The Island

by Mary Grand

  16

  Juliet took her coffee out into the garden and sat on the bench in desperate need of a way to shut down the thoughts pinballing around her head. She looked around; the birds were quieter now it was coming to the end of August. She noticed blackberries ripening on the bushes, the borders looking scruffy. Looking ahead, she could see a mist hanging over the sea. Schools would be back soon; the holidaymakers would all leave the island. Life would be getting back to normal.

  But, of course, nothing would be back to normal for them. Her mother would have to learn to live without her father, Mira without Rhys. And there would be more questions, more police, coroners, and inquests. There was a long road ahead.

  Today, the police would be coming to take their statements so Juliet was determined to see if she could find her set of car keys. At least that would then be one mystery solved. She was going to have a good search for them.

  Inside, she went through her bag, looked around the dresser, and then moved out to the workshop. It had been shut up for days and there was a strange, acrid smell in there, so Juliet opened the window. She searched high and low, but her keys weren’t there. She left the workshop, feeling even more sure now that she wouldn’t find them.

  When the police arrived, it was Adam Smith and a constable they hadn’t yet met. They were all asked to sit in the music room, so they could be called in individually, and then shown to the kitchen afterwards. They were asked not to chat to one another between interviews.

  Juliet was first. Adam explained what was involved and suddenly the process felt more serious, more official. This statement was something she was going to have to sign; she would have to agree she had told the truth.

  She was happy to go through her own movements the evening Rhys died – the fact Gabriel had been able to see that she was in her bedroom when he called her had given her an alibi. She gave her phone to Adam to check the record of the calls.

  The problem came when he asked her about everyone else, and whether they had stayed in all night.

  ‘Well, it wasn’t quite that straightforward. Mum checked everyone was in and locked up at about half past eleven. However, I know my sister Rosalind went out to the workshop. She unlocked the patio doors with the key, and I saw a shadow in the workshop, which I now know was Rosalind.’

  ‘I see, so that is a different account to the one we have been given. What time did she go out?’

  ‘She told me it was about half past twelve, and she was out there for quite a while. When she did finally return to the house, she forgot to lock the patio door and went straight to bed.’

  Adam was looking more serious now. ‘Okay, I will need to talk to her about that. Has anything else come to mind since we last spoke?’

  ‘Well, I remembered I saw someone leave the garden at about half past twelve and Rosalind said she saw someone go out as well.’

  He sat up and fixed her with a stare. ‘I see, and who was it?’

  ‘I really have no idea, and nor has Rosalind. It was a very hot night, so it could have been someone going out for fresh air.’

  ‘Of course, but no one has admitted to that, have they. It would help if people told us these things from the outset. Is there anything else?’

  Juliet bit her lip. ‘Just one thing. I saw Anwen the next morning, very early, at about half past six, and I did notice that she was wearing the same clothes as the night before. She looked like she might have been out all night, so it struck me as a bit odd.’

  Andy did a strong intake of breath. ‘I see. So, she could be the person who you saw leave at half past twelve. If I’ve understood properly, by then Rosalind had unlocked the patio doors, so Anwen could have gone out of that way. When you saw Anwen the next morning you had the impression she had been our all night and so if she had left the house at half twelve, you are pretty sure she did not return.’

  ‘I suppose it’s all possible, although, as I say, I can’t be sure the person who went out at half twelve was Anwen.’

  ‘Interesting. Well, it would have been much better if you’d told me this before but thank you for telling me now, it’s very helpful. By the way, have you found your car keys with that special key ring yet?’

  ‘No, they are still missing. I had another look for them this morning, but I can’t find them. I must have dropped them outside somewhere.’

  ‘Hmm, it would appear so. We did comb through the car park, but they weren’t found there. All I can suggest is you keep searching, and if you find them let us know. We talked to Gabriel and he can remember you showing him the keys, and he seemed sure you put them away. I assume no one in the house has admitted to taking them?’

  ‘No, no one.’

  ‘Okay, well thank you for your help. That’s all for now.’

  Juliet left the room.

  Because she had been first in, it seemed a long wait until everyone had finished giving their statements.

  Finally, the officers took their leave after politely thanking everyone for their cooperation, and they all sat in the kitchen together, stunned into silence for a while until their mother suggested coffee.

  ‘I don’t know about coffee; I could do with something stronger after that,’ said Cassie. ‘Talk about the third degree. I almost wondered if I should have had a solicitor with me, I’m sure we would have had the right to one.’

  ‘I think they wanted to keep it informal,’ said their mother.

  ‘But everything we said was written down.’ She turned on Juliet. ‘They said you told them about someone going out. What the hell? They went through my night in minute detail.’

  ‘I was forced to explain my evening to the police as well.’ Anwen looked at Cassie. ‘Thank you for telling everyone I was in; I appreciate you supporting me. However, I’ve been forced now to tell them the whole story of why I was out all evening, and that I never came back after talking to Rhys.’ She glared at Juliet. ‘The police know where I was now, and I can promise you I wasn’t up the church killing my brother.’

