Murder in Time

by Veronica Heley

  A gesture of helplessness. ‘We were dancing in the hall when all hell broke loose. Vera tangled with the Hulk and got knocked for six, almost brought me down, too. Dan yelled at us to get out, so I helped her through the kitchen and into the garden. We all went off in different directions, trying to get away. Raff caught up with us, said there was somewhere we could hide down by the pool. I suppose half a dozen of us landed up in the hut. We were all somewhat hysterical. We could hear the gang hallooing for us for a while, blundering around in the dark, but they didn’t find us, and after a while they went back to the house and everything went quiet. Someone said there was a way out to the road further on, and a couple of the boys went to see if they could get out that way. They didn’t come back. I didn’t want to walk home by myself, so I waited for Simon. Dick gave me a drink, which I didn’t want, so I passed it to Vera. She collapsed. Dick dragged her out on to the grass, with … with someone.’

  ‘Raff?’ said Ellie.

  ‘You know about Raff? Yes, Raff helped him. They were well away; laughing, staggering about, saying it was their birthday or some such nonsense. Dick pounced on Vera first. Raff and Abdi were egging him on.’ She wet her lips. ‘I was the only one left in the hut by then. I couldn’t believe it was happening. Was afraid they might start on me. They were so hyped up … Raff was such a big lad, and Abdi … No one got in Abdi’s way if they knew what was good for them.’

  ‘Didn’t your brother make any effort to stop them?’

  ‘I told you; he wasn’t there. But someone else tried. Jack … Jack the Lad, you remember? … loomed up out of nowhere with his girl, what was her name? Carol? He could hardly stand up straight, I suppose he was drunk, but he did try to stop them, stood there trying to fight them, windmilling, you know, enough to make a cat laugh, with Carol trying to pull him away. Raff gave him a push, and he landed in the shrubbery. After that he got the message and went off down the path with Carol.’

  It wasn’t Carol. It was … Caroline? With Jack. This confirms what Jack said.

  Dan said, ‘Was Simon second or third?’

  ‘I told you, Simon wasn’t there. I waited till they were all concentrating on Vera, and I slipped away. I found the gate, got out through the back alley and went home.’

  Dan said, ‘So your brother Simon was still on top of Vera when …?’

  ‘No. Certainly not. He wasn’t there. And no, I’ve never spoken of it to anyone since. Ever.’

  She’d protested too much. Ellie didn’t believe her. Gail had said she’d been waiting for Simon to walk home with her, so he had been there. Hadn’t he?

  Vera was ashen. ‘Dick, Abdi, Raff. And maybe Simon. Anyone else?’

  Gail shrugged. ‘I have no idea. I left.’

  Vera ran her fingers back through her hair. ‘It was Sylvia who rescued me. I remember her coming down the garden from the house. There was a blue light flashing somewhere in the sky. A police car. She helped to clean me up in the hut, but she didn’t see me home. You say she went to Australia?’

  Gail said, ‘She’s well out of it. As is Simon. He didn’t do anything. It’s wrong to talk about him just because he was there. It could ruin him.’

  ‘I don’t want to ruin anyone,’ said Vera.

  ‘Doesn’t he deserve to be ruined?’ said Dan. ‘Or, at least, to pay for what he did?’

  ‘I keep telling you,’ said Gail. ‘He didn’t do anything. Anyway, others do far worse things.’

  ‘Serial killers? Child abusers? Rapists?’

  Silence.

  Gail said, ‘I think this has all got out of hand.’ She managed a rueful smile. ‘I mean, what has Vera really got to worry about? Abdi is a bully, and she has to call his bluff. She tells him to get lost or she’ll sue him for rape and, as he’s already admitted that Mikey is his child, he won’t have a leg to stand on. He won’t dare go to the police. He’ll have to pay her a hefty cheque for looking after the boy all these years. Then, if he still wants the boy, he can negotiate access. Vera will get a golden handshake, Mikey will get a prince’s upbringing. Abdi has a son to show off to the world, and everything turns out for the best. I’ll put you in touch with a good solicitor, if you like, Vera.’ She turned her smile on Dan. ‘Don’t you agree, Dan?’

  ‘Some of what you say makes sense. But it doesn’t answer the question of who killed my father.’

