I understood his feelings. I mean, there she was, this gorgeous girl with a middle-aged man on her arm, obviously not much younger than Jim himself. Now, you have to understand, Jim loves his daughter, I mean, really loves his daughter, more than anything or anyone else, and I, for my sins, had a passion towards her growing inside me. I began to wonder, seeing her and Daniel together over the following weeks, did that mean I stood a chance? For from the minute I breathed the same air as Miss Nancy Baxter, I became besotted with her.
I know what you’re thinking – ‘dirty old man’ – and you’d be right. She filled my erotic dreams, and I made sure I was around if she needed anything, anything at all. I became a ‘Peeping Tom’ looking through keyholes, through holes in the walls. I watched her, dressing, bathing and fornicating with Daniel bloody Brennan, imagining I was lying on top of her instead of him, thrusting away.”
Laurie stopped and took a swig from a glass of water before continuing. Beads of sweat had formed on his brow as if just talking about Nancy was getting him sexually aroused.
“Of course, Jim and Nancy weren’t the only members of the Baxter family. Apart from her useless brother Lucas, Nancy had a mother, Margie. What a handsome woman she was, and much better at business than Jim. She knew, I’ve no hesitation in saying, about the close relationship between her husband and her daughter. I think she was jealous at the way Nancy could manipulate Jim for her own gratification. It caused friction between the two women on more than one occasion and was obvious to any onlooker, they were both vying for Jim’s love. I believe Margie knew she would always be on the losing side but kept on trying anyway. Things came to a head one Saturday afternoon.
Margie was in the study going through some papers. I was helping her and had just left the room to get coffee. I passed Nancy in the corridor and from the look on her face something had obviously upset her. On my way back, I heard raised voices. Nancy and Margie were shouting and screaming at each other, it sounded like objects were being thrown. I hesitated before entering the room, not wanting to interfere in a family argument. Then surprisingly, I heard Jim’s voice just before the door opened. Jim stood in front of me with a look of disbelief on his face and ordered me into the room. I had never seen a dead body before. Margie’s head was smashed like a melon dropped from a great height and there was so much blood everywhere. I felt sick to my stomach. Nancy was standing over her mother, holding a log from the fire, not moving. Her hands, arms and clothes were a sea of red. I was visibly shaking, Jim told me to pull myself together, and that I had to help him get rid of her body. He told me that it was an accident, Nancy hadn’t meant to kill her.”
Sam stopped the video. “Oh my god, Nancy killed her own mother.”
“I had a feeling the minute we walked into that room there’d been violence at some time resulting in a death,” pointed out Kate. “All along we thought it was Jim Baxter who was capable of murder, but he’d been covering up for his psychotic daughter all along.”
“This Nancy, sounds an interesting woman,” exclaimed James.
“Interesting and lethal. Don’t forget Kate and I have met her, she’s beautiful all right, but definitely disturbed. Let’s continue, I’m really interested in hearing what else Laurie has to tell us,” said Sam, pressing play.
“I believed him mainly because I wanted to help Nancy, in my warped mind I thought that perhaps she would notice me now as I was helping to cover up the fact she was a murderess. Jim took Nancy out of the room so she could get cleaned up. I stayed and put the room back as best I could. When Jim returned, he was carrying a large roll of builder’s heavy-duty plastic, part of the stock he kept around the back. It was sickening wrapping Margie’s cold, rapidly stiffening body, before securing it with gaffer tape. I still wake in a sweat thinking about it.”
He took another swig of water; they could see actual tears forming in his eyes.
“Anyway, we waited until darkness and then carried her out and placed her in the back of a van. In those cash-strapped days, there were very few staff in the house, so there wasn’t anyone around to witness what we were doing. Jim drove to his family’s old farmhouse on the edge of town. He seemed to have thought it all through. He knew where he was going to put her so she wouldn’t be found – an underground abandoned cesspit chamber, hidden from view, situated just yards from the farmhouse. Afterwards, he told anyone who asked him about Margie’s whereabouts that she’d left him and he was devastated. No one had the guts to question him further. So, Margie disappeared as if she’d never existed. I was now a conspirator to murder. In a blink of an eye, involuntarily, I had become Jim Baxter’s confidant and right-hand man.”
Sam paused the video again and sighed. “So now we know who’s at the bottom of the cesspit and who put her in.”
“The whole thing is sickening. Two middle-aged men in love with a young girl, seemingly there wasn’t anything either of them wouldn’t do for her,” said Kate, as Sam pressed play again.
“The following morning, I was woken by the sound of the phone by my bed. It was Jim, he needed me up at Oaklands; apparently Nancy was having some sort of panic attack. The family doctor was called and he gave her an injection and pills to help calm her. Later that morning, Daniel returned from his trip to Christchurch where he’d been attending interviews for several teaching posts. You see, he’d been encouraged by Jim to seek employment away from Jacob’s Rest. I think Jim wanted to push him out of their lives, with the hope his daughter would finally come to her senses. Nancy seemed calmer when he arrived and was soon back to her flirtatious self.
