any such nonsense. My mother left nothing of any value. She has been missing for seventeen years. What is all this nonsense about a jewel?’
Walter drew back a little. ‘Forgive my questioning, Miss Underhay. But my source suggests that the jewel is real and various parties are searching for it.’
Kitty spotted Matt approaching and relief swept through her. ‘Matthew.’
Walter glanced over his shoulder and a flicker of annoyance appeared to cross his face.
‘Is Mr Cribbs bothering you, Kitty?’
‘Just doing my job.’ Walter returned his notebook and pencil to the pocket of his jacket.
‘He appears to believe that my mother had some fabulous jewel in her possession and that this is connected with what happened to poor Cora and that other man.’ Kitty glared at Walter.
Matt raised his eyebrows and stared at Walter who now appeared less confident with Matt looming over him.
‘What would give you such an extraordinary idea?’ Matt asked.
‘Two expert jewel cutters in Dartmouth, one of them dead and rumours of a long lost jewel worth twenty thousand pounds. You know a newsman’s sources must remain confidential,’ Walter blustered.
Matt leaned in closer to Walter. ‘I’m sure Inspector Greville would like to speak to your sources. I suggest you hand over any information you may have to the police and stop bothering Miss Underhay. Twenty thousand pounds, my foot. Your informant must be mad or drunk.’ He leaned back.
‘I’m just doing my job, there’s no need to get nasty.’ Walter’s voice came out as a squeak and he nodded to Kitty and scurried off.
Chapter Sixteen
‘Ugh, that man is such a creep.’ Kitty shuddered. ‘He reminds me of one of those little black beetles, scuttling around the place, always creeping out from some damp or dirty corner.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Matt scowled. ‘It bothers me more that this rumour of some treasure or gem appears to be spreading all over Dartmouth. Twenty thousand pounds. That is ridiculous. Where did this nonsense start, I wonder?’ He fell into step beside her and they strolled back together towards the hotel. Kitty found his presence reassuring after all the upsets of the day.
‘Who do you suppose his informant is?’
‘Could be any one of a number of people. Someone at the police station who saw the last letter, Vivien Delaware and her husband, even Cora.’
‘I met someone else whilst I was out.’ She told him of her encounter with the mysterious Mr Kelly.
He shot a glance at her. ‘You think he may be your father?’
Kitty’s footsteps faltered. ‘I don’t know. I suppose I have to entertain the possibility.’ Having confessed the idea aloud she felt a little better. She knew Matt wouldn’t ridicule or pooh-pooh the possibility. She started to move again.
‘Be careful, Kitty. I agree you can’t rule out that he may be Edgar Underhay, but equally he could be an opportunist or a conman or even someone in league with Vivien and her husband.’
‘In other words; trust no one.’ A short time ago she had struggled to trust Matt. When her whole life had been constructed around uncertainty, she had no difficulty in being suspicious.
‘Exactly.’
Kitty didn’t see the mysterious Mr Kelly at Miss Delaware’s next performance, although Walter Cribbs made an appearance. She successfully avoided him all evening although she thought she saw Hubert Farjeon whispering to him in a corner of the ballroom.
Matt had been making discreet enquiries to try to trace Mr Kelly but so far, he wasn’t known at any of the lodging houses or hotels. Thankfully there had also been no further letters or notes, although her heart skipped a beat every time she checked the post.
Bobby was at the reception desk collecting messages the next day when Inspector Greville arrived in the foyer. The lobby was quiet, with her guests mainly being gone for the day.
‘Inspector Greville, you have news?’ She noticed Bobby freeze momentarily as she greeted the policeman.
‘Are you free for a moment, Miss Underhay?’ He eyed Bobby who appeared now to be leisurely reading his post at the end of the desk.
‘Of course, I’ll ask one of the girls to cover for me.’ She rang the bell and handed over to one of the maids. ‘Could you get Alice to bring a tray of tea to my grandmother’s suite pleas
e, and ask Mr Bryant to join us. Come upstairs to the salon, Inspector.’
She led the way to the elevator, pulling open the metal gate. Inspector Greville followed her inside, removing his hat as he entered. Kitty entered her grandmother’s salon and took a seat. Matt and the tea tray arrived to join them within minutes.
‘Has there been a development, Inspector?’ Matt asked as soon as the maid had left the room.
Inspector Greville stroked his moustache thoughtfully. ‘Mrs Craven’s house was ransacked last night. It was the maid’s half day off and she had attended the pictures with her young man. He walked her home and when they arrived at the house the lights were on downstairs. Naturally, they were alarmed but when they entered, the thieves had already left.’
Kitty gasped. ‘Oh, how frightful. Was much taken? Any damage done?’ Her mind raced even as she asked the questions. The burglary had to be linked somehow to the other crimes or why else would the inspector be calling? She had a horrid feeling that she knew exactly what the thieves had been looking for.
‘Miss Underhay, I believe Mrs Craven was storing two boxes for your grandmother that contained your mother’s possessions?’ Although he posed it as a question, Kitty knew he already knew the answer.
‘Yes, when the hotel was undergoing renovations a few years ago, Mrs Craven kindly offered to store them for my grandmother. She didn’t want them around but at the same time couldn’t bring herself to dispose of them either.’
The inspector nodded. ‘May I ask what the boxes contained?’
Kitty sighed. ‘Clothes, a few books, nothing of any significance or value. My grandmother only kept them because she thought I might want something to remember my mother by if she didn’t return. She found it so upsetting having them at the hotel, she wanted them out of sight. I think she was afraid having them around might distress me.’
‘There was no jewellery or ornaments of any kind concealed within the boxes?’
‘No, Inspector, not so far as I know.’
Matt cleared his throat. ‘I take it that the thieves were looking for Kitty’s mother’s possessions?’