The Gypsy Hill Murders (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 1)

by P. J. Thurbin

  He explained to them what Jim had said and asked them if they had any ideas on how to help him avoid an apparent catastrophe in Monte Carlo.

  “As far as I’m concerned the miserable bugger deserves everything he gets,” said Peter. “The guy is obviously hell bent on self destruction, and after what I saw him try to do to Jane, I’m surprised that you of all people are bothered to help him. The blighter actually tried to punch her, Ralph.”

  David, always the peace maker, tried to ease things down. “I think that we have a duty to help Jim. After all he is a colleague of ours, and he does seem to be trying to put things right.”

  But Peter was undeterred.

  “Well you seem to be forgetting that Stocker could well be the man involved in that incident with Janice in Kenry House and stalking Jane when she slipped and had that fall outside the ice house. So we could be talking here about aiding and abetting a potential murderer,” he exclaimed as he started to raise his voice.

  David was back on the defense.

  “Steady on Peter, there’s no evidence to support what you’re saying, and the police are still investigating those two incidents. It’s not our position to pass judgment on a man who was probably an innocent bystander. Any one of us could be accused of those incidents and the last thing we want is to place blame without any evidence,” he said, appealing to their sense of fair play.

  Peter took one last shot.

  “Well I think all that talk about hidden treasure that Ralph mentioned in his write up about Kenry House, and the dead officer, and the links to the museum here in Peronne, are more than a coincidence. My view is that Stocker could have been searching around for some of that treasure hidden by those World War One officers somewhere in Kenry House, and found it. This story about a dead uncle just seems to me to be too convenient. If he can lie about that, then he can lie about his involvement with those two women, and that’s probably not the end of it, by half,” he was almost shouting in an attempt to punch home his point.

  After that outburst there seemed little else that could be said. David wanted to go off to buy some souvenirs that Mary had asked him to get for the kids, and Ralph took the chance to have a chat with Peter on more neutral ground.

  “Well are you ready for tonight Peter?” He asked of his friend.

  “As ready as ever, but I need to get over to see the organ that I’ll be playing on tonight. It’s very old, as you know, and sometimes those older instruments can be a bit temperamental. So I need to go over and get acquainted with its idiosyncrasies before I perform on it. The piece I’ve decided to play is quite intricate. Old Granger can go and suck his pipe if he thinks that I’m going to simply play the piece that I’ve written for the Centenary celebrations at Gypsy Hill. I haven’t come all this way to such an historic place to play popular music, even if it is good.”

  They walked through the old streets of the town to the small sixteenth century gothic church of Saint Jean Baptiste, which was the only church to survive the bombardments during the First World War. Once inside they were both struck by the beauty and tranquility of the place. Peter practiced for a while on the organ and seemed pleased with the tone and range that could be displayed. He then moved to the piano where he astounded Ralph with his playing. When Peter had finished he spoke about the programme that he intended to cover that evening.

  “In preparing for tonight I have been talking to a good friend of mine from Norfolk, Virginia, Welby Pugin. We met when I did some exchange teaching in America. For this occasion, and to suit the mood I’m in, we decided that the tribute tonight will be to Ludwig van Beethoven, someone that both Welby and I admire greatly. I intend to start on the organ with Beethoven’s Symphony number 5 in C minor opus 67. It’s a piece that everyone will recognize from its opening theme. The one that begins da da da da, dropping the final da down the scale, then repeating itself again and again going up and down the scale.”

  Peter continued to explain why he and his friend Welby had selected to play Beethoven’s work. “You see Ralph, Beethoven was a man of the people, and when he was writing his 3rd Symphony, Eroica, he began by dedicating it to Napoleon Bonaparte. He saw Bonaparte as someone who was dismantling the aristocracy and power groups in Europe. But as Napoleon became successful and announced himself Emperor and started to behave like the aristocracy that he had set out to destroy, Beethoven recognized him as being no different than the rest. So he scrubbed Napoleon’s name from the dedication on the score. You can see the parallels to what’s going on at these Universities. The top group has established a hierarchy in order to be able to force other people to obey their wishes and protect themselves. I want to show them that we have rumbled their game.”

  Ralph had never seen Peter in such a mood and hoped that he would not go too far and say something in front of the guests that he would later regret. Peter continued.

  “Then I’ll move to the piano and play Beethoven’s Hammerklavier, the slow movement. You know Hammerklavier means piano in early German. It should make the point about our visit here and hopefully summarize all of our feelings about the events at Gypsy Hill over the past months.”

  Ralph sat quietly while Peter was talking, as he could see that his friend was becoming quite emotional.

  “Peter I have known you long enough to know that something is bothering you; and it’s not just your recital this evening.”

  Peter looked at his friend and told him that his marriage to Marcia had come to an end. She had told him at the airport that she could no longer stand his drinking bouts and womanizing exploits. Ralph was not overly surprised. He knew that Peter and Marcia had been going through a rough patch for a number of years rather than simply a few months. Peter continued.

