by Ali Carter
‘Any time, Daniel.’ I meant it.
‘Toodle pip.’
‘Bye.’
I knew Lucy was out but I hadn’t for the life of me expected to see Toby hovering in the kitchen when I turned around. He’d been as quiet as a mouse.
‘How come that man has your number?’ he asked.
‘He had the house number not my number so he probably looked it up in the book.’
‘One of your posh friends, was it? Sounded awfully formal with me.’
I was thrilled to see Toby’s reaction. I think he likes me!
‘Isn’t his voice hilarious? He’d never get a job with the BBC.’
‘Who was he?’
‘It was Daniel, from the weekend, ringing to basically confess he’s gay.’
‘You’re not serious?’
‘I am. He was worried about telling the police he’d been in Archie’s bed. Isn’t that sad.’
‘Archie’s bed!’
‘Yeah, but Archie wasn’t there.’
‘Quite risqué of Daniel to get into his bed.’
‘Maybe, but maybe not. Anyway, where was Archie?’
‘In the Russian girl’s bed?’ said Toby. ‘Or yours?’ he quickly added.
‘Toby! He wasn’t in mine, and I can’t believe he was in Tatiana’s considering what she said to me about him.’
‘When did she say it?’
‘On Sunday morning.’
Toby pointed out that Tatiana could have been putting me off the scent of thinking Archie was in her bed. But, I reckon this was a bit far-fetched.
‘Why did Daniel ring you?’
‘I assume he wanted a final push to go and tell the police.’
‘Or,’ said Toby, ‘he could have been jealous of Hailey flirting with Archie and fabricated the whole story to cover up the fact he killed her.’
‘Which would mean Archie was in his own bed all along.’ I let out a huff. ‘This is so complicated and even more so that Archie was wearing the same PJs as the man I saw in the billiard room.’
‘So that’s why he wasn’t in bed.’
‘Not necessarily as Stanley was also in the same stripy pyjamas. But, if we buy Daniel’s story there’d be enough time for him to get into Archie’s bed and fall asleep before the alarm went off.’
‘And was the alarm connected to the death?’ asked Toby.
‘I just don’t know. The police haven’t brought it up again so I guess I’m the only one who thinks it might be.’
‘Maybe it’s time you told them about this man in the PJs?’
I had very little mental energy left to consider doing this right now, and anyway, if I shared my theory of Vicky with Toby, it could eliminate the PJ man altogether. But, I wasn’t going to tell Toby about Vicky. I didn’t want him to think of me as a cruel person and it would be hard for him not to if he knew I was accusing a woman in mourning. Toby had a soft spot for women, I’d seen it before and I didn’t fancy the struggle of trying to convince him of my point of view. So, it came as a great relief when he changed the topic and suggested we needed to eat some lunch.
‘I don’t think there’s much in the fridge,’ I said pulling it open, ‘but I could make us some tuna mayonnaise as there’s plenty of bread for sandwiches.’
‘Sounds good to me.’
Toby began buttering the bread and I hunted in the larder for some tins.
Much to my joy I also found my favourite, a packet of salt and vinegar crisps, which perked me up.
‘I spoke to DCI Reynolds this morning,’ I said, our conversation uninhibited in the knowledge that Lucy was far away test-driving a lorry. ‘He told me Hailey didn’t die of orellanine toxin or deadly webcap but they do think she was poisoned.’
‘By what?’
‘They don’t know but the good news is I’m no longer a suspect.’
‘Glad to hear it. Are you happy to sit outside and eat these?’
‘Sure,’ I said and we left the kitchen. ‘Hey, Toby, how do you think Hailey died?’
‘Crikey Susie, I have no idea. I hate to disappoint you but,’ he paused, ‘she might have died from kidney stones.’
‘Nonsense,’ I said as his plate wobbled on his knee. ‘You can’t die of kidney stones.’
‘You can, Susie, I know.’ He spoke gently. ‘I’m a doctor and DCI Reynolds said her kidneys were malfunctioning, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, but what are the signs of kidney stones?’
‘Usually a high fever, vomiting and intermittent unbelievable pain.’
‘She certainly wasn’t in any pain I can tell you that and I don’t think she was sick or feverish.’
