Rogue in Porcelain

by Anthea Fraser

  ‘Bless you,’ Rona said. ‘I’ll be in touch.’ And rang off, before her twin could question her further.

  The sound of approaching police sirens reached them, and Finlay stood up. Gus gave another whine, and Rona slipped to her knees and gathered the dog in her arms, burying her face in his fur. Finn stood watching her for a moment. Then he went to meet the police.

  Uniformed officers were first on the scene, and after giving an initial account of finding of the body, Rona and Finlay were driven to the police station, where more detailed statements were taken.

  By the time they were free to go, the enormity of what had happened had seeped through the shock, and Rona wanted above all things to be alone, able to grieve for her friend in private. As they came out of the interview room, a group of men were talking and laughing in the foyer. Something about one of the voices was familiar, and she glanced across, encountering a suddenly alert pair of grey eyes. It was, she saw with sinking heart, the detective with whom she’d crossed swords in Buckford the previous year.

  ‘My God, if it isn’t Miss Marple!’ he said loudly, and as faces turned in her direction, Finn, sensing her distress, took her arm and led her out to the waiting police car.

  ‘We’re going to Oliver and Sally,’ he told her, when, having given the address, they’d settled in the back seat. ‘You’re not fit to drive home, and in any case your husband’s not there. They’ll put you up for the night.’

  ‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly—’

  ‘It’s all arranged. I phoned them while you were being interviewed.’

  ‘But – Gus . . .’

  ‘No problem, really, but it will mean going through the whole thing again. Sally’ll be upset; she and Julia were friends. And they’ll – probably want to know how you met her.’

  ‘Why?’ Rona asked rebelliously, still unconvinced of Finn’s identification.

  ‘It seems strange, that’s all. And Rona: this business is quite enough for them to take in at the moment. We’ll leave the news of the letter for now, OK?’

  ‘OK,’ she said.

  The police car drew up outside a large detached house in a leafy avenue, and they got out, Rona shivering in the evening air. The rain that had threatened at the cemetery had started during their interviews, and seemed to have set in for the night.

  ‘Thanks for the lift,’ Finlay told the driver, who touched his cap and drove off. The front door opened as they reached it, and Rona found herself facing a tall, fair-haired woman who moved swiftly forward and put her arms round her.

  ‘You poor love,’ she said. ‘What a terrible experience you’ve had.’

  To Finlay, she added in a low voice, ‘I should warn you – Nick’s here. He insisted.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Finn said tiredly. ‘How is he?’

  ‘As you’d expect.’

  Sally released Rona and smiled at her. Rona saw that her eyes were red-rimmed, and beneath expertly applied make-up her face was pale.

  ‘As you’ll have guessed, I’m Sally,’ she said. ‘Come through.’

  Rona had braced herself for a room full of people, sure that Edward and possibly his wife would be there. But as Sally led her in, it was only Oliver and Nick who rose to greet her, both of them white-faced. Finlay went straight to Nick and put a hand on his shoulder.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said quietly, and Nick nodded.

  ‘Have the police been in touch?’

  ‘Yes; they want to see me in the morning. Not that I can tell them anything, God knows.’ He bent absent-mindedly to pat Gus, who wagged his tail uncertainly and then, since no one spoke to him, trotted over to the fire and settled on the rug.

  ‘Come and sit down, Rona,’ Oliver said. ‘This might help.’

  He handed her a glass of brandy, and passed one to Finlay. Sally, who had seated herself on a low pouffe, clasped her hands together and looked at Rona.

  ‘Finn says you knew Julia?’

  Rona took a sip of brandy, feeling its warmth course down her throat. ‘I did, yes, but I find it hard to believe—’

  ‘—that she was Nick’s ex,’ Finlay finished for her. ‘I can’t think why she didn’t tell you.’

  Sally frowned. ‘Why would she?’

  ‘Because they discussed Rona’s history of the firm.’

  ‘She’d obviously written me off completely,’ Nick said, with an attempt at humour. No one smiled.

  ‘How long have you known her?’ Sally persisted.

  ‘Only about ten days, but we’d seen quite a bit of each other. We got on really well.’

  ‘And how exactly did you meet?’ Oliver asked.

