4 Camera ... Action ... Murder!

by Faith Mortimer

  “So, Isabelle’s murderer was wearing the glove when he strangled her. I suppose he still has the other one.”

  “Yes, hence the chemical traces around her neck. The other glove? He might still have it, or he dumped it. If so, then we may never find it.”

  “Mmm. The gardeners said they haven’t any of that particular weedkiller here you say?”

  “No, they were most adamant. They use other proprietary garden products and they showed Barbara just what they had in their sheds. I don’t think there’s any reason to doubt their word. Taken separately, both their statements rang true, and neither was here early this morning. In fact, they were put out when I suggested they might have used a banned substance on the garden. One said he valued his job too highly and the other being an ex-horticultural college student was most indignant. I still think Duncan’s our man. He had the means and motive for murdering his wife. Also, if Caroline was pregnant with his baby and he didn’t want to acknowledge it, might he have seen it as a convenient way to get rid of her? I’m just thinking out loud here, of course.”

  “I’m not sure I agree with you. That doesn’t sound like the Duncan I know, and he was distraught over Caroline’s drowning. Besides, he was late down to breakfast because he overslept. He claims he took three sleeping tablets or sedatives which his doctor gave him last thing before going to bed. He said they completely knocked him out. I think there has to be another explanation. Regarding Isabelle’s murder, I hate the thought it could be him.”

  “So Macpherson claims. It’s easy to check with his doctor and find out if he’s telling the truth. Nothing’s certain yet, but we’re steadily eliminating the suspects. Most were either not here or have alibis. You know, I spoke to Andrew Downs again. Now there’s an odd character. This morning he was up and down like a yoyo.”

  “Clare says he had a nasty migraine and had taken too many painkillers. That could account for it. I know some migraine tablets have been known to make some people high for a while if they take too many. Apparently he was all over the place and could hardly stand up. Andrew was also as sick as a dog, and it wasn’t due to too much drink. Yesterday evening we all had a few drinks to steady our nerves and help unwind, but no one overindulged. I remember the last drink Andrew had was a large whisky. ”

  “Talk of the devil! Here’s Clare now and looking like she means business. Hell, I forgot I promised to speak to her before she left.”

  Diana grinned at his words and looked across to see Clare heading towards them.

  “I hoped to catch you before I left,” Clare said. “I’m off now. Will I see you later then, Adam?”

  “Yes, thank you for the invite. I will be coming, but I’m not sure when I’ll get away from the station.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve ordered loads of steaks. We’ll just keep an extra large one for you. I expect you’ll need it.” She gave a raffish grin in Adam’s direction. “I gather you’ve spoken to Andrew? He’s on his way to the station in a minute, and I said I’d give him a lift there. It’ll save a taxi fare or one of the staff taking him down. Besides I’d like to talk to him and see whether I can find out more about his relationship with Isabelle.”

  Adam looked in amazement from one woman to the other. “Am I hearing things? That’s usually Diana’s method and guise. You’re not sisters by any chance? I don’t think I could stand two female amateur sleuths around me, helping or otherwise!”

  Both women giggled at the look of astonishment on his face. “Hardly. Do we look alike?” asked Diana.

  “By the way, I suppose Andrew admitted he and Isabelle were having an affair.” Clare said.

  Still looking bemused, Adam nodded. “He did.”

  “Or that when he woke with a migraine early this morning, Isabelle had already left her bed?”

  “That’s almost correct. We’ve already established she must have left him at some time around six o’clock. He actually remembered her saying when he woke up that she was going for a walk. But because he felt ill, he went back to his own room to find some pills and then got into his own bed. He didn’t surface until much later which must have been when you saw him.”

  “Yeah, disorientated and throwing up in the downstairs loo. He looked ghastly.”

  “Steve and I saw someone down by the lake and again up by the maze. It was after six though. I thought it was a woman, although Steve wasn’t positive. It could have been Isabelle or her killer. You know what? I believe she was meeting someone, and it was someone she knew,” interjected Diana.

  Adam looked interested but frowned before speaking. “Why do you think that?”

  “Like most solutions, it’s a simple one. We all heard from Duncan at breakfast later saying Isabelle never walked anywhere, and yet here she was, up at the crack of dawn after a heavy day beforehand and going for a walk? It doesn’t make any sense unless she had arranged to meet someone.” Diana had certainly captured their interest. “If we knew who that was, then I think we’ll find our killer.”

  Chapter 18

  Steve and Diana arrived at Clare’s place later that day and saw what a tranquil spot she had found. Diana now understood why she owned a house here and not in the city. The cottage, made from the lovely honey-coloured local sandstone, was nestled in a fold of hills with a small stream running along the bottom of the garden. They could see an orchard off to one side, full of trees laden with apples, pears, and plums. As soon as Diana stepped from their hire car, she felt a feeling of peace descend upon her and immediately turned to Steve.

  “What a gorgeous spot. If the cottage is half as good inside, then Clare’s found a gem of a place.”

