The Fall Girl (27 page)

“This is really good – how did you make it?”

“Oh, I fried the spices first, then added the garlic and sliced onion and...”

Lexy wasn’t really listening. Her thoughts kept drifting to the Gallimores, for some reason. There was still something nagging at the back of her mind. She was sure it was Tyman...
something Tyman had said... She shook herself. Why was she bothering with that? All her attention should be on trying to find out what Steve was doing in Clopwolde the day before Elizabeth
died.

“I can write it down for you, if you like,” Rowana said.

“What?”

“The recipe.”

Everyone looked up at a tap on the door.

It was Milo. Thank god. He looked tired, deep lines under his eyes.

“Hope you’re not hungry,” said Steve, looking at the empty dishes.

Milo shook his head. “Thanks, I’ve already eaten.”

“Tell you what, I’ll wash up,” said Lexy. “You three go and relax.”

The Patersons trooped through to the living room. “See you later,” said Steve to Lexy, as he went.

She gave him a tight smile.

Milo picked up a tea towel and stood next to Lexy.

“I assume you didn’t get me here just to do the drying.”

Lexy waited until she was sure the other three were out of earshot.

“Didn’t you see my text?” she said. “About Steve.”

“I got something from you... wasn’t sure...”

“I ran into Archer Trevino today,” Lexy said quietly. “He said he saw Steve in Clopwolde, six weeks ago. The day before Elizabeth fell.”

Milo was instantly alert. “Could he have been mistaken?”

“Don’t think so. It was the Paterson’s Fine Cakes logo on the van that got his attention. When he looked, it was Steve driving it. ‘The day before my Liz fell over that
bloody balcony,’ to quote him. That’s how he remembered it.”

“Perhaps Steve drove back that same night.”

Lexy shook her head. “That’s the big problem. Gabrielle said he didn’t get back to London until lunchtime the following day.”

Milo swore under his breath. “How did she know?”

“She remembered going to the cinema the night before with her ex, Russell.”

“OK. Does Steve know that you know?”

“Not unless Gabrielle brought it up. But I think I was circumspect enough not make her suspicious.”

“Even so, we’d better go outside and talk.” Milo looked at his watch. “In fact, let’s go to the pub.”

“How did Archer know Steve?” Milo negotiated the rutted track. The suspension in his car was a lot better than the Panda’s. Lexy leaned back, relieved to have
someone to talk to at last.

“Through Elizabeth. Steve admitted he knew her.”

“Really?”

“Something he’d never told his daughters.”

“Why the skulduggery?”

“Some kind of mysterious parting of the ways that had occurred between him, his second wife, Jackie, and Elizabeth.”

“Thought it was too good to be true that they didn’t know each other.”

The Unicorn was as dark and quiet as it had been when Lexy and Milo met there four days ago. They even got the same alcove table.

Lexy glanced over at the bar. Archer wasn’t in. Perhaps the Unicorn wasn’t as much of a home from home as he made out. Or perhaps that whisky for dinner got the better of him.

“Do you think Steve and Elizabeth were having an affair?” Milo asked. “And Jackie found out?”

“I wondered about that, but I don’t think so. From what Steve said, it was more about Jackie doing Elizabeth a big favour, and Elizabeth doing her one in return.”

“The mind boggles. But it doesn’t sound like the scenario for an acrimonious split. Let’s have a look at that photo again – the one of the three of them.”

Lexy felt in her inside pocket and took the photo out.

“Did you show this to Steve?”

Lexy nodded.

Milo winced. “What was his reaction?”

She thought. “I think he said something like ‘Poor Elizabeth – I didn’t realise.’”

“Didn’t realise she still held a torch for him?”

“That’s a quaint expression, Milo.”

“I suppose the real question we should be asking ourselves is – did Steve know what was in Elizabeth’s will?”

“And did he act on it in desperation?” she finished for him.

They contemplated one another.

“So, what am I going to do now?” said Milo. “Go to the DCI tomorrow morning and tell him I want to re-open this case in light of new evidence? Pull in Steve Paterson for
questioning?”

“I’m just telling you the facts. Up to you what you do with them.” Lexy hesitated. “The only thing that doesn’t tie in is that Steve doesn’t act like a man
whose conscience is troubling him.”

“Perhaps he hasn’t got one.”

Lexy screwed up her face. “So we’re proposing that Steve came here six weeks ago with murder on his mind. Drove up to Four Winds in his cake van, got Elizabeth out on to the balcony
and pushed?”

