False fire

by Veronica Heley

  ‘That’s right,’ said Faye, and shuddered. ‘I was shattered, wasn’t I! I told him, I … What are you all looking at me like that for?’

  ‘You told him … what?’ said Bea. ‘And, when? Ah, I’ve got it. You called all sorts of people asking for a lift home after the fire. Was Neil one of those you called?’

  ‘What if it was? He knew I was out at a party, but he’s chauffeured Giddy around long enough to know that I can be ready for bed long before him, and he rang me – or I rang him, I can’t remember – to ask if he were free and he came and fetched me and took me home, and why shouldn’t he?’

  ‘When he’d been the one to cause the fire in the first place!’

  ‘No, no,’ said Faye, biting her lip and squinting. Trying to think straight. ‘I’m sure he wouldn’t have. Though of course he was very cross with Giddy and Steve and, well, all of the family. But he wouldn’t … no, really, that’s going too far.’

  ‘Don’t you see?’ said Bea. ‘He didn’t care if the children took the fireworks up to their room or not. His aim was to hurt as many people as possible. If he got Alicia, then Josh would lose his beloved grandchild, as Neil had lost his father. If the fireworks went off in the drawing room while we were at dinner, then fire would engulf the ground floor and, Faye, we would all be in danger … you included!’

  Faye flushed. ‘I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t have done that to me.’

  ‘And you told him all about the fire in the dining room and how Daphne and Josh had been taken off to hospital, but that the children had been rescued. You told him that that horrid Mrs Abbot had forced you to abandon your search for the pearls and how you wished someone would take the woman down a peg. He realized that his revenge on the family was incomplete. That’s why he came to see me the next day, to try a little gentle blackmail and to find out what had happened to the survivors from the fire. Which he did, more or less. And so, he lived to plot another day.’

  Faye’s face crumpled in a bout of childish tears. Bea handed her the box of tissues.

  Alaric was concentrating on building his own defence. ‘It’s clear the man was holding a grudge against Gideon. You can’t blame any of this on me. I knew nothing. And I am appalled, yes, appalled, that you should think I would begrudge paying my daughter’s school fees.’

  Ninette tossed her head. ‘I don’t mind telling the police what you said, more than once, calling the child retarded, and wondering why you’d ever been so stupid as to adopt her.’

  Alaric rounded on Ninette. ‘You didn’t want her around. Admit it! You were always whining, saying she was in the way, wanting me to get rid of her—’

  Ninette shouted, ‘You should have let her grandfather take her! Then none of this would have happened.’

  ‘Well, I would have, eventually, if he’d agreed to refund the cost of her school fees. She’d cost me a small fortune in the years Daphne and I were together. Daphne shopped in Paris and left me to pick up the tab for the child’s expenses. But he,’ glaring at William, ‘was too mean to cough up.’

  ‘What was that?’ said Bea.

  William reddened. ‘I … yes, he did make some stupid suggestion … but I turned him down. He said he’d not fight for custody if I paid him back all the money he’d expended on Alicia to date. It would have been like buying the child. Naturally, I refused.’

  ‘It was a fair offer,’ said Alaric. ‘You could have asked Josh to help you out. He was as crazy about the child as you were.’

  ‘I did discuss it with him, yes. But we decided we shouldn’t play. Ethically, it was all wrong. Also, Josh was strapped for cash like me. His business was running at a loss and Daphne’s extravagance had caught him on the hop.’

  Bea said, ‘Alaric, why don’t you cut your losses now, and let William have custody of a child you don’t care about?’

  He grinned, relishing the ace in his hand. ‘This threat to her has made me realize how much she means to me. I am her father. I don’t mind paying her school fees.’

  His unctuous tone set Bea’s teeth on edge. She said, ‘That’s very noble of you, since she’s going to be a very wealthy little girl, and I suppose you are already working out how to persuade her trustees to let you control her income. However, if I tell her trustees and the police what Ninette recollects of your attitude to the child, they will certainly be looking very hard at your motives for getting rid of her.’

  A shrug. ‘They wouldn’t believe Ninette, anyway. A party girl, for hire!’

