Venetia put down her knitting. ‘Under arrest, that’s more like Morse.’
‘Inspector Sandfield,’ Laura gave a little laugh ‘Phil. I hate to have to say this, but I think you may have got the wrong end of the stick.’
Lizzie Bishop reached into her pocket and took out a notepad. She flicked through the pages. ‘Warped moral compass… Libellous defamation of character.’ She looked up. ‘And I believe you accused her of…’ She looked down at her notes again. ‘Yes here we are, your precise words were, “You’ve been posing as the ghost of an eighteenth-century serving wench in order to emotionally terrorise Sir Repton.”’
‘Emotional terrorism?’ Venetia’s eyes glistened.
‘It’s the accusation of murder that’s the nub of it,’ Inspector Sandfield interjected. He turned to Laura. ‘So if you’d like to accompany us? Leave the dog with your friend if you don’t mind.’
There was no answer when Laura tried to call Strudel and Jervis so she had to get Edward Parrott to come and collect her from Woldham Police Station.
‘I’m afraid I shall have to inform your granddaughter,’ he said, puffing air freshener from a can round the interior of his car.
‘I don’t think that will be necessary.’ Laura fanned the air.
‘I would not be doing my duty as manager of Wellworth Lawns if I did not inform the proprietors of potential criminal activity amongst the clientele.’
‘Oh really Edward, this is too much. Vince – Mr Outhwaite will not take kindly to time-wasting.’
‘On the contrary, Lady Boxford, I think he would be most anxious as to your welfare. What light it may shed on the wording of the prospectus I do not know. At present, there is no specific need to divulge a criminal record, but this may be an oversight.’
Laura sat pondering this as they returned to Wellworth Lawns.
The manager drew up in the driveway and took out a sachet of wet wipes as Laura undid her seatbelt and opened the car door. ‘Inspector Sandfield let me off with a caution,’ she said. ‘So I haven’t actually got a criminal record.’
‘Not yet, Lady Boxford, but the Inspector was clear in his analysis of events and I can’t take any chances. From what he said, you have had mental health issues in the past. In old people, weak in mind and limb, it can be a small step from minor depression to full on violence. In such a setting as Wellworth Lawns this kind of thing could prove transmittable.’
Laura was too agitated to collect Parker and she made straight for Mulberry Close. ‘As if the Inspector’s caution wasn’t enough,’ she told Strudel and Jervis. ‘He told Edward Parrott that I should be watched closely. Then that wretched Parrott said he’d make sure Doctor Todhunter was informed.’
‘Try to be calm.’ Strudel stroked Laura’s arm.
‘How can I be calm? Inspector Sandfield disregards all the evidence I put before him and, not for the first time, accuses me of being mad.’
‘Valerie Todhunter. Have you had dealings with her?’ Jervis asked.
‘Not yet.’
‘She is to be avoided in my opinion. Much too liberal with laxatives, Strudel can vouch for that.’
‘She should be warning a person of the strength and immediacy of such things. But what about Vince; is Mr Parrott going to tell him?’
‘I don’t know yet, I’ll have to ring Victoria later when I’ve composed myself. And on top of everything else have you seen the poster he’s put up in the hall?’
‘What is this?’ Strudel asked.
‘It’s got a picture of a Zimmer frame on it and a sign that reads, “Beware of machines that disempower. Keep fit if you want to avoid the forthcoming pandemic.”’
‘Pandemic? What bloody pandemic?’ Jervis huffed.
‘We would never be getting Hilary St Clair onto the dance floor without her Zimmer frame,’ Strudel said.
‘Strudel’s right,’ Laura said. ‘Modern technology has given us untold freedom. Parrott’s wholly misguided and for some reason he’s becoming obsessed by contagion. He even wiped the seat of the car where I had been sitting with one of those antibacterial tissues after I got out.’
‘But this could play into your hand,’ Jervis said. ‘When you ring Victoria, you must tell her about him. It smacks of misconduct to me. Vince will soon forget about Inspector Sandfield and Tam’s harassment charges. He’ll be far too busy finding a replacement for Mr Parrott.’
‘Positive thinking Jervis. That’s what I like about you.’ Laura felt her pulse rate slacken. ‘And I’d quite forgotten to tell her about his dodgy CV, being a stage manager and all that.’
