Julia looked at the kitchen clock. When had it got to 9 o’clock? “I’ll call on Barney in the morning. Lesley said she’s given him his job back so I’ll go to his house after his morning shift. How’s Cain? I haven’t had chance to visit him today.”
Mum laughed. “He’s much better. His face lights up whenever a certain nurse comes near his bed. I’m not sure that he’ll want to leave the hospital at all. You get some sleep, love, I’ve enough on my mind with worrying about Cain and Lesley, I don’t want to add you to the list.”
“I will do. Bye.” Julia ended the call. She had another call to make, one to Imogen Walters. She wanted to know if Imogen had reported the blackmailing to the police.
Chapter 27
Julia had more cleaning jobs to deal with the next day before she could think about visiting Barney. She parked outside Barney’s house just after lunchtime.
The front door was flung open even before Julia had walked halfway up the garden path. The woman that Julia had seen previously stared out at her. What was her name? Sharon, that was it.
Sharon stepped out of the house and looked left and right. “Have you heard? Isn’t it outrageous! I’m not sure I should be staying here but I can’t leave Mrs Samson on her own, not after what happened. I’m still in shock! And to think, I’ve been working in his house! Anything could have happened to me! It’s outrageous! To think, he nearly got away with it!”
Julia walked closer. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is Barney in?”
Sharon’s hands flew to her chest. “Don’t mention that man’s name to me!”
“What’s going on? Has something happened?”
“Something’s happened alright! I’ve been working for a murderer! Right here, in this house.” She shook her head. “To think, he was probably plotting the murder when I was in the house. Makes me feel sick.”
Julia raised her voice, “Tell me what happened, please.”
“You mean you don’t know?” Sharon tutted and folded her arms. “Mr Samson left for work as normal this morning. But when he came back he had a funny look on his face. I knew something was wrong, I could feel it. I’m a sensitive person, I can pick up on people’s feelings.”
Julia pressed her lips together and wondered if Sharon was picking up on her feelings at the moment. Julia said, “What happened to Barney?”
“He came in the house and paced up and down, all agitated. He spoke to his wife, told me to leave the room. I couldn’t hear a word from the kitchen. Then he phoned the police. He wouldn’t tell me why but I soon found out. A tall, thin policeman with weird blue eyes arrived.” She stopped and gave Julia a satisfied look.
“And?” Julia prompted.
“And Barney Samson confessed to killing Deborah Paignton, she was the head teacher at the school where he worked.”
Julia gasped. “No! Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure, I’m not an idiot. I saw and heard everything. He was all matter of fact about it. That tall policeman didn’t say much, he muttered something and then took Barney away.” Sharon shook her head. “I can’t believe it, Barney Samson is a mass murderer, and to think I made him some toast this morning.”
Julia’s head was buzzing with facts. This wasn’t making sense. Barney? There must be some mistake. She said to Sharon, “What time did this happen?”
“About nine-thirty. What did you want to talk to him about? I might be able to help you.”
Julia began to walk away. “It’s nothing important, thanks.”
When she got into her car, Julia took her phone out and phoned Mum hoping that she was still on her lunch break. There was no answer so Julia left a message. She tried Lesley’s phone. Again, there was no answer. She didn’t have another client for a few hours so she made the decision to go to the police station. She probably wouldn’t get anywhere when she asked about Barney, but it was worth a try.
Julia found a space in the police car park. As she was entering the building, Imogen Walters and her husband were coming out. They were holding hands.
Imogen called out, “Julia! Hi! I was going to phone you. This is Scott.”
Scott nodded at Julia. “I’m pleased to meet you, I’ve a lot to thank you for.”
“What?” was Julia’s dignified reply.
Imogen smiled up at her husband. “After we talked yesterday I told Scott everything, about my past and the blackmailing. You were right to tell me to do so. He completely understands, and he completely forgives me.”
Scott pulled Imogen’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “As if I would do anything else.” He turned back to Julia. “I knew something was wrong with Imogen but no matter how much I pestered her she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. It was a relief when she finally told me. My first instinct was to go round to that slimeball’s house and wring his neck for blackmailing my Imogen. But, she talked me out of it. Imogen told me that you would give a statement about what you’d seen, and heard, if she decided to go to the police.”
“I still will,” Julia said. “It’s not much but I did see Melvin Paignton in the school car park, and I saw him at your house the other day. Cain saw him too. Have you reported him to the police?”
“We have,” Imogen said. “We spoke to that lovely inspector, DI Clarke. He had Melvin Paignton brought in straight away. DI Clarke had already made some background checks on him.”
Julia’s eyes narrowed. “Had he now? I wonder why he did that.”
Scott said, “Apparently, the slimeball had done this kind of thing before. We waited whilst the inspector spoke to him. He confessed straight away.” Scott looked at Imogen as if asking her permission to proceed. She gave him a slight nod. “When the police picked him up they found many images of Imogen, not just from her past, but from recent days. They were pinned up all around his house.” Scott’s chin tightened and he looked away.
“Ouch! You’re hurting my hand!” Imogen said with a laugh.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” Scott pulled her hand close and kissed it again. “I don’t see why the inspector couldn’t let me punch him at least once.”
