Paint a Murder

by Lily Ashton

  “I mean it, Alice. There’s a bullet hole in your car. Someone shot at it.”

  “Come on, Joe. Be serious.”

  “Come and look for yourself.”

  The Defender stood battered but proud amongst the other vehicles in the car park. Joe crouched down beside the back wheel on the driver’s side. He beckoned Alice and indicated a spot just above the wheel.

  “Look at this.”

  Alice bent close and saw a small, round hole an inch from the edge of the flared wheel arch.

  “Someone has taken a shot at it, I’d say. I think a bullet went through the wheel arch trim and hit the tyre, causing the blow-out.”

  “Really, Joe? I’m having trouble believing that someone just happened to be standing by the road with a gun and decided to take a pop at my car as I went by.”

  “It seems a tall tale, I admit. But I’ve seen rifle damage on military Land Rovers and it looked just like this. I don’t want to alarm you, but that’s what it looks like.”

  “You think that someone tried to bump me off?”

  “I wouldn’t put it quite like that.”

  “How would you put it?”

  “I don’t know why it happened, or if it really is a rifle shot, but that’s what it looks like. I don’t think it could have happened by accident.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Alice, I think someone might have been sending you a message.”

  “Oh my God, Joe, what’s going on? Missing paintings, gunshots, murder, dodgy dealings. I feel like I’m in an episode of Midsomer Murders.”

  “Did you see anyone about at the time?”

  “Did I see someone aim at rifle at me in broad daylight? Er, actually no.”

  “You said a guy changed your tyre.”

  “Oh yeah, Victor. But he came along after it happened. Besides, there’s woodland on the other side of the road at that point. If someone had been in there I would never have seen them.”

  Joe rapped the Defender’s door with his knuckle. “Think carefully, Alice. Did you see anything or anyone unusual earlier in the day?”

  Suddenly, Alice’s skin felt like ice. The man with the red hair and peaked cap popped into her head.

  “Alice. You’ve gone pale, did you think of something? Do you think you’ve upset someone with your investigation?”

  “I don’t know. But if I’ve really been shot at, I need to find out by whom. And fast.”

  She thought of Julian de Havilland and Felicity Gault, of how they had already been scared off. Perhaps she was next …

  Back in Daisy’s cabin, Roddy handed Alice a mug of tea.

  “I—”

  “Joe is right, Alice. You’ve poked the bear and it’s woken up. You were lucky and avoided serious harm this time, but you should take this as a warning. And, by the way, I’m being serious.”

  “I know you are and I appreciate your concern, Roddy. I was in the Defender when it flew off the road, and that was scary enough. Your warning’s been noted.”

  Alice looked from Roddy to Joe. The two men in her life standing shoulder to shoulder, with the same uneasy expressions. Whatever terrible and impulsive decisions she had made in life, she had still managed to find these two lovely men.

  “I’ll cancel my job in Birmingham,” said Joe. “I can stay with you this evening.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Joe, but you go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s only a job, it’s nothing important. I can get someone to cover.”

  Alice hesitated, cupping her hands around the china.

  “Thank you, Joe, but I’ll be okay. Daisy is secure once she’s locked up properly, and I feel safe here.”

  Roddy said, “I can sleep over—”

  “Absolutely not.” She would rather face an intruder than have Roddy snoring on the sofa all night.

  “Okay, but I’ll sleep in my hammock on deck. So I’ll hear if there’s anyone about.”

  Alice nodded.

  “Look, could you at least call the police?” said Joe. “Tell them what’s happened?”

  “Yes,” said Roddy. “You should report it.”

  Alice’s stomach skipped at the prospect of speaking to Nathan Salisbury. She wanted to take up his offer to meet again and here was the perfect excuse to contact him.

  “Good idea. I’ll call Nathan Salisbury.”

  Joe turned to the window. “Well, it looks like you don’t need me then.” He swung around and made for the stairs, without looking back. “I’ve got to go to work.”

  Alice put her head in her hands. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut for once in her life?

  Roddy said, “Alice, Joe’s only trying—”

  “Don’t.”

  Roddy held up both hands. He settled himself on the sofa. “Now. What’s the latest on the exhibition? It seems like Groundhog Day. Are we actually making any progress?”

  Alice smiled, and decided to answer a question with a question.

  “How’s your own painting going? If you’re happy with it, I’d love to have it now, so it’s in the bag for the exhibition.”

  “It’s sweet of you, but you have plenty of others to choose from.”

  “They’re not yours! Besides, I thought you’d appreciate the attention.”

  “Catty! I can’t deny I would enjoy being at the centre of a big exhibition again. But I’m struggling with the painting. I’m less confident about it now than I was a couple of days ago.”

  “I know you’ll have your doubts – it wouldn’t be you if you didn’t – but I’m sure it’ll come good for you, Roddy.”

  Roddy pouted. “On a different matter, what do you propose putting on the front cover of the catalogue?”

  “I’m leaving that to Duncan.”

  “And I take it that we’ve given up on Beach?”

  “No, I haven’t given up on Beach, though I’m figuring in the Peonies painting as the council’s contribution. But it’s strictly Plan B.”