  Ninette grinned. ‘Try me! You ditch me, and my memory will become a hundred per cent certain that you put Neil up to murdering the girl.’

  ‘Alternatively,’ said Bea, in her creamiest of tones, ‘you agree to let William have custody of his granddaughter, without trying to recover past fees. Come; that’s a decent offer. Off with the old. Face the future without ties.’

  ‘That’s blackmail,’ Alaric said, dabbing at his chin. ‘I don’t give in to blackmail.’ There was a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, hooray.

  ‘It’s an arrangement to suit all parties,’ said Bea. ‘We tell the fire investigator everything we’ve learned about Neil. Neil will be arrested but put forward a good defence. He hasn’t killed anybody, except by accident. The deaths of Josh, Daphne and Mrs Frost can all be put down to man- or woman-slaughter. Does everyone agree that that will be justice?’

  ‘I don’t,’ said Alaric, dabbing at his mouth.

  ‘Everyone else does,’ said William.

  And that was when Bea realized what she’d done. She shot to her feet. ‘Leon’s own chauffeur is on holiday. Who … he wouldn’t be using Neil, would he? Because, if so … Alicia is in the car with him at this moment!’

  Alaric fell back in his chair, laughing. ‘I don’t believe it! Missus Know-all has put them all in danger!’

  EIGHTEEN

  William caught Bea’s arm. ‘You can’t have sent Alicia off in a car with Neil as chauffeur!’

  ‘Calm down,’ said Bea, trying not to panic. ‘It might not be him driving them. Leon might be using any old car firm.’

  Steve was at his tablet again. Mel read out, ‘Josh recommended Neil to everyone.’

  William said, ‘You’ve got to stop them!’

  ‘How? If I ring Leon, what will he do? Order his chauffeur to let them out on the side of the motorway? Suppose it’s not Neil? And if it were Neil, well, he might obey … if he’s no further plans to destroy Alicia. But suppose he does still want to get back at the family … would he obey?’

  William put his hand to his head. ‘But if it is Neil! Do you think he still wishes her harm, after everything that’s happened? Surely not.’

  Bea said, ‘It might not be him who—’

  Faye was amused. ‘I suppose he could poison them, with bottles of soft drinks left in the back for them to take, or biscuits that he’s doctored?’

  William made a dismissive gesture. He didn’t want to hear that.

  Faye continued, ‘He wouldn’t crash the car, would he? Out of spite? Hoping to kill his passengers and leave himself unscathed? No, no. He might be injured himself if he tried that.’

  Everyone was on their feet except for Alaric, who continued to lie back in his chair, grinning.

  To do her credit, Ninette was as worried as everyone else. She said, ‘Would Neil care about getting hurt himself? I don’t think he would, he’s so bitter against the family. He might fake an accident, and set the car on fire?’

  William strode up and down. ‘He could have booby-trapped the car already. He could set off a fire, and walk away on some pretext, getting petrol, perhaps, or buying sweets for the children—’

  Bea said, ‘He wouldn’t risk his own life, would he?’

  ‘No, surely not.’ William couldn’t accept that idea.

  ‘Yes,’ said Ninette, frowning. ‘I don’t want to think so, but yes … I really think he might.’

  Faye’s eyes were huge. She was high on excitement. ‘You don’t understand him, an
y of you! He’s been so hurt!’

  William pounded one fist against the other. ‘Let’s get the police to stop the car!’

  ‘I suppose so,’ said Gideon, showing anxiety for his niece for the first time. ‘This has gone beyond a joke.’

  Steve nodded, eyes wild. His arm went round Mel, and hers around him.

  Bea said, ‘Let’s not jump to conclusions. It might not be Neil driving. Let’s first of all find out if he really is the chauffeur.’ She got out her phone, and hesitated. ‘If it is Neil driving, we don’t want to alert him to the fact that we’ve worked it out that he caused the fires. If he thinks the police are after him, he might panic. He might even crash the car, not caring what happens to him.’

  Tears stood out on Faye’s eyelashes. ‘Neil’s not a bad man. He isn’t!’ She wrung her hands, prettily.

