“You don’t think it’s a romantic relationship?” John asked.
“No, it certainly didn’t feel like that to me,” Bessie answered. “Mai must be half his age, anyway.”
“Which proves nothing,” Andrew pointed out.
Bessie frowned, but didn’t disagree.
“Did I miss anyone?” John asked.
“Joe Klein, the head of security, is on my list as well,” Andrew told him. “He wasn’t happy with the many changes Charles was making here either. As far as I’m concerned, he’s last on my list. I think, if he were really unhappy here, he’d have just quit. Murdering your boss is a pretty dramatic step to take, even if you really hate your job.”
“And there is always the possibility of an unknown person or persons,” John said. “Someone who is operating under the radar.”
“Margaret’s team has done a lot of background digging into the many guests staying here at the moment. So far she hasn’t found anyone that appears to have known Charles. The staff is being looked at as well, but apparently Charles spent most of his time in his office, pushing paper around. Harold dealt with the day-to-day running of the site.”
“So where does that leave us?” John asked. “Does anyone have a favourite suspect?”
“Lawrence,” Bessie said firmly. “They were business partners and Lawrence was stealing from the company.”
“I hope it was him,” Doona said. “Just so it can all be over.”
“The business angle is an interesting one,” Andrew said. “I wish I knew more about how Charles, Lawrence and Herbert all fit together.”
“From the description of the crime scene, I’m not convinced,” John said. “Stabbing someone repeatedly suggests a great deal of anger and a more personal motive.”
“Maybe Herbert was finally fed up with Charles sleeping with his wife,” Bessie said.
John closed his notebook and shrugged. “I really want to meet all of the suspects,” he said. “I can’t formally question them, but at least I can get a look at them.”
“Jessica and Herbert are over there,” Bessie told him.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you,” Doona said.
She got to her feet and she and John crossed the room to where the couple was sitting. Bessie followed a few steps behind, unable to resist listening in on the conversation.
“I just wanted to introduce you to my friend, John, who has come to join us for the last few days of our holiday,” Doona said.
“Is he your solicitor?” Herbert asked.
“No, he’s just a friend,” Doona replied.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Jessica said, standing up. “Any friend of hers is a friend of mine.” She threw her arms around John and hugged him tightly, whispering something in his ear. John didn’t reply, but his face turned bright red.
“That’s enough of that,” Herbert snapped at her. “Sit down and behave.”
“I’m going back to the chalet,” Jessica said. “If Lawrence turns up, you can ring me.” She flounced off, pausing at the door to turn back and give them all a little wave. “Remember what I said,” she shouted, presumably to John.
“Never marry a younger woman,” Herbert said, getting up from the table. “You’ll end up paying for it.” He stormed off after his wife, leaving Bessie and her friends to rejoin Andrew.
“What did she say to you?” Bessie had to ask.
John blushed again and shook his head. “I’d rather not repeat it,” he told her. “Let’s just say it was an inappropriate suggestion.”
“Maybe we can have dinner at L’Expérience Anglaise tonight so you can meet Nathan and Monique,” Bessie suggested.
“That sounds good,” John replied.
“Harold is always around somewhere,” Doona said, glancing around the nearly empty room. “There he is, at the pizza counter.”
She waved and Harold walked over to them. “Is there a problem?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” Doona assured him. “I just wanted you to meet a friend of mine. John Rockwell has joined us for the last few days of our holiday.”
“How nice,” Harold said in a distracted manner. “Your lodge is capable of sleeping six, so you should have plenty of room. You didn’t want a bigger one, did you? I’m not sure we can accommodate a change at this point.”
“No, no, it’ll be fine,” Doona replied.
“If he wants to join in any of your scheduled activities, just tell them I’ve okayed it,” Harold said. “Enjoy your stay,” he said to John, before walking quickly away.
“There’s a man with something on his mind,” John said.
“I imagine the situation with Lawrence will cause all sorts of unexpected backlash,” Andrew said.
“But at least I’ve met another suspect, even if that was rather unsatisfactory,” John replied.
“You’d have to ring Margaret if you want to talk to Lawrence at this point,” Andrew said. “And I don’t think he’ll want to talk to anyone other than his solicitor.”
“That just leave Mai,” John said.
“And you can meet her now,” Doona replied. “It’s time for our watercolour class. You may as well come along and meet her before we get started. Harold said you can even join in if you want to.”
John laughed. “Maybe I’ll just sit and watch,” he said.
Chapter Fourteen
The sun was now shining and Bessie found that she was quite looking forward to doing some more painting. After trying to capture the lake in the rain, she was eager to have a chance to attempt the scene in bright sunshine. They arrived at the building to find the door locked. A moment later, Jack and Nancy Strong joined them.
“Where’s Mai?” Nancy asked. “We thought we were late.”
“You are, a little bit,” Bessie answered, glancing at her watch. “I think Mai is running behind as well.”
She introduced John to the couple and the small group chatted amongst themselves for several minutes while they waited for Mai.
“I’m surprised Andrea isn’t here, doing classes for the little ones,” Bessie remarked.