Strudel clapped her hands. ‘This is calling for a stiffener.’
‘Snifter, my love, but I’m afraid I’ve drawn a blank with Ned Stocking’s birth record. I’ll do some more checking online.’
‘Jervis, you are not signing up to more ancestry services are you?’
‘Fair point Strudel. Remind me to cancel the subscription after the free trial. Give me a couple of days Laura.’
Chapter twenty-five
Two mornings later, as Mimi was dusting in Laura’s bedroom, Jervis rang. Laura picked up the phone.
‘I’ve identified Vince’s helicopter on the live air traffic app on my phone,’ he said. ‘He’s traded up. It’s an AgustaWestland AW 109. Heck of a beast; you should be able to see it any minute. I hope Parrott’s battened down the wheelie bins.’
Laura’s granddaughter had said she would be making a visit soon, but the present situation had precipitated an earlier than expected arrival. Now Laura beckoned to Mimi as they heard the thud of the rotors overhead. They rushed to the window. Laura picked up Parker so that he could see the branches of the trees swaying every which way as the great machine lowering to the ground on the lawn outside the front door.
‘Mr. Parrott he no telling that old thing I think.’ Mimi pointed to the figure of a man in the adjoining formal garden who appeared to have been swept into a rose bush.
‘Oh dear, it looks like Sir Repton,’ Laura said, as the rotors whirred to a standstill. ‘But I think he’s all right.’ She watched as he scrambled up. ‘Mind you, Sybil Thorndike doesn’t look too happy.’ The dachshund had been blown into another bush, her flowing tail entangled in the barbs.
They watched as the pilot ran to the scene. Edward Parrott followed him and together they went to the aid of Sir Repton and then extricated Sybil Thorndike.
Vince and Victoria, both immaculately dressed as usual, joined them and the whole party walked back to the front door and out of sight.
Mimi turned to Laura. ‘Soo elegant Mrs Outhwaite and Mr Outhwaite too!’ She put her hands to her cheeks. ‘I wishing my Tom is dressing suit time. He always wearing dirty overalls.’
‘I wonder how long Vince and Victoria will be with Mr Parrott?’ Laura said.
‘I best get going. Him in very bad mood this morning. He saying Alfredo no more pastries them fat old things.’ She waved as she shut the door behind her.
‘Oh dear,’ Laura said to Parker. ‘That does not bode well.’ Still, she thought with a smirk, the manager had made a fool of himself not having warned poor Repton of the arrival of the helicopter.
Victoria had said that Vince hoped to have finished with Mr. Parrott by half past twelve as he had booked a table down the road at Swinley Court for lunch. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Alfredo’s cooking, it was just that the wine cellar at Swinley Court was far superior to that of Wellworth Lawns – there being no takers of the Grand Crus since Monty Babbington passed away.
To while away the time, Laura went next door to see Venetia.
‘I’m watching Helicopter Heroes Down Under,’ she said above the blare of the TV. ‘I saw Victoria arriving; that’s what reminded me.’
Laura decided to take Parker for a walk.
She was returning through the hall – no sign of the poster – when the door to Edward Parrott’s office opened and Victoria emerged, a serious expression on her face.
‘Hello Darling,’
Laura called out.
‘Granny.’ Victoria came running over and hugged her. ‘Let’s get out of here.’ She steered Laura past the reception desk. ‘That man Parrott’s very odd. He thinks you’ve contracted a form anxiety disorder. He’s found some American medical research that’s convinced him it could be contagious; he mentioned the Waco siege murders. He was contemplating having Dr Todhunter put you in isolation.’
‘What?’
They reached the front door.
‘Vince, ever the diplomat, managed to chill him out. Said he’d make sure you stayed away from Mount Cod. The quid pro quo was him being allowed to install a hand sanitiser in the lift when it’s repaired.’
‘But he doesn’t believe in the lift.’
‘Vince put him straight on that one. He’s got to put the ramps back too. And Vince has increased Alfredo’s budget, so no more rationing.’
Sir Repton was standing on the steps outside the front door, Sybil Thorndike in his arms. ‘Most kind of your husband to invite me to join you for luncheon, Mrs Outhwaite,’ he said.