Julia had a question. “Did Deborah Paignton know about the blackmailing? Imogen, you said yesterday that Melvin said she did.”
Imogen shook her head. “I’m not sure, she never mentioned anything directly to me. But she must have suspected something. Melvin was always looking too long at women, even Lesley noticed. We’d better be going. Thanks so much for talking to me yesterday, Julia. I’m glad you stuck your nose into my business. Oh!” her hand flew to her mouth. “I meant that in a good way.”
Julia nodded towards the police entrance. “Do I still need to make a statement?”
“I don’t know. You could speak to DI Clarke about it. Bye, thanks again.”
Julia said bye and walked into the police station. She had every intention of speaking to DI Clarke.
Chapter 28
DI Clarke was waiting for her just inside the door. “Ah, Ms Blake, I was wondering when you’d get here. I saw you chatting to Mr and Mrs Walters, I take it they’ve filled you in on the problems Mrs Walters was having with Mr Paignton.” He paused and then added, “I always suspected Melvin Paignton was up to something, he had that shifty-looking thing going on, do you know what I mean?”
A humph kind of noise escaped from Julia. She followed it up by saying, “Shifty-looking! That’s exactly what I said to you! Have you arrested him? I hope you have, he’s put Imogen through hell. And have you thought that he might have been the one who murdered Deborah? She might have found out about his blackmailing, and then he might have done away with her.”
DI Clarke took a step forward. Julia saw the expression on his face and took a step back.
The inspector said, “As you are probably aware, Ms Blake, we have someone in custody who has already confessed to the murder of Mrs Paignton.”
“But Barney didn’t do it! He couldn’t have!”
“That’s for the court to decide. Was
there anything else you needed to say to me?”
Julia’s shoulders dropped, she knew there was no point arguing with DI Clarke. She said, “Do you want me to give a statement about Melvin Paignton? I saw him hanging around the school a few times, and I heard what he said to Imogen the other day.”
“No, thank you, he’s made a full confession. Anything else?”
“No,” Julia said reluctantly. “Will you let me know what happens to Barney Samson?”
“You can read about it in the papers like everyone else. Let us bring this case to a conclusion, you don’t need to get yourself involved any further. Goodbye. You know where the door is.”
Julia clenched her fists. “I was only trying to help! I didn’t get involved on purpose! Do you know, DI Clarke, you can be extremely rude and cold sometimes.”
The inspector nodded. “I did know. Don’t forget to push the door, not pull. There is a sign but it seems to confuse people.”
Julia threw him a hard look and turned away. She grabbed hold of the door handle and pulled. She heard a snort of laughter behind her. She ignored it and pushed. That inspector! Oh! She didn’t care what he said, she was not leaving this case alone. Barney Samson did not kill Deborah, her money was on Melvin Paignton.
Julia stormed over to her car. She pulled her phone out and tried to contact Mum again. Still no answer. And no answer from Lesley.
Julia was still fuming as she completed the rest of her cleaning jobs that afternoon. Her anger gave her energy and she had the work completed in no time.
She’d calmed down by the time she went to visit Cain at the hospital. She slowed her steps as she walked towards his bed. A young nurse was making a fuss of Cain’s blankets. Cain was laughing and chatting with her. Julia’s heart felt like it was expanding in her chest as she saw the joy in his face. Look at him, all flirty with that nurse, he must be feeling better.
The colour pink was added to Cain’s purple face as he saw Julia watching him. The nurse saw her too and scurried away. Julia sat at Cain’s bedside and said, “Is that your new friend? She’s pretty.”
Cain shrugged and said gruffly, “She’s just a nurse. Have you brought me any cake?”
“No, did you want some?”
Cain nodded towards his side table. “I’ve got more than enough, people keep bringing me more. You can take some home if you like.”
“Thanks. How are you feeling today? You look better.”
Cain nodded. “I feel better. I might be able to come home tomorrow. How’s Buster?”
“Who?”
Cain’s smile dropped. “Buster, my fish. You haven’t forgotten about him, he’s not all alone in my house, is he?”
“Oh, that Buster. No, he’s at Dad’s house, they watch football together.” Julia looked over at the nurses’ station. “I think that nurse likes you, she keeps looking at you and smiling. Why don’t you ask her out?”
Cain shrugged. “I might. I might not.”
Julia tutted. “Men. Talking of which, let me tell you what DI Clarke said to me at the police station. If you want to know, of course.”
A twinkle came into Cain’s eyes. “I want to know everything. Have you found out who the killer is yet?”
Julia leant forward and told Cain everything. He gasped, tutted and grunted in disgust in all the right places. He shared Julia’s opinion that Barney wasn’t capable of murdering anyone. He asked what she was going to do next.
“I want to speak to Lesley. I’ve been ringing her, and Mum, all day but I haven’t got through to them. Lesley is good friends with Barney, she might know why he’s confessed.”
Cain thought for a moment. “What if we’re wrong? What if Barney lost his temper and killed Deborah?”
Julia pulled a face. “Then we’ll have to accept that. Oh, here comes your friend again.”
