Death at Beacon Cottage

by Betty Rowlands

  While she was speaking, the newcomer held up an identity card which Sukey affected to scrutinise carefully before saying, ‘Yes, I suppose so. Come in.’

  ‘That went all right,’ said the newcomer as the door closed behind her. ‘You’ll be interested to know that a representative sample of the residents of Woodbine Close have a strong interest in protecting the environment and are dead against GM food.’

  ‘Well, good for them,’ Sukey said. Something about the tone of voice and the wry hint of humour struck an immediate chord and she held out her hand saying, ‘I’m Sukey Reynolds.’

  The newcomer put her clipboard on the hall table and took Sukey’s hand in hers. ‘Hi, Sukey, I’m Nina Barratt,’ she said. Her voice was warm and friendly, her grasp strong and reassuring. ‘Any more calls since you got home?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Fine. Hang on a minute while I check in.’ Nina took a mobile phone from her handbag, tapped out a number and waited a few seconds before saying, ‘Stage one completed, no problems so far.’

  ‘I’m so relieved you’re here,’ said Sukey fervently as Nina switched off the phone and put it away. ‘Everything’s moved a bit fast today, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had time to look over my shoulder every few minutes.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. Everything OK this end?’

  ‘I think so. My son is with his father and the security lights have been installed. That bleep sets my teeth on edge,’ Sukey added with a grimace.

  ‘You’ll get used to it. What about the phone?’

  ‘I haven’t checked. It’s in the kitchen—’ She was about to add, ‘and there’s an extension upstairs,’ but Nina interrupted.

  ‘Then that’s where the new instrument will be. Which way?’

  ‘Straight ahead.’ Sukey took a step forward, intending to lead the way, but Nina moved swiftly ahead of her and opened the kitchen door.

  While they were talking, the light had been fading fast and Sukey reached for the light switch. Her hand froze as Nina said sharply, ‘No lights till the curtains are drawn!’

  ‘Well, pardon me,’ Sukey muttered. She felt a stab of resentment as it dawned on her that while Nina was there she was no longer in charge in her own home. She stood in the doorway, watching while her bodyguard moved swiftly to the window, keeping out of sight as she peered out into the twilit garden and the field beyond.

  ‘Right, OK, close the curtains before you switch on and make sure your shadow doesn’t fall on them,’ she commanded and Sukey, rather sulkily, obeyed. It had been a stressful day and she was beginning to feel the strain.

  Meanwhile, Nina was inspecting the phone. ‘Yes, that’s OK. Look,’ – she beckoned to Sukey, who was still standing by the window – ‘every time you answer a call, be ready to operate this button.’ She pointed with her forefinger. ‘As soon as you’re sure it’s him, go ahead and press it.’

  ‘What happens then?’

  ‘The moment the source is identified a call goes out for a rapid response team to check it.’

  ‘The calls have come from public call boxes so far. Supposing he’s hung up and gone by the time they get there?’

  ‘It’s up to you to keep him on the line as long as you can.’ Nina’s grin held a spark of mischief as she added, ‘He’s been playing cat and mouse with you so far. It’s time for you to play the cat as well… or shall we say, copycat?’

  ‘I’ll do my best.’ With an effort, Sukey threw her ill-humour aside. ‘I suppose we’d better think about some food… and what about a drink? Would you like a glass of wine?’

  ‘Nothing alcoholic for me; I’m on duty remember? A soft drink would be fine and some food even better – I’m starving. I’d like to use the bathroom first, though.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll show you where you’re sleeping – your case is in the hall.’

  Having installed her guest in her temporary quarters, Sukey returned to the kitchen, poured herself a drink and began preparing vegetables for their supper. She had just put the pan on the stove for a stir-fry when a voice behind her said, ‘Don’t be alarmed, it’s still me!’ She swung round and gave a gasp of mingled shock and astonishment at the sight of the figure in the doorway. The collar-length blond wig had disappeared, revealing short, neatly trimmed dark hair. Gone too were the spectacles and the heavy make-up; the smart business suit had been replaced by a checked, long-sleeved shirt worn outside loose cotton trousers. For a moment, as she stood gaping at her own living double, Sukey thought she was hallucinating. Then the extraordinary truth dawned on her.

