Whisper the Dead

by Stella Cameron

  Here we go. ‘No. But I’m a friend of Detective Chief Inspector O’Reilly and Detective Sergeant Lamb.’ Some slight exaggerations were forgivable. ‘If you give them a call I’m sure they’ll tell you I told them I planned to come. How is Mr Hill? Do you know, Constable …?’

  ‘Finney, miss. Michael Finney. I know Mr Hill had himself a good breakfast. I’d just come on duty. Did you ask at the desk if you could visit, miss?’

  With the smallest twinge of guilt, Alex said, ‘The desk was right on my way in.’ It had been unstaffed and she’d peeked at the list of patients to find the right room.

  ‘Good enough then.’ Constable Finney had a lovely smile. ‘In you go for a while.’

  Irish accents had a pleasing effect on Alex and she was more relaxed as she tapped on the door to Hill’s room and stepped cautiously inside.

  It was a single room but the curtain was drawn halfway around the bed. ‘Mr Hill?’ Alex said quietly, ready to flee if necessary. ‘It’s Alex Duggins from last night.’

  ‘Come in.’ He sounded good, or perhaps normal was a better word. ‘Come in, come in. Ah, there you are. I thought I might have to grill the police for your details to get in touch.’

  She automatically rose to tiptoes and advanced to the bottom of the bed. ‘How are you feeling?’ The sheets were tented on some sort of cage over his legs. ‘I hope it’s not too painful.’

  ‘Not at all.’ His voice was deep and cultured. She hadn’t noticed it the previous evening. ‘This thing is probably not such a poor idea to keep any weight off, but I’ll be out of here very soon. I hate lying about, especially when there’s work to be done. Sit here.’ He indicated a chair beside him.

  ‘Are you sure? I don’t want to tire you—’

  ‘I’m not an invalid, Alex. It is Alex, isn’t it. I heard you called that. And you just said you were … perhaps I’m not entirely myself yet.’

  She sat on the metal chair. ‘Yes. Alex Duggins. I live in Folly-on-Weir – or near enough. Up on the hill there. The Black Dog is my pub.’

  ‘You own a pub?’ He studied her closely but seriously. ‘Unusual for a woman.’

  ‘Doesn’t seem unusual to me.’ Giving him more details about her life didn’t seem necessary. ‘Folly’s a lovely place. It’s home to me.’

  ‘And is there a Mr Duggins? Forgive the curiosity but I’m enough older than you to get away with it. Perhaps there are young Dugginses?’

  ‘No, and no. Not yet anyway.’

  ‘Well, at least you don’t sound like one of those young people who want nothing to do with marriage or having children. It doesn’t have to mean you’ll do either, but being open to trying things that come your way and may turn out to be good is important. Could I ask you a couple of things, Alex? About last night?’

  ‘I thought you might want to although I’m not sure I know as much as you do.’

  Hill glanced toward the door which he must know was open. ‘Why were you at the site?’

  The flush she so hated began to rise. ‘I was curious,’ she said honestly. ‘There’s been so much chatter about the development. People have a way of forming opinions without much information to go on. I probably shouldn’t have gone there so late but afterwards I was glad I did.’

  He reached a large, long-fingered hand toward her, palm up, and she automatically set her own on top. He held her lightly and shook his head a little. ‘You don’t expect to meet a lot of principled people, which is a good thing, because you don’t.’ Then he laughed and it made him look younger. He was handsome, she realized.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ Alex leaned toward him.

  ‘I’m running on, which is not my way. You were inconvenienced last night and it probably royally messed up your evening, but you’re glad you were there to help out. I like that, Alex Duggins of the Black Dog. What on earth made you buy a pub, or did you inherit it?’

  ‘No. My mother worked there from when I was little. Later … well, much later, I married but was divorced a few years afterward. I went home and it looked like the Black Dog would be sold, probably to strangers, so I stepped in and kept it in the village, so to speak.’

  ‘I see. Good for you.’ He looked serious again and frown lines dug in between his definite brows. ‘Have you ever thought of opening another place? In a neighboring village or town?’

