Death Takes A Trip (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 5) (14 page)

Chapter 24

Julia had to face a dilemma the following morning. She
really wanted to see Mildred, but she also had cleaning work to do.

As she voiced her thoughts in the car to Cain, he came
up with a solution.
“
Why don
’
t you drop me off at the canal side apartments and I can work on my own?
I know what work needs doing in each apartment.
”

Julia said,
“
I don
’
t know.
”

She saw Cain stiffen out of the corner of her eye. He
said,
“
You don
’
t trust me, do you?
”

“
Of course I
trust you! And I
’
m more than
happy to leave you there. My clients know about your background and they
’
re delighted with your work. They
’
ve all commented on how clean their windows are since you started
working with me. Which is a bit insulting for me, to be honest.
”

“
Then what
’
s the problem?
”

“
It
’
s not fair on you. You shouldn
’
t have to do all that work on your own.
”

“
You used to do
it on your own. And didn
’
t you say that your plan is for me to have clients of my own one day?
”

“
I hate it that
you remember everything I say. Okay, if you
’
re sure. I
’
ll drop you
off then I can go to the police station. I
’
ll have my phone on at all times, ring me if there
’
s any problems.
”

Cain nodded.
“
I like it when you nag. You sound like my mother. Well, the mother I
wish I had.
”

Julia gave him a quick smile and said,
“
I don
’
t nag.
”

She drove to the canal side apartments, gave Cain the
keys and cleaning equipment, and then headed to the police station.

DI Clarke was waiting for her at reception again.
Julia didn
’
t even ask how
he knew she was on her way. She said,
“
Can I see Mildred now? Is she locked up?
”

“
She is, but I
’
m going to take you into one of the interrogation rooms, Mildred will
join you there. I
’
ll be standing
behind the one-way mirror.
”

Julia said,
“
Will she be handcuffed?
”

“
Are you afraid
she might attack you?
”

“
Yes. She
’
s a big woman.
”

DI Clarke nodded.
“
She is. There will be an officer in the room with you. This way.
”

Julia was taken into a room. She looked towards the
large mirror at the side of the room. Her scalp prickled. She didn
’
t know if the inspector was standing there yet but she felt as if she
was being watched. Julia sat down on a hard metal chair and waited. A minute
later Mildred was led into the room by a policewoman. The policewoman indicated
for Mildred to sit down, then the policewoman stood behind Mildred, hands
clasped at her front.

Julia saw that Mildred looked tired. She supposed it
was hard to sleep when you had a guilty conscience. Mildred wasn
’
t saying anything, she was just staring at Julia.

Julia broke the silence by saying,
“
DI Clarke said you wanted to talk to me. By the way, Nina is fine.
”

Mildred made a noise that sounded like a grunt. She
said,
“
I couldn
’
t care less about her. I wish she
’
d broken her neck. She
’
s a stupid woman, with her stupid name and fancy ways.
”

Julia made to stand up.
“
I haven
’
t come here to
listen to insults about my friend.
”

Mildred sighed and said,
“
I can
’
t help it.
There
’
s something
about that woman that irritates me.
”
Mildred looked
towards the mirror.
“
I
’
d like to state that I didn
’
t kill Douglas Pedley. I loved him, I would never hurt him.
”
She turned
back to Julia.
“
I wanted to
ask you a favour. You can say no if you like.
”

“
Go on,
”
Julia said.

“
It
’
s Cat. She
’
s at my house.
She can
’
t get out, I
haven
’
t got round to
getting a cat flap yet. She
’
ll be hungry. Can you go and see her? Maybe take her to your house?
”

“
I
’
m not sure about that.
”

“
Cat belonged
to Douglas, not me. You
’
d be doing it for him,
”
Mildred pointed out.

It was hard to argue with that reasoning so Julia
said,
“
Okay, I
’
ll look after her. How will I get into your house? Have you left a spare
key with any of your neighbours?
”

“
No. I don
’
t get on with my neighbours. My keys were taken off me at the front desk
when I was brought in yesterday. Do you think the police will let you have
them?
”

Julia looked over to the policewoman who shrugged
slightly.

Julia said,
“
I
’
ll ask DI
Clarke. Was there anything else?
”

Mildred stood up and said,
“
No. I
’
ve said this
once and I
’
ll say it
again, I didn
’
t kill
Douglas.
”

She walked towards the door, the policewoman took her
by the arm, opened the door and led Mildred away.

