Tea and Broken Biscuits

by Daphne Neville

  “I hope you managed to get the candlesticks into the bags without getting your fingerprints on them,” said Sandra.

  Kate looked indignant. “Oh, Mum, we’re not stupid. Vicki held the bag open and I picked them up using the corner of my T-shirt.”

  “Good girls,” Hetty was impressed.

  “Did you notice whether or not they looked damaged?” Lottie asked.

  “They’re a bit mucky and one of them has a small dent but apart from that they seemed alright,” stated Kate.

  “That’s a relief because I should imagine they cost a few bob.”

  “So do you think they’re they the ones that were taken from the church?” Vicki asked, hopefully.

  “They must be,” said Lottie, taking another peek in the carrier bag, “I mean, I don’t know for sure because I never looked at them closely when in church but it’s too much of a coincidence for them not to be.”

  “But why take them if you’re not going to keep them?” Sandra asked.

  “Perhaps the thief panicked and threw them away because he couldn’t risk having them found in his possession. I mean, I don’t expect for a minute he thought he’d be interrupted on the night he took them,” reasoned Bill.

  “Interesting point,” commented Lottie, “which means the fact he didn’t expect to be interrupted rules out him being a local because locals would all know that half past seven on Wednesday is choir practice.”

  Hetty smiled. “Only ones that are church members, Lottie. I daresay most people in the pub wouldn’t have a clue. In fact I’m not even sure that I would have known.”

  As Lottie was about to answer a car pulled up outside.

  Zac leapt up and looked out of the window. “It’s the police. I’ll go and let them in.”

  “A penny for your thoughts,” whispered Brett to Alina who sat on the hearth rug by his feet with her head resting on his lap.

  “I was watching the flames in the fire. They’re mesmerising and make me feel totally relaxed.”

  “Ah, so that’s why you’re so quiet.”

  “Yes, I’m tired as well. I think it must be the sea air.” She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “Don’t you feel tired?”

  “No, can’t really say that I do and I think the reason for your tiredness is probably because you’re worrying about your next job and that’s quite understandable.”

  “Hmm, perhaps I am a little apprehensive but I don’t think so.”

  “Do you fancy going down the pub for a drink? We could get a bite to eat as well as we’ve not eaten yet.”

  “Yes, if you like but I’m quite happy sitting here by the fire.”

  Brett laughed. “So you’re feeling lazy and would rather stay?”

  “If I’m honest, yes. I found the pub rather depressing last night. All the talk of the shooting was horrible especially when we were actually up there when it happened. The thought of that poor woman being shot makes me shudder. I didn’t think things like that happened in Cornwall.”

  “Sadly crime happens everywhere, but certainly it’s more prevalent in the big cities.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

  Brett dreamily twisted a lock of Alina’s hair around his finger. “It’s strange isn’t it, that both of us earn our crusts through over-the-top drama; me with writing and you with acting, yet in reality it’s pretty sordid and not something one would really like to be involved with. I could never be a copper.”

  “Nor me and you wouldn’t be much good if you were. You’re too soft hearted.” Alina quietly laughed. “Even the baddies in Murder at Mulberry Hall are likable characters.”

  “And so are the people that play them.”

  “Do you really think so? I mean, I agree that Alex makes a brilliant dodgy hairstylist but I’m not so sure about his accomplice, Marlene. Admittedly she plays the part of his wife with flair but there’s something about her that I don’t like. I don’t trust her.”

  Brett released her lock of hair and stroked it flat. “Hmm, can’t see what you mean. Anywhere, there’s a bottle of white in the fridge. Do you fancy a glass?”

  Alina moved so that he could stand up. “Yes please and there’s a pizza in the freezer as well so we’ll have that a little later on.”

  Chapter Eleven

  On Wednesday morning Hetty looked up from her laptop and groaned. “The car boot sale’s been cancelled again, that’s the third week running.”