  Alex puffed up her cheeks. ‘Mmm, no. I haven’t. It’s taken a while to get the Dog running well again. We have an inn as well, and a small but successful restaurant. I sound as if I’m bragging, but it’s been hard work and I am proud – or perhaps I should say thrilled about it.’

  ‘So you should be. Do you—’

  ‘Alex, what did I say about this?’ Dan O’Reilly, signs of little sleep weighting his eyes, pushed the bed curtain aside. ‘I told you we’d have to see how Mr Hill was before you were cleared to visit.’

  ‘Hello Dan,’ she said, and her smile cost her considerable effort. ‘We’ve got a busy day ahead and I wanted to have time to make sure Mr Hill was all right.’

  ‘Call me, Bob. OK, Alex?’

  ‘OK.’ She widened her eyes at him, knowing Dan couldn’t see.

  Dan cleared his throat. ‘Isn’t that nice, now? If you’ve had your visit, I’d like to speak to Mr Hill myself – on our own.’

  Alex got up hurriedly.

  Bob Hill tightened his hold on her hand and urged her to sit again, which she more or less had to.

  ‘I’d like Alex to stay, please, chief inspector … have I got the title right?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ Dan said. He didn’t as much as glance at Alex. ‘Some of what I may say could be very private. Are you sure you want an audience?’

  ‘Is there some procedural reason why my friend shouldn’t stay?’

  Alex almost heard Dan grind his teeth. ‘No, sir. That’s up to you. I didn’t realize you were such old friends.’

  Nodding, giving a tight little smile, Bob Hill held her hand firmly. ‘Go ahead, chief inspector. And thank you for all you did last night. I’m sorry to have added to your workload.’

  ‘It’s my job,’ Dan said. Still he didn’t look at Alex. ‘A man died in the trailer fire last night.’

  That wiped any vestige of a smile from Bob’s face. ‘I was afraid you’d tell me that. I’ve been asking for more details but nobody had any, or they said they didn’t.’

  ‘We know he was Lance Pullinger, the architect working for you on the Winchcombe site.’

  ‘Lance.’ Bob bowed his head and was silent after that.

  ‘Were you inside the trailer last evening, Mr Hill?’

  Alex heard the man sigh. ‘No. I tried to get in but the door was jammed or something. Stuck. I went there to see Lance. He’s been a close friend for years. And he’s a brilliant architect. Do you know how it happened?’ He raised his face.

  ‘We have a number of facts and some deductions.’

  ‘How did the fire start?’ Bob looked stricken. ‘It’s always a fear with trailers but we take every precaution.’

  ‘I’m sure you do,’ Dan said with no expression in his voice. ‘When the post-mortem is done we’ll know more.’

  ‘Do you get much from a post-mortem on a badly burned body?’ Asking the question made Alex feel sick. ‘The fireman said they found the body on a couch in the back and that it was a bad fire.’

  ‘In the sleeping compartment?’ Bob asked. ‘Do you think he was asleep when it happened?’

  ‘Possibly. I’ll see all the evidence later today.’

  ‘Was there another body?’ Bob asked and Alex almost missed what he said, he spoke so softly.

  ‘Who would that be?’ Dan asked. He had his notebook and pen in hand and asked his question casually.

  Bob didn’t answer.

  ‘Mr Hill. Who do you think might have died with Mr Pullinger?’

  ‘I don’t know. Sometimes he has an assistant with him or someone just watching him with his drawings. He’s so good, chief inspector.’

  Dan took of
f his hat and tossed it on the bottom of the bed while he wrote rapidly. ‘We’ll find out all about Mr Pullinger. Can you give me his address, please?’

  ‘Well … he moved again recently. He’s, er, he’s had some personal problems. I don’t know the details. I learned a long time ago not to hem Lance in. He told me what he wanted me to know.’

  ‘Sounds unusual,’ Dan said, still writing. ‘As if he had something to hide. Any idea what that would be?’

  ‘Not really. He had some issues, that’s all. I try to accept the people I care about without abusing friendships.’

  Dan clicked the point of his pen in and out. ‘Does that include people who do things outside the law?’