  “You see, Ralph; she wants to pick up her old career and has had an offer to do some work in Rome and New York with a big advertising agency. So being a simple housewife in Esher, married to a boozy piano player who chases women is not much of an option compared to the high life in Italy and America. It had to happen sooner or later, and it seems that sooner has won.”

  Once again Ralph could see little point in offering advice to his old friend. He was certainly no authority on married life, having been a lifelong bachelor. He had witnessed his share of marital ups and downs amongst his friends, and he knew that the best he could do was to lend support when asked, and for the time being just listen. He turned to his old friend.

  “Peter, why don’t we go and get some lunch then get ourselves ready for Stocker’s talk? We might even learn something about Monte Carlo techniques. You and I could well do with a way of minimizing risk since we seem to be permanently in that state,” he said with a laugh.

  “Look Ralph, you go on back to the Hotel. I want to just be on my own for a while and maybe even get in a bit of a stroll. I have a lot of things going on in my mind right now and could do with a chance to think.”

  Ralph had a quick lunch and made his way to the conference hall, which was situated in the old Hotel de Ville. He was the last to arrive and as he looked around he noticed that Granger and the VC were engaged in a heated exchange. Granger beckoned Ralph over.

  “Ralph I know that you are supposed to have organized things here, but it seems that your choice of Jim Stocker as our main presenter was not such a good idea.”

  Ralph knew that Granger had a habit of panicking in any situation where his image might be under threat. His reaction was to blame anyone who happened to be around at the time. Granger maneuvered Ralph away from the VC before he continued.

  “It appears that our Mr. Stocker had too much wine last night and must have gone for a stroll before lunch to clear his head. Unfortunately he chose to stroll around the castle battlements and must have tripped and fallen over the parapet. Fortunately for him he must have been totally relaxed from last night’s drinking, and other than being bruised is not badly hurt. The local doctor has seen him at the hotel and says he’s alright but badly shaken up. I’m not sure if he is up to present
ing his paper so you’d better get over to the hotel and see what you can do. And make it quick. If he isn’t up to it, someone else will have to step in.”

  “I’ll get over there right away,” Ralph said. “And I am sure that Jim will be up to making his presentation. Why don’t you get back to your friends and just leave this to me?” Granger was relieved to have Ralph handle the situation with Jim Stocker. He had to admit that Ralph could be useful in a crisis.

  Ralph ran back to the hotel and found Stocker in his room sitting on the bed. “Are you okay Jim, what happened?” He asked.

  Stocker looked up with a wry grin.

  “I can’t make it out Ralph. One minute I was just looking out over the town and then I would swear that someone pushed me from behind. The fall wasn’t so bad. Fortunately I used to be pretty fit in my youth, did a lot of gymnastics and that sort of thing so I know how to fall. But what puzzles me more is that someone has gone through my stuff in the room here. They might have heard about my Monte Carlo app, but that’s on my iphone so they couldn’t get that. But my suitcase has been ripped open and all the stuff in my desk draws thrown about. If it was a casual burglar then why all the searching? Whoever it was must have been looking for something. I have my inheritance money in my body belt so they didn’t get that,” he said, somewhat nervously.

  Ralph could see that Stocker was shaken but apparently had suffered no serious injuries.

  “Ralph I know it sounds a bit far-fetched but there are two things that are bothering me about this incident. First it could be the heavy mob from the UK that are after me and want to get their hands on my money, or at least make an example of me to their other clients. But I have another worry. It’s about Peter. I know he’s a pal of yours, but I have to tell someone.” Then he went on to tell Ralph about an affair that he had had with Peter’s wife, Marcia.

  “You know how it is. Marcia and me, well, we had a relationship. And I think she had probably had enough of Peter’s running about with other women and wanted to get her own back. Or perhaps she was just lonely. One night when we thought Peter was away at one of his music weekends we were in bed when Peter walks in. For once the silly bugger decided to come home early and surprise Marcia. Well he certainly managed to get that one right. He must have recognized my car in the drive and came bursting into the bedroom and caught us at it. I tried to explain that it was nothing too serious and that it was all my fault, but he went berserk, shouting and ranting then leaping across the room. He punched me in the face before picking up a chair and knocking me to the floor. Marcia tried to get him away from me, but he punched her as well, then continued kicking me until I must have passed out. When I came round they had both gone, and to cut a long story short, I managed to get home and sort myself out. Since then Peter hasn’t spoken to me, and I’m worried that he might still be trying to extract some sort of revenge for that night.”

  Ralph was shocked. It was not the affair so much as the fact that Peter might be so distraught that he would do something as drastic as wanting to seriously injure Jim Stocker. He needed to find time to think what to do next.

  But on the other hand Stocker might be overreacting. It could be that he simply slipped on the parapet or it could be that the heavies from the UK wanted to make an example of him? Perhaps, if it was Peter then he might have been looking in Jim’s room for evidence that Jim and Marcia were still involved, although that seemed pretty unlikely to Ralph.

  “Look Jim, I think we need to take time to think this one through. If you feel that you can’t make this afternoon’s conference then I will tell Granger and we will try to fill the gap somehow,” he said, gently.

