Murder of a Silent Man

by Phillip Strang

  ‘Does that mean I don’t have to go and live with my sister?’

  ‘You’re rich. You don’t have to go anywhere. Our father has looked after you well.’

  ‘Oh, good. I am pleased,’ Molly said. Leonard Dundas could see that the woman was confused. He would have a word with her before she left.

  Dundas continued.

  To my son Ralph, a disappointment, in that he has frittered away an excellent education, a stable upbringing, and chosen not to embrace frugality and sound business practices, I bequeath nothing.

  ‘What the …?’ Ralph jumped to his feet. ‘He can’t do this, not to me. I have debts to pay, people with demands.’

  ‘Sit down, Ralph,’ Caroline said. ‘Hear what Mr Dundas has to say.’

  ‘I can’t leave here with nothing, I can’t.’

  ‘Mr Lawrence, Ralph, if I could have your forbearance, there is more,’ Dundas said. Jill Dundas sat quietly taking in the interactions of the people. It would be her who would have to deal with them afterwards.

  However, he is to be offered redemption. If he can hold down suitable employment for one year, with no cheating, no harebrained get-rich schemes, and no seduction of gullible women, then subject to the recommendation of a group of eminent persons that I have assembled, a sum of five million pounds is to be given to him. That money will be transferred to him over a five-year period in monthly instalments.

  ‘Who came up with that?’ Ralph said.

  ‘Your father,’ Dundas said. ‘I believe the term is that you’ve been snookered.’

  ‘I’ll challenge the will.’

  ‘At the end of this reading, it will be necessary for those present to sign that they will not contest the will. If they do not, then all monies to them will be forfeited.’

  ‘And given to who?’

  ‘The money will be held in trust for another generation. Mr Lawrence was an astute man. He had thought this through very carefully, and with my advice.’

  ‘He was mad, mentally incapable. There’s no court in the country would believe that he was a sane man, thirty years in that house with our mother, a corpse. What kind of man does that, and did he kill her? We don’t know that yet.’

  ‘Be quiet,’ Caroline said. Ralph sat down, a scowl on his face. Desmond Dickson looked at the man, remembered him from when they had last met, eleven years ago at least. He hadn’t liked the man then, he liked him even less now.

  Michael Lawrence, my grandson, through Ralph, has become a person of weak character. A fund sufficient for his rehabilitation has been set up, and he will voluntarily check into a private facility that will treat his addiction. He is an intelligent young man, poorly guided by a father of low repute. If, after one year, Ralph’s son, with Ralph’s active encouragement, is still clean and contributing to society, then Ralph will receive an additional payment of one million pounds. Michael will also receive one million pounds at that time. If, as I expect, he has not re-entered society, then Ralph will not receive either the five million pounds or the additional one million pounds. I will further add that I do not believe that any of the money bequeathed to Ralph and his son will ever be paid. I cannot, in death, profess to like my son and my grandson any more than I did when I was alive.

  Ralph sat quietly. He knew people who would deal with the high-and-mighty Leonard Dundas.

  To Caroline, my daughter, a person that I have missed over the years, but could not bear to see, on account of her mother, I bequeath five million pounds. An additional one million pounds are bequeathed to each of her and Desmond Dickson’s children. Both of them have taken their place in society, and I can only express my admiration for them. Unfortunately, I have never met either, except when they were very young, but I have received regular reports, as I have on all those present here today.

  ‘What does that mean?’ Emma Lawrence asked. So far, she had sat quietly.

  ‘Yearly reports were prepared by a private investigator, a discreet man. Mr Lawrence led the life of a recluse, but he was well aware of what went on. His mind was still alert, his business acumen was sound.’

  ‘He was as mad as a hatter, locked up in that house,’ Ralph said. He had been quietly seething, knowing full well that a will was invalid if signed by an incapacitated person. And he knew madness when it was there staring everyone in the face.

  ‘Gilbert Lawrence’s will has been updated every year. He was a sane man, and tests were conducted to prove that he was.’

