by Agatha Frost
"She didn't know who'd bought those specific flowers that were left at the scene," Julia said, almost to herself. "But if she's been murdered, she must have figured it out and confronted the person who bought them."
"We find the person who bought the flowers -"
"And we find the culprit," Julia jumped in, her mind suddenly switching to her early morning meeting. "Barker, there's something important I need to tell you. Are you needed here, or can we go home to talk?"
"I only came because Christie called me," Barker said. "I'm here unofficially. We might be interrupting Jessie's reunion with her friend if we go back now. How about your café? I know it's early, but I'm sure you'll have customers lining up when word of this spreads."
"Reunion?" Julia asked, grabbing Barker's arm as the words caught in her throat. "What reunion?"
"One of the builders," Barker replied with a shrug. "He said he knew Jessie and wanted to say hello."
"What did he look like?"
Barker thought for a moment as he stared curiously at Julia. She nodded to rush him, her mind racing once again.
"Has something happened?" Barker asked, his hands landing on Julia's shoulders. "You've gone pale."
"What did the builder look like, Barker?"
"I don't know," Barker said with a shake of his head. "He was about my height. Dark hair and eyes. He had some tattoos, and -"
Not needing to hear another word, Julia grabbed Barker's hand and dragged him towards the blue and white tape. They ducked underneath just as the forensic van pulled up.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Barker cried as they sped up the winding lane towards their cottage, passing the building site at lightning speed. "Who is he, Julia?"
Julia tried to explain everything to Barker, but the words would not form into sentences in her brain. She screeched to a halt in front of her cottage right behind Alfie's motorbike.
Without even taking the keys out of the ignition, Julia cranked up her handbrake, burst out of her car and down the garden path. She flung open her cottage door, stopping in her tracks when she saw Jessie and Alfie standing together in the hallway. Jessie was holding the Polaroid picture in her hands, her dark brows tensed firmly over her eyes.
"Jessie?" Julia called out, her voice shaking. "Let me explain -"
But Jessie was not interested in hearing anything Julia had to say. She looked down at the picture, and then up at Alfie. The picture fell out of her hands, and she barged past Julia and out of the cottage, almost knocking her to the ground in the process.
"It's her," Alfie mumbled. "It's really her."
Unable to be the one to comfort him, Julia spun on her heels, almost banging into Barker as he made his way up the garden path. She ran into the road and stood between the motorbike and her still-running car. She looked up and down the winding lane, but Jessie was nowhere to be seen.
"Is someone going to explain to me what's going on?" Barker cried.
11
Julia did not see Jessie in the days following her discovery of Alfie. She did not know if it was because she was angry at Julia for not telling her, or scared of the truth, but Jessie had been hiding at Billy's and refused to see or speak to Julia. Even though she had taken her some clean clothes, Jessie had declined to come to the door to show Julia that she was even still alive.
Julia had also not seen or heard from Alfie. She had searched for the builder, but he had checked out of the B&B and had not been seen around the village. She knew Jessie running away and hiding must have felt like a rejection, but because he was no longer around, Julia could not explain to him that it was Jessie’s way of dealing with things.
Harriet's murder had been just enough to keep Julia distracted from the drama happening in her family. It was all people had talked about in her café since the morning of the murder, but she had heard no one linking it to Shane's death. Aside from in the context of 'another death so soon after that builder', no other residents aside from Julia suspected a connection. The narrative of a 'burglary gone wrong' had circulated the village at whirlwind speed, no doubt thanks to DS Christie. Despite having no evidence to prove it was such a thing, he seemed set on his theory, and nothing Julia could say would budge him.
Julia had tried her best to discover who had bought the flowers, or even where they had gone, but she had come up with nothing. Billy had asked the other builders if any of them had seen the flowers while they were laid at the site, but nobody had. If not for the vague photograph on her phone, Julia might have believed the flowers had been nothing more than a figment of her overactive imagination.
