by Anita Waller
‘You two scrub up well,’ Doris said with a grin. ‘I can’t remember the last time I saw either of you dressed in anything other than jeans. Even when you had the huge bump you wore jeans, Kat, and you both look amazing.’
Kat groaned. ‘Yes, but I’ve still got some baby belly left, and these trousers are a size twelve, so I hope we don’t have to sit down when we get to Judy’s. I can undo the button in the car, but it won’t look very professional doing that in Judy’s house when we’ve gone there to call her a con artist, will it.’
‘Kat, you look stunning. Keep your button open, and walk behind me,’ Mouse said, unable to hold in the laughter. ‘Come on, the sooner we’ve done this, the sooner we can get back into our jeans. We need to call at the office first to raid the safe for the cheque book, and then we can go. Have we ever used the cheque book?’
Doris shook her head. ‘No, it’s really just for special one-off things like this. So let Kat write it, the bank will never understand your scrawl.’
‘You’ll be okay with Martha?’ Kat asked. The baby responded by waving a hand from the depths of her crib.
‘Kat Rowe, get on your way. I’m old, not senile. Besides I’m going to teach her a new nursery rhyme.’
‘Oh dear,’ Kat said, and headed for the front door, followed by Mouse. They paused before going out as they heard Doris start singing. Roll me over, roll me over, roll me over, lay me down and do it again.
‘Is that really a nursery rhyme,’ Kat whispered.
‘Don’t think so,’ Mouse responded. ‘That’s going to be one open-minded baby when she grows up.’
Kat wrote the cheque while Mouse hunted out an envelope. She handed it to Kat, who grinned at the hieroglyphics on the front. ‘Just pass me a blank one, Mouse, maybe I’ll write her name.’
Mouse looked around the office while Kat secured the safe, and felt justifiably proud. The business had been successful from day one, and with the acquisition of contracts for investigative work from several large businesses in the Sheffield and Manchester areas, their turnover was increasing. Kat had already mentioned that maybe it was time to start thinking about paying rent for the shop as Mouse owned it, but Mouse didn’t really want to go down that route. She owed Kat so much; she owed Kat her life. And what she owed to her nan was immeasurable, so no, she didn’t want rent from the business, she wanted to ignore it.
They climbed back into the Range Rover and headed for Hope, a short ten-minute journey on a good day. On a bank holiday it could be half an hour, both places enjoying many tourists as visitors.
They turned off before reaching the centre of Hope, and pulled up outside Judy and Keeley’s houses. Both cars were there; Kat and Mouse had decided against warning Judy they would be visiting, they wanted her to invite them in as if it was part of their routine, not suspect they were about to tell her to get lost, and keep them on the doorstep.
Keeley saw them arrive, and waved from her kitchen window. They both waved back, and headed down the path to Judy’s front door. The air was still, the sun warm, a beautiful day, and they both felt hot in their suits. Kat quietly grumbling about high heels made Mouse smile.
Mouse rang the doorbell and waited patiently.
After a minute, she rang it again. There was still no response so she bent down to call through the letterbox. Silence.
‘I’ll nip next door and ask Keeley if she’s seen her go out,’ Mouse said.
Keeley saw Mouse open her garden gate, so dried her hands on her jeans and went to meet her at the door.
‘Hi, Beth. Good to see you. Can I help?’
‘Yes, Have you seen Mrs Carpenter leave? It’s just that her car’s here, and she’s not answering. If she’s asleep I’m happy to wait till she eventually hears us, but if she’s out…’
‘I’ve not seen her leave, and I’ve never seen her go anywhere without going in the car. We’re not exactly near any shops in this little area, and it’s quite a walk. I heard her about sevenish this morning in the garden, shouting at something that I assumed was a dog or cat because she was saying, “Get away from here” or something along those lines, but to be honest she actually woke me up so I didn’t get up to see what she was yelling at. I didn’t really care anyway, she’s not the first person I’d rescue in a fire, is she? Having said that, it would be odd if she was asleep, she was certainly up by seven.’
