Murder by Suggestion

by Veronica Heley

  Trish had her hands to her mouth. ‘How awful! Was it a heart attack? I know he takes pills for high blood pressure.’

  ‘I suppose so,’ said Barbie, in that same detached voice.

  There was a sudden chill in the room. Ellie glanced at the window, but it was shut. Barbie clicked the overhead light on. The ‘click’ sounded extra loud. Barbie drew the curtains across the window. Barbie’s face was pale, but she was still functioning.

  Trish turned away and leaned against the door. Tears came. ‘Whatever next?’

  Ellie looked around. Four discarded wives were there, but where was the fifth? Diana must still be in with Lesley. They’d missed all the fun, hadn’t they?

  Ellie looked at Kat and jerked her head towards Trish. Kat understood. She put her arm around Trish. ‘You come along with me, Trish. It is one horrible day, no? You have a nice lie down in your bedroom now.’ She nodded to Ellie and Ellie nodded back. Kat would look after Trish.

  Russet stopped shuddering. Her eyes were closed, but she gasped for breath. Hyperventilating? Ellie pulled her to a sitting position. ‘Take a deep breath. And another. That’s it. You’ll soon feel better.’

  Gradually Russet began to breathe more easily.

  Rafael arrived with a mug of sweetened tea and a pack of aspirins.

  Barbie said, ‘Aspirin won’t touch it. I’ve got some sleeping tablets somewhere. Shall I see if I can find them?’

  Ellie stopped her. ‘Not on an empty stomach. Has she eaten anything today apart from a couple of biscuits? Probably not. She ought to eat something first, don’t you think?’

  Barbie nodded. She sat on the bed and lifted the mug to Russet’s mouth. ‘Take a sip, now. That’s it!’

  Russet shot upright, pushing the mug of tea away. ‘Walt …? It can’t be true. That awful woman would say anything to … He can’t be dead, surely! It’s his heart! I’ve told him and told him he ought to lose weight. I should go to him. If they get him to hospital in time, they may be able to revive him.’ She threw back the duvet and made as if to get up, but Ellie and Barbie coaxed her to lie down again.

  Ellie said, ‘I’ll check for you, shall I?’

  Russet wasn’t listening. ‘I was so angry with him this morning! I could willingly have throttled him! How could he! And now … Oh, surely it’s not true! Tell me it’s not true!’

  Barbie soothed her. ‘Mrs Quicke will find out.’

  Russet’s scarlet fingernails clutched the duvet in desperation. ‘I ought to be there. With him. Which hospital do you think they’ll have taken him to? I’ve just remembered, I’m short of cash. Can you lend me some, Barbie? I was going to draw some out, but … I can’t think why I didn’t. Oh, I know. I’d seen some of the claret that Walt likes best. It was on sale in the wine shop window. I thought I’d get a case for him as a surprise, and I forgot about drawing out some more cash. I was thinking about how pleased he was going to be when I turned into the drive and then everything went wrong. Oh, how could he!’

  Barbie rocked Russet to and fro, saying, ‘There, there.’

  ‘I’m so angry with him! Tell me he’s not dead!’

  Barbie looked up at Ellie. ‘She comforted me when Bunny died. I couldn’t believe it at first, either. It takes time.’

  Neither of these women had expected their husbands to die on them. They may not have loved them deeply but they were fond enough of them to carry on with their marriages, even though they had no illusions about their men.

  Ellie said, ‘I won’t be a minute.’ She hoped Lesley would still be in the dining room talking to Diana, and indeed she was, poring over some papers on the table before her. Or rather, Lesley was there, but Diana wasn’t.

  Ellie shut the door to the hall behind her. ‘Lesley. A problem. One of the wives has just had a phone call from a neighbour, who claims that Russet’s husband has been found lying in his hall this afternoon, and that he’s dead. An ambulance was called, and then a police car. Can you check?’

  ‘What?’ Lesley looked from Ellie to the printout of the emails she was holding. ‘You’re having me on.’

  ‘I wish I were. His name is Walt. Short for Walter. I’m not sure what his surname is but it may be somewhere on the emails.’