‘Well, maybe the stones were still in her kidney. Pain only comes when they travel to your bladder.’
Toby, having finished eating, popped back into the kitchen and it upset me he felt he could break our flow of conversation like this. We weren’t talking about a casual matter here, and although I really didn’t mean to sound resentful when he came back outside I said, ‘What makes you think she had kidney stones?’
‘Thirst and the fact she hadn’t urinated, that’s all, don’t worry.’
‘So, you’re not actually certain?’
‘Not certain but there is a chance she could have died of kidney stones.’
‘Okay,’ I said, reluctant to agree with him but I opened my sketchbook all the same and added it to my list.
‘Hey, you don’t want to come with me on a trip to the supermarket, do you?’ Toby’s enthusiasm for something so mundane immediately picked up my mood.
‘Of course! It’s too hot to draw in the midday sun so let’s go.’
Toby and I were in his car travelling through Canny’s elaborate gates on our way to the supermarket, me scratching the end of my nose even though there wasn’t actually anything making it itch. Every time I put my hands down it would irritate me again, and so the process went on until Toby said, ‘Perhaps you should give DCI Reynolds a call and take him up on his offer of a chat.’
‘Why?’
‘Firstly, I think you want to,’ he looked across at me and smiled. ‘And secondly, he might have some new information, you never know. And we’ve got to do something to get you back on form.’
‘I’m sorry. It’s really eating away at me and it’s so unfair when you’ve come to stay.’ I shuffled around in my seat, sorted out my posture and getting a grip of myself I looked across at Toby and said, ‘I’m going to try hard to block it out for a bit.’
‘As if. Go on, give him a call.’
Thrilled by Toby’s encouragement I immediately dialled DCI Reynolds’s number. And although he was happy to talk, ‘It’s hard to tell at this stage what killed Miss Dune. But the team at the hospital are working all hours and are trying to narrow it down as we speak’, his ability to explain the situation without giving specific details was immensely frustrating.
‘Was Hailey’s liver intact?’ I asked knowing I was grasping at straws but I had to provoke him somehow, and I was after all talking to a policeman not a doctor.
‘I’m in no doubt they know what they’re up to,’ was all he said.
‘If I came to you would I be able to see a copy of the autopsy?’ Toby glared at me and I knew I was overstepping the line, even before he prodded my thigh.
‘The autopsy report is only available to next of kin or other authorised individuals. I’m sorry Susie, but that doesn’t include you.’ It was unnecessary but nice of him to apologise.
‘Perhaps I could come in and have a chat anyway?’ I’d decided to take DCI Reynolds at his word.
‘Do, I’ll be in my office until late so turn up when you want.’
Within minutes Toby had dropped me outside Norham police station and gone on to the supermarket.
DCI Reynolds’s personal space was a closed-off glass cube in the corner of an open-plan office. The rows of other desks all faced away, their sitters’ eyes glued to computer screens, helpfully giving us a little bit of privacy at least.
As soon as I’d been welcomed in, together with Sergeant Ayari, DCI Reynolds nipped off to make me a cup of tea. I didn’t want one but it was an easy way of getting him out. Something I needed right now as I wanted privacy to share my theory on Mrs Ramsbottom with Sergeant Ayari. It’d then be in her hands whether to tell the boss at this stage or not.
‘Sergeant,’ I said. ‘I’ve seen Victoria Ramsbottom recently, the woman who did the cooking at Fontaburn Hall.’
‘Oh yes, the one who left midway through dinner because she was feeling ill.’
‘You know?’
‘Of course, we know Susie.’ She smiled. ‘We’ve been over and over the events of the evening and this is an important detail. Her departure put us on high alert that perhaps she’d been poisoned too.’
‘Oh gosh, she hadn’t had she?’
‘No, which opened up a whole new avenue of investigation. I don’t know how well you know Mrs Ramsbottom?’
‘Not well at all.’
‘But you’ve seen her you say?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where?’
‘Yesterday at the stables where I’m working and then this morning I went to her house to return an item of clothing she’d left behind.’
‘I see. So, you’ll now also know she wasn’t very ill.’
‘I didn’t think she looked ill.’
