‘I’m sorry you feel that way, but we have the necessary permissions.’
‘And who did you pay?’
‘Nobody. The village is dying, you know that. What we are doing is to revitalise it.’
‘Rubbish. Dowling and your father used that one on us before, in that somehow you’re doing it for the community, not to line your pockets.’
‘There is no denial. We intend to make money. We benefit, the village benefits.’
‘And after this, Coombe Farm?’
‘We have further plans for the village. My father had agreed; I’m just carrying out his wishes.’
‘Rubbish. Your father was a grub of a man. You, at least, were a good child, even used to help me carry my shopping home sometimes.’
‘The child grows up.’
‘And what about Rose Fletcher? I’ve seen her around here. The young man with her, is he yours?’
‘It was a long time ago.’
‘I know that. Two silly people who couldn’t wait till they were married and look what it got you, got her.’
‘Rose has turned out fine, so has her son.’
‘She’s had it tough, the daughter of a doctor. Her parents were good people, destroyed by the Selwoods. How does it feel to know that you’ve become what your father was, your mother is, and I’ve heard she’s living in Old Ted’s cottage?’
‘Mrs Dempsey, you appear to know too much about my family. I suggest you mind your own business.’
‘The village is my business, so is your farm if you intend to destroy this village.’
‘The law is on our side. I’ll wish you goodbye, Mrs Dempsey,’ Selwood said as he moved away and over to his car.
***
Tremayne and Clare were, not for the first time, uncertain on how to progress. The weapon that had been used to fire the shots that had killed Old Ted and Cathy Selwood had not been found. Forensics had not been able to offer any more ideas, other than the bullets were fired from the same rifle. Len Dowling’s appearance in the affairs of the village brought in an uncertain element, both police officers knew that, but he wasn’t a murderer.
‘Dowling might know something,’ Tremayne said.
'Clutching at straws, guv?’
‘We’ve plenty of motives now, plenty of suspects. What are your thoughts, Yarwood?’
The two were sitting in Tremayne’s office. For two days, they had not left the police station, an unusual occurrence in itself.
‘Dowling’s not involved in the Selwood family dispute.’
‘We know that Reverend Walston took a shot at the father due to the man’s interference in church matters, although it was probably to do with the developments planned.’
‘Why is the mother so desperate to remove her son from the house?’
‘She’s a resolute woman. She kept Claude Selwood in check; no doubt she sees it as her duty to do the same to her son.’
‘Cathy Selwood was in the way.’
‘And she died for it. We’ve always regarded the mother as the most dangerous. Why is that?’
‘Why is what?’ Tremayne said.
‘Why would a mother act in such a way with her son? What about motherly love?’
‘She may see that she is showing love. To her, he’s infirm, not physically, but emotionally, and Cathy was the disease, as is Rose now.’
‘Is there a romance there?’
‘It’s premature, but they have a shared history. Maybe in time,’ Clare said.
The two walked outside of the station. Tremayne to smoke a cigarette, Clare to maintain the conversation. ‘Rose Goode always comes across as a good person. Is she?’ Tremayne asked.
‘I believe so.’
‘But her son will inherit the farm and the house if Gordon dies. It must be a temptation.’
‘She’s never shown interest in it.’
‘Her parents’ lives were affected by the Selwoods. Resentment may run deep. She could have contacted Gordon at any time in the last few years, even before he met Cathy, even before she married Derek Goode, but she didn’t.’
‘Maybe we should ask her, but it doesn’t help with the case, does it?’
‘Why not? She reappeared after Claude Selwood died. Why not before?’
‘She only contacted him after her son had been hit by that car.’
‘No one’s reported a hit and run, no one’s seen the car.’
‘But he was hit by a car.’
‘Agreed, but what if it was just an accident, and Rose used it as an excuse to worm her way back into Selwood’s life?’
***
Nicholas Selwood did not like Tremayne and Clare in his office in Salisbury. He wanted to tell them he was too busy, and they should make an appointment. He did not, realising that the two police officers would have considered his rebuff as obstructionist. ‘What can I do for you,’ he said.
He had to admit that he found the police sergeant very attractive. If it weren’t for his current girlfriend, he would have asked her out, not sure if she would have accepted, even though she was the same age as him.
‘We’ve always seen you out at the farm. We thought it was about time we came to your office in Salisbury,’ Tremayne said.
‘What can I do for you? I believe I’ve told you all I know.’
‘That’s true, but certain facts still concern us.’
‘Such as?’
‘The appearance of Rose and Crispin Goode. How much did you know about their history?’
‘I was twelve when Gordon got into trouble with Rose. I can remember my parents being upset, but as to what Gordon had done, I didn’t really understand.’
‘You were twelve, approaching puberty,’ Clare said.
‘And interested in girls, although naïve.’
‘It would be normal for boys of ten and twelve, your younger brother’s age and yours, to be titillated.’
‘We were. Gordon and Rose Fletcher. She was an attractive young woman, still is by all accounts.’
‘She’s only four years older than you, four years older than me.’
‘I’ve not seen her yet. I’ve heard from my mother, though.’
