When Night Closes in (12 page)

‘Thank goodness Charles is in Canada on business. Perhaps he'll even have time to visit Justin.' Rhian Richards's voice was still hoarse. ‘Now we're on our own we can have a good old natter.'

Lowri settled her mother in the sitting-room and put one of the throws from the sofa over her legs. Charles had always favoured his son. ‘Justin is Charles's two eyes,' she said dryly. ‘He always did give him anything he wanted.'

‘It's getting cold,' Rhian changed the subject, ‘but I think the fires are safe enough now.'

‘Yes, Charles made sure that he wouldn't be poisoned,' Lowri said. ‘I just don't trust him. Tell you what, I'll cook us something quick, shall I? A few eggs, scrambled or poached perhaps?'

‘Lovely.' Rhian looked tired. She was almost fifty but usually looked much younger. But now she had circles under her eyes and her hair was showing some of the grey that she normally took great care to conceal.

Lowri busied herself in the kitchen and soon had a pot of tea, some toast and a dish of scrambled eggs ready on a tray. She padded across the hall to the sitting-room and heard her mother's voice. Rhian was speaking to someone on the phone.

As Lowri pushed open the door with her foot, she caught sight of her mother's face. Rhian looked like a young girl in love. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining. ‘Must go,' she said hastily and replaced the receiver.

‘Who was that, you dark horse?' Lowri said teasingly. Her mother smiled.

‘Just a friend.'

‘All right, if you don't want to tell I won't make you. Now come on, eat some of this, put some flesh back on your bones.'

It was cosy sitting together with the silence of the old house around them. The place had always been peaceful when Charles was not there.

‘How are you getting on at work?' Rhian asked, biting into a slice of toast. ‘I mean, is it enough for you being a clerk in a solicitor's office when once you hoped to qualify yourself?'

‘Mr Watson is very good to me – look how well he's taken my unexpected absence. He hasn't got Sally to ring up and demand I get back to work. He's the kindest boss I'm ever likely to find.'

‘So you're happy there?' Rhian asked.

‘Yes, I am happy there but I don't know if it's for ever, Mum,' Lowri said. ‘I sometimes think I would like to go back to college but then, college costs money these days, a lot of money.'

‘Well I have plenty, Lowri, and what good is it doing in the bank?'

Lowri shook her head. ‘No, I want to make my own way, just like everyone else.'

‘I don't know, young people today, you are so independent. In my day it was accepted that parents helped their children through college.'

‘Well, things are different now, Mother, people of my age group don't expect hand-outs, we have to make our own way in the world.'

‘Ah well, I suppose that's progress of sorts.' Rhian ate a small piece of toast. ‘By the way, Lowri, have you heard any more about that boyfriend of yours?'

Lowri shook her head. ‘No, Mum, I haven't. I don't really want to talk about it either.'

Rhian held up her hand. ‘All right, that's fine by me. I don't want to pry. Let's talk about something else, shall we?' She smiled. ‘Before you go back I am going to insist you take a cheque I've written out for you; get yourself some new clothes or something.'

‘OK, if it will make you feel better.' Lowri laughed. ‘You see, I do what I'm told, sometimes.'

Rhian grimaced. ‘Aye, you're a good girl, I'm lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.'

‘And I have an equally wonderful mother, so let's cut the mutual admiration crap and talk about just what sort of clothes I'm going to buy with your money.'

It was several days later when Charles returned home. The peace of the house was shattered as soon as he came in the front door. The way he spoke to her mother set Lowri's teeth on edge and she knew it was high time she went home.

The drive was pleasant enough; she had the motorway virtually to herself. The time passed quite happily with Lowri listening to music and thinking about Lainey.

For once, she was able to park the Mazda outside the door of her house. She felt hot and sticky; she was really looking forward to a cool shower. As she closed the door on the outside world, Lowri rested her head against the wooden panel and sighed with relief.

She kicked off her shoes on the way to the kitchen and filled the kettle. She could murder a cup of coffee. She made herself some, and a sandwich, and sat down in the kitchen, glad to be home.

She must have dozed because the sound of a bell ringing jangled into her sleep and she sat up, aware that her coffee was cold and her sandwich untouched.

