by Luna Snow
“So why did you kill her?”
For a moment Henry looked grief stricken.
“But that’s the point, that wasn’t my intention. I planned to kill Alberto. Make it look like an accident. I was bored one day when we were clearing the house and I read those old books about local plants. There was a section about poisonous plants and that’s when the idea struck me. At the end of every live show, or event, Rita gets Alberto to taste whatever she has baked. I figured that if I steeped the milk in 20 – 30 belladonna berries, it would just about kill – even a fit young man like Alberto. Everyone would think it was a heart attack- no-one ever knew my feelings for Rita, there would be no suspicious circumstances. Even a post mortem would fail to find something that they were not looking for. I tried it at the garden party, but unfortunately ‘Itsy’ was my first victim.”
Henry stopped for a moment, half choked with emotion.
“Poor old dog. But it made me moiré determined. And then there was the live TV show – the first episode of the Great British Cake Off. I didn’t realise t hat Alberto had walked out on her, that he wasn’t there. By the time I realised it was too late.”
Sitting down at the table, Henry burst into tears, almost forgetting that Maisie was sat in front of him.
Whilst he had been talking, Maisie had been struggling with the rope that bound her hands behind her back. She had managed to wriggle one of her small wrists through the loop and with a final tug her hands were completely free. While the man was distracted by his grief, Maisie made a run for the kitchen and the back door.
As soon as she stood up and turned, she could feel his eyes turn towards her.
Hurling herself into the kitchen, Maisie lurched across the kitchen floor. The tiles were slippery and she felt herself fall against the hard surface as Henry Evans caught up with her and his hand reached around her throat.
The lights from the police cars shone brightly into the darkness of the kitchen as the locked door was kicked open by two burley policemen. They soon had Henry Evans held securely in handcuffs and flat against the kitchen wall.
“Henry Evans, I am arresting you on the charge of murder of Rita Robinson. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say may be used in evidence against you.”
Maisie looked up, her head spinning. Joan and Ada were stood waiting at the door.
“What kept you?”
Epilogue
Henry Evans was charged with first degree murder. His love for Rita had been great and his feelings, hidden away for so many years had festered into something dark and evil. The power of jealousy had overcome his judgement and humanity and had ultimately destroyed the object of his passion and his own life.
An autopsy was held on poor Rita Robinson and high levels of atropine had been found in her body
On their way back home that night from the Manor House Joan and Ada had been stopped by Alberto. A first they were wary of the young man. He too had thought that Rita’s death had been suspicious and had been on his way to confront Henry when he had bumped into Maisie. Her screams had frightened the poor man, and he had hidden in the bushes, unsure of what to do next.
Explaining this to Ada and Joan, they knew that Maisie could be in danger and went immediately to the police and Maisie was saved, just in time.
For a few weeks after, the little village of Tiverton Meadows was full of reporters and newsmen, interviewing the locals and taking their pictures. Everyone had their 5 minutes of fame.
Yet now, as the autumn sun gleamed through the windows of the ‘Copper Kettle Cafe’, one would think that the peace and quiet had never been disturbed, except by the chiming of the church bells in the old Norman Tower.
The shop bell jangled as Maisie and Joan stepped into the tea room for their morning ritual of tea and scones.
“I do hope that he can join us?”
Joan had a twinkle in her eye. They had invited Alberto to take tea with them. It was his last day in the village now all the horrible business had been sorted out. He was going back home to his family in Italy.
“Steady on Joan. He’s old enough to be your son. You are starting to sound like Rita Robinson, not that I like to talk ill of the dead.”
“Shhhhh”
Joan put her fingertips to her lips as the little door bell jangled again and Alberto entered.
“Ladies, it is so good to see you.”
At the sound of voices, Ada entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray of teacups and a teapot.
She smiled at the sight of the young man.
“Coffee I suppose for you Alberto? You Europeans like your coffee.”
Alberto flashed his whitest smile.
“I’ve prepared something special for today, something different from your usual morning scones ladies, seeing that it is Alberto’s last day.”
Exiting into the kitchen she brought forward a large plate covered with a plastic lid.
“I do hope you like it.”
Maisie and Joan gasped in horror as Ada lifted the lid to reveal a large Panna Cotta covered in strawberries.
“Ada I’m not sure if that is entirely appropriate.”
The poor woman’s face fell.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. It’s just that it’s an Italian recipe, and with Alberto being Italian. Oh Lord, I’m so sorry.”
Alberto couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s OK Ada. I’m going back to Italy. There will be Panna Cotta everywhere, I can’t hide forever. Besides it’s my favourite pudding. That’s why Rita made it.”
Grabbing a spoon he placed a large mound of the creamy pudding into a bowl. All eyes watched as he brought a spoonful of the mixture to his mouth, pausing for a second before eating.
Ada shrugged.
“It’s OK, everyone. It won’t kill you.”
The End
Of course they never did find out the truth about Lord Willets!