“Read to me?” Tim said. “My parents scarcely knew I existed.” He shook his head. “Books were my only friends, my companions. They were all I had.”
“I know what that’s like.”
Tim gave him a sharp look. “Do you?”
“Yes. I was sent to boarding school at a young age. It wasn’t easy to be separated from my parents.”
“Hm. I didn’t mind school. In some ways, I was happier there than at home. At least my intelligence was recognised.” He sighed. “You’ve kept me talking admirably, Corrigan, but you can stop right there.”
Dan did as he was told. If he pushed his luck, he wasn’t sure how Tim would react. And he was nowhere near close enough to make a grab for the man. “So, what happens next?”
“I jump. Get it over with.”
“No, don’t do that. Please.” Dan glanced over the balustrade. He had no problem with heights; he could race up a climbing wall or abseil down a cliff. But this was different. The vertical sides of the building plummeted to the car park below, and the drop played games with his sense of depth. The thought of someone hurtling to the ground unnerved him. But Dan clenched his stomach to calm the fear squirming in his gut. No one was going to fall; not today.
He locked eyes with Tim. “You have a wife waiting for you. Cynthia.”
“I think she’d prefer a corpse to a convict, don’t you? I can’t imagine her coping with the knowledge that her husband was a murderer. I can’t do that to her. Better to leave her a widow. Let her think I lost my marbles. She’ll be devastated, but she’ll get over it. And besides, she always looked good in black.”
“You’re talking nonsense,” Dan said. “Whatever you’ve done, you love your wife. I could see it when you looked at her photograph.”
Tim pushed out his lower lip. “I’ve let her down.”
He hung his head, and Dan seized his chance to creep closer. “Give her a chance, Tim. Cynthia might rally round, support you in your hour of need.”
Tim didn’t reply.
“Would you say she was a strong person?” Dan asked, trying to keep his voice steady as he inched closer and closer.
Tim looked up. “Stop.” He said it calmly, but there was authority in his voice. “Move a muscle, and I’ll jump.”
“Okay, okay.” Dan took a long breath, releasing it slowly. He risked a peek over the edge. At last, the police were putting in an appearance, a patrol car rolling to a halt in front of the hotel. Two uniformed officers leaped from the car and hurried inside. A moment later, another car swerved into the car park, stopping behind the patrol car. A man and a woman climbed out, and Dan recognised DS Firth and DC Kulkarni. A faint hope stirred in Dan’s mind, but what could the police do? By the time they climbed the stairs, it could all be too late.
“Tim,” he began, “let me help you.”
“How? What are you going to do, wave a magic wand and bring Rudge back to life? Don’t bother. No one would thank you. The world is a better place without him.”
“You could be right. But if you explain it to me, if you tell me why you killed him, I might be able to—”
“You don’t know?” Tim interrupted. “After everything you said, after all your tinkering about with typewriters and… and…” Words failed him. He shook his head, incredulous. “But you didn’t understand why? Do you really not know why that bastard had to die?”
He stared expectantly.
Dan’s mouth was dry, but he swallowed and said, “Was it because of the way he treated Roz? I know he had some kind of hold over her.”
“Well, I suppose you’re halfway there.” Tim’s face fell, his cheeks sagging, his eyes growing dull. “Roz is very special. She always has been. And years ago, when we were both young and foolish, we… we were lovers.” Tim’s shoulders rose and fell, and although he fought to control it, his voice cracked. “When she fell pregnant, I acted shamefully. I abandoned her. I was just becoming successful, and back then I couldn’t afford the scandal.”
“You’re the father of her child?”
Tim nodded.
“But Roz’s daughter is a teenager, so this can’t have been all that long ago. I can’t see how it’s a scandal, unless…”
“I was already married, and my wife moved in the highest of circles. On her arm, I was welcomed into the ranks of the elite. For the first time in my life, my father was actually proud of me. Can you imagine?”
Dan shook his head, but Tim hardly seemed to notice.
