Brought to Book

by Anthea Fraser

  Nine

  By the next morning, the events of the night seemed melodramatic and unreal.

  ‘It was because I was half asleep that I panicked,’ Rona told Max over breakfast. ‘If I’d stopped to think, I’d have realized it’d only have been some yobs on their way home.’

  ‘At two a.m.?’ Max asked cryptically.

  ‘Perhaps they’d been to a party. Did you never ring doorbells and run away?’

  ‘Ringing doorbells is one thing, nearly knocking the house down another. From what you say, it’s a wonder he didn’t rouse the whole street.’

  ‘I did hear a window being pushed up,’ Rona acknowledged, ‘but by the time I got the door open, it was all quiet.’ She laid her hand over his. ‘Sorry to have dragged you over. Thanks for coming, though.’

  ‘I’m not as sanguine about it as you appear to be,’ he returned. ‘Coming on top of that note in the park—’

  ‘Oh Max, not that again!’

  ‘What worries me most about the whole business is the thought of you in your nightdress standing at the open door. If someone had been waiting round the corner of the house, he’d have been inside in a flash. Don’t you ever, ever, do anything like that again.’

  ‘No, I agree it was silly. I wasn’t thinking.’

  He stirred his coffee reflectively. ‘When we spoke yesterday, you said you were seeing Harvey’s aunt. What did you do afterwards?’

  ‘Came home.’

  ‘Did you go to the park?’

  ‘No, it was too late when we got back. Why?’

  ‘Just wondering aloud. So you were home the rest of the day?’

  ‘Actually, no. I was in need of company, so Gus and I went to Dino’s.’ She looked at him challengingly. ‘Don’t even think of telling me not to go out after dark.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dare. But did anyone there pay you particular attention?’

  She shook her head. ‘They were all couples or family parties. And before you ask, no one followed me home, either. Anyway, I was back by eleven, a good three hours before the knocking started.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be here tonight, and tomorrow we’ll be up at Spindlebury, but when we get back, I want you to come and sleep at Farthings for a while.’

  Rona flung him a look of exasperation. ‘If you’re determined to play nursemaid, why don’t you come here?’

  ‘Because I wouldn’t get here till about ten, and I don’t want you alone after dark.’

  ‘But Max, the place is like Fort Knox – you know that. The back garden’s completely enclosed, so the only access is through the front door, which is solid as a rock. And before you say it, I won’t open it again.’

  ‘I wish you’d never started this bloody biography,’ Max said forcefully.

  ‘I told you, this was drunken yobs – nothing to do with the bio.’ Yet there’d been the note, and Meriel’s threatening phone call . . .

  ‘All I’m saying is, this – harassment – only began when you embarked on it. No arguments, my girl; on this occasion I’m putting my foot down.’

  ‘You’re so cute when you’re masterful!’ Rona drawled in an American accent, and ducked as he threw his napkin at her.

  The night-time drama, however, continued to prey on Max’s mind and eventually, abandoning his painting, he dialled Marsborough police station and asked for DS Duncan, who happened to be one of his pupils.

  ‘Archie, it’s Max,’ he said, when the sergeant answered. ‘Sorry to bother you at work, but I wonder if I could ask a favour?’

  ‘Sure, fire away.’

  ‘I don’t know if you’ve heard, but my wife’s writing a book on Theo Harvey, the thriller writer.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Well, as you know, there was an open verdict on his death, so it was never satisfactorily explained. I wondered what the police thinking was at the time?’

  ‘Hey now, Max, I can’t go divulging stuff like that!’

  ‘Were your lot involved?’

  ‘Not personally, no; he wasn’t on our patch.’

  ‘But you must have pals in Buckford and Stokely divisions?’

  ‘Look—’

  ‘I’m not asking you to bend any rules. Just have a casual chat with them, that’s all.’

  Duncan said cautiously, ‘About what, exactly?’

  ‘Basically, whether they suspected suicide or murder, and if so, why and who.’

  Duncan gave a short laugh. ‘You don’t want much, do you?’

  ‘It’s not classified, surely, once the case is closed?’

