Murder By Committee

by Veronica Heley

  Someone switched off the television. Bracing herself, Ellie opened the door to the living room. There were no great signs of a search here, though cupboard doors had been pulled open and left that way. Also, the coffee table was out of alignment with the settee.

  ‘About time, too,’ said Diana. ‘Where have you been?’ An empty bottle of wine and a couple of glasses lay on the coffee table between her and Arthur. He was very much at his ease, lying back on the settee next to Diana. He looked somewhat dishevelled. Diana looked immaculate, but then she always did. Perhaps she'd been ‘entertaining' him, and it had blunted the edge of his usual ferocity? He didn't even bother to rise when they came in. Perhaps he'd even been dozing?

  ‘Hello, Diana. Sir Arthur? This is a surprise. We've been out to supper,’ said Ellie, playing the part of the innocent little woman. ‘Do you know Thomas, our vicar, by the way? Sir Arthur, have you come for the things Felicity took by mistake? She was upset when she realized what she'd done, but there … it's not every day you catch your husband kissing his mistress in front of you, is it? You've had a wasted journey, I'm afraid. We've just dropped the things back at your house.’

  ‘I did phone you, Arthur,’ said Felicity, in a trembling voice. ‘As soon as I found out. But you weren't there. We were invited out for supper, but as soon as I could get away, I dropped the things back at the house for you.’

  He struggled to his feet, glowering, suspicious but not entirely sure of his ground. If they'd been alone, he'd probably have hit Felicity, but he couldn't do that with so many witnesses, especially with thickset Thomas standing at Felicity's side. ‘That's all very well, but you sent me on a wild goose chase, up hill and down dale, knocking up neighbours, being shouted at by some stupid old guy who flourished an air rifle at me, if you please.’

  Thomas's face never moved a muscle, but Ellie felt like cracking up. It was all too funny, too dreadful. Altogether too much.

  ‘Well, if that's all,’ she said, brightly, ‘it's off to beddy-byes for us. It's been a long day and …’

  The doorbell rang. Insistently. Everyone froze. Ellie didn't know that ring. People rang the doorbell in different ways; some were tentative, some took two goes at it. Some held on to it for an extended count. This wasn't anyone she knew, but she guessed straight away who it might be.

  Chris Talbot. She let him in, not knowing how to refuse him entry. He wiped his shoes on the mat and stepped inside. ‘Forgive the late hour.’

  He had every intention of coming in, of course, despite his apology.

  Arthur's face turned purple with fury. ‘What the …!’

  Chris Talbot didn't extend his hand, but looked around with interest. Ellie was struck for the first time by how small and shabby her house was, compared with his grand penthouse suite, or with Arthur's imposing mansion.

  Felicity gasped. She was quivering. ‘Go away. I haven't anything to say to you.’

  Ellie said, ‘Anyone like a coffee? Mr Talbot, this is Thomas, our vicar. And the girl on the settee is my daughter, Diana.’

  Chris nodded pleasantly to Thomas, and turned his bright blue gaze on Arthur. ‘I didn't expect to find you here, Arthur. I believe the police are looking for your man Martinez, as well as for Marco. A little matter of murder. I hope they find them soon.’

  ‘Murder!’

  Who'd said that? The room was still. Nobody seemed to breathe, even.

  ‘Murder?’ Arthur stood with his legs apart on the hearthrug. ‘I haven't murdered anyone.’ But a flush rose into his face.

  ‘Really?’ Chris Talbot proceeded to unbutton and take off a superb cashmere and wool coat. He was wearing a casual but beautifully cut cashmere sweater over grey trousers underneath. ‘Well, that's for a jury to decide, isn't it?’

  ‘I've no need to commit murder,’ said Arthur, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Did he know exactly what ‘Mutt and Jeff' had done?

  ‘Haven't you?’ Chris Talbot smiled, and laid his coat down over the back of a chair. Ellie had an impulse to take it out and hang it up in the hall - on a hanger, of course. Not by a loop. That coat demanded reverential treatment.

  She said, ‘As it happens, Arthur's just leaving. My daughter, too. By the way, Diana; I'm having the locks changed, so will you let me have your front door key before you go?’

