Russet said, ‘Yes, we see that it looks odd. But Diana wouldn’t bother to kill Bunny. I mean, why would you, Diana?’
Diana shook her head. She wouldn’t.
Ellie nodded. ‘Agreed. It could be just a coincidence. But two deaths …’
Russet scraped back her chair. ‘You mean they might query Walt’s death? It was his heart, surely!’ Her colour faded.
Barbie pressed Russet’s head down to her knees. ‘You are not going to faint. Understand?’
Russet took a couple of deep breaths and sat back in her chair again. ‘I’m all right.’
Barbie released her. ‘Mrs Quicke, you really think the police are going to investigate Walt’s death?’
Ellie said, ‘I don’t know. There will have to be an autopsy. If he died of a heart attack, then probably not. But if there are bruises on his back, if they think it possible that he was pushed down the stairs, then … wouldn’t you?’
An indrawn breath from someone. Trish?
Trish’s voice rose. ‘It was I who suggested we might push someone down the stairs, but I didn’t mean it!’
‘And you didn’t do it, Trish.’ That was Barbie. ‘Keep your hair on. You can prove you didn’t.’
‘No, of course I didn’t!’ Trish said. ‘I wouldn’t. Oh, this is all so ridiculous! I could do someone an injury, I really could.’
Everyone managed a smile at that.
‘Trish, you are expressing the frustration we all feel,’ said Barbie, ‘but be careful not to make a threat like that before the police.’
Trish understood. ‘My stupid tongue!’
Ellie was concerned about Russet. ‘My dear, would you like some water?’
Russet took some more deep breaths to calm herself, and managed, ‘I’m all right, really. It was just … I’ve just realized that we did foretell those two deaths in our emails. Not that we meant it. I still can’t believe it. I’m trying to, but I can’t.’
Barbie’s eyes switched to and fro. Yes, she was going to take control of the group, wasn’t she? ‘Well, we know that neither Russet, Kat nor Trish could have killed him.’
Ellie agreed. ‘True. None of you were there. You alibi one another.’
‘Yes, that’s right; we do,’ said Barbie. A sudden thought. ‘Except for Diana.’
No one looked at Diana directly.
Ellie stole a glance at Diana to see her biting her lip, colour flaring in her cheeks.
In an indistinct voice, Diana said, ‘I didn’t think I needed an alibi. Yesterday afternoon I went to different places, talked to this and that persons – I expect the police can find some people who saw me. I certainly didn’t kill Bunny. Or Walt, either.’
‘No, of course not.’ Ellie let her declaration of faith in her daughter hang in the air. ‘Another cup of coffee or tea for anyone?’ Only Russet accepted.
Ellie said, ‘The police may decide there is no case to answer, that these two deaths are unrelated and that the email suggestions were coincidences. May I ask whether you yourselves would agree with that decision?’
Uneasy looks were exchanged around the table.
‘Reluctantly, no,’ said Russet. ‘Oh, this is a nightmare!’
Barbie shook her head. ‘I’d like to believe it. I really would. It’s a horrifying thought that someone might actually have arranged for poor Bunny to die …’ She closed her eyes for a moment, frowning and then ironing out the frown. Frowning marred her good looks and at her age, it was important to avoid that.
Kat spoke up for the first time. ‘Me, I do not believe it. It is, what you say, flying in the face of something big. One death, yes. Two deaths, nonsense!’
Trish mouthed some words to herself, shaking her head. ‘I don’t want to believe it. It can’t be true!’
Ellie said, ‘You do understand that the police may now wish to interview you all.’
Russet said, ‘Thank God we can all alibi one another.’
Ellie agreed. ‘Yes, you can. Except for Diana, but I’m sure people can be found who saw her at the relevant times. As of this moment, you are all protected from suspicion by having been with your friends. What I am going to suggest is that you don’t now fly off to the four corners of the earth but stay here for one more day, continuing to give one another protection. I want you to think twice before you leave this house, and if you do have to go out, you do so in pairs.’
An indrawn breath from Barbie. ‘You think there’s going to be a third death?’
