Lilly held a hand up. “Don’t forget about the mysterious visitor. When we found Eric in his house on that Wednesday night, we phoned the police straight away. They took a while to arrive so … we had a little look around the place. I found two empty wine glasses with traces of red wine in them. These were in the kitchen, next to the sink. And on the kitchen table I saw two empty plates. I had a little sniff of the leftovers and it smelt like something Italian. In his bin I found an empty lasagne ready meal packet.”
Derek’s mouth dropped open. Roy laughed and said, “And she calls me nosy!”
Lilly carried on, “When I invited Eric round for dinner that one time I offered him wine. He refused and said he only drank wine on special occasions. But he drank it the night that he died, and so did his guest. Whoever that person was.”
Derek said, “Didn’t you hear any cars that night? Didn’t anyone park outside Eric’s house?”
Roy shook his head. “We never saw or heard anything. Which makes me think that this mysterious guest didn’t want to be seen by the neighbours. The police didn’t find any fingerprints other than Eric’s.”
“I wonder who this person was?” Lilly said.
“It’s a mystery,” Derek added. He was going to be firm with Eric and get him to remember that fateful night, and the mysterious visitor.
Chapter 10
Derek stood. “Well, I must be going. Thank you for the tea.”
Roy heaved himself from the chair. “Do you have to go so soon? You could stay for a bite to eat. We could have a real catch up.”
Lilly stood and walked over to Roy. She gave Derek a small smile. “I was sorry to hear about Dorothy, I saw it in the paper. I didn’t know her but, from the messages in the paper, she seemed a lovely woman. And I’m sorry to hear about your daughter too.”
Derek looked at the couple and felt an ache in his heart over what he’d lost. “They were amazing people. Thank you again for the tea, and all that information about Eric.”
“Don’t give that Eric another thought!” Roy declared. “He’s out of your life for good, forget all about him!”
Derek saw a movement from the corner of the room. Eric Malone was in his life but Derek wanted him out of it as soon as possible. He was going to get to the bottom of this murder and then see Eric on his way.
Roy and Lilly walked Derek to the door. Eric came to Derek’s side and hissed, “We need to go inside my house. I need to see if anything has been stolen.”
Derek said cheerio to the couple as he left their house and started to walk down the path. His heart dropped when Roy followed him and offered to walk him to his car. How was he supposed to get on with his investigation if he had an audience? Roy not only walked him to his car, he stood at the side of the road and waved Derek off. Derek kept the smile on his face as he drove away.
Pearl was now sitting in the passenger seat, Eric was in the back. Pearl gave Derek a long look. “Are you alright? You did well in there. If you were nervous, you didn’t show it.”
Derek turned the corner and came to a stop a little way down the road. He switched the engine off and faced Pearl. “I was nervous! I didn’t know Roy all that well at school. I don’t know whether he’s capable of murder or not. But you’ve seen the size of him, and you heard what he said.” Derek shook his head. “For all I know, the pair of them could be in it together.”
Pearl patted his knee, sending a warmth shooting down his leg. “That’s the right attitude. You need to suspect everyone. People lie all the time.”
Derek looked towards the back seat. “Eric, do you still think it was Roy that killed you?”
Eric shrugged. “I’m not sure of anything. My head feels strange, there’s a buzzing noise that I can’t get rid of.”
Derek shared a look with Pearl. She said, “He’s losing his memories, or blocking them out. We need to get moving on this case before he loses his memory altogether.”
Derek tried again with Eric. “Can you remember anything about this mystery guest?”
Eric frowned. “I’m not sure. I remember wine. I hardly ever drank wine. Why would I be drinking it that night? And why would I have eaten lasagne? I don’t like foreign food.”
Derek said, “Maybe your visitor liked it.” He smiled. “He, or she, could have been Italian, you might have been trying to impress them.”
“Italian!” Eric exclaimed. “I think you might be right!” He hit his head with his hand. “Why can’t I remember? This is so frustrating!”