  ‘You’re Pepita!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Ironic isn’t it?’ Nina said drily. It might have been imagination, but Sukey thought she detected a momentary flicker of pain in the other woman’s eyes at the mention of the name. For a few seconds the two studied each other in a slightly bemused silence. Then Nina said, in a voice that was not quite steady, ‘We really are remarkably alike, aren’t we? Our trigger-happy friend’s in for a shock – he’s getting two copycats for the price of one!’

  Sukey blinked as if trying to clear temporarily distorted vision. Until now, she had only half believed in the notion of a doppelganger and it was taking time to adjust to the reality. ‘Is that why they selected you for this job?’ she asked.

  Nina shook her head. ‘Pure chance – I just happened to be the only suitable officer available.’ Her eye fell on the bottle of chilled chardonnay that Sukey had left on the table. ‘I think, if you don’t mind, I’ll have that drink after all – a very small one, and don’t tell on me, will you?’ she added with a faint smile.

  ‘Of course I won’t. Help yourself.’ Sukey gave her a glass. She noticed that Nina’s hand shook slightly as she poured out the wine. ‘I guess you know the background to this pantomime, then?’

  ‘I know that you’re under threat because Roddy – Miguel Rodriguez – mistook you for me when he saw you one day at the nick. They wouldn’t tell me why he was there, or anything else at all. Incidentally, have you any idea what’s become of him?’

  Sukey had been on the point of relating the bizarre circumstances of Roddy’s disappearance and the subsequent trail of untraceable faxes, then remembered that Jim had told her everything in the strictest confidence. ‘All I can tell you is that he did a runner before the police had a chance to pull him in for questioning.’

  ‘That’s what they told me, but I believe there’s more to it than that. I think he’s being protected by the people behind all the robberies, probably because they want to use him again.’

  ‘How can they? If he shows up again he’ll risk being recognised and arrested.’

  Nina shrugged. ‘Plastic surgery and disguise are pretty sophisticated nowadays. It wouldn’t be difficult to alter his appearance, give him a new identity.’

  ‘Did you tell the police that?’

  ‘No. They weren’t interested in my theories. They simply told me that they reckon a professional hitman has been given the job of killing you because they think you’re me, gave me a rough description of a possible suspect who favours shooting his victims in the back of the head and said in effect that was all I needed to know.’

  ‘Would that description include dark glasses, cropped hair and a gold earring?’

  ‘Yes – does it mean something to you?’

  ‘It applies to the driver of a car connected with the case, but it could equally apply to any number of young wannabees. The hitman may be someone entirely different.’

  While she was cooking, Sukey told Nina about the episode outside Henry Greenleaf Antiques. ‘Jim Castle’s convinced there’s a connection between the killings and the art robberies, and that Rodriguez is the missing link.’ She dished up the food and set it out on the table. ‘I hope you don’t mind eating in the kitchen.’

  ‘Not a bit.’

  For a few minutes they ate in silence. Then a thought struck Sukey. ‘Jim – and presumably the Super as well – thinks that the motive for wanting to kill Pepita is revenge f
or betraying Roddy. Do you believe that?’

  Nina shook her head. ‘Funny you should say that.’ She played with the stem of her empty glass, waving aside Sukey’s offer of a refill, her expression abstracted. ‘Motive was hardly mentioned during my briefing,’ she said after a pause. ‘I suppose they reckon it’s the intention that counts, not the motive.’

  Sukey waited a few moments before saying quietly, ‘You haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘No, I haven’t, have I?’ To Sukey’s consternation, Nina’s voice wavered on the final words and she laid down her fork and put her hands over her eyes.

  ‘Look, I didn’t mean to upset you…’

  ‘It’s all right… you have a right to know why you’re being targeted.’ Nina brushed the back of her hand across her eyes and made a valiant attempt at a smile. ‘I’d be grateful if you’d keep this to yourself if possible.’

