Murder by Mistake

by Veronica Heley

  ‘And to pay you?’

  ‘Well, not exactly. At the end of the week, he said.’ She had put most of the cushions back on the chairs by now and gestured for Ellie to be seated. She met Ellie’s eyes with only a trace of embarrassment. ‘It’s about the house you called? He said there wouldn’t be a problem, but if you’ve found out already . . .’ She shrugged. ‘There wasn’t any harm in it, was there?’

  WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. . .

  Furies take it! Why hadn’t the woman turned up when she was supposed to? Once he’d got her in the car, he could have made her see things his way. He hadn’t thought she was the sort to be late for an appointment, either. Had she somehow stumbled on the truth about the house let? No, how could she? Could the Summers woman have let him down?

  If she had – he ground his teeth – he’d make her pay for it. And for refusing him a loan, too. How dared she!

  He must see her again. Tonight, after she got back from wherever . . .

  NINE

  Wednesday afternoon

  Ellie said, ‘I wouldn’t agree with you about there being no harm done, Mrs Summers.’ She picked up an orange which had rolled under her chair, and restored it to a bowl of fruit on the window sill. The flat-screen television was about the only thing in the room that hadn’t been upended or thrown around. ‘Tell me how you got into this.’ The sympathetic tone of voice worked.

  ‘Well, Denis asked me to help him rent a big house locally, somewhere he could have the boys to live with him. He didn’t want to go through the agency because he wanted it to be a surprise wedding present for Diana.’

  ‘So she doesn’t know anything about it?’

  ‘Not yet, no. He said he’d never got on well with you so you might refuse to let him have a house which you owned, if you knew it was him who wanted it. That’s why he asked me to be a go-between. I thought it was all rather a lark, I must say, until I realized how much I’d have to lie for him, and I’m not sure even now . . .’ An ingratiating smile, appealing for understanding.

  ‘Start at the beginning. He showed you the particulars of one of the houses belonging to the Trust and asked you to check it out for him?’

  ‘It seemed ideal for him. I dealt with someone called Elaine, whom I didn’t know, and told her I’d take it from the end of the month. She explained there was a clause about no subletting, and that was all right because I knew Denis wanted it for him and his children. So I made up a story that I had a big family and wanted to bring my aged parent in as well. Elaine wanted a deposit, and I knew what to do about that because I’d already discussed it with Denis.

  ‘He couldn’t pay the deposit or it would have given the game away. I could have paid it for him because my dear hubby – who passed away last year – left me quite well off, but it was for rather a lot of money and I do have some common sense so although Denis wanted me to pay it for him, I didn’t want to do that. Denis said he was going to transfer the money into my account with a bit extra for all my trouble, but that it would take a couple of days. So then he suggested that I make out the cheque myself with the wrong date on it, which is what I did. He said that if the bank spotted it, then I could give them another cheque with the right date on it, because by that time his money would be in my account.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Ellie, feeling rather faint. ‘And has it?’

  ‘Give it time. It’ll be all right when it does, won’t it? I mean, it doesn’t matter now you know who wants to rent the house, does it?’

  ‘Or perhaps he hasn’t put the money into your bank account yet. Do you have Internet banking? Would you like to check?’

  An indulgent smile. ‘Oh, he wouldn’t let me down like that.’

  Ellie sighed. Of course he would. ‘And the two references?’

  ‘We had such fun, deciding who to name. My doctor’s just retired, and Denis knew of a magistrate who’d died. All I had to do was remember their names and addresses. It was such a laugh.’ Her voice ran downhill. She shot a sideways look at Ellie. ‘I shouldn’t have done it, should I? Have I broken the law?’

  ‘Possibly, but I don’t think anyone’s going to prosecute. You gave Denis your bank-account details, I suppose? So that he could transfer the down payment into it? Was there much in your current account?’

  ‘A good bit. Some bonds have just matured, and I’m trying to decide what to do with them. Do you play the stock market at all?’

  ‘I’m not clever enough for that. I’m wondering if Denis has emptied your bank account.’