Pearl turned in her seat. “You need to stay calm. We’ll go inside your house and have a look round. Do you feel up to it?” She waved a hand at him. “I don’t care if you do or don’t, we’re going in.”
“How am I going to get into Eric’s house without being seen?” Derek asked.
Eric muttered, “You can go round the back way. The house that backs on to mine will be empty at this time of the day.”
Pearl made a clicking noise with her tongue. “You really were a busybody. Come on, Derek.”
Derek left the car where it was and made his way to the house that backed on to Eric’s. Even though the street was empty he felt like the windows of the houses were watching him. He casually walked into the garden of the house in question, Eric and Pearl walked at his side.
Eric pointed towards the back garden. “You’ll have to climb over that fence at the bottom.” A sudden malicious look came on to his face. “If you can manage that. Or are you worried about breaking something?”
Derek surveyed the fence. He was worried about breaking something, but he wasn’t going to let Eric know that. He walked to the fence and attempted to heave himself over. It took three attempts, and his heart thudded in protest, but he made it over in one piece. When he landed on the other side he took out his handkerchief and dabbed at the moisture on his forehead.
Pearl beamed at him. “You were like some sort of superhero then! Leaping over that fence like that. I’m very impressed.”
Derek chuckled. “Thank you. I haven’t done anything that strenuous for years.”
Eric sneered at him. “It was hardly strenuous.” He looked around his garden. “I see that stupid boy has gone. Look at the state of my grass!”
“Does that boy have a name?” Pearl asked.
“Who cares? Are we going inside or what?” Eric floated across the garden and towards his house.
Pearl said, “No wonder someone bumped him off. That young man said he’d got a key to Eric’s house. I wonder if he’s left it somewhere.” She paused and looked at Derek. “If he hasn’t, you might have to consider breaking in. How do you feel about that?”
“Oh. Erm. I’m not sure. Shall we look for a key first? There are some plant pots near the back door.” Derek gave her a weak smile. “Maybe that young man was daft enough to put a key under one of them. Fingers crossed!”
The young man had been daft enough to leave a key under a pot. Derek took a quick look around him before unlocking the back door. He swiftly walked in and closed the door behind him. Pearl and Eric were already inside.
Pearl was standing in the living room, her hands on her hips. “This is a pig sty! Is this how you lived? No wonder you never invited anyone round.”
Eric swooped from one end of the room to the other. “My house! Look at what they’ve done to it! My collections! My precious collections, all over the floor!”
Something caught Derek’s eye on the carpet. His heart missed a beat as he registered what it was. Pearl came to his side and softly said, “Don’t focus on that, Derek.”
Derek turned away from the bloodstain on the carpet. He now knew exactly where Eric had died. “Eric, can you see if anything is missing?” Derek said. He ducked as Eric flew past him. “And can you please stop flying around?”
Eric landed at Derek’s side. “How can I tell if anything is missing? Look at this mess. Why hasn’t anyone tidied it up?”
“Wouldn’t your family have been round to tidy up?” Derek asked.
&nb
sp; Eric snarled, “Family! I stopped speaking to them years ago. Don’t just stand there, imbecile! Get looking for clues.”
Derek felt anger rising in him. He glared at Eric, and making an effort to keep his voice calm, he said, “I’ll ask you to not talk to me in that manner. I’ll look in my own time.”
“You tell him,” Pearl said. “Oh hell! Where is he going now?”
Eric hovered above a closed laptop. “The Italian! It’s something to do with my computer! I just know it is! Open it up!”
Derek moved over to the computer and did so. He powered it up. “What’s your password?”
Eric rubbed his forehead. “Hang on, it’s in here somewhere. It’s …” His head snapped to the side and he glared at the doorway. He snarled, “You! How dare you come into my house!”
Derek looked over to the doorway. Someone had come quietly into Eric’s house.
