4 Camera ... Action ... Murder!

by Faith Mortimer

  “Honestly, Duncan, Adam is usually fair. Maybe you and he got off on the wrong foot. I think you should tell him your side of things. I’m sure he’ll be willing to listen—I mean about Isabelle and the money. Does—” She paused, not sure how or whether she should ask her next question. “Now that Isabelle is dead, I presume all her money comes to you now? So you won’t have any money worries? You’ll be able to pay off your creditors and go ahead with the film.”

  Duncan stared at her in disbelief. “You think?”

  Puzzled, Diana wasn’t sure how to answer, so she remained silent. After a lengthy pause, Duncan spoke.

  “Andrew Downs made initial noises about withdrawing from the agreement. I’m waiting to find out what Lodestone has decided.”

  “I don’t understand. Apart from his personal relationship with Isabelle, how would this affect the contract?”

  Duncan passed a hand wearily over his eyes. “It shouldn’t. I think it’s just him being an arse. For some reason he means to make me suffer. It won’t matter in the end because I’ll go ahead with the film one way or another. What have I got left to do now that Caroline’s dead?”

  “And Caroline? Would you have stopped seeing her?”

  “Caroline? No, never.” Duncan shook his head vehemently. “And despite whatever your policeman friend may think, there’s no way I’d have hurt her even if I didn’t like one or two of her friends. No, I’d never have stopped seeing her. She was a very special girl.”

  Chapter 20

  Diana and Duncan were interrupted by Russell, who came down to where they were sitting in the shade. He was holding a bottle of white wine by the neck.

  “May I join you? You two have been secreted down here for some time, and I wondered whether you might like a refill? May I?” he asked, gesturing with the bottle at Diana’s empty glass.

  “Thank you, Russell. You saved me making a trip. What about you, Duncan? Can you bear to put a little white wine in your gin-and-tonic glass?”

  Duncan threw Russell an irritated look, indicating he was annoyed at his intrusion. “I suppose a little won’t hurt, and then I must be off. I’ve masses to do, and things have piled up ever since…well, you know what I mean.”

  Russell sat down at their feet, resting the bottle against the leg of the bench. “Cheers to you both,” he said quietly. “And I really do mean it.”

  Diana raised her glass and responded, while half-heartedly, Duncan went through the motions.

  “We’re all glad you turned up, you know, Duncan. Some people knew you’d gone down to the station, and we were worried you might be kept in. How did you get on?” Russell asked before raising his wine glass to his mouth.

  “I’d hardly be here now if they had anything to pin on me, would I?” Duncan replied waspishly.

  “No, but I thought—”

  Duncan cut in on Russell. “The trouble with you is you bloody well think too much. You and your damned son are always meddling where it’s none of your concern. Can’t you just fucking well leave it?”

  Russell sprang to his feet. Even in the fading light, Diana could see his eyes blazing with anger. “You little wanker! What right have you to swear at me like that? Stand up and be a man! Come on put your fist where your mouth is!”

  Diana gawped at Russell in astonishment. He was standing poised in front of the bench with both hands made into fists. Duncan looked him slowly up and down. Disdain clearly showing on his face. “Back off, Russell, you’re wasting your breath. I’ve never indulged in fisticuffs and don’t intend to now.” Russell glared back but turned on his heel and strode towards the river.

  Duncan inched nearer to Diana. “Sorry Diana, but I’ve had it today, and I really must be off. Caroline’s mother is due to arrive later this evening. I’m not looking forward to seeing her under the circumstances, and I don’t really know where to begin.” He lowered his voice. “I’m terribly sorry about that. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. My nerves are frazzled enough as it is without him interfering.”

  Duncan stood up, ran a hand through his hair in a distracted fashion and took a few steps away from them. He then stopped and turned back. “I understand you’re staying here for a few days, Diana? I’d like to see you before you leave for Cyprus. Come over any time you like. In fact, make sure you do visit because we haven’t finished our conversation. There’s something important I’d like to tell you in private.” Duncan paused to stare pointedly in Russell’s direction. “I haven’t time to clarify things now. Don’t get up. I’ll see myself off.” He stalked up the garden without pausing to have another word to anyone and left the house by the side gate. Wordlessly, Diana and Russell watched him go.

  “Well, I certainly touched a raw nerve somewhere, didn’t I?” Russell said as he moved back to Diana’s side. “Whatever it was, he’s not as innocent as he’s making out. I can’t believe the superintendent let Duncan go. Can you?”

  Diana’s mind was whirling. Russell had been itching for a fight, and Duncan’s earlier words kept coming back to her. She realised he hadn’t answered her question about Isabelle’s money all coming to him. Instead he had side-stepped it and made some remark about Andrew Lodestone, followed by saying how special Caroline was to him. And what was that odd throw-away comment about not liking one or two of her friends? Which ones was he referring to? Most confounding of all was his last statement confiding something private to her.

  “Sorry, Russell, I was miles away, thinking about Duncan and what he was telling me.”

