by K E O'Connor
The car alarms shut off, and I let out a breath. The night suddenly seemed too quiet.
I chewed on my bottom lip as I looked at Billy. He said he’d been here for years, maybe he knew something about Katie.
“I was talking to Lady Camilla today, and she told me about her daughter.”
“Is that right?” Billy stood up straighter.
“She said she’s dead.”
“That’s what the old girl believes.”
“Did you know Katie when she lived here?”
Billy removed the cigarette from his mouth and took a gulp of whiskey. “You could say that.”
“What do you think happened to her?” I asked.
“Who knows,” said Billy. “She sure was fun when she was around here, though.”
“You knew her well?” asked Helen.
Billy grinned. “I knew her in the biblical sense.”
“You two dated?” I asked, not even trying to hide my surprise.
“Don’t sound so shocked.” Billy wiped a hand across his mouth. “Every bit of posh likes some rough on the side. And I was more than happy to oblige that sweet young thing.”
“I bet Lady Camilla didn’t like that,” I said.
“She didn’t know anything was going on,” said Billy. “Lady C had plans to marry Katie off to some tedious, titled snob. But Katie was having none of it. She was much more of a free spirit. She didn’t care what her mom wanted for her. She was all about having a good time. And we had plenty of good times together.”
“You don’t seem like her type,” I said.
“You don’t know Katie,” said Billy. “I could be exactly her type.”
“What happened between the two of you?” asked Helen.
“I can draw you a diagram if you’d like,” sneered Billy. “Or better still, give you a few practical demonstrations.” He took a step towards Helen, and Flipper growled.
“Easy boy,” laughed Billy, as he looked down at Flipper. “Only giving this lovely lady what she wants.”
“I do not want anything to do with you,” said Helen.
“You don’t have any ideas what happened to Katie?” I asked Billy.
Billy focused his alcohol-glazed gaze on me. “Some say she’s dead, some think she cut all ties with the family because she couldn’t stand their old-fashioned ways.”
“If you were close, didn’t she confide in you?” I asked.
“She told me a few things, but they’re not suitable for your delicate ears.” Billy smirked and took another drink.
I shook my head, determined he wasn’t going to put me off. “Did Katie say anything about being unhappy and needing to leave?”
“She talked about getting away from the estate,” said Billy. “She found being here stifling. Even more so after she met that guy, and he encouraged her to leave with him.”
“Who was the guy?” I asked.
“Someone she worked with,” said Billy.
“What job did Katie have?” asked Helen.
“She worked at a law firm,” said Billy. “Her mom didn’t approve, wanted her to be a lady of leisure, like herself. But Katie had ambition. She went to university, qualified top of the class, and then got a job. Lady C wasn’t impressed. And Katie hadn’t been working long when she started talking about this other guy. After he was on the scene, he was all she was interested in. I didn’t get a look in after that.”
“What was his name?” I asked.
“Johnny something or rather,” said Billy. “He came to the estate a couple of times, but Lady C made it clear he wasn’t welcome. Not in the right class for her precious daughter.”
“Lady Camilla didn’t approve of Johnny?” I asked.
“She told the staff to chase him off the estate if he ever came by. Johnny got the message, though. And him and Katie started meeting away from the house. Then one day, they just disappeared.”
“You must have been disappointed to lose Katie,” said Helen. “Were you fond of her?”
“I was fond of the things she did to me. It’s always nice to have someone so pretty around.” He winked at Helen.
“Ranulph thinks something bad happened to his sister,” I said. “What do you think of his theory?”
“She’s been disinherited,” said Billy. “That’s a tragedy.”
“So, you think she’s still alive?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” asked Billy.
“Because a jealous ex might have decided to hurt her,” said Helen, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Billy. “Since she snubbed you for someone better, you might have taken revenge.”
Billy spat out a laugh. “Sweetheart, you don’t get any better than me. I know she’ll be missing what I used to give her.”
I shivered as a chill slid down my spine, and a second later, Katie appeared, standing next to Billy. She scowled at him and shook her head violently, before sticking her fingers down her throat and pretending to gag.
I masked a smile. Looked like Billy wasn’t telling the truth when it came to his relationship with Katie.
“You mentioned Lady Camilla was unhappy about Katie’s relationship with Johnny,” I said. “Do you think she would have done anything to get rid of him?”
Billy chortled and took another drink. “You think Lady C had Johnny bumped off because she didn’t approve of him? She’s not a gangster, darling. But she did the meanest thing she could and cut Katie out of the family. Lady C is a traditionalist and Katie wouldn’t toe the family line, so she might as well be dead. She means nothing to this lot anymore.”
“What about Ranulph?” asked Helen. “Was he fond of his sister?”
Billy shook his head. “They were always bickering over something pointless. Typical sibling relationship. He thought she got better gifts than him and was always breaking her stuff. It was pathetic, really. He whined about her to me, but I rarely listened.”
“If Katie has vanished, could Ranulph have had something to do with it?” I asked.
Billy’s gaze sharpened and he tilted his head to one side. “Why the interest in Katie?”
