by Peter Boon
31
As Patrick and I returned to the pub, DI Appleby burst out of the doors towards us, with a sheepish PC Wood in tow. ‘Edward, mate, what have you been up to?’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, though I had an idea what he meant.
‘I came looking for you, but it’s chaos in there. They’re all saying you’re trying to prove it’s not Reverend Flowers, even though he confessed. That Pedro guy is going ballistic.’ He exhaled strongly, clearly stressed. ‘Anyway, I managed to get it out of PC Wood here, that you are snooping round after all.’
‘Appleby, I’m sorry.’ I braced myself and continued. ‘Yes, I have been looking into it, and the Reverend didn’t do it. And I can prove it.’
‘What?’ he replied. ‘Look, mate, you know I’m grateful for all your help, but your part is done now. We’ve got a culprit, who’s happily confessed to both murders. Even though he was the pretty obvious suspect before that anyway.’
‘Yes, he was obvious. We were supposed to think it’s obvious. Let me explain.’
We heard a commotion inside the pub. ‘Edward, you’ve helped me out and I trust you. So, for that reason, I’ll hear you out. But first, let’s go smooth over whatever’s happening in there.’
The four of us walked in to find Pedro and Gloria both stood up in the centre of the pub, verbally facing off against each other. They hadn’t noticed us yet.
‘Of course you’re mad that Edward is saying it’s not the Reverend! You’re worried he’ll find out it was you, not him.’
‘If I was capable of killing a woman,’ he shouted back, ‘you’d have been top of my list, not them!’
‘A threat, that’s a threat to kill me! You all heard that!’ she yelled around the room dramatically.
And then Pedro spotted me. ‘Edward, you were supposed to be my friend! But we have the killer of my beloved Cherry, and you are trying to set him free! Why would you disrespect her memory like that?’
I was reluctant to join the floor show, but I found myself speaking. ‘I’m not trying to disrespect Cherry’s memory, Pedro. I just know that Reverend Flowers didn’t kill her, or his wife.’
‘Be careful, mate,’ Appleby whispered to me.
‘Yes he did,’ Pedro said firmly.
‘No he didn’t,’ I replied, trying to sound just as firm. ‘And as soon as we leave here, I’m going to explain it all to DI Appleby.’
‘Oh, never mind that,’ Mum piped up. ‘Tell us all here, in the pub.’
‘He’s not going to do that,’ Appleby said back to her.
I looked around the room. All of the suspects were here, the police, plus Noah, my family and my friends. Even Jacob Flowers was skulking at a table on his own in the background. I think I got a little carried away imagining the triumphant end scene, where the detective cleverly reveals whodunnit and how it was done. Before I knew it, I was replying to Appleby in a private whisper.
‘You know what, I think I should.’
‘What? Have you lost your mind, mate?’ he whispered back.
‘Everyone I need is here, I have a water tight case, and I can prove it. But if you haven’t seen enough to convince you at the end, you can walk away with nothing to do with it. It was just the geeky amateur poking his nose in again.’
He thought for a moment and then rolled his eyes. ‘Fine, mate, go for it then. I’m actually intrigued. But remember, this is nothing to do with me.’
‘What are you two whispering about?’ Mum complained across the pub. ‘Edward, are you going to tell us what you know?’
‘I’m going to do more than that, Mum. I’m going to prove that not only is the Reverend innocent, he was set up by someone in this room right now.’
‘I’m so excited!’ Noah declared, jumping up from his table. ‘This is like a real life episode of Poirot! Edward, can I start things off, please?’
‘But you don’t know the solution to the case,’ I pointed out.
‘Yes, but I know the beginning of it. I’ll just set the scene.’ I noticed Jacob Flowers in the corner, watching us. I had a sudden realisation that this public reveal might not be fair to him. I walked over to his table while all eyes were on Noah. ‘Jacob, I know the truth and I want to prove your dad didn’t do it. But I don’t have to do it like this if you don’t want me to. I can talk to you privately.’