  She laughed, all jagged nerves. ‘Don’t be silly, he wouldn’t do that!’

  ‘I hope he hasn’t. Just check, will you?’

  Mrs Summers unlocked an old-fashioned bureau and produced a laptop. ‘I have to keep this out of sight, or the boys will wreck it.’

  ‘Very sensible.’

  Click, click. Whirr. Tap tap. ‘No, it’s all there, what should be there, I mean. Denis’s cheque isn’t in yet; I have to give it time to clear, you know. Oh, how could you give me such a fright! Denis would never, ever do anything like that. Not to me.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Ellie got to her feet, checking the time by her watch. The clock on the mantelpiece had been turned on its side and had stopped some time ago. ‘If you’ll take my advice, you’ll make sure he pays you in cash for child-minding, and perhaps you’d better take out some insurance against further damage to your house and garden.’

  ‘Oh, you are funny!’ A trill of laughter. ‘I’d trust Denis with my life. Won’t we just laugh, when I tell him.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’

  Mrs Summers bridled. ‘As if . . .! I wonder you dare to cast aspersions on his character!’

  ‘I’ll let myself out, shall I?’

  She returned to the cab and sank on to the seat with a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you for waiting. Back home, please.’ Something was bugging her. A murmur, a tremor in her handbag? Whatever could it be? Ah, she remembered she’d left her mobile phone on, at the request of Mr Balls. ‘Yes? Mrs Quicke speaking?’

  The fruity tones of the Party Planner. ‘Mrs Quicke, I have done a preliminary recce through the two files and there is one duplication which you might be able to correct. Both brides have chosen the florist in the Avenue. Your friend’s daughter Ursula has asked for modest bouquets for herself, her bridesmaid, buttonholes for the ushers and bridegroom, and for two smallish flower arrangements to go on the buffet. She has not asked for anything else. Is that your understanding, as well?’

  ‘That’s right. We thought we might go to a garden centre to get some more plants for the conservatory, to make up.’

  ‘Well, your daughter Diana has asked for much the same as Ursula – only larger and more expensive in each case . . . though nothing, of course, for the buffet. Instead, she has asked for six floral arrangements, one for each of the tables for the sit-down meal, plus two more for the top table. She’s also ordered an extremely large display for the entrance hall. You get my drift?’

  ‘Combine the two in some way?’

  ‘I understand Diana has ordered a bridal arch. If that is delivered early enough, it would be a nice backdrop for the reception line at the earlier event and for the photographs. Also, the table arrangements for Diana can be used first in the dining room for Ursula’s buffet, and dotted around the drawing room to replace the knick-knackery which you have already removed for safety reasons; and may I say what a pleasure it is to deal with a firm who take such good care of your furniture and effects.’

  ‘You mean that if I can get the florist to agree, Ursula will get a really beautiful backdrop for her photographs and more flowers everywhere, which she hasn’t had to pay for? I’m impressed, Mr Balls.’

  ‘May I leave it to you to coordinate the flower displays? I must admit that I am having some difficulty tracking down a marquee of a suitable size, though I do have a lead on one which I am hopeful we can lay our hands on. However, it is almost impossible to find enough decking for a wooden flo
or at such short notice. I have both my slaves working on it as we speak, but I must tell you that it is not going to be easy.’

  ‘Let them eat grass. Sorry, I meant, they can dance on the lawn, can’t they?’ It would also be less expensive. Millionairess or not, Ellie was shuddering inwardly at the thought of how much this was all going to cost her. Almost all her money had been put into the Trust, leaving her ample for everyday purposes, but not for this. Thomas contributed to the household expenses and made her a generous allowance as well – which he really had no need to do. But he couldn’t be asked to help pay for Diana’s wedding. And there was Mia to be looked after, as well. Ellie would have to do some hard thinking about where the money was to come from.

  Meanwhile, the Party Planner was humming to himself. Finally, he said, ‘Yes, I see no reason why we shouldn’t do without decking. The lawn would recover in time, and it would simplify matters enormously. It is a pleasure to work with you, Mrs Quicke.’