  Juliet could feel her cheeks burning, but she was curious as to where Anwen had been and why she was being so secretive. Her mind went back to her set of car keys. If she was right and she’d not dropped them, someone in the house had taken them. It had to be after she’d seen Gabriel, and if Anwen had not come back, then she couldn’t have taken the keys out of her bag. Of course, all that depended on whether Anwen was telling the truth.

  Anwen continued, ‘Cassie, I don’t want to tell anyone else, but I think you have a right to know where I was that evening, and I will tell you privately. If you no longer want to go into business with me, I will understand.’

  Rosalind turned to Juliet, spoke quietly. ‘By the way, I told the police about being out there,’ she said, gesturing out of the window. She stopped when she noticed her mother was listening.

  ‘You were out in the workshop?’ interrupted her mother. ‘Why on earth did you go out there at that time?’

  ‘I just needed some time to myself. And I was the person who unlocked the patio doors and had the key. I’d forgotten it was in my pocket, but it’s back where it’s meant to be now.’

  ‘I wish you’d told me; you knew how worried I was, but I suppose at least we have two keys now.’ She turned to Mira. ‘And you, love, how did you get on with the police? I could have come in with you.’

  ‘Adam offered for me to have an interpreter, but he spoke very clearly, I was fine. I read through my statement, and I was perfectly happy with it.’

  ‘Good.’ Her mother put the kettle on but sat straight back down. No one had the energy to actually make a drink.

  Juliet was aware of Anwen glaring at her, and then had a thought. ‘Hang on, if Anwen really didn’t come home at all, then who was the person I saw go out of the gate? Both Rosalind and I saw someone, who was it?’

  She was answered with silence.

  ‘They asked me about my set of car keys as well. Are you all sure you’ve not seen them?’

  The continuin
g silence that followed was frustrating.

  ‘If you won’t answer me, what am I meant to think?’

  Cassie tutted at her. ‘Look, your stupid car keys will turn up and the rest is just your overactive imagination.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Now, after all that unpleasantness, Anwen and I would like you to make time to come and see something with us tomorrow afternoon. Some good news to cheer us all up.’

  ‘But I need to explain things to you first,’ said Anwen to Cassie, looking worried.

  ‘Whatever it is you have to tell me, we are going to do this.’

  ‘You don’t know what it is yet.’

  ‘I am certain nothing you can tell me will change my mind. So, everyone should meet here at three tomorrow, okay? This is very important to me. I need you all to come.’

  Juliet watched Cassie get up and leave, with Anwen following her. She was guessing whatever Cassie had to show them was to do with the business Cassie and Anwen were setting up, and she glanced at her mother. She was holding onto the edge of the table, her face white. Maybe she’d been hoping Cassie’s plans were some kind of momentary blip, but it was suddenly becoming a reality.

  When they’d left, Mira said to Juliet, ‘I’m going up to the vicarage now, just to do some sorting.’

  ‘Okay, I can come with you, we can walk up together.’

  ‘Thanks, but I’d like to go on my own. I was thinking, Rhys’s car is sitting up there unused.’

  ‘Oh yes, you’ll need to sort things out so you can sell it. I can help with that if you want.’

  ‘No, I don’t want to sell it. What I thought was, why don’t you have it?’

  ‘You mean for me to buy it off you? That would be great as long as you don’t mind the thought of me driving Rhys’s car. I am going to have to replace my old one.’

  ‘I’d like to give it to you; we used yours for two years, he wouldn’t have wanted me to take money for it.’

  ‘Wow, are you sure?’

  ‘Of course. I was thinking if I get you put on the insurance today, you can start using it. We can sort out making it formally yours another time.’

  ‘Gosh, thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome. I’ll drive it back down, park it over in the field.’

  After Mira left, Juliet felt at a loss as to what to do next. Her mind was still buzzing. Who had gone out that night? Where were her car keys? What had Anwen really been doing that night? All these questions but no answers. She left the kitchen, wandered out to the workshop alone.

  In the evening, they all decided to make the most of the weather and went to sit outside. They had the air of people who knew they were stringing out the summer. Anwen prepared a meal for them, marinated chicken with salad and new potatoes, and a chocolate cake for pudding, which Juliet ate far too much of.

  With pangs of indigestion, Juliet went to the bathroom and had the last tablets in the packet. So as not to offend Anwen, she buried the packet in the bathroom bin, but as she did, so she uncovered something far more interesting.

  There, right at the bottom, looking as if it had been hastily hidden, was a white plastic stick, with a small window on one side.

  A positive pregnancy test.

  Who had put it there?

  She remembered Cassie that morning hanging about in the toilet… could she be pregnant? More likely it was Mira. Or, of course, it could be Rosalind or Anwen. If anyone would know, it was her mother, but whether she would tell Juliet was another matter.

  Juliet went downstairs. The house seemed very quiet, and she wondered where everyone was. Looking out in the garden she saw her mother sat on the bench and went out to join her.

  ‘I was just looking at the horse chestnut,’ said her mother. ‘Remember how Dad would put the conkers on strings for you?’

  ‘Dad used to fix it so Rosalind won.’