  ‘Oh, that. It was one of the drug dealers, of course. You’re never going to get at the truth of that, now. I agree, this has all been very upsetting, but we must get over rough territory as lightly as we can. You and I should keep out of Vera’s hair and let her make the best arrangement she can for her future.’

  ‘Not so fast,’ said Dan. ‘I’ve asked her to marry me.’

  ‘What!’ Gail’s complexion went from a blushing pink to a sickly white. It seemed she’d invested more than time in her friendship with Dan.

  Vera snapped back: ‘And I refused him. What do I want with a husband? I’m busy all hours of the day and night as it is, what with Mikey to keep on the straight and narrow, my work at college, helping Rose out with the housekeeping and looking after my flat upstairs. I need a hole in my head as much as I need taking on a man to look after, to feed and wash and clean for, to have to account for the housekeeping and consider all his little ways.’

  Dan said, ‘State your terms.’

  ‘Can you promise not to drop dirty socks and pants all over the bedroom floor, or leave the cap off the toothpaste, or forget your keys, or expect me to pick up your cleaning from the shops, or find the files you’ve left at school or under your desk, or locate your games kit? You don’t really think I’d take on someone else who needs looking after, do you?’

  Mikey stared at his mother, open-mouthed.

  Dan began to laugh, but quickly sobered. ‘You’re right. I’d be a demanding husband. And you’d hate the rented house I’m in at the moment. I didn’t think about how it would look from your point of view. You’ve forgotten my cycling. Perhaps you didn’t know about that? I joined a club and spend a couple of hours a week doing events. Or rather, I did, but that’s … We can discuss that later. The thing is, you’ve always been so practical, I thought you’d be able to organize me and still have time for your own career.’

  ‘Yes, my career is important to me.’ Angry tears were in her eyes. ‘I want to stand on my own two feet.’

  ‘As I said, state your terms, and I’ll agree to them.’

  Vera swiped tears from her cheeks. ‘Soft talk. It’ll get you nowhere.’

  Gail said, ‘Dan …? Really …? You and Vera?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Dan. ‘Whatever happens. Sorry and all that, Gail. We’ve had some good times together, haven’t we? But you always expected more of me than I could give.’

  Gail recovered, clutching and releasing the catch on her handbag. ‘And you expected more of me than I could give. I have a demanding job. You can’t expect me to drop everything to provide clean underpants or look for lost keys.’

  ‘Indeed,’ said Dan, shaking his head in sorrow. ‘I’m afraid I need a lot of looking after.’

  Mikey’s mouth remained open, his eyes switching from one to the other. Was he working out that Dan was manipulating both Vera and Gail?

  Vera snorted. With laughter, or outrage? But had the wit to hold her tongue.

  Gail stood up and smoothed down her coat. ‘Well, I’m glad we’ve had this little chat. Cleared the air. We part good friends, right?’

  ‘You’re a great girl, Gail,’ said Dan, with a mournful smile. ‘I’m not worthy of you.’

  He’d overdone it. Vera hiccuped, hand over mouth. Mikey lowered his head till it was almost on his worksheet, while Ellie shot a sharp glance at Gail, to see if she’d cottoned on. But she hadn’t. Too self-absorbed?

  Ellie said, ‘I’ll see you out, Gail, shall I?’

  Gail left, without a backward glance. As Ellie was in the act of shutting the front door, Vera pushed Dan before her into the hall. ‘He’s leaving, too.’<
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  Dan was laughing. ‘Till tomorrow?’

  ‘I’m otherwise engaged!’ At least, that’s what Vera’s mouth said. Her eyes said that she was looking forward to it.

  He took her by her shoulders and gave her a long, sweet kiss. She didn’t object.

  As Ellie held the door open for him, Dan said, ‘Thank you, Mrs Quicke.’

  Once he’d gone, Vera let herself relax, leaning against the wall, sighing. Then pulled herself upright. ‘Well, this won’t get the ironing done, will it?’ And swept off up the stairs.

  Ellie returned to the kitchen. Rose was asleep in her chair. Mikey was fingering his mobile phone. Ellie cleared away the tea things and wiped down the table.

  Mikey said, ‘Mr McKenzie. Could be a lot worse, I suppose?’

  Ellie nodded.

  Mikey twisted his fingers into his hair. ‘He’s good at getting people to do what he wants, isn’t he?’

