by Adele Abbott
“I’ll get around to it when I have the time, and my finances allow.”
“Your finances?” He rolled his one eye. “That’ll be never, then.”
“Say if you’d like to stump up the money to pay for them yourself. I’m not too proud to accept money from a cat.”
“I would but my cashflow isn’t great at the moment. I’ll tell her that everything is in hand.”
“You do that.”
Winky’s demeanour suddenly changed, and he scurried away under the sofa. Even before the temperature dropped, I knew I was about to be visited by a ghost—the only question was which one?
“Colonel, Priscilla, how nice to see you both.”
“Good day, Jill.” There was something different about the colonel, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.
“I like what you’ve done with your hair, Priscilla.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure if the bob would suit me.”
“It definitely does.”
“What about me, Jill?” the colonel said.
“Sorry?”
“Do you like what I’ve done with my hair?”
“I—err—it—err—”
Priscilla could see that I was struggling. “He’s changed the parting from the right to the left.”
“Of course. Yes, it suits you.”
“It was Cilla’s idea. She thought I needed a change.”
“You both look—err—”
“Tickety-boo?”
“Exactly.”
“This is only a flying visit, Jill,” the colonel said. “We wanted to remind you that it’s election day today.”
“COG? I’d totally forgotten about that. Any idea how you’ll fare?”
“It’s too close to call. Harry and Larry have run an amazing campaign.”
“I’ll have my fingers crossed for you.”
“We were actually hoping that you’d join us in GT for the final result tonight. It’s being broadcast live on TV, and we’ve decided to hold a joint party with Harry and Larry in Spooky Wooky. The campaign has been run in a good spirit.” He laughed. “Spirit? Do you see what I did there?”
“That’s very good.” I cringed.
“Regardless of who wins, we intend to celebrate a campaign well run. What do you say? Will you join us?”
“I suppose I could pop over for a little while. What time should I come?”
“The result should be in around nine o’clock.”
“Okay. I’ll be there just before nine.”
***
Mrs V had taken a panicked phone call from a Mr Longacre who was desperate to see me straight away. It had something to do with a missing person, but that was as much as I knew. Other than Myrtle Turtle’s case, I had nothing much on, so I’d said I would see him.
When he arrived, shortly after eleven, he was accompanied by a woman—they both appeared to be in some distress.
“Mr and Mrs Longacre, I assume?”
“No, I’m Chris Longacre and this is Judy Blythe. My daughter, Susan, and Judy’s son, Mark, have been seeing one another for almost two years now. They’ve both gone missing, and we’re hoping you’ll be able to find them.”
“Mark would never leave without telling me,” Judy managed to say, before bursting into tears.
“It’s going to be alright.” Chris handed her a tissue. “We’ll find them.”
“Do they live at home with you?”
“No, they moved into a flat together just over six months ago,” Chris said. “It’s a bit small, but they’ve got it looking nice.”
“Can you talk me through what happened? From the beginning, please.”
Judy was still in tears, so Chris told the story. “It was Mark’s birthday on Saturday. Susan had organised some kind of surprise for him.”
“A party?”
“No, they’re not really ‘party people’. They both prefer the quiet life, and enjoy each other’s company. Susan didn’t give any clues as to what the surprise was, but we do know that they came into Washbridge because they’d been at my house in the afternoon, and took a taxi from there.”
“Why the taxi? Were they intending to have a drink?”
“No. They’re both teetotal. They took the taxi because they don’t have a car.”
“And that’s the last you saw of them?”
“That’s right.”
“It is only a couple of days. Is it possible that Susan had booked a short break somewhere?”
Judy had finally managed to stem her tears. “The two of them come over to my house for Sunday lunch every week without fail. If they’d planned on going away somewhere, Mark would have told me.”
“If you knew them, you’d understand,” Chris said. “They’re both quiet, responsible young adults who are very close to their families. They would never do anything to cause us this kind of upset.”
“I assume you’ve been to the police?”
“A fat lot of good they are,” Chris fumed. “They dismissed us as over-protective parents, but we know our kids. They simply wouldn’t do this.”
“What about the taxi company that brought them into Washbridge?”
“We’ve already talked to them. They checked with the driver who confirmed that he dropped Susan and Mark just down the road from here—on the high street. In fact, it was when Judy and I were trying to retrace their steps that we noticed your sign. That’s why we called you.”
“Can you help us?” There was desperation in Judy’s voice.
“Of course, although I don’t have a lot to go on. I’ll need you to let me have photos of Mark and Susan. If you check with my receptionist on the way out, she’ll give you an email address to send them to.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to find them?” Chris said.
“I’m sure I will, and don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay.”
If in doubt, always appear confident.
Chapter 5
“Crystal!” Winky practically squealed with excitement when the grey Persian cat jumped in through the window. One day, I really must try to work out how these cats managed to get up here.
