Her friend Lesley, even though she knew Thomas well, would say, ‘Ellie, pull the other one!’ And then, after a moment’s thought, she’d say, ‘Ellie? What’s going on? What connection does he have with all these people?’
Ellie would have to admit that she had no idea why these five people should shower money on Thomas. Lesley would also think about it and begin to wonder why they’d been so generous. Lesley knew Thomas well, but she was a member of the police force and duty-bound to take note of anything untoward that came to her attention.
So Lesley would have to report what she’d heard to her superior officer, and that would be very bad news indeed. Lesley’s superior officer was her inferior in the matter of intelligence but a stickler for exercising the letter of the law.
On an unfortunate occasion many years ago, Ellie had referred to him as ‘Ears’ because those appendages of his went bright red when his blood pressure rose. The nickname had spread through the force like wildfire and he’d never been able to get rid of it. In consequence, he’d been heard to threaten all sorts of action if Ellie transgressed by as little as jaywalking on their high street. There’s nothing he’d have liked better than to instigate a full-scale police enquiry into the deaths of five local people who’d all been in contact with Thomas.
Ellie could imagine the headlines. SERIAL KILLER TARGETS OAPs.
Or perhaps, MURDERING MINISTER PINCHES OAPS’ PENSIONS.
Thomas smoothed out the solicitor’s letter. ‘I’m not going to accept this cheque. I’ve promised to visit someone this afternoon, but I’ll ring the solicitor tomorrow and make an appointment to see him.’
Ellie temporized. ‘You know, we may be blowing this out of all proportion. If you knew enough about these people to understand why they’d all decided to leave you something in their wills, it would be perfectly all right. They were probably all members of our church here and—’
‘No,’ said Thomas. ‘I don’t think so. Well, the first one was, and the second came through Age UK. I have no idea who the third and fourth were or how they could have heard of me. I’ve just told you about Mrs Pullin, who was definitely not a member of our church here. I don’t know which church the others might have gone to, or even if they went to church at all.’
‘There will have been a connection. We just don’t know it.’
‘A minister has to be above suspicion. I was delighted when I got the first couple of bequests but now … Well, I know we’d hoped to fly over to Canada again this year, and that we might have been able to do so if I accept these windfalls and clear my debt, but I won’t feel easy if we do. I’m going to pass the word around that, if desired, donations can be made direct to the church but not to me and I’m going to return all the money that’s been sent me so far.’
TWO
Tuesday lunchtime
Ellie desperately wanted Thomas to keep the money because it would make so much difference to their lives. Ellie drew a pension from her charitable trust. She had thought it generous when the arrangement had been set up, but it turned out that it didn’t really cover major problems such as replacing the boiler or rewiring the house. Or planning another trip to Canada.
The charity had been set up to do good in the world, they entertained applications from many deserving organizations for money, and they tried to invest wisely in housing which could be rented out at affordable prices.
After the unfortunate hole in Thomas’s finances appeared, Ellie had thought of asking for more money to defray the expenses of the house, but she was afraid that Thomas would have objected. He had a tender conscience when it came to marrying a wealthy woman, which made his present dilemma all the more difficult to solve.
Finally she said, ‘I have an idea. Our young friends Rafael and Susan are coming to supper tonight. You respect Rafael’s opinion, don’t you? He’s a good businessman and he knows lots of people locally, as does our darling Susan. Suppose we ask their opinion about these cheques in confidence?’
‘The fewer people who know about this, the better. Ellie, if this gets out, there’ll be talk about how you can never trust a man of the cloth.’
‘I wouldn’t suggest we tell anyone else.’
‘Hetty doesn’t know, does she?’
Ellie said, ‘Certainly not! We won’t mention it in front of her but wait till after supper to talk to Rafael and Susan. By the way,’ Ellie tried to sound airy, ‘Hetty’s planning to cook a chicken pie for us for tonight’s supper.’
