She told him what she wanted, and he laughed. ‘What a lark! Can do. Do you want brains and brawn, or will just brawn do? As for payment, I should think a square meal would do it.’
‘Ant, are you there? We got here nice and early, but the bird’s flown.’
‘What? She must be there. Someone’s hiding her.’
‘Not here. Dan went in first. Got nowhere. They said she left late last night to visit her mother, but they don’t know where her mother is.’
‘Idiot! Of course she’s there. She’s just told them to say she’s gone. Go in and check.’
‘We have. All three of us. She’s not there. We went into every room. There’s a couple of other girls in the house, but no Ursula. Then one of the boys called the police so we had to leave. What do we do now?’
Saturday afternoon
Armand dropped Ellie back to her house, which she entered with some trepidation. Who would she find there? What fresh disaster would she have to deal with?
All was quiet when she let herself into the hall, and she relaxed. Of course Diana and Denis would have gone into work as Saturday was the busiest day of the week for them. Roy would likewise be busy in his office next door. Thomas was out, of course. She sent up an arrow prayer that the conference would go well for him.
Kate opened the door to the kitchen, and let her toddler escape into Ellie’s arms. Kate was smiling. ‘She’s here and busy. Come and see.’
Ellie carried the toddler into the kitchen, where the baby was fast asleep in his buggy at one end of the table, while Ursula sat at the other, with all the tools of her trade around her. Ursula looked up from her work when Ellie came in, and smiled. Today she looked serene and strong.
‘I didn’t go to a hotel last night, as you suggested. I was a trifle short of cash, tell the truth. So I went home to the flat. It wasn’t too bad. I expected worse, and I could make a start on clearing it up. Also, I needed my dress and all the other stuff for tonight.’
‘So long as no one knew you were there.’
Ursula grinned. ‘I’ve just had a phone call from my house mates down in Portsmouth. The bad boys didn’t arrive till after ten this morning. They behaved just as we expected, and the police have been alerted.’
Rose was smiling too. ‘I’m making a beef casserole with dumplings, using my biggest pot. We need something warm inside us to keep out the cold, don’t we?’
Kate lifted the toddler out of Ellie’s arms and set her on the floor. ‘Isn’t Ursula clever with her hands? I’d never have thought of such a thing. By the way, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to record all telephone calls in future. You mustn’t answer the phone when it rings, but let it record a message. Thomas has already phoned and left a message, but no one else. He’s a hoot, isn’t he?’
At that very moment the phone in the hall rang. Ellie was halfway there before Kate could grab Ellie’s arm, and stop her from picking up the receiver.
Eerily, Mr Prior’s lightweight voice filled the hall. Ursula stole out to listen too. ‘Mrs Quicke, I’m a patient man, but your persistent attempts to ruin my name are causing me considerable annoyance. May I remind you what is at stake here? My solicitor informs me you are worth a considerable amount, and unless you agree to my terms – my very generous terms – I shall be instructing him to take action on Monday morning, first thing. So I take it that we will see you tonight, six thirty at my place? With Ursula, who I trust will be in the right spirit for a party.’
The phone went dead, but immediately rang again. This time Ellie held on to Kate’s arm, as the gruff tones of Deep Throat came through. ‘Mrs Quicke, are you there? I fear you have not understood the dangers of the course you have undertaken, and need to be taught a lesson. There is no way you can defeat me.’
The phone line went dead. Ellie told herself to relax, muscle by muscle. Kate, too, was tense.
Ursula rubbed her forehead. ‘I’ve heard that voice before somewhere. But where? It’s weird.’
‘False?’ suggested Kate, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
‘Disguised?’ said Ellie. ‘Do you think they’ve discovered that two of their foot soldiers have been rumbled? Jase and Kyle talked their heads off to the police, and were happy to finger Timothy Prior as the one who gave them orders to beat up Mrs Belton. Granted, DI Willis wasn’t at the scene, but there seems to be a direct line from the station to the Prior household.’
‘Hang about,’ said Kate, as the phone rang again. This time it was Mr Abrahams, who wanted to talk to Ellie. She took the call, but motioned to Ursula to stand by.
The doctor said, ‘Is that Mrs Quicke? Can you give me the name of my patient?’