  ‘It is to Joe Public.’

  ‘Well, this Joe is on a need-to-know basis.’

  ‘Let’s get this straight: are you asking me to do your wife’s research for her?’

  ‘God, no; this is strictly for my benefit.’

  ‘So what’s your angle in all this?’

  ‘Sorry, I should have explained. She’s being harassed, Archie; enigmatic notes, doorbells in the middle of the night. I don’t like it.’

  ‘I shouldn’t think you do. And you reckon it’s because of this book?’

  ‘Some of it certainly is, and I’d like to know who’s worried about it and what it is they don’t want to come to light.’

  ‘Have you reported this officially?’

  ‘Up to now it’s been too nebulous; the bell-ringing only happened last night.’ He paused. ‘Any chance of someone watching the house?’

  ‘Absolutely none, with the current state of resources. We’re stretched as far as we can go.’

  Not reassuring, Max thought.

  ‘Still,’ Duncan added, ‘if things get heavy, come back to us.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Max returned dryly. ‘And in the meantime?’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘Lindsey? Is that you? Can you talk?’

  ‘Hello, Mum.’ Lindsey was surprised; her mother seldom phoned her at the office.

  ‘Can you talk?’ Avril repeated agitatedly.

  ‘Yes, no one’s with me at the moment. What is it?’

  ‘It’s your father. I’m worried about him.’

  Lindsey frowned. ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘He doesn’t look at all well, and at breakfast this morning he had a – a funny turn.’

  ‘What kind of turn?’

  ‘He went all pale and clammy and had to leave the table.’

  ‘You mean he was sick?’

  ‘No, but I caught him swallowing indigestion tablets. He’s living on them at the moment.’

  ‘Has he seen a doctor?’

  Avril gave a snort of derision. ‘Have you ever known a man go to the doctor?’

  ‘You should make him, Mum, if you’re worried.’

  ‘It would be easier if you backed me up. I wondered if you’d come to supper tonight?’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m going out.’

  ‘Surely you could postpone it? Your father’s health—’

  ‘Mum, I can’t – it’s a date. There’s a new man in my life, and it’s too early to start messing him about.’

  Avril said stiffly, ‘Of course, if that’s more important—’

  ‘I could come tomorrow,’ Lindsey broke in, holding down her irritation, ‘though I don’t know how I’ll persuade Pops if you can’t. Is it down to work, do you think?’

  ‘How would I know? He never discusses it.’

  ‘You could always ask him,’ Lindsey pointed out.

  ‘If you’re just going to make clever remarks, don’t bother coming.’

  Lindsey said carefully, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow morning,’ and put down the phone.

  Damn, damn, damn! she thought, clutching her head in frustration. Rob hadn’t mentioned the weekend, but she’d been hoping he might suggest spending the whole of Saturday together. Now, if he asked her this evening, she was committed to visiting her parents.

  Impulsively she reached for the phone and called her sister. ‘Ro,’ she said quickly, ‘be an angel and pop round to see the paren
ts this evening. Mum’s just been on. She’s in a lather about Pops and wanted me to go, but I’m seeing Rob. I did say I’d go tomorrow, but he might suggest our doing something, and I don’t want—’

  ‘What’s the matter with him?’ Rona cut in sharply.

  ‘I don’t know – probably nothing. You know how she fusses. She wants me to talk him into seeing the doctor.’

  ‘What did she say was wrong?’

  ‘Oh, that he’s pale and living on Rennies, and he had what she calls a funny turn at breakfast. If you go, it would let me off the hook.’

  ‘I honestly don’t see how I can, Linz. We’re off to Spindlebury first thing in the morning, and there are things to sort out before we go.’

  ‘Please?’

  ‘Why don’t you drop into the bank this afternoon? It’s only five minutes from your office.’

  ‘No chance; I’ve got wall-to-wall appointments, and a lunchtime meeting for good measure.’ A pause, then: ‘Could you go?’

  Rona gave an exasperated laugh. ‘I’ve never known anyone like you for passing the buck. All right. I’d like to satisfy myself he’s OK.’

  ‘Bless you. I owe you one.’