By Wednesday afternoon, Julia was leaning against the counter in her café, flicking through the bridal magazines but barely paying any attention. She smiled at the odd customers when they came in for their orders, but she felt as far from smiling as any woman could.
After the builders, minus Alfie and Billy, came into the café for their lunch, Julia was glad to be clearing up their mess to give her something to do. When Katie pushed open the door with the end of Vinnie's pram, Julia's first genuine smile of the day appeared.
"Go and see your big sister," Katie said, reaching into the pram to grab Vinnie. "He's looking more and more like your father as the days pass."
Julia held her brother, who was heavier than he looked. He frowned up at her, his hazel eyes taking in his older sister. His wispy brown hair had started to thicken, and despite being a baby, Katie was right about him looking like her father. As she stared at her brother, she realised this would have been the age Jessie was when her parents died. The thought unsettled her, so she passed Vinnie back, playing it off as needing to get back to sweeping up the crumbs under the tables.
"I've just come from the mother and baby group with Sue," Katie announced as she placed Vinnie back in his pram. "I didn't even know Peridale had one, but it turns out the village hall has all sorts for tots. We've signed up for a music class next week."
"With my sister?" Julia asked with an arched brow. "My sister Sue?"
"The very same," Katie replied with a shrill giggle. "Who knew we had so much in common? We've been spending so much time together since we chatted about Candy, although just between us, I'm sick and tired of having that diva at my house."
"Oh?" Julia said, resting on her broom as she stared at Katie. "Has something happened?"
"Not exactly," Katie said with a sigh as she planted herself in one of the seats. "But she's taken over the place! Your father can't go into his study, she's taken the biggest guest room, which is where I liked watching my shows when your father was watching his sports. And the arguments! Oh, the constant arguing! It's not healthy for Vinnie hearing all of that. Your father and I never argue, and now it’s constant. I'm leaving the house every chance I get because seeing her face is making me want to tell her to leave. I can't do that though, can I? We're old friends."
Julia thought back to the comment Candy had made about them being 'acquaintances' rather than 'friends', but she decided not to mention anything. If Katie found out Candy was using her for free accommodation, it would likely start a war, the likes of which Peridale had never seen.
"Candy and Harold argue a lot?" Julia asked casually as she carried on sweeping. "I wouldn't have thought Harold was the type."
"He's not," Katie said with a sigh. "But she is. She's always been like that. She could start an argument with a brick wall if she thought it was looking at her funny. She once started a screaming match with me at a photo shoot because she said I'd stolen her hair extensions. They had to shut the whole thing down because she was hysterical and out of control. I had stolen her hair extensions, but that's not the point. I'd forgotten mine, so I needed something. They were cheap ratty things anyway, so I ended up pulling them right out of my head and throwing them at her. You should have seen her face! That was the last time I saw her. We were friends before that, so when she called me to ask if I was still living in Peridale, I decided to let it slide. Be the bigger person, ya know
? Now that I'm a mother, I didn't want to hold onto those old childish arguments. We were both different people back then, but I don't think she's grown out of it."
"Sounds like she has an anger problem," Julia suggested as she gathered up the empty plates, the image of Candy holding a bloodied brick after whacking Shane not difficult to conjure up. "What do they argue about?"
"Anything and everything," Katie said with a roll of her eyes as she pushed her blonde hair away from her face. "It was a pair of shoes last night. She thought he'd moved them. Turns out Hilary had moved them because she'd just kicked them off at the front door. We have a place for everything at the manor, especially now that Hilary is walking with that crutch. It's not safe to leave things on the floor. I have to be so careful with Vinnie's toys, but Candy didn't care. When she was finished unloading her anger on poor Harold, she turned on Hilary, but you know what Hilary is like. I thought she was going to hit Candy with her stick. I think she might have done it if she didn't need it to stand upright. Part of me wished she had. I feel so awful saying all of this. We go so far back, but I don't have the energy for all of that anymore."
"And Harold never bites back?"