‘Gordon?’
‘He’s treated our mother abysmally.’
‘Family loyalties aside, did she deserve it?’
‘Mother? She should not have been so difficult with Cathy.’
‘You liked Cathy?’
‘Gordon was always a loser, but she was shaping him up. She had a lot of energy.’
‘Your mother said some wicked things about her.’
‘Even if it was true, she was married to Gordon. Cathy was a Selwood, the same as us.’
‘It was true,’ Tremayne said.
‘I’m not judging someone by their past,’ Nicholas said.
‘It was important to your mother.’
‘It’s invariably those who marry into the family who become the most zealous to protect it. I don’t know why. It never meant much to me.’
‘And your mother wants it all back, and not with Gordon.’
‘She was the driving force behind my father. Cathy was the driving force behind Gordon, and now she’s gone, and there’s Rose.’
‘Any thoughts about that?’
‘Coincidental, nothing more.’
Nicholas Selwood pretended to be busy, but Clare could see he wasn’t, only tapping the keys on the laptop, pretending to look at the screen.
‘Do you wish to speculate as to why Rose Fletcher would reappear now?’
‘Not me. I’m not wedded to Coombe Farm, although Gordon inheriting instead of my mother makes no sense.’
‘It’s normal for the wife to inherit, in preference to the son.’
‘The eldest son has always inherited. It’s a family tradition, and my mother is all for tradition. But with Gordon, and then with Cathy, my mother was determined to make another decision.’
‘Because of Cathy?’
‘My mother recognised in Cathy a capable person, saw
her as a threat.’
‘Even after she defamed her in the village.’
‘That’s our mother. Cathy was a recent arrival in the Selwood family, we were not. The bloodline is all important to our mother. Gordon is tainted by the bad blood of some of our ancestors. William and I are not. Whatever happened, Gordon would have been well rewarded, and if he stayed with Cathy or did not, he’d not have to worry about somewhere to live.’
‘Money?’
‘Money enough for most people. There’s no way the farm can support his extravagant lifestyle indefinitely.’
‘So eventually he will be forced to sell the farm.’
‘Not with Cathy alive, but now, who knows?’
‘Gordon’s there now, he’s got a son. Where does that place you? What will your mother do?’
‘She’ll challenge the will in the courts.’
‘But why? If there’s a will with Gordon as the inheritor, there’s not much she can do about it, and what if Gordon dies? What then?’
‘It will go to me.’
‘Not if Gordon has a son. That’s how it works, isn’t it?’
‘It depends if Gordon has a will.’
‘And if he doesn’t, then by default it’s Gordon and Rose’s son.’
‘It would be disputed.’
‘Cathy stood in the way of your mother; Crispin Goode stands in the way of you.’
‘When you heard about the son, what did you think?’
‘Not a lot. I’ve no need of the farm. All I want is what’s owing to me.’
Chapter 19
Coombe Farm had remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and now there was a planning application with the council in Salisbury. Len Dowling was prepared for trouble.
The first that Tremayne and Clare heard of it was when they received a phone call from Rose Goode. Not that it was anything to do with her, as her renewed romance with Gordon Selwood had not occurred, not likely to either, she had confided to Clare.
For one thing, it was premature, and secondly, Rose wasn’t sure that she wanted to become involved again, although Crispin did.
Clare met Rose in a restaurant in Salisbury. ‘You’ve heard about Molly Dempsey?’ Rose said.
‘Her action committee?’
‘That’s it. They caused trouble when Gordon started knocking those houses down in the village.’
‘That’s Len Dowling, not Gordon. Do you know the man?’
‘I’ve heard of him.’
‘He’s sharp, always looking for an angle. He’s behind the application, and he doesn’t care who’s hurt or inconvenienced.’
‘Gordon was harmless when he was younger, full of ambition, wanting to get away from the farm.’
‘And now?’
‘He’s changed and not for the better. He moves slowly unless he’s driving his car. And he’s dulled. The young girl who fell in love with him is no longer the same, I suppose, but then I’ve had Crispin. He’s kept me going, gave me focus. Gordon only had a farm and a family that he did not like, but now he seems committed to Coombe.’
‘Would you go back and live there?’
‘It’s not what I wanted, but I probably will. The memories, even after so many years, are still raw. Each time I go into Gordon’s house, I can see my parents, my mother in tears, my father attempting to stay strong, and there were Gordon’s parents, the mother angry, and the father, almost wanting to pat the son on the back. And then, it’s us who left the next morning.’
‘Is the family house still in your name?’
‘I’ve not been inside it for a long time, but yes. It’s rented out.’
‘You could always move back in,’ Clare said. ‘Is it a better house than where you’re living?’
‘Much better.’
‘It seems better to swallow your pride and live back in Coombe, doesn’t it?’
‘I’ve given notice to the tenants, not sure why.’
‘Maybe subconsciously you want to go back.’
‘I don’t think so, but who knows? I thought about it before Gordon reappeared with Cathy, and then it became too difficult. I’d seen him a few times at a distance over the years, and the memories always came flooding back. When we were children growing up together, and then as teenagers, there seemed to be a bond between us.’
