He shook his head. ‘I still don’t know how you knew it was me.’
‘A little matter of a warning note, sent to me. The note had become splashed with some aloe vera. And the fact that you get gout, like Uncle George, and most likely put aloe vera on your feet, like he does, to soothe it. But you hadn’t got gout the day I was playing golf, had you?’
‘No. How did you know …?’
‘Because Uncle George called at your place and you walked all the way down your garden to the workshop with him. He’d come to collect the walking stick he’d ordered.’
‘And all this mess … All these years later, it’s come about from that one night things got out of hand … Sean and I, we kept plying the girls with drink …’
‘Tell it straight. You’re talking about a foursome – an orgy?’
‘Licentious revels, yes, I can’t deny it.’
‘And what was the outcome?’
His voice dropped very low. ‘Both girls ended up pregnant.’
‘And you didn’t know who the father was for either of them?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Finish the story, Victor.’
‘Alice, well, she had an abortion.’
‘And the other girl?’
‘You know, don’t you?’
‘My Aunt Rachel.’
‘Yes. Her family was shocked but wouldn’t hear of an abortion. They sent her to relatives in Mexico. The baby was born over there and … they adopted it.’
‘Their surname was Hibbertson, wasn’t it? And the baby was named Lizzie?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did Aunt Rachel ever see the baby again?’
‘No. Alice was paid to infer it was her baby and her name given as a contact should it ever be needed. It was hushed up and kept secret. The tragedy was that Rachel had a bad time giving birth, couldn’t have any more children.’ He buried his face in his hands. ‘God forgive me, she was a little innocent, a virgin …’
‘It explains her obsession with the family bloodline. It even extends to Leo and his kittens. And I can understand now how bad things were when my mother had Silvie. Like rubbing salt in the wound. Poor Aunt Rachel. Now she’s terrified Uncle George will find out and leave her.’
‘Maybe she isn’t. She’s here at the party and so is Lizzie. When I saw them both tonight I realized it was over, it was all going to come out. I was trying to protect Rachel. I knew what a bastard I’d been – as had Sean. Alice knew, of course. She’d had a letter from Lizzie. Told the girl Barbara was a distant relative.’
‘Why didn’t Alice tell her about yourself? Surely that would have been better.’
He spread his hands helplessly. ‘We didn’t know who the father was – none of us did. What sort of news would that be to present the girl with when she arrived?’
‘Devastating, I should think.’
‘Exactly.’
‘You could,’ I said tentatively, ‘have a paternity test done, you know. DNA …’
‘Harry, I don’t want to know. I couldn’t handle it. Paula’s my daughter, my only daughter.’
‘I never offered my condolences on your son’s death …’
‘Then don’t!’ he snapped. ‘He was no son of mine.’
‘I can understand how you must feel.’
‘No, you bloody can’t.’ He thrust his jaw forward. ‘What you heard me say, Harry, was the truth. He wasn’t my son.’
I didn’t believe it. ‘Now, come on, Victor …’
‘You don’t believe me. OK, I’ll let you into another little sordid secret, Harry. But you’re going to have to swear to me on Elizabeth’s grave you won’t disclose it.’
I swallowed, thought about it. ‘Victor, if it’s needed in a court of law, I shan’t lie for you.’
He brushed the idea away impatiently. ‘Nothing like that. He was Elspeth’s son, right?’
I nodded, wondering just where the hell this was going to go.
‘She had an affair with Nathaniel Willoughby. Did you know that?’
I was stuck – the proverbial rock and a hard place. However I answered the question I was in a mess. I had known about it but kept quiet. Now it left me without an answer. However, he didn’t wait for me to speak.
‘The child was his. And that’s why we had a divorce. Not the other way round, OK? It was me who divorced Elspeth. I agreed it was the other way round to save her good name. Got it?’
‘Yes.’
He stubbed out his first cigarette, reached for another and inhaled like a man desperate for air.
The door to the conservatory opened and Barbara came in. ‘Thought this is where I’d find you two chaps.’
