The Cat That Was Bigger Than You

by Fiona Snyckers

  Morwen patted her arm. “Sensible girl.”

  “I won’t let you down,” said Fay. “I promise, I won’t let you and your family down.”

  Fay and Duncan left Penrose House together after lunch – she to stop off at Sunset Acres, and he to rejoin his Island Electrical team at a house they were rewiring close to the beach.

  “I hate seeing Maggie like that,” he said as they set off down the road.

  “I know. Me too.”

  “She’s made such a difference to my life, I can’t tell you. Before I met her, I had no ambition - no fire in my belly. I thought that doing well in life wasn’t meant for the likes of me. Maggie made me think, ‘Well, why not me?’”

  “That’s exactly what she’s good at,” said Fay. “You know she’s been doing online courses in organic farm management, as well as marketing and retail?”

  “I do.”

  “That’s a lot of studying. You’d think she might stay home while she’s studying and take it easy. Instead, she works an eight-hour day cleaning at the Cat’s Paw so that she can earn her own money and not be a burden to her parents. I really respect that.”

  Duncan squared his shoulders. “I want to work hard and prove that I’m good enough for her. One day when I’ve got all my qualifications, I can start earning well. Then Maggie and me can have the kind of life we’re dreaming of.”

  Fay could only wish him well. His relationship with Maggie was still very new, but they were obviously already thinking about the long-term. Maybe they had what it took to go the distance.

  “This is where I turn off.” Fay indicated the entrance to Sunset Acres.

  Duncan shivered. “That’s a rum old place, so it is. Gives me a bad feeling. It’s the kind of feeling I remember from the days when I fell into bad company - a kind of dread.”

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  Sunset Acres gave Fay a strange feeling too - as though something evil were at work there. She just wished she could identify the source of it.

  She signed in at the gatehouse.

  Increased security measures had already been put in place. The guard at the gatehouse was no longer working alone. He was now accompanied by a man in a private security uniform with the logo Trust Security embroidered on the top pocket. Fay also noticed that the signing-out column of the visitors’ book was full of signatures, whereas previously it had been empty.

  They had clearly started monitoring everyone who left the estate, as well as those who entered it.

  Fay just wished that measure had been in place over the past month. It would have been very useful in determining who exactly was on the estate during the four nights in question.

  There were other signs of an increased security presence. A second Trust Security guard patrolled the footpaths of the estate, while a third was stationed at the entrance to the frail-care unit.

  Fay wondered what reason Matron had given the residents for the guards’ presence. None of them seemed to be paying attention to the new security officers. A number of residents were out and about on the footpaths or sitting on benches around the lake feeding the ducks. Some were accompanied by their spouses, while others moved about in groups of friends – mostly women.

  This set off a train of thought in Fay’s mind.

  Mrs. Binnie and Mrs. Busby were both widows, but presumably they’d had friends on the estate – friends who could comment on what their last days had been like and whether there might be anyone with a reason to target them.

  A security guard challenged Fay as she tried to enter the frail-care unit. He let her in only after her identity had been double-checked and confirmed by both the receptionist and Matron. Fay could only approve of such stringent measures, although she suspected that the person responsible for the deaths was someone who had every right to be in the frail-care unit – someone whose presence would not be questioned.

  “What can I do for you, Miss Penrose?” Matron Sale asked as she showed Fay into her office and shut the door behind them.

  “There’s a rumor that you’ve been having funding difficulties here. Is that true? Is there a cash-flow problem of some kind?”

  Matron sighed. “I didn’t realize it was widely known. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. This island has always been a hotbed of gossip.”

  “So, it’s true then? And yet you seem to have found the money to hire the private security company.”

  “That is being separately funded by some of our wealthier residents. I put out a call to the whole estate saying that petty theft has become a problem at Sunset Acres and that we should consider hiring a security company for a while to keep us all safe. I had the funding by three o’clock that afternoon. No one wants to feel unsafe in a place like this. That also happened to be the day we found out about Lady Chadwick’s lion. I’m not sure what the residents thought that security guards armed with batons could do against a lion, but that clinched it for them. The guards are staying for now.”

  “But what about funding for the frail-care unit? What’s the problem there? A high standard of medical care is one of your biggest selling points, according to the website.”

  “Exactly! The medical care we offer is the jewel in the crown of this estate. For many residents, it’s the biggest drawcard. But for some reason I have to fight for every penny around here.”

  “Isn’t there a set budget that gets drawn up each year?”

  “There is, and each year our budget gets slashed. We used to have three nurses on duty around the clock. Now we have three nurses during the day and only two at night. We used to offer the residents a menu every morning so they could choose their meals for the day. Now they just have to eat what we give them. If someone’s a vegetarian, we give them the same meal as everyone else, but with the meat left off.”

  Fay winced. In the few months that she had been running the Cat’s Paw B&B, she had learnt how little guests liked this. Vegetarians had just as much right to expect a nutritious, well-cooked meal as anyone else.

  “Do you think the owners are having financial difficulties?”