Laura felt a slap on her rear.
‘It was the least we could do,’ Vince said, from behind her.
She turned to see her grandson-in-law. Vince was sporting a very dapper check suit that Laura knew would be from Savile Row. He smiled, his perfect teeth glinting – he really was good looking, but then what would you expect of Victoria’s husband?
‘Mornin’ Laura.’ He kissed her on the cheek. ‘While the circumstances of our introduction were not as I would have wished, I’d a mind to ask Sir Repton anyhow. There’s things it would be prudent to discuss.’ He gave a conspiratorial wink. ‘Right let’s get this show on the road.’
They walked over to the helicopter and climbed in. The rotors whirred and as the helicopter lifted off the ground they could see Gladys running out onto the lawn waving her arms about.
‘Oh dear,’ Sir Repton said. ‘I believe I may have had a prior engagement.’
‘So, where shall we start?’ Vince lifted his glass of Chateau Montrachet. ‘I think a toast to the continued freedom of the lovely Laura.’ He took a merry swig. ‘And to Inspector Sandfield and the leniency of the law.’ He raised his glass again.
‘I feel we will prevail with a little more evidence,’ Sir Repton said. ‘Laura has at least set my mind at rest that it was the young lady, Tam who was masquerading as the serving wench.’
Laura didn’t like to tell him that with the benefit of hindsight she realised that she hadn’t really any proof of this.
‘Yer whatty what?’ Vince took a mouthful of foie gras. ‘The pair of you would be well advised to keep your scatter- brained accusations to yourselves.’ He turned back to Laura. ‘I’ve got you out of one lot of mischief. Don’t make me have to do it again. For once I concur with Inspector Sandfield, there are no questions to answer in regard of Sir Repton’s late wife.’
Laura gulped.
‘Now we’ve cleared that one up, I’d like to get down to the serious matter of State of the Union.’ Vince turned to Sir Repton. ‘I reckon you’d be best off axing the wedding business at your gaff asap.’
‘Why so?’
‘My people have been looking into this Hanley Jones bloke and they don’t like the cut of his jib. You could find yourself in a heap of trouble if you continue to be associated with him.’
‘But if I cut my ties now, Tam may reiterate her charges and press for further action against Laura. At the moment she has accepted my explanation that Lady Boxford was on the wrong medication for an ear infection.’
‘What?’ The piece of Melba toast Laura was holding snapped into pieces. ‘On top of the apology Inspector Sandfield made me send her?’
‘I’m afraid it was the best I could come up with.’
Vince took another mouthful of foie gras. ‘It’s up to you. All I’m saying is he might be leading you to believe things are hunky dory but I’d watch out he’s not vandalising your assets. Granted he’s making you a bob or two on the weddings, but I’d check your profit margins Repton.’
Sir Repton’s eyes widened.
‘You think it’s all good news because you’ve got a slap-up toilet facility with Dyson hand dryers in what was once a perfectly decent library.’
‘Gunroom,’ Sir Repton muttered.
‘But how’s that going to help you when the time comes to sell up and move into Wellworth Lawns for good and proper?’ Vince paused for a moment. ‘And then you notice your oak panelling’s done a bunk on account of being a fire hazard.’
‘Vince wanted antique panelling for the villa in Ibiza.’ Victoria twisted one of her long blonde tresses. ‘You’ve no idea how expensive it was.’
‘Worth every penny though.’ Vince smiled at her but then his face became serious again. ‘You mark my words Repton, that Robert Hanley Jones is a right sharp nazzart.’
Sir Repton looked to Laura. ‘What does he mean?’
‘Politely speaking, a scoundrel.’ Victoria turned to Vince, fluttering her eyelashes ‘Please darling, you were doing so well.’ She had put a lot of effort into lessening the impact of his Yorkshire dialect, not that she was in any way a snob.
‘I thought you might have known the word,’ Laura said, remembering that Sir Repton too had had elocution lessons.
‘Scoundrel, whatever,’ Vince continued. ‘But from what we saw at Fantail Hall, it’s typical of the man.’
