Murder in Time

by Veronica Heley

  Vera clung to the ironing board, assimilating the news. At the last name, she looked tired. Really tired. And shook her head. ‘I’ll never understand men.’

  There was a huge basket of clean clothes waiting for her attention. Vera picked up the first white shirt and shook it out with hands that trembled. It was a man’s shirt.

  Ellie paused with her mug halfway to her lips. ‘Doesn’t Dan usually do his own ironing?’

  ‘He said I’d do it so much better.’

  ‘So today you shopped and cooked for the two men in your life. Then washed up. And now you’re going to do their ironing, while they enjoy a game of chess.’

  ‘I don’t suppose I’d be much good at chess.’

  ‘My first husband used to say I hadn’t the brains of a gnat, that I couldn’t possibly learn to drive a car, operate a computer or manage a bank account.’

  Vera frowned. ‘He was wrong about that.’

  ‘Except about learning to drive a car. Maybe it was too late for me to learn, or maybe he was right and I’d never have been any good at it. You’ll have to learn to drive soon.’

  ‘Yes, so Dan says. He’s going to teach me.’ Vera picked up the steam iron to test it was working, and now laid it down again. ‘You’re saying that I’m letting the men confine me to the kitchen? You’re right, of course.’ She switched off the iron, dumped the shirt back into the basket, and marched off to confront the men.

  Ellie grinned. Her money was on Vera. She finished her mug of tea, rinsed it out and left it on the draining board before making her way down the stairs. The phone was ringing. She was only just in time to pick up the phone before it switched to voicemail.

  SIXTEEN

  ‘How did you know?’ Lesley Milburn, in police mode. ‘You are always so circumspect about giving me names, so I knew it meant something when you fingered Dick Prentice—’

  ‘Ah. He’s been in trouble before?’

  ‘You betcha. I’ve got Maureen’s address. She was out when I called earlier, but a neighbour says she’ll be back soon, so I’ll try to catch up with her later. In the meantime, I’ve been checking to see what your Mr Prentice has been up to. Starting when he was nineteen. Caught in possession of drugs. Twice. Got a slap on his wrist: don’t do it again, boy! Caught a third time, the following year. He was probably dealing but he got away with it that time, too.

  ‘Now for the more serious stuff. Eight years ago it is alleged that he assaulted a teenage girl in the park. He swore he was innocent and that she’d made all the running. The girl was dressed to provoke, had been taking photos of herself and a friend in the almost-altogether before she started chatting up Dick Prentice … or he started chatting her up. Whichever. She exhibited some nice bruises and swore he’d dragged her into the bushes, which he may well have done, but the girl didn’t impress the policewoman who took the call so Prentice got off with a caution, which he accepted while declaring his innocence to all and sundry.’

  ‘A something and a nothing?’

  ‘Mm. Next item. More serious. A young woman fell asleep in a quiet corner of the park and woke up to find him with his hands up her skirt. She screamed, he ran off but was caught by a couple walking their dog, who called the police. This should have gone to court, but the woman wouldn’t press charges, newly married, husband would have been upset, etcetera. So he walked away from that, too.’

  Ellie said, ‘How many times has he got away with it?’

  ‘Not sure. We’ve only got the times the police were involved. Third time. Domestic violence. The police were called out to the marital home. The wife displayed evidence of abuse, bruises, a black eye, but again wouldn’t press charges. Apparently, she’d thrown him out of the house, whereupon dear Dickie had got back in by smashing a window. A neighbour called the police, but no charges were laid.’

  Ellie said, ‘And then she divorced him. Well, he’s been lucky. Can nothing be done to bring him to court now?’

  ‘I’m hoping that Maureen will give us something to act on. If she’ll only say he was the instigator of her attempt to frame Thomas for abuse, we’ll have him. But I must warn you that if he elects for trial by jury and no one knows of his previous, he’ll probably get off. And don’t forget, Thomas’s name would be dragged through the mud, even though the allegation was proved to be false.’

  ‘Ouch. No, we really don’t want that.’