‘Is it still there?’
‘I don’t like what Gordon’s become, but when I’m with him… It’s hard to explain. Maybe it’s fate, karma, I don’t know.’
‘You’ll not find out by staying in Salisbury while you have a house in Coombe.’
‘Crispin will like it. I only hope he’s old enough to avoid picking up too many of Gordon’s bad habits.’
‘You’ve brought him up well. He should be okay.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘While we’re here,’ Clare said. ‘DI Tremayne and I don’t believe the situation has resolved itself in the village. The deaths of Old Ted and Cathy are still unsolved.’
‘Will you find whoever did it?’
‘In time we will. Whoever is guilty will make a mistake, commit another murder.’
‘Could it be Marge?’
‘She certainly has the intelligence, the ruthlessness to do it, but Old Ted makes no sense, especially now the plan to convert part of the farm to residential is known.’
‘Cathy?’
‘She confused the situation.’
‘It always comes back to Gordon’s mother, doesn’t it?’ Rose said. Both of the women had finished their lunch and were preparing to leave.
‘Logically, yes.’
‘Which means it’s probably not her.’
‘What do you reckon, Rose? You’re an independent observer, someone who knows the people and the village.’
‘Marge would not have wanted Cathy to be there, and if she’s in Old Ted’s cottage, she’s there under duress. She sees herself as the lady of the Manor, not as the dowager.’
‘That’s what she was with Cathy.’
‘But not any more. Although, if I moved in with Gordon, she would be again.’
‘Would you move in with him?’
‘I’ll do what’s best for Crispin, but nothing’s been said. For me, I’ll need at least a few months.’
‘The two younger brothers, capable of murder?’
‘They were only young when I left. I wouldn’t know.’
‘Molly Dempsey?’
‘Nothing to say really. I can remember she was always friendly, a gossip according to my mother.’
‘She was critical of you and Gordon when you left.’
‘A lot of people were. Do you suspect her of murder?’
‘Not in itself. She knew about the vicar shooting at Gordon’s father and his horse with a pellet gun. She saw it as necessary, carrying out God’s work.’
‘Some of them can be religious, but she’s an old woman. What would be the point of her killing someone?’
‘She’s set up an action committee to oppose Gordon and Len Dowling.’
‘To do what? Drink copious cups of tea and to complain.’
‘They’ve had a sit-in at the new development.’
‘I heard about it from Gordon. Supposedly, it never amounted to much.’
‘Not in itself, and maybe that’ll be the end of it. Now, they have a bigger threat to the village. Do you want it to change?’
‘Why ask me? I left there seventeen years ago, and from what I know, a lot of the village sees me as the scarlet woman. No one showed much kindness back then for a young woman on the cusp of being an adult.’
‘Different values in the past,’ Clare said.
‘It wasn’t that long ago. No doubt they’ll be polite to my face, and then remind everyone behind my back that I was the shameless woman who committed sacrilege on church land.’
‘I thought it was behind the wall.’
‘It was, but they’ll embellish the story. And then those who have said some wicked things about me in the past will be aiming to suc
k up to me, hoping I can sway Gordon’s mind.’
‘Would you?’
‘If Gordon wants to breathe life into the village, I’ll support him.’
‘It’s Crispin’s one day.’
‘That’s not the primary consideration.’
‘It’s a good reason to want Gordon dead.’
‘Good enough, but he’s important to Crispin, although I’m surprised he is. I’ll not take my son away from his father.’
‘And if their relationship sours?’
‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’
***
Tremayne kept his focus on Len Dowling. He still remembered the brash man’s attitude from a previous case. If there were a significant land development planned for Coombe, the approval from the council for the rezoning of the land, and the subsequent construction of the houses, complete with their services, would not be readily granted. Apart from the usual requirement, such as the form submitted with payment, there’d be environmental impact studies, approval of the neighbours, possibly the village in total.
Tremayne met Councillor Freestone, an old friend, at the Pheasant Inn on Salt Lane in Salisbury.
‘The building of three hundred houses at Coombe Farm could be a motive for murder,’ Tremayne said. The two men, similar in many ways: one a police inspector, the other, an accountant.
‘You’re determined to pin something on Dowling.’
‘I’m more interested in solving two murders, preventing any more.’
‘Are there likely to be any?’
‘Why not? Claude Selwood dies, as well as his farmhand and Selwood’s daughter-in-law. And we didn’t have any knowledge of what Selwood and Dowling were up to, but now, it’s apparent that their plans are extensive. It’s bound to cause more friction in Coombe. There’s a local woman, Molly Dempsey. She’s not likely to let any further development in Coombe continue unabated without putting up a fight.’
‘She’s an old woman.’
‘You know her?’
‘Whenever there are any applications before the council for Coombe: extension to a house, new garage, whatever, she’ll be in front of us putting forward a case for it to be rejected.’
‘Are her arguments substantive?’
‘She’s more rhetoric than substance. And anyway, she’s an old woman, no more than a few more years left in her.’
The DI Tremayne Thriller Box Set Page 85