The Island

by Mary Grand

  ‘Six! Goodness, that’s a lot.’

  ‘Most of us are still in the Swansea area. Sadly, my sister Gwen died young, it’s why I come over to see Euan. Someone has to come and visit him, no one else wants anything to do with him, but he’s family. He was Gwen’s only child, she doted on him, never saw the bad in him.’

  ‘Euan must be very unwell if they are keeping him in so long?’

  ‘To be honest, I’m not sure he will ever come out. We have had a few scares with him. Anwen has been very good. I would not blame her for not having anything more to do with him. I know they say, “for better or for worse”, but not everyone will do that, will they.’

  Juliet shifted in her chair. Did she dare ask?

  ‘Erm, so… is Anwen married to Euan?’

  Jean looked up, a surprised expression on her face, as if she had only just realised Juliet didn’t know the full background. ‘Anwen hasn’t told you all about Euan?’ she said. ‘Well, in that case, I wouldn’t want to break her confidence.’

  Juliet could feel Jean backing off and wondered desperately how to keep Jean talking.

  ‘I didn’t know about Euan, but I had gathered Anwen had not always had it easy. Rhys had said she had a difficult past. I guess you know about Anwen planning to set up a restaurant with my sister Cassie?’

  ‘Anwen did mention it; it’s wonderful of your sister to help her have a fresh start like this.’

  ‘I think it’s a mutual thing. Cassie is grateful to Anwen for her expertise and, of course, she has the money from her inheritance. They will be partners.’

  Jean frowned. ‘I didn’t think she’d any of that money left, I was sure her and Euan had got through it. Still, she’s a good brain on her. Always was much brighter than Euan.’

  ‘Rhys seemed to have some objections to Anwen going into business with Cassie.’

  Jean took a sip of her tea and then a bite of her scone. ‘Rhys never understood Anwen. They were so different. The trouble is their parents spoiled Rhys; they were so proud of him going into the church. Anwen rebelled, got into bother. Her and Euan both grew up in our village, you see, so they’d known each other a long time.’

  ‘It sounds like the island.’

  ‘Yes, it’s similar, they’re both close communities. Anwen may have got into trouble in her youth, shoplifting, stealing cars, things like that, but I don’t think she was ever involved in crime like Euan. He wasn’t a bad lot really, but he got in with a very nasty crowd, he ended up in prison here on the island the year before Rhys and Mira’s wedding. Anwen had been traveling to visit him but she decided to move over here when she came to the wedding, she was tired of all the traveling to see him. People don’t realise how difficult it can be getting over here.’

  ‘No, you only need the weather to go bad and it can be impossible to get over here.’

  ‘Exactly. In light of his diagnosis earlier this year it’s just as well she is close by. I don’t think he has long now.’

  ‘I am very sorry to hear that.’

  ‘Yes, such a waste. Anwen has stayed loyal to him; she really loves him. She came that night we had the big scare. They told us Euan had been moved over to the main hospital from the prison infirmary a few weeks ago.’

  ‘When was that?’

  ‘Oh, let me see, it was a Saturday, the hospital rang me because they couldn’t get hold of Anwen. Eventually I managed to contact her, she was cooking some meal, but she got a taxi to the hospital as soon as she could.’

  ‘Do you think it might have been the twentieth?’

  ‘Yes, of course, that was the night Rhys died, wasn’t it? That poor family.’

  ‘So, she was here with Euan all that night?’

  ‘Yes, although she phoned me just after half twelve, told me she was going to get some fresh air. The nurse did tell me that they’d been worried at one point because Euan had taken a sudden turn for the worse while Anwen was out. They’d tried to phone her mobile but got no answer and anyway they thought she’d be back up any moment, but she missed it all. They’d had the emergency team up to him, but by the time Anwen was back, it was all over. Maybe it was as well Anwen didn’t see that, sometimes these things are meant to be, aren’t they?’

  ‘Maybe you’re right,’ said Juliet and sipped her tea. However, her mind was running on. Anwen had not been with Euan at the crucial time. But even if she’d wanted to get back to the village, how on earth could she have done it without a car?