  “It certainly looks lovely from here. I didn’t know she was a gardener…look at the flowers. She must spend quite a bit of time here when she’s not on television. Her series obviously pays well. Shall I bring the cases in now?”

  “Leave them until a bit later. Come on, I’m dying to look round.”

  Diana skipped down the path towards the front door while Steve locked the car. Before Diana could ring the bell, the door opened to a beaming Clare.

  “How lovely, you’re here. I’ve just made a pot of tea. Come in, come in.” She threw the door open wide and stepped back to let them enter. “I’ve even got a fruit cake, but I have to confess, I didn’t bake it. I love cooking when I’ve time, but baking for one is not on the agenda. This is the lounge.”

  Diana stared round at the beamed room with a huge inglenook fireplace at one end. The blackened beams and smoky hearth clearly showed Clare enjoyed her long winter evenings in front of a roaring fire. A couple of chesterfield sofas were arranged along two walls and on the polished wood floor there was an assortment of Persian rugs. She noticed the makings of a huge flower arrangement on a casual table, and Diana assumed the cut flowers were all from Clare’s lovely garden.

  “Those are beautiful. I didn’t know you were a keen gardener,” she said indicating the blooms.

  “I wasn’t until I came here. The garden was a complete wilderness when I first bought the place. It was owned by an old lady recluse. Without knowing what I was doing, I started making changes to the grass and flower beds, and Seb and Russell came to the rescue. They taught me everything I know, especially Seb. I don’t think I could have done it without their help. I find gardening really helps me to relax, and I get good exercise from it at the same time.”

  “Well, it does you proud. What happens when you’re away from here? Who looks after it then?”

  “Actually, there is very little that needs doing apart from cutting the grass and tidying the flower beds, adding a bit of manure in the autumn and occasionally weedkiller in the spring. Seb’s an absolute honey and comes round once a week and gets out the Flymo. If he’s away on one of his photographic weekends, then he might ask his father to pop down, but it’s Seb who does the majority of the work. Russell’s usually busy with one of his own hobbies.”

  “We don’t have grass because of the heat in Cyprus. It takes far too
much watering, and on a small island, water is precious. We have a couple of flowerbeds and shrubs of course. The roses do amazingly well, and you’ve never seen honeysuckle like ours.” Di gave Clare an innocent smile before asking. “Which weedkiller do you use? Some of them are banned now, I believe.” Diana was curious, especially since Isabelle had traces of one chemical on her body.

  “I’ve no idea. I leave that to Seb. I think he uses one of the usual proprietary ones. I’d have to check my garden shed. Your own place sounds lovely, and I certainly hope to visit you some time. I’ll look through my diary, and maybe I’ll manage it later this year when I’m in-between rehearsals.”

  “Clare, we’d really love to have you, you know that. Isn’t that right, Steve?”

  “Of course, any time you like.”

  Clare grinned. “I’ll come on my own, of course. I’m sure you have some nice local talent tucked away. Shall we go upstairs? I’ll show you the room I’ve prepared for you.”

  Diana fell in love with it immediately. There was a comfortable-looking double bed covered with a cream cotton bedspread, twin bedside lockers, and lamps. Underneath the two windows overlooking the garden, there were two cushioned bench seats. A double wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and a small writing desk completed the furniture. Wall-to-wall plush cream-coloured carpeting and dark damask pink drapes made it very cosy.

  “Oh, it’s gorgeous, and look at that desk. It’s set in the perfect place in front of the window. I can see myself writing while I’m here, if only for an hour in the morning.”

  “Feel free. Now come down when you’re ready. The en suite is through here, and you’ll be glad to know Patrick and Jo are staying too,” she said, before bending towards Diana and dropping her voice a little. “I’ve given them a double room, and they seemed to jump at the chance. Perhaps they’ll put their differences behind them and make another go of it. It would be nice to help make someone happy this weekend after all that’s happened.”

  “Who else did you manage to persuade to come over today?”

  “There’s not many of the old crowd left. Russell said he’d like to come, but poor Seb couldn’t make up his mind. Russell said he’s still very upset, and I suggested that although a party might not be the answer, it might take his mind off miserable things. According to Russell, he reluctantly said he’d see. As we talked about it earlier, I am of course assuming Russell knows that Seb and Caroline were attracted to each other. ”

  Diana nodded. “I don’t suppose Duncan’s coming.”

  Clare shook her head. “No. I’m sure he’s glad to see the back of all of us. He can grieve on his own. Anyway, your superintendent said he was carting him off to the station.”

  Diana looked aghast at her words. “Oh no! Adam said he thought he was guilty, but I thought he was going to wait a while before hauling him in. I wonder what made him change his mind. Poor old Duncan.”

  “Maybe your policeman has found some more damning evidence.”

