“Jimmy’s diary? How do you know?” Bradley asked.
“She called Abaan a poet,” Cynara answered. “She could not have known he wrote poetry unless she read that diary.”
Chapter 45
“Abaan wrote poetry?” Bradley asked. “I too had no idea.”
“Yes because you never read the diary,” Cynara said.
“Now we just have to somehow prove that Elizabeth was involved in Qureshi’s and Sharon’s murders. Then we can go to the police,” Bradley said.
“How do we do that?” Cynara asked.
“Both were killed with the same gun. We need to find that gun,” Bradley said slowly. “I feel it is in Elizabeth’s possession. We have to spook her into revealing it to us.”
“She is no fool,” Cynara retorted.
“I agree. She is not going to just hand it over,” Bradley said.
“Was Elizabeth also shot with the same one? Has the ballistics report come?” Cynara asked.
“I have not heard,” Bradley replied.
“If it was the same gun then it would be with Kevin. He would have run out with it after the shooting. But if there are two guns then one might be somewhere in the manor,” Cynara said speculatively.
“Where would one hide something in the manor?” Bradley asked.
“There are numerous places. It is a big house with an attic,” Cynara said. “But if I was the killer, I would keep the gun close, very close, in my room.”
“You think it is in Elizabeth’s room?” Bradley asked.
“It is a strong possibility,” Cynara replied.
“Okay, go back to the house. Act very excited. See Elizabeth and tell her I have informed you that the gun has been discovered. The police are in the process of determining where it was bought, etc. Observe what she does,” Bradley said.
Cynara returned to the manor. Mr. Drake was surprised to see her when he answered the door. Mrs. Simpson was standing in the hallway. Cynara exuberantly told them she had some good news to share with Elizabeth. Mrs. Simpson quickly went to confirm her mistress was awake. She came back immediately and told Cynara to proceed to the bedroom.
Elizabeth was reading a book. Cynara apologized for the intrusion. “Bradley called. His source in the police just informed him that they have found the gun.”
“What?” Elizabeth’s voice had a slight quake to it. “What gun?”
“The one that was used in Qureshi’s and Sharon’s murders,” Cynara said, “The police have it in their custody and are trying to trace it, where it was bought and by whom.”
“Where did they find it?” Elizabeth asked a little sharply. Her face seemed to have paled.
“Bradley does not have any other details yet.” Cynara continued her charade. “I am very confident that they will catch the killer soon, now that they have the gun. This is such good news. I had to come and tell you.”
“Yes, wonderful news.” Elizabeth tried to appear pleased. However, Cynara could see a nervous flicker in her eyes.
“Do you mind if I share it with everyone here? They will all be so relieved,” Cynara said gaily.
“Of course, you must tell them,” Elizabeth responded.
Cynara exited the room and slowly walked towards the kitchen. She met Mr. Drake outside the study. He was thrilled to say the least at hearing about the authorities having secured the weapon. Cynara felt guilty for her deceit. She started a general discussion about guns, in order to keep standing at this strategic spot. The door to Elizabeth’s room was clearly visible. They talked for about a minute before she espied Elizabeth coming out of her room.
Elizabeth paused when she caught sight of Mr. Drake and Cynara. Mr. Drake also saw her at the same time and rushed to ask if she needed anything. Elizabeth told him she was going upstairs to fetch some toiletries. Mr. Drake asked if Mrs. Simpson could get them instead. She politely refused and told him firmly she felt well enough to go herself. Elizabeth then proceeded to climb the stairs.
Cynara anxiously asked Mr. Drake if they should follow Elizabeth upstairs, to ensure she was fine. Mr. Drake hesitated and suggested they run up quietly. He did not want to upset Elizabeth by being overly protective. They both ascended the stairs and could hear Elizabeth in her room. Mr. Drake silently pulled Cynara back and they waited at the bottom of the staircase. Elizabeth came down a minute later, holding a make-up pouch. Cynara closely observed how serene she looked. She must have ensured the gun was still where she had hidden it, thus allaying her fears. Elizabeth congenially bid Cynara goodnight and returned to the bedroom.