‘Thanks, Keeley. I’ll nip round to her back garden, make sure she’s not fallen or anything. I would hate to think she was injured because she chased after a cat.’
Mouse returned down the path and walked towards Kat. Judy’s house was the end terrace and therefore had side access to her back garden, so the two of them headed that way, fighting through pyracanthus plants meant to deter burglars, and out into the rear of the property. The front garden, with its layer of gravel used for parking Judy’s car, had been plain and boring with just a couple of planters to brighten up the uniform white layer, but the one that met their eyes as they emerged from the jungle of the side area was stunningly beautiful. So many flowers already in bloom, a pretty, small pond, paths leading around the garden to statuary that must have cost a fortune, a pergola shrouded in clematis and a climbing rose – Judy was obviously a talented garden designer. No wonder she had been shouting at a cat.
Mouse shielded her eyes and peered into the patio doors of the lounge, but could see no evidence of Judy. Kat was walking around the garden, checking that Judy hadn’t fallen, so Mouse went to the back door and knocked. It swung open.
‘Kat!’
Kat hurried back towards her, and they peered into what was a small dining room.
‘Judy!’ Kat called her name loudly but there was no response. She moved further into the house, checked the lounge, turned to Mouse and shook her head. They moved onwards into the kitchen, with still no sign of Judy.
‘Should we go upstairs?’ Mouse asked. It was almost as if she needed the reassurance of an older person, and Kat gave her a squeeze. ‘I think we have to. That back door was ajar, which says something’s wrong. If she’s not there, we camp out in our car until she returns, and we tell her we’ve been in because the back door was open. Okay?’
Judy was in the first bedroom they checked out.
Kat rang DI Marsden and described the scene of horror they had walked into, and she told them to get out immediately provided they were sure she was dead.
‘She’s definitely dead,’ Kat said. ‘There can’t be any blood left in her, it’s on the walls, on the floor, it’s everywhere. We’ve not gone beyond the doorway but my fingerprints will be on the handle. I’m not wiping them off in case there are other prints on there.’
‘Okay, go outside now,’ Tessa said. ‘Don’t touch anything you haven’t already touched. There’ll be police there within a couple of minutes. I’ll be there in half an hour and talk to you then, so don’t go anywhere. Are you both okay?’
‘We are. Don’t worry about us. We can handle most things, it was just a bit of a shock because she’s a client of ours, and we came to give her a report.’ Kat crossed her fingers at the tiny lie.
They let themselves out of the front door, using a tissue to turn the Yale lock. They waited and watched from the front garden as three police cars arrived, explaining to them that they had come out of the front door and left it open for police to access the property easily. They added that it was definitely locked prior to that but the back door leading out of the dining room was slightly ajar. The PC taking notes looked suitably impressed.
The arrival of the police cars had caused Keeley to come out onto her own path, but then returned to her kitchen to make Kat and Mouse a cup of tea. Kat, in particular, looked grey, and Keeley asked if there was anything further she could do.
‘I don’t think so, thanks, Keeley, but we certainly needed this cup of tea.’
‘You’re sure she’s dead?’ The worried expression on Keeley’s face showed concern.
‘Yes, there’s nothing we could have done.’<
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‘But why the hell didn’t I hear something? It can’t have been quiet; she would surely have been screaming, wouldn’t she?’
‘Not if her throat was the first part of her to be cut. It would all have been over very quickly if that was the case. Cutting the throat prevents any sound.’
Keeley looked at the two women drinking out of her mugs. ‘My God, I wouldn’t have your jobs for the world. Fancy having to know things like that.’
19
Kat and Mouse sat in the back of Tessa Marsden’s vehicle, describing in detail exactly what they had done. Mouse admitted to feeling uneasy when Judy didn’t respond to their knock on the front door. Her Astra was still parked on the drive, and it was, according to her neighbour, unusual for Mrs Carpenter to go out without her car. Mouse hastened to add that they didn’t expect to find her dead, they thought she might be ill and in need of help.