  He shut off his phone, and Ellie redirected the cab driver to the Avenue. She had thought of calling in at the flower shop, but no; it was closed. Wednesday afternoon, of course.

  What next? Oh. Hadn’t Diana threatened to have a dress fitting that afternoon? No doubt Ellie would be footing the bill for that, too. Diana’s dress for her first wedding had been a pretty meringue: a huge skirt, a lace veil, bare shoulders. Fashionable at the time, and costly enough.

  What would she choose this time round? Something even more expensive, of course.

  It was much more expensive.

  Ellie was greeted by Rose as she entered the house. Finger to lip, Rose threw her eyes upwards. ‘She’s here. In the guest bed room with the fitter. Ordered me to provide her with a drink, but the fitter said, “Not when wearing my dress,” so I didn’t.

  ‘But you don’t need to worry about Mia, because Ursula’s here in the kitchen, working out if Mia can bake something special for the party, which is keeping Mia happy I must say, and Ursula’s brought her some delightful sandals to wear and an iPod with her favourite music on it and all sorts of things that a girl needs to feel pretty. Isn’t she a clever girl?’

  Disentangling this, Ellie dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘I need a word with Ursula—’

  There came a summons from above. ‘Mother, are you there? What kept you? I need you here, now. I keep telling the woman that I need the dress to be tighter, and she will argue with me, which is quite ridiculous!’

  Ellie exchanged despairing glances with Rose and obediently mounted the stairs.

  No, it was not a meringue. Perish the thought. It was a shimmering sheath of oyster-coloured silk, hand embroidered with crystal beads around a shockingly low cleavage – shocking because Diana didn’t really have much to boast about in that direction. The rest of the dress was spangled with beads of the same oyster colour. There were thin straps over the shoulders which left Diana’s arms bare, and there was a train. Of course. The dress followed the lines of her body without clinging to it, so that when she moved, the beading caught the light. It would be, as Ellie understood at a glance, hideously expensive.

  ‘Tighter!’ demanded Diana. ‘Mother, take a seat over there. Don’t come between me and the mirror.’ She did a quarter turn so that Ellie could see her back view. The dress was cut away down past her waist and held in place only by a couple of straps, anchored by buckles of what looked like gold.

  ‘The dress must flow!’ insisted the fitter. ‘It is designed to suggest, rather than flaunt!’

  ‘Tighter!’ insisted Diana, who had always known what she wanted, and usually got it. ‘Mother, you agree? Since you’re paying for it, you might as well have some say.’

  ‘Any tighter and we’ll be able to count your ribs, dear,’ said Ellie, unaccustomedly tart. ‘How much is all this going to cost me, may I ask? I’ve been down this road once already, remember, and frankly I can’t afford to be so extravagant this time.’

  ‘Oh, three choruses of hearts and flowers! Everyone knows you’re rolling in money.’

  ‘The Trust has plenty, true. But I can’t see myself asking them to pay for your wedding. I personally have a reasonable but not lavish income, which does not allow for expenditure at this level.’

  ‘Get Thomas to stump up, then. He only married you for your money, didn’t he?’

  Ellie drew in her breath sharply. How could Diana even think that! Ellie controlled herself, just. ‘I think you’d better pay for your dress yourself.’

  The fitter said, ‘No dosh, no dress.’

  Diana reassured her. ‘It’s perfectly all right. Mother’s bark is worse than her bite.’

  Ellie said, ‘Not in this case.’

  ‘Nonsense! How could I possibly afford it? I skimp every day as it is—’

  ‘Only because you’re supporting Denis as well. Did you really have to take him into your flat when his wife threw him out?’

  ‘What else could I do? Besides, he’s getting us a wonderful big house to live in.’

  ‘Have you seen it yet?’

  ‘Not yet.’ She wasn’t worried about it, either. ‘It’s good you reminded me about the flat. I’m putting that on the market, of course. Difficult to sell, in this recession. Can you get the Trust to buy it off me?’