The same nurse returned to Cain’s side with a glass of water. She said brightly, “Here you go, Mr Andrews, I thought you might like a cold drink.” She spoiled the professional effect by letting out a giggle as she placed it on the side table. “I’m sorry we don’t have any coasters, this isn’t The Ritz.”
Julia could feel her eyes rolling. She jumped as Cain laughed too loudly. “That’s okay,” he said. “I’ve never been to The Ritz.”
“Me neither,” the nurse said as she lingered at his side.
Julia stood up. “Cain, I have to go, things to do, people to see. I’ll come back tomorrow.” She smiled at the nurse. “Just to let you know, Cain is single. I’m not his girlfriend or anything.”
The nurse frowned. “I thought you were his mum, or grandma.”
Julia gritted her teeth, nodded and walked away. Grandma indeed! That nurse needs to get her eyes checked. There must be plenty of doctors that could do that in this huge hospital.
Julia almost stumbled as two thoughts collided together in her mind. The coaster! Of course. That’s what was bothering her about the scene in Deborah’s office. When Julia found Deborah lying across the table, the opened bottle of wine wasn’t on a coaster. If Deborah had poured it then she would have put the bottle back on a coaster to protect her precious desk. Which meant that someone else had poured the wine. What was it that Lesley had said about the wine? That it already been poured? Who had poured it, and when? Melvin Paignton? Deborah wouldn’t think twice about taking a glass of wine from her husband.
Julia nodded to herself as she walked through the hospital. That would make sense. Melvin poisoned his wife to get her out of the way, maybe he poisoned Lesley too, she might have known about his blackmailing.
The other thought was still in her head as she walked towards the main reception. She made her enquiry, thanked the woman who gave her the information she wanted, and walked towards her car.
Julia sat in the driver’s seat and put her head in her hands. She’d remembered where she’d heard Doctor Konchella’s name before, one of her clients had dealings with him. Doctor Konchella treated cancer patients. Was Lesley one of his patients?
Chapter 29
Julia had finished work for the day so she drove home. She made a strong cup of tea and sat at her kitchen table. All sorts of thoughts were running through her mind, the main ones were about Lesley. Did she have cancer? Was she being treated? And if so, what was the prognosis? Julia rubbed a hand over her tired eyes. Was Lesley going to survive?
Julia jumped as her phone rang. It was Mum.
“Mum! I’ve been trying to contact you all day. Have you heard about Barney? He’s confessed to killing Deborah.”
“I have heard, it’s total nonsense of course,” Mum replied. “I’ve been down to the police station hoping to talk to him, but he refuses to see me. And that inspector chap was no use, he told me to go home.”
“What does Lesley think about it all? She’s good friends with Barney, he might have talked to her before he confessed.”
There was a pause and then Mum said, “Lesley’s gone missing. She turned up for work as normal this morning, looking tired but happy. She did her usual checks around the school and then went outside to speak to Barney. You know he’s got his job back, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“I was in Deborah’s office and I saw them outside at the side of the road. They were chatting but neither of them were smiling. I could tell something was wrong so I kept watching them. Barney helped a child and parent across the road, I could see that his face was serious, not like Barney at all. Lesley waited for him to return to her side and then she started talking, her hands were going all over the place. That wasn’t like Lesley at all either. Barney threw his stick on the grass and grabbed Lesley’s hands. He spoke some more and then walked away. Lesley put her hands over her face and I saw her shoulders shaking, as if she was crying.”
“What do you think they were talking about? Had Barney just confessed to her? She might have been trying to talk him out of going to the police.”
Mum sighed. “It was so out of character for both of them. Lesley picked Ba
rney’s stick up after he walked away. There were a few more parents and children that needed to cross the road so Lesley put on a brave face and helped them across. I had to leave Deborah’s office and go to my class at that point. I thought I’d catch up with Lesley later and ask her what was going on. But I couldn’t find her at break time. One of the other teachers said she’d seen Lesley driving away at nine-thirty.”
“Did she leave a message with anyone?”
Mum’s voice was subdued as she said, “No. She didn’t phone or leave any messages. I’ve been phoning her non-stop but I’m only getting her answerphone. I’ve just been round to her house. Her car is there, but Lesley isn’t. Oh, Julia, what do you think is wrong with her? Where has she gone?”
Julia looked down at the phone. She hated to hear her mum so upset but she needed to let her know about Lesley’s possible condition. Julia took a deep breath and told Mum about Doctor Konchella.
There was a pause as Mum absorbed the information. “That would explain why Lesley has been looking so tired, and why she’s lost weight. I don’t understand, why didn’t she tell me, or anyone?”
“I think Lesley is the type to keep something like that to herself, to try to deal with it on her own. Has she got any relatives nearby? I know her son is in Australia. I wonder if he knows about Lesley.”
“If he doesn’t, it’s not our place to tell him. She’s never spoken to me about any other relatives. What are we going to do?”
Julia said, “If you give me Lesley’s address I’ll go over there now, see if I can speak to some of the neighbours. They might know if she has any close friends or relatives. Oh! I’m sure Barney is hiding something!”
A Fair Murder (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 6) Page 11