Months went by and I began to notice a change in Nancy and Daniel’s relationship. I thought perhaps Jim’s negative attitude towards her boyfriend was finally paying off. Then I overheard a conversation one morning between the two. Nancy was admitting to Jim she hadn’t intended bringing Daniel back with her, that he was very clingy and she found sex with him repugnant. I wondered at the time whether she was saying words she knew her father wanted to hear. She went on to plead for forgiveness for upsetting him. Jim started cursing Daniel, he told her he would pull all the strings he could to get him a job in Christchurch, well away from her and the family and from now on, she should sleep in another bedroom and lock her door.
That same afternoon, I saw Daniel and Nancy leaving for the family’s private beach down at the lake. It’s a well-sheltered spot, with a boathouse. I considered at the time it was a strange thing to be doing after she’d made it obvious to her father she intended to finish their relationship. I thought maybe she wanted to tell him away from the house, away from prying ears and eyes. Anyway, I decided to follow them, just in case Daniel didn’t take the news well and got violent.
It was a beautiful warm day. I positioned myself high above the lake from where I had a great view of the lovers sunbathing. Stripped to their swimming things, they were touching and kissing each other. I knew exactly what was coming next – I’d witnessed their mating rituals many times before. Nancy sat astride him, enjoying the intimacy, throwing back her head, tossing it back and forth in her ecstasy. It was then she caught sight of me watching and a broad smile broke out across her face. It seemed that knowing I was there was turning her on – it was doing a lot for me, too. Eventually, she stood up. Now completely naked, she made no attempt to hide her body. She wandered down to the lake and waded in as far as her waist, it was as if she was washing away the consequence of their lovemaking.
Daniel was lying back on his towel, enjoying the warming rays of the sun when the large rock, Nancy had deliberately picked up from the waters edge, blocked out his light. I watched in horror as she raised her arms again and again smashing his skull, just as she had done to her mother. She stood staring down at him for what seemed an eternity, and then her head swivelled around and her eyes glanced up at me. I knew she knew I would help her. I tore down towards the lake, she still hadn’t moved from Daniel’s side. I told her we had to get rid of his body, otherwise she would be put in prison. My
words didn’t seem to be having any affect – she still just stood gazing at him. I sprinted over to the boathouse and dragged out a small rowing boat to the waters’ edge. Without any help from Nancy I managed to heave Daniel’s body inside it. Realising I had to weigh him down somehow, I collected several rocks and tied them onto his corpse with his clothes, before rowing to the centre of the lake. It took a while for him to sink. I had to push hard and hold him down with my oar. When I got back to land, Nancy and all her things had disappeared. All that was left was the blood-stained sand and stones, where Daniel had been lying.
Back at Oaklands, I went to find Jim. I had to tell him Nancy had killed again and, in my opinion, she needed help and that obviously I wouldn’t always be around to clear up her mess. He refused to listen, said he was grateful for all I had done, but Nancy was his daughter and he would take care of her. From that day on, no matter what the cost, he made sure she had the medical help she needed by bringing in a string of professionals. As far as I am aware, Nancy has not committed another murder since that dreadful afternoon at the lake.
I’ve made this video to clear my conscience, what you do with this information is now out of my hands.”
Chapter 29 – That Damn Spider
They sat staring at the screen. It was clear now, Daniel Brennan had died violently soon after he had arrived in New Zealand. After all these years of wondering, Polly had her answer.
“I can’t tell her over the phone, I’ll have to wait until we get back,” cried Sam.
“Not sure that’s a good idea,” began Alex, “this story will be big here in New Zealand and inevitably it’ll be in the national newspapers, Daniel was English, the British papers will soon pick up on it.”
Sam got to her feet. “I know you’re right. Damn, it’s going to be a difficult conversation.”
“Do you want me to do it?” piped up Kate.
“No, no, it’ll be best coming from me, but I’ll wait until tomorrow, I can’t deal with it now after everything that’s happened.” She walked towards the kitchen and opened the door. “We’ve finished watching the video Gwen, you can come back in.”
Visibly upset knowing her husband’s discretions were no longer a secret, Gwen reappeared. Instantly James stood up so she could sit down.
“I knew about his obsession with Nancy Baxter, he was never that subtle, but believe me, I had no idea about the killings,” she cried.
“No one is doubting you did Gwen,” insisted Kate. “He was just a foolish man who let his urges get the better of him. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh.”
“No, no you’re right, he was a foolish old man. If you had only known him though, when he was younger … That Nancy Baxter should be put away forever!”
Gwen put her head in her hands and started rocking backwards and forwards. When the coroner had recorded death by suicide all those years ago, life had been very difficult for her and her family. Her neighbours and the general community had shunned her for a long time, believing she was guilty of driving him to it. It took years for some to be able to talk to her and now it was all about to be dredged up again.
“Tell me Gwen, if you can, I’m curious, how did Laurie die?” asked Sam.
Gwen stopped rocking. Her eyes were blurred from her tears. “He took an overdose of tranquilizers, I never understood where he got them from because neither of us had ever been prescribed them.”
“I see … where was his body found?”
“He was in his car, parked by the lake.”
“Did he leave a note?”
