by Emily Selby
'By the way, were you singing?' Katie asked.
Roy ran his hand over his shaved head a few times.
'Yes and no. I had a recording of myself singing without a guitar. I brought it with me that morning, thinking I'd use it as an alibi. I knew you'—he pointed at Katie–'were coming to clean. I played it in the shed to make you think I was inside.'
'Instead, Vera provided you with the alibi.'
Roy smiled. 'Yeah, Vera. She's a charmer, isn't she?' He chuckled. 'Good voice. Quick at picking things up. She sang a couple of notes with me.'
'Okay,' Jack cut in. Katie noticed a slight pressure in his voice. 'What were you really doing by the workshop the night Barbara was hit on the head? I understand you were grief-struck and needed to clear your head. But what did you go there for?'
'Sorry about not telling you the full story,' Roy said sheepishly. 'That was after the solicitor read out the will. I wanted to search the workshop again before everybody knew it was gifted to Katie. Well, to be honest, I was thinking of trying to maybe push the window out.'
'You'd checked it during the day. When I met you.'
'Yeah. I hoped I could get in, but you came by and wouldn't budge. So, I had to return in the night. I went there shortly before 1am.'
A pang of guilt hit her chest. Maybe if she had let Roy search the workshop, none of the following events would have happened.
Jack glanced at her. 'I think the killer might have been following you quite closely. Maybe he, or she, was hoping to slip in after you and kill you to steal whatever she or he was after.'
'And still is,' Katie added, shaking the box.
'And still is,' Jack agreed. 'So, we already know that when you got to the workshop. You saw Barbara, called the fire brigade and the ambulance, and decided to check the workshop, in case there was someone else in there. Is there anything else in your story that you want to retract or change?'
'No. Just add.' Roy's ears turned red. 'After I rang for help I went inside through the window. The fire wasn't that bad, just a few flames set to a bunch of papers and a couple of pieces of wood or plywood. It looked all badly put together. I searched the workshop, but I could see there was nothing hidden there. I knew Uncle William. So, I checked the walls and I found that spot where it sounded hollow, and even started chipping away the paint layer. But then I heard the sirens, so I climbed back out on the street.'
'And you didn't notice anything or anyone suspicious?'
'No. As I said before.'
'And why didn't you tell us you were looking for the box on the burns units?'
Roy sighed. 'Dunno. Everything was a bit crazy at that point. I emailed the guy, thinking if he got in touch I'd pass it onto you to get myself off the spotlight for being the main suspect. But, as I said, he stopped responding, completely.'
In a moment of silence, Katie grabbed the box from her lap.
'This is not the box you were looking for.'
'Definitely not.'
'Can you open it?'
'I can try. Uncle William showed me a couple of similar boxes when I was young.'
Katie passed the box across.
Katie watched Roy's agile fingers moving parts of the box. He was sliding and flipping parts she never even knew where movable.
'It's a difficult one. There are some easy ones you can open in a few moves, but some of them need more effort to unlock.'
'How do you know this is a complicated one?' Katie asked, fascinated by the moves and the complexity of the design.
'Because I've already moved the sides seven times and it's not open.' Roy chuckled. 'But also, because it's big and plain. I think the boxes uncle made as wedding gifts were simple. Normally, they tell you how many moves, or steps you need to complete to open the box. You get the instructions with the box sometimes. But for many people, the fun is in solving the puzzle.'
Roy paused. He ran his fingers over the edges again, drumming quietly. Katie, Jack and Chris watched him in awe.
'I guess William Dunbar made it so difficult, only he could open it?'
'You bet,' Roy laughed. 'Uncle William was a mysterious man. He had a head full of his crazy little secrets.'
'Hiding them from his very sober and common-sense wife?' Katie asked.
Roy chucked again.
'Well said,' he whispered and moved a few parts, which slid again.
Curiosity rose in Katie's chest flooding her face with a warm, tingling sensation. 'I can't wait to see what's inside.'
'A few more moves, and we... shall... see...' Roy uttered the last three words, slowly, marking them with three final moves of the sides.
'Here you are!' he cried out.
Roy put the open box on Katie's bed again. All four of them stared at the contents.
Katie reached in and pulled out a yellowed envelope. She looked inside.
'A postcard and an old document.'
She put the card on the side of her bed and opened the document carefully.
'The ink is really quite pale. It's hard to read. The handwriting is old fashioned, but it is-' Kate hesitated. 'It's a marriage banns note to announce the'-she strained her eyes to read-'an impending marriage of-'
Roy leant over her shoulder. 'Uncle William and Aunt Phyllis', I guess.'