"Never!" Katie exclaimed, her voice squeaking. "Not until this morning, anyway. Oh, you should have been there. The house shook when Candy slammed the front door. I couldn't believe what I overheard."
Julia stopped gathering the plates and turned to Katie, eager to know what she had overheard. Katie looked around her as though expecting Candy to be standing behind her, but when she saw that the coast was clear, she leaned in with a concealed grin.
"Candy started on one of her rants as usual," Katie whispered. "I wasn't listening because you learn to tune it out, but Harold bit back. When I heard his voice raise, my ears pricked up. They have the bedroom next to mine, so I put my ear up against the wall. Your father thought I was over the top, but I wanted to hear what he had to say. Poor man barely speaks. He said he knew what she'd done with - well, I didn't hear what he said properly. Vinnie sneezed. It sounded like he said 'shade', but I don't know what that means."
"Shane?" Julia jumped in.
"It might have been!" Katie cried, clicking her fingers together. "He said 'I know what you did with Shane, and I'm not going to put up with it this time. I'm tired'. And then he slapped her. Sounded really hard. It was so loud it made me hold my breath. Then, I heard Candy scream and storm out. The door slammed, and she drove off. I haven't seen her since. Part of me hopes she doesn't come back."
Julia sat down across from Katie, her mind racing once again. She had needed confirmation of Harold knowing about Candy's affair to think of him as a suspect, and now that she had it, she was unsure of what to think.
"If I told you I saw Candy kissing a man in an alley that wasn't her husband, what would you say?" Julia asked carefully.
"I'd say that sounds like Candy," Katie said with a chuckle. "She'll never change. Even back then, she was married to Harold and messing around with the male models behind his back. I never said anything because I'm a good friend, but we all knew what she was up to. She never even tried to hide it. We all thought he knew too and he ignored it because she was a model and so beautiful."
"I saw her kissing Shane in an alley," Julia whispered, her voice shaking. "It was the day before Shane died."
"You mean the builder?" Katie gasped. "The bald man who died? He doesn't seem like her type from what I've heard. Are you sure?"
"Positive," Julia confirmed. "I saw them with my own two eyes hours before Shane was murdered. If Harold knew, it means -"
"Either of them could have killed him!" Katie exclaimed, her hand planting down on the table. "Candy could have killed him to keep the affair a secret, and Harold could have killed him to teach them both a lesson!"
Julia was impressed. Katie gave off the impression she was a bimbo, but Julia had always suspected that she had brains underneath it all if she applied herself.
"Valentine's Day!" Katie exclaimed. "The day after Candy and Harold arrived at the manor! That was their biggest row before this one today. She vanished and was gone all day. Your father put on the most romantic meal for us in the dining room, but Harold spent the night alone in his room. She crawled back in the early hours of the morning, and he asked where she'd been, but she wouldn't tell him. She stormed out again. We heard him crying. I wanted to talk to him, but your father told me to leave him. Poor guy was probably embarrassed that she'd stood him up."
"Did she have any roses with her?" Julia asked. "A dozen red roses?"
Katie thought about it for a moment, but she shrugged, apparently unable to remember. Julia was about to delve deeper, but she stopped herself when she noticed Billy hurrying across the village green with a plastic bag in his hand.
"Watch the café," Julia said, already springing up. "I'll be back in two seconds."
Katie's protests followed her through the door, but Julia was too focussed. She called and waved to Billy who did not look like he was going to stop at first. When he finally did, she sensed his reluctance to talk.
"I've just bought Jessie her favourite wrap from the chicken shop," Billy said, holding up the bag. "It was a long walk, so I can't talk too long. It'll go cold."
"I won't keep you," Julia said. "I just wanted to know how she’s doing. She won't answer my calls."
Billy looked down at his feet and huffed out his chest.
"She won't talk to me, Miss S," Billy whispered, looking from side to side. "Hasn't said a word since she came to mine. Won't even tell me what's happened. I only know about Alfie because you told me. I keep trying, but it's like she's in a coma."