Kat squeaked, and put both hands to her mouth. ‘You think Rupert … or Diana’s husband, Evan …?’
‘Terry!’ Trish looked wildly around. ‘Someone’s going to kill Terry?’
‘I’m not suggesting anyone in particular,’ said Ellie, ‘but I do think it would be wise to take precautions. Kat, I know you need to buy one or two things and I daresay the others have found that because they left home in a hurry, they haven’t got everything they need. I’m going to have to order in more food, so you might like to add on to my order with a local supermarket and have the stuff delivered. But, if you must go shopping yourselves, I really do suggest you go in pairs.’
Trish said, ‘I could go shopping with Kat, if you like. She looked after me yesterday. I owe her one.’
Barbie as usual, was ahead of the others. She tapped on the table. ‘Let’s think sensibly. It would be best to order everything we need online. Even if two of us went to the shops together, suppose one got separated from the other, our alibis would be shot. Give me your list, Mrs Quicke, and I’ll do it for you on the Internet. That is, if I may borrow a computer? Mine is still at home in the study, and I suppose that harridan will give it to that no-good son of hers. Unless you prefer someone else to do that?’
Here she gave a quick glance at Diana, clearly thinking that she would offer to help her mother out on this one, but Diana’s gaze was fixed on the horizon and she didn’t react at all.
Ellie was aware of the subtext but chose to ignore it. ‘Thank you, Barbie. I’ll show you where my computer is and give you the password.’
Barbie said, ‘That’s that, then. Now, Mrs Quicke, you’ve obviously given this matter some thought. If these two deaths are judged to be suspicious and we didn’t kill them, then who did?’
‘Indeed, that is the question the police will be asking. Before she left last night, Lesley suggested that none of you leave this house for the time being. I realize that’s an imposition and possibly impractical. It’s not just that Lesley wants to keep you here, but that she wants to keep you safe.’
Trish was round-eyed. ‘You think we are in danger? Who would want to kill us?’
Barbie thrust back her chair. ‘It’s not us who are in danger. It’s the men. We’re not being killed off one by one. They are.’
‘Murder? Really?’ gasped Russet. ‘But who? And why? For God’s sake, why would anyone want to kill Walt, or poor Bunny, or any of us?’
‘And,’ Ellie drove the point home, ‘who wants to put the blame on you? Because that’s what it amounts to, isn’t it? Without those emails, no one would think of connecting any of you with these deaths.’
Diana returned from wherever she’d been in her thoughts and slapped the table. ‘That’s right. Someone’s trying to make out we killed the men!’
Kat said, ‘It was Rupert who took the emails to Evan. You think Rupert has fantasy of a pretty young wife, like Trish? It may be so, but he is not a killer. No, that I do not believe.’
Trish reddened. ‘No, really. Me and Rupert? Phew! Honestly!’
‘In my book, Rupert’s not clever enough,’ said Russet. ‘This is too subtle for him. Just look at how someone primed Terry to work on Trish by threatening to kill the dogs. Is Rupert bright enough to have thought that up? I doubt it. Kat, I agree with you that Rupert wouldn’t go so far as to kill anyone. Besides, if he really did want a younger wife then he’d be wanting to get rid of you, not Bunny or Walt.’
Russet said, ‘I’ve seen Walt looking at Trish, too.
Looking is one thing. I don’t think he ever got as far as touching, did he?’
Trish was scarlet with embarrassment. ‘Of course not. I know Terry said I flirted with Walt, but I didn’t, honest! And he didn’t either, not really.’
Kat spoke up. ‘Walt pinched my bottom once. He thought he was big shot. Men like to pinch bottoms. In my country, is a sign they like you but not enough to marry you.’
Barbie dismissed this. ‘Juvenilia. Hormones. Nothing to worry about. What worries me is this: do the men realize the seriousness of their position? After all, Terry didn’t seem to know about Walt’s death. Do they realize that they are in real danger themselves? I don’t think it’s crossed their minds.’
Russet said, ‘Surely Terry will tell the others.’
