“It seems a bit extreme to murder me.”
“People kill for less.” Pearl frowned as she looked Felicity’s way. “What’s she doing? Is she using binoculars? What’s she looking at?”
Derek was still recovering and wasn’t able to join in the conversation.
Beryl said, “She’s not looking out to sea. She’s looking down into the town. She’s taking her phone out now. Is she taking photos of something?”
“I think she is.” Pearl looked over to Derek. “Have you got your breath back? Are you ready to go?”
Derek nodded and gave them a thumbs up sign. He walked towards Felicity with a smile on his face. “Hello there.”
Felicity put her phone down and frowned at him. “What are you doing up here?”
“I saw your mum in a café at the bottom. She’s worried about you. I said I’d come up and find you.”
“You needn’t have. I’m fine.” She looked at her phone and said, “I’ve got to go. There’s something I need to do.” She put the phone in her pocket and walked past Derek. She shot him a look. “Watch your step on the way down, these steps can be dangerous.”
“Where’s she going now?” Beryl asked. “Stop her! Ask her why she killed me! Go on, don’t just stand there.”
“Right.” Derek turned to follow Felicity.
Pearl put her hand out. “You’re not going anywhere. You go and have a sit down. I’ll follow Felicity and see where she goes. I’ll report back. Beryl, you sit with him.”
Derek gave her a grateful smile. He didn’t want to say anything but the pain in his knees was becoming unbearable. He headed towards a bench and sank onto it with a relieved sigh. He looked out towards the sea.
Beryl sat at his side. “I can’t understand it at all. Did Felicity hate me that much? Was I really such a terrible person?” She sighed. “I think I was. I could have been friendlier to Pam. I could have been more patient.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Derek told her. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t feel drunk any more! But there’s a blockage in my memory somewhere. I definitely saw Felicity at the top of the steps but I don’t remember seeing her before that. I’ve got a feeling that I walked up the steps with someone else. And why was I drunk?”
“We’ll find out soon. Isn’t this a lovely view? I’ve always liked Whitby.”
Beryl folded her arms. “I did too. Until I was brutally murdered.” She gave Derek a sideways look. “What’s going on with you and Pearl?”
Derek looked away from the sea. “Nothing’s going on. What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen how you look at each other. I’ve heard how she talks to you. It’s not natural. It’s not right. You shouldn’t be acting like that around each other. If you’re lonely, find someone who’s alive.” She sniffed and pulled her arms tighter. “It’s not right at all.”
“Oi! Mind your own business!” Pearl appeared at Beryl’s side. Her hands were on her hips. Derek had never seen her look so angry.
“I’m just saying, that’s all,” Beryl defended herself.
“If I ever want your opinion then I’ll ask for it!” Pearl glared at Beryl.
Derek stood up. He winced as his knees protested. “Pearl, what have you found out?”
Pearl tore her attention away from Beryl. Her expression softened as she looked at Derek. “I followed her down the steps. She was mumbling to herself about her mum. She was saying that no one is going to get away with hurting her. She turned right at the bottom and headed towards a pub. She waited a moment and then followed someone into the pub. Guess who it was?”
Derek said, “Pam?”
“No. It was that sour-faced Howard! Felicity saw him go in and she went marching in after him.”
Derek looked towards the steps. “Howard was shouting at Pam earlier, he upset her. Do you think Felicity is going after him now?”
“That’s exactly what I think. Derek, you’d better get down there. Do you want me to rub your knees before you go?” She shot Beryl a warning look. “It’s therapeutic before you say anything!”
Beryl held her hands up. “It’s nothing to do with me. You go ahead and grope him. It’s not right though.”
An unaccustomed anger ran through Derek. He didn’t care what Beryl thought about him and Pearl! He turned to Pearl and said, “Yes, please. I’d love it if you could make my knees feel better.” He bent them slightly.
Pearl gave Beryl a triumphant look and moved her outstretched hands towards Derek’s knees. Derek smiled as a wonderful warmth spread through his joints. He jiggled on the spot and declared that he was ready to go.