She accepted the offered cigarette from Victor and flopped down in a chair, crossing her shapely legs. They extended a long way from beneath her short, scarlet skirt.
‘You dishing the dirt, Harry?’
‘More like shovelling it on to the muck heap.’
She laughed throatily. ‘So, we’ve got little Lizzie back with us. Seems her adoptive mother died a long time ago – breast cancer, she told me. But a couple of months ago the poor girl lost her dad over in Mexico.’
I tossed a glance at Victor. He flipped a dismissive hand.
‘Barbara’s the only person alive who knows about Lizzie.’
‘Well, I knew about Sean’s little … “dalliance” – or, possibly, paternity. It was before we were married.’ She laughed huskily. ‘The old sod left it late. Told me as he left to go out on his stag night. Said if I wasn’t in church the next day, he’d understand. But he knew I was dotty about him, knew I wouldn’t leave him standing there alone at the altar.’
Victor stood up. ‘I need a drink, a double. Have we finished, Harry?’
‘I guess so.’
He walked to the door, hesitated and turned back. ‘We still on for playing golf at some point?’ he said, smiling crookedly.
‘Anytime you like, Victor. But I’d watch out for the fifth green if I were you.’
His smiled relaxed. ‘Don’t you mean we both need to play it safe on the fifth?’
‘Do you know, you’re dead right.’
He winced, still smiling. ‘Don’t use that word, Harry.’
‘Not applicable now, is it?’
‘No. Never was.’ He closed the door behind him.
‘What was all that about?’ Barbara took a sip of her gin and tonic.
‘Something and nothing.’
‘Do you know the full SP about Lizzie?’
‘Yes. The bits I didn’t figure out Victor just filled in.’
She nodded. ‘Good, saves me explaining.’
‘There is something I need to ask you, Barbara.’
‘Go on then.’ She smiled roguishly. ‘Your place or mine?’
‘What, with your canine killers as minders?’
We both laughed.
‘Seriously, though, Barbara, there’s a situation brewing – a dangerous one.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘Hmm, afraid so.’
‘Similar to the last time?’
‘Very much so. At the moment, Jake Smith considers you a possible threat – certainly your tame wolves.’
‘Give me the backstory.’
I levelled with her about our nocturnal visit to her stables.
‘Bugger me!’ She stubbed out her cigarette.
‘So he’s not going to suspect you as an ally.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Don’t know, that’s the devil of it. We have to play it moment by moment right now. What will tip the fat into the fire, of course, will be when Fred Smith dies.’
‘Is he likely to?’
‘Oh, yes, afraid he is and it’s imminent. But as soon as I tell Jake …’
‘He’ll go off like an IED?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK,’ she said slowly. ‘So after he dies, if you tell me before you tell Jake, I’ll hold myself ready to do … what?’
‘Call
up Mike as reinforcement.’
She nodded soberly. ‘Like last time.’
‘Yes. Mike’s my main man – in at the kill.’
‘Right, and does Mike know, or expect to receive a “go get him, boy” call from me?’
‘He does.’
She nodded. ‘Count on me, Harry. We can’t leave you without help when you need it. I mean, you’re helping other folks now with this new, shall I say, job? We need you to keep cleaning up our mean racecourses.’
‘It’s supposed to be mean streets, I think, Barbara.’
‘Could well be.’
‘Think we should get ourselves back to the party, don’t you? We’re missing the fun.’
‘I’m with you. Don’t want to miss Lizzie’s encore.’
‘She’s good, isn’t she? Did an overseas agent book her for Southview?’
‘Yes, but I can see her being snapped up by an English agent before long.’
‘Might mean she stays in England.’
She nodded. ‘Yes. When the dust settles, and it will, it would be lovely for Rachel.’
‘Do you reckon Uncle George will be OK about it all? I’d hate to think it was me who split them up.’
‘You know, Harry, I think when he gets over the shock he’ll be tickled pink to have a beautiful, talented step-daughter.’
I grinned. ‘Be great, wouldn’t it? Reckon you could be right.’