  Ellie nodded again.

  Mikey reflected, ‘I should think he’s a good teacher. Wouldn’t stand any nonsense.’

  ‘Do you want another biscuit?’

  He took one, absent-mindedly. ‘I’m glad she – that Gail woman – is not our doctor. He won’t go back to her now, will he?’

  ‘I wouldn’t think so. Did you delete what you’d recorded?’

  ‘Mm. Probably. She’s going to get on to her brother straight away, isn’t she? He’ll be hopping mad.’

  Ellie set the table for breakfast. ‘I expect they’ll all ring one another.’

  ‘What will they decide to do?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  Mikey grimaced. ‘They deserve to be punished for what they did. Don’t they?’

  ‘You must ask Thomas questions like that. And remember, your mother doesn’t want to go to the police about it. I don’t blame her. The victims of rape often get a rough ride in court, and then it all gets in the papers. It’s tough.’

  He shook his head. ‘Thomas will say that if they’re sorry for what they’ve done, you should forgive them. I don’t feel like forgiving them.’

  ‘I think Thomas would say that if they’re sorry for what they’ve done and want to make amends, then you must forgive them.’

  ‘You mean, make amends by giving us money?’

  Ellie wasn’t sure. ‘Money doesn’t always fix things, does it?’

  He fiddled with his pen. ‘Abdi doesn’t seem to be sorry for what he did. He’s not a Christian, is he?’

  ‘I expect he’s a Muslim, though I haven’t asked.’

  ‘I wonder what Muslims think about rape. They probably think Mum ought to be stoned to death.’

  Ellie tried to smile. ‘I should hope they’re more civilized than that about it.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind seeing Abdi stoned to death. Do you know what they do? They dig a hole and tie your arms down and put you in the hole and fill it up with sand right up to your neck and then they throw stones at you. Small ones at first, so it takes a long time for you to die.’

  Ellie was silent. She didn’t like the sound of that. Not at all.

  Mikey sighed. ‘Well, I suppose I’d better finish my homework. Double maths tomorrow.’

  Later Wednesday evening

  Ellie was staring into space when Thomas joined her in the sitting room. She saw at once that he was upset about something, so she made an effort to forget Vera’s problem. ‘Trouble?’

  He threw himself into his La-Z-Boy. ‘Some supposedly clever men have the brains of a … peahen? What’s the male equivalent of a peahen?’

  ‘A peacock. Who could be more brainless than a peahen?’

  ‘A Venerable who doesn’t know how to count.’

  ‘Forgotten to send you his article?’

  ‘Sent me one he was supposed to send to the Church Times. And they’ve got mine. Theirs has been proof-read already. Mine is twice the word count I have room for. I am not amused.’ He held out his hand, to take hers. ‘And how have you been faring with the not-so-young lover and his lass?’

  Ellie produced a genuine smile. ‘He’s winning Mikey over, and he’ll have Vera eating out of his hand within days. Mikey wants to know if he is supposed to forgive Abdi and the others. He’s feeling bloodthirsty about them at the moment.’

  ‘Justifiably. How far did you get?’

  ‘Gail will be ringing around as we speak, alerting all and sundry to the possibility that I’m going to blow the whistle on them in order to rescue Vera from Abdi’s clutches. I suppose it might make Abdi rethink his strategy.’

  ‘Vera’s going to have to go to the police and charge him with rape. That’s the only way to stop him.’

  ‘She doesn’t want to do that. The alternative is to find out who really killed the doctor. That would draw Abdi’s fire and salve the hurt that Dan has suffered. He has suffered for it, you know. He’s conscientious. Probably blames himself for everything going wrong that night, for inviting so many people, for letting in the gatecrashers, possibly even for his very existence. Not to mention he’s now been hurt all over again, having to admit that he misjudged Vera, that he didn’t go to her aid, that he took her father’s word for it that she didn’t want to see him.’

  ‘You like him?’

  A nod. ‘I do. I think that, given a fair chance, he and Vera will make a go of it … though what we’d do without her here, I don’t know.’

  ‘We’d manage.’

  Ellie nodded again, thinking that she knew who’d have to find another housekeeper who could cope with Rose’s eccentricities, and it wouldn’t be Thomas.