He felt like a new man as he jogged towards the steps and began to make his way down. Pearl was at his side every step of the way. Beryl followed behind.
When they got to the bottom they headed towards the pub. Beryl frowned and said, “Why does this feel familiar? Why am I having thoughts about Howard?”
“Who knows?” Pearl stopped outside the pub doors.
Derek put his hand out to open the door. It abruptly opened and someone shot out and bumped into him.
Derek immediately apologised. “Oh, Felicity, it’s you. Are you okay?”
A red-faced Felicity glared at him. “What? Get out of the way!” She pushed him to one side and marched away.
Beryl and Pearl tutted in unison.
Derek looked at where Felicity was heading. She was walking towards the café where her mum was. Derek looked back at the pub. “I think I’ll go in and have a word with Howard. He might know something about what happened to you, Beryl.”
Beryl had a puzzled look on her face. “I’ve been in this pub before.”
They walked in. Howard was sitting in a booth at the far side of the pub. His back was turned to them.
Derek whispered, “He’s got a pint in front of him. And there’s a wine glass too. Looks like he’s meeting someone.” His eyes widened. “He must be having an affair!”
Pearl’s eyes widened too. “I bet it’s that Theresa! She’s a shifty-looking one.”
Beryl was looking around the pub. “I was here last year. It was raining so I came in here for a pineapple juice. Did I see Howard in here?”
Derek quickly walked over to the booth next to Howard’s and sat down. Pearl and Beryl joined him. Derek lowered his head. “We’ll stay here for a bit and see who he’s waiting for.”
Pearl nodded. “It’ll be that Theresa. Mark my words.”
The door to the ladies opened and a small woman stepped out. She smiled in Howard’s direction and made her way over to him.
It wasn’t Theresa.
Chapter 12
Derek peered around the corner of the booth. He looked back at the two ghosts. “I’ve never seen her before.” He looked closer at Beryl. “I think you’ve seen her before though. Who is she?”
Beryl’s expression hardened. “It’s Gail. As in Gail’s Coaches. She runs a rival firm. Howard’s wife, Marilyn, would be livid if she found out they were having a drink together.” One eyebrow lifted. “I don’t think this is the first time that they’ve met here.”
Pearl flapped a hand at her. “Shh! They’re talking.”
Derek leant closer to the booth wall and cocked his head. He could hear Howard.
“I told her to clear off! I said she could tell Marilyn whatever she wanted! I don’t care who knows any more. I want the whole world to know.”
Gail hissed, “You idiot! Why did you do that?”
“So that we can be together. We’ve been sneaking around behind peoples’ backs for years. It’s time we told the truth.”
“The truth! We can’t tell everyone the truth. Marilyn will throw you out and you’ll lose everything. The business is in her name, you know that.”
“I don’t care,” Howard replied, a sulky tone in his voice.
“Well I do care! I need money. There’s no way I’m divorcing Gary. There’s no way he’s getting half of my business. We can carry on as we are. It�
�s more fun this way. Howard, you shouldn’t have spoken to that nosy cow on your own. We’ll have to do something about it.” There was a pause and then she added, “Just like we did last year.”
Derek looked at Beryl. She was staring straight ahead. He couldn’t read her expression.
Howard spoke again, “I’m not sure, Gail. We were lucky to get away with it last year. We can’t take that chance again.”
“I thought you were a man of action. If you want us to carry on as we are, then you’ll have to do something about it. And you’ll have to do something now. Those old fogeys will be back from their boat trip soon. Howard, look at me. Don’t you love me?”
Howard sighed. “Of course I do. You’re right. What are we going to do this time?”
“I’ve got a plan. Leave your drink.”
Derek looked away as Howard and Gail walked past him. When they’d gone he turned his attention to Beryl and said, “You know something. You have to tell us what it is.”
Beryl was still staring straight ahead. “I … I don’t want to think about it. It’s horrible.” She began to tremble.
