The Ellsworth Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 5)

by Diana Xarissa

  “So how did you find Doveby House?” Janet asked.

  “I asked the nice man in the chemist shop where there was to stay around here,” she replied. “He gave the names of a couple of places in Little Burton, and Doveby House. I drove home late last night and then drove back here this morning. Charles’s car was gone when I got back and I drove around for a while, but I couldn’t find it. Then I decided to drive past your home and see if he was here. I wasn’t even going to stop, I was just going to check the car park, but there you were, the pair of you, looking so nice and friendly, that I, well, you know.”

  “I’m sorry,” Joan said again. “I wish we could tell you we hadn’t seen them.”

  “I’d just have to drive to Little Burton and try there,” Harriet replied. “I know they’re together and I know it isn’t business, no matter what Charles tries to tell me. I just have to figure out what I want to do about it, I guess.”

  “As neither of us has ever married, I don’t think we’re in any position to offer you any advice,” Joan said.

  Janet bit her tongue. She had lots of advice to offer, mostly along the lines of throwing Charles out on his ear.

  “I suppose I should just leave,” Harriet said now. “I know if he sees my car he’ll stay away.”

  “Is there anything we can do?” Joan asked.

  “You might mention that I’ve been here,” Harriet said with a wicked grin. “Maybe that will force him to cut short his holiday and come home.”

  “Why do you want him to come home?” Janet asked bluntly.

  Harriet looked surprised. “I don’t really, I guess,” she said after a moment. “But I quite like the idea of spoiling his holiday.”

  Janet laughed. “I can certainly understand that,” she said.

  The sisters walked the woman to the door. “Thank you both for your kindness,” she said as she left.

  “That poor woman,” Joan said as she and Janet took care of the lunch dishes. “Sometimes I’m so grateful I never got married.”

  “Me, too,” Janet agreed. “But what are we going to say to Charles and Lynne when they get back? I’m not sure I can even be polite to them now.”

  “We have to be polite,” Joan told her. “They’re paying guests, after all.”

  “And now we know why they paid in cash,” Janet said wryly. “So his wife wouldn’t know where he’d been.”

  Janet was in the library a short while later when she heard the front door open. She and Joan met in the corridor on their way into the sitting room. Charles and Lynne were standing in the doorway. They’d clearly been arguing.

  “Ah, we’re going to have to check out early,” Charles said to the sisters as they entered the room. “We’re leaving right now, in fact.”

  “That’s a shame,” Joan said levelly. “I hope it isn’t anything we’ve done or not done.”

  “No, no, something’s come up at home, that’s all,” the man said, not meeting her eyes. “We’ll just go and pack.”

  Charles walked quickly up the stairs, with Lynne following more slowly behind.

  “Do we have to return some of their money?” Janet asked her sister.

  “I suppose we should,” Joan replied. “Although I don’t know that we’re obliged to do so. I’ll offer, at least. That seems the right thing to do.”

  Janet nodded. “It does.”

  When the pair came back down the stairs a few minutes later, Charles was carrying their bags.

  “Thank you both for everything,” he said loudly.

  “You’re entitled to some money back, as you’re leaving early,” Joan said.

  “Oh, no, it’s entirely our fault, not yours,” Charles told her.

  “We should get some of our money back,” Lynne argued.

  “I said it’s fine,” Charles snapped at her. “Let’s go.”

  “But I paid for half of this week away,” Lynne said.

  “You can afford it,” Charles told her. “I’m going now. Are you coming?”

  Janet and Joan wondered for a moment if she was going to refuse, but after staring at the man for a long time, she finally nodded. “For the last time,” she muttered, clutching her handbag.

  Janet and Joan watched as they loaded their bags into the car and then drove away.

  “We never did tell him his wife was here,” Janet said as Joan shut the door behind them.

  “I suspect he knows anyway,” Joan replied.

  “Perhaps I should ring Robert and tell him what’s happened,” Janet said.

