by EJ Lamprey
‘I’ve got a few things in the car—t-shirts, and some undies still in their packaging. Even a new toothbrush. Let’s get you to Kirsty’s for now, although we can stop if you still want to.’
‘That’s—you’re very kind. I didn’t know where to turn. If you’d turned me down I’d have probably had to go to my tenants and insist they let me sleep in the drawing room; it’s my fucking place after all.’ She walked over to the counter, which was temporarily un-manned, and leaned across it. ‘Do you think I need to tell them I’m going now?’
Brian stuck his head briefly through the door while her back was turned. ‘Edge, I’m about to be moved on by the polis!’
His voice was plaintive and Fiona, who had her back to him, spun round so fast she nearly fell. The door was already closing as he disappeared back to the car and Edge steadied her automatically.
‘I know,’ she said sympathetically. ‘You get used to it.’
‘Who the fuck was that! He sounded—he sounded exactly like Daddy!’
‘You get used to it,’ Edge repeated wryly. ‘It used to shock me, too. That’s Brian Mitchell, you met him the other day. And I’d better warn you, he smokes the same cigars. Getting into the car is like stepping into a time warp.’
‘Oh. Are you and he—you know?’
‘As it happens, yes. But not because of that. Almost in spite of it, to be honest. There are no other similarities, he doesn’t look at all like your father and he doesn’t talk as much, Brian’s the strong silent type. He’s a nice man, though, you’ll like him.’
Whether Fiona liked him or not was hard to tell, although she gasped faintly every time he spoke and never took her eyes off his profile. She herself didn’t talk at all in the car, and as Brian was concentrating on threading through the heavy Festival traffic and Edge didn’t feel up to a stream of inconsequential chatter, she turned the radio on. It was something of a relief when they finally drew up in front of Kirsty’s little Dunkeld house.
Onderness
‘I can’t believe little Kirsty is all grown up with a house of her own,’ Fiona finally remarked as Brian hurried round to open their car doors. ‘Oh, help, she’s with the police now, isn’t she? I don’t honestly think I can face any more police.’
‘You’ve seen “little Kirsty” every year at the tontine dinners,’ Edge reminded her slightly testily. ‘And I doubt she’ll be grilling you in her pyjamas.’
‘Oh, I’m grateful, I didn’t mean—Kirsty, darling, you’re an angel. And a sight for sore eyes! Look at you! More beautiful than ever!’
Kirsty allowed herself to be fervently embraced, with a speaking look for Edge over her step-cousin’s shoulder.
‘You’re very welcome. It’s a bit chaotic, but I hope you’ll be comfortable. This is my boyfriend Drew—Drew, my cousin Fiona Bentwood, ken, the actress?’
‘Four of us from the office caught your show yesterday, we thought you were incredibly good. I’ve already booked to take Kirsty back next week.’ Drew, blessed with a merry laughing face, shook hands enthusiastically. ‘Give me your bag, I’ll take it up to your room while Kirsty gets you something to drink.’
‘You’re sweet—do you live here too?’
‘Very nearly,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Kirsty throws me out and locks the door when she’s had enough of me, but I’m slowly wearing her down. She’s depressingly independent.’
Edge glanced mischievously at Brian, who grinned ruefully but said nothing as they followed the others into the house. Kirsty headed for the kitchen, offering to get drinks all round, and Fiona followed her, sinking wearily into a chair at the kitchen table.
‘It’s all so fucking awful, and I’m so worried about Jamey. Kirsty, this is lovely. Such a cheerful kitchen. Something hot for me, please, coffee or tea?’
‘I like colour,’ Kirsty said unapologetically. ‘Aunt, Brian, please don’t leave, please stay for something. Fiona, are you up to talking about what happened, or shall I let my aunt bring me up to date?’
‘Edge doesn’t really know. I got back from my afternoon show—I’ve been staying with Jamey so I’ve got a key and everything. Anyway I got back, let myself in to the main foyer, and there was b-blood everywhere, and Tim lying at the foot of the stairs. Oh, God, it was fucking awful. He’d been stabbed, he hadn’t just fallen, and he’s such a lovely guy. He and Jamey had been together for about fifteen years, although I t-told the police he was a lodger. But they still think Jamey did it, which was exactly what I didn’t fucking want them to think.’