‘Flavia,’ said Ellie. ‘How is she?’
‘On antibiotics and painkillers, but improving enough to think of other people. She’s desperate to speak to a friend of hers, Ursula Belton. Is there any chance—’
‘Ursula’s standing right next to me. I’ll hand you over, and you can take it from there.’
Ellie and Kate went back into the kitchen, just in time to rescue the toddler from falling off a chair.
Kate said, ‘Thomas rang to say he’d met an old friend on the train, who advised him about the laws of slander. He says that if you state an unfavourable opinion, that’s slander. If you ask a question, however discreditable the opinion that you offer, then it’s not slander.’
‘Not? So if I want to get across to people that I think Mr Prior is an evil man, I mustn’t say so directly. I must say, “Mr Prior, are you really the evil man people say?” Is that right?’
‘Let’s practise,’ said Kate. ‘Oh, and by the way, Roy made it clear I wasn’t welcome to stay at his house any longer and Armand won’t let me go home, so I’m hoping to sleep here tonight. Is that all right?’
Ellie cuddled the toddler. ‘So long as nobody expects me to change bedlinen, that’s fine by me. Thomas won’t be back till tomorrow afternoon, so you and little madam here can have our bed, the baby can sleep in his pushchair, and I’ll sleep in Rose’s old bedroom.’
Rose flourished a paring knife. ‘How many potatoes shall I peel, do you think?’
‘Enough for a small army,’ said Ellie. ‘I’ve forgotten exactly how many people we’ve got coming for supper. Five, not counting Diana and Denis. Can you cope?’
‘Of course I can.’ Rose seemed to have recovered all her old energy.
EIGHTEEN
Saturday evening
Ellie told herself to breathe deeply. Slowly. She revolved before her pier glass, wishing she’d gone on a diet after Christmas, but more or less satisfied with the midnight-blue velvet gown that Kate had picked out for her to wear. Her mother’s cameo brooch had looked right on it to her mind, but Kate had insisted that Ellie wear the gold locket and chain that Thomas had given her.
‘When you touch that locket, it will remind you of all the people who love you, and are praying for you,’ said Kate.
‘You included?’
‘I’ll try,’ said Kate, twitching the gown to lie more gracefully over Ellie’s hips. ‘Now, with that cream brocade jacket over it, you’ll look the bee’s knees.’
‘I don’t feel like it,’ grumbled Ellie. ‘I don’t see why you had to make me dress up like this.’
‘You will when you get there. They’ll all be in best bib and tucker and you’ve got to look the part of a millionairess for once. You’ve got to wear some lipstick too. Not that pale one you sometimes remember to put on, but the deep-red one you got for parties and don’t like.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Ellie, wondering if she knew where that particular lipstick might be. Perhaps in the bottom of her old black handbag, the one she didn’t use nowadays?
Kate said, ‘Ellie, I’ll be thinking of you, every minute. I’d kiss you, but it might disturb your make-up.’
‘Bother the make-up,’ said Ellie, feeling cross. ‘Kiss me and pray for me – for all of us.’
She went down the stairs to meet the others.
Ursula was already there, wearing a floor-length hooded cloak of silver tissue. She was so pale her skin looked transparent, and she’d tied her long hair back.
Armand was already there, with two youngish men in evening dress, both openly admiring Ursula.
Armand grinned. ‘All present and correct, Mrs Q. Ursula’s escorts for the night. Brains, step forward.’ A hawk-faced young man bowed to Ellie. ‘Civil servant. He plays hockey for the county and so is fairly quick on his pins.’
Civil servants come in many shapes and forms. This one felt like diplomatic corps to Ellie. Not that she actually knew any diplomats, come to think of it.
Armand gestured a heavier-built, youngish man forward. He had a capable air about him. ‘Brawn has a black belt in judo, but works as the deputy head of a primary school by day.’ In spite of Armand’s introduction, the black belt looked as if he had brains as well as brawn. ‘Colleagues of mine from university. Both are fit for purpose. Now, are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?’
‘You look after Kate and Rose for me. We shouldn’t be that long.’