  Thomas held the door open, and somehow this action released the others from their frozen state. Diana picked up her handbag and walked out, closely followed by Arthur until he swung round in the doorway to face Felicity.

  ‘If you've tampered with my laptop …!’

  ‘I never even opened it,’ said Felicity, which was, of course, the literal truth. If misleading.

  Arthur stared at her but when Diana called to him from the hall, he followed her out. The door banged to behind them.

  ‘It's beginning to rain quite hard,’ said Chris Talbot, seating himself unasked. ‘Did you manage to copy his hard drive, and who's got the copy now?’

  ‘It was successfully copied,’ said Ellie, ‘and it's being dropped into the police station together with a transcript of the messages on his phone. Both phone and laptop are now back at Sir Arthur's house, awaiting collection. Kate will warn Gwyn that Arthur thinks he's reinforced his alliances today. I'm afraid you've had a wasted journey.’

  ‘Not at all. I've been wanting to meet my daughter again for a very long time.’

  Felicity dropped on to a chair, looking away from him. ‘Nothing to say.’

  ‘I know your mother felt I'd let you both down, but I did try to keep in touch with you.’

  ‘That's not what Mummy said.’

  ‘Sometimes she hears only what she wants to hear. I did want to keep in touch, Felicity. I still do. More. I want to help, if you'll let me.’

  Thomas had taken a seat by the door, and was blending into the background. Ellie tried to do the same.

  Felicity twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, her eyes on the carpet. ‘I've left Arthur.’

  ‘I'm glad about that. I wasn't sure that he treated you well.’

  ‘He didn't, but that's not it. I can stand on my own two feet. I've done it in the past, and I can do it again. I can get a job, find myself somewhere to live. Start again. But Mummy can't.’

  ‘Will you allow me to take care of her bills at the home? I won't even make it a condition that you have supper with me every now and again.’

  She threw him a frown. Ducked her eyes down again. ‘You're trying to make conditions already, just by saying that.’

  ‘I withdraw any hint of a condition. Unconditionally, I undertake to cover your mother's care.’ He was clever enough not to say that he hoped for more.

  Felicity thought that through. She had found some backbone from somewhere. Perhaps there was more of her father in her than was apparent at first sight? She nodded. ‘I'll tell them at the home to send the bills to you in future.’

  ‘You'll let me have your address?’

  ‘I'm staying here with Ellie for a few days, until I can find something for myself.’

  Ellie intervened. ‘I'll make an appointment for her with my solicitor in the morning, to get started on divorce proceedings.’

  Chris Talbot said, ‘Why don't you let me …?’ He stopped, nodded. ‘Right. I respect you for that too. The only thing I'd say is, if Arthur gives you any more grief, will you remember that I really do want to help?’

  Felicity nodded, but didn't meet his eyes.

  He picked up his beautiful coat, smoothed down the nap, and held out his hand to Ellie. ‘Thank you for everything you've done. I hope the police will be able to act quickly on the information you've given them. I'm most grateful. By the way, I may have exaggerated a trifle back there. Julian is still alive. Just.’

  He hesitated, looking towards Felicity, but she kept her eyes averted. He nodded to Thomas, smiled at Ellie, and made his exit, pulling the front door quietly shut behind him.

  Thomas let out a long sigh of relief. ‘You need oxygen tanks to mo
ve in these rarefied circles. Your father's got better manners than Arthur, Felicity, but I wouldn't care to cross either of them.’

  The phone rang. From high tragedy to low comedy. It was Kate, wanting to know if they'd survived the visitations. ‘Yes, we're all right,’ said Ellie. ‘I hear there was trouble at Mrs Dawes' but a neighbour stepped in to defuse the situation.’

  ‘Armand rang the police. He went round there as well. I didn't want him to, but you know what he's like. Has to dash in and play the hero. He got there just as Sir Arthur was being prodded into his car by an elderly man with a fixed bayonet! Can you believe? Mrs Dawes must have taken a sleeping pill, for there were no lights on. The police arrived just as Armand and the old soldier parted company.’

  ‘Bravo. I'll be going up to see Mrs Dawes tomorrow.’

  ‘I've just thought,’ said Kate. ‘Who's got the hard drive? The police?’