  Lesley looked. ‘Wade. The surname for Russet appears to be Wade. As in Wade’s Pharmaceuticals, I suppose?’

  ‘Russet is in shock. She’s in denial, hoping he’s not dead, that it’s just a heart attack and he’s been taken to hospital. She wants to go to him, but she’s not fit. I’m wondering whether to call a doctor for her.’

  ‘Doctors don’t pay house calls any more, do they?’ Lesley stabbed at one of the emails. ‘Someone – not her – in the emails suggested Walt might take a dive down the stairs.’

  Ellie winced. ‘No, it wasn’t her, and I don’t know how he died. She’s half out of her mind, not knowing what’s happened.’

  Lesley picked up her phone.

  Ellie hovered. She didn’t believe in this many coincidences. One coincidence – that of Bunny’s getting his pills mixed up as foreshadowed in the emails – was suspicious but could just about be ruled acceptable. If Walt really had tumbled to his death down the stairs … No, that would be one coincidence too many. If true.

  Let’s hope it was a heart attack.

  Lesley spoke into her phone, listened. And spoke again. She put the phone down. ‘Police were called to an address in Uppercross Road this afternoon. A gardener had arrived by appointment to cut the hedges. He needed access to a power point so tried to rouse someone in the house. He knocked in vain, used his phone. Heard it ringing inside, looked through the glass in the front door and saw a man lying in the hall at the foot of the stairs. He called the ambulance and the police. So it’s true.’

  ‘It doesn’t mean Walt fell down the stairs.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t. There will have to be an autopsy.’ Lesley grimaced. ‘If we go by these emails and they discover he was pushed … Could his wife have done it?’

  ‘No. She returned home from the shops about eleven, not expecting trouble. Walt then told her to get out. She says there were contract cleaners in her house already, clearing out her things. They can bear witness to the fact that Walt was still alive when she left. The neighbour also saw her leaving. As she was on the point of departure, Diana phoned Russet and suggested they meet up here. She was the first of the wives to arrive. Thomas was here and let her in. We can ask him what time that was, but I think it gives her an alibi, because she’s been here ever since. Walt did have high blood pressure. It could be that.’

  Lesley was doubtful but trying to make sense of events. ‘She could have arranged to be out of the way so that someone else could kill him for her?’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘No. She’s in shock. She had no idea.’

  Lesley drew the papers towards her and picked up her pen. ‘Which cleaning firm was it, do you know? They could confirm if she left when she said. I must speak to Thomas to verify what time she arrived.’ She dropped her pen. ‘No, I can’t, can I?’

  ‘Why not? He’s got his own troubles at the moment, but he’s here. I’ll call him for you, shall I?’

  ‘No, I mean that I can’t get involved.’

  ‘Why not? You talked to Kat, and you talked to Diana. Where is she, by the way?’

  Lesley shrugged. ‘She said she had to make a phone call. Look, Ellie. I talked to Kat and to Diana informally, off the record. Bunny’s death had been written off as misadventure, so I could chat to them about it without cautioning them.’

  ‘So? Now you have read the emails?’

  ‘They left me wondering about coincidences but not at all sure it changed anything with regard to Bunny’s death. I was acting out of curiosity as a private person and a friend of yours when I talked to Kat and Diana, not as a police officer.’

  ‘That’s splitting hairs.’

  Lesley thrust her fingers back through her hair. ‘Yes, you’re right. I’ve made a mistake. Two accidental deaths is one
thing, but not when you add the emails to the mix. I have to take the emails back to the station and see what the super says. If he says it’s all just a series of coincidences, then that’s all right. If he decides they’re evidence of motive for murder then I can’t – as your friend and having some prior knowledge of Diana – compromise any investigation by speaking to anyone else. It’s not my case and the odds are against it being given to me. Look, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Until then, you’ll keep the women here, won’t you?’ She gathered up her papers and left, banging the front door behind her.

  Ellie told herself that she mustn’t feel let down. Lesley was a good police officer. She could not jeopardize her career by ignoring the emails. It was not up to her to decide which cases needed investigation and which did not. This latest death might well be an accident. Well, it might.

  Though Ellie did not believe that it was.

  What a mess!