Thomas attempted to smile and failed. Hetty temporarily occupying the top flat after she’d been made homeless was one thing, but Hetty wanting to be their housekeeper and part of their family was quite another.
For one thing their ginger tomcat, Midge, had taken a dislike to the woman and resented her presence in the house. This had led to angry confrontations across the kitchen floor, which meant that Ellie now had to feed him in the conservatory.
The other problem was that although Hetty was a hardworking, cheerful soul, she was also clumsy and gave vent to bouts of loud, inappropriate laughter. Every day Ellie wondered how long it would be before she had to Have a Word.
The necessity for ‘having a word’ had become more urgent since Hetty had recently started to cook an evening meal for Ellie and Thomas. This was a problem. Ellie liked to cook in the evenings but nowadays it seemed that she could never go into the kitchen without finding Hetty underfoot, preparing some ‘special treat’ for them. Her helpfulness was misplaced and fast becoming a nuisance, but it was hard to know what to do about it. Worse still, although Hetty was a reasonably good if basic cook, she had a diabolically heavy hand with pastry and this was playing merry hell with Thomas’s occasionally delicate digestion.
Ellie knew it was up to her to tell Hetty to get lost but that was easier said than done since it was Thomas who had brought her into their lives. He’d explained to Ellie that Hetty was someone they really ought to help. She was a hard worker who’d had a difficult life. She’d never been trained for anything in particular but after a failed, childless marriage she’d supported herself by taking on a series of part-time jobs, cleaning, working in a shop, shelf-filling in a supermarket. Her aim in life was to buy a little place of her own, but on her wages that could only be a distant dream.
Thomas had first come across Hetty when she’d been unfairly sacked for stealing at an old people’s home. He’d helped get her the wages she’d been owed and, as she was about to be made homeless, found her a room in a parishioner’s house. Unfortunately that placement hadn’t worked out because the elderly house owner died soon after. Thomas had come to the rescue for a second time and found her another place to live, but that good deed, too, ended in disaster, as the lady of that household kept a dog which had taken a dislike to her lodger.
Once more Hetty had appealed to Thomas for help and that was when he’d first involved Ellie, by asking if there was some accommodation available for the woman through the charitable trust fund. Ellie had enquired but found that Hetty couldn’t afford even the smallest of their rental properties.
At his wits’ end, Thomas had made a mistake.
Susan, their young, red-headed, no-nonsense housekeeper, had left them a while ago to marry her clever, half-Italian fiancé Rafael, leaving her light and airy two-bedroom flat at the top of the house empty. Ellie hadn’t re-let the flat because she wanted to renew some of the kitchen equipment and to redecorate … all of which had taken far longer than anticipated.
Thomas usually kept out of anything to do with the management of their big house, but at that point he had asked Ellie if Hetty might move into the top floor rooms until she could find something more suitable.
Ellie dithered. It was clear Hetty couldn’t afford to pay anything approximating the market price, and Ellie needed that money to help defray the expenses of running the household. But as the painters finally put the finishing touches to the flat, Hetty had been bitten by her landlady’s dog, and Thomas persuaded Ellie to offer Hetty the use
of the flat as a temporary measure, without rent, until she could get back on her feet.
It had taken Thomas eight long weeks to realize his error.
Some people blend into a household with ease. Susan had quickly become part of the family and Rafael, her fiancé and latterly husband, had become a good friend despite the disparity of years between them.
Hetty did not blend in.
Since Thomas had introduced Hetty to the household, Ellie hadn’t felt that she could speak of her misgivings to him. She could put up with the minor annoyance of having the woman around, couldn’t she? And he was so busy that he rarely noticed what went on from day to day in the house.
But, faced with the threat of another leaden chicken pie, Thomas finally managed to broach the subject. ‘Ellie, I know it was all due to me that Hetty moved into the top flat. I didn’t think it through, did I? After having our lovely Susan around for so long … Ah, her pastry and her bread … and her chocolate cake! I got carried away trying to be noble and solve everyone’s problems. I thought Hetty would volunteer to pay whatever rent she could afford, and that it would only be for a couple of weeks till she found something more suitable. She doesn’t see it that way, does she? Only last night she told me how happy she was to be of use to us. As far as I am concerned, she’s outstayed her welcome. Do you agree?’