  “I can’t say I blame you, he’s not himself. I get the feeling he’s up to his neck in something and hasn’t yet worked out what to do about it. It’s funny, but I’ve always thought I knew Duncan well. After the last few days, it seems I’ve been a poor judge of character.”

  “Oh, Russell, you can’t think Duncan’s the murderer?”

  Russell thought for a moment and then cast a quick look around him as if making sure no one else was within earshot. “Lots of things don’t add up, if you ask me.”

  Diana was all ears. “Like what? Tell me.”

  “They’re coincidences mostly. Duncan was up to the hilt in debt, and Isabelle was refusing to bail him out. He needed her money and fast. What nobody else knows is that she was thinking of changing her will. There was a chance Duncan wasn’t going to get any of it, and he discovered this by accident.”

  “Really? How come?”

  “Andrew Downs was indiscreet and let it slip a few weeks ago. You recall we’re old friends. Isabelle must have discussed it with him, since he was an accountant, and I reckon Duncan found out. It’s the perfect reason for murdering your rich wife, surely? Don’t they say almost all serious crime like murder is carried out by someone the victim knows? What better motive for murdering your wife if she was going to leave her fortune to someone else.”

  “Do you know this for sure?”

  “Nooo, but it’s not difficult to guess at, is it?”

  Diana digested this little bit of news and was about to ask Russell something about Duncan and Isabelle when she stopped. Hadn’t Duncan just said Russell and his son were always meddling? She exhaled noisily. Now where had that come from? What had he meant? She could only think it was something to do with the way Seb and Caroline were acting during Caroline’s last afternoon. Duncan was very acerbic with Seb the morning following her death. He must have been jealous.

  Russell drained his glass and lifted the wine bottle for a final refill while saying, “Isabelle was a vain and spoilt woman. She was one of many who needed saving from themselves.”

  ***

  Russell droned on while Diana’s thoughts drifted away. She really wanted to talk to Sebastian. She was sure he was a key pin in this. “Sorry, Russell, I missed that.”

  “I said I was sorry about Duncan and his temper and hoped you would visit me while you’re here. Perhaps come for lunch one day and I could show you round the school? Cheltenham Ladies College is very beautiful and the girls a delight. The arts-an
d-drama department is one of the best in the country, and we’ve put on some splendid productions. I’ve found it a great challenge with all those young minds. And you’ll want to see over the refurbished theatre of course.”

  Diana smiled. “That sounds a nice idea, Russell, thank you. Do you still live in the same house? If so, then I remember it well.”

  Russell grinned. “Yes I do. The old place suits me and Sebastian very well. Of course, it’s time he found his own place, but he’s too young to have saved up enough money to buy a flat, and bedsits are pretty dismal. We have our ups and downs but generally rub along together. I daresay he’ll move out when he’s finally had enough of my company and wants to settle down with a girl. He—” He paused then continued. “Diana, you’re not stupid, I’m sure you realise Seb found Caroline attractive? He was never good at keeping his feelings to himself.”

  Diana sighed partly in relief, partly in agreement. “I did guess he was fond of Caroline. That afternoon before she drowned he was so attentive towards her. I think you ought to know others noticed their closeness too. There’s Clare for one, and my Steve, of course.”

  Russell sighed. “You’re probably right. I wasn’t particularly happy about a relationship forming between them, and I’m damn sure Duncan was furious. I thought he was going to throttle Seb yesterday morning.”

  Di thought back and knew immediately what he was getting at. “Oh, you mean at breakfast? Yes, I did wonder about his reaction. Duncan was very upset over Caroline’s death that morning, and seeing Sebastian sitting at his breakfast table might have been the final straw. Is that what Duncan meant by Sebastian and you meddling?”

  “What?” Russell looked puzzled for a second before his face cleared “Yes, it must be.”

  “But why didn’t you want Seb and Caroline to be friends? I bet Seb was head over heels in love with her. He looked ghastly that evening after her death.”

  “Because…because she wasn’t right for him. Oh, she looked the part—stunningly beautiful with such an innocent face, but she was spoiled rotten and loved twisting men round her finger. She would have tired of him in no time.”

  Diana thought for a moment. She didn’t want to antagonise Russell but she didn’t really believe what he was saying. “But wasn’t that for him to find out? Surely, it didn’t matter as long as they were happy, even if it was only for a short time.”

  Russell considered her words. “Maybe. Perhaps I’m overreacting to the whole thing. Anyway, she’s gone now, and I must see that Seb comes to terms with it. You’ve got to realise that beneath that handsome face he’s like a big kid. He’s soft and pliable when it comes to girls, and he stood no chance with Miss Caroline Tushing. If I was being hard, then I could even say I’m glad he’s free and nothing came of it, but you might misconstrue my meaning. I wouldn’t have cared for him to get hurt.”

  “No, no of course I don’t. He’s your son, and if Caroline was like you said, then you’d want to protect him. I do understand.”

  Russell’s face took on an almost dreamy look. “He’s so like his mother. You remember how Emily was…all heart and caring madly about every lost cause. She made some big mistakes during her life. She really should have come to me earlier.”