Julia stood up. What was it with people and good
manners? Had everyone forgotten how to say thank you? She walked through the
same door and almost bumped into DI Clarke. He dangled a set of keys in front
of her. He said,
“
That wasn
’
t a productive conversation, was it?
”

Julia took the keys.
“
That was hardly my fault. Do you want to come with me to Mildred
’
s house or do you trust me to go on my own?
”

DI Clarke began to walk down the corridor. He said,
“
We
’
ve already
been to Ms Hepplethwaite
’
s house, looking for anything that might help us with our enquiries. I
’
ve attached a note of the address to these keys.
”

Julia gave an exasperated sigh as she followed him.
“
Didn
’
t anyone
notice Cat? Didn
’
t anyone think
to take her to a cat shelter or something?
”

They reached the reception area. The inspector stopped
walking and turned to Julia.

“
There
’
s no need to use that tone with me, Ms Blake. I didn
’
t go to Ms Hepplethwaite
’
s house, I don
’
t know if anyone saw the cat. I want those keys back when you
’
ve finished.
”
He turned on his heel and strode away. He called back,
“
And you can stop bothering me with accusations about Adams Construction!
”

Julia shook her head and muttered to herself,
“
And what am I supposed to do with Cat?
”

Chapter 25

Julia drove to Mildred
’
s house. It was a mid-terraced house and looked in good repair. Julia
wasn
’
t sure what
she was going to find when she opened the front door. She told herself not to
be silly, the police had been there yesterday and they hadn
’
t found any dead bodies hidden away, or anything like that. Julia
hesitated before she pushed the door open. Mildred could have hidden dead
bodies in her cellar or under the floor boards. Julia stepped into the house
anyway.

“
Cat!
”
she called
out. She didn
’
t want to
spend a minute more in this house than she needed to. It was a dark house, both
in colour and in feeling. Julia shivered. Had Mildred planned Douglas
’
death whilst
sitting on that sofa?
“
Cat!
”
she called more urgently. She almost jumped out of her skin as someone
rapped at the front door.

A man shouted out,
“
I know you
’
re in there! I
’
m not going away until you open this door!
”

Julia recognised the voice. She flung open the door
and stared into the angry face of Kirk Adams.
“
What do you want?
”
she said to him.

He took a step back in surprise but soon recovered his
composure.
“
Who the hell
are you? Where
’
s that Mildred
woman? I want a word with her.
”
He tried to look over Julia
’
s shoulder.

Julia folded her arms and said,
“
Mildred isn
’
t here. I
’
m collecting her pet.
”

“
I don
’
t believe you. Move out of the way, I bet she
’
s hiding inside. Shift!
”

“
No. Stop
shouting, Kirk Adams, I
’
m not deaf.
”

Confusion crossed his face.
“
What? How? Who the hell are you? Tell me!
”

Julia raised a hand and said calmly,
“
I
’
m not telling
you anything until you calm down. Mildred isn
’
t here, she
’
s at the
police station. She
’
s been
arrested for murder.
”

The anger disappeared from Kirk
’
s face. He rubbed his chin.
“
Blimey. I wouldn
’
t have thought she was capable of that. Mind, she
’
s a big lass.
”

“
What do you
want to speak to Mildred about? Perhaps I can take her a message?
”

“
Can
’
t we talk inside?
”

“
No. Say what
you have to, or go away,
”
Julia said, hoping she sounded more confident than she
felt. There was no way she was going into an empty house with a thug like Kirk
Adams.

Kirk looked to his left and right. He said,
“
Me and Mildred had a deal.
”

“
She was going
to sell you the land that belonged to Douglas. Yes, I know about that.
”

Kirk
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
How do you know about that? Anyway, I
’
ve found out that she doesn
’
t even own the land. She lied to me. I
’
ve lost money on making plans for that land. She owes me.
”

Julia shook her head.
“
She was supposed to inherit Douglas
’
land. She only
found out recently that it went to Nina.
”

“
Nina? Nina
who?
”

Julia realised she
’
d said the wrong thing.
“
Doesn
’
t matter who
she is. It
’
s not Mildred
’
s fault that you
’
ve lost money.
”

Kirk took a step forward and raised his fist. Julia
swallowed. Kirk hissed,
“
You will tell me who this Nina person is. That land belongs to me and I
’
m going to get it, no matter what.
”

He was suddenly yanked backwards. He fell to the
ground and looked up in astonishment. A dark-haired woman in a business suit
looked down at him. She said cheerfully,
“
I think it
’
s time you
left. Or shall I practise some more of my martial arts moves on you?
”
She flexed her
fingers.
“
I
’
m a bit rusty. I could do with a work out. What do you say?
”

Kirk Adams got to his feet and raised his fists. The
woman jumped forward and aimed a hand at his stomach. Kirk collapsed with a
howl of pain. The woman said,
“
Would you like some more?
”

Kirk stood up shakily and addressed Julia.
“
This isn
’
t over,
”
he snarled.
“
I
’
ll find Nina,
and I
’
ll make her
sell that land to me!
”
He stormed away, holding his stomach as he went.