  William ordered Bea, ‘Ring Leon. Tell him to stop the car!’

  Bea tried to think. ‘Leon knows nothing of the background to this case. He would need endless explanations, which would alert Neil to what we’ve worked out, and precipitate the very act of revenge that we’re trying to prevent. I have a better idea. Hari’s in the car with them, and he’s quick on the uptake. I’ll try him first. But, let me think! I must phrase my questions in such a way that Hari replies without alarming Neil.’

  William got out his own phone. ‘I don’t care what you say. I’m ringing the police.’

  ‘Don’t! At least, not until we know if it’s Neil in the car or not. It might be a plump, fifty-year-old baldie who isn’t a threat to anyone. Let me speak to Hari first.’

  She dialled Hari. ‘Hari, this is Bea! Trouble! I’m going to ask you some questions to which you should answer yes or no, while pretending to discuss what we’re having for supper. Say hello to the children and Leon for me, will you? And smile.’

  She heard Hari say, ‘Hi, kids! Bea’s on the phone. Wants to know if you’ll be back in time for supper or not.’ Murmurs in the background. Bea heard Leon say, ‘Tell her we’re stuck in traffic and the children are watching a video.’

  ‘I heard that,’ said Bea. ‘Tell me, Hari: are you sitting in front with the chauffeur, and do you like salad with your meal?’

  ‘Yes, I love salad. Why would you need to ask?’

  ‘Is your chauffeur called Neil, black hair, looks fit, narrow eyes? Do you like cucumber with your salad?’

  ‘Yes, of course I like cucumber.’

  So Neil was the chauffeur.

  Bea signalled to William, mouthing, ‘Yes!’ She returned to her phone. ‘Is it an open car, no division between the front seats and the passengers? Tomatoes as well?’

  ‘Yes, I’m heavily into tomatoes. Bernice, do you like tomatoes? … She says she likes tomatoes, but Alicia … she’s pretty well worn out, poor kid.’

  Bea was alarmed. ‘Did Neil give her anything to eat or drink?’

  ‘No, nothing like that. She’s just worn out … aren’t you, poppet?’

  ‘He can hear everything you say?’

  ‘Yes, and onions, too.’

  ‘Is everyone wearing seat belts? In case of a car crash. What about peppers in the salad?’

  ‘No, peppers are an acquired taste.’

  So they weren’t wearing seat belts. They ought to be. In those big limos, they’d be thrown around like dried peas in a tin if the car crashed.

  ‘Listen carefully. We think Neil was responsible for setting the fires at the house. He holds a grudge against the family because they sacked him and his father. Are you near the airport yet?’

  ‘Oh, it’s quite a drag. Traffic, you know. Leon, are we going to be late, do you think?’ A muttered conversation. ‘Leon thinks it will be a close-run thing. His sister’s plane is on time, but then there’s Customs and luggage clearance, so we might make it yet.’

  ‘Is there central locking in the car?’

  ‘Yes, we’re all looking forward to our supper. We’ll be on our way back as soon as we’ve collected Sybil.’

  ‘Could Neil get out of the car and lock it so that you couldn’t leave?’

  ‘Mm. Probably. But I hope we won’t be that late.’

  ‘I’ll speak to Leon on the other line in a moment. The best scenario is that when Neil drops you at the airport, you collect Sybil and get another car to bring you back. Should I keep some hot food on the go for you?’

  ‘Hot food sounds even better than salads. I’ll give you a bell when we’re on our way back. The traffic is heavy …’ There was a muttered conversation which Bea couldn’t hear properly. Then Hari was back. ‘The chauffeur says he knows a short cut. Leon thinks it a good idea. Back roads. You know?’

  ‘Red alert, Hari. If he dumps the car with you all in it and it goes up in flames—’

  ‘Gotcha. I’ll keep you updated. We’re turning off the motorway now. Ciao.’

  William was practically dancing with agony. Bea held up her hand and then put her finger to her lips, holding her other hand over the mouthpiece of her phone.

  Gideon and the rest were all agog. Ninette whispered, ‘Hari’s not broken the connection? He’s still on the phone?’