  ‘This Rob business sounds pretty heavy,’ Rona said curiously.

  ‘Let’s just say it’s going well. But Ro – you’ll never guess – he and Hugh came face to face last night!’

  She went on to give a brief synopsis of their meeting. ‘Hugh was pretty po-faced,’ she ended, ‘but Rob took it in his stride. Said he didn’t blame him for wanting me back.’

  ‘Perhaps Hugh will get the message,’ Rona said.

  She spent the rest of the morning transcribing her interview with Agnes Lethbury. God, Aunt Agnes, what have I done? If only Theo had told her! she thought in frustration.

  Over lunch, her thoughts turned to preparations for the following day. Max had agreed to look out some sleeping bags, but they’d need a couple of pillows and possibly a duvet. Presumably there’d be central heating at the cottage – Theo had been there in winter – but she hadn’t thought to ask. They’d also need basic provisions for breakfast the next morning – cereal, bread and butter, coffee – and they’d better take a kettle. It would be fascinating, she reflected, to stay in the house where Theo had done his writing, even if his personal possessions were no longer there.

  She gave her father a quick call before setting out to see him.

  ‘Rona! What a pleasant surprise! How’s the research going?’

  ‘Fine. Max and I are off to Spindlebury tomorrow, to spend the night at Harvey’s cottage. I was wondering if it would be OK if I popped in this afternoon to return some of the books you lent me?’

  ‘There’s no hurry, love. You might need to refer to them again.’

  ‘True. Any chance of a cuppa, then? I’ll be up your end of town.’

  ‘By all means; I’d love to see you. Make it about three, could you?’

  ‘I’ll be there,’ she said.

  As Rona was shown into her father’s office and he came forward to greet her, she scanned his face anxiously. He seemed paler than usual, and there were pouches under his eyes.

  ‘How are you, Pops?’

  ‘Fine, fine,’ he assured her, kissing her cheek.

  ‘I might as well tell you the family tom-tom’s beating.’

  He looked up with a grimace. ‘The episode at breakfast?’

  She nodded. ‘Seriously, is something wrong?’

  ‘No, of course not.’ He straightened and went back behind his desk. ‘My innards have been playing up a bit, that’s all. You know how your mother fusses.’

  ‘She wants you to see the doctor.’

  ‘Not necessary. The tablets put it right.’

  ‘But she says you’re always taking them.’

  ‘It comes and goes, that’s all.’

  ‘Will you go to the doctor, Pops?’

  ‘No, my darling, I will not.’

  ‘Just to set our minds at rest? Please?’

  ‘It would be a waste both of his time and mine.’

  ‘Nothing to the time wasted if you collapsed.’

  ‘I’m not going to collapse, Rona. Ah, here’s Mavis with the tea.’

  When they were alone again, Tom Parish, adroitly changing the subject, asked, ‘How did you enjoy the books?’

  Rona smiled. ‘I admire their pace, and the intricacy of his plotting, but they’re not really my scene.’

  ‘And the last two?’

  ‘I haven’t reread them yet, but I found them pretty disturbing the first time.’

  ‘Some poncey reviewer said he’d “come of age” with those books,’ Tom remarked. ‘It would be interesting to know if he’d have continued in that vein, or reverted to his earlier style. Alas, we’ll never know. Have you had any interviews yet?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve seen his father, his aunt and both his wives.’

  ‘That’s a good start.’

  Rona related some snippets that she thought might interest him. ‘We’re hoping to get a different slant from the people up in Spindlebury,’ she finished. ‘It was they who saw the most of him during his block; with luck, they might be able to throw some light on it.’

  She stood up. ‘I mustn’t take up any more of your time. But please, Pops . . .’

  ‘All right, all right, I’ll think about it,’ he said.

  To her surprise, Max was already at the house when she reached home.

  ‘I couldn’t settle,’ he told her, ‘so I thought I might as well come back.’ Friday was the only day of the week that he had no classes. ‘Where have you been?’

  ‘Taking tea with Pops. Mum’s worried about him; she wanted Lindsey to look in this evening, but she’s going out with Rob.’