Chapter 11
Derek could only describe the woman who now smiled at him as a ‘buxom blonde’. Pearl used different expressions as she inspected the woman. None of her expressions were flattering. Derek guessed the woman to be in her late thirties, or early forties. It was hard to tell with all that make-up on her face.
The woman slowly looked Derek up and down. Her smile grew. Derek swallowed. He hadn’t been looked at in that way for … well, he couldn’t quite remember. The woman spoke, “I thought I saw some movement in here, I live over the road. Are you a burglar? Do I have to use physical force to remove you?”
Pearl stormed over to the woman’s side and glared at her. “Don’t talk to her, Derek! I don’t trust the look on her face. Look at all that make-up! Did she use a trowel to put it on?”
Derek glanced over to where Eric was. His body was shaking with rage and his fists were clenched at his sides. He looked as if he was trying to speak, but no words came out.
Derek turned his attention back to the woman and made a guess on her identity. “Hello, are you Cheryl? I’m Derek. I’m a friend of Eric’s.” He ended this with a smile. It was getting easier to lie.
Cheryl sashayed over to him. Derek’s eyes watered as her strong perfume curled up into his nostrils. “A friend of Eric’s? Are you sure about that? He didn’t have any friends. I never saw him with anyone. Yes, I am Cheryl. Did Eric talk about me?” She cast a disgusted look around the room. “I bet he did talk about me. He was always spying on me, the pervert. What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
Thinking quickly, Derek said, “I had a spare key for emergencies. I’ve been away for a while. I didn’t know that Eric had been killed until I turned up today.” He sighed dramatically. “It’s such a shock. Old Eric being murdered like that. Who do you think did it?”
The woman let out a tinkle of a laugh and began to fiddle with her long gold necklace. “He had many enemies. Sorry if that offends you, but it’s true. I felt like killing him many times.” She let go of her necklace and her smile faltered. “Not that I did kill him! You can ask the police that!”
“I wasn’t thinking that for a moment,” Derek said.
“I was!” Pearl jabbed at the woman’s side. “I bet she overpowered him with that disgusting perfume first and then whacked him on the head using those huge hands of hers. Look at her hands, Derek, they’re not at all ladylike!”
Derek did his best to ignore Pearl. It was difficult because, despite her small stature, she was very loud.
Cheryl came even closer to Derek. “He used to spy on me from his bedroom window. He used binoculars. He’d watch me as I got undressed. He’d stare as I slowly took off my clothes.”
Derek pulled at his collar. Did she have to stand that close?
Pearl snorted and said, “Perhaps you should have closed your curtains then!”
Derek took a small step back. “I’ve been speaking to Roy and Lilly. They said that they heard you having an argument with Eric on the night that he died.”
“The nosy sods! Did they really tell you that? I didn’t have an argument, not as such. It was a disagreement over something.” She fluffed up her hair. “I can’t even remember what it was about now. If you’re looking for someone who might have killed Eric, then look no further than next door. I heard Ivan, that’s the name of the man who lives there, having a right go at Eric on the night that he died. I’ve never heard language like it! You should have a word with him.”
“I thought the police had already done that. According to Roy and Lilly, Eric was killed by a burglar.”
Cheryl sniffed. “What do the police know? Have a word with Ivan, see what he was arguing with Eric about.” She looked Derek up and down again. “You can wait for Ivan in my house, if you like.” She reached out and patted his chest. “I’ll make you comfortable.”
Pearl swiped her hands through Cheryl and said something that made Derek’s ears feel hot. He said, “No, thank you. Do you know where Ivan works? Perhaps I could visit him there.”
Cheryl gave him the name of a company. “Ivan used to chat to me when he first moved in. He told me all about his boring job.” She still had her hand on his chest. “Are you sure you don’t want to come over to my place?”
“He doesn’t! Get your claws off him!” Pearl warned.