  Bea nodded, putting her finger to her mouth to signal that they keep quiet.

  William mimed going out to the kitchen, and disappeared. To ring the police?

  Bea beckoned to Mel. Murmured, ‘Get the licence number of Neil’s car from his pictures on Facebook. Give it to William.’

  ‘What?’ said Gideon who, as usual, was slow to catch on.

  Steve worked on his tablet. Faye was interested enough to get up and look over their shoulders. Ninette snapped her fingers. ‘I ought to know it …’

  Steve held up his tablet, shaking his head. Mel said, ‘You can’t see it properly.’

  Faye reached for the tablet. ‘I think it’s …’ She typed. Frowned at the number, handed the tablet to Ninette … who also frowned, changed one digit and nodded.

  Mel took the tablet off to the kitchen with Steve following. They would ring the police … who might or might not be in time to intercept Neil before he did … whatever … and it was always possible that he had no plans to hurt anyone any more. In which case everyone was going to look extremely foolish.

  Bea told herself to relax. And failed.

  She prayed. Lord, have mercy; Lord have mercy … look after the children … look after Leon, who is completely unaware of what’s happening … I can’t think how to alert him without advising Neil that we’re on to him. Think, Bea! Pray!

  She could hear the murmur of voices inside the limousine. Bernice asking permission to change the DVD on the television set in the car?

  The thrum of the powerful car, a smooth ride, going through the countryside taking back lanes to the airport.

  Back lanes meant little traffic. The police would have difficulty finding them if they took back lanes.

  Bea held the phone to her ear, while continuing to cover the mouthpiece with her hand. If Neil heard noises from her end, he’d understand that his cover was blown and he might act … how would he act? What was he planning? Was his suggestion to turn off the motorway meant to get them to the airport more speedily, or was it to take them away from other traffic so that he could finish off his passengers without having any witnesses. He was good with timers and rockets, he could set the car on fire and jump out, leave everyone to burn.

  Neil wouldn’t have agreed to chauffeur the girls today if he hadn’t planned something for them. Or would he? Perhaps he felt he had done enough to avenge his father and the rotten way Gideon had treated him? Perhaps.

  Don’t take chances with their lives, Bea.

  Think, Bea! Think!

  Pray, Bea! Pray.

  Driven to action, Gideon and the girls had followed Steve and William out to the kitchen to ring the police. Alaric remained. Watching her. Cat and mouse.

  But, who was the mouse? Alaric or Bea?

  And what did the cat have to gain by sticking around? Ah, if Alicia died in the car, then Alaric, as her
father, would inherit a nice little fortune. He was going to hang around till he discovered what the future would hold for him … penury or a prince’s ransom.

  In the kitchen they were keeping their voices down. Good.

  In the car, Leon was telling Bernice how to change the DVD, although it seemed likely to Bea that the child would know how to do it herself. Alicia seemed to be … snoring? Lightly. Had she been doped? What had she eaten or drunk lately? Had Neil left some crisps or lemonade in the car, which he’d adulterated with poison? Ought the child to be on her way to hospital instead of to the airport?

  No, Neil’s weapon of choice was not poison, but fire, so she was probably just worn out. Hopefully.

  Oh, dear Lord! Please look after her …

  Hari was humming a tune. Bea couldn’t place it.

  Mel came out of the kitchen, eyes wide, trying to ask a question?

  Bea showed the girl that she’d covered the mouthpiece of the phone. ‘What is it?’ keeping her own voice low, just in case.

  Mel murmured the words. ‘The police think we’re hoaxing them. Won’t take William seriously. I’ve turned off the oven. Everything’s cooked. We can heat it up later.’

  Bea nodded. Held out her phone to Mel. ‘Can you hold my phone, covering the mouthpiece, while I ring Leon on the landline? Hari’s humming a tune. I can’t recognize it. It may be important.’

  Mel took over Bea’s phone.

  Bea rang Leon’s mobile from the landline. ‘Leon, my dear; Hari tells me you’re running late. Are you planning to bring Sybil back here with you? In which case we can all have supper together. What do you think?’