Sergeant Ayari went on to tell me Mrs Ramsbottom didn’t object to any of the tests ran on her to ensure she had no toxins in her body, and amongst the clear results, there were no traces of flu or a cold.
‘That’s good but why weren’t we all tested?’
‘Mrs Ramsbottom was the only person who said she felt ill and therefore the only one we were afraid could have been infected if there was poison on site.’
I didn’t a hundred per cent believe this but I respected Sergeant Ayari for telling me as much as she felt permitted to tell, and I concluded for myself that medical tests can be expensive and perhaps they felt it was a wasted expense at this time.
Sergeant Ayari continued, in the same matter-of-fact tone, to tell me that DCI Reynolds is, ‘conscious Mrs Ramsbottom has had a very sad time recently and he’s inclined to think her illness was psychosomatic’. If it wasn’t for Sergeant Ayari’s next sentence, ‘You’ll understand it must be hard for Mrs Ramsbottom to be around happy couples of her age,’ I’d have said her words denoted an uncompromising core. Something that would give her great advantage in this line of work.
When she finished with, ‘Nevertheless, any successful investigation must not be influenced by human empathy and she therefore is still a suspect on our list,’ I was pleased to hear it, thinking Sergeant Ayari was in the making for a mighty fine investigator.
‘Does Victoria Ramsbottom have a connection with Archie beyond being his occasional cook?’
‘Yes, her husband and Mr Wellingham jointly owned a racehorse. Over the last year they formed a close friendship although following Mr Ramsbottom’s death the racehorse was sold.’
‘Ah ha!’
Sergeant Ayari’s face was full of surprise. ‘Were you on to this Susie?’
‘I had my suspicions.’
‘And do you have any others? You know you can confide in me.’
I thought hard before saying anything.
‘Please Susie,’ Sergeant Ayari pleaded.
‘When I entered Hailey’s bedroom in the early hours of Sunday morning I noticed it was far warmer than mine and that there was a glass of water by her bed. The one I told you I knocked over.’
‘Yes, don’t worry about that.’
‘Well, based on nothing other than my own thoughts, I wondered whether Victoria had used the excuse of turning down the beds, bearing in mind mine wasn’t, to enable her to turn up the heating in Hailey’s room and put a glass of poisoned water in place.’
The dumbfounded expression on Sergeant Ayari’s face worried me.
‘Please don’t think I’m heartless,’ I said.
‘Let’s not worry about that. You’re telling me Mrs Ramsbottom could have been the one who poisoned Miss Dune?’
‘Yes, I suppose I am.’
‘On account of her being American?’ Sergeant Ayari looked troubled. ‘From our background checks we do know about the friendly fire incident and it is awful how her husband died, but do you really think it’s motivation for murder?’
‘That’s the only motive I can think of.’
In skipped DCI Reynolds with three cups of tea. ‘Here you go Sergeant, I knew you’d want one.’
‘Thank you, Inspector.’
‘Susie, no sugar, right?’
‘That’s right, thank you,’ I clasped the mug.
‘What did you want to discuss?’ he asked as he strolled around to his side of the desk.
‘Well, I was so pleased when you rang to tell me I’m no longer a suspect and I wanted to come in and have a chat.’ I spoke nonchalantly, despite feeling terribly guilty inside that I was doing exactly what I’d told Daniel off for: telling a half truth is a lie.
‘Of course,’ said DCI Reynolds. ‘The sooner you knew the sooner we hoped,’ he looked at Sergeant Ayari who was lost in her own thoughts, ‘you’d be in here to help us.’
He ruffled around his desk, picked up a notepad, underneath which I saw a green file with Miss Hailey Dune written in bold diagonally across it. My eyes lit up. ‘Don’t worry Susie,’ said DCI Reynolds, misinterpreting my expression, ‘my notes are for me and I promise nothing you say will be held against you.’
Phew!
As he sat down I caught his glance and realised the low-cut dress I’d put on for Toby’s benefit could actually come into play here.
I leant forward. ‘Perhaps we could both share what we have so far?’
DCI Reynolds shuffled back in his chair. ‘There are very few things I’m permitted to share but you must tell me all you know.’
‘Inspector,’ said Sergeant Ayari breaking her pensive silence. ‘Can you and I have a brief word in private please?’