  ‘Of course.’ Because she seemed at a loss how to go on, Sukey said gently, ‘You care for him, don’t you?’

  ‘I kept telling myself it was just a temporary thing, I’d forget about it as soon as the operation was over. And I never intended to let it go as far as it did, but a couple of nights before that robbery, things got out of hand and for the moment I just forgot why I was there with him…’

  ‘Look, there’s no need to go on if it hurts.’

  ‘No, I have to tell you because I think I can explain why the people behind all these robberies want you – me, that is – out of the way. I mentioned disguise and plastic surgery and so on, but there are some things it would be difficult to alter without doing a man permanent injury, and, well, without going into details, I’d be in a position to describe a certain feature which would make identification more or less certain.’ As she spoke, Nina’s voice lost its tremor and became almost clinically detached.

  ‘I shouldn’t have let it happen,’ she went on. ‘It was very foolish, very unprofessional. No one will ever know how close I came to chickening out of the whole operation. It would have meant the end of my career and the waste of hundreds of hours of police time, but the thought of turning Roddy in, of being the cause of his being banged up…’

  Once again, her voice wobbled and Sukey picked up the wine bottle. ‘Are you sure—’ she began.

  ‘Quite sure.’ Nina’s mouth was set in a determined line; the moment of weakness had passed. ‘I’m here to protect you, remember? I wouldn’t be much good in a shoot-out if I’d had a drink.’

  ‘Shoot-out!’ Sukey had temporarily forgotten the reason for Nina’s presence. ‘Have you got a gun on you now?’

  ‘Of course – it never leaves me.’ Nina finished what was left of her meal and pushed back the empty plate. ‘Thanks, Sukey, that was delicious.’

  ‘There’s fruit crumble to follow.’

  ‘Sounds super.’

  They had just finished their meal and were clearing the table when the bleeper sounded, making Sukey freeze in sudden terror, then leap sideways and shrink against the wall as Nina hissed, ‘Keep away from the window!’ before diving for the light switch. The interior darkness revealed that the outside light above the kitchen window had been activated. Nina cautiously lifted one corner of the curtain and looked out, then gave a little chuckle. ‘Come here and see your intruder,’ she said.

  Sukey looked where she was pointing. A hedgehog was crossing the back lawn, moving like a little clockwork toy. It was not until she released her breath that she realised she had been holding it until her lungs were almost bursting. ‘I can see we’re going to have quite a few false alarms,’ she said, with a feeble attempt at a laugh.

  ‘Don’t ever get too relaxed,’ Nina warned. ‘I don’t think our man will make his move in darkness, but we’re taking no chances. Every time that thing sounds, treat it as if it’s the real thing, OK?’

  Twenty-Five

  By mutual consent, they turned in early leaving their bedroom doors ajar so that they would hear the warning signal. After a long period of wakefulness Sukey fell into an uneasy sleep; some time in the small hour she sat up in bed with a start, feeling as if an electric needle was being driven into her skull. Something – or someone – had been detected by one of the sensors. Still only half awake, she threw off the bedclothes, lurched to the window and peered out. The street lamp that illuminated the cul-de-sac was switched off at midnight, but a ring of brilliant light fell on the front garden, fading on the perimeter to penumbra and then t deep shadow. It lent an air of unreality to the familiar scene, as if the curtain had risen in a theatre where the final act of a melodrama waited to be played out. But there were n actors; the stage was silent and deserted.

  Something moved behind her and she spun round with a cry of alarm on seeing a dim figure framed in the doorway.

  ‘Get away from the window!’ The voice was a harsh, urgent whisper.

  ‘Nina! You scared the life out of me!’

  Without replying, Nina crossed the room and stood against the wall, peering obliquely round the curtains. Sukey slumped down on the edge of her bed, her heart thumping and her head spinning after the sudden leap from slumber into wakefulness. Nina’s right hand was concealed, but from her stance and the angle of her elbow, it was easy to surmise that she was holding a gun. She was still fully dressed; evidently, she had gone to bed prepared for something like this.