  “I doubt it. There’s always plenty of money to upgrade the golf course. Why, just recently they retiled the whole clubhouse. That must have cost a few thousand pounds. And they built a new water feature with a bridge over it on the mashie course. Those aren’t the actions of a company that is in financial difficulties.”

  Fay could only agree that this was strange. “That must be frustrating.”

  “It’s maddening. I’ve been fighting with them all year. I’m at my wits end. The other day, I lost my temper and screamed like a banshee at one of the pencil-pushers at Argyle Holdings.”

  “Did that help?”

  “No, it did not. I tell you, sometimes I feel like doing something drastic just to prove to them that we need more funding.” She laughed to show she was joking.

  “Do you have many residents in the unit at the moment?”

  “We’re almost full up. We had an influx yesterday afternoon. I think the news about the lion brought on several nervous attacks. Especially when some of the residents noticed the animal-control truck parked right at our entrance. Apparently, the lion was spotted near here.”

  “Well, the lion’s gone now so they can relax,” said Fay. “I just hope you’re making sure that this unit is well guarded at night. It’s especially important that a guard should accompany everyone who enters the wards. It doesn’t matter who it is – doctors, nurses, or candy-stripers. They must all be followed, and their actions recorded on camera.”

  Matron nodded. “It’s being done, just as we agreed.”

  “And, Matron …” Fay knew she was about to give offence, but it had to be said. “That has to include you. Every time you enter a ward, a security guard must accompany you and record what you’re doing. It’s for your own protection.”

  “Me?” Her voice rose. “If anyone can be regarded as completely above suspicion it’s me. I wasn’t even here on the nights those patients
died.”

  “I know.” Fay tried to sound soothing. “But it’s for your own protection. If anyone else should die, it would be useful for you to be able to prove that your actions didn’t cause it.”

  Chapter 13

  The atmosphere in the office had become strained.

  Matron Sale looked at Fay as though she had accused her of a crime.

  “I understand that you’re here at the request of the Binnie family, Miss Penrose. And I know you’re trying to be thorough. But there is no need for what you are suggesting - no need at all. I can’t do my job properly if there’s a security guard with a camera following me around whenever I interact with one of the patients. I won’t agree to it, and that’s final.”

  “Well, we’ll see.” Fay decided not to push it, for now. “I wanted to ask you something else, Matron. Mrs. Binnie must have had friends who still live here at Sunset Acres, right? By all accounts, she was a sociable and well-liked woman.”

  “Certainly, she had friends. Why do you ask?”

  “I’d like to speak to someone who knew her well. Family members might think they know someone, but their friends often have different insights.”

  “I suppose I could give you a list …”

  “If there was one person in particular who was friendly with both Mrs. Binnie and Mrs. Busby, that would be ideal. And if that same person happened to know Mr. Tait and Mr. Chandler, that would be first prize.”

  Matron Sale called up a list of the residents on her computer and gave it a thoughtful look.

  “I’m going to put you onto Laura Schuyler. She was a particular friend of Sophy Binnie’s, and she knows many of the other residents too. If anyone has her ear to the ground around here, it’s Laura.”

  “She sounds perfect. Where can I find her?”

  Matron glanced out the window. “She’s over there on a bench watching the ducks. The lady in pink. She loves to talk. Don’t be surprised if she asks you to lunch.”

  Fay glanced at her watch. It was only eleven-thirty. She knew seniors kept early hours, but it wasn’t even noon yet. Still, she would sacrifice her appetite for the sake of a good lead.

  Fay could see why the lake attracted so many residents.

  It was very large for a man-made structure – large enough for some of the residents to be out on the water in rowboats. It had been beautifully landscaped to take advantage of several mature trees that provided shade for the benches set out next to the footpath that circumnavigated the lake.

  Everything about Sunset Acres suggested money. No expense had been spared in the landscaping and upkeep of the grounds. Fay could understand that the matron was frustrated by the owners’ apparent reluctance to spend money on the frail-care unit.

  The lady in pink was still there by the time Fay got to the far side of the lake. She greeted everyone who passed and seemed to be on good terms with most of the residents. She was in her sixties, which made her one of the younger residents.

  “Mrs. Schuyler?”

  The woman cocked her head and looked at Fay with bird-like interest. “That’s right, dear. Visiting your mum, are you?”

  “Oh, no. Nothing like that. My parents live in Connecticut. I’m actually here at the request of the Binnie family. They have been struggling to come to terms with their mother’s death. I believe you knew her – Sophy Binnie?”

  Mrs. Schuyler patted the bench next to her. “Sit down, dear. Sophy’s death was a terrible shock to everyone. Her family must be reeling.”

  “They really are. They’re finding it hard to accept that she died of natural causes. I’d like to give them some peace of mind about that. I’m Fay Penrose, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet you, Fay.”

  Mrs. Schuyler’s lack of reaction to the Penrose name told Fay that she had not lived on Bluebell Island her whole life. She must be one of those people who had retired there from the mainland.

  “Is there anything you can tell me about Sophy Binnie that might help her family understand what happened?”