  ‘So naturally she foisted it on to you.’

  ‘It was no big deal. I wanted to assess him for myself.’

  ‘And how was he?’

  Rona shrugged, unclipping Gus’s lead. ‘Much as usual. A little pale perhaps. He insists there’s nothing wrong, though he admits to frequent indigestion. I think we’d all be happier if he saw the doctor.’

  Max nodded, his thoughts returning to the weekend away. ‘I started to put some things into a carton – you know – matches, disinfectant, duster, torch. Then I remembered the sleeping bags, and broke off to look for them. I finally located them under the stairs, but they smelled a bit musty, so I’ve put them in the airing cupboard.’

  ‘Fine. I’ll look out a couple of pillows and a duvet in case it’s chilly.’

  ‘And perhaps we could take some of the diaries with us? We’ll have time in hand between visits to the pub, and I’d enjoy having a crack at that code, if it’s all right with you.’

  ‘Good idea.’ She smiled. ‘I like the phrase “between visits to the pub”. Just your kind of research, isn’t it?’

  He grinned. ‘Well, I’d say it’s the only likely source of information up there, and the lunchtime drinkers might be a different crowd from the evening lot.’

  ‘It’s a lovely part of the country, too, so we should get in some good walks. As to the diaries: Theo was writing the book about the code in autumn ’94, and began using another in the diaries soon after; so ’94 and ’95 would be the years to concentrate on. I’ll look them out when I go upstairs.’

  The phone interrupted them, and Max lifted it. He glanced at Rona with raised eyebrows, said, ‘Yes, of course. Just a minute,’ and handed it to her.

  ‘Who is it?’ she mouthed and he lifted his shoulders.

  ‘Rona Parish speaking.’

  ‘Ms Parish – this is Scott Mackintosh. I received your letter this forenoon.’

  ‘Oh – Dr Mackintosh. Thanks for getting in touch.’

  ‘I fear it’s only to say that though your project sounds interesting, I’d be of little help to you; Theo Harvey and I lost touch years ago.’

  ‘But that doesn’t matter,’ she assured him quickly. ‘It’s the early years I’m interested in – how he was as a young man.�
��

  ‘There must be others better qualified to tell you.’

  ‘But surely you were close friends over several years?’ She waited, but he made no comment. ‘I’d be so grateful if you could spare me the time,’ she added.

  ‘It’s really not convenient. I’m away to the States at the end of next week, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.’

  She really couldn’t let him slip through her fingers. They’d be returning from Spindlebury on Sunday evening, and though she had plenty to follow up, she had so far made no firm appointments. ‘Would you be available earlier in the week, if I flew up?’ she asked, holding crossed fingers up to Max, who raised his eyebrows.

  There was a pause. ‘I repeat, I really don’t think it would be worth your while.’

  ‘I’m prepared to risk it,’ she said.

  A sigh. ‘Very well. I’m tied up during the day, but if you think it so important, we could meet one evening. All things considered, it would suit me better if you came to the house. I’d offer you dinner, of course; I have an excellent cook.’

  So he hadn’t remarried, Rona thought. ‘Thank you, that’s very kind of you.’

  ‘My flight’s on Friday, so shall we say Wednesday evening? Phone me when you arrive, and I’ll send a car for you.’ He gave her his number and she scribbled it on the pad, aware of Max looking over her shoulder.

  ‘Thank you very much, Dr Mackintosh,’ she finished. ‘I look forward to meeting you.’

  ‘Phew!’ she commented as she put the phone down. ‘As you’ll gather, I talked him round, but he wasn’t exactly bursting with enthusiasm.’

  ‘I can’t say I blame him; I wouldn’t like some stranger raking up my past, either. Do I gather you’re off to Scotland?’

  ‘Yes; things are rather tight – he’s flying to the States on Friday, and isn’t sure when he’ll be back, but I’m really anxious to see him. He was a close friend of Theo’s, both at school and university.’

  ‘How long will you be away?’

  ‘Only twenty-four hours: up on Wednesday, back on Thursday.’ She patted his arm. ‘Sorry to miss our mid-week night together.’