Murder by Suggestion

by Veronica Heley

  ‘Haven’t you a decent whisky?’

  ‘No.’ She made him a cup of tea and placed it on the table before him.

  His eyes went to and fro. ‘You are a witness that she threatened me. She and that silly cow, Trish. Where are the other two hags, eh? I heard you had taken in the lot. Much good that may do you.’

  ‘Russet has gone back home, and Barbie is staying with her for a while.’

  ‘That is indecent! Russet rejoicing so soon after Walt’s death? They have no idea of how to behave. As for Kat …!’

  Ellie said, ‘Russet is not rejoicing. She is distressed about Walt’s death, and Barbie is helping her keep sane at this difficult time. As for Kat, I like and respect her. She is an excellent cook and a thrifty housekeeper. She has looked after you well. You will miss her.’

  ‘Harrumph!’ His colour was rapidly getting back to its normal pasty hue. He wasn’t much of a one for exercise, was he?

  ‘You were lucky to find her, though it wasn’t so lucky for her. Now, let us look on the bright side – I am sure she will find a position where she will be appreciated and paid a good wage. There will be alimony when you divorce, of course.’

  He bleated, ‘She stole from me.’

  ‘Nonsense. You planted that watch in her luggage. I wonder how much maintenance she can ask for when she divorces you? Half your worldly goods? That’s the usual, isn’t it?’

  ‘No, no!’

  ‘I understand you have another marital prospect in sight – someone with money of her own. Will she be as good a cook and housekeeper as Kat? Will she look after you as Kat has done?’

  He tried to dab his lips with his hankie, but it was sodden with blood.

  Ellie took the hankie off him, rinsed the blood off under the tap and handed him the roll of paper towel instead. Crossing her fingers, she said, ‘I don’t think you are a bad man or unkind. This has all got out of hand, hasn’t it? I do understand that Bunny’s death was upsetting, but you are probably regretting the day you took the emails to Evan and blew the whole thing up out of proportion. It wasn’t you who suggested that you use the emails to get rid of your wives, was it?’

  The rabbit ran for cover. ‘No, no. Far from it. I was quite taken aback. But when the others … You must admit that it was enough to frighten anyone.’

  ‘You didn’t kill Bunny, did you?’

  ‘Of course not!’

  Ellie believed him. ‘You didn’t kill Walt, either, did you?’

  ‘Walt?’ He stared at her, aghast.

  ‘You do know that Walt died yesterday afternoon?’

  ‘Why, yes. But he wasn’t killed, was he? I mean, he had a heart attack, didn’t he?’

  ‘Who told you that?’

  ‘Evan, of course. Or was it Terry? They rang me. I was in a meeting. I have finger in many pies, and I attend board meetings of various businesses on a regular basis.’ This reminder of his importance served to stiffen his back, and with returning confidence he began to preen. ‘I am something of an entrepreneur, you know. I sniff out business opportunities and invest where appropriate. It is a skill I inherited from my father and from his father before him. You can ask anyone. They will tell you that Rupert has the Midas touch in business matters.’

  ‘So you were in a meeting when Evan rang you with the news about Walt?’

  ‘Yes, indeed. In the City. I didn’t take the call until the meeting was over. I am strict about that. Mobile phones must all be switched off for the duration of the meeting. Nothing should be allowed to interrupt our proceedings. I am noted for this.’

  ‘I’m sure you are. So it was Evan who rang you? Or Terry?’

  ‘Both. They left messages, which I took on my way home in the car. I use a chauffeur-driven car when I attend meetings. It is false economy to travel by public transport.’

  Ellie thought of Kat walking to a distant supermarket to save the bus fare, and she hardened her heart against this monstrous little man.

  He twisted round in his chair. ‘Is there a mirror? What do I look like? Have you cleaned off all the blood?’

  To be truthful, he looked a mess. She said, ‘I’ll show you to the downstairs toilet in a minute.’ While she had him at her disposal, so to speak, she might as well tie up a loose end or two. ‘As a matter of interest, when did you discover the emails on your laptop? I suppose it was some time after Bunny’s death?’