He looked at me, for once not revealing any particular emotion. ‘No, go on, do it. I want to see what you come up with.’ I nodded to Noah to start.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, there have been several classic murder mysteries where the suspects were trapped in a snowstorm: The Sittaford Mystery and Murder on the Orient Express to name just two. And now I present to you, set in the little seaside village of Chalk Gap… The Snow Day Murders!’
‘Do we really need all this drama?’ Gloria asked, who had now taken a seat.
‘Oh, be quiet, you,’ Mum remarked. ‘The drama’s usually coming from you, it makes a change being someone else.’
‘Over three feet of snow fell down on the village, probably more snow than Chalk Gap has ever seen,’ Noah continued. ‘No one can get in, no one can get out. A violent argument on the village square led the discovery of not one, but two bodies…’
‘Yes, my friend, we know all this,’ Pedro spoke now. ‘Edward, if you say Reverend Flowers didn’t kill my wife, you need to tell us now, please.’
‘Yes, I’ll get there,’ I said, stepping forward, not as confidently as I’d have liked. ‘Thank you Noah for setting the scene. I’m afraid I won’t be quite as dramatic as Noah, I just want to tell you the facts: what they appear to be, and what they actually are.’
I was unsure where exactly to start when I heard Mum say to my dad, ‘my money’s on that vegan burger guy, if it’s not the Vicar. Never trust a stranger, I say…’
This remark gave me inspiration on how to begin my explanation. ‘I’ll start with the newcomer to the village, Everest Brown.’
He nodded to me as I continued. ‘Everest arrived in our village in November, in time for the start of our famous winter market, and has been here for the last two or three months since, with his vegan burger business Burger She Wrote. A few people speculated about his connection to Reverend Flowers, a stranger suddenly in a prominent position on the market, as everyone knows those spots are hard to come by. In fact, they usually only go to those closest to the Vicar.’
I stopped for a moment, suddenly hit by the realisation that I was speaking in public to a room full of people. But I also noticed that they all seemed to be listening intently. I continued. ‘With that in mind, I asked myself, who is Everest Brown? What is his connection to Reverend Flowers? These unprecedented double murders occurred a couple of months after he arrived… could he be responsible?’
‘Yes, course he is!’ I heard Mum whisper.
‘I’m afraid burgers are all she wrote, because Everest is not the murderer.’ I paused again, having surprised myself with my showmanship. ‘However, he was important as a witness to Reverend Flowers’ good character. They didn’t know each other until recently, but Everest got in touch with the Reverend to help him find someone in Chalk Gap, and Flowers helped him indeed, a huge amount, without even knowing the identity of who Everest was looking for. He came here to find a family member.’
‘And who is it then?’ Kimmy asked.
I looked at Everest’s son listening intently, and then at Everest himself, who looked down. It wasn’t time, and it wasn’t fair for that revelation to be public. It had to be private.
‘It’s a personal matter for Everest I’m afraid,’ I said, seeing the disappointment on Kimmy’s face. But it was her own turn next, along with Claire. ‘But you, Kimmy, and Claire too, have also been very important to the case. Connected to everyone involved as witnesses, friends and even alibis.’
I saw a nervous look on Kimmy’s face as I continued. ‘Claire and Kimmy were close friends with both of the murdered women, as well as with the Reverend, and the other suspects
in the case. Kimmy came to me with a delicate matter; she confessed to texts on Cherry’s phone which might implicate her in her murder.’
I saw the sudden interest in Gloria’s face, as she looked at Kimmy with a smug grin, before muttering under her breath. ‘Well, well, well.’
‘But, even though Kimmy was worried about her secret, it was a secret not connected to the murder and one I won’t be revealing here. Neither Kimmy or Claire are the murderers, and I want to thank Kimmy for being very honest with me. It actually helped me stumble on the real motive for the murders. Kimmy’s messages weren’t even on Cherry’s phone when we found it, which was also a major clue.’
‘Well done, baby,’ I heard Claire say as the pair hugged in relief.
‘However, I’m afraid Kimmy wasn’t honest about everything she told me today, were you, Kimmy?’
I didn’t enjoy the sudden panic I saw on Kimmy’s face, and I felt a pang of guilt for doing this to her in this way. But it was a crucial part of the story. I reassured her. ‘Kimmy, all I need you to do is just confirm there was something you lied about, but you were coaxed into it by someone else. It’s okay, you were manipulated, but you did lie. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?’