  Ellie climbed the stairs again, only to meet Barbie coming out on to the landing, carefully shutting the door of the room in which Russet lay.

  Ellie said, ‘I’m afraid it’s true. He is dead.’

  Barbie nodded. In a low voice, she said, ‘Yes, she remembered the gardener was due today. She had his number on her phone and I’ve just got through to him for her. He says he’s on his way home now after having made a statement to the police. He says the police are still there, but Walt’s body has been removed. He wants to know …’ Barbie gulped but managed to control herself. ‘He wants to know if Russet wants him to come back and do the hedge tomorrow.’

  Barbie swayed. Ellie caught Barbie’s hands and held her steady.

  Barbie closed her eyes for a count of five. She took a deep breath and opened them again. Barbie was not going to let this get her down. She said, ‘Do you think the police will want her to return home? She’s still got her keys, and the car.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Ellie. ‘I’m in touch with the police. I’ll ask them, if you like.’

  ‘I’m not sure she’s fit to deal with it yet.’ Barbie removed her hands from Ellie and flicked back her hair. Barbie was not accustomed to asking for help from anyone else, was she?

  Ellie said, ‘No, I could see it was a shock.’

  ‘I know I wasn’t capable even of making a cup of tea when Bunny died. Poleaxed, I was. Sat in a chair and stared at the television set and it wasn’t even on. Russet came round and got me to go for a walk with her, twice a day, and forced me to eat something. She helped me with the funeral arrangements and phoning around to everyone. She was great.’

  Barbie looked back at the closed door. ‘As we speak, she’s ringing her brother. He lives in Ipswich. It will take him for ever to get over here tomorrow even if he can get away, and then I’m not sure what good he’ll be. He’s not exactly the world’s most … She’s his elder sister. She pretty well brought him up. He relies on her for everything. Now it’s the other way around and I’m wondering whether he can cope. He’s married with three young children, but his eldest daughter has more sense in her little finger than he has in his whole body. His wife’s not much better. Feckless, both of them. Knowing that pair, I don’t suppose they’ll even offer to have her stay with them for a while.’

  ‘It’s good to have family around you in times of trouble. Just having him here will help her.’

  That wasn’t entirely true, but it was the thing one was expected to say.

  Barbie tried to smile. ‘Not my family, I can tell you. Not hers, either.’ She took another deep breath. ‘Mrs Quicke, you’ve been very kind. Beyond the call of duty. How dreadful of us to impose on you. If I’d had a chance to think … But being thrown out like that … I wasn’t myself. I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I can. I’m sure I can find somewhere to go tomorrow.’

  Lesley wants the women to stay here. Do I tell Barbie that? No, she doesn’t need to know they’re all under suspicion, especially if the police decide there’s no cause for alarm.

  Ellie said, ‘You’re very welcome.’

  Barbie was thinking hard. ‘Russet might not want to stop on in that big house by herself. If she wants me to, maybe I can call in some favours, find someone who’ll lend or rent me a flat somewhere nearby so that I can stick around to help her through the next couple of weeks. Just till she can sort herself out.’

  ‘It’s early days.’ Do I mention that Rafael might be able to help? Not yet.

  ‘I’ll find some work, somewhere. I still have contacts in the arts world. Only a few weeks ago someone asked if I’d help out, part-time, with an exhibition he’s staging in Bond Street. I’m sure I can pick up something.’

  Ellie admired Barbie’s resilience. ‘You’re a survivor.’

  ‘I hope so. I cling to that thought. Mrs Quicke, I hate to add to your problems, but I think Russet ought to stay in bed for a while. May I scrounge some food for her and me, and bring it back upstairs to eat with her? You’re right. We haven’t eaten today and could do with something, anything, to keep us going.’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  I must find Diana and shake some sense into her!

  Barbie turned away, and then turned back, frowning. ‘Trish; I’m worried about her, too. She’s not going back to that ghastly husband of hers, is she? We’ve been trying to talk some sense into her, but she’s far too soft. Perfect victim material.’

  ‘Kat is looking after her.’