  Bill moved over to the table where the yellow tulips gleamed in a shaft of sunlight and glanced out of the window. “But the weather looks quite nice and the sun’s shining.”

  “Yes, it does but the problem is the field: it’s water logged, you see, because of all the rain we’ve had.”

  “Oh, well, I’m sure we’ll all find something else to do.”

  “Yes, but it would be nice to have gone because we want some new plants for the garden to replace the ones we lost during the cold spell.”

  “The Beast from the East,” laughed, Kate, “it was wicked.”

  “Especially on the days it closed the school,” added Vicki.

  “We lost quite a few plants as well and we’re used to cold winters,” said Sandra, ignoring her daughters.

  “But surely you can buy some more in all sorts of places,” remarked Bill, “All the big stores and supermarkets will have them.”

  “Of course,” agreed Hetty, as she closed down her laptop, “but we like looking at the car boot because we always feel we’ve got a bargain.”

  “Even if we haven’t,” Lottie added, “because they can sometimes work out more expensive.”

  Bill smiled. “Oh well, instead of going to the car boot sale you’ll have to stay here and focus on trying to find out who attempted to murder the poor cook and who stole the candlesticks.”

  “And then threw them away,” tutted Kate, “What a weirdo.”

  “We might just do that,” agreed Hetty, as she tucked her laptop beneath the chair, “because although the attempted murder of poor old Hazel is a real mystery we do at least know now that Gideon was attacked because he disturbed a robber. At least we’re pretty certain that’s the reason.”

  Bill sat down on the sofa. “So do you think it’s possible that the two incidents might be linked?”

  “Probably but for the life of me I can’t see how or why,” conceded Hetty, “Having said that, it appears something had been bothering Hazel and she wanted to tell Vicar Sam about it. I met him yesterday while out walking Albert. Lottie and I have discussed it but we’re none the wiser, are we Lottie?”

  Lottie shook her head. “And then on top of everything else there’s the theft we mentioned the other day which took place at Pentrillick House a few years back. I even wonder if that’s in any way connected.”

  Hetty removed her reading glasses and returned them to their case. “It might be but I don’t see how. It happened too long ago.”

  “Well, whatever, you’re going to be very busy with three crimes to solve.” Bill tried hard to keep the ridicule from his voice.

  Hetty sighed. “Yes, and then on top of that I have my lines to learn for the play.”

  In the afternoon, Bill and Sandra decided to go with the girls to St. Ives. Zac had already gone into the village to meet Emma.

  “Right,” said Hetty, as they stood at the window and waved as the family’s car drove off, “time to make up a list of suspects.”

  Lottie sat down. “I was wondering how long it would be before you suggested that.”

  Hetty took a notepad and pen from the drawer in the sideboard. “It’s not going to be easy, is it? I mean, we know quite a lot of people now.” She sat down at the table by the window. “We’ll do men first.”

  “Are we going to list all the men we know or just ones who might be involved?”

  “Just ones who might be involved. I mean, it’d be daft to include the likes of Vicar Sam and his dad, and of course Alex from next door and dear old Tommy.”

  “Good, it sho
uldn’t take too long then especially since I can’t even think of one name.”

  Hetty tutted. “Damn, neither can I.”

  “And another thing. Is the list for both incidents or are you doing separate ones for each?”

  Hetty groaned. “Trust you to be awkward. I hadn’t thought of that. What do you think?”

  “I’d just do one list for both crimes because I don’t think we’ll be able to come up with enough names for two so we’d end up duplicating them.”

  “Very true, and for now we’ll forget about the robbery at Pentrillick House because it’s thought that was done by professionals anyway.” She wrote suspects at the top of the page. “Right, Lottie, who goes on first?”

  Lottie frowned. “I wonder if it might in some way be connected to the drama group. I mean, Gideon’s attack occurred after that first meeting.”

  “But why? Hazel Mitchell didn’t belong to the drama group and nor did Gideon.”

  “True, but I think Kitty was going to ask Gideon to help with the music and Hazel Mitchell was a cook and it’s the cook who gets murdered in the play.”

