by Sue Fortin
Steph didn’t immediately open the next file; she paused to take a moment to reflect on what she’d just seen and heard. It was unsettling seeing Elizabeth alive. The recording humanised her. Elizabeth was no longer the daughter of Sonia Lomas or the wife of Harry Sinclair – she was a real person. It sounded crazy, because of course Steph knew she was real, but the recording brought Elizabeth into clear focus. Steph felt a wave of compassion for this woman whose life had been cruelly taken.
A noise outside her room startled Steph. She sat very still and listened for another sound. A wave of fear washed over her as she remembered the night at the lodge with the intruder.
There it was again. Another noise – the tread of feet on floorboards?
Very slowly, Steph moved off the bed then stood up and crept across the room. She put her ear close to the door, trying to hear any other sounds. Carefully she turned the lock and, squeezing the handle, took a deep breath and then snatched the door open, hoping to catch the eavesdropper.
There was no one there. She looked up and down the hallway. Empty. As she looked down to the end of the hall again, she could see a light on in the communal bathroom. She gave a sigh of relief. She’d probably just heard another member of staff getting up to use the bathroom.
Steph closed the door. She was about to lock it, when something made her change her mind. Patiently she waited, listening for the sound of the bathroom being vacated. She didn’t have to wait long before she heard the door open and then close, followed by footsteps coming down the hall.
Steph opened the door and looked out.
‘Oh!’ She let out a small cry of surprise at the last person she’d expected to be there.
‘Everything all right, Steph?’ asked Pru Sinclair.
‘Yes. Sorry. I … wasn’t …’ she faltered.
‘Wasn’t expecting to see me?’ Pru smiled. ‘No, I don’t suppose you were. I was just checking the bathroom. Someone reported the tap to be dripping. I thought I’d have a look before sending Maintenance on a wild-goose chase. Looks like it just needed turning off properly.’
‘Oh, I see,’ said Steph, not really sure what to say.
‘Anyway, I’ll be off now. Bye.’
Steph closed her bedroom door after watching Pru head off down the stairs. How odd that she should come up here herself.
She didn’t dwell on it any further, the lure of the remaining documents on the SpyCloud being much greater. Steph made sure the door was locked and this time she plugged her earphones in and settled down to watch the next clip.
‘I’ve done something very stupid tonight, very stupid indeed.
This time the Elizabeth sounded more concerned. She was speaking quietly with a nervousness that hadn’t been there before.
‘I’ve had an argument with Owen about changing his mind about voting on the sale of North Meadow. He said he wasn’t going to. He said he was going to call my bluff as he didn’t think I had the balls to tell Natalie or his family about his heavy drinking, gambling and sex with the prostitute … I mean, escort, or whatever she was. Anyway, we had a terrible row out on the terrace, one of those hissed rows where you want to shout but you can’t because there are people about. Yeah, one of those. Well, I was so mad that as I marched off I couldn’t help myself … I shouted back to him that he was going to be sorry when his bare arse was splashed all over social media, and I didn’t realise but Natalie was there. She looked all concerned and I was so angry that I actually said to her something like, you’d better ask your husband what he was doing at Kendalton Green Hotel, and while you’re at it get yourself tested for an STD because I don’t think he used a condom.’
Elizabeth buried her face in her hands for a moment, before looking up and flicking her hair back from her face.
‘I can’t believe I said that. Natalie looked mortified. As for Owen, well, he practically launched himself down the steps at me. If it wasn’t for Dominic appearing from nowhere and somehow getting between myself and Owen, I’m not sure what would have happened. Then Harry turned up, demanding to know what was going on. Natalie was crying. Dominic was still bundling Owen out of the way, telling Harry to take me home, like I was some sort of child! And Harry didn’t even stop to question his brother but just dragged me in the other direction!
