Murder by Suicide

by Veronica Heley

  ‘She don’t half talk a lot,’ said Tod, who had abandoned his homework to play on the computer in the study.

  ‘Heart of gold,’ was Kate’s comment on Rose. ‘With a nugget of common sense somewhere in there, if you can only find it.’

  Ellie waved the papers in the air. ‘It’s her lists of who they think bought some of the multicoloured pads. Shall I bother to try to track these people down, Kate? Or shall I just give up and hope it all goes away?’

  ‘Or lie back and think of England?’

  Tod’s head jerked up. ‘What do you want to think of England for? You could think of Manchester United, or … Wow! Cool!’ The game apparently reached a satisfactory conclusion, just as the doorbell went again.

  This time it was Tod’s mother, who had guessed that he’d be at Ellie’s when she found her own house dark and empty. She was annoyed that Tod should have eaten at Ellie’s when she had left some fish fingers in the fridge ready for him to cook.

  ‘I hate fish fingers,’ said Tod, slowly turning off the computer and packing his school books away. ‘And my computer’s packed up. Ellibe’s computer plays Minesweeper.’

  Once he and his mother had disappeared into the night, Kate fidgeted around the room. ‘Shall I go?’

  ‘No, stay. It’s been a long day; so much has happened. I found out who threw the paint at Nora’s door. Goodness, that seems hours ago! It was a lad who ran with the gang, though this time the gang was a group of elderly gossips who ought to have known better. He’s no threat to the community and I shan’t tell the police about him. He’s looking for gardening jobs. He doesn’t really know much about it, but he’s young and strong and if you tell him exactly what to do …’

  ‘If you tell him what to do. I wouldn’t know where to start.’ Kate sat down. She was going to play by the rules. She wouldn’t mention Roy if Ellie didn’t. Ellibe appreciated Kate’s restraint, especially since she herself would have had difficulty in being so civilized if the positions had been reversed.

  ‘Well, I did have some thoughts about your garden and started to jot them down, but maybe we should do this when Armand is around.’

  ‘Oh, he never goes into the garden. Nor do I.’

  ‘Maybe, but you have to look at it. If I agree to take it on, we’d need to work out whether you want to keep the hedge on this side and the fence on the other …’

  ‘The fence is falling down and I hate cutting hedges.’

  ‘Right. So perhaps we should have new fencing, both sides – I’ll show you some samples. Or even a brick wall – but that would be hideously expensive.’

  ‘I like the sound of a brick wall. It would give us privacy, wouldn’t it? With a wrought-iron gate into the alley at the bottom? Expense?’ A shrug. ‘Well, we can afford it.’

  ‘Water features?’ said Ellie, as the idea of redesigning a garden with an unlimited budget went to her head. ‘Rebuild the patio? A conservatory? Lawns? Ramps or terraces to deal with the slope? Paths, brick or stone? Trellising?’

  ‘I see what you mean by needing a plan,’ said Kate, laughing. ‘Come to think of it, a better patio – large enough to eat out on – would be nice. And I do like the idea of a water feature. How about a series of terraces with steps between, to cope with the slope? No lawns. I can’t bear mowing lawns. Can we have some beds with low-maintenance shrubs below the terrace? And yes, why not? More water. Can we have a water feature that drops down from one level to the next? And lights.’

  ‘The cost!’ Ellie tried to be sensible.

  ‘I don’t care! Why, a garden like that … we’d sit out in it and eat out when the weather permitted. Can we have some sort of awning over the top patio, which can be our new dining area in the summer – with outdoor heaters, perhaps? Or should we have a proper conservatory built on, which can double up as an extra room? How clever you are, Ellie! Draw us up some plans and I’ll show them to Armand.’

  ‘But will he want to spend all that much money on a garden? And what about the front garden, which you must admit is a disgrace at the moment?’

  Kate’s smile vanished, and anxiety took its place. ‘We’ll work something out. I earn enough to fund it, and … well, I’ll talk it over with him. It’s getting late. He’ll be home by now. Parents’ Evening at school, you know. You’ll let me have something on paper soon, won’t you? And – take care of yourself.’