  Thomas’s mobile phone rang, and he answered it, gritting his teeth. He mouthed to Ellie, ‘It’s my Venerable Idiot again,’ and went off to his study to take the call in peace and quiet.

  Ellie did a bit more thinking, and then got out her own mobile phone to make a call. ‘Lesley, is that you? I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’

  DC Lesley Milburn was not only an efficient police officer but had also become a friend on Christian-name terms.

  ‘Only a very boring telly programme. Everyone’s taking turns at being blown up. Then they walk away from the explosions without so much as a bruise. I thought I’d enjoy some blood and thunder, but it’s not convincing enough to hold my attention. I’d much rather hear what you’ve got yourself involved in.’

  ‘Who said I had?’

  ‘I know you. What is it this time? Murder or mayhem?’

  ‘Murder. An old one. Twelve years ago, a doctor named McKenzie was murdered, and no one has ever been brought to book for it.’

  ‘I was still at school then.’

  ‘I realize that, but could you look it up for me?’

  ‘Um, why?’

  Yes, that was the question, wasn’t it? Ellie had decided not to bring Vera and Abdi into it. No need to open that can of worms, as Gail had said. ‘My housekeeper – you remember Vera, who’s doing a college course at the moment, yes? – well, she’s met up with an old boyfriend, who turns out to be Dr McKenzie’s son, and he’s still hung up about it, I’m afraid. So I was wondering if you could find out anything, such as whether the police really knew who it was but couldn’t take action for some reason …?’

  ‘I suppose I could look it up tomorrow. If Rose is baking, maybe I’ll pop in at teatime, right?’

  ‘It’s my business morning tomorrow, but in the afternoon you’ll be most welcome.’ End of call.

  There. She’d done what she could now.

  Thursday afternoon

  Thursday mornings were reserved for the weekly meetings of Ellie’s charitable trust, after which she was accustomed to have a light lunch and follow it with an hour on her bed with a book. Not dozing, exactly. But resting. As she was expecting Lesley that day, she couldn’t afford to fall asleep.

  DC Lesley Milburn arrived early. Frowning. Tall and well-built, she had a pleasant, nearly handsome face and a good brain. ‘Something came up. Don’t bother about tea and cake.’

  Ellie had been going to say she cou
ld do with a cuppa herself, but refrained. She hung Lesley’s mac up and led the way into the sitting room.

  Lesley said, ‘You’ve been treading on someone’s toes, Ellie. I don’t know whose, but someone has got it in for you. Or maybe Thomas? Someone’s said that Thomas abused a thirteen-year-old girl.’

  Ellie clutched the back of the nearest chair. ‘What!’

  Lesley nodded. ‘No, I don’t believe it, either. A woman came into the station this morning to lay a complaint against him on behalf of the daughter of a neighbour.’

  ‘WHAT!’

  ‘And then decided not to take the matter further. Refused to make a formal statement. Said she’d have to think it over, that she might have been too hasty.’

  Ellie let herself down into her chair. ‘That,’ she said, ‘was quick. I mean, obviously Thomas didn’t … wouldn’t!’

  ‘No. I know that, and so do you. But if this woman had made a formal complaint—’

  ‘And she didn’t, which proves … Ah, let me guess. My most unfavourite police inspector has got wind of it—?’

  ‘He sent me to “sound you out”. Because “there’s no smoke without fire”. He wants me to “see if we can make it stick”.’

  ‘If the woman didn’t make an official complaint, he hasn’t anything to go on.’

  ‘Complaint or no complaint, you know perfectly well that my boss will now do his best to make life uncomfortable for you.’

  Ellie knew all right. Many years ago, Ellie had had a ‘senior citizen moment’ and, unable to remember the inspector’s name, had referred to him as ‘Ears’, since those appendages of his turned bright red in moments of stress. An unpopular officer, the nickname had spread till he’d heard it himself. He’d never forgive her for it. If he could bring Ellie down, he would do so.

  Lesley said, ‘You said, “That was quick.” You were expecting retaliation for something that I ought to know about?’

  Ellie gazed out of the window at the rain. ‘Now here’s a dilemma. I’ve been asked not to draw your attention to a certain incident, because my doing so might reflect badly on certain people. Also, the victim doesn’t want to go to the police. But if one of the people involved in the, er, happening has retaliated in this way, what do I do? Keep quiet, or tell you what I know?’