‘Me and Harry have just had the most awful row. I’ve tried to play it down for Natalie’s sake really. I said me and Owen argued and he called me a gold-digger and I pretended I made that up about Owen sleeping with a prostitute. I’m not sure Harry believes me. I’ve texted Natalie and said as much but she hasn’t replied. The look on Dominic’s face … he glared at me with such hatred … he really despises me. I honestly don’t know why I did it. I really am sorry. It seems I’ve managed to upset the entire Sinclair family.’
She blew out a long breath, looking down at her hands. and then after a moment it was as if she’d had a realisation, and she cocked her head and frowned. Steph continued to watch. She sensed there was more to come from Elizabeth. And she was right.
‘Do you know what? I think I might have had enough of the bloody Sinclairs. I actually think they are more trouble than they’re worth. I’m certainly not flavour of the month around here. Might be time for me to get a pay-off, from all of them, and leave. Yes, leave before it’s too late.’
Elizabeth’s bravado faded and apprehension filled her eyes.
‘I should probably get out while I still can.’
The recording ended.
‘Wow,’ muttered Steph out loud. Elizabeth was like a hand grenade when it came to the Sinclairs.
She clicked on the final file and this time the recording cut to a hotel room.
Here we go, thought Steph. She watched as the woman, whose face couldn’t be seen, but obviously Camilla, came into shot, standing in front of the recording device as she pressed the record button. Steph cringed as the scene unfolded on her laptop. She fast-forwarded it, giving the recording the merest of glances as she made her way to the end. She took her headphones out of her ears. Seeing was bad enough, without having to listen to Owen too. Finally, the recording ended and there was nothing more on the card.
For good measure, Steph made a copy onto the hard drive of her laptop and onto a spare memory stick before taking out the memory card and hiding it.
She lay down on her bed, still fully dressed, and pondered what she’d found out. There was definitely motive for more than one person of the Sinclair family to want to silence Elizabeth, but who was the most capable of murder?
Chapter Thirty-Six
Two Years Earlier,
Conmere, 24 September, 3.00 p.m.
Elizabeth pulled up on the driveway to her and Harry’s lodge and was unsettled to see Harry’s car under the car-port, as she had been under the impression he was out with Owen today looking at some new horses.
As she parked she inspected her face in the vanity mirror on the sun visor, grateful she had reapplied her lipstick after leaving Dominic less than an hour ago. The red mark on her chin from where his stubble had grazed her skin was still visible, but she was sure Harry wouldn’t notice, although if he did she’d blame it on some reaction to a new moisturiser.
She took a deep breath before getting out of the car. Her clandestine meeting with Dominic had started well and the sex had been amazing as always but after that it had rapidly gone downhill.
‘Time to call it a day,’ he said so casually as they dressed that at first she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. He repeated himself, slowly and clearly.
‘Just like that?’ She felt insulted at his careless manner. She wasn’t some piece of trash.
‘Wait … you didn’t think …? Oh, Christ, you did, didn’t you? You thought this was going somewhere. Jesus, Elizabeth, I didn’t take you for being that naive.’
‘You’re a bastard, you know that?’
‘It’s been said before.’ He gave a don’t-give-a-fuck grin at her.
Elizabeth wanted to rush round the other sid
e of the bed and slap that conceited, smug smile right off his face. If he thought he could just chuck her away when he’d had enough, then he had another think coming. ‘Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not looking for anything more than a bit of fun and excitement from you, but despite what you might think, I’m not cheap. There’s a price for me tottering back home to Harry without a word of this.’
He stood up as he buttoned the cuffs on his shirt. ‘Really?’ He gave a dismissive snort.
‘Yes, really. I’d say you’ve got far more to lose than me. Don’t forget I know all about what happens up at the boathouse for a start.’
Ha! That wiped the smile off his face. He wasn’t so smug now.
He walked around the edge of the bed and pointed his finger so that it was almost in her face. ‘Don’t fuck with me. You’ll be sorry.’
‘Oh, I’m frightened,’ said Elizabeth, determined not to let Dominic see she was intimidated by his unexpected aggression.