  “And what about Vivien Taylor? Is she going to offer another work in lieu of her missing Augustus John?”

  “I’m definitely leaving that one to Duncan.”

  Roddy stood up. “I have some errands to run, but I’ll be back later. You should bolt the door after me.” He put a foot on the bottom step, then turned around. “All nonsense about Jason Marley, the shopping centre and incident boards forgotten?”

  “Quite forgotten.”

  Roddy disappeared through the hatch door. And Alice immediately began planning how she was going to track down Mr Big. The man who nearly killed her.

  Chapter 42

  DI Nathan Salisbury crouched beside the Defender and ran a hand along the damaged wheel guard. One knee on the ground, he peered under and behind the arch. Satisfied, he stood up, wiping his hands with a handkerchief. He took photos.

  “Requires further investigation, that’s for sure.”

  Alice examined his face. His inscrutability was reassuring.

  “So, do you think it was a bullet?”

  “I’m not an expert, but I’ve got a friend in the Met’s firearms unit and I’ll get him to take a look. In the meantime, I’ll get it towed to a secure garage, so you’ll be without a car for a few days.”

  They left the car park and wandered along Sam’s Lane.

  “Now, run through what you did yesterday for me, please. Where did you go and who did you meet?”

  Alice was finishing her account just as they reached Daisy Dawn.

  Nathan patted the barge’s side. “I didn’t think you were a boating girl. I remember you crying off that boat trip up the Thames.”

  “It was mid-winter and pouring with rain.” Alice laughed. “I didn’t think you were that keen yourself.”

  “The boat didn’t look as good in the flesh as it did on the website. But this l
ooks great. It must be a different existence, living on a boat.”

  “Come on board and have a look.”

  Nathan strode across the gangway and onto Daisy’s deck. Both hands on the side railing, he looked up and down the river.

  “What a great view. It’s like you’re actually part of the scenery. Fantastic.”

  “I was very lucky to find Daisy when I did, I love living here. Now, would you like a drink, Nathan?”

  “No thanks, I can’t stay long. Though while I am here, I’d like to examine your security. Locks on your doors, alarms, windows.”

  “You’re frightening me, Nathan. What are you suggesting?”

  “I’m not suggesting anything. Great Wheaton is a low-crime town, indeed the whole area is particularly low risk. But I do recommend that you take sensible precautions. It’s part of our routine now, to get people to recognise the value of personal safety.”

  Nathan sidled closer, as Alice twiddled with the handle on the hatch door. He smiled and she smiled back. She tried the handle again, the door opened away from her and she stumbled. Nathan caught her elbow and steadied her. She grabbed his arm and caught his familiar scent.

  Nathan dropped her arm and stepped back.

  Alice felt her cheeks flush and went ahead of him through the hatch door.

  “The whole barge was refurbished before I moved in just over a year ago, including new locks and bolts on the hatch door and all the windows. There’s an alarm as well, though I must admit I don’t use it.”

  “I would advise that you test it, just to make sure it still works.” Nathan inspected the inside of the hatch door. “These locks look solid. Good.”

  “The owners had Daisy fitted out to their own specs. They were planning on taking long trips to France, but then the husband got a job in Singapore and they rented her out while they were away.”

  Nathan wandered back on deck and stood in the bow. Alice stood beside him, her arm finding his jacket sleeve. It felt good. If she was honest with herself, it felt very good.

  As if reading her thoughts, Nathan turned to her, locking his eyes on hers. Her heart sprinted. He moved closer until, just inches away, he tipped her chin towards him and brushed her lips with the lightest of kisses.

  She grasped his shoulder, running fingers over his shirt collar, along his neck. He kissed her again and she kissed him back.

  Nathan’s phone buzzed and they jumped apart. He ignored the call but sent a quick text message.

  “I have to go.” He took a card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Alice. “That’s my mobile number. If you’re worried about anything, call me. Anytime.”

  Alice looked after him as he strode down Sam’s Lane. She had broken up with him because he moved away. Now, she wondered what she had been thinking …

  Alice took a brisk walk along the river to clear her head. At the bridge, she stood to the side while a noisy line of school children ambled by. Walking on, she crossed the road and followed the path along the edge of a field of waist-high wheat. She stepped up onto the grass verge and ran her fingers over the top of the prickly plant.

  Claudia Rowan was still pestering her about the Augustus John theft story she wanted to run. The police had no new leads – it seemed the drawing had vanished into thin air.

  She considered giving Claudia a photo of the drawing after all. Even if someone recognised it as an undiscovered Augustus John, while it was missing there was no possibility of getting an authentication. Or, she could tell Claudia about her tyre blow-out and the involvement of the police – if she was interested in running the story, it might bring out a witness or someone with information about the culprit.

  As she rounded a bend, a German Shepherd bounded along the path towards her, ducking away at the last moment. The dog rang circles around her, then rolled onto his back.

  “Hey Clinton. Nearly got me this time.” Alice squatted down, rubbing the dog’s stomach while its owner caught up.

  “We’ve been round the field once already and he’s still running like a nutter,” said Livvie.

