Read Tragedy at Two Online

Authors: Ann Purser

Tragedy at Two (36 page)

“But that wasn’t the end of it?”
Sam shook his head. “It were like a drug. The more we had the more we wanted. Sometimes it was bloody dangerous, with Alf around or comin’ back any minute. I told Edwina we should stop an’ she agreed, but somehow it carried on.”
“So would you say that’s why Alf had a heart attack and died in Appleby?” She needed to know whether Sam realized what he had done.
“Edwina reckons he’d found out. He was different, she said. An’ that night Josie’s bloke was beaten up, Alf had come home in such a state. Wouldn’t talk to Edwina for a couple of days.”
“Oh, Sam,” said Lois. “It’ll all come out when the police have finished. What a stupid shame. Two families messed up.”
“An’ a drunken young fool who couldn’t keep his mouth shut,” Sam said. “That’s what I reckon, anyway.”
Sam seemed to have nothing more to say, but Lois had another question.
“And what about the gypsies, Sam? Who caused that fire, and who got a gang of kids to do his dirty work for him?”
Sam sank lower into his chair. “Yeah, well,” he said. “It was a bit of fun at first. Gave ’em something to do, an’ I was all for getting them dirty gypsies out of the village. I could never work out why you liked ’em, to tell the truth. Anyway, that Mark Brown was the ringleader, an’ I suppose I encouraged him, though it weren’t him what started the fire. It was one of the younger ones, Mark told me. The kid did it to show the rest of the gang what a big man he was. He started it with several boxes of matches and paraffin he got from his dad’s shed. Crept in and out like a shadow. The grass was dry as a bone, and two of the caravans were old wooden ones. They went up like tinder boxes. He was terrified when he saw what he’d done, and confessed to Mark. He wouldn’t tell me the kid’s name.”
“The police will get it out of him,” Lois said. “Young Mark Brown is going to need all the help his future mother-in-law Mrs. T-J can give him, that’s for sure. Another thing,” she added, “did you know about that bunch of flowers Mark left for me at the roadside where Rob was killed? With a charming message on the label?”
Sam nodded. “I was mad at him about that. Wouldn’t tell me what he wrote on the label. Was it bad?”
Lois stood up. “Sam Stratford,” she said. “God knows what’s going to happen to you, but I’d like you to know just how much trouble you have caused. No doubt the police will sort you out, but I’ll have my say.” She spared him nothing, angry on Sheila’s behalf as well as her own, and then pushed him out without ceremony.
“BUT SAM WAS MY BEST FRIEND,” DEREK SAID PLAINTIVELY. “God, it just shows you never really know people.”
“So are you going to see Edwina?” Gran said to Lois.
“No, no need now. What a silly woman! And not just silly, neither.”
“Frailty, thy name is woman,” said Derek, surprising them all.
Before Lois could answer that men weren’t that great, they heard footsteps coming up the drive, and then Douglas and Susie appeared, grinning like Cheshire cats through the window.
“Have a good time, Mum?” Douglas said, as they came in hand in hand.
“Wonderful,” Lois said flatly.
“Great! Now we’ve some news for you. Hold tight to Dad—we don’t want him blowing his top. Susie and me, well, we’re going to have a baby. In the autumn, end of October. So we’ll bring the wedding forward, if that’s all right with you.”
Lois waited, but could not stop the smile spreading across her face.
Derek took a deep breath, and before he could explode, Lois said. “That’s terrific!” and kissed them both. Then she kissed Derek on his scarlet cheek, and said, “Save us all a white wedding, that will.”
“If you think I’m skimping on my eldest son’s wedding, you’re wrong,” he said stiffly, and, grasping Douglas’s hand, shook if firmly. “Well done, boy,” he said, and only Lois knew what it cost him.
SIXTY-ONE
THE NEXT DAY WAS COMPARATIVELY QUIET, WITH GRAN keeping visitors at bay. In the evening, they all collapsed into armchairs in the sitting room to watch undemanding television. Lois drifted off to sleep, and was woken by the doorbell ringing insistently.
“I’ll go,” Derek said. “They’ll get sent packing, whoever they are. Disturbing people at this time of night.” He went off muttering crossly. Lois heard him open the door and start to speak loudly. Then he stopped, said something more softly and they heard footsteps coming back to the sitting room.
“It’s Edwina,” he said. “Can she come in, Lois? She’s in a right state.”
Gran stood up, arms akimbo. “I should think she is!” she said, but Lois got wearily to her feet. “You’d better come in,” she said to the ghostly figure hovering in the dark hall.
Edwina scuttled in, looking round the room to see who else was there.