  ‘The man never left the house. How can he be sane?’

  ‘Proof will be supplied if required.’

  ‘Whoever did these so-called sanity checks, did they know that my father had his wife upstairs, a skeleton that he had prepared in the cellar of the house?’

  ‘That knowledge was not available,’ Dundas said.

  ‘Then we are wasting our time here. I’ve better things to do than sit here and listen to the last words of a madman,’ Ralph said.

  ‘Under the terms of the last will and testament of Gilbert Lawrence, you will forfeit any claim on his estate if you do not sign your agreement here today.’

  ‘Let me remind you, Dundas. My father was mad, and his will is worthless. I will find someone competent to deal with its legality. I am entitled to half of what he’s worth, not a measly five million pounds, and then only if I hold down a job. What do you, what did he expect me to do? Get a job in a shop, work in an office? I’m an entrepreneur, not someone’s lackey.’ With that, Ralph Lawrence stormed out of the room.

  ‘Mr Lawrence,’ Wendy said, as the man tried to exit the building.

  ‘Yes, what do you want?’

  ‘Sergeant Wendy Gladstone. We have a few questions for you.’

  ‘Not now. I’m busy.’

  Wendy could see the anger in the man’s face. His eyes were bulging, his cheeks were flushed, his hands were shaking. ‘Unfortunately, I must insist.’

  ‘Not now. Can’t you see that I have other things to do.’

  ‘It’s either voluntarily or in handcuffs.’

  Lawrence looked at the two uniforms standing by. ‘Very well, but I will lodge a formal complaint.’

  ‘That’s your prerogative. I’ll give you the contact details once we get to Challis Street. Mind your head as you get in the back seat of the police car.’

  After a short break, while everyone calmed down after the disruption by Ralph Lawrence, Leonard Dundas continued.

  To my sister Emma, I bequeath one million pounds. I cannot say that I approved of some of her decisions in life, but they were hers, and I respect her for that. The money is hers to use, wisely or otherwise, although with age comes wisdom.

  Leonard Dundas and his daughter will maintain my property portfolio. To Leonard, one million pounds. To Jill Dundas, one million pounds. Caroline and Desmond Dickson will take responsibility for my property portfolio, in consultation with Leonard Dundas and his daughter, although Caroline will be the only one given voting rights. They will not be able to liquidate more than five per cent of the assets in any two-year period. The children of Caroline will be asked to join the committee in time, and with voting rights. What has been set up will remain with the Lawrence family.

  ‘What about the mansion in Atherton Street?’ Caroline asked.

  ‘It will become part of the Lawrence property portfolio. What is inside belongs to you.’

  ‘The cars?’

  ‘They are yours,’ Leonard Dundas said.

  Chapter 7

  Ralph Lawrence slouched in a chair at Challis Street Police Station.

  The information received from Spain had shown that with an excellent website and his charm Ralph Lawrence had managed to induce British holidaymakers enamoured of the sun and the local culture to place down payments on a speculative property development venture. It was a scam. The Spanish knew it, as did Homicide at Challis Street, but that was a technicality in as much that he had not broken any laws in England.

  Isaac looked at the man, well aware that he had been dea
lt a body blow at the reading of the will. Leonard Dundas had updated the DCI about the contents of the will, and the reactions of the people present. He explained that even in death, Gilbert Lawrence had no intention to give his fortune to non-deserving causes. And according to the father, the son was not deserving.

  ‘Mr Lawrence,’ Isaac said. ‘We’re investigating the death of your father, Gilbert Lawrence.’ Wendy Gladstone sat next to Isaac. Ralph Lawrence sat on the other side of the table. He did not have legal representation.

  ‘That bastard screwed me.’

  ‘I have been updated by Leonard Dundas,’ Isaac said. ‘The conditions placed on you are harsh. It is understandable that you are angry, although it does not obviate the fact that the man was murdered. That is what concerns us, not your enmity towards him.’

  ‘I didn’t dislike the man, only the way he lived, even when we were young.’