  ‘If you think you’ve got some bombshell to drop, drop it, chief inspector. I don’t know anything else that might help you. I was on the site yesterday to look at progress – particularly on a couple of houses people are interested in buying. I went to the trailer expecting to find Lance there. He works all hours. There was a fire. The rest you know.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Dan said. ‘If I find a bombshell, I’ll drop it for you, Mr Hill. Until then I’d like you to be available at your home. Knighton House in Temple Guiting, is that it?’

  ‘That’s the place,’ Bob said.

  ‘Good. I know it. Forgive me for interrupting your visit, Alex, but I’d like you to come with me.’

  The door to a family waiting room stood open across the corridor. With a look at Constable Finney to let him know his poor decision to allow Alex into Hill’s room hadn’t gone unnoticed, Dan waved her to the room and shut them in.

  She stood in the middle of shiny beige linoleum with her hands in the pockets of a red body-warmer. He could almost hear her trying to anticipate what was on his mind. This was a good time to unsettle her a bit to see if his hunches were right and she was hiding information.

  ‘Why was Lily so skittish last night?’ He could tell that wasn’t a question Alex expected. ‘Sit down. We’ll be a little while.’

  She sat on a chair with a yellow padded seat and rested an elbow on the table beside her.

  He remained standing. ‘Your mother was either looking for trouble with us, or very upset about something. You’ll admit she was in a nasty mood.’

  ‘No,’ Alex said, narrowing her eyes at him. ‘No, I won’t admit that. You don’t know anything about my mother. Why should you? She’d been worried about me being gone for so long when she expected me back hours earlier.’

  ‘You still have to do what your mother wants?’

  She put a fingertip between her teeth and he wouldn’t be surprised if she wished it were his and she could give it a painful bite.

  ‘Mum and I keep each other aware if we’re going somewhere. That’s normal in some families. It’s kind. Perhaps you have different expectations in yours.’

  What family? He couldn’t afford to be diverted by snipes she knew might bother him. Alex was aware that he was alone, divorced, and looking forward with near desperation to a visit from Calum. His son was the only bright spot in his personal life.

  ‘You could have phoned, Alex.’

  ‘I did, but I couldn’t keep on calling and I was later than I expected. The weather was bad, remember. Slippery.’

  ‘And you’ve been driving on ice or snow or whatever for years. But I don’t think that was all of it. Why would she be angry about a building development? What’s really made her so unhappy?’

  Alex pulled at the knees of her jeans and bent forward. What was different here? He had an inkling but needed her to open up.

  She folded her arms and looked at the floor beside her.

  ‘Alex?’

  Straightening in the chair, she looked directly at him. Her eyes were brimming with tears. ‘Yes. Leave that, Dan. It’s nothing of interest to you. My mum’s having a difficult time with something very personal, that’s all I will tell you.’

  ‘Understood.’ He had to turn away or he wouldn’t deal with this as he should. A box of tissues on the table caught his attention and he moved to slide them toward Alex. Then he waited a few moments, registering great flakes of snow driven to the window by the wind that had come up that morning.

  ‘Seeing you at that site yesterday was a shock,’ he said, moving closer to the glass and touching a cold pane. ‘You know Robert Hill, don’t you?’

  ‘What? Oh, I do now but I didn’t before the fire.’

  ‘I’d like to believe you. Lying has never been your style.’ Talking to her like this didn’t sit well with him. ‘But there’s a reason you don’t want to tell the truth. You wouldn’t stay away from him last night and here you are this morning – after I asked you to wait for word from us before coming.’

  ‘He’s a nice man and he had a horrible shock. Showing kindness comes naturally to me. I didn’t realize how unpleasant you can be.’

  ‘Dammit.’ Swinging to face her he spread his hands. ‘You’ve been a difficult read ever since we met. One minute I think I almost know you, the next you’re a stranger and a mystery.’

  He dropped his arms to his sides.

  ‘You held hands,’ he said. He hadn’t intended to go there but it niggled at him. ‘People who just met don’t usually do that. He called you his friend and when he looks at you he likes what he sees.’

  Alex shot to her feet. ‘That’s horrible of you, Dan. Bob is still shocked. You can tell that. And he’s upset about Lance’s death – very upset. They’ve been friends a long time.’

