Shifting Sands (27 page)

Was she being selfish, she wondered, in wanting her little house to herself? After the stresses of the day at Mandelyns, she longed for time alone, to listen to the radio or watch television, to eat when and what she wanted. But now the TV was permanently tuned to Kathy's choice of programmes, and suggested alternatives caused an evening of sulks. She never cooked supper, and she loaded or emptied the dishwasher only under protest.

Yvonne came to a sudden decision. Enough was enough; she would take matters into her own hands and find somewhere near both the hairdressers where Kathy worked and the nursery where she parked the baby. If necessary, she would offer a loan, repayable over a reasonable amount of time. Given space, they'd both recover their equilibrium, and Yvonne would make a point of babysitting at least once a week, giving Kathy a chance to meet her friends and herself the opportunity to be with her granddaughter.

Feeling marginally more cheerful, she took the ready-prepared casserole out of the fridge and was lighting the oven when the doorbell rang. Kathy, though she'd now finished with the baby, made no move to answer it, so Yvonne did so and was startled to see Tina Martin on the step, a huge umbrella sheltering her from the rain.

Yvonne's heart plummeted. ‘What is it?' she asked quickly. ‘Has something happened?'

‘No, no. I've just been to the supermarket, and since I was in your area, I hoped we might have a quick word?'

A ‘quick word' could have been exchanged at any time during the day, but Yvonne smiled agreement, waited while Tina propped the dripping umbrella in the porch, and ushered her inside.

‘If you'd like to take your coat off and go into the lounge,' she said, ‘I'll pop the supper in the oven, then pour us both a drink. Or—?' She broke off, realizing Tina would be driving.

‘A small one would be fine, and very welcome.'

She met Kathy at the kitchen door, Rose in her arms. ‘Who was it?' she asked.

‘A friend from work. I don't think she'll stay long, but it would help if you could see to the vegetables.'

‘I'm going to bath Rose.'

‘Before you go up? It would only take . . .' But her daughter had disappeared up the stairs.

Counting to ten, Yvonne put the dish in the oven, took wine from the fridge and glasses from the cupboard, and went back to the lounge. Tina had removed her coat and draped it over a chair.

‘I hope this isn't inconvenient?' she said belatedly.

‘No, it's fine. What was it you wanted to discuss?'

‘Oh, I just thought that, as fellow suspects, we might compare notes.'

Yvonne, about to hand over her glass, paused. ‘Suspects?'

‘Well, let's face it, we are, aren't we? All of us? We were on the scene, and any one of us could have done it. No wonder the police are lingering.'

Yvonne moistened her lips. ‘And exactly what would have been our motive?'

Tina shrugged. ‘I can't speak for the men, but as far as we're concerned, she was a stuck-up little so-and-so, wasn't she? Thought she was better than the rest of us, when in reality she'd the morals of an alley cat.'

‘
What
?'

‘Well, perhaps that's a bit strong, but she must have been handing out her favours. I mean, it's pretty obvious, isn't it, that she met someone up there, either by arrangement or pickup?'

That, Yvonne remembered, had been the suggestion put forward by Mike and seconded by Tina, up in Manchester. Why, she wondered, was she repeating it now?

‘That must have been what happened,' Tina was hurrying on, ‘because the only alternative is that it was one of us.' She took a quick sip of her drink. ‘Do you think the police are making any headway?'

‘We've no way of knowing, have we? I only hope they're off the premises before the twentieth. But Tina, I can't believe you've come out of your way on a wet evening, just to go over it all again! If it's worrying you so much, why didn't you bring it up during the day?'

‘Because there's no privacy there at the moment. I've the feeling everyone's trying to hear what you're saying.' Another gulp of wine. ‘Also, I'm very worried about Mike. This is really getting him down.'

‘Lewis too,' Yvonne said quietly. ‘And no doubt Cameron, though we don't see as much of him.'

Tina nodded abstractedly. ‘I know it's ghastly for everyone, but honestly, Mike's going to have a stroke or something if he goes on like this.' She paused. ‘Strictly
entre nous
, I found a bottle of whisky in his desk drawer.'