  ‘According to your sister, he fulfilled his responsibilities, and neither of you suffered.’

  ‘She’s right, but she was always the favourite. He would confide in her, even ask her advice sometimes.’

  ‘Did he take it?’

  ‘Who knows? Probably not. With me, nothing.’

  ‘Your childhood, unsatisfactory as it may have been to you, does not have any bearing on the death of your father, or does it?’

  ‘What does that mean? I was in Spain, you know that, so do the Spanish police.’

  ‘Along with some unfortunate tourists who put down payments on property they’ll never own. How much did you make there?’

  ‘We broke no laws. And besides, what do people go on holiday for if it’s not to waste money?’

  ‘Mr Lawrence, your reputation precedes you. Whether you conned them does not affect our enquiry. Your father was murdered, and we need to find who was responsible.’

  ‘Why am I here? It can’t be me, and I hadn’t seen the man for decades.’

  ‘But you know people who are capable of murder. Did you expect to receive half of your father’s property portfolio?’

  ‘I did.’

  ‘Had that been promised to you? Had you seen a will to that effect?’

  ‘No, but what else was he going to do with all his money? He couldn’t take it with him, although he would have if it were possible.’

  ‘You’ve been told what was in the will. Your father has placed his trust in Leonard Dundas.’

  ‘My father trusted no one. If Dundas has the assets, he’s there now figuring out how to realise on them. I know what the promise of easy money does to people. The holidaymakers in Spain, believing that they are getting a special deal from another Brit. Do you think they considered the poor soul who was losing money? Do you think they worried if someone else and their family were to be reduced to begging on the street?’

  ‘I doubt if they did,’ Isaac said.

  ‘That’s what makes it so easy. Greed, the most powerful human emotion, and my father has given Leonard Dundas the keys to the vault. That man and his daughter will cream the money, not that anyone will ever know.’

  ‘Smart?’

  ‘Smarter than me. They’ll never be caught.’

  ‘According to Mr Dundas, your father was of sound mind, and had been checked each year for his mental stability,’ Wendy said.

  ‘How? You tell me. My father never left the house, apart from once a week to walk down to the off-licence. He has our mother upstairs, a skeleton, and everyone says he’s sane and the great financial mind.’

  ‘Are you suggesting we check on his mental condition?’

  ‘It’s highly suspicious to me. Okay, in that room at Dundas’s, I blew it, but I’m right, and everyone knows it, even my sister.’

  ‘She’s happy with your father’s bequest,’ Isaac said.

  ‘And why not? She’s got voting rights, and no doubt access to any decisions that Dundas and his daughter make. With all that property, maybe it doesn’t need to be sold. I’ve been cheated by others who want the fortune for themselves. Believe me, there’s skulduggery involved, and Leonard Dundas is a large part of it. Caroline maybe, although I wouldn’t trust that husband of hers.’

  ‘Desmond Dickson. You have your suspicions?’

  ‘Not as such, but the man knows the value of money. He’ll make sure he and Caroline have plenty.’

  ‘Molly Dempster?’

  ‘Let her have what my father bequeathed her. She deserves it.’

  ‘We have difficulty believing that she did not know what was going on in the house,’ Isaac said.

  ‘When I was younger, I used to suspect her and my father.’

  ‘An affair?’

  ‘We used to see more of Molly than our mother sometimes. It was just a childish fantasy, that’s all.’

  ‘Your father and Molly were friendly?’

  ‘Forget I said it. To me, Molly is the one good person. I’ll not hear a word against her.’

  ‘In the meeting at Dundas’s, you stood up and stated that people have demands on you. What did that mean?’

  Wendy noticed Ralph Lawrence shift uncomfortably in his seat.

  ‘I needed the money, that’s all.’

  ‘What will you do now?’

  ‘Find someone to contest the will.’

  ‘That will cost money. If Dundas and his daughter are as smart as you say they are, they’ll have covered their tracks well. According to Dundas, a lot of the money is tied up in overseas banks, trusts, offshore-registered companies. Not so easy to get hold of.’