  He stood up, fussing with his collar. ‘No, no. Long before that. We had a good laugh when I first discovered them. Fenella said, just joking of course, that—’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘A friend of mine. We’re both on the board of a company in which I have an interest. She said we should take precautions or we’d all be murdered in our beds. Then Bunny died, and it was no longer a laughing matter. I remembered it was Diana who had suggested that method of disposing of her husband, and that’s when I showed them to Evan. Which way to the toilet?’

  She showed him where it was and then cleared the table of the tea things.

  If they’d known about the emails some time before Bunny’s death, then … No, wait a minute, Rupert hadn’t shown the emails to his friends until after Bunny had been found dead.

  Was that right?

  She looked at the clock. She must think about getting something ready for supper. She was a little surprised that Kat hadn’t appeared to help. But then, Kat wouldn’t want to go anywhere near her husband, would she? Kat would wait till he’d gone. And the sooner the better.

  Ellie explored fridge and freezer which looked sad, almost empty. She found a couple of pizzas waiting to be topped up with cheese and tomatoes, but there were only two which wouldn’t feed all of them, and there weren’t enough chicken joints to go round. Susan often spent an evening trying out different recipes which Ellie and Thomas would taste, putting the leftovers into the freezer, but there were only small portions of such things left. There might be something under a stack of frozen vegetables in the corner but … She gave up.

  When would Susan be back? Ellie checked her watch, which was running slow. Or had it actually stopped? She wouldn’t be surprised if it had. So many things had gone wrong that day. In the back of her mind she was thinking over what she’d learned. She’d assumed that the emails had only come to light after Bunny’s death, but Rupert said he’d found them earlier and hadn’t taken them to his friends until after that tragic event. Which meant …

  She couldn’t work out what it meant.

  Except that only the women and Rupert had been aware of the suggestions for killing off their spouses until after Bunny died.

  Plus a woman called Fenella. But she had nothing to do with this business, did she?

  Rupert came fussing out of the toilet, carrying his soiled jacket, and with a damp patch down the front of his shirt. He was stowing away his mobile phone. Had he been on the phone to someone while he’d been in the toilet?

  He said, ‘Tell that bitch to get down here, pronto. I’m taking her to the police station, now, this minute, and charging her with theft.’

  Ellie stared at him. Was he mad?

  ‘Get a move on!’

  Ellie ignored him, so he went to the bottom of the stairs and yelled for Kat.

  Ellie gasped, ‘You can’t do that! I won’t let you!’ A thought occurred to her. That phone call he’d just made. Was it to this Fenella person, whoever she might be? She said, ‘Is Fenella the wealthy widow you’re hoping to marry next?’

  He gave her a narrow, suspicious look. ‘She’s an old friend. That’s all.’

  ‘I’m sure Kat’s solicitor will be happy to hear about Fenella. Does she know you intend to make her act as cook and maid of all work as well as wife? Does she know you expect her to walk to the supermarket to save the delivery charge? Not many women would put up with that.’

  He gave her a cold look. ‘What would you know about it? Mind your own business. And, if you won’t get Kat down here, I’ll have to go up and fetch her.’

  The thought of puny
little Rupert dragging Kat’s substantial figure down the stairs made Ellie want to laugh. But she didn’t. The situation was rapidly getting out of control and she didn’t know how to deal with it.

  Normality returned when the doorbell rang. Ellie opened it to find the delivery had arrived from the supermarket. Ellie dithered. The food must all be put away in the fridge or freezer at once and Rupert was very much in the way. She said, ‘Rupert, please go!’

  Rupert gobbled, ‘What, what?’ He refused to move.

  Ellie said, ‘Go away, you nasty little man, or I’ll … I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll do something!’

  The delivery man helped her out. ‘Want him removed, missus?’

  ‘Definitely,’ said Ellie, and was amused to see that the delivery man did no more than gesture at Rupert to be on his way, and Rupert left.

  Kat and Trish appeared in the hall. Ellie considered telling Kat what Rupert was threatening to do next but decided to wait. It was more important to get the food stowed away, and anyway, she didn’t think anyone would take Rupert’s babblings seriously. If they did, Trish and Ellie could bear witness that Rupert was making up his claim that Kat had stolen from him. So Ellie, Kat and Trish unpacked everything and put it away.

