“I love to read,” Sandra said in a low voice.
“I do, as well.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“You already have.” Bessie took her purchases and headed for the door. “I’ll stop back in a few days with more,” she told her, fairly certain that all of the titles she’d brought today would be finished with by then.
“Oh, thank you,” Sandra called, already reopening the book she’d started.
Feeling as if she’d done her good deed for the day, Bessie walked home in the rain. When she opened her door, her phone was ringing.
“Hello?”
“Bessie, it’s John.”
“I was going to ring you later,” Bessie said. “I talked to Elizabeth Quayle this morning. She had some interesting things to say about Phillip and the others. I also wanted to ask you how Sue is doing.”
John sighed. “Sue is holding on at the moment. The kids are upset, but also confused and angry. I’m both of those things and many more, but there’s very little I can do from here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell me what Elizabeth said before I tell you why I rang, then,” John invited.
Bessie did her best to repeat the conversation. Once she was finished, she told him Maggie’s version of events as well.
“Interesting,” John said when she was done.
“But why did you ring?” Bessie asked.
“I want you to repeat your conversation with Dan Ross for me again, please.”
“Dan Ross? Why?”
“He was hit by a car last night. It was a hit and run,” John told her.
Bessie gasped and felt a chill run up her spine.
Chapter 13
“You don’t think it was anything to do with Phillip’s murder, do you?” Bessie demanded.
“I don’t know anything at this point.”
“How is he?” Bessie asked nervously.
“He’s expected to make a full recovery, but it’s going to take time.”
Bessie blew out a sigh of relief. “I don’t care for the man, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.”
“Can you tell me everything that was said when you spoke to him, please?”
“I’ll try.” Bessie did her best to remember the conversation. When she was done, she sighed. “I hope his accident wasn’t anything to do with Phillip’s murder. I’ll feel ever so guilty. What did he say happened?”
“He gave a preliminary statement to the constable on duty. Pete is going to talk to him later today. Let’s just say that his preliminary statement was about as uncooperative as you’d expect.”
Pete Corkill was an inspector with the Douglas CID. If anyone could get information out of Dan Ross, it was Pete. “I hope Pete has better luck,” Bessie replied.
“I suspect Dan is hoping to save up anything and everything from the accident so that he can write his own shocking story for the paper’s front page,” John sighed. “He won’t want to tell Pete anything, as there is always a risk of a leak. Leaked news doesn’t sell papers.”
Bessie sighed. “He’s an idiot. If it was deliberate, he could get himself killed trying to sell papers.”
“Indeed. I’m sure Pete will point that out to him.”
“And be wasting his time doing so,” Bessie guessed.
“Most likely.”
“Is he allowed visitors?”
“He has a police guard on the door at the moment. Medically, he may be cleared for visitors, but I don’t think Pete is clearing anyone.”
“Do you think he’d clear me?”
John chuckled. “I can’t see Pete saying no to you, actually. You may have better luck getting information out of Dan than Pete will, anyway. I’ll ring Pete and see what he says. I’ll ring you back shortly.”
Bessie put the phone down and began to pace around the kitchen. She didn’t care for Dan Ross and she hadn’t enjoyed speaking with him when she’d visited him at his office. Actually trying to get permission to see him again was just crazy. Still, a little voice said, if someone tried to kill him because of you, you owe him a visit and an apology. Her mind was still racing when the phone rang again.
“I caught Pete just as he was getting back from talking with Dan. He said something along the lines of ‘Bessie is welcome to him,’ which I took to mean that the interview didn’t go well,” John told her.
“Oh, dear.”
“As I said, I believe Dan is excited about writing his own story for the front page. I doubt he’ll say anything to you, but Pete has cleared you if you want to try.”
“I feel as if I owe Dan an apology. I can’t help but feel as if the accident is connected to Phillip’s death.”
“So you think that Oliver killed Phillip,” John suggested.
“The attack on Dan makes me feel that way. A lot depends on whether Dan followed up on my story idea or not, though. If he didn’t, then his accident has nothing to do with Phillip or me.”
“For what it’s worth, Dan wouldn’t tell Pete anything about anything he’s currently investigating. Pete suggested that he isn’t actually doing anything but sitting around waiting for news to happen, but Dan just laughed and told him that he could believe whatever he wanted to believe.”
Bessie sighed. “He might have been investigating The Liliana Fund, then.”
“Maybe he’ll at least tell you that much, if you ask,” John said.
“I think I should ring the woman at the paper and tell her to stay away from the idea, too.”
“If you truly think Oliver was involved in Phillip’s death, that’s probably wise.”
“I don’t know what to think. The only thing I know for certain is that I feel terrible for thinking that I might have done something that led to whatever happened to Dan Ross. If something horrible happens to the good causes woman at the paper, I’ll feel even worse.”
“Are you planning to visit Dan today?” John asked.
“Yes, right after I ring the paper,” Bessie replied.
“I can send a car. Someone will be there in half an hour or less.”