  “I suppose you should,” Joan agreed. “It seems like the sort of thing he’d be interested in.”

  Susan answered, and after they’d exchanged pleasantries, she put Robert on.

  “I just wanted to let you know that Charles and Lynne Walters have just left,” Janet told the man. “Except she isn’t really his wife. His real wife is called Harriet and she tracked them down here, which is why they cut their holiday short.”

  “I’m not sure any of that is criminal,” Robert said when Janet finished.

  “No, but it suggests that they aren’t as nice as we’d thought,” Janet replied. “If you’re the sort to cheat on your wife with your secretary, maybe you’re the sort to spend fake money as well.”

  “I’ll make sure someone takes a good look the pair,” Robert assured her.

  “Make sure someone looks at Karen Holmes, as well,” Janet said. “When we stopped to visit the antique store earlier, she was shouting some rather awful things at poor William.”

  “Really? That is interesting,” Robert said. “She’s always seemed rather quiet and reserved when I’ve spent time with her.”

  “Well, she certainly wasn’t either of those this morning,” Janet replied. “She didn’t know we were there, of course. Once she and William realised they had company, she was back to her usual self.”

  “I’ll take a closer look at her,” Robert said. “There’s something wrong there, but I’m not sure what it is.”

  “Do let us know if she turns out to be the counterfeiter,” Janet said.

  “I think it’s more likely she’s a gold digger, hoping to hook herself a wealthy second husband. I’m going to check into her past a bit and see exactly what her first husband has left her with.”

  “William isn’t my favourite person,” Janet admitted, “but I’d hate to see him taken advantage of by that woman.”

  “Yes, well, I’ll see what I can do to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Robert replied.

  Janet hung up the phone and headed for the kitchen. No doubt Joan was busy with the preparations for lunch. She’d only gone a few steps when someone knocked on the door.

  “Ah, Jean, right, or are you Julie?” Karen asked in a bright voice when Janet opened the door. “A little bird told me you have an unexpectedly empty guest room. I do hope you’ll be able to accommodate me now.”

  Chapter Ten

  Janet simply stared at the woman for a minute. Who had told her about the Walters leaving early? And how could she and Joan get out of letting her stay?

  “Can I come in, then?” Karen asked, smiling broadly. “I’m so eager to see more of your lovely home.”

  “I guess,” Janet said, stepping backwards.

  “Janet?” Joan’s voice came from behind her.

  “Ah, there you are, Jeannette,” Karen said, crossing the room to Joan’s side. “I was just telling your sister, Janice, that I’d heard you have an empty room. I do hope you’ll let me stay for a few days.”

  “It’s Janet,” Janet said, trying to catch Joan’s eye. There was no way she wanted this woman in their house, but she didn’t know how to tell Joan that without Karen noticing.

  “I don’t know,” Joan said. “The other guests have only just left. We haven’t had time to make up the room or anything.”

  “You have all day,” Karen said with a laugh. “I’m going down to the store to spend the day with William. As long as it’s ready by, oh, maybe ten o’clock tonight, that will be
fine.”

  “I don’t think we can do that,” Joan said. “We have other things to do today besides get that room ready. Anyway, we’re just about to close up for Christmas, as soon as our other guests leave. We really don’t want to take on any new guests right now.”

  “Money’s no object,” Karen said, opening her handbag. She pulled out a wallet and slid out a stack of twenty-pound notes. “I’ll pay double your normal rates, just for a few nights,” she told the sisters. “I need to be closer to William, you see.”

  “And he doesn’t have a guest room?” Janet asked.

  Karen frowned. “Oh, I couldn’t stay with him,” she said. “It simply wouldn’t be proper.”

  “I’m sorry, but we simply can’t accommodate you at the moment,” Joan said. “We have some openings in January, if that’s any good to you.”

  The woman frowned. “How much?” she demanded. “I’ll pay you three hundred pounds a night. Surely that’s enough?”

  “It isn’t about the money,” Joan said. “We’re closing for Christmas.”