  ‘No,’ said Ellie, beginning to smile. ‘My aunt's got it, and I suspect she's making use of it right this minute. You can deal in shares round the clock nowadays, can't you?’

  Kate laughed. ‘Let's hope Gwyn gets his own way, then.’

  She put the phone down. Ellie pressed the play button on her answerphone, but it was no good. ‘You have no messages.’ There had been at least one message on the phone before she went out, which meant that Diana had listened in, and deleted whatever voicemail was on the phone. Bother Diana! One would have been from Mrs Dawes, presumably? Otherwise Arthur wouldn't have gone haring up there. Ellie decided it was too late to ring her now.

  Ellie drew the curtains, feeling tension seep away. ‘I suppose it's all over now bar the shouting. We'll get the disc and the messages to the police tomorrow, and they can take it from there. So much sound and fury, and all because a dog died. We never did find out who'd done it, did we? I wonder if Mrs Dawes has any more news for us on that front, or should we just let it drop?’

  ‘I think I'd like to know who killed Rex,’ said Felicity. ‘Poor Rex.’

  Ellie tried to be positive. ‘Shall we have a hot cuppa before we call it a day?’

  They sat round the kitchen table and drank herbal tea, hoping it'd have a soothing effect.

  Thomas was thoughtful.

  Ellie was contrite. ‘Thomas, I should never have got you involved in all this. All the lies we've told today! From your point of view, it must have been difficult to take.’

  ‘White lies, fibs and misdirection. It's been an education. Felicity -’ and here he put his large hand over hers - ‘told white lies in order to survive. My dear, be brave; that part of your life is over now.’

  Ellie pushed the box of tissues towards Felicity, who sniffled but didn't break down.

  Ellie said, ‘I lied too. I told Chris Talbot the hard drive was on its way to the police. I'm not a hundred per cent sure why. He's on our side, isn't he?’

  Thomas shook his head. ‘He's on his own side. We're caught between tycoons.’

  ‘The only person to benefit from that lie is my aunt, who is probably accessing the information on the disc at this very moment, with a view to making yet another fortune on the Stock Exchange.’

  ‘Three tycoons,’ said Thomas, smiling. ‘When is Miss Quicke going to do something about her hip?’

  ‘Next week, Rose says.’

  ‘Deo gratias,’ said Thomas. ‘The Lord be praised. I admire Miss Quicke enormously, and that has nothing to do with the fact that she may help us rebuild the vicarage.’

  Felicity mopped her eyes. ‘I wasn't always a good wife to Arthur. Sometimes - just occasionally, you know - I almost hated him. He can't help having high standards. I should have tried harder to live up to them.’

  Ellie eyed her with irritation, but Thomas knew how to soothe her. ‘My dear, everyone has regrets in such circumstances. May I ask whether you were married in church or not?’

  ‘Registry office. It was all done in a hurry, and we couldn't have a big “do” because Mummy was in hospital after her accident.’

  Thomas nodded. He'd find it easier to come to terms with a civil marriage which had broken up - especially one entered into under such circumstances - than one celebrated in church.

  ‘I feel awful,’ Felicity confessed, ‘because I think I'll miss not having a dog more than I'll miss Arthur. I was often a bit … well, anxious … about what mood he'd be in when he came home. But the dogs were always loving. I think they loved me more than they loved him, though of course they were his dogs really. I wonder who he'll get to look after his new dog.’

  ‘Cheer up,’ said Ellie. ‘We'll make an appointment to see a good solicitor in the morning.’ Come to think of it, another message on the answerphone might have been from Bill Weatherspoon, whom she'd asked to ring back, urgently. ‘And perhaps you'd better check your bank account. Have you a joint account?’

  Felicity shook her head. ‘A household account in my name. There's nothing much in it. Not even enough for me to put down a deposit on a flat. That's another thing I'll miss: not having a garden. Oh dear, I'm going to cry again.’

  ‘Bedtime,’ said Ellie, who was also feeling rather tired. ‘Things will look better in the morning. It will be the first day of the rest of your life, remember. We'll sort things out. Meanwhile, you can stay here.’

  Thomas got to his feet and stretched. ‘Keep in touch, right?’