Kirsty opened her mouth and Edge shook her head urgently. Instead her niece took the milk off the stove and started topping up cups.
‘Café latte all round, shout if you want something else.’
Fiona, cradling her cup and with her face scrubbed clean and her tangle of hair pulled back, looked very delicate and fragile. Edge, who knew she was anything but, still felt a flicker of sympathy. Fiona adored her brother, who was certainly the last man in the world one could imagine stabbing anyone in a violent frenzy.
‘What time do you need to be in for your show tomorrow?’ She finished her coffee and pushed her chair back. ‘I’ll collect you and put you on the train, if you like.’
‘No show for me tomorrow.’ Fiona put her cup down. ‘It’s a day off anyway. The producer’s wife is an actress of sorts, and the deal is that she does two days a week. We just all hope the reviewers don’t come by on those days.’
‘Then you can spend the day at the Lawns, or we’ll make a plan. Call me when you wake up, if that’s okay with Kirsty.’
Grasshopper Lawns
Edge’s phone rang much earlier than she had expected, and she groaned and pushed herself up on one elbow to answer. It was Kirsty, not Fiona, on the phone.
‘I’m sorry to wake you so early. Fiona’s still dead to the world but I logged in to Central to get the latest on the case. They’ve found JJ.’
‘Oh good, is he okay?’
‘No, but he will be. He’s in hospital—he walked in during the attack and the guy with the knife took a wild swipe at him and took off. JJ chased him halfway down the street, not even realizing he’d been sliced open, then collapsed and someone called an ambulance. He was brought in unconscious and bleeding like a pig, he only woke up after midnight. He’s fairly stable but the surgeons will have a proper look, make sure everything’s all right, sometime this morning. Barring complications, he’s expected to make a full recovery.’
Kirsty took an audible breath before she went on. ‘He kept saying Fiona’s name while he was unconscious and it’s not clear whether he’s worried about her, or accusing her. She didn’t call us in, ken. Another neighbour walked in to find her having hysterics, but she wasn’t a suspect because the medical examiner decided he’d been dead nearly an hour.’ She dropped her voice even lower. ‘Now, though; after all, her afternoon show was over ages earlier. The Morningside guys want to see her again about what she was doing between the show and getting home. It’s a little, well, awkward, having a potential murder suspect staying with me.’
Edge sat bolt upright in bed. ‘I bet it is. I’ll be round in half an hour.’
‘I’m on early shift so I’m leaving now. I’ll tap on the door and put a note where she can see it. You’ve got your key, so I’ll leave the kitchen door on the latch. Do I say anything about JJ in the note?’
‘No, I’ll be there soon enough. Thanks again, darling, for taking her in, and sorry if it causes any raised eyebrows.’
~~~
The morning was grey and drizzling as she hurried through the quiet retirement village to the covered parking area, wishing she’d had time for coffee. It was a novelty to be driving at seven in the morning and she had the gleaming road virtually to herself, her wipers swiping lazily at the fine spray on her windscreen. She parked in Kirsty’s little driveway and let herself in through the side door and into the kitchen. The kettle was still warm and she clicked it on gratefully, opening cupboards to find mugs. Even as the
kettle came to the boil she heard footsteps on the stairs and Fiona appeared, her bushy hair wildly on end. She was looking a little haggard and wearing Edge’s borrowed t-shirt and her own jeans.
‘The police phoned me,’ she said without preamble. ‘They’ve found Jamey. He’s been hurt but they said he’ll be fine. I would kill for a cup of coffee.’
‘Way ahead of you.’ Edge added boiling water to both mugs. ‘Drink, then talk. I’m not a morning person.’
‘You never were.’ Fiona flopped down at the table. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you up so early. Mornings were always our time with Daddy. Why are you here so early?’ She drank deeply. ‘Fahhhk, I needed that. I don’t suppose Kirsty would be happy if I lit up in here, I’ll head out into the garden. The police want to see me again, can you believe it? I’m to go in at three, then I can go on to the hospital to see Jamey; he should be back in his ward by then. What time would I need to catch the train, to be in by three?’