They explained that they knew Keeley Roy and her little boy Henry because they had helped her with a small matter, and she had come outside to them as they had arrived.
Kat told Marsden about the seven o’clock shouting from Judy Carpenter, which was presumed by Keeley to have been at a cat or a dog in the immaculate garden belonging to Judy, but with hindsight that could have been a verbal warning towards her attacker.
‘Okay,’ Marsden said with a sigh. ‘I thought I told you two I wanted no more dead bodies… Now go home to Mrs Lester, put your feet up and forget this until tomorrow. I’ll need a statement from both of you, and I warn you now, I’ll be wanting to know why Judith Carpenter was your client. It may have a bearing on her death, so no holding back. If you have documentation I want to see it. In fact, I don’t want you coming to Chesterfield to do this, I’m coming to your office. If there’s anything I pick up on that you “forget” to tell me, we can find it in your files, can’t we?’
‘We’ll be there from nine,’ Mouse said. ‘Can we go now? It’s only just over a week since Kat gave birth, and she’s looking a bit unwell.’
‘Of course. I’ll see you in the morning.’ She grinned at them. ‘And make sure the coffee’s on or I’ll arrest the pair of you.’
They climbed out of the back seat and walked towards the Range Rover, not speaking. Mouse drove away and travelled back along the main road in the direction of Eyam.
After a couple of miles she pulled up, leaned her head against the steering wheel and said, ‘Shit.’
‘Couldn’t agree more,’ said Kat, staring out of the side window. ‘Is it just us that attracts all this trouble?’
‘I think it’s you.’
‘Huh. I know it’s you.’
They turned to look at each other.
‘That’s a first, anyway,’ Mouse said. ‘We’ve lost a client. But who the hell hated her enough to kill her? I know she’s obnoxious, but murder? Bit extreme, isn’t it.’
‘You think.’
‘I think.’
‘Come on, let’s get back to Nan,’ Kat said. ‘She’ll be full of questions.’ They’d filled Doris in with the briefest of details – Judy’s dead, and it’s murder – but knew she would be worrying about them.
Mouse drove the final part of their journey almost on automatic pilot. Seeing all that blood had been a massive shock, and her head was pounding. She pulled the big car onto their drive, and they both climbed out, feeling as though every problem in the universe was sitting on their shoulders.
Nan opened the door to them, and held them both tightly. ‘You have to go out again today?’
They shook their heads. ‘No, our first journey out wasn’t too successful, so we’re going nowhere.’
‘Then it’s time for a brandy. You’ll feel better after that.’
‘A bottle?’ Mouse asked.
They changed into their jeans and sat in the lounge, filling Doris in on their morning, explaining that Marsden wanted every last little detail about Judy Carpenter the next morning. ‘You do know you can’t keep anything back, don’t you?’ Doris warned them. ‘And she has to listen to that recording with Bobby Outram.’
Mouse sighed. ‘I know. But what does that say about us? We can’t keep anything confidential? We really need to speak to Pam Bird about this as well, after all it is her daughter-in-law, and we’re the only ones who know that. Nobody else is going to tell her, are they.’
‘No, they’re not at the moment, but after tomorrow Tessa Marsden will know because we’ll have told her. Do we take the initiative and tell her today, or leave it to Marsden to approach her? I think we should tell her today,’ Kat said. ‘I feel quite responsible. We’ve built her up to meeting her son’s wife, and now she’s dead the day after we tell her. That’s not going to go down well, is it.’
‘You’re going to tell her over the phone?’ Doris asked.
‘No, I think we have to go and see her.’ Mouse sounded thoughtful.
‘You’ve both had rather a large brandy.’
‘Bugger.’
‘Don’t swear, please, Mouse,’ her nan said. ‘Of course, for a box of Ferrero Rocher I could be persuaded to drive.’
Kat looked at Mouse. ‘Is this bribery or blackmail?’
‘Corruption.’ Mouse turned to her nan. ‘How big a box?’
‘Twenty-four. Non-negotiable.’
‘And you’ll bring us back as well?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Okay, agreed.’