Gwen rubbed her hands together. “No, there was no note, which struck me as odd at the time that he didn’t. You see, he was always meticulous in his everyday tasks. A suicide note would have been the tidy ending I would have expected from him.”
Sam put a hand on Gwen’s shoulder. “Sorry in advance, Gwen,” she continued, “but I’m going to upset you further.”
Gwen threw her a weak smile, “No more than my dead husband has already, I’m sure.”
“OK, then.” Sam started to pace the room. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing.” She stopped and folded her arms. “Right, former colleagues, what do you think? I’m guessing they were Nancy’s pills and perhaps, just perhaps, Laurie was persuaded to take them.”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking too,” replied Alex. “Gwen, I’m guessing you received a doctors’ report? Was the doctor at all suspicious about how he died?”
A look of alarm appeared on Gwen’s face. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying; that my Laurie was murdered too?”
Kate put an arm around her. “I think after watching his video, it’s a strong possibility, don’t you Gwen?”
Gwen began to sob. “Yes, you could be right. I have to admit the thought had crossed my mind, hearing you saying it out loud though … Oh, my poor deluded Laurie!”
Giving her a few minutes to compose herself, James went on to ask, “I know this is difficult for you, but was Laurie cremated?”
Gwen looked up at him, “No, we’re Catholic, I don’t believe in cremation. He was buried in the small churchyard in the town. I tend his grave every week. Cooper used to come with me when he lived here, but I go on my own now.”
Alex crouched down in front of her and talked very slowly. “Gwen, when you give the contents of the envelope to the police, you should tell them you want them to look into the possibility your husband was murdered. I think with all this information, they won’t hesitate in carrying out further investigations.”
“Alex is right, Gwen,” said Sam, “I’m sure you want justice for Laurie … There’s something else though that’s crossed my mind. Did you know Julie Arnold? Only apparently she’s another one who left Jacob’s Rest suddenly.”
Gwen wiped her tears. “Julie’s an old friend of mine. I’ve heard the rumours, but I can assure you she’s safe and well, I’ve still got the Christmas card she sent me if you want to see it. She told me in confidence that Big Jim had turned up at her house one day after he’d heard she’d been talking to someone from England about Daniel Brennan. He threatened her, and she feared for her life, so she packed her bags and left. I didn’t blame her. Big Jim can be very intimidating, as you know only too well.”
“Well that’s another mystery solved,” said Sam. “Stanley Drummond has a lot to answer for.”
Gwen glanced up at the clock on the wall and rose to her feet. “It’s getting late, you folks must be exhausted, and I guess you’ll be wanting another room?”
“If you have another room, then yes please,” said Kate, looking over at the others for approval. “Did our suitcases arrive by the way? I noticed our car at the front.”
“Yes, the police took them to your room.”
“Excellent, so Sam, I think we’ll sleep in our room and you boys can take the other one. Agreed?”
James leaned towards his wife and whispered. “I thought you and I darling would be together tonight, especially after everything that’s happened.”
“When we get to Christchurch, James, I promise,” she said kissing him softly. “I just want a chance to talk to Sam on her own.”
***
What a relief it was to be able to wash her hair and to feel the warm soapy water running over her body. Stepping out of the shower cubicle, Sam reached for the beige towel and wrapped it around her. Wiping the steam from the mirror, she squeezed the toothpaste onto her toothbrush and brushed hard for several minutes. There, she finally felt completely cleansed.
Kate had already got into bed and was looking at her phone when Sam reappeared in the bedroom.
“It’s good to get our phones back.”
Sam sat down on her divan and rubbed her hair with a towel.
“You and James should have taken this room, you know, I could have slept in another one.”
“James was fine about it. I’m shattered, I could do with a good night’s sleep.” She put down her phone. “Anyway, I think you and I need to talk. Not about dead bodies,
but about you and Alex. Wonderful news isn’t it that he didn’t get married? I thought you’d be jumping for joy. Instead you seem off towards him. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Sam ran a comb through her hair. “I don’t know Kate, I’m a mess. I do love him, but …”
“If you’re going to say again Michael keeps getting in the way, then don’t. You need to pull yourself together. Life’s too short to be constantly thinking about the life you should have had. You’ve been a widow for two and a half years now and you’re still young. There’s nothing you can do about the past, but you can do something about your future. I think whether you realise it or not, you’re finding it difficult to commit to Alex because you’re frightened you’ll lose him like you lost Michael. Life’s a gamble, there are always choices to be made, don’t let happiness slip through your fingers! You know you love him and he obviously loves you, I mean, the guy has just flown halfway around the world to be with you, what more of a declaration of love do you need?”
“Everything you’ve just said is true …” She picked up her phone and held it towards Kate. “Do you know what today is? I only realised when I looked at the date on my phone earlier. How could I have almost let this day go by without remembering? It would have been our eighth wedding anniversary.”
Kate left her bed and sat beside her friend. “Oh I’m sorry, and there was me going on.” She put her arm through hers.
“Is Michael here with me, Kate, can you sense him?”
“I’m afraid not, but if you want, we could have a séance? Only if you want to, though.”
Faraway Eyes_A fast-paced romantic murder mystery Page 18