  “Perhaps he’s gone mad in the heat.”

  “Let’s go through the woods, it’s cooler.”

  As they walked beneath the canopy, the temperature plunged and the light dimmed. Alice unrolled her shirt sleeves. Clinton scampered into the undergrowth, disappeared then bounded out again.

  “So, how’s the incident board shaping up on Jason Marley?”

  “Nathan said nothing came from the police appeal for information, so it’s stalemate as far as they’re concerned. Have you heard anything?”

  “Only that anyone who knew Jason is shocked and bewildered. He was very well liked, such an easy-going type. It’s hard to believe he had enemies – apart from the council of course. Most of the councillors had no time for him.”

  “Yes, but they were going ahead with their plans regardless of Jason. He was a nuisance, for sure, but hardly threatening enough for someone to want him dead.”

  “And they’ll soon discover they’re not going to get a break just because Jason is gone. The group’s going ahead with the judicial review that he started. Julia Marsh is particularly keen, so she’s taken a lead.”

  “That’s brave of her. Does she know anything about the process?”

  “Not really, but she’s getting help from someone who does, apparently. They’ve got a court hearing next week.”

  That, thought Alice, will be Helen Yardley.

  There was a sharp crack. Alice spun around. Trees, leaves … Nothing more.

  “Must be a branch,” said Livvie. “It’s been so dry they’re brittle. I almost got brained by one the other day.”

  Alice scanned the dense foliage. Other than the low rustle of leaves on a parched oak tree, all was still. Satisfied, she jogged up the path after Livvie.

  “Nothing new on the drawing, I take it?” said Livvie.

  “Nothing. Most of these lenders buy their stuff from legitimate galleries or dealers. The drawing won’t have gone that route. It was probably stolen to order by someone who already had a buyer lined up, possibly outside the country.”

  “Jeez, Alice. You make it sound like the mafia.”

  “If that’s what happened, then it is organised crime in a way. The Beach painting is also missing and I wonder whether that’s gone the same way.” Alice grabbed a low-hanging branch and ducked underneath.

  “What happened to the suspects on your board?”

  “Julian de Havilland was my original suspect, but after speaking to Helen, I’ve ruled him out. Then there’s Edward Hacker. I don’t think he has the pictures, but I’m not ruling him out completely. I’m pretty sure one of his clients is involved, so Hacker must know more than he’s letting on.”

  “You’ll have to find out who his clients are.”

  “I tried that, but he’s very good at keeping his clients confidential.”

  “And you’ve got no more leads?”

  “Not really. I’m seeing the Averys later. They are serious collectors, quite well known in the local art world. They’re last on the list.”

  They walked deeper into the woods, following Clinton’s lead.

  “And how’s the gorgeous man?” said Livvie.

  “Yeah, good.”

  “You don’t sound so sure. Anything wrong?”

  “No, no, it’s fine.” An image of Nathan Salisbury had lingered in Alice’s mind, despite her efforts to push it away. She changed the subject. “It’s so good to get out during the day. With this role, I can do all my admin in the evenings and spend part of the day doing fun stuff.”

  “Are you thinking of doing it permanently? Working from home I mean. You could set up your own business from Daisy.”

  “I’ve thought of that, but I need to concentrate on getting this exhibition out of the way. If I make a success of that,
I can put it on my CV and see where we go from there.”

  Clinton barked and the women spun around. The dog was standing in front of a sprawling bush. He pattered up to the base, sniffed, took a few steps back and barked again. Livvie called him, but he ignored her and carried on barking.

  “Just walk on, he’ll follow in a minute.”

  They continued on, and Alice turned and looked back before the path took them out of sight. Clinton hadn’t moved, and his bark had notched up an octave.

  “It’s probably a rabbit, I’ll go and get him,” said Livvie.

  Livvie called Clinton and walked back, Alice following behind. The bush shook as the dog scurried around it, his barking growing fiercer by the second. Livvie made a grab for his collar, but he was off round the back of the bush.

  A rabbit shot out of the bush and launched itself into a nearby hole. Clinton was caught on the wrong side of the foliage and raced around, but the rabbit was too quick. The dog sniffed and yelped at the rabbit’s front door, but the animal was beyond reach.

  A muffled buzzing sound came from behind, and Alice swung around. There was nobody there.

  “I could swear that was someone’s phone. This wood is really creeping me out.”

  Livvie was wrestling with Clinton and hadn’t heard her. “Once he’s got a scent he won’t let it go. Damn rabbits everywhere.”

  As Alice was about to turn away, a streak of blue flashed through the bush’s green leaves. Her eyes widened and she craned her neck, trying to see through the foliage. Someone’s shirt, perhaps? Her heart skipped a beat.

  Clinton pulled free and raced away up the path, Livvie close behind. Soon, Alice was alone amongst the trees. She scoured the undergrowth, bending to look underneath. But all was still and the wearer of the blue shirt was nowhere to be seen.

  Chapter 43

  Mr and Mrs Elliott Avery III lived in a smart house in the smart part of town. They were relative newbies, having arrived from Illinois two years previously, when Mr Avery was transferred to London with his employer, the Bank of Chicago.