  A look of horror crossed Hetty’s face. “You don’t think I’m in danger do you, Lottie? Me being the cook in the play, I mean.”

  “I hardly think so unless you know something someone might want you to keep quiet about.”

  “You’re right. That’s a relief and of course I have the heather to protect me anyway.”

  “Hmm, yes,” Lottie couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  Hetty tapped the pen on the notepad. “Come on, we’re wasting time. Let’s get back to the list of suspects.”

  “Well, I think the first person you need to write down is Pickle the Poacher after all he was on the Pentrillick Estate on the night of the robbery a few years back. I know we’re not focusing on that but he was there. Also he was on the estate when Hazel was shot. What’s more it was him who told everyone at the pub about Gideon so he might have been lurking around in the churchyard.”

  “Hmm, you could be right. He’s certainly a character of interest but how do you know he was at Pentrillick House when Hazel was shot?”

  “I heard someone say when we were in the pub the other day. I can’t remember who but apparently he was up there with one of his sons who had popped down for the Easter weekend with his wife and two children.”

  “Hmm, well if he had family with him he’s hardly likely to have shot Hazel, is he? But I’ll put him down anyway.”

  “How about Brett?”

  “Brett!” shouted Hetty, “Why on earth would he be involved?”

  Lottie shrugged her shoulders. “Because he’s here I suppose.”

  “Well, certainly he was here when Hazel was shot but I don’t think he was when Gideon was attacked.”

  “Yes, he was. He and Alina arrived last Tuesday or Wednesday for Easter. What’s more, he wrote a play in which there is a robbery and a cook is murdered.”

  “And that’s two very good reasons why it’s not him.” Hetty laughed, “He’d be crackers to write about crimes he’s committed or about to commit, if you see what I mean.”

  “Does seem a bit of a coincidence though.” Lottie tried to back up her suggestion with a motive but realised it was unlikely that Brett knew Gideon or Hazel Mitchell anyway.

  “Okay,” said Hetty, “I’ll put him down if it makes you happy and then let’s move on.”

  “How about Ian?” Lottie suggested, “You know the chap who’s going to do the lighting for the play. I think he looks a bit suspicious. Not that I’ve ever had reason to speak to him.”

  Hetty added his name to the list. “I can’t see why but he’ll do for now.”

  “And then there’s that chap Christopher who does guided tours at Pentrillick House. I think his name was Christopher.”

  “Hmm, he’d certainly be in the know as far as the robbery is concerned and he would have known Hazel as well.” Hetty wrote down his name and tapped the pen against her teeth. “I’m just trying to think of that woman’s name. You know, the one with the annoying voice who also does guided tours.”

  “Yes, I know who you mean but I can’t remember her name either.”

  “I’ll just write down tour woman for now.”

  “We’ve gone onto the women then?”

  “Well yes, because we’re not getting very far with the men.”

  Lottie laughed. “And I don’t think we’ll do any better with women. Having said that write down Alina.”

  “Alina,” gasped Hetty. “I can’t see her having the strength to have knocked out Gideon. Those church candlesticks are quite heavy and I reckon if she lifted one high enough to hit someone over the head, she’d snap in two.”

  “Well, she’s the only female I can think of that I don’t really know.”

  Hetty frowned. “I’ve mixed feelings about this one but how about Lucy Lacey?”

  “I thought you liked her because of the lucky heather.”

  “I do, it’s just she said about people getting hurt, being deceitful and things going missing so perhaps she’s involved.”

  Lottie shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Try and think of someone less unusual and more iffy.”

  “Aha, yes” squealed Hetty, “I know someone who fits that description. Marlene. She’s an iffy looking character if ever I saw one.”

  “Is she? Why?”

  “Well, um, well, I don’t really know. She just is.”

  “In other words, you don’t like her.”

  “No, I suppose I don’t.”

  Lottie laughed. “I hope it’s not because she’s very good at playing the hairstylist’s wife.”