  Diana smiled as she recalled his departed partner. “I do. I think she was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Steve and I were so sad when she died.”

  A silence fell between them. Diana respected Russell’s feelings by not speaking. After a minute, Russell turned towards Diana. “Thank you for your company. I believe it’s time we went and socialised and had something to eat of course. Those steaks smell delicious. Are you coming?”

  Diana laughed, happy to break the tension between them. “You bet! It’s been ages since I last had a good steak.” They stood up and collected the empty glasses and wine bottle.

  “Good. Come on then. I too rarely eat red meat. That was one of Emily’s good habits. She made me clean up my diet when we got together. She was extremely organised despite her softness and easy-going nature. Yes, she was a wonderful woman in many ways. Do you know it was she who actually owned our house? She had some money and decided we needed somewhere solid and permanent to live, especially once she discovered she was expecting Sebastian. That was a shock, I can tell you. We’d only been together a matter of weeks before she announced she was pregnant!”

  Diana looked surprised and smiled. “Really? That must have been exciting. I can’t say I remember that.”

  “No, well, I expect you had other things on your mind. You always had at least one or other man sniffing round you back then.”

  Diana let out a peel of laughter. “Russell, that’s a wicked thing to say. If anyone heard you, they’d think I was some kind of femme fatale, and please don’t look so po-faced at me! I did nothing wrong. Only what every other full-blooded female my age was doing!”

  Russell looked a little straight-laced and confused over her words and then smiled. He looked her up and down. “Yes, deadly woman—the French translation describes you well. I’m sure your charms ensnare your lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. Poor Steve, he never stood a chance. It was either your charms or one of your many mysterious discoveries which hooked him. At least you believed in the sanctity of getting married after living together, so many couples don’t these days. Come on, my dear, the food awaits us!”

  Diana was relieved that Russell seemed to have overcome his melancholy mood and in particular talking about his dislike of Caroline. She was also still a bit shocked over his altercation with Duncan. She briefly went over Russell’s words concerning her marriage to Steve. He did come out with some old-fashioned ideas sometimes. Perhaps he was religious and she never realised.

  Steve was serving freshly grilled and delicious-looking steaks and chops when they reached the barbeque area. Most people seemed to already have a plate piled with food and were sitting around the garden on chairs or lounging on the grass. Diana could hear various conversations going on around her and was pleased for Clare’s sake that her friends were relaxing now they were away from the past two days’ horrific events. Steve looked a bit hot and frazzled when Di and Russell joined him.

  “There you are. You don’t know how many people I’ve had to fight off guarding your steak, Di,” he said with a smile. “Here you are, my darling. I’ll just give it a few more minutes to cook.”

  “That looks wonderful, thank you.”

  “And now, what about a steak for you, Russell? How do you like yours, medium or rare?”

  “Rare. I always have my steaks rare.”

  Chapter 21

  As dusk was falling, Diana went to look for Sebastian. She had seen him from a distance earlier, and despite waving, he made no attempt to go and talk to her. Deciding he regretted confiding in her the other day, she made up her mind to grab him as soon as he was free before he left for home. Diana replenished her wine glass, thinking how nice it was not having to worry about driving when over the limit. She found herself alone in the kitchen and decided now was a good time to look for Sebastian.

  She knew he wasn’t indoors or by the barbeque, and the seat near the stream was occupied by Patrick and Joanna. She backtracked round to the front garden and found him sitting on a swing hammock. There was another figure beside him whom Diana felt sure she knew from somewhere. After a few seconds’ concentration, she realised it must be Barry Morrison, Seb’s boss and Russell’s friend. She remembered Clare saying he would be there that day. Approaching the two men, who were deep in conversation, Diana was again struck by how much Seb resembled his dead mother. And it wasn’t only in looks. As Russell had said earlier, Sebastian took after his mother with her considerate ways and a fondness for lost causes. Russell was made of different stock altogether. Diana remembered how he was back in the days when she lived in Cheltenham. It was true Russell had taken charge of the newest addition to the company, but he was often contemptuous and wast
ed no time with what he called ‘blathering idiots’. Di couldn’t imagine either Emily or Sebastian being quite so caustic.

  “Sebastian,” she called as she walked up to the seat. “I’m so glad you decided to come. And you must be Barry. You probably won’t remember me, but we did meet a few times when I lived here.” She held out a hand in greeting. Looking surprised and a bit put out by her interruption, Barry paused before saying, “How do you do?”

  “I’m fine, thanks, and you? Years and years ago, we first met at a party held at Russell’s house. I remember it was fancy dress, and everyone was supposed to come dressed as ancient Greeks or Romans. You, if I recall, came in a rather splendid costume and told everyone you were Bacchus, god of wine. I’ll never forget that filthy-tasting cocktail you carried around with you in that terracotta urn. Yuk! Wherever did you get it?” Diana laughed.

  “That’s right. Fancy you remembering that, and you’re quite right, the wine was disgusting. I’m ashamed to admit it was one of my home brews. A group of us were into it back then, and some of the concoctions we made were totally undrinkable and possible lethal!” Barry frowned and shook his head at the recollection.