Katie moved the paper towards the light, but it was still hard to see. The handwriting was full of curls and twists.
'It looks like William and M- or A? Definitely not P. I think the woman's name is Mathilda, Maryanne or Margaret, I can't decipher her surname.'
'When was it signed?' Roy asked with a stunned look on his face.
Katie strained her eyes to read the hand-written information at the bottom of the document 'I think it's 1957, June, or July, can't tell. Definitely 15.'
'Hm, Aunt and Uncle married in 1958, next year would have been their diamond anniversary. I've never heard that Uncle had been married before.'
'It's just the banns. Like an announcement they were going to get married, not a marriage certificate.'
'Was it even here, in Sunnyvale?'
'Yes, St George's in Sunnyvale. Signed by Cambridge. B, or D Cambridge.' She lifted her head. The blood was pumping fast through her tired body. The pieces of the puzzle started to really come together. 'It's normally the vicar who does this sort of thing, or the person helping with the office. An older daughter, perhaps. B Cambridge,' she said, her voice vibrating with excitement. She looked at the three men in the room, but Jack and Roy returned her stare, blinking blankly. Only Chris got the gravity of her point.
'B like Barbara. The vicar's daughter. I see what you mean.'
Katie glanced at Jack, whose forehead wrinkled.
'Hang on, I'm not following. What does it all mean?' Roy asked, his face red.
'I don't know yet. But this is obviously an old document suggesting that William Dunbar might have been married to a woman called Margaret before he married your Aunt Phyllis. And Barbara knew about it. I remember someone telling me about a woman who dumped William Dunbar, and Barbara knew about it. This part makes sense. That's why Barbara was murdered, by whoever wants the information kept secret.'
'Who would that be?' Jack's voice sounded as puzzled as his face looked.
'I don't know yet.' Katie shrugged. 'Roy, who might benefit from other people not knowing that your uncle had been married before? An inheritance maybe?'
Roy's eyes nearly popped out. 'What? I said that before. There is nothing to claim as far as I'm aware. The house and the land may be worth a little, but hardly enough to kill for. Maybe we should look for that M woman?'
Katie's excitement deflated. Her shoulders dropped. A knot grew at the back of her throat.
'Darn, I thought I had it! It doesn't make much sense then. Let's have a look at the postcard. Maybe it will shed some light.'
It was a summer holiday card from Skegness. The ink on the back was faded and difficult to read - large, rugged letters scattered on the piece of card, as though they had been jotted in a hu
rry.
'Dear William,' Katie read with difficulties. 'We have arrived safely. Can't read. The weather is great, plenty of sunshine, no rain. Can't read again. I hope you are in good health. Can't wait to see you again. Signed Maggie.'
Jack took the card from Katie. 'Awful handwriting. We can have our forensic team take a look at it. But I don't know what value it has. I think it's an ordinary holiday postcard.'
'Well, Maggie is short for Margaret. It was probably the same woman. Who was she?'
A short silence was punctuated by the soft humming of hospital machinery.
'What’s the murderer after? The small jewellery box with a mysterious surprise inside or this old postcard and the old marriage banns?' Jack asked.
'My bet is on money. It's always about money,' Chris said. 'This doesn't shout any money to me.' He pointed at the box on Katie's bed. 'I vote for the jewellery box.'
'It makes sense to me, too.' Roy scrunched his face. 'I think there is a lovely engagement ring in that other box. I vaguely seem to remember uncle William talking about these boxes being used for that.'
Katie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and started to curl it.
'Katie?' Jack urged her.
'I don't know,' she said slowly. 'What do you think?' Would an engagement ring be worth two lives and two more murder attempts?'
'People have killed for much less. Sadly,' Jack said. 'It does make sense.'
Katie took a deep breath. Yes, it all made sense, but yet, oddly it didn't. There were far too many pieces of the puzzle still missing. Like, why would someone keep two old documents hidden inside a puzzle box in a hole in the wall? Why hide it? And why was the killer trying to find it? No, no, no. She had to get it all clear.
It was like one of those thousand-pieces puzzles. She was good at putting them together. She just needed to look at what she had in hand and try what would fit.
'Actually, I have an idea.' Katie said slowly. 'I need your help.'
26
'It's crazy, Katie. Too dangerous,' Jack said, his brow furrowed when she finished presenting her idea.
'Yea, he's right,' Chris added. 'Except, I think it may work.'
'Roy?' she asked and then looked at Jack. 'Actually, should we include Roy in it? Isn't he still one of the main suspects?'