‘Well, I asked her the other day what rent you’d suggested she pay, and she said you’d told her she was to consider herself our guest and that she could stay as long as she liked.’
‘That’s not true. I’m sure I said it was only a temporary measure and that we’d discuss what rent she should pay when she was settled in. I can see I wasn’t firm enough.’
Ellie patted his hand. ‘It’s not your fault. I should have tackled her sooner. As it is, we’ve never actually asked her to pay rent so in theory she is our guest. As our guest, she ought to have saved enough to rent by now to get somewhere decent, even if she can’t afford to buy. I’ll have to have it out with her.’
‘She’s such a poor, well-meaning creature,’ said Thomas. ‘Where will she go?’
Ellie was conflicted. She felt guilty about leaving the flat empty when there was such a need locally for accommodation, but on the other hand she really could do with the rent money. If only Hetty would stick to her own quarters and pay something for her keep!
Over the years the house had become something of a burden. It had never seemed too big when they’d first moved in since they’d often had friends and relatives to stay. But Ellie and Thomas were not getting any younger, and they had guests to stay less often. She realized she didn’t enter some of the rooms for weeks on end.
Ellie said, ‘I’ve told Hetty she’s been doing too much for us and that I like to cook in the evenings. She refuses to take the hint. I suppose it makes her feel she’s paying her way. I’ll talk to her again, and I’ll have another go at the next trust meeting to see if they can find somewhere she can afford.’
Thomas rubbed his eyes. ‘There’s just one thing. I didn’t like to mention it, I wasn’t absolutely sure till yesterday, but I think Hetty’s been going through my papers. It wasn’t the cleaners. It was after they’d been. I caught Hetty leaving this room where surely she has no need to be. The only file that had been disturbed was this one where I keep all the papers about the bequests.’
‘Oh, dear. I suppose she’s so anxious to be part of the family that she wants to know what’s happening but no, that’s no excuse, I agree. Well, the sooner we can find her somewhere else to go, the better.’
Thomas brightened up. ‘Now, about having Susan and Rafael to supper this evening. It’s always a pleasure to see them. I do respect young Rafael’s judgement. He has an old head on young shoulders. As for Susan, she’s a poppet and has an uncommon amount of common sense in her makeup. When she lived at the top of the house it was a pleasure to know she was keeping an eye on you when I was out earning a crust—’
Ellie giggled. ‘Who kept an eye on who? Susan did more cooking for us than any other lodger or housekeeper we’ve ever had—’
‘Ah, Susan’s pies!’ sighed Thomas. ‘And her biscuits! I suppose she spoiled us. You’d better warn her that Hetty will be cooking tonight.’
‘I will. She’ll understand. She’ll probably bring some of her own cooking to put in the freezer for us and with any luck Rafael will bring you some beer from a mini-brewery that he’s just happened to come across.’
Thomas’s expression lightened. He was a beer man and liked to try the products of the micro-breweries that had sprung up recently. He looked at his watch. ‘Well, I’d better get on and see what my caller wants. Something to do with making her will.’ He realized what he’d just said and started to laugh. ‘Ellie, what am I going to say to her?’
‘Tell her you can’t help and she should consult her solicitor. And, watch the clock. You don’t want to be late for supper.’
Tuesday evening
Rafael and Susan drove into the forecourt of the house as Thomas returned from his errand of mercy.
Rafael’s favourite method of transport was a humongous black brute of a motorbike, but he did have a car for formal purposes. Susan, his delightful wife, was of slightly less than medium height and curvaceous. She had never been happy to ride on the back of his two-wheeled monster and now, being almost nine months pregnant, she couldn’t manage to climb on to it at all. So they arrived in stately fashion in a family saloon which had a large boot capable of taking the expected baby’s buggy, et cetera.