‘We’ll be fine,’ said Ursula. It was interesting to see how she dominated the group. With every breath, the silver cloak shimmered under the lights. She was wearing high heels, so she equalled her escorts in height. Recent events had set their mark on her. She had fined down, and the bones of her head had become more prominent. She was not just handsome any more; she was stunning.
‘Your carriage awaits,’ said the hawk-faced one, opening the front door for them with a flourish. His eyes lingered on Ursula as she passed in front of him, and Ellie thought she could detect a response in the faintest of blushes on the girl’s face.
Two cars awaited them. Hawk-face got into the second with Ursula, while the black belt in judo took Ellie in the first.
Judo made sure Ellie’s safety belt was fastened. ‘Is Ursula currently in a relationship?’
‘Not that I know of,’ said Ellie, thinking that if she’d read him aright, Hawk-face was going to make a move on the girl that very night. Judo obviously thought so too, for he sighed before asking if Ellie was warm enough, or should he boost the heating.
Ellie was nervous. This sort of thing wasn’t her style at all. What, facing down corruption and evil and even – God help her! – a murderer? She kept her hand on Thomas’s locket, and tried to pray.
Dear Lord, be with us. Give us the right words to say. Give us wisdom. That was Solomon’s plea, wasn’t it? But we do need it. So many people, so many children are being threatened. So much damage has been done, so much more threatened. Oh, and do keep an eye on Thomas, won’t you? Such an important occasion, such a big opportunity for him – not that he wants fame and fortune, because he doesn’t but, oh, well. You know what I mean. Hold my hand tonight. Amen.
The Prior household had floodlighting all the way up the winding drive. What? A winding drive in heavily-built-up Ealing? That must have cost a pretty penny. The house reminded Ellie of a thirties-style liner, all white curves and metal-framed windows. The word ‘posh’ came into her mind as Judo manoeuvred them into a small space and parked the car. There were quite a few other cars there already. A pre-supper drinks party, right? One of the cars was a stretch limo. The sort that Ellie imagined might possess a cocktail cabinet, and seats that converted into a bed. She’d never been in one, but that was what the sight of it conveyed to her.
Hawk-face had had to park some way back. One strike for Judo, thought Ellie. But if I were Ursula, I’d go for Hawk-face too. That is, if he were free and not married with three children. It occurred to her to ask Judo if Hawk-face were eligible, but she refrained. Just. She applauded herself for her discretion, which was not, she admitted, at all like her. Usually she blurted things out, just as they occurred to her.
‘I’m babbling,’ she said.
‘What?’ said Judo, looking in his mirror. ‘They’re taking their time.’
‘She knows what she’s doing,’ said Ellie, and told herself that Ursula did indeed know what she was doing. Apart from a wobble at the start, Ursula had always known what she was doing, and would be the nemesis of the Prior party. With a spot of help from above.
At last Ellie spotted the shimmer of Ursula’s cloak, and signalled to Judo to let her out of the car. More people were arriving behind them. All in good suits and party dresses. Ellie was glad that Kate had insisted on her wearing evening dress.
Ellie led the way into the hall, with Ursula following. Ursula had drawn the hood of her cloak right over her head, while her escorts stood close behind her.
A central chandelier gave a muted light. The party itself spread through double doors – standing open – into a huge sitting room. Everything was white: walls, heavy-looking leather furniture, glass-topped tables, curtains. The floor was waxed pale wood. The pictures on the walls were also muted: pastel swirls, not particularly interesting.
Not particularly interesting altogether, thought Ellie. A wonderful house, decked out by an ordinary mind.
Their host – it must be he, for no one else around looked like Santa Claus without a beard – was receiving guests at the base of a wide curving staircase, but when he saw Ellie, a flash of satisfaction widened his smile.
‘So you came!’ His lightweight voice penetrated the chatter in the hall with ease. Most people looked around to see who he was referring to. Ellie recognized a councillor or two, various notables whose pictures she saw in the local paper now and then, and a couple she’d met at the Golf Club in the days when her first husband had belonged. A photographer prepared to immortalize the moment for the local newspaper. Also, oh dear, the Stick Insect, wearing heels so high she teetered, and a skirt so short it hardly fulfilled the intentions of the designer, who must have hoped it would be worn by someone with good legs.