‘Come in, Jim.' She stood aside for him to enter. He looked at her neat skirt and tanned legs and then at her tousled hair, but he said nothing.

‘What can I do for you?' she asked, needing to break the silence. He perched on the edge of the table.

‘Answer some questions. Firstly why did you run off without telling me?'

‘I did tell you. Well, in a way. I phoned Sally at the office and told her to make my excuses to you all.' She shook her head. ‘My mother was in hospital, she needed me down at Summer's Dean, what was I supposed to do?'

‘Your message never got through to me. Mother all right now?'

‘Yes, she's fine. She should just look after herself, that's all.'

‘You look tired, feel up to answering some questions?'

‘I'll do my best though I seem incapable of rational thought these days,' she said. ‘The more I search my mind the worse everything becomes. But go on, shoot. I'll do my best.'

‘What did you know about Jon Brandon's business?' He was wearing a light jacket and his white collar was pristine. He looked very handsome and very remote.

‘Not much,' she said. ‘He sold parts for computers, something like that.'

Lainey moved from the table to stand in the window, the set of his shoulders revealing that he was not as relaxed as he pretended to be.

‘Why, Jim? Is it important?'

He turned to look at her. ‘Would you say that he was spending a lot of money on you?'

She blinked rapidly. ‘Jon was always generous, I'll give him that. Just before . . . well, before he vanished he bought me a beautiful diamond ring as well as offering to treat me to a weekend at the Swan. I thought that meant we were engaged. What a fool!'

She wondered if it was worth mentioning her suspicions that Jon had been to the hotel with Sally but dismissed the idea, it all sounded most unconvincing.

‘What is it?'

She shrugged; he was more perceptive than she had given him credit for. ‘When I went back there, to the hotel, the receptionist recognized the scarf I had on.'

He frowned. ‘So?'

‘So, it wasn't my scarf, I've never worn it before.'

‘Whose is it?'

‘It belongs to Sally from the office.' Lowri shook her head. ‘Look, I may be barking up entirely the wrong tree but Sally had been there, the description of her long blonde hair and the bright nail polish she wears was spot on.'

‘And her companion looked like Jon Brandon.' It was not a question.

‘How did you know?'

He smiled. ‘You wouldn't be so worried if she had been there with her boyfriend, Timmy whatsit.' He stood and moved away, leaning against the wall, looking at her.

‘That makes sense,' Lowri said.

‘It's elementary, my dear Watson.' Lainey's smile widened. ‘Watson, that's the name of your employer, isn't it?'

‘You know it is. Why?'

‘Nothing. Just checking.'

‘Can I make you a cup of coffee?' she asked.

‘No thanks. Just one more question. Are you sure Jon Brandon never left anything in your keeping? CDs, perhaps?'

She shook her head. ‘No, nothing.'

He nodded. ‘Right then. I'll be in touch.'

She watched as he walked away down the street in the sunlight. She wanted to call after him, to ask him to come back; she needed to talk to him. He turned the corner and was out of sight.

It was early next morning when the phone rang, startling Lowri from her sleep. She reached over and picked up the receiver and heard Sally's pleading voice.

‘Lowri, are you coming into work today? I really need you.'

‘Yes, I'll be there Sally, but it's barely seven thirty!'

‘I know but you have to come in as soon as possible.'

‘Why? What's wrong?'

‘I'll tell you when you get here. Just come, that's all.'

‘All right, I'll come at once if it's that desperate.'

Lowri did not bother with breakfast. She swallowed a cup of coffee, showered and then pulled on a dark green blouse, her grey skirt and matching jacket.

Sally was in reception talking on the telephone when Lowri walked in. She quickly replaced the receiver and rose from her chair.

‘I'm trying to do two jobs at once here!' she said. ‘When are we going to get the new receptionist old Watson promised us?'

‘Don't ask me. Now, what's going on?'

‘Give me a chance to catch my breath and I'll tell you!' Sally's face was shiny, she appeared harassed. This time it was Lowri who suggested making coffee. Sally nodded eagerly and followed Lowri into the back office, watching as Lowri spooned sugar into the two mugs.