  This wasn’t the time to make an enemy of her. ‘I may have come to the wrong conclusion. We’ll be checking out Mr Hill’s movements, and yours. You’ll understand that’s routine. This is one of those situations when I can’t ignore what I’ve seen – and heard. He’s a lot older than you, but that doesn’t have to rule anything out. Or you could have some other ties you’re not talking about. There’s nothing personal.’ And he wished he believed that completely.

  ‘May I go now, please?’

  Before Dan could respond there was a knock on the door and LeJuan Harding put his legendary woman-killer face around the door. ‘There you are, guv.’

  ‘In the flesh, Sergeant Harding.’

  LeJuan’s smile became blinding. ‘Thanks, guv. You heard.’

  ‘I usually do when one of my constables passes his sergeant’s exam. Congratulations. What have you got for me?’

  ‘Your hat.’ LeJuan stepped all the way into the room, all well over six feet of lean and muscular black confidence. ‘Hello, Alex. It’s always a pleasure to see you.’ He bowed and Dan narrowed his eyes.

  ‘Congratulations on your promotion,’ Alex said quietly.

  A sensitive man who read atmosphere well, LeJuan raised his brows. He gave Dan the hat. ‘You left it on Hill’s bed,’ he said. ‘I really need a word with you, guv. I’ll wait outside.’

  ‘Alex is going. We can talk here.’ He held the door open for Alex to leave and closed it again behind her. ‘Fire away,’ he said, with a falling sensation in the pit of his stomach.

  ‘Our lovely police surgeon is on a tear again. Dr Lewis wants to know why the hell you aren’t dancing attendance on her right now.’

  Dan frowned. ‘Because I’m here. If she’d wanted me at the post-mortem, she should have said so. Her office told me she’d rather not put up with my “inane” questions when she needed to concentrate on a complicated case.’

  Sucking in the corners of his mouth, LeJuan didn’t do a perfect job of disguising a smile. He cleared his throat. ‘That’s not where she wants you. She says it’s a dereliction of duty for you not to be at the second site by now.’

  ‘Bloody hell. What’s she talking about? What second site?’

  ‘Christ!’ LeJuan rubbed a large hand over his face. ‘They didn’t reach you, did they? Another victim—’

  ‘From the fire?’

  ‘Nothing to do with the fire – or not the way you mean. This one’s in Winchcombe itself. Female. Cause of death not yet determined. Bill Lamb is on his w
ay there and he said to tell you to get your skates on. He said this one could be connected to the one yesterday.’

  SEVEN

  Why hadn’t she known she ought to speak to Harriet and Mary Burke? Why hadn’t that been the first thought into her mind after seeing them with Lily last night. She should have done it first thing that morning – or before that while her mother had been quietly angry for weeks. No matter how much she tried to tell herself that she had never noticed a particular closeness, a familiarity between Lily and the two older women, she was not being honest. How could she miss it? But perhaps that was forgivable because when something had always been there and never changed, you might not think too hard about the reason or the meaning.

  Alex’s mother and the Burke sisters treated one another like … like members of a reserved family who got along well, trusted, and probably took their relationship for granted.

  The morning had been in the realm of a very puzzling and uncomfortable experience that she would mostly rather forget. Dan O’Reilly’s behavior had floored her, embarrassed her, made her feel guilty when there was nothing to feel guilty about. He’d acted like an all around jerk.

  None of those things would she have expected of Dan. Too much emotion had rushed in since yesterday and it muddied her thoughts. This pile up of personality clashes made a hard time harder.

  The walk from the Black Dog to Pound Street and Leaves of Comfort was short and she was glad the snow had stopped, at least for a while. In addition to the tea rooms, the Burke sisters incorporated the sale of new and used books and sold myriad locally made handcrafts.

  What was left of the beautiful garden that bloomed for so many months sported a fresh blanket of snow. Alex went up the garden path past dormant beds where crocuses and snowdrops would be among the first flowers to appear, to a pair of deep blue doors. Side-by-side terraced cottages had been combined into one and both front doors remained – the left for customers and the right for the sisters, although they both opened into the tea rooms. Harriet and Mary must have chosen the right-hand door for themselves because it was directly in front of stairs rising to their flat. The second set of stairs had been blocked off and turned into storage.