The waiter came to take away their plates and a few moments later the main course arrived. Vince brought the plate in front of him a little closer. ‘You just can’t beat a lobster thermidor.’
‘But Vince, you mean you’ve been to Fantail Hall already?’ Laura said.
‘Bought it.’ Vince picked up the crackers and snapped a claw open. ‘Always fancied a grouse moor. Gamekeeper’ll have to change his ways mind you. Shocking lack of heather.’
‘Bought it?’ Laura said. ‘But what about the owner’s and the wedding business?’
‘As luck would have it they’d not signed the contract with Hanley Jones and when I pointed out the missing gates that were pictured on the cover of the brochure, they were more than pleased to take my offer.’
‘The poor dears hadn’t been down the main driveway in years. They used a track that led directly to the village,’ Victoria said.
There were so many similarities to Mount Cod. Laura thought for a moment. ‘But haven’t you done rather the same as Robert Hanley Jones; taken away their most valued possession?’
Victoria explained that Vince was allowing them to live in a farmhouse on the estate. ‘They couldn’t be happier. The Hall was draining them financially and emotionally.’
‘Whole thing’s turned out grand as it happens and I’ve got my legal team talking to the Yorkshire Met. If Hanley Jones isn’t facing charges by the end of September you can call me a mushy pea.’ Vince took a slug of wine. ‘You name it; theft, entrapment, sharp practice… sabotage, felony, larceny… Mark my words, they’ll have him.’
Vince’s pilot made the short detour back to Wellworth Lawns, dropping off Laura, Sir Repton and the dogs before returning Vince and Victoria to Leeds.
Laura left Repton to make his peace with Gladys and went up to her room. She was undecided as to what to do. Victoria had implored her to keep out of trouble until an investigation into Robert Hanley Jones was underway.
‘I really should lie low,’ she said to Parker.
As a diversion, she sat down and opened a volume of the Brigadier’s diaries. She had tired of 1959 and had skipped through 1960 when the poor man had plainly succumbed to some unidentifiable illness. When the entries were not rambling incoherent nonsense they were indecipherable.
Hoping he had been able to get himself away from Lake Tanganyika, she began to flick through 1961.
March 1. Terrible infestation of ants. Men have gone hunting. Prayed with the womenfolk after dinner, their plight is bad. Marjani has had twins. Says she was relying on the Pampas grass method. Must speak with
local witch doctor.
She moved on to April.
Men returned from hunting but have gone again. Much praying with the womenfolk. Kadicha has come to me. She says she is with child again. Witch doctor has filled her head with nonsense. These people do not listen.
Contraception was obviously a problem in the area. Laura put the diary down and closed her eyes. She had not seen him as particularly devout. Perhaps it was some sort of undercover operation his regiment had sent him on, with him posing as a missionary? Who knew? And why should she care when Robert Hanley Jones and Tam were still at large.
She may have got it wrong about the mead, but that didn’t change the essence of the case. Tam and Robert Hanley Jones were in it together. They’d engineered the car crash at Casswell Grange. They’d managed to get rid of Matilda and all they had to do was frighten Repton into selling up. Even if Fantail Hall was now out of the equation, Tam was still most definitely in it, whatever the others said. All it needed was one small push and Laura felt sure Tam would show a chink in her armour. She checked the time again. Vince’s lawyers might take months to galvanise the Yorkshire Police. Laura rang Venetia and then Sir Repton and asked them both to join her in the lounge.
‘There is one thing I need to clear up,’ she said. ‘Did either of you know Matilda’s cousin from Casswell Grange?’
‘She doesn’t ring a bell. There are a mass of Laveracks in Dorset,’ Venetia said.
‘What about you Repton?’ Laura asked.
‘I met them once at a family reunion; a frightful affair. I had no idea of the tragedy of this Casswell Grange branch though. Matilda certainly didn’t inform me.’
‘You know why?’ Laura wasn’t waiting for a reply. ‘She probably read the court report; it was bound to have been in the Daily Mail. She suspected Robert Hanley Jones and she knew the danger Tam represented but she was silenced before she could say anything.’ She turned to Sir Repton. ‘We have to catch Tam out. Lay a trap for her at Mount Cod. The trouble is I must not be seen.’
The Haunting of Mount Cod Page 17