  That question again. ‘She bumped into me on Guild Street, and I dropped my shopping bag. The eggs broke, and—’ She gave a little shrug. ‘We had a cup of tea together, she told me she hated hotels, and as my mother has just started doing B&B, I suggested she went there.’

  ‘She was lodging with your mother?’ Nick interrupted.

  ‘Yes. She was only there a few days, but Mum had become fond of her.’

  ‘Finn said you discussed this article you’re doing,’ Oliver continued. ‘Did she – make any comments about the family?’

  Rona looked at him in bewilderment. ‘It doesn’t make sense,’ she said. ‘When she came to the house, she looked through the albums Finn had lent me, and asked questions about people, as though she’d no idea who they were.’ She turned to him urgently. ‘Are you sure this isn’t a mistake, and she’s not who you think?’

  He shook his head sympathetically. Oh, Julia, she thought forlornly, I wish you were here.

  Nick ran a hand through his hair. ‘What on earth was she doing in the cemetery, of all places? Come to that, why was she up here at all? The last I heard, she was living in Reigate.’

  Rona’s hand jerked, sloshing the brandy in the glass. ‘Reigate?’ she repeated sharply.

  They all turned to her, and Oliver said curiously, ‘Yes; why?’

  Rona shook her head tiredly; it was too complicated to explain, too convoluted for her brain to grapple with. All at once there seemed a dozen facets to Julia about which she’d known nothing.

  Sally rose to her feet. ‘Dinner’s almost ready. And don’t say you’re not hungry,’ she told Rona. ‘You need something inside you, to keep your strength up. But first, I’ll show you your room so you can freshen up.’

  Rona also stood and Gus, asleep in front of the fire, raised his head. She motioned to him to stay. ‘Are you quite sure this isn’t too much trouble? I’m quite capable of driving home.’

  ‘After that brandy?’ Oliver smiled, and she protested no further.

  The room Sally had swiftly prepared was large and comfortable, as was the old-fashioned furniture it contained. An elderly relative’s, perhaps.

  ‘I’m afraid we don’t run to an en suite,’ she apologized, ‘but the bathroom’s immediately opposite. It’s free at the moment, but I’d advise you to stay in your room in the morning till the school rush is over.’

  ‘Where are the children now?’ Rona asked.

  ‘Watching a DVD. They don’t know what’s happened yet, but they’ve been told not to come downstairs. It’s almost their bedtime anyway; I’ll settle them before serving dinner.’ She gave a quick glance around the room, as though checking its amenities. ‘I’ve put out a nightdress for you, and there are clean towels and a new toothbrush in the bathroom. I always keep a stock.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you.’

  Sally smiled and nodded. ‘Come down when you’re ready,’ she said.

  Alone in the room, Rona lowered herself on to the bed. Nothing to unpack, nothing to put away. She’d feel better for a wash, but first she must phone Max. It was now eight fifteen, and there was no saying where he’d be.

  Wherever he was, his mobile was switched off, and frustrated tears came to her eyes. She badly needed to speak to him. She left a brief message that she was staying overnight in Chilswood, and to phone her on her mobile when he had a chance.
Then, holding at bay the myriad questions gnawing at her mind, she went to the bathroom.

  The cold water revived her a little, and after reapplying such make-up as she had with her, and brushing her hair with the silver-backed brush on the dressing table, Rona made her way downstairs.

  All the doors were closed, and she hesitated, trying to remember which was the sitting room. The sound of voices drew her forward, and as she put her hand on the knob, she heard Finn say, ‘Oh, and another odd thing: the police asked if I knew anyone called Nigel. God knows how they got on to him so quickly.’

  ‘Good God!’ Oliver’s voice. ‘Don’t say he’s still on the scene?’

  Unwilling to eavesdrop, Rona pushed the door open and went in, and the conversation stopped abruptly.

  ‘Have you everything you need?’ Oliver asked her. ‘Do say, if not.’

  ‘Sally’s thought of everything,’ Rona assured him, but as talk restarted, her mind was elsewhere. Nigel. She’d heard the name recently. And on cue, she remembered the man in the china shop, who’d reacted so strangely when she mentioned the Curzons. Curiouser and curiouser.