  ‘It’s good of you to tell me all this,’ said Juliet kindly. ‘It helps me understand Anwen a bit better.’

  ‘She’s had it hard, but I hope now she can start again.’

  They finished their tea and together walked down to the car park.

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ said Jean. ‘The bus stop is only over there.’

  ‘No, come on, it will take me five minutes.’

  And so they got in the car and drove back to Jean’s hotel.

  ‘It’s been lovely to meet you, Juliet, and thank you very much for the tea and the scone. I don’t suppose I’ll see you again if I’m right about poor Euan, so you take care now.’

  Juliet said her farewells but was reluctant to go back to the house. Instead, she drove to the Downs, and went for a walk. As she did, she tried to think through what she’d learned about Anwen. She had supposedly been at the hospital on that Saturday evening, but had been missing around the time Rhys was killed. But the problem of getting back to the village could not be ignored. She had no car, there would be no buses at that time, and it would take hours to walk. The only way she could get back was by taxi.

  Juliet remembered the card her friend Mike had given her. He’d said they manned the taxi rank at the hospital. She decided to ask Mike if he had a record of Anwen travelling that night.

  She picked up her phone to call him, and as she asked him, she knew it sounded odd, but he said he would check and get back to her. All she could do was wait now for a reply.

  First, however, she needed to see if she could find Rosalind. Even if Rosalind did turn up to work at the hotel, how was she going to react to Juliet being there too? And Gabriel. What would he think of it all?

  Juliet went and looked out of her bedroom window. When she’d been messaging Rosalind from China, she’d had a picture of someone young, pretty but naïve, someone who was, at heart, homely and easy to read. But she’d realised from that first walk on the beach the day her father had died, Rosalind had changed, or maybe just grown up, and had experiences that Juliet had no idea about. And so, who knew what this ‘new ‘Rosalind was capable of? Was she leading some kind of secret life, or had she actually killed someone? Or, had Juliet got it all wrong, had Rosalind really landed some incredibly well-paid waitressing job and was this guilt about something incredibly minor? Juliet sighed; all she could do was wait now. Tomorrow she would hopefully find out answers, but Juliet was not sure they would be anything she wanted to hear.

  28

  Juliet dressed carefully for her night out with Gabriel. She wore trousers rather than jeans with her best top, and she actually put on some make-up and jewellery.

  Gabriel came to pick her up in a taxi and she was touched to see he looked very smart too, in trousers, shirt and a jacket.

  ‘How are you all doing then?’ he asked as they travelled to the Red Jet terminal.

  ‘Okay, I suppose.’

  ‘So, have you backed off the suspicions of your family now?’

  She shrugged and then smiled. ‘Well, I do know that Dad had nothing to do with Harry’s death.’

  ‘Of course he didn’t, but I’m glad you know that too now.’ He paused. ‘Maddie and I saw the announcement for Rhys’s funeral in the paper, we will be coming of course.’

  ‘Mira will appreciate that.’

  ‘I hear she is expecting.’

  ‘Now how on earth did you know that? She only told the family a couple of days ago.’

  He tapped the side of his nose. ‘That’s village life fo
r you.’

  They arrived at the terminal, and as Gabriel paid for the taxi, Juliet spotted Mike and ran over to him.

  ‘Mike, did you find anything on Saturday, 20 August?’

  He grinned. ‘I did check, and even though I am not meant to release this kind of data, I can tell you a woman named Anwen called for a taxi from your village at about half ten to take her to the hospital and then she used us to take her home again about six the next morning. She didn’t use us in between time.’

  ‘Oh thanks, I suppose she could have rung another company.’

  ‘It’s possible but not likely. As I said, we have the contract. Of course, we are not exclusive, people can phone other taxis, and they do in the daytime, but at those sorts of hours, people tend to use us.’

  ‘Of course, right, thanks. That really helps,’ replied Juliet, but part of her was wondering if this now completely cleared Anwen of any involvement in her brother’s death. It had been clear Anwen had disappeared for some time in the night but how could she have got back to the village if she’d not used a taxi?