‘You get yourself back home like the good wife you’re supposed to be. That’s if you know what’s good for you.’
Elizabeth was still fuming when she arrived home but she knew she was kidding herself really. Yes, she was angry at Dominic, but she was also scared. There had been something in Dominic’s eyes she couldn’t quite read. It wasn’t anything she could put her finger on, but there was some underlying intent, something evil just below the surface where Dominic was concerned.
‘Where have you been?’ demanded Harry as she walked through the door.
‘Out, shopping.’
‘Where are your bags?’
‘I didn’t see anything I liked.’ Elizabeth dropped her car keys into the bowl. ‘What’s with the interrogation?’ Harry was becoming increasingly suspicious about what she did with her time and it was not just annoying her, but it had begun to worry her a little too. She might be able to convince him to forgive her an indiscretion but she wasn’t sure he’d forgive her if she said the indiscretion involved his brother. She remembered he wasn’t supposed to be home. ‘I thought you were out with Owen all day?’
‘Change of plan. Sorry to disappoint you.’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘Honestly, Harry, I’m tired of all this.’
‘All what?’
‘Living here. I’m bored. You’re hardly around, which I think is by design. I wish we could start again somewhere else.’ She didn’t really, not with him anyway, but she wasn’t in the mood for another row, especially if it meant he would catch her out. She went over to him and, leaning over the back of the chair, slipped her arms around his shoulders, running her hand down the buttons on his shirt.
He shrugged her off and jumped to his feet. ‘Fucking bitch,’ he said, his eyes blazing with anger.
‘What?’ Elizabeth had no idea what Harry meant by that.
‘You might have fixed your hair and done your make-up but you forgot to wash the smell of aftershave off you.’
Elizabeth felt her knees weaken. She rested on the back of the chair for support. ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said after a moment. ‘I’ve been in the department store, testing out new aftershaves for you.’
Harry shook his head. ‘Bullshit.’ With that he stormed out of the house, slamming the door hard behind him.
Elizabeth dropped into the chair and held her head in her hands. What a mess! She really needed to leave but she hadn’t managed to squirrel away nearly enough money to do so. She felt unexpected tears sting her eyes and, feeling in need of some kind words and a shoulder to cry on, she phoned her mum.
It went to voicemail. Elizabeth almost hung up, but she felt compelled to leave a message.
‘Hello, Mum, it’s me. Look, I’m sorry to call like this and leave a message. I really wanted to speak to you in person but … things aren’t too good here. I’ve got myself into something and it’s way above my head. I don’t like it. I have a bad feeling about it all. I need to come home. I’m going to leave this place. Leave Harry and come home. I’m not sure when, but it will be soon, just as soon as I’ve worked a few things out. Got to go. Love you.’
She sat back in the chair, wiping a stray tear from her face, and wondered if Sonia would call back soon. It would be nice to hear a friendly voice for a change.
‘Hello, Elizabeth, is everything all right?’
Elizabeth spun round in her chair to see Pru standing in the doorway. ‘Sorry, I didn’t hear you there.’
‘I did knock. I was worried. I’ve just seen Harry storming through the house in a foul mood and I was concerned. I know things are a bit tricky between you two at the moment.’ She gave a sympathetic smile. ‘I don’t mean to pry. I can leave if you prefer.’
‘No, it’s fine. Do come in,’ said Elizabeth, feeling emotionally tired from all the stress. ‘Would you like a coffee?’
‘You sit there. I’ll do it.’
Elizabeth watched as Pru busied herself in the kitchen making them both a coffee. She placed the cups on the coffee table and sat down in the chair next to Elizabeth. ‘Thank you,’ said Elizabeth.
‘You know there’s a lot of pressure on people these days to live the perfect life,’ said Pru. ‘We are constantly fed images of how we should be living, and there’s always some expert from somewhere banging on about how to be happy and content, but you know what? Real life isn’t like that. It’s not a fantasy life from something out of an old Doris Day film.’