I glanced at Helen. “I’m interested in the family history. I like to know who I’m working for.”
“Katie isn’t a part of this family, so there’s no point in sticking your nose into her disappearance,” said Billy.
I nodded but carried on with my questions. Billy was being surprisingly helpful. “Who had the most to gain from Katie going missing?”
Billy shook his head. “You need to stop prying. You don’t even know Katie, she could have been a queen bitch who deserved to be cut off from the family and then killed.”
“No one said she’d been killed,” I said. “Do you think she has?”
Billy shrugged and leaned against the garage door. “What do I know? I’m just the hired help, and so are you.”
“Doesn’t it worry you that Katie vanished and nobody cares?” I asked. “Since you had an intimate relationship with her, you must feel something for her. Aren’t you the tiniest bit sad that she’s gone?”
Katie’s mouth dropped open and she shook her head. She waved her arms in the air, pointed at Billy, and then pulled a gagging face again.
I pressed my lips together and ignored Katie’s angry gesturing.
“Katie was a sweet thing, but there are plenty more sweet things to enjoy,” said Billy. “I’d be happy to accommodate either of you. Or both of you, if you’re not crazy, jealous types.”
Helen and I shook our heads at the same time.
The garage door slammed open and Johnny flung himself out. He spun around Billy several times and I watched as Billy staggered backwards.
“What’s going on?” Billy’s gaze was on the open garage door.
I grabbed the door and pushed it closed. “Must have been the wind.”
Johnny and Katie circled Billy, their expressions angry as they built up speed.
“I don’t feel so good,” gasped Billy as he staggered from side to side, repeatedly bump
ing into the ghosts.
“Maybe it was something you drank,” I said, as I looked at the half empty bottle of whiskey in his hand.
“I feel like I’m on board a ship.” Billy scrabbled for a handhold, catching nothing but thin air. He landed heavily on his knees with a surprised sounding grunt.
“You have been drinking,” said Helen. “Maybe you can’t handle your alcohol.”
“I’ve only had a couple of beers and this whiskey.”
Helen leaned towards me. “Guessing this is Katie and Johnny’s doing.”
I smiled at her. “Someone is not being truthful, and they’re not happy about it.”
Billy gave a groan and his head sank to the ground. I watched as Katie smacked her hands on his back several times.
“You don’t look well,” said Helen, in a super sweet voice. “Could be you’ve been overdoing things.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me.” Billy tried to get to his feet, but Katie shoved him in the side and he rolled over, kicking his arms and legs in the air.
Flipper ran over and licked his face.
“Don’t let your dog bite me!” said Billy, as he cringed away from Flipper.
“He’s just checking you’re okay,” I said. “But you are looking a bit sick, your face is gray. Best you get out of here and lie down.”
“While you still can,” muttered Helen under her breath.
I nodded as I watched Katie and Johnny circling Billy, anger sparking in their eyes.
“Perhaps I have been overdoing things.” Billy finally managed to push himself back to his feet. “I don’t know what came over me.” He spun around as Katie blew on his ear.
“Now you’ve gone a sickly green color,” said Helen. “You might like to see the doctor about that.”
Billy ran a hand down his face, before staggering away a few steps. “Maybe I should.”
I watched as he hurried into the gloom, Katie and Johnny pursuing him. Billy was in for a rough night.
“That was fun,” said Helen.
“It wasn’t just fun,” I said. “We found ourselves another suspect.”
Chapter 8
My sleep was plagued by more dreams, but this time they were clearer, and I could see Katie and Johnny in a car together. Maybe they were trying to communicate with me as I slept, but so far, their efforts left me with dark circles under my eyes and a short temper.
And it wasn’t only me being disturbed; Flipper had a restless night as well, and had woken several times, before jumping up and pacing around the bedroom as if he sensed someone there with us.
I pulled on my clothes and smoothed my hair down, before staring at my tired reflection in the mirror, knowing no amount of makeup was going to help me.
“Let’s go and see if Helen’s made us some nice breakfast,” I said to Flipper, as I patted his head. “That will cheer us both up.”
Flipper gave a gentle woof of agreement before we hurried out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
Helen took one look at me, shook her head, and handed me an extra-strong mug of tea. “Another bad night?”
“The ghosts were on my mind again. I’m sure they’re trying to reach out to me as I sleep, but none of it makes sense. All I’m seeing is them in a car and lots of fog around. I need more to go on than that. There are no hints as to who killed them, in the dreams.”
Helen placed a plate of blueberry muffins on the table and we both sat down. “We’ve got a few suspects to look into. We just have to figure out how to link them to the car dreams you’re having.”
I nodded and took a long drink of tea, letting the caffeine do its work. “Billy’s a good prospect at the moment. Neither Katie nor Johnny were thrilled to see him by the garage last night.”
“But were they behaving like that because he was telling lies about his relationship with Katie?” asked Helen.
“It could be that,” I said, as I selected a muffin. “Katie was unimpressed by what she heard, and so was Johnny. No surprise there.”
Flipper nudged me with his nose, so I broke off a small piece of muffin and gave it to him.