  Finally, Ellie looked around the ground floor. Little Evan’s toys littered the sitting-room floor. She picked up those she could see and dropped them back into their box. That made the room look better.

  The hall was still encumbered with luggage, but the piles had been reduced in size though they did seem to have spread out more. An attempt had been made to make passageways through to the stairs and down the corridor to the Quiet Room and the library.

  Ellie’s anxiety levels remained high. Where was Thomas? And Diana? Had she returned little Evan to his father, or what? Ellie wondered if her home would ever be free of guests again.

  Trish said, ‘You’ve been so good to us, Mrs Quicke. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. We’ve tried to clear up a bit and tomorrow we’ll be out of your hair.’

  Kat said, ‘Can we help with supper?’

  ‘Thanks, that would be good,’ said Ellie. ‘By the way, do either of you know a woman called Fenella?’

  FOURTEEN

  Tuesday late afternoon.

  Trish and Kat looked at one another with raised eyebrows.

  Trish shook her head.

  Ellie said, ‘Rupert says she’s an old friend of his.’

  Kat shook her head, too. ‘Is possible. He does not entertain at home. Too expensive. He is always busy, busy, but he tells me it is no business of mine what he does, and I do not know about his friends except at the golf club.’

  Ellie said, ‘Rupert says Fenella is on the board of a firm with him. Is he on the board of many firms?’

  Kat shrugged. ‘He tells me that, yes. He is important man. Many firms ask for his advice.’

  Then everything happened at once. The phone rang, and someone scratched at the door trying to use a key to get in.

  ‘Mother, can you help!’ It was a demand, not a plea. Ellie hastened to help her daughter open the door, to find Diana trying to fit her key into the door while holding a sleeping toddler in her arms.

  The phone continued to ring. Trish said, ‘Shall I answer it?’ And, seeing that Ellie was fully occupied in taking little Evan into her own arms, did so. ‘Mrs Quicke’s house.’

  ‘I took him to the park, trying to keep him awake,’ said Diana, ‘but he’s so tired, poor little mite. I’m afraid he won’t sleep tonight but I don’t know what else I can do to keep him awake till bedtime.’

  ‘Yes?’ said Trish, on the phone.

  Before Ellie could shut the front door, Thomas drew up in his car and parked. He trudged to the front door, eyes down. Exhausted. His day hadn’t gone well?

  Ellie found the toddler too heavy to hold for long. ‘Diana, what do you want done with little Evan?’

  ‘Give him to me,’ said Kat. ‘Poor little boy. He needs a nice hot bath and some food. Does he have a bottle of milk now and then? We will give him a little nap and then wake him up for playtime soon.’ Little Evan half woke to find himself surrendered into a stranger’s arms, but he didn’t object. Ellie had the fancy that Kat probably smelled of comfort and had the sort of bosom which woke distant memories of breastfeeding in a small boy. Maybe Kat should have been a children’s nanny instead of a housekeeper?

  ‘Yes?’ said Trish, with her finger stuck in one ear so that she could hear who was on the other end of the phone. ‘Oh, yes, I think so. I’m sure that would be all right.’

  A motorbike turned into the drive and coughed into silence. Rafael and Susan divested themselves of their helmets and came in to join the party. Rafael was burdened with several large bundles.

  Thomas kissed Ellie. ‘Are you all right?’

  Ellie responded. ‘I am. How are you?’

  A quick smile from Thomas, and an even quicker hug. ‘All right.’

  Diana tugged at Ellie’s arm. ‘Mother! Pay attention. Have you rung Gunnar?’

  Kat swayed, cuddling little Evan in her arms. ‘Poor little boy. There, there,’ she crooned to him.

  Ellie didn’t know who to attend to first. She said, ‘Diana, you look exhausted. Why don’t you let Kat deal with little Evan while you go and have a nice lie down?’ Avoiding the subject of ringing Gunnar.

  Ellie felt Thomas’s arm around her and allowed herself to rest against him for a blissful second or two. Thomas surveyed the chaos in the hall and looked amused. ‘Home, sweet home with you, Ellie, in charge as usual. I love it. You don’t mind if I fire off a few emails before supper, do you? I have to send the stuff to the new printer tonight.’

