Bessie gasped and then gave Helen a hug. “I know we talked about it, but you seemed to think that you might have problems,” she said.
“We did have problems,” Helen replied. “It’s taken a while to get here and, as I said, it’s very early. Things could still easily go wrong, but I’m cautiously optimistic. I keep thinking that I should switch to part-time or even take some time off, though. I’m exhausted and I feel that I need to do everything I can to look after the baby.”
Bessie opened her mouth to reply, but shut it again when she spotted Pete walking towards them. Helen grabbed her arm. “Don’t say anything to Pete,” she whispered. “I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone until I was past twelve weeks.”
As Bessie greeted the grumpy-looking inspector with a hug, she watched the young constable frown and then begin to look worried.
“Inspector, sir, how are you?” he said when Pete turned towards him.
“A bit frustrated at having to come back down here. I’d only just left, you see,” Pete replied. “I thought things were well in hand here. What’s the problem?”
“This woman arrived and said she wanted to talk to Mr. Ross,” the constable said, pointing to Bessie.
“So you asked for her name and checked the list to see if she was an approved visitor, right?” Pete replied.
The constable flushed. “I was told Mr. Ross wasn’t to have any visitors.”
“Were you now? By whom?”
“The constable who was here earlier, er, Constable Richards.”
“I’ll have to have a word with Constable Richards, then,” Pete said.
The man nodded nervously.
“Bessie, if you’d like to come with me,” Pete said. He offered Bessie his arm. She took it and let him lead her into the small hospital room. Dan was lying on the bed, scowling.
“Thank you,” Bessie said to Pete. “I’m not sure why the young constable was so difficult.”
“He’s annoyed because he wants to be out on patrol. Refusing to let you in was him flaunting his authority. He doesn’t know that I’m married to Helen or that she’ll be reporting everything he does back to me. He’ll learn, I hope. I think he has great potential, once he gets over some of his attitude problems.”
“How are you?” she asked softly.
Pete grinned, an expression that she’d rarely seen on his face prior to his relationship with Helen. “I’m wonderful. I wish I’d met Helen years ago, but I probably wasn’t ready for her then. I don’t think things could be any better at home, anyway.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Pete glanced at Dan and then leaned in close to Bessie. “She might be pregnant, but don’t tell her I told you. We aren’t meant to be telling people for months yet, but I’m starting to feel as if I might burst if I don’t share the news.”
“Congratulations,” Bessie whispered.
“Thanks,” he replied.
“Don’t mind me,” Dan snapped from his bed. “I’m not sure why you’re using my hospital room for your secret conversation, but don’t worry about me. I’m not trying to listen in or anything.”
Bessie winked at Pete and then turned to Dan. “Sorry about that. Pete and I haven’t seen one another in a while. He was kind enough to grant me permission to come and visit you, though.”
“I’ll be outside,” Pete said loudly before nodding at Bessie and leaving the room.
“Of course, you’ll simply repeat everything I say to him later, won’t you?” Dan asked.
“Maybe, if I think it’s important,” Bessie replied. “I don’t generally keep secrets from the police.”
“Sometimes there are very good reasons for not telling them things,” Dan countered.
“Such as?”
“Such as getting a front-page headline.”
“I’d rather be alive and well than worry about such things.”
“You make the headlines quite regularly, anyway.”
“Unfortunately.”
“But what do you want?” Dan demanded. “If you were coming to gloat over my half-dead body, I’m sorry to disappoint you. While the police prefer to suggest to everyone that I’m at death’s door, I’m actually doing rather well and could probably have been sent home already if the police would allow it.”
“You can’t blame them for wanting to protect you.”
“I was hit by a hit-and-run driver. Accidents happen.”
“You genuinely think it was an accident?”
“As I understand it, you don’t drive,” Dan replied. “I’m sure you’d happily run me down, given the chance, though.”
“Especially after you gave me Jane Stoddard’s information without bothering to mention that she’s in Australia until January.”
“Is that where she goes every December? I did wonder, but I never bothered to ask. Sorry about that.”
“Except you aren’t sorry at all.”
Dan shrugged. “Is that why you came? To shout at me for sending you to Jane even though she’s away?”
“That’s part of it, certainly. You can make a proper apology by giving me the name and phone number of whoever is doing Jane’s job while she’s gone. I’d still like to see a story about some of the island’s charities.”
“Can’t help you. Jane turned in all of her articles through Christmas before she left. If anything happens in her department that’s considered newsworthy, it will get assigned to a reporter with some time to spare. It’s too close to Christmas now for the sort of series you’re talking about anyway.”
“Did you follow up on my idea at all?” Bessie asked.
“Not really. I may have asked a few questions of a few of my sources, but I didn’t launch a proper investigation. That’s really Jane’s department. I don’t want to step on any toes.”
“And you don’t think there’s any connection between your questions and your accident?”
Dan stared at her for a minute and then began to laugh. “Is that why you’re here?” he asked after he’d regained his composure. “Do you really think someone tried to kill me because I asked a source a few innocuous questions about The Liliana Fund? I’ve heard of people who think the entire world revolves around them, but I’d never pegged you as being one of them.”
