by Sonia Parin
That placed Mr. Prentiss downstairs. “I suppose he made a point of making sure the concierge knew that.”
“Yes, he asked if the newspapers were up to date.”
She turned her attention to the sea. The storm had passed, taking all the clouds away with it and leaving them with a bright blue sky.
Evie revisited their latest theory.
Caro had opened their eyes to an unexpected scenario. She tried to picture May Fields’ first days working at the hotel. Had she been in awe of all the ladies parading around? While everyone had described May Fields as a down-to-earth hard worker, Evie knew a person’s attitude and outlook could change and evolve into something entirely different.
She could see May Fields thinking how nice it would be to enjoy staying at the hotel as a guest rather than spending her days cleaning the rooms.
What would it take?
The words drummed inside her head. Evie closed her eyes and watched a scene unfold in her mind…
In the process of doing her job, May Fields entered a room occupied by a young woman. Evie pictured May looking inside the wardrobe and admiring all the beautiful gowns. While she worked, she might have imagined staying at the hotel as a guest. Later, she learned from the other maids the woman was unmarried and quite wealthy. A seed was planted in her mind. She wondered what it would be like to step into her shoes…
Everyone working at the hotel knew Evie was the Countess of Woodridge. What could a maid learn about her from her belongings? Evie chose to travel light. She had a notebook with essential emergency contact names and telephone numbers. In her opinion, no one would be able to sketch out an entire life from the few possessions she carried with her.
Her granny, on the other hand, always carried with her framed photographs which she scattered about whichever room she happened to be staying at, to make the place look cozy, she’d often said.
Her granny also traveled with a satchel containing important documents she couldn’t bear to leave behind. They were all copies of the originals. If anyone cared to look through them, they would discover just how wealthy she was…
Something must have alerted May Fields to the guest’s single status, Evie thought. Perhaps the unsuspecting guest kept a journal where she’d written all her innermost thoughts, including information about being alone in the world. Or… Attending yet another funeral. Seeing her relatives disappear, one by one until she was the only one left.
In Evie’s scenario, May Fields had seen the opportunity and she’d taken it. She’d spent some time working out a plot, ironing out the details until she could be sure it would work.
Then, on the fateful day, she killed the old May Fields and was reborn as a wealthy single woman, free to do as she pleased.
How would she have gone about stealing the rest of the other woman’s life and identity? Evie’s mind turned to practical matters. She would’ve had to gain access to her bank account. That could be a complicated matter. Most wealthy people had their money tied up in investments as well as an entourage of people employed to look after their affairs…
Frowning, Evie opened her eyes and sat up.
“As much as I love Caro’s idea, I don’t think May Fields could have pulled it off by herself.”
Tom leaned in and Evie had to repeat herself.
Changing gears, he brought the roadster to a stop.
“Have we arrived?” Evie looked around but couldn’t see anything that resembled a resort town.
“No, I just wanted to give you my full attention. Run that idea by me again.”
Evie explained her scenario and finished by saying she didn’t believe May Fields would have the knowledge to pull off such a complicated crime. “Think about all the people I employ to make sure my possessions and money are well taken care of. They will immediately realize she is an impostor.” She adjusted her hat and shifted to face him. “Let’s assume the woman had a considerable amount of money with her, May Fields thinks she can take it and go somewhere else, some place where no one will recognize her. The money won’t last and someone will realize the woman is missing. Yes, she’s lost all her relatives, but there must be others who would notice her absence.”
“Maybe May Fields didn’t think it all through.”
“Maybe, but something tells me she would have been thorough.” What were they missing?
“And?” Tom prompted her.
Shrugging, Evie said, “Perhaps we should continue on to Brighton. I’m all out of ideas.” Evie tried to clear her mind of her obsessions. She leaned toward Tom and said, “By the way, thank you for contacting Detective Inspector O’Neill.”
The matter was now in the hands of someone who would stop at nothing to get to the truth. She straightened her skirt. In her efforts to update her wardrobe, she appeared to have made some odd choices. Either that or she simply needed to become accustomed to wearing dresses with large blocks of color… and hats with fruit.
The roadster slowed down snapping Evie out of her reverie.
“Here we are. Brighton.”
“You were right. It has a pier.”
Tom smiled. “Would you care to take a walk along it?”
“I feel we must. Otherwise, I’ll never hear the end of it. I should tell Caro to drive down with Edmonds. This pier seems to be larger than the one at Worthing.”
“I believe there is a theater, paddle steamer excursions, military bands and even daredevil high divers.”
“If Caro comes, and I’m sure she will, we’ll never be able to tear her away. She’ll insist I uproot my life and move to Brighton.”
They managed to walk to the end of the pier without once bringing up the subject of May Fields. Evie had to bite her lip only twice to stop herself from talking about the case.
Tom seemed to be content to whistle under his breath. The tune had, by now, become quite familiar.
“What is the name of that song?”
Tom smiled. “Seaside Trippers. Catchy, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m sure I’ll be humming it in my sleep tonight.”