“I wanted to help Roz, I really did,” Tim went on. “I sent her money, but she threw it back in my face. She wanted something more precious than that. She needed commitment, trust, love.”
“So you walked away.” Dan couldn’t keep the contempt from his tone, and Tim flinched.
“I couldn’t give her what she needed, and I couldn’t turn my back on the life I’d always wanted, the life I deserved. You’ve got to remember, my career hung in the balance. If you’re a rock star, you can get away with just about anything, but when you’re that genteel author who writes the kind of sweet stories people chat about while they’re having their hair done, forget it.”
“I’m not sure that people are so judgemental,” Dan said.
“Ha! You never met my father. And there are plenty of people in the literary world who are every bit as bad. My publisher would’ve dropped me like a hot brick. I told you I was big in the States, and my readership over there is extremely conservative.”
“So, Rudge knew he could cause trouble for you.”
Tim snorted in disgust. “Oh yes. But he wasn’t man enough to come after me directly. No, he threatened Roz. He said he’d use her to take me down a peg or two. He convinced her she’d be dragged into the dirt along with me, her private life exposed to the world, her daughter’s innocence shattered.”
“Does the girl know you’re her father?”
Tim shook his head. “Roz wanted it kept from her until she was older. She built a stable home for Shona, gave her all the love and care I couldn’t provide. But Rudge said he’d tear all that apart. You can’t know what that did to Roz. She’s a fragile person, and Rudge can smell a victim from a mile away. He tormented her at every turn, made her life a misery. All Roz wanted was to protect her daughter, our daughter.”
“She came to you for help.”
“No, she would never have done that,” Tim replied. “Rudge told me himself. He took great pleasure in telling me how he’d made her suffer. So I had to make him stop. The man was a monster. What else could I have done?”
Tim looked past Dan’s shoulder. “Here they come.”
Dan fought the urge to turn, but he heard the door opening slowly, and then DS Firth’s voice: “Mr Kendall, you remember me, don’t you? I’m Detective Sergeant Firth. It’s time to come inside.”
“Stay back!” Tim took his weight on his arms and hoisted himself up so he sat on the balustrade.
“No,” Dan said. “Tim, get down.”
“It’s all right, Dan,” Tim replied. “You can stay. But the rest of you can bugger off. Go on. Get back inside or I’ll do it.”
“I can’t do that,” Firth said. “I’m staying.”
Tim grunted in exasperation. “Typical. Bloody pleb.” He gave Dan a weary smile. “Ah well, it’s all over. Funny it should end like this, all the way up here. You know, this is the very spot where I was going to push Dominic off the edge. I had the whole thing planned. But then Edward did a runner, and I got rattled.” He thought for a moment. “Everything’s connected. It was Edward who showed me how to get up here. He…” Tim clamped his lips shut.
“What were you going to say?” Dan asked.
“It doesn’t matter. The point is, it was Edward who worked out the code for the doors. Good old Edward. He can find his way around any problem — almost. It’s the way his mind works. Not sneaky, exactly. Resourceful. He’s had to be.”
“Because of his time in the intelligence service,” Dan said.
“That’s part
of it, but there’s something else. I won’t tell you why, but Edward is a very private man. So when he got that damned note, it was a disaster. He assumed the threat was meant for him. He must’ve been furious. Distraught.”
“Edward told me he was worried on account of his film deal,” Dan said. “I’m guessing that wasn’t true.”
“There’s only one thing that could shake Edward, and I made him think the cat was out the bag, quite by chance. I was such a fool. I should’ve been more careful, double-checked the room numbers.”
“There’s no point dwelling on past mistakes,” Dan said. “But perhaps you can help to put things right. Do you know where Edward is now?”
“I won’t betray his confidence. I’ve done enough damage.” Tim lifted one leg over the balustrade.
“Don’t do that,” Firth called out. Dan heard the policeman moving forward.
“Tim, wait,” Dan said. “You haven’t finished your story.”
“Yes, I have. It’s all wrapped up, and that’s just how a final chapter should be. Neat.”