Claire looked very confused, not knowing what was going on. Kimmy just nodded her head. ‘Yes, I know what you’re talking about, and yes, you’re right.’ I glanced at the person who made her lie to see their reaction, but they maintained a complete poker face.
Next, I turned to Jacob Flowers. But before I fully revealed his involvement in such a public way, I wanted to be sure he was okay with it. I looked at him tactfully, raising my eyebrows, mouthing, ‘can I?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, do it,’ he mouthed back before I nodded my thanks.
‘I’m not going to make a big dramatic show of this next bit, as it’s not fair to the person it involves. Jacob Flowers has been through so much and lost so much, today alone. But he’s been heartbroken for a while, for a different reason. He’s given me permission to share with you that he was in love with Cherry McDonald.’
I saw Pedro glare at him as everyone else looked stunned. Gloria was the first to speak. ‘He’s the killer then! He found out his Dad was having an affair with Cherry, so he killed her. Then he must have gone home in a rage, got into an argument with his mum, and killed her too.’
I panicked. I didn’t want Gloria hi-jacking my explanation, and I didn’t want to put Jacob through too much. But she wasn’t finished. ‘Oh my god… that’s why Reverend Flowers confessed! He realised his son committed both murders, and he falsely confessed himself to protect him.’
There was a murmur round the pub as Gloria’s words sank in. I could see everyone realise that this could be the truth.
‘Oh my god, mate, is that what happened?’ Appleby asked me quietly from where he stood near me.
The pub was chaos now; I wasn’t expecting Gloria to derail my plans like this. I noticed PC Wood stood to attention, ready to make an arrest. I had to do something.
‘I wasn’t going to reveal that like this,’ I confessed. ‘And I’m sorry, Jacob. But, yes, Reverend Flowers confessed to the murders to protect his son. The Reverend didn’t do it.’
‘So he did!’ Pedro shouted as he stood up, looking ready to attack.
‘It’s a very plausible explanation,’ I said. ‘Reverend Flowers certainly thought his son was the killer. But that’s because he was tricked into thinking so. Wasn’t he, Gloria?’
32
‘Whatever are you talking about, you stupid little man?’ Gloria sneered at me from her table.
‘Don’t you talk to my son like that, unless you want another slap!’
Gloria stood up to face Mum with a look of absolute disdain on her face. ‘Do you think I’m scared of you?’
‘That’s enough, thank you, ladies,’ Appleby said, stepping forward. Both of them sat down.
I continued on. ‘No, Gloria, you’re probably not scared of my mum. I don’t imagine you’re scared of many people. You are a cold-blooded killer after all. You murdered your own friend, Frances Flowers.’
A hush fell over the whole pub and all eyes went to Gloria, who burst out laughing.
‘I’m sorry, is this a joke?’ She turned to DI Appleby and PC Wood. ‘Are you going to allow this: some amateur, slandering innocent people with his little floor show, while the real killer is sitting across the pub from me?’
‘I have a confession from the Reverend already, it’s done with, unless any new evidence comes to light soon.’ He winked at me. ‘For now, I’m just having a quick break, popping into my old local pub to say hello and watching the entertainment while I’m here. Edward hasn’t broken any laws, so I can’t do anything, I’m afraid.’
She looked absolutely furious, but also a little worried, as I continued.
‘And you know all about floor shows, Gloria, but I’ll come on to that.’
‘Seriously, what is this idiot talking about?’ she muttered to no one in particular, before returning to me. ‘I can’t have killed Frances anyway, I have an alibi. I was selling sweets and Kimmy Atkinson was helping me the whole time.’
Kimmy looked down at the floor as I went on. ‘Except she wasn’t, was she? You blackmailed Kimmy into giving you an alibi. You knew she had a secret because she came to you for help. And you also knew her wife didn’t know, although she does now.’ I saw Claire put her hand on Kimmy’s.
‘You turned her request down, but you used that knowledge for when you needed it. Which was when you needed a false alibi for Frances’ murder.’