After a moment of silence, Tom said, “I believe you have just set a record. You have gone a full half hour without once mentioning the case.”
“I have been working on strengthening my will-power. It’s almost within my grasp, if only…”
“If only I hadn’t brought up the subject?”
“Well, yes. In fact, now that you have mentioned it, I’ve been thinking. Why did May Fields choose that room? Why not spare herself the trouble of dragging the body to Mr. Prentiss’ room?”
“Because she needed the body to fall from another room,” Tom suggested.
“Oh, clearly that half hour of not talking about the subject has made me rusty. Yes, you have a point.”
Tom resumed his whistling.
“Actually, we seem to have forgotten about Mr. Prentiss. I’m still curious to know what sort of job he offered her.” Evie clicked her fingers. “Remember our theory about the wealthy widow?”
“Yes.”
“Well, my mind is entertaining ideas about impersonating someone. That’s what we assume May Fields did. What if Mr. Prentiss traveled to Findon on business and when he saw May Fields he thought she reminded him of someone. An idea sparked in his mind.”
Tom stopped and looked at her. “He asked her to pretend to be someone else?”
“Yes.”
Chapter 24
A seagull squawked. Turning, Evie saw a couple on the edge of the pier using a tidbit to entice the bird into coming closer.
The sound of laughter swirled around them. Children ran and played. She saw a line forming outside the theater.
Shaking off the distractions, she said, “Caro found a statue with what will most likely turn out to be the victim’s blood. However, the body is no longer available so the police will not be able to make comparisons. Something happened in that room and Mr. Prentiss has to be a part of it.”
“Evie.”
“Yes?”
Evie pressed her hand to her chest. She felt her breath coming hard and fast. She knew they’d missed something. Something essential. She’d told Caro it had been staring them in the face…
“We should head back to Worthing.”
“Are you sure? Wouldn’t you like to have lunch here?”
“Lunch? I couldn’t eat a bite.” She pushed out a breath. She had done enough. In fact, more than enough. Now, the matter was in the hands of the authorities… Her shoulders lowered. “Yes, I suppose we should stop somewhere. Although, I fail to understand your obsession with eating.”
Tom laughed. “I think it will do you a world of good to slow down.”
True. Yet she remained eager to return to Worthing and contact the detective who might actually have some news for them.
They chose the first restaurant they came across. Evie sat down and drew out her notebook. “I need to get some of these ideas down otherwise I might scream.”
“Would you like me to order for you?”
“Yes, please.” She shook her head. “It cannot possibly be a coincidence that Mr. Prentiss and Mr. Addington both found their way to Worthing. I don’t recall seeing them engaging in conversation which, in itself, is odd and points at some sort of duplicity.” Evie stopped only briefly when the waiter came by their table to take their order. “As for Mr. Prentiss having an alibi… Well, that’s just nonsense. In my opinion, he arrived at the hotel in time to throw the victim from the balcony. Just because he’s been placed at the library doesn’t mean he didn’t find a way to rush upstairs and… The back stairs. Of course. The concierge saw him going into the library, but Mr. Prentiss could just as easily have taken the back stairs to run upstairs and complete his mission.”
Tom glanced up at the waiter who’d been doing his best to pretend he hadn’t heard a single word Evie had said.
To her surprise, Tom ordered sandwiches and requested that they be wrapped up.
“I guess we’ll be eating on the run,” he said.
“But… why?”
“While I appreciate your efforts, I couldn’t bear to see you suffer in silence.”
Evie gave him a bright smile. “Oh, you are wonderfully understanding.”
Within minutes, they were on the road and headed back to Worthing. Evie leaned in close to Tom and spoke at the top of her voice so Tom could hear her over the roar of the engine. “I just know there is something obvious we are missing.”
Tom nodded and took a bite of his sandwich.
“What is the first thing I do whenever we return to the hotel?”
“You go upstairs to change.”
“Precisely.” Evie could tell by his glance he hadn’t quite grasped the meaning of her revelation. “The concierge told you Mr. Prentiss and his wife returned to the hotel and went straight to the library. Why didn’t Mrs. Prentiss go upstairs to change?”
“Because she and her husband knew a murder was about to take place.”
“Yes!” But she still maintained Mr. Prentiss had used the back stairs to dash up to the room.
Tom took another bite of his sandwich. “Have I mentioned you have developed an obsessive streak?” he asked.
Evie grinned. “Maybe. Once or twice.” Evie kept shifting and stretching her neck to try and catch sight of Worthing. Finally, she saw a familiar building. “We’re here.”
“Yes, we have arrived.” Tom slowed down and turned into the street leading up to the Beach House. “If you can bear the delay, I thought we might stop at the house and see if there are any messages from your man of business or the detective.”
“Good idea. You do seem to come up with them just at the right time.” When he stopped the roadster, she didn’t wait for him to open the passenger door. Jumping out, Evie hurried to the front door, but before she reached it, the front door opened.
“My lady,” the butler greeted her.
When he stepped aside to let her in, Evie said, “Hello Richards, are there any messages for us?”