“That’s a no, then?” Bessie asked.
Dan chuckled. “It’s a no. It was an accident, probably kids who’d stolen a car and gone for a joyride. The car was found on the next street, wiped completely clean of any prints. That’s the work of kids who watch too much television. The chances of the police getting usable fingerprints from a car are tiny, really.”
“If you’re happy it was an accident, I won’t take up any more of your time.”
“It may not have been an accident,” Dan told her. “Right now, as we speak, I’m investigating three different stories. There are a few things happening in one particular government department that are starting to feel a bit like corruption. I’ve spoken to several people about a few issues and the first article expressing my concerns will be hitting the paper tomorrow.”
“I’ll have to make sure to get a copy,” Bessie told him.
Dan laughed. “Even if you don’t, you’ll soon hear the story. I’m expecting it to be the talk of the island after tomorrow.”
“Are you suggesting that someone from the government tried to run you over?”
“Not at all,” Dan waved a hand. “I’m just pointing out that I’m involved in a number of important stories, all of which are much more significant that whatever is going on at The Liliana Fund. Did you know that one of the island’s most high-profile couples is having difficulties? I won’t mention any names, but if I tell you that they’ve had seven children in the past decade, you’ll know who I mean.”
Bessie nodded. The couple had moved to the island about ten years earlier, buying a huge mansion near the southern coast. She was his third wife and as Bessie understood it, they were planning on having a dozen children together.
“
He’s having an affair, and it isn’t his first. What I found surprising is that she’s also cheating. I’m not sure how she has time, with seven children at home. Rumour has it that he’s going to be demanding paternity tests on the last three children in the new year.”
“You can’t be suggesting that either of them tried to kill you.”
“No, he has more than enough money to have hired someone to do the job. She’d probably have had to borrow from him or her lover, one or the other, but I’ve no doubt she could get her hands on plenty of cash in a hurry if she wanted it.”
“You can’t be serious,” Bessie said.
Dan shrugged. “Again, just an example of the sorts of stories that I’m covering. As I said, they’re important stories.”
“Phillip Tyler was murdered.”
“Yes, of course, but you can’t seriously believe that anyone involved with The Liliana Fund had anything to do with that. I mean, there may be a few question marks about where the money that Oliver is so good at raising goes, but murder? The man has dedicated his life to helping others.”
Bessie shrugged. “I’m sorry for bothering you.”
Dan glanced around the room. “I’ve an even bigger story,” he said in a loud whisper. “I’m about to blow the lid off a huge drug-smuggling operation on the west side of the island. There are several prominent island residents involved, including some with the police and the local government. The story is going to make my name here and get me what I’ve been after for the last ten years.”
“Which is what?”
“A job with a big national newspaper across, of course. You didn’t really think that I wanted to stay on the island forever, did you? I can’t imagine that. The island is just a stepping stone on my way to better things. I just have to keep Harrison Parker from stealing my headlines.”
“Harrison Parker?”
“He just moved to the island a few months ago,” Dan explained. “He’s young, only a few years out of uni, and he’s ambitious. He’d stab me in the back if he thought he could get a good story out of it.”
“Maybe he was driving the car that hit you,” Bessie suggested.
Dan frowned. “I never thought of that.” After a minute, he shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t actually do anything that could land him in any trouble, but I’m sure he’s furious that he missed out on seeing it happen. He jumps and runs whenever he hears a siren.”
“Maybe I should have given my story idea to him.”
Dan shook his head vigourously. “No, no, no. Don’t encourage the man. He’s ruthless and relentless. As I said, there may be a few small issues with The Liliana Fund, but Harrison would turn them into big issues and he’d destroy Oliver along the way. None of us want that to happen.”
“What sort of issues?” Bessie asked.
“Oh, just a few little question marks over where the money goes, that’s all,” Dan shrugged. “I asked Oliver for a list of the grants he made last year and he was a bit evasive. When I suggested that it might be time for someone to go through his records, he was almost hostile. I’m sure it’s nothing. He’s just used to having complete control over the fund and not having to answer to anyone.”
“Could he be diverting money to his own accounts?”
“He has to file a full accounting of everything the charity does every year. The government keeps a close eye on such things.”
“So why did he get hostile with you?”
“Maybe his records aren’t as thorough as they should be,” Dan suggested. “He’s been doing this for a long time now. I suspect whatever government department is responsible for checking his reports probably simply rubber stamps whatever he submits. Maybe he knows he’s been a bit sloppy lately with a few things.”
“Or maybe he’s stealing money from The Liliana Fund.”
Dan chuckled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Then you could blame him for Phillip’s murder. The problem is, you like Phillip’s family, so you won’t even consider them as possible suspects. Whenever you’re involved in a murder investigation, the killer always turns out to be someone you don’t like. That’s rather convenient, anyway.”