“I’m sure your constables have better things to do than drive me around the island,” Bessie protested.
“No worries. I’ll send Doona. She’s sitting at my house, staring at the telephone in case Harvey rings, but she needs a break.”
“What if Harvey rings?”
“Then he’ll have to ring back or leave a message on my machine,” John snapped. He took a deep breath and then sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m incredibly frustrated, but none of this is your fault. I shouldn’t be shouting at you because my ex-wife is ill half a world away while her new husband acts evasive and secretive. If I didn’t have so much going on here, I think I’d fly out to Africa myself to find out what’s really happening.”
“I am sorry.”
“Never mind. I’ll send Doona to you. It will do her good to have something else to think about for a few hours. She’ll still be home before the children get back from school. They’re doing their best, but they need someone with them, in my opinion, anyway.”
“Of course they do.”
“Good luck with Dan,” John concluded. “Obviously, ring me and let me know how it goes.”
“I will do.”
Bessie put down the phone and then dug out the name that Dan had given her.
“Ah, yes, good morning. May I speak to Jane Stoddard, please?” Bessie asked when her call was answered.
“I’m sorry, but Ms. Stoddard isn’t in the office at the moment,” was the reply. “If you’d like to leave a number, I can have her ring you back.”
Bessie hesitated. She didn’t really want to leave any more messages for the woman. “When do you expect her back in the office?” she asked.
“I’m not certain when she will return. Early January, probably.”
“Early January?” Bessie echoed.
“Ms. Stoddard always takes a long holiday at Christmas. I believe she travels to Australia, where
she has family.”
“When did she leave?”
“Early December.”
Bessie frowned. So when Dan had referred her to Ms. Stoddard he’d done so knowing that she was away and wouldn’t return until the new year. “I’ll ring back in January,” Bessie said with a sigh.
When Doona arrived a short while later, Bessie was still angry. “He told me to talk to Ms. Stoddard, even though he knew she was in Australia,” she fumed.
“This is Dan Ross we’re talking about. I don’t understand why you’re surprised,” Doona replied.
“I know you’re right, but I’m still angry,” Bessie told her.
“Does that mean you don’t want to go to Noble’s to see him?”
“I don’t know what I want to do. I was worried that I might have accidentally put him in danger, but now I’m starting to think that he deserves whatever he gets.”
Doona chuckled. “You don’t mean that.”
“No, I suppose not. Let’s go and talk to him.”
Doona led her out to her car and then slid behind the steering wheel. Bessie waited until they were on the road out of Laxey to speak.
“Any news on Sue, then?”
“None, which is worse than bad news in a way. The not knowing and the worrying are exhausting. John isn’t sleeping. The children can’t focus on anything and I feel completely caught in the middle of it all and totally helpless.”
“John said that Harvey told him that she was really ill.”
“That’s part of the problem. We only know what Harvey is prepared to tell us, which isn’t much. Sue spoke to the children briefly last night, but only to tell them that she loves them and misses them. According to Harvey, she isn’t fully aware of how unwell she actually is, and she keeps fading in and out of lucidity.”
“My goodness. The poor woman. I can’t imagine falling ill so far away from home.”
“It was her choice to travel to Africa, and from everything I’ve heard, she’s been more than happy to keep extending their stay, as well.” Doona sighed. “I should be more sympathetic towards her, but I’m seeing firsthand what her actions are doing to the children. It’s horrible.”
“Are they at school?”
“I hope so. I drove them both there this morning, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that one or both of them snuck out, really. As I said, neither of them can focus on anything at the moment. They’re probably wasting their time even being there.”
“It may be better for them to be there than to be sitting at home, though.”
“It probably is. They both have some good friends at school, at least. At home they just sit and stare at the telephone.”
“Is Harvey meant to be ringing back at any particular time?”
“He said he’d ring back tonight, but he didn’t give an exact time. I assume he’ll ring sooner if anything happens.”
Bessie swallowed hard. “I feel so sorry for Thomas and Amy.”
“I’m more worried about John, actually. He’s, well, I’ve never seen him like this. The divorce was hard on him, but this seems worse.”
“Do you think he’s still in love with Sue?”
“I’m sure he still loves her, even if he isn’t in love, if you know what I mean. I sort of understand, because I know how devastated I was when Charles died. We’d been separated for two years and I was trying to get a divorce, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t still have feelings for him. Sue and John were married for close to fifteen years. Whatever she did, however much she hurt him, they had a long life together, not to mention two children. I understand why he’s upset, but that doesn’t make it any easier to see him suffering so much.”
“Did Harvey say exactly what’s wrong with her?”
“No, he was almost deliberately vague, which is making John even crazier. Harvey is a doctor. He keeps talking in all sorts of medical doublespeak that John can’t decipher and when John asks him to simplify, he just says that Sue is gravely ill.” She glanced at Bessie. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but John has rung and spoken to the local police in the area where Harvey and Sue are staying.”
“The police? Does John suspect foul play?”
“I don’t know. I think he’s just feeling frustrated and ringing the police is something he can do from here. There isn’t much else he can do, after all.”