"It's probably the shock," Julia said, her worst fears realised. "Is she eating?"
"Little bits," Billy said, looking down at the bag. "I thought her favourite chicken wrap with extra mayo would be too good to resist."
"You're a good kid, Billy," Julia said, patting him on the shoulder. "Tell her to call me, okay? I miss her."
"I'll try, Miss S," Billy said with a shrug as he backed away. "I can't promise anything."
"I know," she said with a smile. "Just try."
Julia turned to head back to her cottage, but a familiar motorbike parked outside the B&B caught her attention; a plan instantly formed in her mind.
"Billy?" Julia called after him before he vanished down a side street. "Get Jessie to my cottage tonight around eight."
"But, Miss S, she won't -"
"Please," Julia cut in, her eyes begging him. "Please. I need to fix this."
Billy sighed and nodded before slipping out of view. Julia glanced back to the café, her heart fluttering when she saw that Katie was behind the counter attempting to serve someone. Julia knew she should run back to save her, but this was more important than her business. Not wanting to waste a single second, Julia sprinted up to the B&B. She was relieved when she saw that the motorbike was the same one that had pulled up outside her café on the day Alfie had come to Peridale.
Instead of ringing the doorbell to the B&B, Julia let herself in. The chimes above the door announced her entrance, but nobody ran into the hallway to stop her. The strong smell of incense floated in from the sitting room, leading Julia inside.
She was surprised to see Alfie lying on the couch with Evelyn hovering over him, her eyes clenched as her hands vibrated over his chest. The curtains were closed, the only light coming from the candles dotted around the room. Julia watched Evelyn hover up and down his body for a moment before clearing her throat to broadcast her presence.
"Hello, Julia," Evelyn said without opening her eyes or looking in her direction. "I won't be a second. I'm just cleansing Alfie here. He's got a lot of built up stress, and I can't have that in my home."
Alfie opened his eyes and attempted to sit up, but Evelyn's palm reached out and pushed his face back into the couch. She continued to hover her hands over his body until she appeared satisfied. When she was done, she opened her eyes and blinked into the dark with a content
smile.
"Done," Evelyn said with a firm nod. "Stay out of direct sunlight for the next hour, and wear this."
Evelyn pulled a crystal pendant from within her kaftan and draped it around Alfie's neck as he sat upright. As though sensing that they needed to talk, Evelyn slipped out of the room, leaving them alone.
"Where have you been?" Julia asked, unsure of where to start. "I've been looking for you."
"I needed a couple of days away from here," Alfie explained as he leaned on his knees. "I wasn't sure I was going to come back, but I couldn't not try."
Julia appreciated Alfie returning. She could not understand half of what he was going through, but she did know that she could try to be a bridge between the past and the present.
"I'm sorry," Julia said firmly. "I should have been better. I was thinking only of myself and Jessie. I didn't take your feelings into consideration, and that was selfish."
"She's your kid," Alfie said with a smile as he stood up and stretched out. "You clearly love her a lot. I would have done the same."
Alfie gave her a look that let her know she did not need to apologise again. It only made her feel worse for suspecting him as a liar in the first place.
"I'm scared, Julia," Alfie whispered, taking a step towards her in the dark, the flickering candles warming his face. "I'd given up hope. What do I do?"
"Come to dinner at my cottage," Julia said. "At eight. Jessie will be there. All you can do is try. You've had seventeen years to miss her, but she's only known of your existence for two days. It will take time."
Alfie nodded as he looked down at the floor. Julia could tell he had a thousand questions about his sister.
"What's she like?" he asked.
"You'll find out," Julia said as she took a step back towards the door. "Tonight, at eight. You'll see how special she is."
Leaving Alfie in the dark, Julia walked out of the B&B and headed back to the café. She knew it was a risk expecting Jessie to turn up, and even though she was unpredictable, Julia knew her as well as any person could. All Jessie had ever wanted was a family; she was not going to reject her only living flesh and blood.