She had what I can only describe as a superior look about her, as she glanced around my office with obvious disdain.
“Nice to meet you, Crystal.” I felt obliged to be polite for Winky’s sake.
She glanced my way for a few seconds, but then, without so much as a purr, went over to join Winky on the sofa.
“I thought you were going to get this place spruced up, Winky?” she said.
“It’s all in hand,” he assured her. “Jill has already ordered new blinds, and she’s getting someone in to treat the floor.”
“I’m Jill, by the way,” I said. “In case you’re interested.”
She wasn’t. She continued to ignore me, and to interrogate Winky. “What about this sofa? It’s disgusting.”
“This is going to be replaced too.”
I’d never seen Winky fawn over anyone as much as he was doing with Crystal. It was quite pathetic.
“I hope so.” She pulled a sour face. “You can’t expect me to sit on here for any length of time.”
“Of course not, dearest. You can rely on me.”
“Good. Now, didn’t you say that you were going to take me out for lunch?”
“I did, my precious, follow me.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Crystal,” I shouted after her, as they disappeared out of the window.
What a nasty piece of work she was. What on earth was Winky thinking?
***
“I’m going to Longdale Prison, Mrs V.”
“What have you done this time, Jill? Will I be able to visit you?”
“I haven’t done anything. I’m going to see Myrtle Turtle; she’s being held there on remand.”
“You had me worried there for a moment.”
“I’m not sure if I’ll get back to the office today. I may go straight home.”
“Okay, dear. By the way, I�
��ve managed to find a driving instructor.”
“That didn’t take you long.”
“I was lucky. The first few I tried were all booked up, but Miss Dent was able to fit me in straight away. My first lesson is tomorrow.”
“Miss Dent?”
“Yes, she was very accommodating. She said I could pick a time to suit myself.”
“Has she only just started out in business?”
“No, her advert says she’s been doing this for over ten years.”
“Right? Well, that’s great. Best of luck with the lessons. You’ll have to let me know how you get on.”
Was I wrong to be concerned that Mrs V’s driving instructor seemed to have no other clients? There was probably a perfectly reasonable explanation. And as for her name? I was sure that was one of those unfortunate coincidences.
***
Myrtle’s solicitor, Bill Long, was waiting for me outside of Longdale Prison, as arranged.
“How is Myrtle?” I said.
“She’s fine. Myrtle’s a tough old bird. She’s very keen to see you, though.”
“Lead the way.”
After we’d gone through the security checks, we were shown to a private interview room where Myrtle was waiting for us. I was pleased to see that she’d been allowed to wear her own clothes.
“Jill.” She came around the table and shook my hand with that firm grip of hers. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
“My pleasure. I’m so sorry you’re being kept in here.”
“That’s partly my own fault. I think the judge would have granted me bail if I hadn’t insisted on having my say about the incompetency of the police and the judicial system.”
“Shall we sit down, ladies?” Bill suggested.
The solicitor took notes and made the odd comment, but for the most part, he left Myrtle and me to it.
“How much have Hodd and Jobbs told you, Jill?”
“Only the Cliff Notes version. From what I understand, Rob Evans inherited his grandmother’s house in Middle Tweaking, and then became something of a nuisance with his parties and loud music. I believe you confronted him about his actions.”
“Someone had to. It was getting beyond a joke. Music blaring out at all hours. People wandering the streets, drunk or worse. It simply wasn’t on.”
“How did he react when you intervened?”
“He didn’t like it. I got the distinct impression that he’d never been on the wrong end of any discipline in his life. He was totally selfish and self-absorbed.”
“Myrtle, I’m sorry, but I have to ask this—”
“Did I kill him? No, although the thought had crossed my mind. The first I knew about it was when they pulled his body from the river. I assumed he must have been drunk or stoned, and had fallen in, but it turns out that someone had clobbered him.”
“Why have they charged you? What kind of evidence do they have?”
“Apparently, they found traces of the man’s hair in cracks on the blades of the water-wheel, which suggests that’s where he entered the river.”
“On your property, you mean?”
“Yes, and they found his footprints in my back garden too.”
“I understand that he died from a head wound. Was that inflicted by the water-wheel?”
“Apparently not. He was struck on the head before he fell into the water.”
“Do they have the murder weapon?”
“Not as far as I’m aware.”
“Had he ever been in your house or garden while you were there?”
“Never.”
“I assume you’ve told the police that?”
“Yes, for what good it did. Did Hodd and Jobbs tell you that old Charlie Cross has retired?”
“Yes, on health grounds, I understand.”
“That’s right, although he does seem to have come through the worst of it. If Charlie had still been on the force, I wouldn’t be sitting here now. His replacement, Thorne-In-My-Side, seems to care about only one thing: getting a conviction. Innocent or guilty seems to be pretty much irrelevant to her. I was seen arguing with Evans on the day he died, and his death occurred on my property. Case closed, as far as she’s concerned.”