“But what about the epilogue?” Dan asked. “What about the funeral scene, the grieving widow with all her questions unanswered? Won’t that make a mess of your plot?”
“I’ve never been a fan of epilogues. Better to make a clean end.” Tim lifted his other leg onto the balustrade.
And Dan lunged forward.
CHAPTER 32
Dan flung his arms around Tim’s upper body even as the older man slid from the stone rail. Dan locked his arms around Tim’s chest, but even so, he felt him slipping through his grip, plunging downward. Dan held tight, but Tim dangled in the air, a dead weight, pulling Dan closer to the edge, dragging him down. Dan’s feet lost their purchase on the smooth walkway, and his chest thudded against the stone railing, but he hung on for grim death, closing his eyes, willing himself to stay anchored to the spot.
And it worked.
Dan opened his eyes, and wished he hadn’t. He was bent over the balustrade, staring downward, Tim’s body trapped in his arms, the man suspended over the void like an ungainly puppet. Dan had managed to hook Tim beneath the armpits, but he couldn’t hold on much longer. He could scarcely breathe, and already his grip was growing looser, his arm muscles burning.
Tim let out a moan, a wail of despair, and then, against all reason, he started to struggle.
“Don’t bloody move or you’ll take me with you,” Dan growled.
“No, he won’t,” someone said. And then there were people at Dan’s side, arms reaching down to grab hold of Tim. Firth stood on Dan’s right, Kulkarni on his left, and together they hauled Tim back onto the walkway.
Firth manhandled Tim into a standing position, and Kulkarni took hold of Dan’s upper arm, concern in her eyes. “Are you all right, Mr Corrigan?”
Dan straightened his back, brushing himself down. He drew a deep breath, and though a sharp pain needled him between the ribs, he said, “Yes. I’m fine.”
“That was quite something.” Kulkarni let go of his arm. “It was very brave of you.”
“I don’t know about that,” Dan said. “I’m just glad you helped when you did. I’m not sure how much longer I could’ve held him.”
“Right,” Firth said. “Homilies over. Tim Kendall, I’m DS Firth, Devon and Cornwall Police, and I’m arresting you for the crime of murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later may rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?”
Tim nodded meekly. He glanced at Dan, but he didn’t speak until Kulkarni produced a pair of handcuffs, and then he said, “Oh, will those be necessary? My hands… they’re how I make my living.”
Kulkarni hesitated, but Firth sent her a reproving look. “Cuff him,” he said. “You’re being arrested for murder, Mr Kendall.”
Kulkarni applied the cuffs and Tim watched, crestfallen. “The shame of it,” he murmured. “I don’t know what my wife will think. I’ll have to call her. She mustn’t hear about this from anybody else.”
“We’ll sort that out when we get to the station,” Firth replied. “We’ll take you to Bodmin, but before we go, do you need any medical attention?”
“No. I’m all right.” Tim cleared his throat. “I could do with a large brandy, but I don’t suppose…”
“We’ll get you a mug of sweet tea at the station,” Firth said. “Mr Corrigan, we’ll need a statement from you. There are a couple of officers inside, and they can bring you and Mr Hargreaves over to Bodmin. Are you good to go?”
“Yes, we may as well get it over with. Will I get tea too? It suddenly sounds wonderful.”
“I think we might be able to manage it.” Kulkarni smiled. “I might even be persuaded to nip out and fetch a decent cup of coffee.”
“Even better,” Dan said.
“If you’re ready…” Firth gave his colleague a sardonic smile.
“Yes, Sarge.” Kulkarni stepped back smartly, giving Firth room to lead Tim past.
Tim shuffled along, dragging his feet as though he didn’t trust his legs. As he passed, he stopped for a moment, turning his watery gaze on Dan. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I shouldn’t have put you through that.”
“I’ll survive,” Dan replied. “But if you want to make amends, tell me where Edward is.”
“I can’t do that,” Tim said. “That wouldn’t be right at all.” He looked down and let Firth lead him away. A uniformed constable was holding the door open, and Firth took Tim through.