‘Shall we see if Enid can have Martha for a couple of hours, or shall we take her with us?’ Doris asked, a huge smile on her face. Ferrero Rocher! She had originally thought a Mars bar might swing it; she was chancing her arm when she mentioned her favourites.
‘We’ll ask Mum, I think,’ Kat said. ‘In case we dump our driver in a lake and we have to walk back.’
Enid was waiting at the door, delighted to have her granddaughter to herself for a couple of hours. ‘Don’t rush back!’ she called as they drove off.
Kat sat on the rear seat, feeling quite contemplative. It seemed to be working out fine; Martha had so many babysitters in their tightly knit circle, and so far there had been no problems continuing with her work. The biggest concern had been the constant you’re on maternity leave from Mouse and Doris.
Pam Bird had been more than happy to see them; she said she had made decisions, and would talk to them when they arrived. They confirmed there would be three of them in the car, and she said to take care, and not to rush to get there, she wasn’t going out. Grace would serve cake, coffee and tea when they arrived.
It all seemed very grown-up and relaxed. Pam had no idea what was coming to face her. They had brought the recording along for her to hear, and Kat knew it was bound to upset her.
Pam met them at the door, greeted them warmly and led them through to the lounge. Within seconds, Grace appeared, carrying a tray with their refreshments.
They waited until she had poured the drinks, and after Kat had been introduced to Grace, Kat asked her to stay. ‘We may need you,’ she added.
‘Will I need a cup of tea?’ Grace asked.
‘Possibly,’ Kat responded, and Grace left to get an extra cup.
She returned to find Doris and her employer deep in conversation about a painting on the wall by a Sheffield artist, Pete McKee, a painter greatly admired by Doris and obviously by Pam.
‘I’m still looking for a house in the Eyam area,’ Doris was saying, ‘so my art works are still all boxed away. I miss seeing them.’
‘I have this one in here,’ Pam said, ‘and two more upstairs. His style is fascinating, and everyone who comes here talks about them.’
Grace poured out her drink and sat down, leaving Mouse to open the conversation.
‘Okay, we have several things to tell you, most of which have happened since we spoke to you yesterday. This morning we went to visit Judith Carpenter at her home, primarily because information had come to light that caused us to rethink taking on her case.’
Both Pam and Grace sat immobile, their cup and saucers held rigidly in
front of them. Neither spoke, waiting for Mouse to continue.
‘Initially we thought she wasn’t in because she didn’t answer to our knock, but her neighbour told us she never went out without the car and the car was right by us, in her front parking area. We walked around to the back garden, and the door into the dining room was slightly ajar so we went in. We called her name, checked all the downstairs rooms, and headed upstairs.’
Mouse paused for a moment. She was feeling overwhelmed by revisiting the morning’s events.
‘We entered a bedroom and found Mrs Carpenter. She was dead.’
There was a gasp, and the cup rattled in Grace’s saucer. Pam leaned forward and placed her drink on the coffee table.
‘Dead? But…’
‘I’m sorry to have to be brutal about this,’ Mouse continued, swallowing to moisten her mouth, ‘but she had been murdered. It wasn’t natural causes. There was blood everywhere and she was face down on the bed.’
‘Oh, that poor woman,’ Pam said, shock etched onto her face. Grace said nothing, but raised her cup to her lips. All colour had drained from her features.
‘We don’t know anything more about it because we left the room immediately and rang the police. We’re meeting with them tomorrow morning to give our statements. This, of course, will impinge on you, Pam, because DI Marsden has made it very clear that she will want to know why Judy Carpenter came to us, just in case it has some bearing on who killed her. Judy was our client, not you, and as she is dead we have no moral right to withhold information about our case. The police would simply get a warrant forcing us to reveal it anyway, so we might as well get it all over with tomorrow. However, we do have other information that Kat acquired while we were with you yesterday. I’d like you to listen to a recording that Kat made of a conversation, with the person’s full approval I should add. This is going to be passed on to the police.’
She reached into her bag and took out the small recorder.