Milo shrugged. “As we said before, he was broke, and if he knew what was in the will, and felt confident Rowana would share it...”

“It’s an incredibly cold-blooded, callous act though, isn’t it?” said Lexy. “It doesn’t seem to tie in with him as a person at all.”

“I’ve told you before – there is no typical murderer.”

“Anyway,” she pressed on, “how could he have got Elizabeth into position without a struggle? How could he even have been sure the fall would kill her? I bet plenty of people
would survive a fall like that. Maybe with fractures and ruptures, but still alive to tell the tale.”

“If it was planned, he was taking a gamble, certainly.”

“Perhaps they argued, and he pushed her in a fit of rage?” As soon as she said the words, Lexy immediately thought of Tyman, struggling with his mother on the high wire –
allegedly. But who was going to take a clown seriously?

“Never know unless we ask him.” Milo scratched his chin. “I think I’ll have a quiet chat with him. Nothing heavy. Just tell him I need to clear up a couple of points.
Mention that I know he was down here at the relevant time. See which way he jumps.”

“Don’t do it in the bedroom with the window open, then.”

Why was she wisecracking? Must be a nervous reaction, because Lexy didn’t find the prospect of Steve being questioned like this remotely funny.

Milo finished his drink. “Listen, I’m going to drop you back. I need to sleep. I’m giving evidence first thing tomorrow in Norwich Crown Court. Long drive.” He smothered
a yawn. “Meanwhile, just try to act normally around the Patersons, and I’ll come over tomorrow evening and take Steve for a ride in my car.”

“OK.” Lexy wasn’t sure she could wait that long. She’d have to do a bit of digging on her own.

“Oh – by the way, I stopped off at Edward’s on the way over tonight.”

“Is Kinky all right?” How could she have forgotten to ask earlier?

“No one was in, actually.”

“Did you hear him barking when you rang the bell?”

Milo shook his head.

“Well, I suppose the kitchen is quite a way from the front door.” But Lexy was uneasy. She located her phone. “Excuse me a sec.”

She pressed Edward’s number. It rang a couple of times, then went to voicemail. Same with Peter’s. Lexy snapped the phone shut.

“No luck?”

“Nope. I spoke to Edward earlier. He sounded a bit strange, to be honest. I wonder if I should be worried.” She ruffled her hair. “But he said Kinky was fine. And Peter said he
was fine.”

“I’m sure he’s fine, then.”

“Hmm.” Lexy wasn’t so confident. If she hadn’t had a drink she would have driven straight over to Edward’s to find out, even though it was close to eleven. She
glanced at Milo. She couldn’t ask him to take her there, he was dead on his feet.

Milo’s own phone suddenly vibrated on the table, making them both jump. He pulled a face, and put it to his ear. “DI Milo.”

Lexy saw his features stiffen. He threw a look at her, then shifted back in his seat, pressing the phone closer to his ear. “I... er... can’t talk now, but I’ll come straight
over – all right?” He listened, his face concerned. “Hmm. Yes. Just... er... hang on in there. Won’t be long, OK?”

Lexy tried not to look as if she was straining her ears to listen. It didn’t sound like a work call.

He clicked the phone shut. “Got to go.”

“I’m ready.” She got up. “If you need to hurry somewhere you could always drop me at the farm gate.”

“No, you’re all right. I’ll take you back.”

Milo was silent as they drove, his foot firmly on the accelerator.

“Problem?” Lexy enquired.

“Just a... personal thing. Need to go and see someone.”

A personal thing. Lexy tried to imagine who Milo might be rushing through the night to see. Whoever she was, she sounded like someone he would drop everything for. The thought made Lexy
strangely dissatisfied.

When she arrived back at the cottage, the kitchen door was still unlocked. Rowana was finishing the washing up.

“Ah – sorry,” said Lexy.

“That’s all right. I don’t blame you for going off with Milo. He’s nice. It’s all right if you want him to stay over, by the way.”

Lexy gave a small snort. “He’s just a friend.” Anyway, it sounded as if he had a hot date somewhere else that night.

“Dad would only get uptight if it was one of us,” continued Rowana. “Over-protective father syndrome.”

Lexy dragged her mind from speculation about Milo. “Is that something you’ve put to the test yourself?”

Rowana blushed. “Not personally. But Gabrielle has a few times.”

