Charlie said, ‘Now this is important, Ian, which way was she heading?’
‘She was going towards Victoria Road and she looked like she was in a hurry.’
‘Can you describe her?’
‘Well, it was dark and rainy but she was plump and she had a hat on her head. I didn’t see her face, but she was really grumpy.’
Charlie turned to Jeff. ‘You didn’t see her, Jeff?’
‘No, but I came back to the building with the policeman before he left to go to the police box, so she must have passed when I was with him.’
This was another sighting of the elderly woman and if she was the one responsible for the fire, then she was taking risks at being found out. If it had been the police constable who saw her, then he might have questioned her as a witness. He thanked the lads for their help and said that Molly sent her sincere thanks to them all and that she would be writing to them when she felt better.
Before going back to Edna’s house, he stopped at the ice cream shop on Victoria Road and bought five small tubs. Molly was sitting at the fire and didn’t look too bad but when she saw the ice cream, she said, ‘It’s just what I need for this rawness in my throat.’
Irene was cooking the tea but Molly said she didn’t want anything to eat.
Billy was eating his ice cream and Irene said, ‘I think we’ll have our pudding before our scrambled eggs.’
Molly wanted to go to the flat. ‘I have to take my clothes to the dry cleaners tomorrow and all the bedding to the laundry, and after that I’ll go and catch the Fifie.’
Charlie didn’t want her to go alone. He wasn’t off duty till eight o’clock but Edna said she would go to the flat with her and they would sort out all that needed doing. She said she would get her tea after helping Molly, so they set off to the office and Charlie stopped when they reached the police box. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss McQueen, and remember what I’ve told you. Be very careful.’
She promised and was amused by his formality. But he probably didn’t want the staff to know they were on first name terms.
Molly was appalled when she saw the smoke damage to the flat but she said she would contact the painter in the morning and get everything back to normal. Thankfully, because the flat door had been closed, the office wasn’t too bad, which meant that business would be able to go on as usual. The metal filing cabinet had protected all the paperwork so there was no problem with that, but as they took all her clothes out of the wardrobe and the drawers to put into a large suitcase, the smoky smell was obnoxious. It was the same with the bedding but they tied this up in large bundle and Molly said she would contact the laundry and they would pick it up. They also took down the curtains and Molly was dismayed to see Marigold’s lovely wallpaper all streaked with black. ‘Maybe it’ll wash off,’ said Edna.
‘I hope so,’ Molly replied but she wasn’t confident. Whoever had done this had either wanted her dead or put under great financial and personal pressure.
An hour later, Edna went home. She had tried to persuade Molly to stay with them but Molly had said that she would have to go to her parents’ house to get spare clothes anyway. ‘I’ll stay there until this place is cleaned up and then I’ll be back.’
‘Then let me walk you to the ferry.’
‘No, honestly, Edna, but thank you. It’s only six o’clock, so no one is going to attack me and by the by, good luck with John tomorrow.’
Edna gave a huge grin but watched with a worried look as Molly made her way to Craig Pier. Molly wasn’t feeling as chirpy as she portrayed as she walked through the wet streets. She felt strange wearing Edna’s clothes and she would be glad to have a hot bath when she reached the house. The Fifie would be quiet at this time on a Sunday evening and she wasn’t looking forward to crossing the river in the dark. She made up her mind that she would sit in the saloon where hopefully there would be other passengers. She didn’t relish the thought of being on the deck, in case the person who was causing all this havoc had maybe followed her and was now waiting to push her overboard.
At Craig Pier, she bought a return ticket and went to wait for the ferry. Then, much to her surprise, Charlie came in. His raincoat was wet with the rain, which meant he had walked from the station. ‘I can’t stay long but I want you to stay with Marigold. Whoever is doing this must be watching. First Vera and Peter, then you. Try to think hard about the people you interviewed, Molly. You’ve opened a can of worms somewhere along the line and we have to find this person.’
‘I honestly can’t imagine any of them doing this. Doctor Lowson was annoyed at me with my questions but everyone else seemed all right. I wonder if they’ve talked to someone we don’t know about yet, but why would anyone want to hurt us? It’s just a missing girl …’ She stopped. ‘Unless someone killed her away back then and is frightened we get to the truth.’
‘I’ve thought of that and I’m trying to dig into their pasts, but so far everything is just as they say. I think Robina Price has a lot to answer for and I’m going to see her again tomorrow.’
‘But why would she harm her sister, Peter and me?’
‘Well, maybe she was the one who harmed young Etta. Who knows.’
The BL Nairn docked on the jetty and Molly said goodbye. ‘Now watch out for yourself, Molly.’
‘What happened to “Miss McQueen”?’ she said with a smile.
‘I’m just being discreet,’ he said with a grin. He stood and watched as she hurried onto the boat and he was glad that there were a few passengers going on alongside her. The ferry slowly drew away from the pier and he hoped that this move would keep her safe.
Molly went to sit in the saloon and was pleased that three elderly women were already seated. She sat in the corner and before long they had docked at Newport. She hurried along the road to Marigold’s house. When she opened the door, Marigold looked surprised. ‘Molly. How nice to see you …’ But her voice trailed away when Molly almost fell in the door and promptly burst into tears.