  ‘That’s why I need a good solicitor. They’re out there.’

  ‘I suggest you do not break the law, Mr Lawrence. The English police are not as forgiving as the Spanish.’

  ‘They weren’t forgiving either. Strings were pulled.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘What I said. Do you think they would release me just because my father died?’

  ‘Why are you telling us this?’

  ‘Insurance.’

  ‘Against whom?’

  ‘Just remember that whatever happens, I didn’t kill my father and that Leonard Dundas is not to be trusted.’

  ‘These people? The sort that kill to get what they want?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did they kill your father?’

  ‘I don’t know, and that’s the honest truth.’

  ‘We need to stay in touch. As much for your protection as for our investigation.’

  ‘Your son, where is he?’ Wendy said.

  ‘I’ve no idea. I’ve not seen him for a few years.’

  ‘Is he in trouble?’

  ‘Not to my knowledge. I found alcohol when I was younger, he found heroin.’

  ‘Does that upset you?’

  ‘He’s an adult. My father was a self-made man. I wanted to be, but my son, he’s a hopeless case.’

  ‘His mother?’

  ‘No idea where she is now. A few wives, a few other women since then.’

  ***

  The interview with Ralph Lawrence had brought a new element into his father’s death. Chief Superintendent Goddard had joined the scheduled meeting in Homicide.

  It now looked as if the investigation was going to be prolonged, and this time with the addition of possible organised crime interference.

  ‘Ralph Lawrence is in trouble,’ Isaac said.

  ‘You could see that he was putting on a brave face, but he was frightened,’ Wendy said. ‘He’s going to disappear again.’

  ‘You’ve got a watch on him?’

  ‘I have, but if he’s in deep with the loan sharks, they’ll not wait long.’

  ‘What are you suggesting?’ Goddard said.

  ‘Either Ralph has borrowed money beyond his ability to repay, and the father’s death came as a godsend, or else he’s borrowed against his perceived inheritance,’ Wendy said.

  ‘If organised crime had killed Gilbert, that would explain the lack of clues,’ Isaac said.

  ‘Are we suggesting that the man’s death was prearra
nged, murder to order?’ Larry said.

  ‘It’s possible. Ralph may have known that entering an arrangement with the loan sharks came with some conditions: pay the money back with interest, we’ll deal with your father.’

  ‘Would he have entered into such an agreement?’

  ‘Is Ralph the type of person to read the small print or to care about his father?’

  ‘Unlikely,’ Wendy said.

  ‘According to Leonard Dundas, the man has survived by charming gullible and rich women.’

  ‘And once he had his money and tired of them?’

  ‘Cast off, flotsam to the sea. Tell us, Bridget and Wendy, you’re both mature women. Wendy, you’ve met the man, Bridget, you’ve seen him. Pretend you’re rich and lonely, and Ralph Lawrence comes up to you and lays on the charm.’

  ‘Twenty years too old for me, and the man’s going to seed,’ Wendy said.

  ‘He didn’t appeal, not from what I could see,’ Bridget said.

  ‘That’s it,’ Isaac said. ‘The man’s survived due to his charisma, his good manners, his expensive education and his posh voice. He’s never needed to borrow heavily before, but now he’s getting old, and Spain was the make or break. He also knew he only needed a few more years before his father died of natural causes.’

  ‘Men like Gilbert Lawrence don’t die that easy,’ Goddard said. ‘They refuse to accept the possibility. He could have lasted another five, ten, maybe fifteen years.’

  ‘Okay, we’ll concede the possibility, but Ralph’s aware that one day he’ll be fine. And he’s a chancer. He’s had a litany of failed ventures. It could be that he wanted to settle down, get a house in the country, a garden, grow vegetables.’

  ‘Conjecture, short on facts,’ Goddard said.

  ‘That’s the problem,’ Isaac said. ‘We don’t have facts. We have a dead man knifed in his garden, no clues of any significance. We have a great deal of money, and according to the man’s solicitor, a great deal of property.’

  ‘But not going to the man’s children.’