Cynara requested Mr. Drake to share the news about the gun with everyone and left. Instead of returning to the cottage, she walked out of the gates and turned right. Bradley was waiting for her in his car, half a kilometer down the road. Cynara confidently assured him the gun was somewhere in Elizabeth’s bedroom upstairs. Elizabeth’s behavior had confirmed it.
Cynara was happy they were inching forward in their pursuit of the truth but Bradley felt concerned that Elizabeth would soon be onto them. They needed to move faster. Cynara remembered Elizabeth was due for a doctor’s follow up visit the following morning. She would try to use the opportunity to search Elizabeth’s room.
They had a quick dinner and Bradley dropped her back. He warned her to be vigilant and not be caught in the act. Elizabeth’s servants were very faithful. He suggested to Cynara to somehow steer Mr. Drake and Mrs. Simpson into accompanying Elizabeth to the hospital. Her search would be much safer if they were not present in the manor. It was a fabulous idea and worth trying. Cynara tried calling Charles after changing into her nightclothes. His number was unreachable. Disappointed, she went to bed.
Cynara awoke early and reached the manor well before 8 a.m. Mrs. Simpson opened the door in a cheerful mood. Elizabeth had slept well. Cynara gave the excuse, as Charles was away, she did not feel like having breakfast alone. Mrs. Simpson promptly asked her to join them for the meal. Cynara followed her into the kitchen. Mrs. Keene added another place setting and they all sat down to eat. Cynara innocently asked whether Mr. Drake and Mrs. Simpson were taking Elizabeth for the appointment.
Mr. Drake and Mrs. Simpson both took to the idea right away. Elizabeth had thought of requesting either Kevin or Jane to accompany her. There really was no need to burden them. Mr. Drake could drive. Mrs. Simpson hurried to Elizabeth’s room as soon as they all finished eating. Cynara prayed her ploy would work. She started her work but was unable to be very productive. Mr. Drake came into the study a little later and informed Cynara they were leaving for the hospital. It had worked!
Cynara watched them drive away from the window. She then went to the kitchen, on the pretext of getting a glass of water, and found Mrs. Keene kneading dough for bread. It would take her at least a few minutes to complete the task. Mr. Keene had apparently gone shopping for some needed garden supplies. This was the right opportunity.
Cynara silently dashed upstairs to Elizabeth’s room. It was tastefully furnished with a king sized bed, two bedside tables, and an ornate dresser. There was a walk-in wardrobe with wall-to-wall mirrors and built in drawers. The door adjoining the wardrobe led into a lavish bathroom. Cynara methodically checked every closet, every drawer, and underneath and behind every piece of furniture, but did not find any gun. The clock was ticking and she started to panic, worrying that Mrs. Keene would catch her snooping.
Cynara finally abandoned the search, painstakingly leaving everything the way she had found it. She tiptoed down the stairs and silently glanced into the kitchen. Mrs. Keene was still working the dough and did not seem to have moved from her position. Cynara sighed with relief and returned to the study. She immediately dialed Bradley’s number. He had been anxiously awaiting her call and picked up on the first ring. She gave him the disappointing news. He was not so easily discouraged and told Cynara to remain positive. They would surely think of something else.
Cynara disconnected the call and sat there feeling defeated, in spite of Bradley’s suppor
tive words. Could they be mistaken? Was Elizabeth just an innocent victim they were wrongly targeting? She did lie and pretend. They could not have misjudged her. However, Cynara had been so confident about finding the gun. It was a real setback. She jumped to her feet and started pacing the room. Elizabeth had gone upstairs soon after Cynara’s fib about the gun. She had looked very tranquil when she returned, with the bag.