  Hetty felt her face turn pink. “Could be. In fact she’s too good and that’s probably why I don’t trust her. And another thing…she lives next door to Gideon and Debbie.”

  “Now that is a good reason because I’ve heard through Kitty that Marlene and Gideon don’t get on too well because he’s complained to her about the loud music her teenage children play until late at night.”

  “Really! She goes to the top of the list then.”

  “And don’t forget her husband,” said Lottie, “as I daresay he’s troublesome too.”

  “Alright, but what’s his name?”

  “Gary. I know that because she mentioned him at the last meeting.”

  “Did she? Why was that?”

  “She was telling someone about him and saying how he used to be in the army.”

  The colour drained from Hetty’s face. “In which case, he’ll know how to use a gun.”

  On Thursday morning, Hetty and Lottie having made a list of suspects none of whom they thought were guilty of either crime decided to take a trip to Pentrillick House. It was after all, the location of the attempted assassination of Hazel Mitchell and also of the robbery in 2013; therefore they reasoned it had to be well worth a visit. Sandra and Bill went with them as the girls were out for the day with Zac and Emma: all four having gone to the theme park in Helston.

  “I suppose the girls having found the candlesticks means the police have a sound motive now for the attack on Gideon,” Sandra said, as she turned her head from the front seat of the car where she sat beside Bill.

  Lottie nodded. “I should imagine so as I can’t think of any other reason for Gideon’s assault.”

  Bill looked at the reflection of his mother in the rear view mirror. “That’s a good point but why didn’t the burglar just run off? I think I’m right in saying Gideon didn’t see his face so there was no need to injure the poor man.”

  “We gather a mobile phone was left on the vestry floor so the burglar would have needed to collect it otherwise he’d be traced.”

  “Ah, I see. That makes sense.”

  Sandra scowled. “But what apart from the candlesticks might a burglar hope to find in a church to steal? I know it was commonplace once upon a time for offertory boxes to be broken into but if he was disturbed in the vestry it looks like the possibility of that i
sn’t valid because if I remember correctly they’re usually situated by the church door.”

  “Yes, that’s puzzled us too,” said Lottie, “but when we spoke about it to Sam he told us the communion chalice they use is silver, unusual and valuable. Apparently it’s quite old and was donated to the church by a well-wisher so the thief might have been after that and just took the candlesticks rather than have nothing. The chalice isn’t in the chest though: it’s hidden in a locked-up cupboard near the organ.”

  Bill chuckled. “Perhaps someone fancied a drink and they were looking for the communion wine.”

  “Hmm, even that’s possible,” Hetty agreed.

  “But surely it’s non-alcoholic,” said Sandra.

  Lottie shook her head. “No, far from it. It’s fortified but I understand it mustn’t be more than eighteen percent proof.”

  Sid was glad to stand up after having spent twenty minutes bent double beneath one of the large stainless steel sinks in the lakeside café at Pentrillick House. The sink had been blocked but now it was clear and he was keen to get outside in the fresh air away from the heat of the kitchen. After washing his hands, he picked up a complimentary cream doughnut and a mug of coffee, made for him by the café manageress, and carried both outside intending to sit on one of the benches overlooking the lake. However, as he walked away from the café he saw the area was cordoned off and that several police officers, along with numerous divers, stood near to the water’s edge; on the lake was a boat. Not to be outdone, Sid sat down on the grass as near to the cordon as possible and watched the boys in blue at work.

  When Hetty, Lottie, Bill and Sandra arrived at Pentrillick House the first person they saw whom they recognised was Tess Dobson who had just dropped off Crown and Anchor leaflets to top up the information rack in the vestibule of the house.

  “Tess,” called Lottie, beckoning her to join them, “allow me to introduce you to my son, Bill and his wife, Sandra.”

  “Ah, yes, I saw you in the pub the other night but didn’t make the connection.” She held out her hand. “Delighted to meet you both. I assume you’ve come down for Easter.”