Marigold bustled about making her comfortable in one of the chairs by the fire. Sabby looked put out at this intrusion in her peaceful life and she stalked away to the kitchen with her tail swishing. Marigold came back with the teapot and a glass of sherry. ‘Here, drink this, Molly.’
Molly slowly told her friend the whole story and Marigold was shocked and frightened for her. ‘I know you said this could turn out to be dangerous, Marigold, but what’s going on here? I’m not even on the case now.’
Marigold didn’t want to frighten her but she knew how some people could be dangerous if they thought they were cornered. Molly had obviously found out something that put her at risk. ‘I’ve only interviewed some women and one man and they couldn’t tell me much, but DS Johns think they’ve mentioned it to someone else and they’ve been frightened by my questions.’
‘I want you to stay with me, Molly, and you can have a hot bath here.’
‘I have to get my clothes from next door.’
‘I’ll go. Just you wait here.’ Marigold pulled her coat over her head and hurried out. She was just pushing open the back garden gate when she felt something hit her head. She fell to the ground and at that moment a car came along the street, illuminating the garden. Marigold vaguely saw a dark shape run off and she staggered to her feet and managed to get back home over the wet grass.
Molly was getting ready for the bath when she came in. ‘Marigold, what’s happened?’
Marigold took her coat off and there was a cut on her head, which thankfully was nothing more than a scalp wound. ‘Someone must have thought I was you, Molly.’
Molly went to ring for the doctor but Marigold said she would clean it up with some Dettol. ‘I’m glad I was wearing this coat over my head. It has a detachable quilted lining which cushioned the blow and, of course, the car coming along made the attacker run away.’
Molly dug out the card that Charlie had given her. It had his work number on it but he had also printed his home number as well. After th
ree rings, he answered. Molly tried to be calm. ‘Charlie, someone’s attacked Marigold. They thought I was going into the house. It must have been someone on the boat and she will be going back that way.’
‘I’ll be with you as soon as I can and I’ll get someone to be at the Craig Pier when it docks.’
He arrived within the hour and his face was grey with worry. Molly ran out to see him. ‘Charlie, what’s going on? Why is someone so set on hurting me?’
He didn’t know and he was no nearer finding out. He had to get Molly and Marigold to a safer house, as this woman was becoming more deranged by the minute. Marigold said she would go to her friend Peggy’s house to stay and she would take Sabby with her. Charlie went with Molly to get her clothes and they left on the return trip over the river.
At Craig Pier, two policemen had stationed themselves at the entrance and exit. No one came off the boat and the captain said that no one had boarded at Newport.
‘I’m taking you to a hotel for tonight,’ Charlie said. ‘But we have to make sure no one is following us.’ He spoke to the policemen who told him that no one had come off the last boat. Charlie had a thought and wondered if the culprit had stayed on board until the hue and cry had died away, so he told them to check on all trips right up to the final sailing. ‘It might be an elderly woman, but I want all names and addresses taken from all the passengers.’
Then he made a circuitous route through the narrow streets, making sure no one was following and booked Molly into the Queen’s Hotel. Before he left, he said, ‘Stay in the hotel until I come and get you tomorrow.’
Molly spent another restless night in this strange bed but she fell asleep just before dawn.
45
The woman was pleased at all the mayhem she had caused but it was beginning to be wearisome. She had been surprised by the way the day had turned out. If she hadn’t hung around the hospital, she would never have known about the house in Newport. Still, she had to stop now. Her revenge was over and she would soon be away from here and the police would never be able to find her. She had made all her plans and it was only a matter of days before she left.
What a pity those young lads had come along when they did. One had even bumped into her but a fat lot of good that would do with that stupid policeman. She had seen him hurrying off the boat to see how injured his Miss McQueen was and she had worked out he would put surveillance on the ferry. She had made the round trip via Perth in the car. She was too smart for them all and it was a pity it had to end, but all good things must come to a halt.
46
Molly wasn’t the only one who had a sleepless night. Edna had wakened at three o’clock and hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. Her mind was in turmoil over the events at the agency and she was also worried about meeting John in the morning. What if Sonia was there, still making a fuss? John had looked so frail when she had seen him in the ward and she didn’t want him upset so soon after his operation. She was glad when the alarm went off at seven and she was able to get up and get Billy ready for school. She disliked the cold, dark mornings of late autumn, but at least it was dry. The wind had turned to the east and it held the sharpness of winter in its wake.
As usual, Irene was going to take Billy to school and Edna once again was grateful to have her mother staying with her, as otherwise going to work would have been impossible. She wondered how Molly was doing in Newport – she hadn’t heard about the latest turn of events. How anyone could be so stupid as to put a fire beside the door was incomprehensible to her and she wondered if Molly’s finances would stretch to another painter’s bill.
All this was going through her head as she walked briskly up the road to John’s house. The front door light was on and she saw the soft glow of the sitting room’s lamps. She had to stand for a minute or two to get her courage to ring the bell, fully expecting Sonia to answer the door and not let her in. However, to her surprise, it was John who came to the door. ‘Come in Edna, out of this cold wind.’