‘Tell me,' Lowri said. ‘What on earth is the panic?'

The door rattled and swung open, letting in a gust of wind that had a definite touch of autumn chill about it. ‘I'll go,' Lowri said but Sally followed her into reception. Sarah Brandon was standing there.

‘Mrs Brandon, we've been trying to get in touch with you,' Lowri said.

‘That's the panic.' Sally mouthed the words.

‘And I have been trying to contact you!' Sarah Brandon's eyes were cold. ‘I understand you viewed a corpse that was thought to be that of my dead husband. How dare you!'

Lowri felt as if she had been punched. ‘The police wanted to find you.' She heard the defensive note in her voice. ‘But they couldn't so I had to go to the mortuary instead of you.'

‘That's right, Mrs Brandon, I can vouch for that,' Sally said.

‘Be quiet!' Sarah glared at Sally. ‘You are as guilty as she is. You slept with him, too. Don't bother to lie, he gave his favours to anything that caught his fancy.'

She stared down at Lowri. ‘Well, now are you happy? Now you have got what you wanted out of Jon?'

‘I don't know what you mean.' Lowri was confused by the abrupt turn the conversation had taken. ‘Have you seen Jon?'

‘Of course not but before he vanished Jon gave you a package to look after for him, that's what I mean, and I want it back. The contents are valuable to me.'

‘Valuable? Jon never gave me anything that was really valuable, like the truth.'

‘Don't play games with me. Where have you hidden it?'

‘Hidden what?' Lowri was growing exasperated.

Sarah pulled open a drawer and tipped the contents onto the floor. ‘I'll find it, if it kills me!'

‘Stop it this minute!' Lowri was surprised at the fierceness of her own voice. ‘I would advise you to calm down, Mrs Brandon, before you find yourself in trouble with the police.'

Sarah glared at her. ‘I just want what's mine. You've already slept with my husband – you are not having his business too!'

‘I don't want anything to do with him or his business. Now please leave.' Lowri picked up the telephone and Sarah held up her hand.

‘All right, I'm leaving.' She pushed the papers on Lowri's desk onto the floor. ‘But I shall fight you, I shall have what is mine. Eventually.' She left the office, slamming the door behind her. Lowri sank back into her chair.

‘What was all that about?' she said.

Sally shrugged. ‘Don't ask me!' She shook her head. ‘She phoned me at home last night wanting your number, and when I wouldn't give it she threatened all sorts of things. She finally shrieked down the phone that she would be here first thing. But then she's a nutter, isn't she? You can't believe a word she says.'

Lowri picked up her bag and paused, looking directly at Sally. ‘Have you ever stayed at the Swan Hotel?'

Sally glanced up. ‘You asked me that once before. It's the one that's on the cliffs overlooking the sea, isn't it?'

‘That's right.'

‘I remember now, I did stay there once.' Sally looked down at her hands, frowning as she saw a tiny chip in the varnish on one of her nails. ‘Dash! I'll have to do that one again.'

‘Who did you go there with?' Lowri tried to sound casual. Sally's head was bent and it was difficult to see her expression.

‘With Timmy.'

That was a lie. The description the receptionist had given Lowri was of a man, not a young lad like Timmy.

‘Why are you lying?'

Sally's head jerked up. Her eyes were wide, startled, the colour was rising in her cheeks. ‘Why should I lie?'

‘Look,' Lowri said, ‘I know you were there with an older man than Timmy, a man with dark hair. Was it Jon Brandon? Tell me, Sally, I must know.'

‘You're mistaken, I've never been there with an older man and definitely not with Jon Brandon.'

‘You were seen,' Lowri persisted, ‘with a man who fitted Jon's description. Come on, Sally, what's going on, were you sleeping with him too? Sarah seems to think so.'

‘No!' Sally said fiercely. ‘You're crazy, Lowri. Whoever you talked to, they were wrong. All this is going to your head. Do you think you ought to see someone, a doctor or something?'

It was quite a long speech for Sally. Lowri rubbed her eyes. Perhaps she
was
going mad – it certainly seemed like it at the moment. She picked up her keys.