Derek took a few steps backwards, causing Cheryl’s hand to drop. “No, thank you again. I have to go.” He turned and looked towards Eric. The ghost was standing as still as a statue and staring into space. “I … I …” Derek couldn’t tear his gaze away. What was the matter with Eric? Derek came to his senses. “I have to go. Eric said I could have his computer if anything happened to him.” He picked the laptop up and turned back to Cheryl. “Oh, do you think the police want to have a look at it?”
“Who knows? If they needed to have a look, then they probably already have done.” She started to walk towards him again.
Derek darted past her and headed for the back door. He had no idea that he could move so fast. He shouted a farewell and almost ran out of the back door. He was tempted to climb over the back fence but was worried that Cheryl would come after him. The fence would only slow him down. He set off at a brisk trot down the front path, not caring if Roy and Lilly saw him.
It was only when he was in the safety of his car that he realised Pearl and Eric weren’t with him.
He called out for them. Pearl’s voice shot out from somewhere, “Derek! Drive away! Quickly!”
Chapter 12
Derek drove as fast as he dared. He wasn’t even sure in which direction he was headed. He called out for Pearl again but she didn’t reply. He came to a roundabout and drove around it three times before deciding to go home.
His heartbeat had returned to normal by the time he pulled into his driveway. He took the laptop out of his car and went inside his house. He collapsed onto the nearest chair and said to himself, “Blooming heck! What an afternoon!” Then he laughed. He hadn’t felt this alive for a long time.
He made himself a cup of chamomile tea and a cheese sandwich. He placed these on a tray and took them into his living room. As he ate the sandwich he thought about what he knew so far about Eric’s death. It was clear that many people had a reason to kill him, and they all had an opportunity to do so. Which one of them was lying?
He finished his sandwich and turned to a small table at his side. He spoke to the woman in a framed photograph, “Well, Dorothy, what do you think I should do next?” He shook his head and smiled. “I’ve got myself into a right pickle, haven’t I?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
Derek’s hand flew to his chest and he cried out, “Hell’s bells!”
Pearl chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s alright. I thought my Dorothy was speaking to me then.” His cheeks coloured. “Sorry for swearing.”
Pearl waved a hand at him dismissively. “I’ve heard worse. Are you going to have a look on Eric’s computer?”
“I will do.” Derek looked around the room. “Where is he?”
“I’ve taken him
to a safe place so that he can calm down. He was getting agitated at the sight of that floozy. She was lying about something. You might have to talk to her again.” Her eyes narrowed. “Make sure I’m with you if you do. I don’t trust that bit of fluff.”
Derek nodded and then smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Pearl. I thought you’d left me.”
Pearl’s look softened. “I would never do that, Derek. I had to get Eric to a quiet place. Sorry for leaving you so abruptly.” She rubbed her hands together. “Get that computer open. Let’s dive into Eric’s secrets and see what dirt we can find on him.”
Derek placed the laptop on his knee and opened it up. He looked at Pearl. “We need Eric’s password.”
“I managed to squeeze that out of him. It’s his name, his full name with no spaces.” She made a clicking noise with her tongue. “He wasn’t very security conscious, was he? Anyone could have hacked into his files. I hope you’ve got a better password.”
Derek quickly turned his attention back to the laptop. His password was ‘Derek’s password’. Perhaps he should change it.
Pearl came to Derek’s side and rested herself on the arm of the chair. “You might want to look at his social sites. That’s what Grace does when she checks up on someone.” She gave a small laugh. “If Eric has any social sites, that is. He’s not the sociable type.”
Derek made various searches. He was comfortable using a computer. He’d spent a lot of time on his own computer when Dorothy was poorly. There were a lot of support groups online who had helped Derek immensely.
“I can’t find him on the usual sites but I’ve got into his emails using the same password. Look at this, Pearl, he was very active on a bidding site. Look at all the items he made bids for.” Derek read a bit more. “And it looks like he won most of the bids. This must be how he built up his collections. I noticed some old metal toy cars in his house. I wonder why the thief didn’t take them.”
Pearl And Derek Mysteries - Box Set 1 Page 3
