Reluctant Witness

by Rachel Brimble

  “Jacob, come on. I don’t want us falling out over this. I want to leave knowing everything is OK between us.”

  He met her eyes. “We’re not going to fall out. I love you, you know that. But I know this has something to do with that bloody bank manager. Do you know he’s after one of your friends, now? The jerk’s going to get to you one way or another. “

  Julia’s stomach dropped to her shoes. She gripped the bar. “What are you talking about?”

  “That’s what I thought our little chat was going to be about,” he said. “I thought you had finally come to your senses and wanted me to sort the boy out.”

  “Jacob, what friend? What do you mean?”

  “Suzie. He’s seeing Suzie. You didn’t know?” he asked, fisting his hand on his hips. “That’s old news, kid. He took up with her as soon as you threw him off.”

  “But that was weeks ago!” cried Julia. “Why didn’t Suzie tell me?”

  He gestured toward the public phone at the end of the bar. “Ring her. Ask her yourself.”

  Julia looked at the phone. “I can’t believe she’d go out with Marcus.”

  Jacob touched her arm, making her jump. “Why don’t you go see her? Get her to come to her senses?”

  “I’ll ask her to come into the club tonight,” she said, feeling shaky. What was Marcus up to?

  “Good idea.”

  “I knew she wasn’t herself the last time I saw her. God knows that’s what Marcus does best. He affects the way you behave, the way you think...”

  “And you’re trying to tell me he has nothing to do with you leaving? Pull the other one, kid, it’s written all over your face.”

  “Jacob—”

  He held up a hand. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Make sure you look out for Suzie, she’s got a heart as soft as butter, that woman.”

  Julia looked at him. He was right. She could deal with the likes of Marcus, but Suzie? Suzie would remain faithful to the devil rather than upset him. Julia walked to the phone and dialed Suzie’s cell phone.

  “No answer.”

  “Why don’t you go see if you can track her down? You’re not on until nine.”

  Julia glanced at her watch. “I want to go and check on Thelma too, so I’ll drop by Suzie’s house on the way.”

  “Why are you going to see Thelma again?”

  She looked at him in disbelief. “Because her husband of forty years was killed less than a week ago. What’s wrong with you, Jacob?”

  “Nothing.”

  Julia snatched her bag from the bar. “I’d take a good long look at yourself if I were you. Derek was your friend.”

  “Derek Palmer was a selfish asshole come the end.”

  Julia threw her hands up in the air. “I’m not listening to any more of this. I’m going to find Suzie, and I don’t want to hear you mutter another bad word about Derek while I’m around, OK?”

  Jacob puffed up his chest. “You need to remember who the boss is around here.”

  “Yeah? Well, you won’t be my boss for much longer, will you?”

  She turned on her heel and marched out of the club, ignoring Jacob’s explicit cursing behind her.

  ****

  Julia took the steps two at a time, then rang the doorbell to Suzie’s apartment. No answer. She crouched down and called through the letterbox. “Suze? Are you in there? It’s Julia.”

  Still no answer. The apartment was devoid of the usual thump, thump, thump of some forgotten 1980s pop band. Julia pulled her cell from her bag and dialed Suzie’s number, but it kicked straight to answer phone.

  “Hi, Suzie, it’s me. Can you call me back as soon as possible? It’s important.”

  She snapped the phone shut, walked back down the steps and got into her car. She’d go and see Thelma and hope Suzie rang while she was there.

  Twenty minutes later, Julia was watching Thelma as she made tea and carefully placed some home-baked blueberry muffins on a plate. It was nearing seven o’clock in the evening and Thelma thought it perfectly normal to be serving afternoon tea.

  “How are you, Thelma?” she asked gently, taking the tray from the older woman’s hands.

  “Oh, not too bad, dear.”

  “Are you eating?”

  She laughed softly. “Of course. Don’t you waste your time worrying about me. I’d much prefer you tried to find out what Inspector Conway is doing about finding out who killed my Derek.”

  Julia raised her eyebrows. “I’d assumed Daniel, I mean Inspector Conway, would have at least called to tell you about what happened in Kendlewood. Didn’t he do that?”