“What did the police say?”
“Nothing yet, really. They’ve promised to visit and talk with both Sue and Harvey. They’re meant to be ringing back in the next day or two as well, which is one reason why I need to be there when the children are home. John doesn’t want them to know that he’s contacted the police, obviously.”
“John can’t possibly think that Harvey did anything to hurt Sue, can he?”
Doona shrugged. “As I said, I’m not sure what he’s thinking. I don’t know that he knows what he’s thinking, if you follow my meaning. I think he’s just reacting and doing what little he can do to try to work out what’s happening. If Harvey won’t answer his questions, then maybe the local police can learn something that will help John understand the situation.”
“If I can help in any way, please let me know. I’m still happy to have the children overnight one night if you and John want to go Christmas shopping.”
Doona muttered a curse word under her breath. “We still have to do a lot of shopping, but I don’t know when we’ll find the time.”
Bessie pressed her lips together. The situation with John and Sue was almost impossible and she felt completely unable to help. Doona sighed and then switched on the radio. As the car filled with Christmas music, Bessie wondered if John and his children would be able to have a happy Christmas this year.
“Here we are,” Doona said a few minutes later. “I’ll let you out at the door and then find a parking space. You know how difficult that can be around here.”
Bessie nodded. Doona pulled to a stop near the hospital’s entrance. As she drove away, Bessie walked into the building’s spacious foyer. John had told her where to find Dan, so she didn’t bother stopping at the information desk. Instead, she headed straight for the lifts at the back of the space.
A few moments later she was walking down a long corridor. A uniformed police constable was sitting on a chair outside the last room. He stood up as Bessie approached.
“May I help you?” he asked.
“I’m Elizabeth Cubbon. I’m here to see Mr. Ross.”
The man frowned and then looked around. “I’m afraid the patient in this room isn’t receiving visitors,” he said.
“Inspector John Rockwell in Laxey was going to clear it for me to see him.”
The constable shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I wasn’t given any instructions about visitors.”
“Bessie?” a voice said from behind them.
Bessie turned around and smiled brightly at Helen Baxter, her friend who was a nurse at the hospital. “Helen, what a lovely surprise.”
“I do work here,” Helen laughed. “Is there a problem?”
“I came to see Mr. Ross, but the constable wasn’t expecting me,” Bessie explained.
“Did John arrange it?”
“He told me he had.”
“Let me ring Pete,” Helen suggested. She pulled out her mobile phone and pushed a single button on it. A moment later she began a whispered conversation with whoever had answered her call. As Helen slid her phone back into her pocket, a loud noise came from the constable’s pocket.
He dug out his phone and frowned at it. “Yes?” After saying “yes, sir” many times, he put the phone away and frowned at Bessie. “I’m to let you in to see Mr. Ross. I’m not happy about it, though. I shall be keeping a very close eye on you and on Mr. Ross while you’re here.”
“I’d prefer privacy for my conversation with Mr. Ross,” Bessie countered.
“Too bad you don’t get what you want,” the constable snapped.
Bessie glanced at Helen, who sighed and made another phone ca
ll. When the constable’s phone rang this time, he looked furious.
“Pete’s on his way,” Helen told Bessie.
“I hope I’m not dragging him away from anything important,” Bessie replied. “It will be nice to see him, though.”
Pete and Bessie had first met over a dead body some years earlier. Initial dislike had turned to mutual respect during the ensuing investigation. It was Bessie who had first introduced Pete to Helen, and she and John had stood as witnesses to their marriage not that long ago. While Helen was still using her maiden name professionally, privately she was Helen Corkill. Apparently, the young constable was unaware of that fact, though.
He dropped his phone back into his pocket and gave the women a triumphant smile. “The inspector said I’m to wait here for further instructions.”
“Did he, now?” Bessie asked.
The constable nodded. “That means you can’t go inside,” he added smugly.
Bessie shrugged. “How are you?” she asked Helen.
“I’m okay,” Helen replied.
“Just okay? You don’t seem yourself, really,” Bessie said, feeling concerned for her friend.
“I’m really tired, that’s all,” Helen replied. “It’s been a busy year, with the wedding and everything. Pete and I have been talking about going away for a short while in January or February. I know we just had a honeymoon, but we were so busy seeing the sights and eating anything and everything that we never really relaxed.”
“Where will you go?”
“Nowhere exciting. Maybe just across. We were actually talking about going to that holiday park, the one you and Doona visited last year.”
“I’m not sure how much rest you’ll get,” Bessie told her. “There are a lot of activities.”
“But you don’t have to do any of them if you don’t want to,” Helen countered. “We could just go and switch off our phones and sleep for twenty hours a day.”
“I suppose I can see how that might appeal.”
Helen nodded and then looked up and down the corridor. She took a step closer to Bessie and then lowered her voice. “I shouldn’t be telling anyone yet, as it’s very, very early days, but I think I might be pregnant.”
Aunt Bessie Understands Page 20