Ellie met them in the hall and took their coats. Rafael handed over a six pack of beer from the micro-brewery he’d recently discovered, and Susan slipped Ellie a tin of her famous home-cooked chocolate biscuits.
The formal dining room hadn’t been used for its original purpose for many a long day and, as Rafael and Susan were such old friends, they all congregated around the table in the kitchen, the scene of so many good meals and interesting conversations.
Only tonight Hetty made a fifth at table and they got through the meal to the tune of her merry laughter as she retold the scrape she’d got into that day. She’d been helping out in one of the cafes in the Avenue, but had misunderstood the way the coffee machine would react when she pulled this instead of pushing that, and the resultant mess had taken ages to clear up.
Everyone smiled in dutiful fashion and tried to eat at least some of the inedible pie crust so as not to upset the cook. The ice cream that followed was fine but then Hetty suggested that as they were all having such a good time they turn on the telly and watch a quiz show together.
Ellie observed a slight shudder run through Thomas and didn’t dare look at Rafael or Susan whose faces, she was sure, would be wearing identical polite but blank expressions.
Ellie held on to a slightly rigid smile as she said that of course Hetty must go up to her own rooms to watch her favourite show, after cooking that lovely meal for them. Ellie urged Hetty not to hang about as she, Ellie, was going to clear the table and put everything in the dishwasher. So, despite Hetty’s protestations, they managed to ease her out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Ellie shovelled the uneaten remains of the pie into the bin, Thomas made some good coffee, Susan loaded the dishwasher and Rafael swabbed down the table as to the manner born.
They moved into the sitting room. Rafael settled Susan on the settee, insisting that she put her feet up. Susan, in the final month of her pregnancy, was stunningly and ripely happy about it. Naturally the subject for discussion was names for the baby. Rafael said they both had a list of names but could not agree on any of them. No doubt the baby would decide for herself.
Finally, Thomas felt he could broach the tender subject of the bequests. He laid the papers out for Rafael and Susan to see and asked for their advice.
‘I’ve never in all my years been left any money before. Now I’ve had five lots in the space of a couple of weeks. Three of the testators I knew slightly, but the others I didn’t know at all. If this
had happened to one of my friends, I’d be thinking about undue influence and asking to see the death certificates. Tell me I’m not exaggerating.’
Rafael donned the expensive rimless glasses he’d recently taken to wearing and went over the papers himself, passing each one to Susan as he finished reading it.
Finally he said, ‘I see what you mean. On the face of it, there’s nothing to worry about. Three different solicitors, none of whom are fly-by-night. I’ve used one of them myself. I don’t know any of the people concerned except …’ He picked one paper out and frowned at it. ‘I have come across this one. Thornwell. It’s not a common name, but if it’s the same one then I’m surprised he left the peel off an orange to anyone in his will. He didn’t strike me as the generous type. Perhaps he had a change of heart on his death bed.’
Susan eased her back muscles. ‘Thornwell. Haven’t I heard you mention that name?’
‘Councillor Thornwell. Yes. He was no sweet little old lady. He was a chancer, a man who sailed too close to the wind for my taste. I seem to remember he was overfond of the bottle. Was he had up before the magistrates once for being drunk and disorderly? Something like that. I only met him a couple of times. Business.’ He didn’t seem to want to say anything more.
Susan persisted. ‘Wasn’t it in the local papers when he died?’
‘It was. There was a lot of talk about …’ He looked off into space, and what he saw here did not seem to make him happy. At last, he said, ‘I suppose I could ask around, see what I can find out. I didn’t know him socially, you understand.’
Ellie thought, Rafael’s lying. No, not lying exactly, but he knows something he’s not prepared to tell us. What on earth could that be?
Susan shuffled the papers together. ‘I can’t see why you’re worried, Thomas. It’s a lot of coincidences, but that’s all they are. I don’t see why you shouldn’t keep the money.’
Murder for Good Page 2