  “You mean the debt agencies?” Thelma asked.

  “Yes, did he tell you I went with them to try to identify one of them as the man who shot Derek?”

  “Inspector Conway came around and sat with me for most of Saturday evening.” Thelma sighed. “Such a pleasant man. I got the distinct feeling he didn’t want to be alone anymore than I did. Do you think he’s lonely, too, dear?”

  Julia turned away. “I’ve no idea, Thelma. Anyway, you should be more concerned about yourself than Inspector Conway.”

  Julia felt Thelma’s gaze on her for a moment longer before she proceeded to fill two cups from the teapot. “That was two days ago,” Thelma continued. “And I’ve not heard a peep from the police since. Have you, dear?”

  “No, but then again, the police are not obliged to tell me anything if they don’t want to.”

  Thelma looked at her with eyes suddenly shining with unshed tears. “Even if you’re a witness? And a friend? Derek loved you just as I do. Why would they keep things from you?”

  “Because I’m still a member of the public, Thelma,” Julia said, gently. “I’m doing all I can to help Inspector Conway and he has involved me to a point.”

  “But there’s got to be more we can do.”

  Julia closed her eyes to the wretched helplessness etched on Thelma’s face. What would happen after she left town? Would Daniel continue to keep Thelma informed of what was going on? Could she trust the police to do the right thing? But as she opened her eyes, Julia knew she couldn’t. Phil’s death was still so raw and she had to face facts that since Daniel had left after their argument over Marcus, he’d obviously decided he no longer needed her help.

  “Julia?”

  “Mmmm?”

  “Isn’t there anything we can do?”

  Julia chewed at her bottom lip as she met Thelma’s scared eyes. She had to do something. She felt a twist deep in her belly as an idea struck her. She put down her cup and slowly smiled. “There’s nothing Inspector Conway can do to stop me doing a little investigating of my own, is there?”

  Thelma’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, dear. I wasn’t asking you—”

  Julia edged forward on her seat. “It’s all right. Trust me, Thelma. Everything will be fine.”

  “But what are you going to do?”

  “I need you to think really hard. Maybe there’s something you know but didn’t think important when you spoke to Daniel.”

  Confusion creased Thelma’s brow. “Like what? I’ve told him everything I know.”

  Excitement rippled along Julia’s nerve endings as she took Thelma’s hands in her own. “You said Derek was in debt and had a gambling problem. But what about Derek himself? Tell me more about him, the person. Not the one I knew, not the friendly shop keeper everyone loved, but the man he was behind closed doors. Maybe something you thought irrelevant will be just what leads the police to finding his killer.”

  “But Derek’s life was the store. That was Derek in a nutshell. He didn’t have any hobbies apart from fishing, which I’ve already told you about. There’s nothing else I can tell you.”

  “What about his friends? Did you know any of them?”

  “Not really. We used to go dancing with a few of our friends from time to time, but Derek lost interest in doing that months ago. Any other friends he had, he kept to himself.” She pulled a hand from Julia’s to wipe aw
ay a stray tear. “But then, I never showed any interest in getting to know them, either. I was quite happy to sit here, in front of the TV without him chattering all the way through the Antiques Roadshow. Why did I do that? Why did I waste so much precious time watching TV?”

  Julia got up from the armchair and joined Thelma on the settee. She stole an arm around the older woman’s bony shoulder. “Don’t go upsetting yourself, Thelma.”

  “But there’s nothing else I can tell you, dear.” Thelma sniffed. “God knows I haven’t slept much since I lost him and I still haven’t thought of anything that will help.”

  Julia stared at a spot on the carpet, her mind working overtime. “You may have already thought of something that might help.”

  “I have?”

  Julia gave her an excited squeeze. “The store. Has anyone gone over the store with a fine tooth comb?”

  “I think so.”

  “But you’re not sure?”

  “No. Yes. I’m sure the police have. Why? Do you think they might have missed something?”