  ‘Looking on the bright side, knowing that the police were investigating his background might frighten him into good behaviour for a while.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem to have worked well in the past. He’s attacked women on, how many, three or four different occasions? Given his record, wouldn’t you say he’ll do it again?’

  ‘Probably. And the pattern is that the violence will escalate.’

  Silence, while they both thought about this.

  Lesley said, ‘Any other names you’d like to give me?’

  Ellie said, ‘I held back from giving you Dick’s until he turned on Thomas, and it transpires that he’s a serial offender. Maybe, if he’d been exposed to the light of day when he started on drugs, he’d not have had the opportunity to cause so much upset and distress to the women he’s met on the way. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. There are three other names—’

  ‘Three! Ellie, you can’t be serious!’

  ‘Yes, I am. I’m feeling miserable about it. I haven’t a clue whether I’m doing right or wrong by withholding other names from you. One man died in Afghanistan. There doesn’t seem to me any point in giving you his name.’

  ‘I suppose not.’

  ‘One, as far as I can make out, has dual nationality and is not permanently domiciled in this country. We’re trying to deal with him on his own terms. If that goes wrong, then yes, I’ll give you his name, but I don’t think you’d get very far with him. It’s a complicated matter. I’ll tell you all about it one day, perhaps.’

  ‘And the fourth?’

  ‘I’d be inclined to think he’s led a blameless life from that day to this. It’s Simon Trubody.’

  Muffled squawks from Lesley, and a tumbling noise. Then, ‘Ellie, you still there? I dropped the phone. Did you say …?’

  ‘Yes. Have you ever heard anything to his discredit?’

  ‘No. He’s reputed to be a toughie. Ellie, are you sure? I mean, he’s standing for parliament. He has the backing of many important people. Our commissioner, and the outgoing Member of Parliament, and all the local bigwigs, and the mayor and, well …’

  ‘That’s why I didn’t say anything. I think he’s clean. I think his one slip, twelve years ago, is atypical. I’ve met him. Vera can’t of her own knowledge accuse him of anything. There were witnesses, yes. And perhaps some of them might be persuaded to speak up. But I’m not sure it would be right to—’

  ‘It would be a national scandal.’

  ‘And ruin his prospects for a parliamentary career. I’m not sure he deserves that. I mean, he did rape her; yes. And for that he ought to be punished. Question; has it been on his conscience all this while, because if so, maybe that’s enough punishment for anyone? He’s an intelligent man. I suppose he may be ruthless in business, but I don’t think he’s entirely without morals. I wish I knew what to do.’

  ‘Same here. Ellie, you’ve handed me a grenade with the pin pulled out. The moment I start asking about him, alarm bells are going to go off all over the place, and either he’ll scream harassment, or start slapping writs for slander around. He can afford a good solicitor, can’t he?’

  ‘I’m telling you,’ said Ellie, ‘in case anything untoward should happen to me in the next few days.’

  ‘Ellie, no!’

  ‘Just joking.’ Ellie put the phone down. Did she believe what she’d just said? Perhaps she did. Although she had an uneasy feeling that if Simon Trubody did make a move, it would be one she hadn’t anticipated, and it would be a knockout.

  Sunday morning

  Hustle and bustle. Thomas had been called on at the last
minute to take a service for someone who’d been stricken with arthritis, while Diana had dropped off Evan with no extra changes of clothing and an admonition not to take him out into the cold as there was a brisk wind blowing. Rose feared she was going down with a cold, so Ellie made her some honey and lemon mixture. Rose gave some to Evan, who loved it and wanted more. And more.

  Dan called round to bring a half leg of lamb he said he’d had in his freezer which needed to be eaten … though as it smelt fresh and didn’t look as if it had ever been frozen, he’d probably bought it for the occasion. He offered to take Vera and Mikey out for the day. Vera came downstairs to give him a kiss and say they needed to catch up on their homework … but he might join them for supper if he wished.

  No sooner had the door closed behind Dan, than the front doorbell rang again.

  It wasn’t Diana’s usual peremptory ring. Vera hovered, halfway up and halfway down.

  ‘Yes,’ said Ellie. ‘I think it will be for you.’ And it was.