  ‘I will.’ Ellie closed the door behind Kate and let herself relax. How exciting! What a wonderful, unexpected twist her life had taken. She must find a proper builder – not poor Neil, but someone who knew about costing for walls and diggers and drains and things.

  There was so much to think about. Too many new developments to take in easily. Aunt Drusilla with her amazing offer of work, Diana in financial difficulties, the terrible onslaught of letters, Mrs Dawes and Neil, Kate and Rose and John and Tod … and Roy.

  The phone began to ring. She thought it was probably Roy, ringing to see if the coast were clear for him to return to his courtship. There had been a couple of phone calls during the evening, but she had let the answerphone take the strain. She’d listen to the messages tomorrow.

  She really didn’t know what she wanted to do about Roy.

  She was tired. She wouldn’t answer the phone. She would go straight up to bed with a hot-water bottle because it was such a horrid night. Then she remembered the church notices and nearly missed her step on the stairs. Bother it! Oh well, she would worry about all that tomorrow.

  Plump, capable hands laid out everything she needed. A block of wax, double boiler, thermometer, a mould, cotton wicks. Penknife to chip bits off wax crayons to colour the wax. A long steel pin and some scraps of blue and ivory material, a length of white nylon wool which looked silvery in the electric light.

  This time it would have to be a proper woman’s figure. Would it be better to model it out of an existing wax candle, a nice fat one? It wouldn’t matter if there was a wick in it. In fact, the wick could be teased out to look like part of the hairdo. Fingers turned over the contents of the big cardboard box, where scraps of half-used candles discarded by the church had been thrown, for later use by her.

  She would say a nice little prayer over the figure, to make sure. Frank was talking to her, telling her something important. She was sitting in her chair in the living room and he was sitting in the big chair with his back to the window. He was drinking his after-supper cuppa, just about to go out for some meeting or other at the church. She could see his lips move, but she couldn’t hear his voice. Strain as she might, she could not hear him. He was getting angry with her. It was all her fault because she never listened to what he said, never took his advice …

  She reared up in bed, panting. So hot! She threw back the covers. Gradually her agitation subsided. She knew what he’d been trying to say to her. ‘You just don’t think before committing yourself! How many times have I told you? You’re far too soft, and people take advantage of you.’ Oh, Frank, you had such a clear mind, always knew what you wanted. You made all the decisions for both of us, and it’s so hard now to know what to do for the best. Yet somehow I have to work things out for myself.

  It was seven o’clock. She might as well get up. Saturday morning. She must do some shopping in the Avenue and try to think clearly.

  Diana must be her first priority. She couldn’t let her only daughter fall into debt, could she? No matter what it cost.

  Bill would know how to arrange it, so somehow or other she must get in to see Bill. She didn’t care how busy he was; he really must find time for her. She supposed she must do something about the church notices as well, though what, she couldn’t for the life of her think.

  Aunt Drusilla? Ellie supposed she ought to take that job. She couldn’t leave her in suspense. She had to come to a decision about it. And Roy? Ellie didn’t want to think about Roy for the time being. The phone rang as she was finishing her muesli and banana mix.

  Diana. ‘Mother? I’ll be coming down to London tomorrow to
see Aunt Drusilla—’

  ‘Tomorrow? Sunday? Diana, you’ve never asked her for a loan, have you?’

  ‘Of course I have. It was the obvious thing to do since you refused to help me. She says she wants to talk to me about it, so I can be with you for lunch and go to see her in the afternoon.’

  ‘But Diana, even if she does agree to let you have some money …’ Ellie’s voice tailed off.

  ‘You told me she was worth a mint, even though she’d always fooled us into thinking she was skint. She says there’s a job going working for her, managing her properties. I like the sound of that. If she does own a lot of property, then who else would she want to invest in, if not her only great-niece?’

  ‘Yes, but … she’s a shrewd businesswoman. Diana, do be careful. She may agree to lend you the money, but my bet is she’ll want an arm and a leg by way of interest.’

  ‘Nonsense, mother. Trust me to know how to handle her. I haven’t been PA to the MD of two different companies for nothing, you know.’

  ‘I’d bet Aunt Drusilla against either of them.’

  ‘Oh, mother, you’re so out of date! What do you know about such things?’