  “It’s possible. Why don’t you give me the keys and I’ll head over there first thing in the morning?” asked Julia. “I’d go tonight but I have to work and I don’t fancy looking around the store on my own after dark.”

  “But surely you’re not thinking of doing this alone? You need to ring Inspector Conway. He’ll know what to do.”

  Julia felt her cheeks heat. “I’ll be fine. There’s no need to bother him.”

  Thelma narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on? He’s a good, kind and intelligent man. Why wouldn’t you want him there? Please tell me your mother hasn’t passed her distorted views about the police onto you,” she said. “Because she’s wrong, sweetie. Heartbroken but wrong.”

  Julia found it hard to meet Thelma’s eyes. “Of course she hasn’t. I just think it would be easier if I had a look around the store by myself. There’s no point in taking up valuable police time if there’s nothing there.”

  But Thelma shook her head. “Your brother was killed in a tragic case of mistaken identity. You can not carry around this hatred of the police. You may need them one day. Ring the Inspector,” Thelma insisted.

  “OK.” Thelma touched a finger to Julia’s chin and she had no choice but to meet her eyes. “Thelma, I know what I’m doing- -”

  “Are you falling for him?” Thelma asked, softly. “Is that it?”

  Julia laughed. “Don’t be silly.”

  “You can’t fool me, my girl. I’ve known you since you were a child.”

  Julia looked away. “He’s nice, Thelma...and professional. That’s all.”

  “So why not take him with you to the store if he’s so professional?” she said with a faint smile.

  Julia stood and hitched her bag onto her shoulder. “Why don’t you stop sniffing for scandal and give me the keys instead.”

  Sighing deeply, Thelma pushed herself to her feet. “Wait there. You’re as stubborn as your father, do you know that?”

  Julia grinned. “Yep.”

  ****

  Julia tugged at the hem of her skirt, which seemed to be getting suspiciously shorter with each performance. Jacob always insisted she packed the club with her talent-—and as far as she was concerned, her ‘talent’ didn’t include her legs. At least the clothes she’d be wearing aboard the Princess II were more tasteful. The manager had told her it would be floor-length gowns and professional make-up all the way. It pleased her to think she would soon see the back of thigh-high boots and miniscule skirts.

  The band struck up the opening bars of ‘A Natural Woman’ and Julia stepped onto the stage. As she looked out into the crowd, she saw the ratio of men by far outweighed the women, and was greeted by a barrage of whooping and wolf-whistling. She forced a smile and tried not to acknowledge that half the audience had known her since she was in knee-high socks.

  Julia was in no mood to entertain tonight but she owed it to Jacob to do the best job possible until she left. She took a breath and began to sing. Just as she was coming to the half way mark of her set, she spotted two familiar figures walking through the swinging doors of the bar.

  Her heart leapt into her throat and her hand turned clammy around the microphone. How could he? How could she? Marcus led Suzie to one of the cozy booths that lined each side of the room. Nausea lurched in Julia’s stomach. She could barely stand to watch Marcus lean in close to Suzie’s ear before he turned and headed for the bar. Julia noted the tension in Suzie’s face. Who could ignore the way her hands were folded tightly together in her lap, or the way her eyes darted nervously around the room?

  Somehow Julia managed to finish her song before signaling to the lead guitarist she wanted to take the halfway break now instead of after the next track. She bowed to rapturous applause before she exited the stage and headed straight for Suzie.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Julia all but demanded, sliding into the seat beside her friend. “Weren’t you listening when I told you what Marcus is like?”

  “Don’t spoil this for me, Julia. Please.”

  “Spoil it for you? What are you talking about? I’m trying to help you.”

  Suzie pulled a packet of cigarettes from her bag. “I don’t need your help. What I need is some male company. I’ve been warming my own bed sheets for far too long.”

  The image of Marcus touching her friend was more than Julia could stomach. She snatched the cigarette from Suzie’s mouth. “You have to stop this right now. You deserve better than some psycho who’s going to start following you around, demanding to know where you are twenty-four hours a day and then—-when you eventually come to your senses—refusing to let you break things off.”

  “Marcus is not like that,” said Suzie, snatching the cigarette out of Julia’s hand and quickly lighting it.