  ‘When I prepared this casserole, I wasn’t expecting dinner guests,’ Sally apologized as they took their places at the dining table. ‘Fortunately I made double the quantity, so the children could have it tomorrow.’

  ‘Now, it will have to be chicken nuggets!’ Nick said with a forced smile.

  Rona looked at him curiously. Of them all, Julia’s death must surely affect him the most, yet he seemed no more upset than the rest of them. She wondered when and why he and Julia had divorced, and whether Nigel de Salis had had any part in it.

  Having not expected to be able to eat, Rona found to her surprise that she was hungry. A great deal had happened since she and Finn had sat over scones together.

  Cheese, biscuits and coffee followed the casserole. Every time there was a lull in the conversation, Rona’s mind slid back to that scene in the enclosure, Julia’s pale face and the blood on her blouse. The knowledge that she was not only dead, but had been murdered, was grotesque, unimaginable.

  Finn said suddenly, ‘Rona, I meant to ask you; why did that policeman call you Miss Marple?’

  Sally gave an amused laugh. ‘Did he really?’

  ‘You’d met him before?’ Finn pressed.

  ‘Yes, in Buckford. I can’t think what he’s doing down here.’

  ‘But why Miss Marple?’ Oliver asked.

  ‘Because,’ Rona answered reluctantly, ‘I’ve – come across murders before.’

  ‘Murders?’ Nick repeated. ‘In the plural? How many, for God’s sake? You’re not a crime reporter, are you?’

  Rona shook her head. ‘They’ve mostly been in the past,’ she defended herself.

  ‘Then why were the police involved?’

  ‘Because in the Buckford case, there’d been a miscarriage of justice.’

  ‘And you sorted it out?’ Sally guessed. ‘Good for you!’

  ‘The police didn’t appreciate it,’ Rona said drily.

  ‘I can imagine!’

  Finlay pushed back his chair. ‘Well, time’s moving on,’ he said. ‘I’d better be getting home. Many thanks, both of you, for taking us in at such short notice.’ He turned to Rona. ‘Oliver will run you to the factory in the morning, to collect your car. I hope you manage to sleep OK.’

  Stupidly, it hadn’t occurred to her that he wouldn’t also be staying the night. He’d been her rock for the past few hours, and she was reluctant to see him go.

  ‘I must be going, too,’ Nick said.

  Sally said gently, ‘Will you be all right? You’re welcome to stay, if you’d like to.’

  Nick bent and kissed her cheek. ‘Sweet of you, Sal, but I’m better in my own bed. And first thing in the morning, I’ll have to go and tell the parents. God knows what they’ll make of this.’

  As though anxious not to be persuaded, he bid them all a brisk goodnight and left without further ceremony. The rest of them had followed him into the hall, and Sally was taking her leave of Finn when there were two simultaneous interruptions. A sudden wail came from above, and Sally, with a muttered apology, ran up the stairs to investigate. And in the same moment, the telephone in the kitchen started to ring.

  Oliver said, ‘I’ll be in touch, Finn,’ and hurried to answer it.

  Finlay looked down at Rona. ‘You’ll be all right, won’t you?’

  ‘I’ll have to be,’ she said.

  ‘If there’s anything – oh, hell!’ He pulled her suddenly against him and kissed her hard on the mouth. For a moment she clung to him, while unwelcome sensations surged through her. Then his arm dropped and she stepped back. For a long minute they looked at each other, both of them breathing heavily. Then Finn said abruptly, ‘Goodnight,’ opened the door, and disappeared into the night.

  Rona put out a hand to steady herself. Her heart was hammering and she closed her eyes, fighting for control.

  ‘That was Edward, wondering if there’s any more news,’ Oliver reported, coming back into the hall. ‘I told him he’d just missed Finn, so he said he’d try his mobile. Now, would you like a nightcap before you hit the stairs?’

  Rona gave him a shaky smile. ‘I think I’ve had enough alcohol for one night, thank you,’ she said, grateful that her voice sounded more or less normal.

  ‘About this dog of yours; he’s made short work of the casserole Sally put down for him. Will he be all right in the kitchen overnight?’

  ‘Yes, certainly; he’s not allowed upstairs at home. But perhaps he could be let out in the garden for a minute or two?’

  ‘Fine. I’ll see to that – you look done in.’