  Ellie sighed. ‘Very little, I suppose. Well, it will be nice to see you. I’ll be at church in the morning, so we’ll have just a sandwich for lunch and I’ll cook in the evening.’

  ‘Can’t you skip church for once? I was looking forward to a roast that I hadn’t had to cook for myself.’

  ‘No, dear. I can’t skip church. I have commitments, you know.’

  ‘But just for once ...’

  ‘I said “no”, and I meant “no”. Now, if it doesn’t work out with Aunt Drusilla I’ll see what I can do to help you myself. I was going to see Bill this morning, anyway, to ask his advice about giving you a loan to tide you over.’

  ‘Don’t bother. Your beloved Bill told me that Dad had tied up your money so tightly that I couldn’t lay my fingers on it, so this way is much the best. Besides, I don’t want a loan. I want enough to see us through without worrying.’

  ‘I don’t think Aunt Drusilla would agree to—’

  ‘Don’t fuss so, mother. Aunt Drusilla and I understand one another.’

  Do you, now? thought Ellie. Oh well, perhaps I’m wrong. As she says, what do I know about such things?

  ‘Very well, dear. I’d better clear out the little bedroom for baby Frank.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so. I wanted Stewart to look after him tomorrow and Monday, but he says he can’t. Work, you know. Any excuse, if you ask me. Anyway, I thought I could stay a couple of days with you, see Aunt Drusilla and get that job fixed up, maybe take in a theatre, see some old friends, get myself a new winter coat while I’m at it. It’s a whole different ball game now. And Stewart’s at long last got an appointment with Human Resources down at their headquarters in London on Tuesday or Wednesday.’

  Ellie translated, ‘That means Personnel, doesn’t it?’

  ‘He’s been turned down for a promotion, but now this job has come up with Aunt Drusilla he’ll have to try for a transfer to the London office. It’s all working out perfectly.’

  ‘Is that wise, Diana? I thought Stewart was happy where he was.’

  ‘Oh, mother. Women have equal rights nowadays, you know. Of course Stewart wants me to have a good job, too. Anyway, I need to see you about another matter. Someone has been so kind as to let me know you’re getting into dangerous waters with a con man. I assume it’s that awful little church warden Archie Something you were seeing before Christmas? Really, mother, you ought to know better at your age. So I’ll see you Sunday lunchtime. Oh, and remember I haven’t got a key now, so be ready to let me in. Bye.’

  Before Ellie could catch her breath from this broadside, the phone rang again, and this time she heard the imperial tones of Aunt Drusilla.

  ‘Ellie, is that you? I left a message on your answerphone last night, but you haven’t yet had the courtesy to reply. Your daughter Diana has approached me for money to bolster up her extravagant lifestyle. I have told her that I won’t do business with her over the phone, but that if she cares to come down here, I will listen to what she has to say. I would have thought it was your duty to help her out, but I am a fairminded person and I want to hear what you have to say about it, before I see Diana.’

  Ellie explained the position, adding, ‘Frank didn’t want to give her any more money, since she used what we gave her to buy a totally unsuitable house, far beyond their means. I still think Frank was right, but I can’t see Diana suffer for want of a loan to tide her over. I’m going this morning to see Bill, my solicitor, to see what can be done to help her.’

  I am not prepared to throw good money after bad. I formed the opinion that Stewart had reached the limit of his capabilities in his present firm. Am I right?’

  ‘He’s a lovely man and he loves her.’

  ‘Hmph. In other words, he’s incapable of earning enough to give her what she wants. In that case, I don’t give much for his chances of hanging on to his marriage.’

  Silently, Ellie agreed.

  ‘And you, Ellie? Have you thought over my proposition? Or do I offer the job to Diana, who seems anxious for it?’

  ‘Are you trying to blackmail me, Aunt Drusilla? I’m not prepared to play. Offer the job to Diana by all means, if you think it’ll satisfy her and you’re prepared to be responsible for the break-up of her marriage.’

  ‘My offer to you remains open – until I have spoken to Diana. As for her, she is a responsible adult and will make her own decisions. Presumably Stewart can relocate if necessary.’

  The phone went dead.