  Simon Trubody. Encased in a tailored silk and mohair navy-blue overcoat, hair immaculate, nicely shaven, expensively gloved. He had a smile which spoke of private dentistry and the confidence born of wealth and power.

  ‘Apologies for intruding on a Sunday, Mrs Quicke. Would it be possible to speak to Mrs Pryce?’ At least he was tactful enough to use Vera’s married name.

  He saw Vera on the stairs and spoke direct to her. ‘Would you be so kind as to spare me a few minutes of your time?’

  Vera shook her head. ‘Not without a witness.’

  She didn’t wish to be left alone with Simon?

  Ellie thought of a solution. ‘Shall we all go into the sitting room?’

  Vera hesitated, nodded and joined them in the sitting room. Thomas had left the Sunday papers in heaps around his chair. Ellie tidied them up while Vera seated herself on the settee, watchful eyes on their guest.

  Ellie considered offering coffee. Decided against it.

  Simon unbuttoned his coat and seated himself. ‘I won’t bite, Vera. I would prefer to speak to you alone.’

  Vera shook her head. Her eyes checked with Ellie, begging her to stay with them.

  ‘Quite a pleasant day,’ observed Ellie, seating herself in her high-backed chair.

  ‘Very well.’ He cleared his throat. He was, perhaps, not quite as sure of himself as he would like to be. ‘Mrs Quicke has a formidable reputation for uncovering long-buried sins. Including mine.’ He tried on a smile till he saw it didn’t have any effect, then returned to being businesslike. ‘Yes, I’ve come to apologize. Twelve years too late. I know. I’ve been thinking what to do for, well, for some time now. How to make recompense … Not that there is anything that can wipe out … I am aware of that.’

  Silence. Vera watched him with a frown.

  Ellie said, ‘So, as you think the news is about to hit the dailies, you’re trying to limit the damage to your reputation?’

  ‘Something like that, yes. I can’t explain why I … Why any of us … We were young and foolish, we were drunk on beer and excitement. And no, I know that doesn’t excuse what we did. What I did.’

  Ellie said, ‘So, you are throwing yourself on Vera’s mercy, asking her forgiveness?’

  ‘Yes.’ Through gritted teeth.

  ‘You are going to plead with her not to ruin your career?’

  He leapt to his feet. ‘For heaven’s sake!’ And then, quietly, controlling himself, ‘Yes. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I am truly sorry for what I did. Also –’ he got the words out with difficulty – ‘I know I ought to have tried to stop it happening. I knew Dick and Raff were high on something, and Abdi – well, he’s always been a law to himself, but I should have been able to … And instead, I … To my shame.’

  Was he for real? That was the question.

  Vera was looking down at her hands. She didn’t seem to be listening.

  He went to stand at the window, looking out on to the garden but sending quick glances back at Vera. ‘Looking back, I see things from a different point of view from the one I had then. We were all so young, thought only of ourselves and how to enjoy life. Vera, I did hear that you’d had a child and that you’d tried to make Abdi honour his obligations. And that he’d refused. In my callow youth, I thought then that I’d had a lucky escape, that it might have been me saddled with a paternity suit. Jack the Lad told me you’d found some sort of council accommodation. He asked me if I’d like to help you out, financially. I told him it wasn’t my baby. I’m ashamed of that, too. In my defence, I could say that I’d only just gone to university and was on a strict budget. I couldn’t have helped without applying to my parents for money, and I didn’t feel that I could tell them. Yes, I realize now that I should have done. But at the time I thought … I’m sorry. There are no excuses for what I did, are there?’

  He turned to face Vera, but her attention was still on her hands.

  He said, ‘I always fancied you, you know.’

  Vera shook her head. ‘You fancied Jack’s girlfriend, but she wasn’t having any.’

  He reddened. ‘Perhaps you’re right. It’s all a long time ago. Afterwards, it seemed like a dream. I tried to convince myself that nothing much had happened. I wiped it out of my mind. Sometimes I’ve been able to forget about it for months at a time. Then someone would say that they’d seen you about the place, and that you’d got married and were tied up in some way with the Pryce family and the new hotel. I was pleased to hear that. It salved my conscience.’