  “I’ll just stay until your other guests leave,” Karen offered. “A couple of nights should be enough.”

  “Enough for what?” Janet asked.

  “Oh, I mean long enough, long enough for me to figure out how I really feel about William,” Karen replied. “I think I’m really falling for him, you see, but I need to be sure. I said, after Lester died, that I’d never marry again.”

  Janet and Joan exchanged looks. Neither was quite sure how to deal with the situation.

  “Look, just let me stay one night,” Karen said. “William and I are having dinner together tonight and we’re going to have a long talk. That should go a long way towards helping me work out my feelings.”

  “One night,” Joan said tightly. “We’ll put fresh bedding on the bed, but we won’t have time to air it properly.”

  “That’s fine,” Karen said happily. She counted out fifteen notes and held them out to Joan. “I’ll be the perfect guest, I promise,” she said. “Thank you, too, Jennifer,” she said to Janet. “I’ll see you both later.” She turned and let herself out, leaving Joan and Janet to stare after her.

  “She didn’t get the keys,” Joan said after a moment. “I guess we’ll have to wait up for her.”

  “You will,” Janet said grumpily. “Janice, Jennifer and I are all going to bed early.”

  Joan laughed. “It’s only one night,” she told Janet.

  “What about the notes? Are they fakes?” Janet asked.

  Joan looked at money that was still in her hand. “I don’t know,” she said. “But I think we should have Robert take a look.”

  Janet rang the police station for the second time that day. Robert agreed to stop at Doveby House some time in the afternoon. With that sorted, after a quick lunch, Janet headed to the library. She was just counting how many titles on the first bookcase were mysteries when she heard the front door open.

  Paula Ellsworth was sitting on the couch in the sitting room when Janet walked in a moment later. She looked as if she’d been crying.

  “Are you okay, my dear?” Janet asked.

  “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in,” the woman replied. “I’m fine.”

  “Of course you aren’t,” Janet said. “You’ve been crying and you’re clearly upset. It’s not my business, of course, but if you want someone to talk to, I’ll be in the library at the back of the house.”

  She’d only just finished one shelf when Paula appeared in the doorway. “This is amazing,” Paula gasped. “Look at all the books. I could spend forever in here, just reading my way around the room.”

  Janet smiled. “It’s my favourite room in the house,” she told the woman.

  “You’re very lucky to have it,” Paula replied. “It’s just about perfect in every way.”

  “I’m trying to organise it,” Janet explained. “At the moment the books are just shelved randomly. I’m trying to sort them into categories.”

  “What a wonderful job,” Paula said. “It would take me forever, though, because I’d keep stopping to read the books.”

  Janet nodded. “That’s why it’s taking me a long time,” she said. “But I guess there really isn’t any rush.”

  “Do you have children?” Paula asked.

  Janet blinked at the unexpected question.

  “Oh, goodness, I didn’t mean to be rude,” Paula said, blushing. “It’s just, that is, I mean, I am sorry, just ignore me.”

  Janet looked at her curiously. “I don’t mind,” she said softly. “When I was young, maybe in my teens, I was sure I’d get married and have children one day. But then I started teaching and I loved it. I didn’t really want to have to give that up, you see.”

  “Why would you have had to give up teaching?” Paula asked.

  “In those days, married women didn’t work,” Janet explained. “Once you were married, you were meant to stay home and start a family. Perhaps, if I’d found the right man, I would have done just that, but I never seemed to find the right man.”

  “I’ve found the perfect man,” Paula said. “Peter is amazing and he makes me so happy. But we want children so badly, and…” she trailed off and looked at the ground.

  Janet put down the book she was holding and crossed to her side. She put an arm around the woman and patted her back gently. “Not everyone finds making babies easy,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

  The woman began to cry. “We always thought, that is, I mean, we were so worried for so many years about not getting pregnant that we just assumed that once we stopped trying to prevent it, we’d be pregnant right away.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know much about getting pregnant,” Janet said.