“I don’t think many families stay through,” Andrew said. “My children have visited in the past, and they said there isn’t usually much on offer on the Fridays. Everyone is too busy either coming or going.”
“But this class was definitely today,” Bessie said. “I’m sure of it.”
“It was supposed to be, anyway,” Nancy agreed.
A few minutes more passed before Bessie saw a familiar face hurrying towards them.
“I’m so sorry,” Andrea gasped as she fumbled with her keys. “Friday is my day off and I was half an hour away when Harold rang me to come in.”
“Where’s Mai?” Bessie asked.
Andrea shrugged. “Harold didn’t say. He just asked me to get here as quickly as I could to take over this class. It’s the only thing happening at the Rainbow Arts Centre today, which is why I usually get the day off.”
She ushered them all into the building, locking it behind them. “We don’t need any unexpected visitors,” she muttered, more to herself than the others, as she did so.
“Everyone can find an easel and I’ll start passing around supplies. Basically, this class is a follow-up to the previous one. I won’t be showing you any new techniques, just helping you get better at the ones you’ve already learned.”
“I wasn’t here last time,” John said, giving the girl a friendly smile.
“Sorry,” she said, blinking at him. “I was so distracted by everything I didn’t even see you.” She looked him up and down and then winked. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
“If I’m going to be a problem, I’ll sit quietly and just watch,” John told her.
“Oh, goodness no,” Andrea said. “I’ll assume you’ve sorted out payment for the class and registered properly.” She winked at him again. “You can choose an easel, and after I’ve given everyone their supplies, I’ll come and help you get started.”
<
br /> “Helps to be young and good-looking, I think,” Andrew whispered to Bessie as they headed towards the easels.
Bessie glanced at John. She often forgot just how attractive the man was, even though his brown hair was just beginning to look as if it needed cutting. She worried about how thin he was at the moment, but she supposed that he probably looked fit and athletic to those who were just meeting him for the first time. He worked out regularly, having converted a spare room at the Laxey station into a gym for himself and the rest of the staff.
Doona had already found a space in front of the windows. so now Bessie moved to the easel next to her. John took the one on Doona’s other side and Andrew moved over next to Bessie. Nancy and Jack settled in about as far from Bessie and her friends as they could get.
“Nothing personal,” Nancy called across the small space. “But we were on that side last time. I want to try to paint the boathouse this time, and this is a better angle.”
Mai had quickly filled cups and set up paint trays. Now she moved around the room passing them out to everyone.
“Would you like music?” she asked after she’d finished distributing supplies. When no one replied, she laughed. “I’ll put a local radio station on low volume. If it bothers anyone, we can switch it off.”
Bessie worried what local radio might play, but the station that Andrea found was playing a fairly innocuous selection of easy listening songs. She settled in to paint, letting the music fade into the background. She could hear Andrea’s voice as the girl worked with John, going over the basics, but Bessie ignored that as well and focussed on the blank page in front of her.
The afternoon seemed to flash past as Bessie worked on painting the beautiful lake that was sparkling in the sunshine in front of her. She was shocked when Andrea spoke loudly.
“I’m afraid that’s all we have time for today,” she announced. “It’s just gone half four, which is a little later than advertised, but I wanted to make up for the late start.”
Bessie looked around at several surprised faces. It seemed everyone else had also been concentrating quite hard on his or her artwork.
“That went too fast,” Doona complained as she handed Andrea her brushes.
“I feel as if I didn’t work hard enough,” Andrea told her. “You were all so focussed I didn’t want to interrupt, but I didn’t really do more than check in with you each once or twice. I hope you don’t feel shortchanged.”
“Not at all,” Bessie assured her. “I wouldn’t have welcomed any interruptions, actually.”
“Everyone should take a minute to look at all of the paintings,” Andrea said. “They are all very good.”
Bessie had to agree with Andrea’s words, at least on every picture but her own. While they were all still obviously painted by amateurs, everyone had clearly put in a great deal of effort, and Bessie was sure all of the others had improved from the first class.
“You have real talent,” she told Doona as she stood in front of her friend’s painting. “You should take more classes at home.”
“I just might,” Doona told her. “This is the first time in days I’ve managed to forget about everything going on around me.”
“Leave your paintings to dry,” Andrea instructed them. “You can collect them tomorrow or Sunday before you leave.”
“Can I just throw mine away?” Andrew asked.
“Don’t be silly,” Bessie chided. “It’s lovely and it will be a wonderful memento of your holiday.”
“I think it looks like a six-year-old did it,” Andrew replied.
“A very talented six-year-old, maybe,” Bessie said with a laugh.
“Maybe we should add painting classes to our schedule at the station,” Doona said to John. “You know, aerobics, weight training, and watercolours. I’m sure the constables would love it.”
John shook his head. “I didn’t love it,” he replied.
Bessie walked over and looked at his picture. “It isn’t bad,” she said firmly. “Remember, this was your first class. We’re all a class ahead of you.”
Jack and Nancy headed out, but Bessie and the others helped Andrea clean up. Andrea was just locking up the supply cupboard when the five o’clock news headlines came over the radio.