“Like the night you were in the greenhouse?” It was out of her mouth before she’d had time to think.

Rowana frowned, thought back, and nodded. “Oh, yes. Gabby brought Russell back that night, because she knew Dad wasn’t going to be back until the next day.” She squinted at
Lexy. “How did you know that?”

“Gabby mentioned it.”

“Did she?” Rowana finished drying and took her time about hanging the tea towel on its hook. “Well, I’d better get to bed. See you tomorrow, Lexy.”

That was a bit formal. Lexy watched her walk stiffly out of the kitchen.

Later, in her sleeping bag, Lexy thought about this exchange. Something had clicked in Rowana’s mind when Lexy mentioned Steve’s absence on the fateful morning. He
must have given Rowana and Gabrielle some kind of account of where he’d been. Could this be the first time Rowana had thought to question it?

Lexy lay back on the pillow, instinctively waiting for Kinky to jump up. It took a few seconds to remember he wasn’t there. What was he doing now, she wondered? Sleeping on a cushion in
front of the range, with any luck. On an impulse she leaned down to find her phone. Hallelujah, she had a signal. She called Edward, even though it was nearly midnight. Three rings, then
voicemail.

“Edward, can you call me? I just wanted to check that Kinky’s still all right.”

She fell into an anxious sleep, her phone by her hand.

At eight o’clock the following morning Lexy drove down to the gate at Pilgrim’s Farm, stopped and called Edward.

It rang. He answered. Thank god.

“Ah... Lexy, it’s you. Right...”

“Hi, Edward. Did you get my messages? Is Kinky all right?”

“Um... yes. He’s here with me now,” he panted. “We’re out having a little walkies on the beach, aren’t we, Kinky? How’s London, sweetie?”

“I came back early.” Did she hear a suppressed scream? “Have you got him on a lead?”

“What?”

“Kinky. Is he on a lead?”

“’Course he is. Don’t you worry about anything. Ah – here’s Peter. Must go. Byeee.”

“Edward!” But he’d switched his phone off. Lexy swore softly. What was going on? She didn’t like the thought of Edward taking Kinky as far as the beach. He’d better
have him on a lead. What if they met another dog? Kinky had a reputation for not allowing other dogs to pass him without taking a piece out of them. And if there was a choice, he always went for
the large pedigree breeds.

Lexy winced at the thought. On balance the chihuahua would be safer with her. She’d done nothing but worry herself silly about him ever since she’d left him there. Lexy tried Edward
again, and as she did so, her phone bleeped to announce its battery was low and promptly switched itself off.

She ground her teeth. Should have put the stupid thing on charge overnight. Tossing it into her bag, she turned into the lane.

Fifteen minutes later Lexy pulled into the long driveway that led to Edward’s manor house. If they weren’t back, she’d wait it out.

It started off well enough. The maroon Jaguar was there, and next to it Peter’s immaculate black 1946 Alvis. Result. Lexy parked with a flourish, jumped out and gave the bell pull a good
yank.

It was a minute or two before the huge, studded door swung open. Edward stood before her in his dressing gown, looking, for him, positively dishevelled. He stared at her aghast.

“Well, hello!" said Lexy. “Am I glad to see you!" She looked beyond him to the open kitchen door, expecting a small, caramel-coloured whirlwind. "Where is he, then?”

“Peter!" Edward shouted.

“I don’t mean him.”

A door opened upstairs.

“Now what?" Equally tousled, Edward’s partner appeared at the top of the sweeping oak staircase. He gave a small shriek as he spotted Lexy.

“What’s happened?" Lexy seized Edward’s silk dressing-gown sleeve.

“It’s all been a bit of a nightmare, lovie.”

Peter was running down the stairs, slippers pattering. "I told you to call her!" he yelled at Edward.

“I was going to!”

Lexy found herself shouting, too. “For god’s sake – what’s happened to Kinky?"

“Right – let’s all stay calm. Now – the main thing is, he’s all right." Peter ushered Lexy in, prising her fingers from Edward’s sleeve and shutting the front
door, then led the way to the kitchen.

“At least he was the last time we saw him," Edward clarified, sinking into a chair.

“Tell me he’s joking," Lexy said to Peter.

He grimaced. "You know when you left Kinky here?”

“Yes – two days ago." Lexy was feeling very tense.

“Well, Eddie and I needed to go out that evening for a quiet drink, because what with the antiques fair, and worrying about the kittens and so on, our relationship was getting a little
strained.”