He walked with her to the front sitting room and she saw a bright fire burning in the fireplace and all his papers heaped up on the table. There was no sign of Sonia. ‘I’ve made some coffee and warm rolls so sit down and I’ll bring them through.’
When he came back, Edna thought he still looked frail and he had lost some weight, but he seemed cheerful enough as he placed the tray on the small table by the two armchairs. ‘It’s so good to see you again, Edna. I thought I had said something to offend you when you didn’t come and see me in hospital.’
Edna started to speak but he said, ‘Of course, I now know it was Sonia’s doing but she told me you hadn’t come back and when she inquired at the agency they told her my contract was broken.’
‘She said she was engaged to you, John, and she had this marvellous diamond ring, which she flashed in front of me. Then she told me that you no longer needed me as she was to become your secretary.’
John shook his head. ‘She was always devious, even as a young woman. I was actually engaged to her many years ago but I broke it off after I met her sister Kathleen, who was so different from Sonia. She took it badly and she got married almost at once but, of course, it didn’t last and she blamed me for the break-up. After her divorce she went back to her maiden name.’
Edna looked at the door. ‘Is she still living here?’
John laughed. ‘No, she abandoned me to go and live with my brother James. He has a small flat in Arbroath, which he rents out in the summer, and she’s gone to stay there. James always had a soft spot for her but I hope she doesn’t ruin his life like she almost did mine.’
‘Well, it’s all in the past, John, and you’re now back on the agency books, so where do you want to start?’
‘I thought we could maybe give work a rest this morning and just sit and chat. It’s so good to see you again.’ He laughed once more. ‘I couldn’t get over your ingenuity in getting into the ward to see me. It was like some spy thriller.’
Molly explained that she had Dolly Pirie to thank for telling her about his stay in hospital. ‘Her cousin’s husband was in the same ward as you and she recognised you, but she couldn’t understand why I never visited you. Then I tried to get in but the nurse wouldn’t let me, not without a visitor’s card and I knew Sonia wouldn’t give me one, so Dolly and I came up with the scheme to get inside the ward. Mind you, I didn’t think I was going to get over to your bed because James and Sonia didn’t leave until the first bell. But I did and I’m so glad to see you’re home and we’re having our coffee and rolls in front of this lovely fire.’
John smiled at her and she blushed. ‘I let Sonia keep Kathleen’s ring and also I gave her all her jewellery, which is worth a lot of money. I hope you don’t mind, Edna?’
Edna was puzzled. ‘Why should I mind?’
He hesitated. ‘Well, I always thought I’d like to give it all to my wife if I ever married again and I was hoping you would marry me?’
Edna was overcome with pleasure, surprise and love. ‘The answer is yes, John.’
‘After you’ve finished your coffee, we’ll go down the town and get you your own engagement ring and then we’ll have a celebration meal afterwards.’ He brought the car around from the garage and they set off.
Edna couldn’t believe how quickly everything was moving. It was only a couple of weeks ago she was in the depths of despair and now she was heading into town with the man she loved to buy a ring. She felt she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
John parked the car in Union Street and they walked to Robertson’s jewellery shop. The assistant brought out a few trays of beautiful rings but Edna said she didn’t want anything too large or flashy, so she settled for a small solitaire diamond. John said, ‘Are you sure that’s the one you want, Edna? It is one of the cheapest on that tray.’
‘Yes, John. I like this one and it doesn’t matter what it costs because it will always be special to me.’ The young male assistant beamed at her – if he was disa
ppointed at not selling one of the larger diamonds on show, he didn’t show it.
‘It’s a bit early for a meal so do you want to go and see your mother and give her the news?’
Edna wanted to shout out the news to the entire world and she would gladly have hired a billboard to announce the engagement but she simply said, ‘Yes, I’d like to do that.’
Irene was surprised when they both walked in the house. ‘John, how lovely to see you looking so well,’ she said.
‘Irene, Edna and I have something to say.’
Edna held up her left hand and the diamond twinkled in the light.
‘Mum, John and I are to be married, but not until the spring.’ They had discussed the date after leaving the shop and springtime seemed to be the best time to arrange the marriage.
Irene began to cry and John was taken aback. She saw this and apologised. ‘It’s just tears of joy.’
John laughed. ‘As long as it’s not tears of distress at landing with this future son-in-law.’
Later, they went to the Queen’s Hotel for a meal and afterwards they both went to Paradise Road to tell Billy the good news. John was a bit worried. ‘What if he doesn’t want me for a stepfather?’
Edna smiled. ‘I think as long as he inherits all your great toys then he’ll be pleased.’
When he came home from school, they waited until he had eaten before Edna said, ‘Billy, John and I are going to be married in the spring. We hope you’ll be happy with us both.’
Billy was playing with his cars. ‘Does that mean we’ll live in your house?’
When John said it would, Billy ran to get his coat and he took his granny’s hand. ‘Right, then, let’s go.’
Edna, Irene and John laughed so much they almost cried.
Private Sorrow, A Page 22