  ‘Thanks, Oliver. It’s very good of you and Sally to put me up like this.’

  ‘It’s the least we can do, since we seem to have inflicted a family tragedy on you. Or ex-family, to be more accurate. Have you anything to help you to sleep?’

  Rona shook her head. ‘Only exhaustion!’ she said.

  ‘Let’s hope that does the trick. Sally will bring you a cuppa when the bathroom’s free, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s no rush; the office is closed on Saturdays. You’ll probably be wanting to get home, though?’

  Rona nodded.

  ‘Well, Sal does the school run, and gets back about a quarter to nine; so if you can be down any time after eight thirty, that’ll fit in nicely.’

  ‘The children go to school on Saturdays?’ Rona asked, surprised.

  ‘Yes, poor little devils, just for the morning; they have Wednesday afternoons off, in lieu. Damned inconvenient if we want to go away for the weekend, but there you go.’

  Rona wondered whether to go and see Gus, but decided against it. He might expect to be taken home. In any case, she wasn’t sure how long her control would last, and needed to get to her room.

  She had, in fact, just reached it when her mobile rang, and Max’s voice said in her ear, ‘And what have you been up to, while my back’s turned?’

  Rona said on a gasp, ‘Oh, Max!’ and burst into a storm of tears.

  She didn’t sleep, of course. At least, not until light was beginning to seep through the thin curtains. As she tossed and turned, her mind was divided between grief for Julia and the puzzles surrounding her death, and an obsessive replaying of those minutes in the hall with Finn. Hot with shame at her response, she could only hope it hadn’t been apparent to him.

  She was, finally, in a deep sleep when Sally tapped on the door, and came in to put a mug of tea on the bedside table. Rona started up, confused for a moment as to her whereabouts. Then it all came flooding back, and she gave a little gasp.

  ‘It’s a quarter to eight,’ Sally told her. ‘The bathroom’s free, when you’re ready, but have your tea first, while you come properly awake. I’m glad you managed to get at least some sleep.’

  It occurred to Rona that in all probability, none of them had had much last night.

  Max phoned again, just before she went downstairs.

/>   ‘How are you, darling? What kind of night did you have? I wish to God I could have been with you.’

  ‘Me too, but I survived. How soon will you be home?’

  ‘Before you, that’s a promise. What time are you leaving?’

  ‘I’ve not had breakfast yet. Then I have to collect my car from the factory, but I should be back soon after ten.’

  ‘How’s Gus? Did he survive the night without his precious basket?’

  ‘I’ve not seen him this morning, but I heard him bark a few minutes ago, when the post arrived.’

  Max laughed. ‘OK. See you later, then. Lots of love in the meantime.’

  ‘You too,’ she said.

  With the phone still in her hand, she glanced at her watch. There was time to give Lindsey a quick call before she went down.

  The phone was picked up at once. ‘Ro? Thank God. I was just about to call you.’

  ‘How’s Mum?’

  ‘Very shocked, as you’d imagine. She keeps asking what kind of accident it was, and of course I don’t know the answer. Are you going to enlighten me?’

  ‘Not at the moment, Linz.’ She cut across her twin’s indignation. ‘Listen, I have to go down to breakfast now, then as soon as I can I’ll be on my way home. Max will be back by the time I get there, and we’ll both come straight to Maple Drive. Hang on till then, there’s a love. Give my love to Mum, too.’

  ‘Will do,’ Lindsey said resignedly.

  The three little girls were in the hall when Rona went down, dressed in their school uniform. Sally introduced them, but they all looked alike, and their names didn’t register.

  ‘I’m just going to run them to school,’ Sally said. ‘Oliver’s in the kitchen and the coffee’s on. I’ll be back in ten minutes.’

  Oliver stood up when she appeared, and she received an enthusiastic welcome from Gus. The morning paper was on the table, and, seeing her anxious glance, Oliver shook his head.

  ‘It’s not made the nationals yet, thank God. It’ll be in the evening paper, though, and they had it on the local news.’

  ‘What did they say?’ Rona asked, dry-mouthed.

  ‘The bare minimum. That the body of a young woman had been discovered in the churchyard of St Barnabus last evening, but her name couldn’t be released pending formal identification.’