“That last argument between you and Evans? Where did that take place?”
“In the pub. I was having a quiet drink alone when he came in. He was drunk, high or both, and started to make a general nuisance of himself. He didn’t take kindly to my telling him to leave.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing much. He just gave me some verbal abuse on his way out. That was the last time I saw Rob Evans.”
“From what I understand, the murder happened later that afternoon?”
“That’s what they tell me.”
“Where were you at the time?”
“After I left the pub, I went for a walk.”
“Alone? Didn’t anyone see you?”
“Alone yes, and unfortunately no one did. There’s some lovely countryside surrounding Middle Tweaking. I find a brisk walk helps to drive away the stresses of the day.”
“Do you have any idea who might have murdered him?”
“None. In the short time he was in the village, he’d made a lot of enemies, but I can’t believe any of them would have done this.”
“Our time is almost up, ladies.” Bill Long looked up from his notes.
“Don’t worry, Myrtle.” I stood up. “We’ll get the charges dropped, and have you out of here in no time.”
“I knew I could rely on you, Jill. And if you need any help, Hodd and Jobbs have said they’re at your disposal.”
“Thanks. That might prove useful. Try to keep your chin up.”
When I got back to the car and switched on my phone, there were five missed calls from Kathy. She rarely called me during the daytime. For her to have tried so many times, I knew something must be wrong.
“Kathy? What’s up?”
“Thank goodness. I didn’t think I was going to get hold of you.”
“I was in prison. What’s the matter?”
“Prison? What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. I was visiting someone on remand. What’s wrong?”
“I need a big favour. Is there any way you could pick up Lizzie from school for me? Pete was supposed to do it, but his van has broken down and he’s miles from Washbridge.”
“Can’t you close the shop for a while and go and get her?”
“I would, but I have a customer coming for her final fitting at three o’clock, which is when Lizzie comes out. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency.”
“Okay, but what about Mikey?”
“He has sports after school today. By the time he’s finished, I’ll be able to collect him.”
“Do you need to let the school know I’ll be picking Lizzie up?”
“Yes, I’ll do that now. I owe you one, Jill.”
“You most certainly do, and don’t think that I won’t collect.”
***
It was some time since I’d visited Lizzie’s school. Waiting at the gates were the usual cliques of mothers, and a few fathers, all watching for their offspring to appear through the double doors. A few of them eyed me with suspicion; a stranger in their midst.
From inside the building came the sound of a bell ringing. As a kid, that final bell of the school day had always been music to my ears. It had meant that I could go home and do something I actually found interesting, instead of all the boring and useless lessons I was forced to endure during the day. And yes, Mr Malone (my old maths teacher), it turns out I was right after all—never once have I needed Pythagoras or his stupid theory. Told you so.
“Auntie Jill!” Lizzie threw her arms around me. “I didn’t know you were coming to meet me. Where’s Daddy?”
“His van has broken down, so your mummy asked me to collect you.”
“Can I get sweets?”
“Do your mummy and daddy usually let you have them?”
“Yes, every day.”
I wasn’t sure if I was being played or not, but I didn’t want Lizzie to think I didn’t trust her, so we made a detour to the shop that was just around the corner from the school. Inevitably, she chose those sickly, sweet chews that only kids of a certain age enjoy.
“Are those nice?” I asked, as she popped another brightly coloured chew into her mouth.
“These are my most favourites.”
“Good.”
“Mummy doesn’t usually let me have them.”
Oh bum. “You didn’t mention that when we were in the shop.”
“I forgot.”
“It might be best not to tell your mummy that you’ve had them. She might be mad at me.”
“Is it our secret, Auntie Jill?”
“Yeah. Our secret.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets.”
I would have to hope so. Although Kathy had said I didn’t need to discuss the ghost thing with Lizzie, I wanted to make sure she was okay. “Your mummy told me that you’ve been talking about ghosts a lot recently.”
“I know you and Mad said I shouldn’t talk about them, but there are two more of them in our house now.”
“As well as Caroline?”
“Yes. She’s still there. The two other ghosts are grown-ups.”
“Are they scaring you or misbehaving?”
“No, they’re very nice. I don’t know their names though.”
“When did you first see them?”
“I’m not sure. Not long ago.” Lizzie popped the last of the chews into her mouth. “How can I see them, but Mikey and Mummy and Daddy can’t?”
“If I tell you another secret, do you promise that you won’t ever tell anyone?”
“Not even Mummy and Daddy?”
“No one, and especially not your mummy and daddy.”
“Okay.”
“Some people have special powers.”
“Like superheroes?”
“Kind of like that, yes. They’re called parahumans.”
“That’s a funny word.” She giggled.
“It is, isn’t it? It means that they can see ghosts.”
“Am I a parrot human, Auntie Jill?”