  Trish put the phone down. ‘That was Barbie. Russet’s brother has arrived and is taking them out for a meal. Barbie says can she come by and pick up her black tote bag which she must have left here by mistake.’

  Rafael got himself and Susan into the hall and shut the front door behind him. ‘I brought my sleeping bag, Mrs Quicke.’ And pillows, as well?

  Diana wrenched at Ellie’s arm. ‘Mother, I can’t possibly relax until I know what Gunnar’s prepared to do for me!’

  Ellie thought that Thomas might think she was in control, but it didn’t feel like it. She considered having a tantrum. She thought what a pleasure it would be to lie down on the floor and scream and wave her arms and legs about. She could imagine their horrified faces if she did. But of course she didn’t.

  She said, ‘Diana, I haven’t been able to speak to Gunnar yet but I’ll keep trying. Go on – take a nap while Kat looks after little Evan. She knows what she’s doing with children.’ For a wonder, Diana obeyed her. She must indeed be exhausted.

  Ellie turned to Trish. ‘I ought to get supper started. Chicken casserole was suggested, wasn’t it?’

  ‘For how many?’ That was Susan. ‘Come along, Trish. I’ll help. We’ll all feel better when we’ve eaten.’

  Ellie now had time to turn to Thomas. ‘I’m so glad you’ve got it fixed, Thomas, even if it does mean you working late. Supper in an hour, right?’

  He kissed her and departed to the library.

  That left Rafael and Ellie. She said, ‘I’m very grateful for your help, Rafael, but surely you don’t need to stay tonight as well?’

  ‘Have you discovered who’s knocking off the husbands?’

  She shook her head. ‘I don’t think any of them are doing it.’ She considered what she’d said and shrugged. ‘It doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘Then I stay.’

  Ellie tried to think. ‘Two of the wives left today. Little Evan will have his own room back, but the bedroom at the end of the corridor should be free now that Barbie’s gone. Maybe Kat can move into that, or perhaps you’d like to use it?’

  ‘I’ll have a look.’ He disappeared upstairs. The doorbell rang again.

  This time it was Barbie at the door. A family-style Toyota was in the drive, with a youngish man in the driving seat and Russet sitting beside
him.

  ‘Sorry to be such a nuisance,’ said Barbie. ‘I did ring and Trish said it was all right if I came by for my black tote bag. Russet’s brother is taking us out but I think I left my tote … oh!’

  It wasn’t where she’d left it. It wasn’t surprising that it wasn’t there, considering how much had been going on, but neither Barbie nor Ellie were in good shape to tackle yet another problem.

  Ellie tried one or two piles and couldn’t see a black tote bag. ‘I’m afraid things have got moved around a bit. We tried to clear up but … And then there was a visitor.’

  ‘Yes, of course. It’s been a terrible time. Russet is coping quite well, but I’m not sure her brother is going to be much help. He has his own problems, just when we could do with …’ Barbie was hanging on to her composure by her fingernails. ‘I wouldn’t worry about the tote, only it has some paperwork in it that I need.’

  ‘Of course. Is it in this pile at the back of the stairs?’

  ‘That’s Trish’s stuff, isn’t it? I’m so sorry. I’m forgetting my manners. Is she all right?’

  ‘Doing well. Is this it?’ Ellie unearthed a red and black striped tote bag.

  Barbie grabbed it. ‘Yes. Thank you. I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I said it was just black. I mean, I know it’s red and black, but somehow—’

  ‘You’re still in shock. Think nothing of it. You’ll feel better after something to eat. Keep in touch, won’t you?’

  Barbie produced a hankie, blew her nose and wiped her eyes. ‘So stupid of me. So much to take in. You know?’

  ‘Yes, yes. And now you have to support Russet as well. You’re strong. You’ll cope.’

  ‘I don’t feel strong, but you’re right. I have to keep going.’

  Ellie wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow she found herself embracing Barbie, who hugged her back. They disengaged to smile briefly at one another, recognizing a kindred spirit under stress.

  Ellie accompanied Barbie to the front door. ‘By the way, Rupert came round today. Mentioned someone called Fenella. Is she the woman he’s proposing to marry next?’

  ‘I wouldn’t think so. She’s Bunny’s first wife. Dreadful woman.’