  ‘Enjoy your evening. That’s Gabriel from the vineyard, isn’t it? What a life you’d have up there, queen of the castle and all that!’

  Juliet groaned. ‘It’s nothing like that. We’re just going for a meal.’

  Mike winked at her. ‘I’ll believe you.’

  She shook her head and said goodbye before going back to Gabriel who was waiting for her now.

  ‘Everything okay?’

  ‘Yes. Just catching up with someone I went to school with.’

  As they took their seat on the Red Jet, Gabriel put his arm round her. ‘Look, Juliet, try and give yourself an evening off. Let’s try and have a good time, okay?’

  She pushed the thought of Rosalind to one side and nodded, squeezing his hand.

  They chatted about their work, and the island. Gabriel talked about the upcoming harvest and went into a lot of detail about testing the grapes that she didn’t understand. He did confess to going up each day and tasting, even though it wasn’t his responsibility this year.

  ‘I need to stay hands-on. I walk with Maddie or someone from the winery each day; it’s good to keep in touch with everything. It’s such a hard balance, cutting back enough to allow the sun at the grapes, but not too much in case they get burnt.’ Gabriel carried on chatting as they got off the Red Jet and started to walk through the town.

  Finally, they arrived at the hotel.

  ‘Wow, this has got even smarter than I remember; still, I suppose it was a few years ago that I came here last,’ said Juliet, glad she’d made an effort but still feeling a little underdressed.

  ‘It has. I came here last year for a meeting – you know, they stock our sparkling white here.’

  They went in and Juliet admired the Wedgwood blue walls, the beautiful lamps and a wide oak staircase with thick velvet carpet.

  Juliet glanced around for Rosalind, but there was no sign of her. Maybe she was in the restaurant.

  A young man in dinner jacket came over and escorted them to the dining room, to their table, and took her jacket.

  Juliet grinned. ‘It’s not quite McDonald’s, is it!’

  Gabriel looked very relaxed. He may have attended the local schools through his childhood, but he was more used to opulence than her.

  He ordered champagne, and together they went through the menu.

  When another waiter came to take their order, Juliet glanced around and saw there seemed to be waiters everywhere. She guessed part of what you were paying for were all these people. But there was no sign of Rosalind.

  After they’d given their order, she said to the waiter, ‘Um, I don’t suppose you know a waitress called Rosalind? I thought she would be working here this evening.’

  The man looked mystified. ‘Sorry, I don’t know anyone of that name.’

  ‘Tall, very pretty, blonde hair, comes over from the island?’

  ‘I don’t think we have anyone from the island working here; it wouldn’t be easy, with the ferries and things at night.’

  ‘I think she stays over sometimes?’ Juliet stopped, the story was starting to sound implausible, and she could see Gabriel was getting embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry, I must have got it wrong,’ she said. So, what now? Rosalind wasn’t here; how on earth was she going to find out where she was or what she was doing?

  When the waiter had gone, Gabriel asked her what was going on.

  ‘I thought Rosalind worked here, that was all, I was going to surprise her.’

  ‘Well, I’m rather glad she’s not here. This is our evening. I have you all to myself and I want it to be perfect.’

  Juliet smiled, but she was anxious about Rosalind.

  Their first course came – a beautiful dish of crab with thin slices of homemade whole meal bread.

  ‘This is delicious,’ said Juliet and she started to relax.

  Soon the evening began to feel like a real date. Gabriel told her amusing stories about guests that summer, she told him about China. By the time the dessert came, she was floating on a soft pillow of good company, good food and good wine.

  ‘Thank you for bringing me here, Gabriel,’ she said, genuinely meaning it.

  ‘You’re welcome. It’s lovely to be here with you, you have no idea how much I have missed you.’

  She was smiling back at him when she looked over his shoulder and her heart leapt. She sat frozen, holding her glass mid-air.

  ‘What’s the matter? Gabriel asked and looked around. ‘Oh, isn’t that Rosalind?’