“A local businessman’s arrest might mean trouble for Lakeview Holiday Park. Two footballers were fined for inappropriate behaviour after last night’s match, and the weather calls for more rain tomorrow.”
Andrea hurried over and turned up the volume.
“Lawrence Jenkins, a partner in HAJ Enterprises, which owns Lakeview Holiday Park, has been arrested by local police. While we have been unable to get any official comment, we have reason to believe that his arrest is not in connection with the tragic murder of one of his business partners, Charles Adams, on Saturday. Police had been questioning a female park guest in relation to the murder, but we understand that she has been released without charge. No word yet on why Mr. Jenkins has been arrested or on any arrest for the murder.”
Andrea switched the radio off, a stunned look on her face. “But what’s Lawrence done?” she asked, glancing at Bessie.
“I’m sure we’ll hear about it in due time,” Bessie answered, evading the question slightly.
“I’d better go and talk to Harold,” Andrea said. “If he hasn’t heard, he needs to, and if he has, well, maybe that explains why Mai’s not around.”
“What do you mean by that?” Bessie asked.
Andrea shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just babbling,” the girl replied. She ushered them all out now, quickly locking the door behind her.
“Don’t forget to pick up your pictures,” she said before she rushed off down the path towards the Squirrel’s Drey.
Bessie looked at her friends. “Does that mean it’s time for dinner?” she asked.
“It better be,” Doona replied. “Our castle tour starts at seven and L’Expérience Anglaise isn’t always the fastest place to eat.”
The little group made their way to the French restaurant. It appeared that they were its first customers of the evening.
“We’ll be busy later, after everyone has unpacked,” the girl behind the hostess desk told Bessie.
She showed them to a table for four and left them with menus.
“What’s good?” John asked as he opened the menu.
“That rather depends on what sort of mood the chef is in,” Bessie replied wryly. “The first night everything was excellent, but we had lunch here the next day and it was very disappointing. It was better on our third visit, but still not as good as that first night.”
Before John could reply they heard a loud crashing noise from the kitchen. A moment later a pretty brunette came out and glanced around the restaurant. Apparently not seeing who or what she was looking for, she walked back over to the kitchen door and pushed it open tentatively. The hostess joined her in the kitchen doorway and the pair had a short, whispered conversation. As she returned to her desk by the door, the hostess gave Bessie and her friends a bright and obviously fake smile.
Another crashing noise was followed by the kitchen door opening again. This time Monique strode out, her cheeks flushed and her head held high. She looked around quickly and then plastered a bright smile on her face.
“Good evening, how are you?” she said as she walked across the empty restaurant.
“How are you?” Bessie asked pointedly.
“Me? I’m just great, thanks,” the girl replied, not meeting Bessie’s eyes. She read the day’s specials off a card and then suggested drinks.
“Maybe a bottle of wine?” Andrew suggested.
“I don’t drink on, um, er, that is, I’d rather stick to soft drinks,” John said.
“Well, I could do with a bottle of wine,” Doona said stoutly. “It’s probably best if I share it with the rest of you, though.”
Bessie grinned. “Let’s get one, then. We are meant to be on holiday, after all.”
John ordered a fizzy drink whil
e Andrew read through the wine list. As neither woman much cared what sort of wine they drank, he ordered a dry white wine. Monique nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen.
“I’m thinking things aren’t great in the kitchen,” Bessie whispered to the others. “I wouldn’t suggest ordering anything too complicated.”
“Maybe we should eat somewhere else.” Andrew said.
“John wanted to meet Monique and Nathan,” Doona reminded him.
“Maybe we could just do a quick introduction and then go and get Chinese,” Andrew replied.
Monique stomped back into the dining room before anyone else spoke. She handed John his drink.
“The sommelier will be here in a moment with your wine,” she announced before returning to the kitchen.
“Did they have a sommelier the last time we were here?” Bessie asked Doona.
“I don’t think so,” Donna said with a shrug.
When Harold Butler appeared a moment later, Bessie couldn’t help but glance at Doona and grin. He was carrying their wine and he made a big fuss of the opening and tasting. Andrew gave his approval and Harold served everyone.
“You don’t normally act as sommelier here, do you?” Bessie had to ask.
“Nathan wants to make L’Expérience Anglaise feel more like a proper restaurant and less like a holiday park,” Harold told her. “And we really want to keep Nathan happy right now.”
“Why?” Doona demanded.
“He’s an excellent chef,” Harold said. “He’s had offers from several other holiday parks and a few restaurants in London as well. I was always warning Charles not to upset him, but Charles was all about the bottom line. He kept cutting corners and Nathan was increasingly unhappy here.”
“I thought Charles liked Nathan,” Bessie remarked, trying to remember everything she’d heard.
“Charles liked anyone who could make the guests happy,” Harold retorted. “But mostly he liked people who could make the guests happy cheaply. That wasn’t ever going to be Nathan.”
“So why did Nathan stay?” John asked.
Harold shrugged. “I suppose Monique likes it up here. Even though he was getting other offers, apparently no one quite matched up to what he has here. It was just a matter of time, of course, before someone did, but Charles didn’t see it that way.”
Aunt Bessie's Holiday Page 22