Pearl moved closer to Beryl and put her arms around the larger woman. In a soothing voice Pearl said, “You have to tell us. It has to come out and then we can put this matter to rest. I’ll make some guesses and you can tell me if I’m right. Is that okay?”
Beryl nodded and looked at Pearl.
Pearl said, “Last year, you came in here to get out of the rain. You saw Howard and Gail together. Is that right?”
“Yes. I didn’t recognise Howard at first because he was smiling. They had their hands all over each other.”
“Did they see you?” Pearl asked.
“Yes. Howard went all white. But Gail didn’t seem bothered. She invited me over and said they were in love. They didn’t want to break up their families so they only met when their coaches went to the same destinations. She insisted on getting me a drink. I insisted on pineapple juice.”
Pearl took over, “I assume the pineapple juice was spiked?”
Beryl nodded as she looked at the table. “I noticed straight away that it tasted funny. Gail said it was a different brand and it was normal for it to taste like that. I believed her. She bought me more and she talked about her and Howard. I felt like I was being let into their secret world. I promised I wouldn’t tell Marilyn about them.”
“Why did you walk up the steps?” Derek asked.
Beryl looked up and gave him a mirthless smile. “I was drunk by then. It seemed like a good idea. Howard and Gail helped me up the steps. It was still raining and there wasn’t anyone about. I remember singing and then telling them that I wouldn’t tell anyone their secret.” A sob escaped from her. “They pretended to be my friends.”
Pearl squeezed her shoulders. “You’re doing great, Beryl. Just a bit more. What happened when you got to the top?”
“Gail gave me this funny look, it was a conniving sort of look. She told me that they couldn’t risk their families finding out. I told her I wouldn’t say a thing but she wouldn’t listen. She gave Howard a nod and then he moved forward and pushed his hands really hard into me. Then I started to fall back.”
“What about Felicity? You said you remembered her face,” Pearl said.
“I did. She …”
The woman herself suddenly appeared at their table. “Mr Quill! Derek! Have you seen my mum? I can’t find her anywhere!” She looked over to the booth behind him. “Howard! He’s gone. Oh no! He’s gone after Mum. This is all my fault!” She looked helplessly at Derek.
Derek stood up. “You saw Howard push Beryl down the steps last year.”
Felicity’s brow wrinkled. “What? How do you know that?”
Derek carried on, “When you saw him push her, did you reach out to her?”
“Yes! I couldn’t believe what was happening. He pushed her and then ran away with Gail from Gail’s Coaches. They didn’t see me. I dashed over and tried to grab her. But I was too late. I ran after her all the way down the steps but …” She looked away.
“Did you come in here to confront Howard?” Derek asked.
Felicity turned her face back to him. “Yes. I confronted him at the time, last year, but he said if I told anyone he’d tell the police that it was me who’d pushed Beryl. And he’d get Gail to back him up. I kept it to myself. Mum knew something was up but I couldn’t tell her. But all the memories came back today. He shouted at Mum earlier and I couldn’t let him get away with that. I couldn’t mention the murder but I could threaten to tell Marilyn about the affair. I took some photos of them together as proof. He was so nasty when I told him what I was going to do. He told me to go ahead and tell her.
“I stormed out. You saw me, of course. I went marching up those steps to cool off. I was halfway up when I remembered what you said about Mum being worried about me. I turned around and headed for the café. She wasn’t there but her book was on the table.” Fear crossed her face. “Howard and Gail must have her. What are they going to do to her?”
Derek came closer and put his hand on her arm. “Nothing’s going to happen to her, lass. I’ll make sure of that.”
Chapter 13
Felicity and Derek ran out of the pub. Pearl and Beryl followed them.
“Do you think they’ve taken Mum to the top of the steps?”
Derek recalled the conversation between Gail and Howard. He gave Felicity a grim-faced nod. “I think that’s exactly what they’ve done.”
“But I didn’t see them on my way down. And they would have had to drag Mum up these steps, she wouldn’t have gone easily.”
Pearl said to Derek, “I’m going to zoom up and take a look.” She hitched up her dress and dashed away.