  Still no response from Vera.

  He straightened his back. ‘Last night I told my wife everything. Every little detail. She was horrified. I was afraid she’d leave me and take the children. I could see my whole life imploding … and yes, as she pointed out, I’d helped to destroy yours. Eventually, she agreed to let bygones be bygones, if I made what amends to you that I could. I won’t say that she has forgiven me, exactly, and she certainly won’t forget in a hurry. But here I am. At your mercy.’

  Ellie thought, This is a very clever man. He’s taking a risk, but if it comes off, he’s home and dry. If he fails, he’ll be able to say that he is full of remorse for what he did. Does he genuinely feel some remorse? Perhaps not as much as he’d like us to believe, but yes, I do think he regrets what he did. The question is; what will Vera say?

  Vera said nothing. Nothing at all.

  Perhaps it was the most disconcerting thing she could have done.

  He stretched out his hand to Vera. ‘Please.’

  Ellie’s eyebrows rose. Ham acting? No, maybe he did feel some remorse.

  Vera turned to Ellie. ‘Did you switch the recording unit on?’

  No, of course she hadn’t. But Ellie nodded.

  Simon blanched. ‘You’ve recorded this conversation?’ He sank into a chair, drawing his hand across his eyes. ‘Well, I suppose I deserved that. Now you’ve got my confession on tape, you can take it to the police and … I must warn my wife.’ He stared into a future which looked grey. ‘I just hope she won’t leave me. We’ve been married for … And the children are …’ He pulled himself together. ‘I’m sorry. You don’t need to hear all that. The truth will have to come out. I don’t think I’ll lose my position in the firm, and in time, maybe …’

  He stood up, gathering his coat around him. ‘May I just say, Vera, that I am truly sorry for what I did, and I am doing, have done, everything I can to make amends.’

  Vera inclined her head, but did not speak.

  He took a slip of paper out of his breast pocket and laid it on the coffee table. ‘I should have done this years ago. I know you needed it more, then. It’s come too late, and I know it’s not enough. I’m asking you to accept it, nevertheless.’

  Ellie leaned forward to see how much he’d made the cheque out for. Ten thousand pounds. Decent but not overgenerous. It would fit out Vera’s kitchen at the new house.

  Vera didn’t even look at the cheque. She said, ‘I forgive you. And, unless my hand is forced, I won’
t be placing charges. You can tell your wife that I appreciate your honesty. And I hope you do well at election time.’

  His face changed. ‘Really?’ He put out his hand, as if to shake hers.

  She shook her head and walked out of the room.

  He looked taken aback. Ellie thought he wasn’t used to being treated with disdain. He recovered himself quickly enough, though his colour had risen. He bowed his head to Ellie. ‘Thank you for agreeing to see me.’

  ‘That’s all right,’ she said. Though it wasn’t really all right, was it? She showed him out. Was it raining again? Oh dear.

  Then she heard Evan squalling and hurried to his side. Rose had been trying to get him out of, or into, his buggy and had got stuck. Both were in tears. Where had Ellie put his dummy?

  Sunday lunchtime

  ‘Well,’ said Ellie, reporting to Thomas at lunchtime, ‘that’s one down and three to go. Vera wouldn’t touch the cheque Simon left for her, so I’ve put it in a safe place in my study. What are the odds on Dick Prentice doing the same?’

  She fed Evan a crust of bread. He spat it out. She scooped it up and fed it back to him. He looked at her and she looked back, daring him to spit it out again. He lowered his eyelids and accepted the crust. Good.

  Rose was dozing in her chair. She was dropping off to sleep more often, nowadays.

  Thomas was supposed to be on a diet. He chewed through a salad, without enthusiasm. ‘You really think Dick Prentice will try to buy her off, too?’

  ‘He might. He seems to be in touch with Simon, who will no doubt suggest that it would be a good idea. Dick’s a nasty piece of work. I don’t think I’d want to touch any money he offered, but perhaps Vera is of a more forgiving nature.’

  ‘You wouldn’t touch his money because he tried to get me into trouble?’ She could tell Thomas was still worried about that, even though she’d told him that Lesley was going to deal with the man.