Murder in Mind (25 page)

Angelika shook her head. ‘I can't go anywhere till . . . My parents are both . . . They're not exactly . . . And my sister's got three kids. My agent says I can't just up sticks and . . . and there's the funeral.'

Silence. Angelika sat like a statue.

Vera said, ‘More tea or coffee, anyone?'

Heads were shaken. Vera began to take the boxes of cereal off the table.

Angelika made a sound like a hiccup, but nothing moved on her face.

Freya turned towards Angelika as if to throw her arm around the girl, but stopped short of doing so when Angelika said, ‘No, don't touch me.'

Freya bit her lip. Hard. Then turned away. In an uneven voice she said, ‘That's the cereal Abigail always used to have. Fiona liked it with apple juice. I thought it was good riddance when Fiona died, but things get to you . . .'

Silence while everyone readjusted their ideas about Angelika and Freya – and grief.

Rose was sitting in the big chair at the side, nursing a mug of tea. ‘I had an older brother once, tormented the life out of me. Killed himself in a motorbike crash. I was that pleased, couldn't understand why my mother kept crying for him. It was ages before I began to miss him. Now I think to myself, maybe he'd have straightened out, been a blessing instead of a curse. It takes all sorts.'

‘Yes,' said Angelika, face like a stone. ‘Abigail was a millstone round my neck. When she was born she looked up at me and I could see I wasn't what she wanted. I never did work out what it was that she wanted, except her own way. She always wanted that. She made me feel . . . inadequate. But sometimes, when she was asleep, I could look at her and love her.' Angelika gulped. She stood up, crashed back her chair and fled from the room, banging the door on her way out.

Freya stood up, moving with care, as if her legs might break under her. And went after her.

Ellie followed the two girls out into the hall and watched them make their way up the stairs and disappear into their rooms. Vera came to stand beside her. And Mikey. With Midge bringing up the rear.

Before Ellie could say anything, Vera jumped in. ‘You're never going to cope with that lot by yourself. How would it be if we moved—?'

‘I'd love it if you—'

‘Rose says I can store anything on the top floor that we might want to keep—'

‘I was going to offer you a proper flat upstairs, but the planning permission hasn't—'

‘I've only got to give a fortnight's notice, and the rent's paid up till—'

‘It's a bit cramped and we'll have to find another bed for—'

A big grin from Vera. ‘He likes his sleeping bag on the floor. No problem. That's settled then.'

Ellie flapped her hands. ‘No, no. We have to ask Mikey what he thinks.'

Mikey grinned. Nodded.

Vera looked at her watch. ‘We'd better get busy, get over there, pack up and move back. Tuesday morning. You still have a cleaning team come in on Tuesday mornings?'

Rose appeared behind them. ‘That funny blondie woman called round twice yesterday and rang I dunnamany times to speak to you, and that so-called secretary of yours, Pat, will be here in a minute, wanting you to go off with her and look at paperwork—'

‘I don't know any blondie woman,' said Ellie. ‘And bother the paperwork. Vera, I'll ask the cab company to pick you and Mikey up and take you back to the flat. I'll get Maria to send someone in to clean up after you. Oh dear, it's half-term and I know she's short-handed.'

‘I can manage. If I can't get us out of there and clean up—'

‘If you get stuck, I could ask Stewart if he can find someone to help you. I'll tell the cab people that you'll give them a ring when you're ready to come back. Tell them I'll pay both ways. Of course, you'll get a proper wage for helping Rose to keep this house going from now on, but it's to be understood that at some point you may want to go off to college or train for something, you hear me?'

‘Oh, no. I—'

‘Non-negotiable,' said Ellie. ‘Edgar's instructions. For the time being, consider yourself part of the family.' She bent to give Mikey a hug. ‘You, too.'

‘Sorry to interrupt.' An acid tone in Angelika's voice as she appeared at the top of the stairs. ‘Have you got the phone number for the hospital?'

‘Yes, of course.' Ellie wondered where she might find it. Thomas had made the calls yesterday, hadn't he? Where would he have left the number? Perhaps on the top of his desk? If not, it would be in the phone book.