‘Agreed, but will they understand that they’re the ones in danger now that we’ve all left? If they were stupid enough to think we might have killed Bunny, they’ll believe the moon is made of green cheese.’
Barbie focused on Ellie. ‘They’d believe it if the police told them. How long do you think it’s going to be before we’re asked to make a statement about our movements?’
Ellie said, ‘I suspect they’ll wait on the result of the autopsy for Walt before making any final decision but, whether they decide to take the matter seriously or not, I expect my friend Lesley to let me know what’s happening. At least, I hope so.’
Barbie was not convinced. ‘We can’t wait for the police to make up their minds. I think we should tell the men what we believe straight away.’
Trish said, ‘Terry was horrid to me this morning, but I know he didn’t really mean it. I don’t want him to die. Shall I ring him?’
Barbie said, ‘Would he listen? I doubt it.’
Ellie agreed. ‘Well now; Terry might not listen to Trish, but I know someone who might be able to talk sense into the men.’
ELEVEN
Tuesday morning.
Trish pushed her chair back. ‘I can’t sit still and do nothing. I’m going to ring Terry. If he doesn’t listen, well, at least I’ll have tried!’
Barbie said, ‘No, Trish. You’d only be setting yourself up for an argument. I don’t honestly think we can ring Evan, or Terry, or Rupert, and tell them their life’s in danger without proof. We can’t just say, “We think this”, and “We think that”. They’d laugh themselves silly.’
Ellie agreed. ‘Yes, they probably would. I’m going to tell Monique, Evan’s first wife, what we know or suspect. Remember that it was she who masterminded your expulsion in the first place. She has never liked Diana,’ and here there was a quick exchange of glances among the wives, which Ellie saw and pretended she hadn’t. Diana put her chin up and pretended she didn’t care.
Ellie continued, ‘No doubt it gave Monique some satisfaction to organize Diana’s removal from Evan’s life, and she has gone along with his refusal to let Diana have access to their son. Monique had the evidence of the emails in front of her. The men wanted out of their marriages, and she was only too happy to help.’
‘You know that for a fact?’ asked Russet.
‘She admitted as much to me. Monique has a good business head on her and is nobody’s fool. I believe she organized the cleaning teams to pack up your belongings, but she is intelligent and fair-minded. If she is presented with the alibis which you all have for Walt’s death, then I think she might admit to a modicum of doubt about who was responsible for what. She might not be convinced that Bunny’s death was engineered’ – again a frisson of doubt ran through the room, and again, Ellie ignored it – ‘but she will be bright enough to accept that we are making a valid point in trying to get the men to be on their guard and yes, they will listen to her.’
Barbie wasn’t sure. ‘She will listen to you?’
‘Yes.’
Barbie made up her mind. ‘Very well. We would be grateful if you would do that, Mrs Quicke and, while we’re on the subject,’ she collected the eyes of the other women, ‘I would like to apologize if we have been less than polite to you. We were under the impression that … Well, I don’t think we behaved as well as we might have done when we arrived. In short, we are all profoundly grateful to you for taking us in and looking after us so well.’
Which, being translated, meant that Diana had told her friends that Ellie was a poor, weak creature, due to move into an old people’s home? And that they now know better.
Diana’s chin rose even further in the air. She got to her feet, looking at no one. ‘My mother has always had my best interests at heart. I am glad you have all been able to take refuge here. I’m sure the men will see sense soon. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some phone calls to make.’ She stalked out.
Ellie wondered if it would make a difference to the group if they knew that Diana was pregnant. Barbie and the others would make allowances for Diana’s behaviour, wouldn’t they? It was painful for Ellie to realize that her daughter was unable to make friends. It seemed unlikely that Diana understood what friendship meant. The other women knew and drew on one another’s strengths. Diana’s coldness and, yes, her self-centredness excluded her from such warm relationships. It was a minor miracle that she’d felt concerned enough for the others to offer them refuge at her mother’s house. That was probably as far as she would ever go.
Barbie understood that, and so did Russet.
Ellie said, ‘Thank you. You are all very welcome.’ And meant it.