‘What absolute rot,’ Gloria said with venom in her voice.
‘It isn’t, it’s true,’ Kimmy said. ‘She made me lie, I’m sorry. If I need to go to prison, I will.’
‘I don’t think that will be necessary,’ Appleby interjected. ‘You haven’t even given a formal statement yet, you’ve only had a chat with Edward.’
Kimmy looked relieved and hugged Claire, as Gloria spoke again. ‘That doesn’t mean anything, I just didn’t want stupid Kimmy to know where I was going, that’s all. I didn’t kill anyone.’
‘It’s a shame that’s not true, Gloria,’ I said to her, my confidence rising now I knew I had Appleby’s support. ‘In fact, this whole crime isn’t something you just planned today. No, you planned it a long time ago, starting with when got Jacob Flowers the job at Pedro’s. It was very convenient for you that Jacob was going off the rails. It fitted perfectly to get him a job working with young, attractive, friendly Cherry. You knew his history and you knew what would likely happen. Sorry, Jacob.’
‘It’s okay,’ he muttered. ‘Carry on. If she’s done it, say what you need to prove it.’
I thought Gloria was going to speak up again but she just glared at me in rage as I went on. ‘You see, Jacob was part of a plot to frame the wrong person for the murders. But it wasn’t just Reverend Flowers. She was cleverer than that. Her plan was arranged carefully enough that either the Reverend or Jacob himself could be set up to take the blame.’
‘I’ve heard it all now, honestly -’
‘Shut up, you murdering cow,’ Mum snapped. ‘This is getting good now, stop interrupting.’
I allowed myself a grin at Mum’s comment. ‘You thought it through so carefully. You planted Jacob’s footprints at the crime scene at the Vicarage. If there wasn’t enough evidence on the Reverend, his son’s footprints were there to show him escaping over the fence and up the cliff side, something Auntie Gloria knew he did. You managed to get hold of his work trainers, though it will make sense how you got those in a moment. Anyway, you dumped his trainers in the recycling, which you didn’t think we’d find.’
‘Or otherwise you wouldn’t have used a sweet shop bag,’ Noah added proudly.
‘But your main plan was to create the impression that Reverend Flowers was having an affair with Cherry, and your plan worked,’ I continue, watching Jacob and Pedro’s faces carefully.
‘But to the Reverend h
imself, it was a different story. You spent the time telling him all about how his son was dangerously infatuated with Cherry. Once Pedro accused Flowers of the affair, everything you’d said made him think it must be his son. When I heard him on the phone to you, saying “Edward knows about the affair,” he was actually talking about Jacob and Cherry. But there never was an affair, was there? Jacob had fallen hard for her, but Cherry genuinely loved Pedro. She didn’t have an affair with anyone.’
‘But how about Cherry’s phone, though?’ Noah asked. ‘We saw the messages between Cherry and Reverend Flowers, they confirmed the affair.’
‘Ah, the phones,’ I said, settling into my role. ‘Isn’t it odd that Cherry’s phone, found on her body, contained such important evidence, but Frances’ phone was nowhere to be seen? Even an extensive police search of the house couldn’t find it.’
‘How on earth do you know that?’ Appleby asked while Wood went bright red.
‘The reason they couldn’t find Frances’ phone,’ I continued, ignoring Appleby, ‘was that it probably contained evidence revealing the real killer. If I had to guess, it probably contained a text from Gloria to Frances, asking to meet her at the back of the Vicarage to give her important information about the affair.’
‘No, no, it didn’t,’ Gloria said, much weaker now, and I knew that’s exactly what had happened.
‘But Cherry’s phone, found conveniently in her pocket, we were meant to find. For it told us oh so clearly about the affair: how Cherry had been kicked out by Pedro, how she asked to meet Flowers at the eventual scene of her murder, and how she threatened him when he didn’t immediately go to meet her. But, in another clever touch, notice how I just said ‘Flowers’ and not the Reverend. Because this mysterious lover wasn’t saved in the phone by name, he was saved as several flower emojis. And the messages were vague enough that they could have meant father or son, depending on who suspicion had fallen on.’
‘So the messages were fake?’ my dad asked.