‘Come on then, I’ll introduce you to Lizzie.’
We rejoined the party.
Mike was running around Lizzie like a happy dog who’d found a bone. There was an aura of deeply relaxed contentment radiating from her. She herself kept casting unbelieving, wide smiles at Aunt Rachel and Uncle George. And they, in turn, were returning the smiles. I looked across at all of them and realized for the first time it wasn’t just my aunt and uncle who had suddenly acquired a relative. I had a new cousin. A staggering thought.
Aunt Rachel spotted me. She rushed up and threw her arms around me.
‘Thank you, Harry. What a wonderful birthday present! The best in the world.’
‘Count me in on the thanks, Harry, son.’ Uncle George was shaking his head in wonder at what had just occurred. ‘It’s been the biggest shock of my life but I couldn’t be more pleased, and especially so for Rachel. She deserves to be happy. It’s amazing. She always wanted children and now …’ His eyes wet with unshed tears, the words dried up. Rachel reached up and kissed him.
Unnoticed, Lizzie had come up behind me. ‘Hello, Harry. Can I thank you, too?’
‘No need.’ I grinned. ‘I’m very happy for you, Lizzie, and for my aunt and uncle.’
‘Oh, yes, you and I are cousins, aren’t we?’
‘Looks like it.’
‘I can’t believe it. I came over to England without any family and now here you all are, ready-made for me.’ She threw her arms out wide and laughed with sheer happiness.
‘Don’t thank us,’ I said, ‘just sing.’
And she did.
And the last one she sang exquisitely, previously released by Eva Cassidy, was ‘Songbird’. It couldn’t have been more appropriate.
THIRTY-TWO
It had been a marvellous bash. Even Barbara, who was, justifiably, known to throw amazing parties, rated it the best she’d ever been to. I eventually arrived back at the cottage at two o’clock and crashed out ten minutes later.
My mobile, sitting on the bedside table, sang out The Great Escape at a quarter past three. Groaning heavily, I reached out a searching hand and answered. It was a replay of a couple or more calls I’d received from various hospitals before at this unholy hour. Basically, the hospital needed me there, like, hours ago. They didn’t say so, of course. What they said gave the impression that if I gunned my car at top revs, it might not be too late to say goodbye to Fred. The reality was Fred had almost certainly already shed the burden of pain and departed.
‘I’ll be right with you,’ I said, and forced leaden legs out of bed.
‘I’m so sorry, Mr Smith,’ the staff nurse on night duty told me. ‘Your father died a short time ago.’
I nodded, looked at the floor, suitably knocked over by the news.
She led the way down the familiar corridor and left me in Fred’s room to grieve in solitary respect.
‘You may want to take his possessions, but if so, you’ll have to sign for them.’ I nodded, still looking at the fascinating floor.
I’d taken a big risk in doubling for Jake as Fred’s son but, seeing Fred’s serene face, I didn’t regret it. He had departed as he’d wanted, with a clear conscience. And I’d given him that. Even now, if I got a kick-back from authority, it would still have been worth it. They couldn’t alter his confession.
‘Bye, Fred,’ I said as I stood at the foot of his bed. ‘You did the right thing and confessed. I’ll let Jake know and I’ll pass on your things to him.’
There was no response or reply but, wherever he was, I hoped he’d heard me.
I looked at the time – just five past four. Too early to do anything else but get back home. So I did. And dropped thankfully into my still vaguely warm bed. I slept until 6.30 a.m., when the alarm stridently woke me.
Groaning again as realization of the old man’s death penetrated my sleep-deprived brain, I took myself off to the bathroom and turned the shower on full bore: hot, then cold. It certainly woke me up if nothing else. Coffee, strong, black and a bowl of cereal would energize the system – with luck.
With blood sugar on the rise, I tapped in Mike’s mobile number. By now, he was most likely getting ready to go out on the gallops, but as I’d told him last night, keep the mobile switched on – we’d reached the last furlong and he could expect a call at any minute of the next probable twenty-four hours.