Derek said, “There’s another way to the top. It’s a longer path around the side over there. They could have taken her that way.” He hesitated and then added, “They could have told her you were in trouble and you needed her help.”
Felicity swore under her breath. “I should have phoned the police last year. I’ve been such an idiot.”
“Yes, you have,” Beryl agreed with her as she walked at their side.
Pearl came running back towards them. “They are up there! You’d better get up these steps sharpish!”
Derek grabbed Felicity’s arm. “Come on. We need to get to the top.”
Felicity shrugged him off. “No offence, but I’ll be quicker without you.” She ran away and started up the steps.
Derek ran after her and immediately felt out of breath. He swayed on his feet. All this running around wasn’t doing him any good. Pearl came to his side and said, “Poor love. We’re going to help you.” She turned to Beryl. “Oi! Get over here. I need your help.”
“Don’t tell me what to do! I’m not putting my hands on Derek. That might be what you get up to in secret but I’m having none of it!”
Pearl planted her hands on her hips. “You selfish so-and-so! It’s because of you that we’re here. Get over here now!”
Derek couldn’t help but laugh. His little friend had a huge voice.
Beryl muttered a bit but came to his side. Pearl told her where to place her hands. Beryl did so.
“Hell’s bells!” Derek declared as he was lifted off the ground. He was moved towards the steps as easily as if he was a feather. Beryl and Pearl whooshed him up the steps so fast that he felt like he’d left his stomach behind. The wind ran through the bit of hair that he had over his ears. Before he could count to ten he was standing on the top step. He chuckled and said, “Thanks for the lift.”
“Any time, my love.” Pearl winked at him.
Beryl tutted and said, “It’s not right, it just isn’t.”
Derek looked around. “I can’t see them anywhere.”
“They’re over there by that church,” Pearl pointed out. “They’re all shouting. Let’s go over.”
They approached the four people. Howard was shouting at Felicity and Gail was shouting at Pam. Pam was crying and her ha
nds were clutched to her chest.
Pam saw Derek and cried out, “Mr Quill! Please help us! These people are accusing my Felicity of pushing Beryl down the steps last year! I know my daughter, she would never do that.”
Howard turned to Derek and gave him a smug smile. “It’s true. Me and Gail saw her do it. I should have told the police last year but I felt sorry for her. I saw how that old bag, Beryl, treated her and her mum. She probably deserved to be pushed down the steps.”
“What an awful thing to say!” Pam’s hands tightened against her chest. “It isn’t true.”
Gail shouted at her, “You saw Beryl lying at the foot of the stairs. You saw Felicity at her side. You must have suspected something.” She shared a look with Howard. Derek thought he saw her give him a half wink.
Felicity reached out to her mum. “It isn’t true. Mum, it isn’t true!”
Pam took Felicity’s hands in her own. “I know it isn’t true.”
Gail snorted. “It is true. We saw everything, didn’t we Howard? We saw Felicity forcing spiked pineapple juice on Beryl in the pub. We followed them up here. We saw Felicity give her a big push.” She sighed dramatically. “We tried to reach out to Beryl but we were too late.” Her tone changed sharply. “And now she’s accusing Howard of being the one who pushed her.”
Derek noted the scene. He also picked up on two things. He spoke calmly, “Gail, how did you know it was pineapple juice that had been spiked? In fact, how did you know Beryl’s drink had been spiked at all?”
Gail blanched. “What? It was just a guess. What are you getting at?”
Derek continued, “I noticed that you said Felicity claimed that Howard pushed Beryl. I think you were both in on it but you’re already shifting the blame to Howard.”
There was silence for a moment. Derek could see the cogs working in Gail’s brain. He took a gamble. “I was sitting in the pub near you two a while ago. I had a feeling that Howard was up to something so I listened. I heard what you were saying.” He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. “I actually recorded it. I think the police would be interested to hear this. What were you planning on doing to Pam? Were you going to throw her down the steps too? You got away with murder last year. Were you going to do it again?”
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