Cynara paused in her stride. The bag! Elizabeth was carrying a pouch when she came back down. Cynara had assumed it contained toiletries. Instead, it could have been the gun. That actually made a lot of sense. Elizabeth would want to keep it close to her, especially after the false scare. Cynara rushed out of the study along to the bedroom Elizabeth was temporarily using. The door was closed. She twisted the knob to open it, but it was locked. Elizabeth had locked it. The gun had to be inside.
Cynara’s phone rang as she re-entered the study. It was Jane. She wanted to know how Elizabeth was recovering. Cynara told her she had gone to the hospital with Mr. Drake and Mrs. Simpson. Jane was surprised Elizabeth had not asked her or Kevin. One of them would have happily driven her. Cynara appeased her and explained how chivalrous Mr. Drake had felt at escorting his employer.
Jane started to chatter about her family and became a little mournful regarding all the troubles plaguing them. She talked about Margaret and Kevin. The three of them had started to meet frequently after Ruth’s death. They were together the night of Elizabeth’s attack, at Kevin’s house. After having a little too much to drink, Kevin had passed out on the sofa. Margaret and Jane had stayed up until about 5 a.m. chatting. They had left Kevin sleeping on the sofa when they finally retired for the night. Jane was still feeling remorse about how they had been enjoying themselves while Elizabeth was shot.
Cynara listened quietly to Jane’s babbling. Her head was spinning by the time she hung up. Kevin, Margaret and Jane had been at Kevin’s the night Elizabeth was attacked. He had fallen asleep while Jane and Margaret talked until five in the morning. Bradley’s theory of Kevin’s involvement was wrong. How could he have shot Elizabeth when he had been home drunk? Then who was the shooter? Who was Elizabeth’s accomplice?
The morning passed in a blur. Cynara called Bradley and enlightened him about Kevin’s alibi. They needed a new suspect. She also tried to call Charles a few times but it kept going directly to voicemail. Elizabeth returned from the hospital after a couple of hours. Cynara stopped by her room after lunch. Elizabeth was speaking to someone on the phone and promptly disconnected the call. Cynara tried to act as normal as possible, enquiring after her wound. It was healing well and she could resume all her routine activities over the next few days.
Elizabeth did not mention anything about the gun. Cynara’s phone rang just as they started to review certain bank correspondence. It was Charles. Elizabeth signaled her to accept the call. Charles sounded tired and was about to catch the train back to York. He asked if there had been any progress on the case. In order to carry on with the deceit, Cynara excitedly told him the police had recovered the gun. Elizabeth just looked on composedly. Charles echoed her relief.
Cynara reached her cottage after work practically at the same time as Charles. He looked fatigued but had managed to finish everything he needed to do in London. Cynara made him a cup of tea. They sat down and Cynara revealed everything. Charles was clearly astonished to say the least. He found it hard to believe that Elizabeth was involved in any capacity, even though Cynara told him about all the lies. He was still not convinced.
Charles argued they had believed Kevin was the culprit, had been sure of it, but then were proven wrong. The same could be true for Elizabeth. There might be some other explanation. They deliberated over everything but were unable to reach a unanimous conclusion. Cynara just could not persuade him of Elizabeth’s involvement. He wanted irrefutable confirmation. Cynara thinking the gun was in Elizabeth’s possession, in the room she was currently occupying, was not good enough.
Bradley called while they were still discussing the matter. Jane’s revelation had shredded his theory of Kevin’s culpability. Nevertheless, he still felt Elizabeth was embroiled in the plot. She had known about her husband’s affairs and had read the diary, but played ignorant to both of these facts. What was the need for such deceptions? She had also truly benefitted monetarily from George’s death. Bradley acceded that they needed tangible proof. He was meeting his police source in the morning and planning to be candid with him. Together, Bradley hoped they could come up with a workable plan to get solid evidence.