“Are you suggesting that the police are sending innocent people to prison simply because I don’t like them?” Bessie demanded.
“I just think you tend to focus far too narrowly on the suspects you aren’t friendly with and never consider anyone who used to eat biscuits in your kitchen.”
Bessie flushed. “That isn’t fair,” she said tightly.
“Fair or not, that’s how I see things,” Dan replied.
“I came to apologise, just in case anything I did led to your accident. As you’ve dismissed that idea, I’ll simply wish you a speedy recovery and be on my way,” Bessie said, turning towards the door.
“If you ever meet Harrison Parker, don’t tell him anything,” Dan said from the bed.
Bessie didn’t bother to acknowledge Dan’s words. Instead, she swept out of the room and quickly walked down the corridor towards the lifts.
Chapter 14
Pete and Helen were standing together near the nurses’ station.
“Did he tell you anything interesting?” Pete asked.
“Not a thing,” Bessie replied. “Apparently he’s investigating several different things at the moment and there are a long list of people who might want to stop him. He seems convinced that what happened to him was an accident, though.”
Pete frowned. “I’m not, but he won’t answer any of my questions, which makes the investigation much more difficult than it should be.”
“Are you keeping him here, under lock and key, for the foreseeable future?” Bessie asked.
“That’s mostly going to be up to him, really. His doctor reckons he’ll be fit for release tomorrow. I’d like to persuade Dan to stay here for another day or two beyond that, but I can’t force him to do so.”
Bessie sighed. “I’d hate for anything to happen to him, even though I find him thoroughly disagreeable.”
Pete nodded. “My job is to protect everyone, even the, um, disagreeable people.”
Helen laughed. “Very good,” she said. “By the time the baby comes, you won’t be cursing at all.”
“I thought we weren’t talking about the baby yet,” Pete replied.
“We aren’t, not with anyone except Bessie,” she told him.
Pete nodded. “I’ll walk you out,” he offered Bessie.
Helen made a noise.
“What’s wrong?” Bessie asked.
“Oh, nothing, it’s my lunch break, that’s all. I thought maybe Pete and I could have lunch together,” she replied.
“You go and have lunch together. I’m perfectly capable of finding my own way out. Doona is waiting for me in the lobby, anyway. She’s probably getting anxious because she wants to be at John’s when the children get out of school.”
“That’s a right bloody mess,” Pete said.
Helen shook her head. “Language,” she said in a teasing tone.
“I’m right, though,” Pete replied. “Things just keep getting messier and John is stuck in the middle of it all.”
“He’s lucky to have Doona’s support,” Helen suggested.
“I hope he realises how lucky,” Pete added.
Bessie agreed and then boarded the lift. She’d only taken a few steps across the lobby when she heard her name being shouted.
“Miss Cubbon? Wait, please.”
The man who was rushing towards her was a total stranger. His dark brown hair fell casually around his face, some of it flopping into his brown eyes. Bessie guessed that he was in his early twenties. He reached her side and then gave her a beaming smile as he brushed his hair from his eyes.
“Miss Cubbon, I’ve been waiting ages for an excuse to speak with you,” he said.
“Really?”
“I’m Harrison Parker. I’ve only just moved to the island recently, having taken a position as an investigative reporter with the Isle of Man Times. O
bviously, I’ve done my research on the island, and you are near the top of the list of people I’m anxious to meet and get to know now that I’m here.”
“I can’t imagine why.”
“Now, now, don’t be modest,” he said with a chuckle. “Even without all of the recent difficulties that have been popping up all around you, you’ve led a fascinating life and you know the island, or at least your little corner of it, better than anyone. Having you as a source for information would be invaluable.”
“I’ve no interest in being a source for you,” Bessie told him flatly.
“That’s entirely up to you, but whatever, I would like to speak to you about a number of things.”
“I’m not interested in answering any questions.”
“I was hoping to learn more about the island’s history, though. I’m told you’re an expert on old wills. I’d love to write an article about that for the paper, but even more, I’d simply love to learn more about the subject for my own edification.”
“I’ve given papers at various conferences on the island which have been published. I suggest you try reading those.”
Harrison grinned at her. “You’re a tough woman to befriend, aren’t you? Let me try a different approach. I know you and Dan Ross have had, well, let’s say a difficult relationship. I also know he’s here and that you came to visit him. Why?”
Bessie shook her head. “I’m not answering any questions.”
“I reckon it must have something to do with Phillip Tyler’s murder, which suggests that you think Dan’s accident had something to do with the murder. What did you ask Dan to investigate when you came to his office the other day?”
“I didn’t ask Dan to investigate anything.”
“You left a note for Jane Stoddard, suggesting that she profile some of the island’s charities. The Liliana Fund was on the list that you gave her. Phillip Tyler used to work for The Liliana Fund. Connection?”
“I have to go.” Bessie took a few steps away from him.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Harrison called after her. “I think I need to go and speak to Oliver Preston. I’m sure he’ll be quite interested to learn that you think he’s up to something criminal.”
Aunt Bessie Understands Page 21