“I’m afraid not, my lady.”
Thanking him, she turned and crashed into Tom. “No messages,” she said rubbing her nose. “We should head back to the hotel.”
“Because…”
“That’s where all the action is. Surely…”
Looking over her shoulder, Tom smiled at Richards. “Lady Woodridge wishes to return to the hotel. Thank you, Richards. I’m sure we’ll have reason to return later on.”
“As you wish, sir.”
As they climbed back into the roadster, Tom mused, “I could have sworn you got your brightest ideas during moments of quiet introspection. I don’t know where I got that impression from.”
“What’s wrong, Tom? Are you having trouble keeping up with me?”
“Actually,” he straightened his tie. “I feel the leash might be back on.”
Evie laughed. “I’ll try not to tug too hard.”
Tom wove his way through traffic and pulled into a side street where he found a place for the motor car.
“Would it make any difference if I suggested blending in?” Tom asked as they made their way to the hotel.
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone is strolling by at a leisurely pace and here we are hurrying along. Actually, you’re trotting and I’m lengthening my stride. But I feel you are about to break into a run. People are noticing.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right. We wouldn’t want to start a riot.” Evie forced herself to slow down.
When they entered the hotel, her gaze skated around the lobby to try to locate any of the protagonists in the unfolding drama.
“I don’t see any of them around,” she said, her voice heavy with urgency. “Not even Caro and Edmonds.” In her eyes, everyone looked suspicious. The man behind the front desk looked up and held her gaze. The bellboy turned and looked at her only to look away quickly. She could have sworn a man reading a newspaper peered at her only to lift the newspaper when she met his gaze. And… and a woman stood a few feet away, holding a compact mirror. She adjusted it as if to catch Evie’s reflection.
Suddenly, the place was swarming with suspicious characters.
“Caro and Edmonds are most likely making the best of their vacation.” Tom checked his watch. “As for the others, they’re either having a late lunch or they’re out and about enjoying their final moments of freedom.”
“Tom! Are you teasing me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Countess.”
“Wait here for me, please. As long as we’re here, I might as well go upstairs and change. Oh, and remind me never to wear pink again. I think it makes me rather erratic.”
She rushed up the main staircase. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tom heading toward the library. He had been right about one thing, Evie thought. She did rather enjoy her quiet moments of rumination and appeared to do her best thinking when left alone.
Reaching her room, she decided she actually did her best thinking when bouncing off ideas with Tom or Caro…
In this instance, however, she did need to spend some time alone with her thoughts. There were simply too many of them.
Once inside her room, she changed dresses, opting for her favorite shade of pale green and then sat at her dresser to think.
If May Fields had stolen a guest’s identity, the police would catch up with her. Evie made a mental note to tell the detective Mrs. Johnstone from Findon had a photograph of May Fields. That would help to identify the woman and Mrs. Johnstone would surely be able to pick her out of a crowd, even if she was dressed as a lady.
How else could they reveal her real identity?
Evie studied her fingernails. Over the summer, she had spent a lot of time working in her little patch of garden. Yet, her fingers didn’t show any signs of being put to work. Would someone who’d been working in service show signs…?
Evie brushed her hands across her face. She really needed to put it all
to rest and let the police do their job.
Startled by the sound of a hard thump, Evie at first tried to ignore it, but the propensity to satisfy her curiosity won out.
Evie held her breath for a moment and strained to hear more sounds. When that didn’t work, she got up and edged toward the open window. Anyone who saw her would think she wanted to eavesdrop. The edge of Evie’s lip kicked up as she thought they would be correct.
She leaned out. Looking up at the floor above, she saw the curtain billowing out. A moment later, she heard a murmured discussion. But despite her efforts, she could not make any of it out.
Stepping back, she walked around her room, mouthing some of the words she thought she’d heard. “Mess? Miss?” She could feel herself sliding right back into her obsession about the case.
Evie stopped in the middle of the room. This had gone far enough. She had taken a game and turned it into a hunt for a real killer. Now there was nothing more for her to do.
Giving a firm nod, she went downstairs telling herself no one got away with murder.
When she reached the lobby, she looked up and saw a couple of men dressed in gray suits standing by the entrance to the hotel. Something about them set them apart from all the hotel guests she’d been seeing on a regular basis. They looked alert. Determined. Definitely not at ease.
They scanned the lobby with such intensity, Evie felt they were looking for someone.
Hurrying across the lobby, she headed toward the library where she knew she would find Tom.
Before disappearing down the hallway leading to the library, she slowed down. Evie looked over her shoulder and toward the entrance. The two men were staring straight at her.
Evie backed away until she lost sight of them. Turning, she dashed toward the library where she found Tom sitting by the window reading a newspaper.
“Tom. There you are.”
“Yes, I’ve been here all along. Oh, I beg your pardon. I suppose you expected me to wait in the lobby.”
She sat down next to him and grabbed hold of his arm. “There are…” Frowning, she turned toward the opposite corner and saw a familiar face. Mr. Addington. She looked back at Tom and whispered. “Mr. Addington?”