  ‘No, I can’t. You keep it. You may need it.’

  Diana pulled a face. ‘Such a poky little place. Denis and I are falling over one another all the time, which is another reason why I had to have the fitting here, where there’s more room. I shall stay here the night before the wedding, of course, so you can tell little orphan Annie to find herself another cushy berth.’

  ‘I’ll do nothing of the kind. If you must stay here, you can have little Frank’s room, and by the way, I hear he’s most unhappy about the wedding. Don’t you think it would be a good idea for you to spend some time with him, explain things, listen to his fears?’

  ‘I’ll get Denis to talk to him.’

  ‘That, Diana, is not a good idea. Frank is frightened of Denis.’

  ‘What nonsense.’

  ‘Diana, I insist.’

  A shrug. ‘Oh, very well.’

  ‘Good. And by the way, your Party Planner says you’ll have to have a marquee in the garden to house your reception, as our rooms are not suitable for such a large party. More expense.’

  Another shrug. ‘You can afford it.’

  ‘Keep still, please!’ said the fitter.

  Diana smoothed the dress down over her hips. ‘That reminds me. We’re only inviting a couple of witnesses to the registry office, so Denis and I plan to exchange our vows here, before the sit-down meal. I thought Thomas might pop on a surplice and preside.’

  ‘Now that he will not do! No, Diana; you go too far.’

  ‘Ask him nicely. I’m sure he’ll do it to please you.’

  ‘I think not.’ Ellie walked out of the room, telling herself to keep calm, that it wasn’t the end of the world, that worse things happen at sea and so on. She needed to go to some place quiet to recover.

  Soft orchestral music was coming from somewhere. Ellie looked over the banister down to the hall below. Thomas’s much-loved stereo had been turned on in the sitting room, and a figure in a peach-coloured dress was dancing to its beat, twisting and twirling, barefooted on the parquet floor. She held a pair of high heeled sandals in one hand; she was graceful, almost ethereal, her eyes unfocused, absorbed by the music and the movement. Her hair had been cut shorter and curled closely around her head, and she was wearing a discreet amount of make-up.

  Mia was happy.

  A sudden movement startled the girl, and she stopped dancing to look at someone who’d come along the passage past the dining room. The music continued to play so Ellie couldn’t hear what was being said, but she thought she detected Thomas’s deep tones. The girl nodded once, twice. Then, moving like a sleepwalker, she passed out of sight, leaving the music to play on.

  Ellie made her way downstairs, turned off the stereo and went into the kitchen to mak
e herself a cup of tea. There was a big tote bag on the table, and from it spilled the things which Ursula had brought for Mia. Another pair of sandals, some make-up, a pretty jacket. How thoughtful of Ursula, and also, how good of her, as she must be living on the remains of her student grant, and perhaps was even in debt. Most students ended up in debt, didn’t they?

  Rose had retired to her own room for her afternoon nap.

  Ellie made herself a cuppa, sat down with it in her hands, put both her elbows on the table, and gave way to tears. She cried softly, because she didn’t want to disturb Rose. She told herself that she had no real cause for tears, that she was just annoyed by the way Diana was behaving, not even asking her mother to be a witness at her wedding, and then there was the horrific expense, and she didn’t know how she was going to manage it, but manage it she must. Then Thomas had lured Mia into his room and the girl had gone without a hint of alarm, when she’d been shying like a frightened horse if any other man came near her, which meant . . . which meant that Thomas was much better at dealing with Mia than Ellie.

  Which meant that she was being self-indulgent, self-pitying, sorry for herself, call it what you like. Crying like a baby for no good reason. She ought to be thanking God for all His goodness to her, instead of crying.

  Well, she did thank God, and on the whole she trusted that He’d see her through her present set of crises. She knew she ought to be able to dump the whole lot of problems in His lap in a sort of ‘over to you’ fashion. If He couldn’t solve them, nobody could.

  Which made her laugh. For in the cosmic scale of things, her problems were really nothing, were they? There were wars and floods and famine happening all over the planet, and here was she, wailing away over trivialities.