Julia looked at the woman. She had short hair and a
clear complexion. She could be in her thirties or forties, it was hard to tell.
Brown eyes twinkled back at Julia. Julia said,
“
Are you my guardian angel? Thank you for saving me from Kirk.
”

The woman laughed and moved closer, her hand
outstretched.
“
No one
’
s ever called me an angel before. I
’
m Helena Blossom. And you
’
re Julia Blake. Pleased to meet you.
”

Julia took Helena
’
s hand and shook it.
“
First of all, what a lovely name. And, secondly, how do you know mine?
”

Helena said,
“
I
’
m a private
investigator. It
’
s my business
to know everybody else
’
s business.
”

“
Who hired you?
”

Helena nodded towards the house.
“
Mildred Hepplethwaite did. I
’
d be happy to tell you why. I understand that you
’
ve been making your own investigations into the death of Douglas Pedley.
”

Julia nodded.
“
Would you like to come in? I spoke to Mildred this morning, she
’
s been arrested. Did you know that?
”

“
I didn
’
t.
”
Helena stepped into the house after Julia.

Julia moved to the sofa and gingerly sat down. It
looked like it could do with a clean. She said,
“
Mildred asked me to pick up her pet, Cat. She used to belong to Douglas
but Mildred has taken her in.
”

“
I didn
’
t know that either.
”
Helena grimaced as she joined Julia on the sofa.
“
This place needs a good scrubbing. I bet you
’
re itching to give it a going over.
”

“
Not really. I
want to find Cat and get out of here as quickly as possible. There
’
s an oppressive feel to this house.
”

“
I know what
you mean. I met Mildred here on our first meeting but then I insisted on
meeting in cafes. I
’
ll be brief,
then we can both get out of here. Mildred hired me to follow Nina Sapphire. She
said she didn
’
t trust her
and suspected that she was cheating on Douglas. I could see what was really
going on. Mildred was jealous and wanted to break the couple up. She hired me a
few weeks ago. I came here today because she wasn
’
t answering her phone. Even though Douglas had died she wanted me to
keep checking up on Nina.
”

“
Have you found
anything?
”

Helena shook her head.
“
Nothing. She hasn
’
t been sneaking off to see other men. Hasn
’
t been phoning or texting anyone. I bugged her phone. It
’
s all part of the service.
”

Julia nodded as if that was acceptable.
“
I see.
”

“
I did discover
a man that was following Douglas. He
’
s in his fifties, maybe sixties. When I
’
ve been watching Douglas and Nina together I noticed that the same man
was watching them too. I also spotted Mildred following the couple. I had to
tell her to stop doing that.
”

“
Did the man
see you watching him?
”

“
No, I have a
variety of disguises, no one ever spots me. I was wondering if the man was an
ex-boyfriend of Nina
’
s. Perhaps he
was jealous. I was going to ask Mildred if she wanted me to follow him, see
what he was up to.
”

Julia thought for a moment.
“
Nina told me that when she was out with Douglas sometimes he would stop
talking and look over his shoulder. He thought he was being watched. I wonder if
it was this man.
”

“
It
’
s possible. The man didn
’
t hide away, it was as if he wanted Douglas to see him.
”

“
Do you think
he might have something to do with Douglas
’
death?
”

“
Again, that is
possible. That
’
s what I
wanted to speak to Mildred about.
”

“
Do you think
Mildred is capable of murder?
”

“
Hell yes! Have
you seen the size of her? And the temper on that woman!
”

Julia smiled.
“
I wasn
’
t expecting
that reply. What will you do now?
”

“
I
’
ll go to the station and talk to her. If she
’
ll see me.
”

Julia said,
“
I know Mildred loved Douglas, she said she didn
’
t kill him. If she is innocent I
’
d hate for her to be convicted of a crime she didn
’
t commit. Could you find out who that man is? For me? I
’
ll pay you of course.
”

Helena reached into her pocket and pulled out a card.
She passed it to Julia and said,
“
You don
’
t have to pay,
I was going to find out who he is anyway, to satisfy my own curiosity. I
’
ll be in touch. Ring me if you need anything.
”

Julia stood up.
“
It was nice meeting you.
”

“
You too,
Julia. You
’
d better get
back to Cain, he
’
ll be
wondering where you are. Bye!
”

Helena left the house. Julia looked down at the card.
Who was that man? And why was he following Douglas?