‘That's not good, certainly.'

‘No. I was wondering—' She broke off, started to say something, then seemed to change her mind. ‘Look,' she said quickly, ‘I'm holding you up – I must go.'

She finished her wine in one draught, caught up her coat, and shrugged it on as she hurried to the front door. But as they reached it, she turned back to Yvonne.

‘Who do
you
think did it?' she challenged.

‘I don't know, Tina, but if I were you, I should stop trying to second-guess the police and let them get on with it. They'll nail someone eventually.'

Tina shuddered. ‘It makes you wonder, though, doesn't it?'

Yvonne could only agree that it did.

The next morning, Sophie was still reeling from Jonathan's disclosure, and her anxiety on his behalf had trebled. When, with only passing interest, she'd first read about the murder, she couldn't in her wildest dreams have imagined that not only was one of the suspects involved with her mother, but her own brother had found the body. Come to that, she
still
couldn't believe it; it was bizarre, unreal.

Also, the burden of Jon's secret weighed heavily on her. Suppose she made some slip that gave him away? He'd assured her that his alibi cleared him of the murder, but he could surely be charged with withholding information, failing to report a dead body, tampering with the crime scene, and any number of other misdemeanours. Worst of all, she daren't share this new knowledge with Angus, yet another secret she was keeping from him. In the space of a few weeks, her world had changed, and not for the better.

Her mind still occupied, she reached automatically for her ringing mobile and flipped it open to see Imogen was calling. ‘Hi, Imo,' she said.

‘Hi yourself. How are things?'

‘Muddling along. Thanks for the card, by the way.'

‘I was thinking of you all. How did it go?'

‘We just took some flowers to the grave and had a quiet lunch together.' She knew Imogen would take it that her mother was included, which was all to the good. There was no acceptable explanation as to why she hadn't been.

‘I was wondering,' Imogen was continuing tentatively, ‘if you know why Jonathan went to see Uncle Ted the other day?'

Jon and his memory stick crusade! Why hadn't he warned her? ‘Did he?' she prevaricated. ‘I didn't know.'

‘For some reason, he was interested that Aunt Em had been to Mandelyns.'

Thankfully, Sophie seized on her cue. ‘That'll be it, then; I saw in the paper that they've an anniversary coming up. He's probably doing an article on them.'

‘Oh.' Imogen sounded only half convinced.

‘How is Uncle Ted?' Sophie asked quickly. ‘I've been meaning to phone him.'

‘He's gradually finding his feet, but I know he'd be pleased to hear from you.'

‘I'll give him a ring later.'

‘I'm coming up to town next week,' Imogen went on, ‘to start Christmas shopping. Any chance of meeting for lunch?'

‘Of course. Let me know when, and I'll book a table. The restaurants are packed this time of year.'

‘See you, then. Bye.'

‘Bye,' echoed Sophie. Was there anything else her brother hadn't told her about?

Yvonne was also less at ease than she'd been the day before, having spent a restless night mulling over Tina's visit and abrupt departure. She'd not found a plausible explanation for either. What had she been hoping to confirm or ascertain? And had she succeeded?

Any one of us could have done it
, she'd said. Suppose, Yvonne thought suddenly, Tina had been testing her, attempting to judge if she was under suspicion herself?

Having never entertained the idea, she tried to consider it dispassionately, on the basis that, as Tina had pointed out, they were all suspects. The motive she'd put forward – basically jealousy – was thin in the extreme, but could have been a screen for something deeper.

With a gesture of impatience, Yvonne abandoned the exercise and returned to her work.

The post had already arrived when Jonathan reached the kitchen on Wednesday morning, and Vicky was holding a large white card in her hand. She was reading it as he came in.

‘What do you make of this?' she asked, passing it across.

Jonathan glanced at it, and froze.
The company of Mr and Mrs Jonathan Farrell is requested at the Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration
 . . .

Oh,
God
! He looked up, meeting Vicky's bewildered gaze.