‘There’s one from Linlithgow just after two which will get you in by quarter to three at the latest. What do you want to do until then?’
‘Go for a walk. A long walk. I need to clear my head, and walking’s the only thing that really works. Not through streets, either. Are there any good walks in open country—forget it, look who I’m asking. You’re not one of nature’s pedestrians.’
‘I walk, a bit,’ Edge said mildly. ‘I’d forgotten you have this passion for long walks. There’s the foreshore path along the Forth, that’s beautiful, or a nature reserve five minutes away which is good. You could borrow Vivian’s labrador. He knows it backwards so you won’t get lost.’
‘I don’t get lost.’ Fiona fretfully retrieved a slightly crumpled packet of cigarettes from her pocket. ‘And I’m not talking a fucking hour, Edge. I want a real three-hour tramp in open country.’
‘Then you’d better go out with Brian, if he hasn’t already left.’ Edge searched for her mobile in her handbag. ‘He’s training for the Three Peaks, so your sort of walk is a gentle stroll for him. And do try to tone down your language with him, that’s another thing he shares with James.’
He answered on the second ring, and promised to come by to collect Fiona on his way.
‘She’s really a walker?’ he asked. ‘It doesn’t matter if not. Cheryl won’t mind if we skip a day, but it’ll dictate which route I take her on.’
‘She’s really a walker. Hang on, though—Fiona, what about walking shoes?’
‘I was wearing them,’ Fiona, who had been looking a bit sulky, became animated. ‘I walk to the theatre and back, they’re the most comfortable boots I’ve got. Tell him hiking boots. All terrain.’
Edge shuddered, but passed on the good news.
Brian arrived within twenty minutes and Fiona came clattering back down the stairs, her wild curls back under control, pulling on her purple fleece. She seemed slightly deflated to learn they’d be walking with his training friend Cheryl, but air-kissed Edge goodbye in good spirits. Brian waited until she’d gone outside to kiss Edge rather less airily.
‘You owe me, darling.’
‘Nonsense, you’ll have your work cut out keeping up with her. And remember, she has to be back for the two o’clock train at the latest.’
‘Just on half eight now.’ He glanced up at the kitchen clock. ‘Cheryl suggested the very place. It’s a hill walk which takes almost exactly three hours, but I can get a car to almost any point if she can’t handle it after all. Oh, I know what you said, but she doesn’t strike me as the athletic type. You’d hate it.’
‘Yes I would, but as everyone knows, I like my walks on level ground, preferably with a Caffé Nero at either end. Her mother, on the other hand, was an Olympic-standard distance runner, so don’t come crying to me if she’s the one having to get transport for you. Off with you, Archie will be thinking she’s trying to steal the car.’
Brian grinned and left to reassure his beagle, and Edge sat slightly listlessly at the kitchen table. All this energy, so early in the morning. . .
Grasshopper Lawns
True to his word, Brian delivered a pink-cheeked Fiona to Edge’s door about twenty minutes after one. His beagle shot between their legs as she opened the door, and made a beeline for Mortimer’s food bowl while the cat drew himself up in outraged, and totally ignored, disapproval.
Brian stood back politely for Fiona, who danced in lightly and looked around.
‘Oh, okay, it’s bigger than it looks from the outside. This is quite a nice room. How many do you have?’
‘Rooms? This is it. If you open that door you’ll see a sleeping alcove, and there’s a walk-in closet off it. I assume you want to shower? The bathroom’s through that door there, and I’ve found a few more things you should be able to wear.’
Fiona turned astonished eyes on Edge. ‘You had a five-bedroomed house in Durban!’
‘And a husband with two children with bedrooms permanently set aside for them, and lots of visitors, and live-in servants.’ Edge was patient, but couldn’t resist flicking a glance at Brian. See? ‘I don’t need a lot of space, and I’m away quite a lot. Anyway, you’re not staying here, I’ve got you booked in across the road in one of the guest places. The cleaner won’t be done until two o’clock, though. I’ve found you more t-shirts, and a pair of slacks with a belt that should be small enough.’