  ‘Dear Thomas. Thank you for everything.’

  Felicity was preoccupied. ‘I'll still go to visit Mummy, of course, but perhaps not as much as before.’

  ‘That's right, dear,’ said Ellie, seeing Thomas to the front door, and shooting the bolts behind him. ‘Felicity, would you like a hot-water bottle to take to bed with you?’

  Felicity was slowly going up the stairs to bed, gathering up her belongings on the way. ‘Mummy's going to be furious about me accepting help from my father.’

  ‘Does she need to know?’ said Ellie, collecting the envelope of data which Kate had left for her. She'd try to look at it before she fell asleep. ‘Now, what sort of mess has Arthur made up here?’

  It wasn't too bad. Felicity folded and placed her clothes into the chest of drawers, and replaced the duvet, which had been shucked on to the floor. She sat on the bed to open one of her photograph albums. ‘Would you like to see a picture of the manor?’

  ‘Not tonight, dear,’ said Ellie, drawing the curtains and making sure the bedside light - which had been tossed to the floor - still worked. Which it did. ‘I must go to find Midge. My cat, you know? I'd forgotten all about him, but he doesn't like Diana, so he may still be outside.’

  Felicity started to turn over the pages of the album. Ellie left her to it.

  Midge met her on the landing and together they inspected Ellie's bedroom - where doors had been left open, and drawers pulled out, but nothing much else disturbed. Midge jumped on to the bed and made himself comfortable. Ellie opened the envelope Kate had left for her. Sheets and sheets of information. She started reading, but was too tired to make sense of it.

  Famous poisoners … some pictures, mostly women … they all looked as if butter wouldn't melt … poison seemed to be the weapon used by people who had no other means of inflicting harm …

  There was something knocking at the back of her mind … someone's knocking at my window … someone's knocking at my door … it was too late to think straight. She yawned.

  The end of a trying day, Lord. Much to be thankful for. Not least, Thomas, who was quite wonderful … so glad Aunt Drusilla's doing something about her hip … thank you, Lord … and please look after young Julian, who I do hope will survive … strange to think Felicity's never even met her half-brothers … please look after Felicity … and all of us …

  Twenty

  Awet Monday morning. Yuk. Dark and gloomy, and not all that warm either.

  Ellie felt the let-down after all the excitement of the night before. Now, it was just a matter of clearing up. Wasn't it? Then why did she feel so tense? She tidied up and put away the papers that Kate had
sent her on poisoners. Then took them out and looked at them again. The trouble was that she knew so little about people who'd commit murder at long distance. It wasn't something a normal housewife came across often.

  She decided to discuss the subject with Kate some time. But not now.

  Felicity must be feeling downhearted, too. Ellie decided to ignore her own forebodings and be positive about everything.

  When did the hour go back? Next week? Better try to get the garden tidied up before then, and replace those broken plants in the conservatory. Perhaps think about having some decorating done? The house hadn't been touched since before dear Frank died, and it could do with a facelift. Something really ought to be done about the kitchen.

  There was no sound from Felicity's room as Ellie showered, dressed, went down to give Midge his breakfast, and then get her own. The newspaper had come, but the paperboy had left it on the floor of the porch so that the rain had wet it. Bother. That box in Arthur's porch must be a good thing in wet weather, keeping all the post out of the rain. Perhaps she could have something like that in her own porch?

  The rain looked as if it were setting in for the day. Ellie made a shopping list. Felicity came down, looking washed out but consenting to eat some tea and toast.

  ‘The first day of the rest of my life,’ said Felicity, looking out of the window at the rain. ‘I couldn't sleep, thinking of all the things I ought to have taken from the house and didn't. There's some family papers and my birth and marriage certificates for a start. My christening cup that my godmother gave me. My building society book, though it hasn't got much in it. How could I have left them?’

  ‘You weren't thinking straight, and no wonder. We'll collect them today.’

  ‘I haven't got keys to the house now, but Arthur will be up in the City, so I thought if we waited till Maureen gets there about ten - Maureen's the cleaner and a really nice person - then she could let us in, and I could take the most important things, and perhaps pack up some of the other stuff to be collected later.’