  The woman managed a small chuckle. “I know everything about it,” she told Janet. “And we’re planning to try everything, whatever it costs. Our doctor suggested a short holiday before we start with hormone treatments. She said we needed to relax and get rid of all of our stress before we start.”

  “Nothing like being told to relax to make you tense,” Janet said dryly.

  Now Paula laughed. “Absolutely,” she said. “Peter and I are driving each other crazy trying not to talk about babies or children or anything and we’re both so worried about what might happen or not happen that we can’t even talk to one another.”

  “I’m afraid your doctor was quite right,” Janet said. “You really do need to try to relax.”

  Paula nodded. “I know you’re right and so was she, but it’s so hard. It’s like watching the future I was planning for disappearing in front of me. We always thought we’d have three kids, a boy and then a girl and then a bonus baby that could be either. We even bought a four-bedroom house so we’d be ready for everyone when they arrived.”

  Janet could hear the suppressed tears in the woman’s words. “And you might still need them all,” she said. “Or maybe not. But as you can’t see the future, you can only work on today. Today you need to relax and rediscover some joy in your life just the way it is, not the way you want it to be. Come with me. We’ll have tea and cake.”

  Paula managed a small smile. “Tea doesn’t fix everything,” she said softly.

  “But it doesn’t hurt, either,” Janet said firmly.

  In the kitchen, Joan was bustling around, fussing over the Christmas puddings and her homemade mincemeat.

  “We need tea and cake,” Janet announced.

  “I’ve just finished a jam roly poly,” Joan said. “It was going to be for after dinner, but I’m prepared to pretend not to notice if you each want a slice now.”

  Janet put the kettle on while Joan served the pudding.

  “Don’t you want any?” Paula asked as Joan put out two plates with generous cake slices on them.

  “Oh, well, maybe just a small piece,” Joan said, looking a bit guilty.

  The trio sipped their tea and ate their cake while they talked about the weather and the approaching holidays. Janet was pleased to se
e the younger woman relax, at least a little bit, as they did so.

  “Oh, hey, no one said there was cake,” Peter said from the doorway as the women were finishing up their last bites.

  “Only for the girls,” Janet told him.

  “That isn’t quite fair,” Peter said. “But as you’ve made my lovely wife smile, I won’t complain.”

  Paula stood up. “It’s nearly time for dinner and I’m not the least bit hungry,” she said, winking at Janet. “Maybe we could go for a long walk and I’ll be able to work up an appetite.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Peter said.

  “Thank you,” Paula said to Janet. “You’re right. I need to enjoy right now more, instead of obsessing over the future. Everyone keeps telling me that, but somehow you’ve made it sound eminently sensible.”

  The couple left the kitchen hand in hand. Janet followed them to the door and watched them walk away together. She sighed and hoped she’d been able to help. Before she could close the door behind them, she spotted Robert’s police car turning onto their street.

  “Ah, good afternoon,” she called to the man as he climbed out of the car.

  “Good afternoon,” he replied as he reached the steps to the front door. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here earlier. It’s been a busy day.”

  “Does that mean you’ve caught the counterfeiter?” Janet asked.

  “I wish,” Robert replied. “It turns out the man they arrested in Derby was nothing to do with the fake notes. Oh, he’s guilty of plenty of other things and we’re all glad he’s been arrested, but we were all really hoping he was behind the counterfeits as well. Now we’re back to square one, really, on that case.”

  “Well, we just got a stack of notes from Karen Holmes. Maybe they’ll turn out to be fake and she’ll be the one responsible,” Janet said.

  “If only it were that easy,” Robert replied.

  “I thought I heard voices,” Joan said from the doorway. “I was afraid Janet was talking to herself.”

  Janet laughed. “I often am,” she admitted. “But not this time.”

  “I hope you didn’t have to interrupt anything terribly important to come over,” Joan told Robert. “But we did want you to see the notes that Karen gave us. She’s rather, well, unlikable, but that’s no reason to assume she’s doing anything criminal, I suppose.”