  “I’m not sure, dear. I can tell you that we were friends and that we had a lot in common. We both enjoyed playing Bridge, for example. She was a lovely person, Sophy. Really lovely.”

  “Was there anyone who didn’t get on with her? Anyone she might have had a conflict with?”

  Mrs. Schuyler made a humming sound. “There are always conflicts in a place like this. We’re a small community of old folk. We don’t work anymore so we don’t have that to keep our minds occupied. There are always stupid conflicts and petty squabbles.”

  “Can you remember anything in particular that Mrs. Binnie was involved in?”

  “There were a few. She had strong opinions, my friend. She wasn’t one to back down from a fight. One of the people she was quarreling with was Iona Busby. She also passed away recently, the poor thing.”

  “What were they fighting about?”

  “Their cottages were next door to each other. Two of the most desirable units on the whole estate. It breaks my heart to think of them standing empty now. Mind you, they’ll get snapped up quickly enough. And at an even higher price than before. Argyle Holdings will do well out of those properties.”

  “But what exactly were the two ladies fighting about?”

  “What weren’t they fighting about? Sophy had a creeper – a Trumpet vine - on her side of the wall that was always growing over onto Iona’s side. So, Iona would cut it with her hedge trimmers and throw the trimmings over onto Sophy’s side. Sophy complained that her flowerbeds were constantly littered with bits of creeper. Iona said it served her right for refusing to dig out her annoying vine.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound too …” Fay looked up as a siren sounded all around the estate. “What’s wrong? What’s that noise?”

  “That, my dear, is the lunch bell. Do join me in the dining room. I’m enjoying our conversation.”

  It was barely a quarter to twelve. “Thank you,” said Fay. “That’s very kind. I’d love to join you, if you’re sure it’s okay.”

  “Come along, then. You can meet some of the other residents.”

  All over the estate, people poured out of their cottages and heading for the dining hall.

  “The cottages do have their own kitchens, don’t they?”

  “Yes, of course,” said Laura. “It’s just that the food in the dining hall is particularly good and most of us are tired of our own company by now. We like to get out at mealtimes for a bit of a chat. Even those who swear when they arrive here that they’ll cook for themselves and not use the dining hall always start using it in the end. You’ll see.”

  The dining hall was a large and airy room with several round tables beautifully laid for lunch. The food had been set out in chafing dishes and crock pots so that the residents didn’t have to queue for their meals. Fireplaces at either end of the long room would keep it cozy in winter.

  It seemed that everyone had their accustomed seat because the residents took their places at the tables without hesitation. The people at Laura’s table shifted up to make room for Fay. Her hostess introduced her to everyone. Fay waited until the residents had their food before helping herself to some chicken a la king and mashed potatoes. She added a side of slightly over-cooked broccoli.

  The food was tasty enough, but there was nothing to sink one’s teeth into - nothing with any crunch. Everything seemed to have been prepared with a view to being eaten by people with dental issues.

  “I was wondering if you’re all happy with how this place is run?” Fay asked when there was a lull in the conversation.

  “You mean by Argyle Holdings?” said Laura. “I think they do a reasonable job.”

  “We’re still waiting for that new golf cart,” said one of the men. “But they told us it would be catered for in the next quarter’s budget. I suppose we can wait a few more months.”

  “What about the standard of medical care?” asked Fay. “Are you happy with the frail-care unit?”

  A woman Laur
a had introduced as Rose fixed her with a piercing stare. “I know why you’re asking all these questions.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, indeed. You’ve been sent as an advance scout for someone who wants to move in here. The vultures probably have their eyes on one of those units that recently became vacant. I knew they’d get snapped up quickly. Admit it – you have a friend or relative who wants to move in here.”

  “It’s nothing definite,” Fay said vaguely. “But surely it must be good for everyone if the estate is at full occupancy? You have more levies coming in then, don’t you?”

  “I suppose so,” said the woman. “But I’ve had my eye on Iona Busby’s cottage for years now. Every time it becomes vacant, I apply to be transferred in there. And every time they give it to someone from the outside. It’s not fair. It faces due south and gets lovely afternoon light.”

  “Why would they give preference to an outside resident rather than to someone who’s already here?”

  “That’s simple enough,” said Laura. “Our levies go up every year, but our rental is fixed for life. If Rose here were to move to Iona’s cottage, she would have to pay the same rent as she’s paying currently. If they get someone in from the outside, they can charge them a higher rent because it’s a nicer unit. That’s why they always stonewall us when we apply to be transferred to a better unit.”

  The woman called Rose nodded vigorously through a mouthful of chicken a la king.

  “You were asking about medical care,” said another one of the men. “I personally have a problem with the fact that two of the full-time nurses who look after us were both let go in disgrace from their former places of employment.”

  There was a buzz of disagreement from the others at the table.

  “Now, Harry.” Rose stared at him over her bifocals. “You know that’s not true.”

  “And even if it is strictly true, it’s not a fair way of putting it,” said Laura.

  “Which two nurses are these?” asked Fay.

  “Rowan Court and Meredith Disick.”