  Juliet stared at her sister, well, the back of her. Rosalind had obviously not seen her when she’d walked in. The dress and shoes Juliet recognised from the wardrobe; the dress was very tight, short, and obviously very expensive. Rosalind was with a man Juliet had never seen before. She glanced at him as he pulled out a seat for her. She guessed he was in his early forties. He was quite good-looking, wearing preppy cords and jumper, oozing a kind of public-school confidence. She felt like going over and punching him and telling him to leave her sister alone.

  ‘So, she’s not working here after all,’ said Gabriel, looking puzzled.

  ‘I hope not,’ Juliet replied quietly.

  At that moment, Rosalind reached down to put her bag next to her chair, glanced around and saw Juliet. The room seemed to fall silent as they stared at each other.

  Rosalind recovered quickly, said something to her dinner companion and walked over to Juliet.

  ‘My goodness, what a coincidence,’ she said far too loud and bright, glancing over at her dining companion.

  ‘I thought you said you worked here; I was going to surprise you,’ said Juliet, trying to look relaxed.

  Rosalind leant close to her and hissed in her ear, ‘I never told you the name of this place, how the hell did you know I’d be here?’

  ‘It’s just a coincidence, we came for a meal.’

  ‘Bullshit, Juliet, you came to spy on me.’

  ‘Who’s the secret boyfriend then? Are you going to introduce us?’

  Rosalind screwed up her face. ‘For God’s sake, Juliet, what’s wrong with you? Why can’t you just mind your own business?’

  Juliet had suspected Rosalind might be a bit embarrassed to see her, but she’d not expected her to be so rude. It hurt. ‘What’s the problem? You don’t want me to say hello?’

  ‘No. I don’t.’

  Juliet was shocked, felt herself blushing. Rosalind, however, was occupied with the man she was meant to be dining with. He was looking over at her now, frowning. Rosalind quickly flashed him a reassuring smile and then turned back to Juliet and scowled. ‘Just get the hell out of here. I can’t believe you did this.’

  Rosalind painted back on the smile and marched quickly away.

  ‘What’s going on?’ asked Gabriel.

  Juliet, bit her lip, picked up her handbag, trying hard not to cry. ‘Something’s wrong, I know it is. Do you think I should go over there?’

  ‘Of cours
e not.’ Gabriel’s expression was cold now. ‘Did you arrange to come here with me just to spy on your sister?’

  ‘No of course not.’

  ‘I’m pretty sure you did Juliet.’ He lent over the table, scowled at her. ‘Rosalind asked you how you knew she’d be here – it obviously wasn’t coincidence. So how did you know?’

  Juliet could feel herself blushing, looked down at the table and fiddled with her glass. ‘I found her diary.’

  Gabriel threw himself back in his chair, shook his head. ‘You’ve been snooping on your sister?’

  ‘Gabriel, you have to understand, I did it for her own good.’

  He threw his hand up. ‘Oh God, how often have I heard that! What you were doing was interfering, trying to control your sister’s life. I think you resent the fact your family has managed very well without you and now you want an excuse to stick your nose into their lives, take over.’

  ‘That’s not true.’ Juliet stood up, horrified at the anger she saw on his face.

  ‘It’s disgusting Juliet. I thought you were different, but you’re not.’

  ‘Different to what, to whom?’ she asked.

  Gabriel was breathing fast, glaring at her. Suddenly he picked up his serviette and threw it on the table. ‘We’re leaving.’

  He signalled to the waiter and paid the bill.

  When they got outside, Juliet said, ‘Look, I’m sorry that all went wrong, let me pay half.’

  ‘Don’t bother,’ he said, clearly still furious.

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this before, but Rosalind didn’t come home on Thursday. She sent a pretty desperate text, and I was really worried about her. All I knew was that she was due here tonight.’

  ‘And so, you set me up. You used me.’

  ‘Gabriel, can’t you see this is nothing to do with you. Aren’t you at all worried about Rosalind? You saw her clothes; that man must be giving her money for something.’

  ‘You think she’s a prostitute?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know…’

  ‘God Juliet, you really despise your family, don’t you?’

  ‘No, I love them, and I am sorry you can’t see that.’ Juliet looked back at the hotel. ‘I’m not leaving her here; I am going back for her.’