Which reminded her that she was supposed to be organizing the removal of his study to the library at the end of the corridor . . . and Mikey had taken a lot of the books off the shelves . . . and was that hailstones striking the glass of the conservatory? What horrible weather.

The doorbell rang.

Ellie recognized the Voice of Doom, even if no one else did. Rose was nearest the door and opened it. Diana.

An exhausted Diana with sunken eyes, pulling a carry-on bag after her. Rain had slicked her hair to her head. Her car was parked near the front door, but she'd got drenched in the few steps she'd taken to get into the house.

Diana was wearing a plain gold band on her fourth finger. Well, well. Jumping the gun, wasn't she? But a sensible precaution to wear a ring at the hospital if you wanted to claim you were Evan Hooper's current inamorata.

On Diana's heels came Ellie's secretary, Pat, umbrella blown inside out. Abominably cheerful. ‘Woohoo! What weather! It's blowing a gale out there.'

Rose banged the front door shut and stumped off back to the kitchen, where she could be heard crashing plates into the dishwasher.

Ellie told herself to count ten. Or maybe eleven.

Mikey picked up Midge, who mewed once but allowed himself to be cuddled. Midge didn't like Diana. The feeling seemed to be mutual. Mikey took off with the cat in his arms, up the stairs, round the landing and through the unobtrusive door which led up to the top, currently uninhabited storey.

Pat cleared her throat. Loudly. By this time of the morning she expected Ellie to be at her desk, ready to tackle her correspondence, dictate replies, and work hard during the hours Pat was in attendance. Pat ignored the visitors to say, falsely cheerful, ‘Well, shall we be getting on, Ellie? You've got that appointment with the landscape gardener at ten, remember.'

‘Have I? Oh dear. In this weather?' Ellie was worried about Diana, who had eased herself down on to a hall chair and was shivering.

Ellie dithered. Too many people wanted her to help them, and she hadn't a clue which to look after first – or even if she ought to bother. Almost, she wrung her hands. An arrow prayer seemed to be in order.

Dear Lord, help!

Then she remembered Thomas saying she was like an angel with a flaming sword, defending those who had come to her for sanctuary. Which made her smile.

She also remembered Thomas reminding her that she should put on the bling and throw her weight about. He hadn't meant that literally, of course. She'd pulled on the first warm clothing that had come to hand. But he'd reminded her that God had given her the wherewithal to get things done; i.e, money.

She said, in her briskest tone, ‘Well, Pat; I'm not going round the Pryce garden with anyone in this weather. Give him a ring, cancel it. Make another appointment.'

‘Can't do that,' said Pat, amused. ‘He's coming in from Kent specially.'

‘See if you can get him on his mobile. Divert him.' Ellie helped Diana off with her jacket, which was soaked. Diana didn't wear perfume, but Ellie recognized a faint, sickly smell on the jacket. Diana had recently been sick. Oh. How far was she on with her pregnancy? Wouldn't all this excitement be bad for the baby?

Meanwhile, the others were waiting for her to do something, anything, to sort them out. ‘Pat; ring for a cab to take Vera back to her flat. She's going to collect some of her belongings and bring them back here. Tell the cab people that she'll want the largest of their cars to put her stuff in on the return journey; or a small van if they can lay hands on one. She'll contact them when she's ready to leave. Make it clear that I'm paying, both ways.'

With an ill grace, Pat disappeared.

Freya and Angelika walked down the stairs, staring at Diana. Resenting her, but not prepared to make a scene.

Diana looked back, just as steadily. Not resenting them, either. Diana was too sure of her ground for that. ‘Evan's being kept in for more tests. He didn't want me to leave him, but I need a shower, a couple of hours' kip and a change of clothes.'

Angelika drew closer to Freya. Or perhaps it was vice versa?

Ellie asked, ‘Diana, why don't you go back to your flat?'

A shrug. ‘The heating's on the blink. I rang the engineer. They said they couldn't come till Friday.' She put her hand over her mouth and half closed her eyes. Gulped. ‘I didn't think you'd turn me away.' For once Diana was not demanding, but asking for help.