‘Oh, I’ll shower here, that’s fine. And thanks again.’ Fiona made a little dart at Edge and hugged her briefly. ‘I can’t believe you’re being so nice to me, after—well, after all our squabbles, over the years.’ She vanished into the bathroom before Edge could respond, and closed the door. The sound of the shower followed almost immediately and Brian sat down with a heavy sigh.
‘Okay. I got that look. You were right.’
Edge opened the fridge to get him one of the light beers he favoured while in training. ‘How did she do? Did you manage to keep up?’
‘Oh, she can walk, no problem. But talk? She never shut up. It was exhausting. Even Cheryl got peeved eventually. She did tone down a bit on the swearing, at least.’ He downed half the beer in a long swallow. ‘Did you know there’s talk of doing performances in the hidden city, and she’s been approached to get involved? Looks like she’ll be in Edinburgh for a while.’
‘You always tell me you like being talked at, Brian. You’re not exactly the world’s chattiest man.’
‘True. But there’s talking and talking. I like it when you carry the conversation for both of us. I like you generally. Have I ever mentioned?’
‘Once or twice. Usually after I give you a beer.’ She ruffled his hair as she walked behind his chair and he caught at her hand and kissed her wrist.
‘Stop it, you, she’ll be out of the shower any minute. And since she didn’t take clothes in with her, she’s quite capable of coming out of the bathroom stark naked. In fact you should really go anyway. She’s running a bit late, so we’ll need to leave for the train almost immediately. Take your beer with you.’
He grinned. ‘Naked? Well, I wouldn’t mind. And I doubt she would. Are you going to be the wet blanket and spoil the fun?’ He did get to his feet, though, and clicked his tongue for Archie. ‘I thought I’d run her to the station for you, but talking of fun, what are your plans for the afternoon?’
‘As it happens, I need to go into Edinburgh too. My agent Sarah rang asking when I could go in, and I’d like to see poor JJ anyway. So that would be really handy, if you would take us both. There’s never any parking, so you’d save us having to park in the town centre and walk up.’
‘No problem.’ He looked buoyant. ‘You can phone when you’re on your way back and tell me what train you’re on.’
‘Dinna fash, we’ll get a taxi back.’ The shower stopped and she gave him a little push towards the door. He laughed out loud but left obediently.
‘I’ll be back in ten minutes. So bloody independent. . .’
On The Train
The train was half empty and they took
seats facing each other across a table, slightly breathless after a panicked dash up the stairs to the platform. The ticket inspector lingered over Fiona’s ticket, smiling at her, and she preened slightly and smirked at Edge as he reluctantly moved away.
‘So, how did the walk go?’ Edge asked politely.
‘It was wonderful! Exactly what I needed and such a pleasure to walk with people who don’t start whining about turning back after an hour. But Brian’s grumpier than I had realized. I liked Cheryl, although I don’t know if she liked me, I think she prefers having him to herself. How do you get on with her?’
‘We get on well enough. We’re different parts of his life, after all—she’s welcome to Brian the walker. I’m just glad he does like to be out and about so much, since mornings are my writing time. I’m very used to my own company.’
‘Does he have any money?’ Fiona asked inquisitively and Edge gave her an astonished look.
‘Good grief, Fiona, I don’t know! He had his own detective agency, but had to sell it and his house to pay out his wife. It was a fairly nasty divorce, from what he’s said—he left her for a much younger woman, and his wife was pretty vindictive. The affair didn’t work out, so he decided to go for early retirement. I gather he invested what he could, and does some consulting work for security firms, so no, I don’t think so. Perhaps you should ask him yourself. I’m sure he’d love to discuss his finances with you.’
Fiona wasn’t at all offended, and merely looked pensive. ‘You’re an odd couple. Do you think you’re in it for the long haul?’
‘I have absolutely no idea. He effectively saved my life recently. If he wants my company every now and then, it’s almost his by right, but whether he will continue to want it for long is anybody’s guess.’