‘Hello, Harry. Take it the post’s in sight?’
‘Not quite yet, Mike. But the inevitable has happened.’
‘Right. Does the next of kin know?’
‘Will do soon, but you’re first, Barbara next, then I must warn Annabel.’
The jolt, that now the death had occurred the danger to her was suddenly very real, brought sweat out on my forehead.
‘Take care of yourself as well, Harry. Well, if you can.’
‘Trouble is, Mike, I don’t know what form his reaction will take. He’s a man of impulse.’
‘Hmm, violent impulse. Keep me in the frame. My car’s full of juice and ready to roll.’
‘Thanks, Mike. I’ll ring off now and tell Barbara to stand by.’
‘Do that. See you soon, mate.’
I rang her mobile and she answered immediately.
‘Hello, Harry. Have the pearly gates swung open?’
‘Indeed they have.’
‘So, it’s all systems …’
‘Will be, when he’s told the news.’
‘I’m on red alert. I’ve got the back-up muscle of all my lads if you need it, Harry.’
‘Appreciate it, Barbara, thanks. But I don’t know which way it’ll swing. Got to take what comes and run with it.’
‘Does Mike know?’
‘Yes, I’ve just filled him in.’
‘And Annabel, what about Annabel, does she know yet?’
‘I’ll ring her next.’
‘Get her away, Harry. The little person’s in the firing line as well.’
‘You don’t need to remind me … it’s a devil of a situation.’
‘Do it now – give her chance to think where to go. She could come here, of course, but it might not be the safest.’
‘Good of you to offer, Barbara, but, like you say, may not be such a good idea. Don’t sweat, I’ll keep her safe. Must ring her now.’
‘Of course, bye, Harry. My phone’s on all the time, good luck.’
‘Thanks.’
I disconnected and checked the time: seven forty. Annabel would be awake now. I hoped I didn’t get Sir Jeffrey – it would be the devil’s own trying to explain to him. I rang her mobile. It took several
rings before she answered it.
‘Annabel, you on your own?’
‘Hello, Harry. Jeffrey’s downstairs fixing drinks. It’s very early – what’s the matter?’
‘Yes, sorry, but I need to speak to you urgently.’
‘Are you in trouble?’
‘No, yes … listen, Annabel. I want you to pack a few necessary things and go away for two or three days, now, straight away.’
‘I can’t, Harry, I’m not well. I don’t want to go. I shall be OK at home.’
‘No, darling, you won’t. But what’s wrong? Have you caught a bug or something?’
‘No, nothing like that. I just feel ill, my back hurts and I feel sick all the time.’
‘I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to pressure you but it’s imperative you go. You remember we talked about this at the cottage? Fred Smith has just died in hospital. I’ve got to tell Jake.’ I heard the gasp as she caught her breath.
‘So that’s the reason?’
‘Yes. You do have to go, there’s no other option. Think of the baby, Annabel. Please don’t fight me on this.’
‘Jeffrey’s going back to London in a couple of hours. He’s buying a flat down there. I suppose I could just go with him. He wants me to see it.’
‘Yes. Do that, darling, it’s absolutely the safest thing to do. There’s no need to tell him why, just go. Promise me you will?’
‘I just wish I felt a bit better. I really do feel very ropey.’
‘Can you lie down and rest when you get there?’
‘I expect so, yes.’
‘If necessary, book in at a hotel.’
‘Don’t worry about me, Harry, I’ll be all right. But I know you’re in for a bad time with that Jake. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.’
‘Now I know you’re going to be safe, and the baby, I can concentrate on what I have to do.’
‘That’s right. I’ll see you when I come back.’
‘Look forward to it, darling. Bye.’
‘Bye, Harry.’
With Fred’s bag of possessions stashed in the boot, I started the car and drove to Burton Lazars. I had to get Jake out from the studio before Nathaniel came back and discovered him. It wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on. It only needed him to see Jake and he would then become an accessory to harbouring a criminal. And that would definitely be my fault.
Dead Reckoning Page 23