‘How did they get hold of our names?' she asked anxiously. ‘Does it mean they know about the memory stick? Jonathan, I don't like it! They even have our address! They—'

‘Whoa!' He held up a hand, rapidly searching for the best explanation. Because there was no way he was going to miss this opportunity. ‘I'm sure it's nothing sinister, love. I meant to tell you, apparently Ma met the owner of Mandelyns in South Africa. Talk about coincidence! No doubt he sent invites to everyone in the group, and since she hasn't a partner, he kindly included us, and probably Sophie and Angus, to keep her company.'

Vicky looked doubtful. ‘But he doesn't even know us!'

‘It's not a private party, Vic, more a publicity exercise.'

‘This came with it.' She handed over another card, headed
Programme of Events.

In order to obtain maximum enjoyment from the occasion
, he read,
overnight accommodation is offered with the compliments of the management.
The events themselves were listed as Afternoon Tea from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Champagne Reception at 7 p.m. and Gala Dinner at 7.45. At the foot were the discreet words
Black Tie
and
RSVP by 13th November.

‘Wow!' Jonathan exclaimed. ‘They're certainly pushing the boat out! You can bet all the great and the good will be there, celebs and the lot. Better take your autograph book!'

‘You mean we should go?'

‘For pity's sake, why not? Chances like this don't come up every day.'

‘But it might be a trap! You could be walking straight into the lion's den!'

‘Vicky, believe me. There's no way they could know I've any connection with the memory stick – they mightn't even know it exists.'

‘But it's very short notice – next week, for heaven's sake – and we have to reply straight away.'

They'd delayed posting it till after Dad's anniversary, Jonathan surmised. Better not comment on that. He glanced back at the card. ‘Overnight accommodation – that's a treat in itself! If it's anything like where Maddy stayed, it'll be extremely plush. Honestly, sweetie, all you need worry about is finding a babysitter.'

‘And buying something to wear,' Vicky said. ‘I haven't anything remotely suitable.'

Jonathan laughed, relief surging through him. Potential crisis successfully averted. ‘I should have seen that coming!' he said.

FOURTEEN

A
nna sat staring into her coffee cup. By now, Sophie and Jonathan would have received their invitations. There was no knowing how they'd react, but after her conversations with Beatrice, she'd accepted that since both of them now knew about Lewis, further secrecy was pointless. In fact, a social occasion with a lot of other people present might be the ideal way to smooth over difficulties.

Consequently, when Lewis phoned yesterday, she'd given him their addresses. Now, all she could do was hope they'd accept. Apart from more serious considerations, she'd welcome their support; she hadn't met Lewis's family, who would all be there – possibly including his ex-wife.

With a twinge of doubt, Anna hoped she was doing the right thing.

‘You lucky devil!' Steve said. ‘How the hell did you wangle that?'

‘A sheer fluke! It turns out Lewis Masters was on safari with Ma, and he's lashed out invitations to all and sundry. So there we have it – champagne reception, overnight accommodation in the lap of luxury . . . and a legitimate chance to snoop round Mandelyns. Can't be bad.'

‘You're surely not still harping on about that treatment?'

‘No, I think we have to accept Elise was off-beam there, but if that wasn't the motive for her death, what was? And before you remind me, I know it's in the hands of the police now, but we
were
in at the beginning, and I can't help feeling somehow responsible. So I figured I might track down the ex-wife and, with luck, learn some home truths about her husband and son. They're two of the chief suspects, after all.'

‘Seems a bit of a long shot.'

Steve didn't know, of course, that, far from a casual acquaintance, this potential murderer now loomed large in his mother's life.

‘Anyway,' Jonathan continued, ‘I'll see what I come up with. And failing all else, I'll get a first-hand experience of Mandelyns.'

‘Maddy will be green with envy; I made a rod for my own back, letting her go to Foxfield.'

Jonathan laughed. ‘Never mind, I'll give you a blow by blow account, and perhaps you'll decide to go there for your honeymoon!'