  Jim stood up smiling.

  “Look Ralph I have given lectures when I’ve been three parts stoned out of my skull so a slight tumble over a stupid French castle wall is no problem. I have my notes so let’s get down there and see if the Diderot boys can keep up with old Jim Stocker. All you have to do is to keep your pal Cavendish from getting his boot into my ribs as I go on stage,” he said, with a chuckle.

  With that Stocker picked up his notes, straightened his tie and strode out of the room.

  Ralph was taken aback at the speed with which Jim Stocker had recovered from what must have been a terrifying experience. But he knew how it was and recognized the feeling and determination that for a lecturer the show must always go on, even if you happen to be feeling like crawling away into a corner and dying.

  Jim Stocker delivered a stunning lecture and the French academics and guests from Diderot were full of praise for his application of the Monte Carlo techniques to modern risk management. But he noticed that Jim hadn’t mentioned anything to them about his motives and the intended application of his work at the roulette tables in the casino at Monte Carlo.

  Rupert Granger was obviously delighted that it had gone well. He made sure that the VC knew that it was all his idea and that Jim Stocker was being considered for a promotion when they got back.

  That evening Peter gave his concert as planned, and Ralph was struck by the passion that he demonstrated in his playing. He noticed that as Peter played, Marcia was looking at him as though for the first time. He seemed to grow in stature with the music and for a moment everyone in the church was taken back in time. Ralph felt that if there were any ghosts around from the horrors of World War One, then they must have felt at peace listening to Beethoven’s music.

  The next morning Katie announced that she was not going directly back home and would be stopping off in Paris for a weekend with her husband. Jim made no

  announcements, but Ralph knew that he was heading off to Monte Carlo to hopefully make his fortune. Peter told Ralph that Marcia would go directly to Rome afterwards to meet her new boss from the advertising agency, so he was staying on in Paris for a few days. He told Ralph that the people from the Sorbonne had invited him to play at a concert being arranged at the Notre Dame in Paris that weekend. So a somewhat subdued Ralph, David and Mary made their way back to England.

  Chapter 13

  Ralph took the airport coach direct from Heathrow to Reading where he had arranged to spend the weekend with Jane, who was convalescing at her friend’s house. He was relieved to find that she had fully recovered from her ordeal and was anxious to hear the latest developments. Ralph told her all about Jim Stocker, and as expected after his having taken tried to take a swing at her, she showed little sympathy with his situation.

  “Ralph, don’t you see the guy’s a loser. It might be the drink, but my feeling is that he is just a bad person and you shouldn’t feel you have to help him just because you happen to work in the same place. One of your problems is that you don’t seem to be able to get your priorities right.”

  Ralph felt a bit put down by what he interpreted as a direct criticism, but in his heart he knew that she was right. He knew that he had a tendency to over react to other people’s problems when often it was at the expense of his own. Getting used to Jane’s direct approach to life would take a bit of adjusting to. But Jane was a lot more interested in what he told her about Peter and Marcia.

  “But Ralph, if Peter is capable of striking his wife, no matter what the provocation, then he is capable of trying to kill someone. I know it sounds a bit extreme to say that, but I’ve seen a lot of abusive men on my travels around the world, and there is something about them that makes my blood run cold.”

  Ralph decided to hold back from defending Peter as he needed time to consider what Jane had just said.

  “Well if you are suggesting that perhaps it was Peter who was stalking you outside the ice house, then what possible motive could he have?”

  Jane paused for a moment.

  “Well I didn’t say it was Peter. It is more likely to have been Jim Stocker. That story of his about an inheritance sounds a bit far-fetched, and my guess is that he used the information from that slate I was deciphering to find some treasure, or perhaps some valuable documents that had been hidden in the ice house. Or he could have found
some documents that he was using to blackmail someone and they are now trying to either get them back or silence him.”

  Ralph could see that their conversation had taken him away from the purpose of his visit which was to talk with Jane about their future together. He tried to pull the conversation back.

  “Jane, when things have settled down and you are back on your feet, perhaps we should take a break away from all of this and get to know each other again. You know, try to get back to the way we were at Cambridge. Perhaps not the daily runs in the park but you know what I mean.”

  To his surprise, Jane laughed.

  “I know what you mean Ralph, but we have both changed a lot since then. You have your career and I have mine. We have both changed a lot. I would like to think that we are still friends, and perhaps time will allow us to see each other as the people we are now, rather than trying to re-capture something that two people experienced when they were little more than teenagers.”

  Disappointed though he was Ralph could see her point. He knew that he had become rather set in his ways, and perhaps now was not the best time to try to change. So to reduce the tension, he tried to lighten the mood that had developed between them.

  “You’re right, Jane. Being friends does mean a lot to me. But, as you say, we don’t really know each other very well as adults. So why not start by going out on the town tonight and try to find a restaurant that can become our favourite Reading haunt. What do you say?”

  “I’d say that sounds like a good idea,” Jane said.