“Katie would never date Billy,” said Helen. “If she dated Henry in the past, I can’t see her going from Henry to Billy.”
“We only have Henry’s word that he actually dated Katie.”
“He has no reason to lie about something like that,” said Helen.
“Remind me again how long you’ve known Henry?” I smiled at her as I took a bite of the sweet muffin.
Helen huffed at me. “Well, maybe I do need to get to know him a little better. But, so far, he’s given me no reason to think he’d lie about anything to do with Katie.”
“So, let’s focus on Billy,” I said. “Katie and Johnny were dating and Billy got jealous. He could have made up some elaborate relationship in his head, and when Katie started getting serious about Johnny, it broke apart his fantasy. Who’s to say it didn’t push him over the edge and he did something silly?”
“Billy is creepy,” said Helen. “His eyes always look cold. Maybe he’s a serial killer?”
I waved away the grim thought. “Or he could just be a mean guy who got rejected and decided to get revenge.”
“What about Ranulph as a suspect?” asked Helen.
“He is a spoiled brat,” I said. “Maybe Katie got one gift too many and Ranulph got nasty about it.”
“He does have a fondness for shotguns,” said Helen. “He could have threatened Katie with one, and things got out of hand.”
“Ranulph didn’t seem worried, though,” I said. “When he was talking about Katie, he didn’t seem to care what had happened to her, and he wasn’t anxious. If he’d done something bad to her and Johnny, he’d get concerned because I was asking him questions.”
“Not if he’s a spiteful little jerk who truly thinks he can get away with whatever he likes,” said Helen. “I bet he used to pull the wings off flies when he was a kid. Now, that is how serial killers get started.”
“Stop with the serial killer theory,” I said.
“And then there’s Lady Camilla,” said Helen.
“I haven’t figured her out at all. I’ll see if I can find out any more from her today. But yesterday, when I started talking about Katie, she left the room. She’s not easy to get to open up.”
“Would she really have killed her own daughter because she wasn’t dating someone suitable?”
“These old bloodlines are particular about who marries into the family,” I said. “And it sounds like Lady Camilla disinherited Katie for dating the wrong person. She could have seen it as too much of an embarrassment. Maybe Katie and Johnny wanted to get married and Lady Camilla needed to put a stop to it.”
“Then she really is as cold as she appears if that’s the case,” said Helen.
I finished my muffin and brushed crumbs from my fingers, before filling Flipper’s bowl with food. “I’ll see what I can find out today. Maybe she’ll be in a better mood.”
“Any sign of Katie or Johnny since they chased away Billy?” asked Helen.
“Nothing,” I said. “Well, if you discount the useless dreams they sent me. I’m still not sure how they died. All I know, is the vehicle is a clue, but I didn’t find anything when I looked in Katie’s car.”
“See if they’re around now,” said Helen. “I haven’t heard any pipes rattling this morning, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t here. They might point us towards the right suspect.”
I looked around the room. The kitchen was quiet and I couldn’t sense any ghostly presences. Flipper also wasn’t alerting me to any ghosts and was finishing the food in his bowl, although his gaze was focused on the remaining muffins on the table. He had a sweeter tooth than I did.
“I don’t think they’re here. Other than the noises we’ve heard, they only seem to appear at the garage.”
“We can’t keep hanging around there,” said Helen. “I’m sure that creep Billy was convinced we were trying to steal a car.”
***
Three hours later, and I was still working up the courage to ask Lady Camilla about Katie. So far, all I’d achieved was filing several heaps of paperwork that had been scattered around the study, and been refused a cup of tea when Lady Camilla had one.
I cleared my throat, determined not to let the frosty atmosphere put me off any longer. “I was wondering about the photograph I saw yesterday.”
Lady Camilla peered at me over the top of gold rimmed glasses from her seat behind her desk. “What of it?”
“I thought you might like me to make a photo montage of your family? You must have lots of wonderful pictures you’d like to see displayed.”
“That sounds vulgar. We prefer to have portraits done of family members. You will have seen the ones in the hallway.”
“And they are lovely,” I said. “But perhaps something more informal might be nice as well. You can have dozens of photographs on a large canvas. We could select them together, and I can have it printed for you.”
“No. Too modern for my taste,” said Lady Camilla. “I wouldn’t know where to put such a thing.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice to see pictures of your children in front of you?”
Lady Camilla removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I already have those.”
I swallowed my nerves. “Especially with Katie not being around. You must miss her.”
“She was my daughter. Why would I not miss her?”
“So, a photo montage might help with recalling the good memories you have of her,” I said.
“I have all the memories I need of my daughter,” said Lady Camilla. “I do not require some poorly taped together group of photographs to remember her by.”
“It would be tasteful. It’s so easy to do these days—”
“It is not happening,” said Lady Camilla. “And I do not need you poking around looking at pictures that have nothing to do with you. If you must know, Katie was due to sit for a family portrait before she vanished. I have one of her as a child, but nothing else. That will have to do. No photographs. No memories stuck on the walls.”