“Ready?” Kulkarni asked Dan.
“Yes.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Alan was waiting with a uniformed officer. “They wouldn’t let me go back up,” Alan said. “Are you okay?”
Dan nodded.
They didn’t talk much on the way to Bodmin, and once they were inside the brightly lit police station, the time passed in a flurry of bewildering procedures.
At one point, Dan was left sitting on his own in a corridor. Surrounded by the hubbub of a busy office, he felt strangely disconnected, cast adrift in a sea of bustling officialdom.
It gave him time to think, and surprisingly, his thoughts returned to his cottage in Embervale. Was Jay progressing well with the work on the floorboards, or would he have uncovered new problems that would have to be dealt with? It would be good to get back there and find out; good to light the wood burner and sit back to enjoy its warmth; and even better to lock the door against the outside world.
After a while, Kulkarni strode toward him, bearing a couple of large paper cups. Offering one to Dan, she said, “I forgot to ask, but you look like a man who takes his coffee black.”
“Thank you.” Dan took the cup gratefully and removed the plastic lid, inhaling the heady aroma as he sipped the hot coffee. “Perfect.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How’s Tim doing? And Alan?”
“Mr Hargreaves has finished giving his statement, so he’ll be here in a minute, and then we’ll run you back to your hotel.”
“And Tim?”
Kulkarni hesitated. “I can’t say much, but let’s put it this way: I don’t think you’ll be needed as a witness.”
“He’s admitted everything?”
“He’s co-operating, so it looks as though the whole case will be tied up very soon.”
“Good,” Dan said. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“No problem. But I have a lot of work to do, so I’d better get back to it.” Kulkarni smiled then she hurried away.
Dan drank his coffee, and just as he drained the last drop, Alan arrived.
“Have you given your statement?” Alan asked.
“Yes. All done.”
“Thank goodness.” Alan glanced enviously at Dan’s cup. “They gave me a mug of tea you could stand a spoon up in, but I drank it happily. I needed it.”
Dan stood. “Shall we go? DC Kulkarni said they’d give us a lift.”
“I thi
nk they’ll come and fetch us when they’re ready.”
“Fair enough.”
They stood in the corridor, unsure what to do. After a few seconds of silence, Dan said, “Unofficially, they told me that Tim’s co-operating. Hopefully, that means he’ll plead guilty.”
“That would probably be for the best,” Alan replied. “So what now? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to head for home.”
“I can pack my bag as soon as we get to the hotel. But when we get back to Embervale, there’s something I want to do.”
“What’s that? Collapse on the sofa with a whisky?”
“That does sound appealing,” Dan said. “But after that, I want to find Edward.”
CHAPTER 33
Before heading down to check out of the Regent Hotel, Dan prowled the corridors. And finally, he found who he was looking for.
A laundry trolley stood beside an open door, and Dan leaned against the wall and waited quietly. A moment later, Daphne emerged, a bundle of crumpled sheets in her arms.
“Good morning,” Dan said, and Daphne jumped.
“Mr Corrigan! I didn’t see you there. Are you… looking for something?”
“You.” Dan moved away from the wall to stand in the centre of the corridor, his arms folded.
“Oh?” Daphne tipped the sheets onto the top of the bulging bag of laundry. “Is there something I can help you with, only I’m rather busy this morning.”
“Lots of people checking out today.”
“Yes. Everyone.” Daphne’s lips tightened, and she looked past Dan as though eager to get away.
“This will only take a minute. I’d like to ask you about a couple of things.”
“Such as?”
“Tim told me that he learned the combination for the doors to the roof from Edward Hatcher. Was that true, do you think?”
“I’ve no idea.”
“Did either of them get the combination from you?”
“Of course not. I’ve never been up there. Why would I?”
“Good question,” Dan said. “But someone must use those doors.”
Daphne thought for a moment. “Matthew would know. And I suppose Dennis might go up there. He does all the maintenance. He comes in now and then to fix a dripping tap or bleed the radiators. That sort of thing.”
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