  Her mother smiled. ‘It’s years since you all played that, but Dad would still gather up a few, put them on the kitchen windowsill for me…’ She paused. ‘It’s the little things that really bring home how much I miss him. The big things, like the money, I can sort out; I’ve always been on top of all that. I feel sorry for women who have never looked at a bank statement. No, it’s the things that quietly build up over years of marriage. You look around and wish you’d appreciated them more at the time.’

  ‘Dad knew how much you loved him.’

  ‘I hope so. How is Mira doing? I am pleased to see her sharing your room, that will be a comfort to her.’

  ‘Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you about, it was something I saw.’ Juliet told her mother about the bruising on Mira’s arm. ‘She said she fell, but I don’t think she was telling me the truth.’

  ‘I can’t see why she should lie about something like that.’

  ‘Maybe, but, Mum, I know when Mira is hiding something.’

  ‘So, what do you think happened?’

  ‘To be honest, I wondered if Rhys had been abusing her in some way. You’ve seen her all the time I’ve been away, what do you think? Is that possible?’

  Her mother blinked in surprise. ‘Goodness no. I know life could be stressful for them both, but I was always certain he loved her. I think he may have been torn between the huge commitment he felt towards the parish and his work and giving time to Mira. I was wondering if they’d been planning a family, it might have brought them together.’

  ‘Well, it’s funny you should say that. I just found a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom.’

  ‘Goodness…’

  ‘I wondered about Mira, could she be pregnant and not have told us yet? Of course, there’s Anwen… Cassie…’

  ‘Cassie? I suppose she’s not too old. I’d had a hysterectomy when I was two years younger than her. I’m not sure they’d do it so readily nowadays. Anyhow, Cassie could still have children, but I don’t think she has a partner at the moment. I think Mira seems more likely…’

  ‘Yes, I guess it must be Mira… Maybe that’s why she was looking so exhausted when I came home, but there’s Rosalind of course.’

  ‘Oh no, I hope not. She’s not ready for that. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see; we will know soon enough. Whoever it is clearly isn’t ready to tell us yet.’

  It was late when Mira stirred that night. She’d arranged the meeting for very late so that she could be sure Juliet was asleep, or at least so Juliet would be so dozy she’d not register that her absence was a lot longer than a bathroom visit.

  She’d left her hearing aids in and put her clothes in a neat bundle under the bed ready to be pulled out swiftly.

  Lola looked up as soon as she moved, so Mira quietly picked the clothes up and, together, they left the room.

  Downstairs, she dressed quickly, put on her coat, settled Lola in her basket with a treat, then she took down one of the patio door keys and left. In her coat pocket she had a torch, but there was a full moon and her eyes soon adjusted to the light. Carefully, she unlatched the gate, shutting it quietly behind her.

  It was deadly quiet as she walked down the road, but she looked around, dreading meeting anyone, dreading the whole village talking the next day of her wandering the streets alone. She crossed the road, walked into the deserted car park, and finally felt she could relax. The place was empty except for one person – the person she had come to meet.

  17

  The next morning when Juliet woke up, she looked over at Mira, who was asleep, and noticed that Lola was missing. And then she remembered seeing Mira leaving the bedroom with a bundle of clothes – what had that been about?

  Mira stirred, sat up, and Juliet noticed she was still wearing her hearing aids.

  ‘Are you all right?’ she signed to Mira.

  ‘Of course. Why?’

  ‘I saw you leave the room with Lola; you were carrying clothes. Was something wrong?’

  ‘Of course not, why would I go out of the house at that time?’

  Juliet blinked; she’d not suggested Mira had gone out but now she was pr
etty sure she had. It was odd, but why lie about it?

  Mira clearly didn’t intend explaining further because she turned over and at least made an appearance of trying to go back to sleep. Juliet gave up and went downstairs. Here her mother told her that Adam had phoned very early to say he would be coming soon to talk to them all again. Apparently, he had some news to share.

  When Adam arrived at about ten, he was definitely more relaxed than the day before.

  Once they’d all gathered in the living room, he opened his notebook and began to speak.

  ‘Thank you for your coming together again. I wanted to keep you updated. I was given some more news yesterday afternoon. Firstly, we have the initial post-mortem results.’ He looked over at Mira, and Juliet signed post-mortem.

  Mira nodded.

  ‘This confirms that Rhys died as a result of the injuries he sustained when the car hit him. It would seem he was knocked unconscious and then died of internal bleeding. What I am trying to say is that Rhys did not appear to have a prolonged period of suffering, he was unconscious when he died.’ Adam paused.

  Mira gave a nod of comprehension and said, ‘I’m grateful he didn’t suffer too long.’

  Adam continued. ‘Now, obviously, the car is undergoing meticulous forensic analysis. As we thought, the fire destroyed a lot of the DNA evidence. However, we did find a few objects in the rear of the car that survived the fire and I need you, Juliet, to look at these and tell me if these belong to you or if you recognise them.’

  He held out the photos.

  ‘Mira had better look as well; her and Rhys have been using my car for the past two years.’

  Together they looked through the photos. There was a generic travel card, unnamed. Some crumpled theatre tickets, a London souvenir cigarette lighter and a leather wallet. All were dirty and singed.