DCI Reynolds looked at me, sitting comfortably sipping hot tea, and asked if I’d be alright left alone for a moment or two.
‘Yes, very happy.’
Out the room they went, on through the open-plan office and out of sight. I couldn’t believe my luck. My body trembled as I quickly and carefully stretched across the desk and flipped open Hailey’s file. The third divider down was labelled ‘Autopsy’. I glanced through the glass, no one was looking. I’d stopped breathing, and quick as a flash with my mobile firm in my hands I took photos of the three relevant pages.
It was seamless. I flipped the folder shut, pushed it back into place and no one whatsoever had caught me in the act. I have no clue how I would’ve explained it but that necessity was irrelevant now.
‘Very, very interesting your theory on Mrs Ramsbottom,’ said DCI Reynolds entering his office with Sergeant Ayari’s broad smile coming in behind him. ‘Are there any more thoughts you’ve had that you’d be willing to share with us?’
‘It depends who your key suspects are,’ I said, shocked at my own presumptuousness.
DCI Reynolds gave a chuckle. ‘This is classified information that with the intuition you’ve shown us thus far probably matches up to your list but often in suspected murder cases the motive is hard to find, sometimes it’s an impulsive act and in others a carefully thought out revenge.’
I finished his sentence for him, ‘Giving us two separate avenues to explore.’
‘Exactly. The only concrete evidence we have, Susie, is kidney failure, and I’d go as far to say that this has led us to assume Miss Dune may, and only may, have been poisoned.’
DCI Reynolds took a long sip of tea and I wished Toby was here. Without him I couldn’t possibly suggest kidney stones. It’s not a diagnosis I would’ve ever come up with alone and if I threw it in to the pot right now, it’d be perfectly obvious to these two I’d been discussing the case with someone else.
Instead I asked wh
ether he thought Hailey swallowed something by mistake.
‘Our primary concern is to determine cause and manner of death.’ DCI Reynolds’s delivery was crisp and uncompromising. ‘The pathologists are carrying out tests to determine the effects of chemical agents on Miss Dune’s vital organs and my investigators are at Fontaburn Hall searching for any trace of domestic or unfamiliar chemicals.’
I decided, in the hopes it may lead me to get something specific out of this ‘chat’, that the time had come for me to give a little bit more from my side. ‘I don’t want to introduce a false lead,’ I said. ‘Which is why I didn’t tell you this earlier but I saw a man in stripy pyjamas through the window of the billiard room moments before the burglar alarm went off.’
‘Shoot!’ let out DCI Reynolds. ‘I thought we’d put that scenario to bed.’
Sergeant Ayari looked at him.
‘Can you give us any more information Susie?’
I wavered as to what to say. My mind cast back over the scene.
‘I’d looked out of my bedroom window; an outdoor light was on and it lit up the bottom storey of the wing opposite mine. It was then that I saw a figure in pyjamas spread like a starfish across the inner bottom window ledge.’
‘Who was it?’ asked Sergeant Ayari.
‘Unfortunately, I don’t know. The middle bar of the window obscured his head.’
‘Didn’t you see when he got down?’ asked DCI Reynolds.
‘I’m afraid I’d carelessly fallen off the radiator onto the floor by then.’
‘I do hope you were okay?’
‘Absolutely fine. I’m sorry.’
‘Why were you on the radiator?’ asked Sergeant Ayari.
‘I was trying to get reception on my mobile telephone.’
‘I see.’
‘Both Archie and Stanley were wearing the same pyjamas as the man I’d seen.’
The conversation halted, DCI Reynolds was violently jotting down notes, then, lifting his head he ordered Sergeant Ayari ‘to act immediately’.
She stood up. ‘Yes Inspector.’
‘Take a colleague with you right now and conduct a thorough search of Fontaburn Hall billiard room, paying particular attention to the window ledge the figure was standing on. Footprints, fingerprints, DNA – that’s what we’re looking for. Please keep the information Susie has given us under your hat for the time being. If Mr Wellingham raises any objections then you can tell him we’ve broadened our search to cover all bases. I want you to pay close attention to his reaction, it could be of great value to our investigation.’