“There’s only me and Gran and Derek,” Lois said. “If you’ve got something to say, you can say it now. We all know about poor old Alf, anyway.”
“I’m sorry to butt in on you like this,” Edwina squeaked. She cleared her throat. “It’s just that I can’t stay in the farmhouse any longer by myself. I thought you could tell me a bit more about what happened in Appleby.”
“You got to learn to cope by yourself now,” growled Gran.
“Unless, o’ course, you can get company from Sam Stratford now and then.”
“Mum!” Lois said. “You don’t kick a man when he’s down, surely.”
“It’s all right,” Edwina said. “I deserve it. Me and Sam, we killed him, didn’t we. Or as good as.” She pushed her hair back from her face. It looked as though no comb had touched it for a day or two. “D’you know any more, Mrs. Meade? Did he get together with his gypsies? Were they with him when . . .when, you know . . .”
“When he had his heart attack?” said Lois. “No, me and Josie found him. But Athalia Lee was with him in the hospital. She was the nice old lady he used to talk to when they camped in your thicket.”
“D’you know if he told her anything before he . . . died? Before I got there?”
“Yes, he did,” answered Lois. “But I’m not at all sure I should tell you. It was a private conversation, but Athalia said he’d wanted me to be told. And as he knew about me and the cops, he’d be sure I’d pass it on. As far as I know, he didn’t mention any message for you. I’m sure he would’ve,” she added, seeing Edwina’s face, “but he didn’t have much time.”
Edwina was silent for a minute, then said in a low voice, “He knew, didn’t he?”
Lois nodded. “Yes, he knew.”
“The police are coming tomorrow morning,” Edwina said. “I suppose I shall hear the full story then. Seems they have to investigate it. He did have a heart condition, you know,” she added hopefully.
“So he did,” Lois said. “Now, if there’s nothing more, Mrs. Smith, we’re all tired and it’s a busy day tomorrow. I’m sure if you go home now you’ll be all right. It’s surprising how sleep comes, just when you’re sure it never will.”
She took Edwina’s arm and escorted her out of the room. “Good night,” she said, and started to shut the door. Was that a car drawing up outside their house? “Oh, God, who now?” she said, and waited. A tall figure came up the drive, tipping his hat to Edwina on her way out.
“Sorry to bother you, Lois,” Cowgill said. “Could you possibly spare me a few minutes? One or two important questions I need to ask. I really am sorry.” He waited, and Lois looked at him. His face was so familiar, and, after all this time, somehow endearing. She remembered what a stiff and starchy cop he had been when she fir st knew him, disapproving and cold. He’d changed quite a lot. And he loved her. She knew that, and could not deny that it pleased her. But he was such a right-thinking old thing. She had never felt threatened. Derek was another matter. He was deeply suspicious, but knew his Lois too well to play the heavy-h anded, irate husband.
“Well?” Cowgill said, wondering why she didn’t answer. “Can I come in? Was that Edwina Smith I passed in the drive?”
It was Edwina Smith, Lois acknowledged. Edwina’s world had fallen apart, and all as a direct result of a stupid affair with a childhood sweetheart. But who was she to say it was stupid? Frailty, thy name is woman, Derek had said. And so it is, she said to herself.
“I’ll just ask Derek,” she said. “I’m sure it will be all right. Even Gran won’t chuck out a policeman.” She grinned, put out her hand and he took it, kissed it lightly, and followed her into the house.
POSTSCRIPT
NEARLY A YEAR LATER, A NEWSPAPER CUTTING ARRIVED IN the post addressed to Lois, with a handwritten message scrawled across the top.
Me and Athalia are in York now. Show this to Josie. Nice knowing you. George Price.
Man Finally Sentenced for Death of Horse at Appleby
At last year’s 300-year-old Appleby horse fair, crowds of gypsies and tourists witnessed a horrific drowning of a horse, which subsequently intensified opposition to the fair from many quarters.
After extensive searches and delays, a man aged twenty-two was found and sentenced to twenty-eight days in jail. He was banned from keeping all animals for five years. The judge said he had shown irresponsible recklessness, when, after purchasing a piebald horse, he had taken it into deep water in the River Eden, where it drowned. It was said in his defence that he had not intended to be cruel to the horse, but that the halter had not been fix ed correctly.
RSPCA and police officers had witnessed the event, and said later that they were grateful to George Price, spokesman for the travelling community, who gave them valuable co-operation in official investigations.

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