Ellie wished she hadn't had to get out of bed that morning. She wished Thomas hadn't had to go away. She wished she had the brains to work out what to do. There wasn't a spare bed to be had, except possibly . . . But she couldn't ask Diana to doss down in the library on an adjustable chair. Could she? No, she couldn't, even if the room had not been earmarked for another purpose, because Diana was clearly being sick at frequent intervals and needed to be near a bathroom.

Freya spoke first. ‘I'll go and sit with Dad. I've got a bus pass. I can get a bus to the Broadway and then another from there to the hospital, can't I?'

Angelika said, ‘I'll go round to the house, then. See what can be saved.'

They were looking at Ellie for approval – or for help with the arrangements? For both.

Ellie said, ‘Freya; you've got the right idea. I'll order a cab to take you there. Have you enough money for food and something to drink? You have? Good. Is your mobile fully charged? Yes? Ring me when there's any news about your father and when you're ready to come back. Angelika; I'll ring my son-in-law who runs a property company and ask if he can spare someone to take you to the house. He'll know what arrangements you'll have to make to salvage what's left, and to have the house made secure. I suggest you concentrate on Evan's study, find all the documents relating to insurance, the builders he uses, that sort of thing. The insurance people will need to inspect the damage before you can get any repairs done.'

Let's hope there's no structural damage, because if there were, it would take months to rebuild such a big old house.

‘That stupid Mr Abel,' said Diana, closing her eyes. ‘I told him to go round to the house to board up the conservatory door and, wouldn't you know, it was him that reported the fire. I told the police, I wouldn't have put it past him to have started it.'

Ellie was horrified. ‘Now, Diana; you know he wouldn't do a thing like that.'

‘Why not? He was against me from the start. I ought to have given him the sack the first time he refused to do as I asked, but he's leaving at the end of this week, thank heavens. Now, if you can find me a bed I think I'd better crash out for a while.'

Ellie said, ‘You told the police Mr Abel might have set the fire? Oh, Diana!'

Pat reappeared, looking smug. ‘I phoned the cab company and they're sending a cab round for Vera. The landscape gardener's well on his way and will be at the Pryce place in twenty minutes. He says he doesn't mind the weather.'

Ellie tried not to grind her teeth. Was Pat being deliberately obstructive? ‘Would you order a second cab, please? For Freya, to take her to the hospital. Put it on my tab. And would you please get Stewart on the phone, now!'

Diana slid down in her chair. Put her hand over her mouth. Her colour was bad. ‘I rather think I . . .'

Ellie helped her daughter to the cloakroom and tidied her up once she'd been sick. ‘Up to bed. Use my bathroom and my bed. I'll bring your bag up. What would you like to eat or drink? Nothing? Well, perhaps for the moment, but later . . . I'll have a word with Rose. She'll know what to get you.

‘Listen to me, Diana; I want something in exchange. I want you to ring Hoopers before you do anything else. I imagine Mr Abel will be in charge there – at least till he leaves at the end of the week. I want you to tell him that I'll be ringing him shortly, and that he should have some addresses and phone numbers ready to pass on to me. In particular those of Evan's son Philip, and his first wife, Monique.'

Diana dragged herself up the stairs. This pregnancy was taking it out of her. ‘What on earth would you want those for? Evan's not going to die.' But when she tottered into Ellie's bedroom, she got out her mobile and made the phone call as requested.

A small miracle. Ellie couldn't think when Diana had last done something her mother wanted; at least, not without an argument.

Ellie helped Diana to undress and made sure there were some clean towels in the bathroom. ‘Shower first.'

Diana drew back. Perhaps she was remembering the last time she entered that bathroom, when there'd been an altercation with her mother which had almost ended in tragedy. Since then the bathroom had been completely revamped. Nothing was in the same place. Even the tiling was different.

Ellie switched on the shower and gave Diana a little push towards it. ‘Get on with it. Then bed. I'll draw the curtains and leave you in peace. It seems I have an appointment in the next road.'

As she drew the curtains, she realized that the rain was driving almost horizontally at the house. She spared a thought for Thomas, praying that his journey had been made in easier weather conditions.

E
llie went downstairs, thinking that an umbrella wouldn't be much use in that stormy weather. It would be a good idea to change into her wellington boots, which she'd used for the football match the previous weekend and would surely have dried out by now. She rummaged for them in the cupboard under the stairs.