‘You can say that again.’ Elizabeth took a sip of her coffee.
‘You know, when I first met Max I was well and truly charmed by this good-looking Englishman. He only had to speak and I would have killed just to listen to that accent.’ She laughed. ‘It’s an American thing – we love the English accent. Anyway, we did fall in love that summer, but that wasn’t the only reason I ended up coming over to the UK and setting up home with him.’
‘No?’ Elizabeth was surprised at this candidness from her mother-in-law.
‘Not at all. You see, we made a good team on a number of fronts. The most prevailing one, which has stood the test of time, has been Conmere.’
‘Sorry, I don’t understand.’
‘Max had the house, the grounds, the land, and he had a vision, but he also had a tremendous amount of financial liability in keeping the place running. Cue a wealthy American heiress.’ She tapped her chest with her finger. ‘I had the money he needed to make a go of the place, to realise his vision of running Conmere House in the black for once. It was an arrangement that suited us, and the fact that we were rather fond of each other helped too.’
‘It was certainly a good coming together,’ said Elizabeth.
‘It wasn’t plain sailing, and as the years went by the love did peter out, but we knew we worked well together as a team. I could have left Max at any time, I knew he had a wandering eye, but I decided to stay because I knew I could gain a lot more from staying than I could from leaving.’ She placed a hand on Elizabeth’s knee. ‘The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I know I’m biased but you have a good man in Harry and it would break my heart to see him unhappy. I know he wants to leave Conmere but if you’re here and you’re happy here then he’ll stay. It’s as simple as that.’
Now the penny dropped. Pru wasn’t particularly concerned about Elizabeth but she was concerned that Harry was happy and that Harry didn’t leave. Pru felt Elizabeth was key to that. An idea was slowly forming in Elizabeth’s head. ‘I think I know what you’re saying,’ she said. ‘But I think I deserve something in return.’
Pru arched her eyebrows and took her hand away. ‘Right, let’s get down to business. What is it you want?’
‘I want a share in Conmere. I want to be able to vote on matters concerning Conmere.’ There, she’d said it. She could tell by the look on Pru’s face, she wasn’t expecting that. What the hell? Elizabeth had had enough, waiting for Owen to sort this out, and if she could get Pru to agree, well, she could use that video evidence against Owen in some other way if and when the opportunity arose.
‘A share in Conmere in addition to Harry’s?’
‘Yep. I want an equal stake.’
‘Impossible.’
‘Nothing’s impossible.’
‘I’ll never give a share of Conmere to anyone else.’
‘That’s fine. I can just walk away and probably take Harry with me. I can also take down what you’ve spent years building. I know enough about all three of your sons to discredit them and to have at least one of them arrested.’
Pru looked at her for a long moment. ‘I underestimated you. My fault.’ She tapped her knee with her finger as she pondered some more. ‘I actually admire you. I thought you would be easy to manipulate. I do like you, Elizabeth, and now I think I like you even more.’
‘So?’
‘So, I’ll need a formal request in writing from you. Something I can take to the board – in other words, my sons. I’ll need to convince them it’s a good idea. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.’
‘Great,’ said Elizabeth. ‘And just so we fully understand each other, I’m deadly serious about it.’
‘So am I.’ She smiled. ‘Maybe just let your mum know you’re all right. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard the message you left. I’m sure she’ll be worried. Give her a call or email to let her know you’re OK.’
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Conmere, Friday, 17 May, 7.00 a.m.
Steph woke the next morning not to the sound of her seven o’clock alarm, but to the sound of her mobile ringing. It took her a moment to work out it was her phone and when she looked at the screen was surprised to see it was her mother. Steph contemplated ignoring it. After yesterday, she wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to her mother for a long time.
‘Hello.’
‘Good, I’ve caught you before you’ve started work.’ Wendy got straight to the point. ‘I need to speak to you before you see any of the Sinclairs. Are you awake properly?’