  “So you think I’m lying?” asked Julia, incredulously.

  “Yes.”

  Julia thrust her wrist in front of Suzie’s face. “There. How’s that for lying?”

  Julia watched her friend swallow as her eyes lingered at the yellow bruising. She shrugged. “What is that supposed to prove?”

  “For God’s sake, Suze, Marcus grabbed me and dragged me across my own bloody living room trying to make me listen to him. The man’s not right.”

  “It still doesn’t mean he’d do it to me.”

  “Can you hear what you’re saying? Have you asked yourself why he’s suddenly so interested in you?”

  Suzie exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “Oh, that’s just great. You think he’s too good-looking for the likes of me? Thanks a lot, Julia.”

  “Am I interrupting something, ladies?”

  The hairs on the back of Julia’s neck stood to attention at the sound of his voice. Reluctantly, she lifted her eyes to face Marcus. His gaze locked on hers, cold and unyielding. She forced a smile.

  “Not at all.”

  “Good, good.”

  “Of course, you already know Suzie and I are good friends, don’t you?” Julia asked.

  He slid into the seat opposite them and pushed a glass of white wine toward Suzie. “Of course I do. In fact, this is more awkward than I thought it would be.”

  Julia arched an eyebrow. “Awkward?”

  “When Suzie suggested we come here for a drink, I was concerned what your reaction would be to seeing the two of us together, but Suzie insisted you wouldn’t mind at all.”

  “I don’t,” said Julia through clenched teeth.

  He smiled. “Really? I was watching you scold Suzie from the bar. There can only be two reasons why one woman would speak to another with such venom. Either you’re jealous of her shoes or her man. Which is it, Julia?”

  “You and I both know you’re with Suzie because of me, Marcus. Just admit it so Suzie can see what you’re really like.”

  He laughed, the sound icy cold. “Do you hear that, my love?” he said, reaching for Suzie’s hand but his eyes not leaving Julia’s. “I must say Julia isn’t the good frie
nd to you I thought she was.”

  Ignoring him, Julia snapped her head round to look at Suzie. “Suzie, please.”

  For a long moment, her friend met her eyes and Julia thought she was going to see sense but then Suzie shook her head. “No, Julia. We’ve been going out for nearly two months now and we love each other—”

  “Two months? You love each other? Have you lost your mind?”

  Suzie glared at her. “Yes, I love him. That’s why I haven’t told you. Marcus said you wouldn’t be happy for us.”

  Julia inhaled a long breath before slowly releasing it. “I can’t believe you’re being this naïve, Suze.” She turned on Marcus. “What have you done to her?”

  He grinned. “Me? The fact that your friend is happy and in love is something to be angry about? I really do not understand you, Julia.”

  She leaned forward. “If you two are so in love, why were you around my house just a few days ago? Letting yourself in, creeping around like—”

  “I was not in your house,” Marcus interrupted, reaching for Suzie’s hand. “Don’t start making up stories in a bid to split Suzie and I apart. It will never work.”

  “I don’t need to make up stories, Marcus. Suzie will believe me over you any day, won’t you Suze?” she asked, turning to her friend.

  Indecision shone clear in Suzie’s eyes and Julia waited for her answer with her heart thudding hard against her chest. “Suze?”

  But then Suzie squeezed Marcus’ hand. “No, Julia. I’m not going to let you do this. I love Marcus and I’d do anything for him. Can you just leave us alone now if you can’t be happy for us?”

  Julia looked from Suzie’s turned cheek to Marcus’ wolverine smile. She shook her head. “I don’t know where the hell you’re going with this, Marcus but it absolutely stinks.”

  “Why don’t you just concentrate on the handsome Inspector Conway and leave us alone, Julia? Where is he tonight by the way?” he asked, looking around the bar. “I would have imagined him sitting at the bar watching you perform. Waiting patiently to walk you home.”

  Julia stood, but as she turned to walk away, Marcus grabbed her wrist, making her wince. “How is the investigation of poor Derek Palmer’s death going by the way?”