Cynara was quite drained from all the thinking. After dinner, Charles made her hot chocolate, which Cynara gratefully accepted. Charles went to take a quick shower. The day’s events were taking a toll on her. A wave of tiredness caused her to clumsily knock over the cup of chocolate. Charles came out of his room just after Cynara had cleaned up and drunk the fresh mug she made for herself. They watched part of a TV show before Cynara called it a night. She could hardly keep her eyes open. Charles decided to turn in as well. Her brother was right, they had been wrong about Kevin. Anything was possible. What they needed was a break, a clue, something to show they were not persecuting an innocent. She drifted off to sleep with that thought.
Cynara woke up suddenly, fully alert. She looked at the clock on her bedside. It was five minutes past midnight. Something had awakened her, but she was not sure what. Then she heard it again, quiet sobbing coming from outside her room. Puzzled, she hurriedly got out of bed and opened her door. The sobbing was louder. It was from her brother’s room. His door was slightly open. She walked to it and glanced inside. Her world shattered.
Charles was holding Elizabeth and raining kisses all over her face. She was crying and he was trying to placate her. “I will take care of everything my darling. Please do not be upset. Stop crying,” he murmured to her.
Chapter 46
Cynara was unable to prevent the loud involuntary gasp that escaped from her lips. Charles and Elizabeth looked up and saw her. Scared, she ran back to her room. They both followed at her heels. She turned around to face them. Charles held up his hands pleadingly and said, “It is not what you think. Elizabeth and I love each other. We have been in love for a long time.”
Cynara shook her head in confusion, “Love? How is that possible?”
Elizabeth dashed away her tears and looked at Cynara angrily. “Charles, you have to deal with this. I told you she knows and has been playing me. Why is she not asleep? Did you not put the sleeping pill in her drink?”
Cynara looked at Elizabeth unintelligently, “What?”
“Yes. He drugged you. But it does not seem to have worked this time,” Elizabeth snarled.
“You put something in my drink?” Cynara asked her brother tremulously. “It spilled. I made a new cup.”
“You should have made sure she drank it,” Elizabeth chided angrily. “I will have to deal with this now.”
Charles immediately stood protectively in front of Cynara. He soothingly held Elizabeth’s shoulders. “Please darling, she is my sister. Just give me some time with her. She will understand.”
“But,” Elizabeth started to protest.
“Please, go back to the manor. It will all be fine,” Charles interrupted and gave Elizabeth a gentle push towards the door.
She reluctantly turned around and left. Cynara and Charles stood there until they heard the door of the cottage close. “You and Elizabeth?” Cynara clasped her hands, trying to still the trembling.
“Yes, we have been in love for a few years,” Charles said quietly. “Sit down Cynara and let me explain everything.”
“How can it be? A few years?” Cynara sank down on the bed.
“I had come on a business trip and we met by chance in London, at an event. Elizabeth was at a real low in her life. You know about George, what a bastard he was. We just connected and the rest is history. She and I are meant to be together,” Charles said dramatically.
“A married woman?” Cynara asked.
“A very unhappily married woman,” Charles emphasized. “We continued to meet. I started coming to London at every opportunity. You do not know about all my trips. Finally, last year, she confronted George about his affairs and asked for a divorce. She did not mention me.”
“How did George react?” Cynara asked.
“He was furious. His over-inflated ego could not accept Elizabeth leaving him at any cost. He promised to become faithful in the future. It was all lies. He was just a bastard. That same evening, Elizabeth found Jimmy’s diary. He had left it in the car. Elizabeth read it and a plan formed in her mind,” Charles replied.
“A plan to kill George and inherit all the money!” Cynara exclaimed accusingly.
“It was not like that. The only way we could be together was if George died. Elizabeth had tolerated George for so many years. She deserved to inherit the money. Jimmy was converting and planning to commit suicide. He was going to London to kill many people. So, in a way, by steering him to the races here, we reduced the number of casualties,” Charles explained.
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