Skinny legs, noted Ellie, with satisfaction. She also noted there were three young blonde girls dotted around the place, hanging on to the arms of middle-aged men. Two handsome young men – Anthony and Timothy – had arms around the shoulders of middle-aged women. Arm candy, right? Ursula had taught her to read the room, and now Ellie could see how the Priors worked their guest list.
Dan was there, holding a tray of drinks. Reduced to being a waiter? Ellie had been given descriptions of two other foot soldiers, Charlie and Bullseye, who’d gone down to Portsmouth that morning with Dan in an effort to retrieve Ursula. At first glance she couldn’t see either of them.
One interesting and unexpected guest was DI Willis, in an attempt at a party dress that hadn’t quite come off; the length being too long, and the maroon of the silk all wrong for her complexion. Also – was that DC Milburn, hanging over a youngish woman in a wheelchair? Ah, the sister to whom Mr Prior had done nothing but good? Ah well. Perhaps he felt the need to surround himself with the signs of his benevolence tonight?
In one corner, with a number of women surrounding him and backed by two middle-aged no-neck type bouncers, was a dark young man in a silk suit. The prince of Araby, or wherever it was he’d come from. The man who’d demanded Ursula be served up to him on a plate. A waiter came through a swinging door, carrying a tray of drinks. He was pock-marked, shaven-headed. Bullseye, dishing out drinks innocuous and lethal.
‘Oh, Ellie!’ cried the Stick Insect. ‘How wonderful to see you. You naughty, naughty thing. Dear Mr Prior has been so distressed by the porky pies you’ve been telling about him.’
‘Lies?’ Ellie raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh, no. I don’t think so.’
Mr Prior lost some of his rubicund joviality, but held on to his smile. He had an excellent dentist. ‘Well, well. Now you’ve come to apologize, and have brought the lovely Ursula with you, all shall be forgiven.’
‘I haven’t come to apologize,’ said Ellie, trying to lift her voice so that everyone could hear. If Mr Prior wanted to stage a scene in public, then she’d give it him in spades. ‘How can I apologize for speaking the truth? Why should I apologize when I and my family and friends have been threatened
and beaten up? And if you think I’m paying blackmail, then you’ve got another think coming!’
‘What nonsense is this?’ He was beginning to lose his temper. A large woman beside him laid a hand on his arm and he turned his head towards her. The woman must be his wife: blonde, statuesque, glittering with diamonds. Yes, Mrs Prior. The woman pointed to the girl standing behind Ellie, and Mr Prior smiled once more and took a step forward.
‘Ursula, my dear! Welcome back. We’ve missed you. Now, let me introduce you to someone who’s come specially on your account.’
Ursula still had her hood over her face, concealing all but a red, red mouth. One hand was clenched at her throat, holding something hidden from sight by her hood. Hawk-face and Judo stood one on either side of her, eyes quartering the room.
‘I am not a parcel, to be handed over to anyone.’ Her voice was slow and rich. It carried a note of menace, which seemed to darken the corners of the room. Ellie felt a thrill crawl up and down her spine.
‘I didn’t come as a guest. I came to deliver messages from your daughter, Mrs Prior.’ She raised her free hand and pointed to the woman. ‘From your stepdaughter, Mr Prior.’ She pointed to him. ‘From your stepsister, Anthony and Timothy. From the girl you raped, Councillor.’
Hawk-face stepped forward to draw the hood a little way back from Ursula’s face, revealing a face that was not hers . . . a face that bore a life-size photo of the untouched, untroubled Mia. Ursula had enlarged Mia’s photograph and pasted it as a mask on to a stick, surrounded by long black curls. The curls were made of black paper, but looked real enough at a distance. There were cut-outs for eyes and mouth. Through the mask, Ursula’s eyes glittered.
Everyone jumped as a camera flashed. The local photographer was not going to miss this if he could help it.
A tremor struck the room. Someone laughed, hysterically, and smothered it. A woman standing near Ellie shuddered. The councillor pointed out by Ursula was a weaselly man with a six o’clock shadow. He set down his glass with a click that could be heard by everyone. A stout woman standing nearby frowned at him and opened her mouth to speak, looking bewildered. His wife?
Murder in House Page 25