  ‘Can you see anyone?’ Sukey whispered. ‘Not from here. Don’t move or make a sound – I’ll check from the other windows.’ Like a shadow, Nina slipped out of the room and padded across the landing, while Sukey sat shivering in her nightdress. The figures on her digital clock glowed red in the semi-darkness, ticking off the seconds.

  At last Nina came back. ‘After all that it was only a cat.’ As she spoke, the exterior light went out, leaving them in darkness. ‘I dare say we shall get a few more false alarms,’ she went on in a matter-of-fact voice, ‘but please remember what I said about never standing directly in front of the window, especially just after the alarm has sounded.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Sukey humbly. ‘I was so startled, I forgot all about it. Is it OK to put my light on now?’

  ‘If you want to. It’s only three o’clock.’

  ‘I don’t know about you, but I could use a hot drink. I’m frozen.’

  ‘Not a bad idea. You put on something warm and I’ll go and put the kettle on.’

  It was clear that even though the moment of crisis had passed, Nina still considered herself in charge. Reflecting that if this was likely to be a regular occurrence it might be a good idea to follow her example and sleep in something more practical, Sukey pulled joggers and a sweatshirt over her nightdress before going downstairs.

  After drinking a cup of tea, they went back to bed. To Sukey’s surprise, she awoke the following morning to find that she had had several hours of restful sleep. The smell of fresh coffee wafted upwards as she crossed the landing on her way to the bathroom. She went downstairs to find Nina in the kitchen, reading the morning paper with a mug of coffee in her hand. A used glass and cereal bowl stood on the draining-board.

  ‘I’ve made myself at home – I hope you don’t mind,’ she said as Sukey entered. ‘I put my head round the door before I came down, but you were dead to the world. You needed that sleep; the stress was getting to you.’

  ‘No problem,’ said Sukey as convincingly as she could. ‘I hope you found everything you wanted.’

  ‘Yes, thanks. Can I get you anything? I only made enough coffee for one, by the way – I thought you’d prefer yours fresh.’

  ‘That was very thoughtful of you,’ said Sukey drily as she took orange juice and milk from the refrigerator.

  Nina gave her a sharp glance over the rim of her mug. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘I know it must be hard, being bossed around by a stranger in your own home…’

  ‘It’s all right, I didn’t mean to sound sarky. I know you’ve got a job to do.’

  ‘Let me make a fresh pot of coffee while you eat your cereal.’

 
‘Thanks.’

  After a short silence, Nina said, ‘I’ve been thinking, trying to get some sort of feel for the psychology of this joker. I reckon he’s a bit of a sadist who enjoys making his victims squirm before he kills them – hence the phone calls.’

  ‘How long d’you reckon he’ll keep it up?’

  ‘Hard to say. It depends on how long he’s got to finish the job. If he’s not been given any other assignments, I suppose he can spin things out and have his fun for several days before making his move.’

  Sukey shivered and put down her spoon, her appetite gone. ‘Several days!’ she exclaimed in horror. ‘I’ll be a nervous wreck.’

  ‘No you won’t… but in any case, if you box clever, you might be able to hurry things along.’

  Nina put two mugs of fresh coffee on the table and sat down again. Sukey picked hers up and wrapped both hands round it, grateful for its warmth. ‘How do you mean?’ she asked.

  ‘Like I said, I think he gets his kicks giving his victims the jitters, so next time he calls, try and act scared, plead with him… and of course, tell him it’s all a mistake, that you’re not Pepita but someone who looks like her. He won’t believe it, of course – in fact, we don’t want him to—’

  ‘Oh, thanks very much!’ This time the sarcasm was intended. ‘I do believe you want him to take a pot at me.’

  ‘Of course I don’t, I simply want to flush him out into the open.’

  ‘Yes, I see.’ Once again, Sukey found herself questioning the wisdom of the entire enterprise. ‘Just the same, I’m beginning to wonder whether I should have taken Jim’s advice.’

  ‘Gone into hiding, you mean? No, I reckon you made the right decision.’ Nina sounded as casual as if they had been discussing a change of wallpaper.

  ‘I hope so.’ Sukey finished her coffee and stood up. ‘I think I’ll have a shower.’