  Di knew that most of it was circumstantial but held her tongue. Clare, despite having an alibi for Caroline’s death, didn’t have one for Isabelle’s. Adam had said nothing about suspecting her, and Di couldn’t see Clare doing anything underhand—it just wasn’t in her nature—but it was still early in the investigation. Regarding Duncan, she knew how Adam worked, and even if he had nothing concrete to go on, his interrogation methods usually produced a result. His tongue could be like silver when he wanted. Diana resolved to watch and listen to everyone as much as she could. Offhand remarks often produced valuable information, which she knew from past experience.

  Tea was served on the lawn, and everyone sat in garden chairs in the shade of an old apple tree or lounged on the grass. Jo was looking brighter, and Diana thought even Patrick was trying to be more sociable. Steve sat on the grass next to him and discussed the new production of The Glass Menagerie at the Everyman Theatre. Maybe we will get a chance to see it after all, Di thought.

  “So, when are your cousin and his wife arriving?” Clare asked taking a seat next to Diana.

  “Not until tomorrow, unfortunately. Libby had an antenatal appointment this afternoon and they thought they’d arrive too late for Poppy. They’re setting off first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s good. Now listen.” Clare spoke in a whisper. “I know you planned on having a bit of a holiday hereabouts, but I may have to shoot off to London sometime this week. My agent rang, and there’s a whisper about a new series starting on the good old Beeb. My name’s come up! If I have to go, I’d really like you all to stay here for as long as you like. There’s masses of room, the freezer’s full, and it would help me no end to know someone’s here keeping an eye on the place. I don’t know when Seb will feel like coming over, and I don’t like to ask Russell.”

  “That’s amazingly generous of you, Clare.” Di chuckled. “I can’t remember when Steve last used a lawn mower.”

  Clare looked embarrassed. “I didn’t mean you to do the grass! I just meant you could throw a splash of water around if it stays hot.”

  “I know, I’m only joking.”

  “Anyway, I mean it about staying. And that includes your cousin, Robert, and Libby too. If I go, I’ll only be away one or two nights, so we can pick up where we leave off. Do think about it. There’s the Shakespeare Festival on at Stratford too, only a short drive from here. Make the most of it, I say.” She settled back in her chair and closed her eyes. “Ten minutes’ nap, then I’ll start on tonight’s barbeque preparations.”

  “Let me know what you want doing. Steve and I would be glad to help. In fact, Steve’s great on the barbie, as long as he doesn’t get talking. Then he forgets the meat, and it tends to be a bit charred. But give him a beer, and he’ll stay there for ages.”

  Clare was nodding in the sunshine when her telephone rang. She sighed, made a face at Diana, and answered the call. Without listening on purpose, Diana soon gathered by her soft tone that Clare was talking to Sebastian.

  “Come on. Don’t be on your own tonight. We all feel bad about what’s happened. Come and join us for food even if you stay for just a short time.”

  There was a pause while she listened, and then Russell obviously took over from Sebastian. “See if you can persuade him, Russell. Yeah. That would be good. Yes, of course, the more the merrier. It’s been ages since I saw Barry. Right then, we’ll see you later.” She hung up and looked across to Diana.

  “I expect you gathered that was Sebastian and Russell. Sebastian may come after all. Russell has promised to drag him along if he can. I suppose I’d better shift my bottom and check that marinade. Oh, and Barry, Seb’s boss, is popping in too. You remember he was supposed to do the shoot instead of Seb? Apparently he’s at Russell’s right now and is at a loose end because his wife is in Malta with her sister.”

  “Barry? Barry who? Do I know him?” Diana frowned, trying to remember.

  “Barry Morrison. He’s been a local photographer here for years. He takes amazing still photos but never touches weddings! He was supposed to be at Havershall House and do Duncan’s shoot for him instead of Sebastian. I’m not sure of the details, but he was suddenly taken ill and couldn’t make it.”

  “Ah, the penny’s dropped! Now I know who you mean. Yes, I did meet him a couple of times when I was working in the theatre. I’m sure it was Russell who introduced us.”

  “Most probably—they’ve known each other for years. They met when they were at college I believe and have stayed friends ever since. Barry’s okay. He’s a bit quiet and can be moody, but mostly we rub along.”

  “Sebastian told me Barry was sick, and it was Russell who suggested to him that Seb should take over. It’s a funny thing to do if you think about it. Since Seb worked for Barry, he must have known if Seb was capable of doing the job.”

  Clare looked thoughtful before answering. “Maybe Barry was being careful. Seb is still young, and Duncan might not have liked an assistant doing the work even if he was capable. Russell mo
st probably suggested Seb because he’s his son.”

  “Thinking back to our first night, I do remember Russell saying Duncan owed Barry a big favour, so that must be how he set it up. Since Barry was ill with food poisoning I don’t suppose he was in any fit state to care who did it.”

  “He must have been really sick to pass up a plum job like that. We can find out when he arrives. Now I really must go in and see to the food.” Clare eased herself from her chair and Diana followed.

  ***

  True to Di’s word, Steve was happy to don the barbecue apron and stand slavishly turning the steaks and chops. Diana made three different savoury salads and then chopped and sliced fresh pineapple, mangoes, guava, and strawberries, and piled them into a huge cut-glass bowl.