  Barbie nodded. ‘That’s a relief. Kat needs someone to look after, and she’s got a lot of common sense. She won’t let Trish sacrifice herself.’ She went back into Russet’s room. Ellie checked that the big guest room to which Diana had taken her things was empty – it was – and went downstairs to look for her daughter, trying not to worry. For one thing, she didn’t know where she’d put Kat to sleep tonight.

  Diana came out of the downstairs cloakroom and crossed into the sitting room. Ellie called out, but her daughter seemed deaf and blind. Ellie followed Diana into the sitting room to find her standing at the window, gazing out into the dusk. It was raining. Inside and out.

  ‘Diana?’

  No response. Diana had discarded her black jacket, and the collar of her white blouse was undone. Unusual, that. Diana was as pale as her shirt. Her face looked puffy. She was not her normal immaculate self.

  Ellie remembered seeing Diana look like that before. She reached for the nearest chair and subsided into it. ‘You’re pregnant.’

  Diana responded with the tiniest of nods.

  ‘How many weeks?’

  A shrug. ‘Nine. My dear husband was very active just before his birthday.’

  ‘You haven’t said anything because …?’

  ‘I had a miss at the end of last year, and another six months ago. I might have had another. I was going to wait for the three-month scan.’

  Ellie didn’t know whether to be pleased or sad. Diana hadn’t been a good mother to her first child, who lived with her long-divorced first husband, but she’d been a devoted mother to the little boy who was the result of her union with Evan, the Great White Shark.

  Ellie wanted to know, ‘Was it a mistake?’

  A shrug. ‘Perhaps. Sometimes I thought one was enough because I wanted to get stuck in at work, but occasionally I thought it might be nice to have a little girl, though I suppose Evan would want another boy. I didn’t really think much about it, since I’ve had at least two misses. I wasn’t nauseous before, but this time … I thought I had plenty of time to decide whether I wanted an abortion or not. Today has decided me.’

  Ellie’s stomach plunged. ‘You don’t want the baby now?’

  ‘Of course I do. Don’t be ridiculous, Mother. Of course I want it. Her. I’m pretty sure it’s a girl. You’ll say I can’t possibly tell yet, but I know, and Evan will have to lump it.’

  ‘You have to tell him.’

  ‘Do you really think it will make a difference? How little you know him. He’s got another piece of arm candy in his sights. All of thirty-five, ble
ached blonde, a figure which has been expensively enhanced and pound signs in her baby-blue eyes.’

  ‘If you knew about her …?’

  ‘I knew and I didn’t know, if you see what I mean. It’s this new nanny he engaged when I was busy with the sale of the penthouse in the town centre. It did cross my mind once or twice that he fancied her, but she’s got a boyfriend already and I thought he wouldn’t dare divorce me because it would be too expensive. Only, he’s found a way around that too, hasn’t he, by accusing me of murder?’ She did up her blouse. ‘So. I’ve got to fight him for custody of my son. You’ve spoken to Gunnar about representing me, haven’t you?’

  ‘Not yet. I’m not sure I can afford him. There’s a problem with finance. You know I can’t access trust money for my own personal use.’

  ‘So, mortgage this house, why don’t you? It’s absurd you living in such a big place, anyway. You must downsize. Move into a small flat somewhere.’

  Ellie was shocked. ‘Certainly not. Let me remind you that I couldn’t put you and your friends up, even in makeshift fashion, if I didn’t live in a big house.’

  ‘Don’t make difficulties, Mother. This is important.’

  ‘Indeed it is. I shall do nothing without thinking things through. What about you? Have you enough money to retain a solicitor?’

  ‘I put everything I’ve got into a big new scheme for the town centre. I mean, everything.’

  ‘Was that a good idea?’

  ‘Yes. I don’t expect you to understand. It’s the golden pot at the end of the rainbow.’

  Oh dear. It’s fairy gold time again. Diana has always cut corners and placed her faith in projects which fail to deliver.

  Diana was restless. She stood at the window, tapping on the glass. An irritating habit. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. She said, ‘I rang home just now. They refused to let me speak to my son. I could hear him crying in the background. They said – she, Monique, said – that he’s got his nanny and doesn’t need me any more.’ She swung away from the window. ‘I’ll get him back. Of course I will. If necessary, I’ll collect him from the nursery and bring him here.’