Trish, unfortunately, hadn’t the same insight as Barbie and Russet. She had to take Barbie’s group apology to Ellie further. ‘You see, Diana told us this house was family property and she would be taking it over soon—’
Barbie cut her short. ‘Yes, well. Diana doesn’t always get it right. She told me that her stepfather Thomas was a …’ She coughed and thought the better of what she had been about to say. She added, ‘I think he’s quite something, and definitely no pushover.’
Ellie said, ‘You need say no more. I did inherit this house from a relative and when that happened, I gave my own house to Diana to live in instead. I did inherit a lot of money, but it’s all gone into a charitable trust fund. I’m glad you like Thomas. He’s my best friend as well as my dear husband. Diana finds it difficult to understand that she will not inherit this house nor any of my money, but she is my daughter and I love her and our grandson, and I will do what I can to help her, and you, through this.’
In other words: apology accepted.
‘Good,’ said Barbie, bracing herself for what was to come. ‘Now, Mrs Quicke, in what way can we help you? For a start, do you want me to place an order for food and other things online?’
Kat spoke up. ‘I can do that. You showed me how, and I can do it. Perhaps with a bit of help?’
Trish said, ‘I’ll help. I’ve got my laptop upstairs and we can use that.’
Russet tapped an unlit cigarette up and down, up and down. For two pins, she’d burst into tears again. ‘This is all wrong. I need to know what’s happened to Walt. I need to go back home. Ought I to ring the police and tell them where I am?’
Ellie said, ‘I’ll ring the police for you, and try to find out what’s happening. Remember, if you do go back home, you ought to have someone with you.’
If I don’t think of something for them to do, they’ll all fly away to family and friends and it will be difficult for anyone to question them again. What can I suggest?
Ellie made up her mind. ‘I’ll get to work on phone calls straight away. Hopefully today will bring some good news and you can all begin to make plans for the future. In the meantime, you are welcome to stay on here, although I realize your quarters are not what you’ve been used to. While I’m doing the phone calls, I’m going to suggest that before you leave this room you work out what personal things you might need to get from the shops today and give Kat or Trish a list. I’ll have a quick look in the freezer in a moment and work out what food we need. I know we’re going to need milk, eggs, bread and cereal for a start.’
Trish woke
from a brown study, possibly thinking about the dogs? ‘I promised to ring my dad again this morning, and my sister, to tell them when I’m arriving, but I can see it would be better to stay on here for another day. That is, if you don’t mind, Mrs Quicke?’
Ellie said, ‘Of course, Trish. Tell them you’ll ring them again tomorrow when things are a bit clearer.’
Kat pushed up her sleeves and reached for an apron. ‘First, we clean away the breakfast things, right? Then, Trish, if you will help me make a list of what we need to order? I can do it, but I need you to check that I have not made silly mistakes, right? I will cook quiches for lunch and a hotpot of chicken for tonight.’ Kat was happy to be able to use her skills.
‘Excellent,’ said Ellie. ‘There’s a pad and some pens on top of the fridge that you can use to make your lists. Remember, whatever you do, do it in pairs. Now, Barbie and Russet, once you’ve told Kat what you need, I’ve got a job for each of you to do.
‘Russet, we need to get the names and contact details of all the cleaners whom the men used to clear your belongings out of your homes. I have a feeling that Monique will have used my friend Maria’s cleaning agency in the first place, but I doubt if Maria would have had enough people available at short notice to tackle five houses from her own workforce, because they will have been busy on their usual jobs. I will speak to Maria myself in a minute and find out what other agencies she might have recommended, and let you know. Would you then contact the agencies one by one and find out if they were employed on the job? Most importantly, we need to know what time the cleaners saw you leave, and when they left themselves. They will have submitted time sheets showing what hours they worked, and with any luck can confirm that the men – or, in Barbie’s case, her husband’s first wife and son – were alive when they left.’
‘Got it,’ said Russet.
Ellie said, ‘You can use Thomas’s study, which is at the far end of the corridor. He’s going to be out this morning, so you can use one of the desks and his separate landline.’
Murder by Suggestion Page 15