  Think, Ellie, think! Make a list of urgent things to do. Lists provide a structure to life. Shopping in the Avenue. Call on Bill. Do something about the church notices … ah, there’s some kind of secretarial services in the Avenue and they might be prepared to do them for me at a cost. Never mind the cost. The phone rang again. Was it going to be Roy? She let the answerphone take the message.

  ‘… dear lady, how are you? Have you been avoiding me? It’s your old friend Archie here, wondering if you might be free to take a little outing with me to see the snowdrops at Kew. Such a lovely blue sky, so tempting, don’t you think? Ring me before twelve, and we’ll make a day of it.’

  Bother! said Ellie to herself. If Diana hears that message she’ll think I’m collecting a harem, or whatever the men’s version would be. Ellie wiped the tape. Then she remembered that there had been other messages that she hadn’t listened to the previous night. Oops. Well, it couldn’t be helped.

  The weather had indeed improved. There were snowdrops out in the garden, and the Christmas roses looked fine. Ellie quickly made up the bed in the spare room at the back of the house, and made sure little Frank’s cot in the tiny third bedroom was in working order.

  She dusted around, checked the contents of fridge and freezer, picked up the pack of notes for the church, and braved the gusty, cold air outside. The people at the secretarial services were very helpful, and promised to have the notices ready in an hour. At a price.

  Worth it at any price, almost, thought Ellie.

  She did the food shopping, mindful that Diana expected a full roast dinner, and then walked to the end of the Avenue to see if Bill was in. His secretary looked down her nose at Ellie. Bill had a client with him, she said.

  ‘I’ll wait.’

  Bill came out – big-boned, grey-haired, capable – noisily seeing a large, prosperous-looking businessman out. ‘My dear Ellie! What a surprise!’ He kissed her on both cheeks and held her arms to look her up and down. ‘Where have you been? I thought you must have gone away on holiday or stayed on up north with your daughter. Come in, come in. My next client isn’t due for ten minutes or so. Coffee? No?’

  She followed him into his office. ‘I’ve phoned ever so many times. I thought it was you who were away so much.’

  ‘Me? I haven’t been away at all. Oh, just the odd day here or there on business. I said t
o Harriet only the other day – you remember Harriet, don’t you, my secretary? – that you must be still up north, and she said you were probably far too tied up with your new friends to think about us. An architect, is it?’

  Ellie was conscious of rising colour. ‘You shouldn’t listen to gossip, Bill.’

  ‘Is it only gossip? I hear talk of theatre outings, and candle-lit suppers.’

  Ellie lost her temper. ‘That’s enough of that, Bill. It’s no business of yours who I see and who I go out with.’

  There was a short, super-charged silence. Bill was one of her oldest friends and Ellie knew he had always entertained a certain partiality for her, but he had overstepped the mark in a big way.

  ‘I apologize,’ he said, stiffly indicating that she be seated.

  She remained standing. ‘I had to come down to see you because I’ve tried and tried to speak to you on the phone, and you’ve never been available.’

  ‘But that’s …’

  ‘If I can’t rely on you to help me …’

  ‘Of course you can!’

  ‘… then I think I’d better find myself another solicitor.’

  He sat down and folded his hands. ‘That is your prerogative, of course.’

  ‘Yes, it is. I wanted to ask your advice about giving Diana some more money, but …’

  ‘Frank did not wish her to have—’

  ‘Is the money mine to do as I wish with, or not?’

  ‘Well, yours. Of course. But—’

  ‘That’s it!’

  She wrestled the door open and swept past the startled receptionist into the Avenue. She wanted to hit something. To scream. To have hysterics.

  Nicely brought-up women didn’t do that sort of thing. Well, not in public, anyway. She considered going into the Sunflower Café for a coffee, but thought she’d probably make a scene. Women like her didn’t make scenes. They buttoned it up.

  She had time to kill before collecting the church notices. She would go into the one expensive dress shop in the Avenue and spend a small fortune on some new clothes. Only, everything was in shades of mud or puce, neither of which did anything for her. And the largest size was sixteen, when she was really an eighteen nowadays. Here she was with money to spend, and nothing she liked to spend it on.