Jack blew out his cheeks. 'Um. He is. Although, he has a perfect alibi for tonight. We kept a very close eye on him, on the way down to Sunnyvale hospital and then to here. He definitely didn’t hit you with the brick.'
'Well, at least I’m clear of that,' Roy said grimly. 'Am I cleared to be part of the plan, too?'
'I said, it's too dangerous,' Jack insisted.
'What's dangerous? We just leave the box on the bedside table and I pretend to be asleep. If it's the box the killer is after, she will take it and leave me alone.'
'But what if the killer wants to get rid of the witness of the most recent assault. It's you! Still alive.'
'Then, that's why you'll have someone here, hiding.'
Jack made a showing gesture with his hand. 'There’s nowhere to hide.'
'Except under the bed,' Chris added helpfully.
'Fancy spending the night under the bed, Chris?'
'No, sir.' Chris grinned.
'Okay, how about you hide in the room next door, on the other side. And I get one of those silent alarm buttons. I'll press it when I realise there is someone in my room, someone who shouldn’t be here.'
'How would you know they shouldn’t be here?' Jack was relentless in trying to stymie her idea.
Katie sighed impatiently. 'Because they will sneak in, in the dark and quietly. They won't be wearing a uniform.'
'What if they come dressed as a nurse?'
'Oh, you are such a killjoy,' Katie snapped.
Finally, after a few more minutes of back and forth they agreed to the plan.
Katie woke up in the middle of the night and was instantly aware of a presence in the darkened room. She kept her eyes shut. She heard a very soft rustling, as if someone moved towards her bed. Katie's heart accelerated.
A wave of heat flooded her chest and spilled onto her face. She moaned softly and kept breathing steadily, as if she was still asleep. Her hands began to tremble. Was it the time to press the alarm button?
No, she needed to be certain.
A movement of air brushed her face as if someone bent over her bed. She felt the warmth of another body, and a faint smell of soap. She tensed her face muscles to keep her eyes shut.
Some more rustling followed. A lump in her throat grew. It was time to press the button. She pressed it with her shaking hands.
The box! Hurry up, guys!
There was more rustling somewhere above her, and a subtle sound as if something was being slipped into a plastic bag.
She pushed the button again. Maybe the first time she didn't do it properly. Her heart was now pounding so hard, she was sure the murderer could hear it. A cold drip rolled down her forehead. And then another one. Her throat was parched and hot, scorching hot.
Where were they?
She gave a whimper. The person beside her bed made an abrupt move. They were going to get away.
Katie opened her eyes and screamed.
The person in the room rushed for the door. In the dim light given by the exit sign above the door, Katie saw a short, slim person dressed in something light. The door opened, and for a split-second, she saw a head and back against the light in the hallway.
She kept screaming.
Katie didn't see what happened next, but she could hear the commotion of footsteps and voices.
The door opened again.
'Mrs Redford, are you okay?'
'Katie!'
The voices blended. The light flicked on. She closed her mouth, knowing she was safe.
The night shift nurse rushed to her bed, blocking the view of the door.
'Why are you screaming?'
'You're not answering to the buzzer! Catch her, she's outside.'
Jack's face appeared from behind the nurse.
'We've got her.'
'Great!' Katie let her head fall back on the pillow. Her neck ached. A ripple of relief shuddered through her body. 'Who is it?' she asked.
'It's a staff member. She has the box and wants to return it,' he said calmly. 'Will you see her now?'
Katie was still shaking, but her breathing was steadying.
'Sure,' she said.
Jack gestured towards the door. A small, slim woman in the hospital uniform, walked in closely followed by Chris.
'Ms Bower wanted to return something that belongs to you, Katie.' Jack said calmly. 'Didn't you, Ms Bower?'
Vera took the box out of a plastic carrier bag she was holding. She sighed angrily. 'Sorry I've taken it.'
As she moved smoothly toward the bed, Katie tensed, suddenly recognising the body posture.
'That's her! The woman who hit me with the brick.'
Jack put his hand on Vera's shoulder. He stretched the other hand to take the box.
'Me? Brick?' Vera's dark eyes grew darker. Her pretty face took on a reddish hue. She curled her hands into fists. 'I may be a petty thief, but I don't walk around hitting people.'
'It was you at the workshop. I recognise you,' Katie said, her voice still vibrating with fear and anger. 'You hit me with the brick. Just like you did with Barbara. You killed Barbara Cambridge, now you've tried to kill me. '
'Barbara Cambridge? Why would I want to do that? Oh, for goodness sake, I've tried to steal the box, because I liked it, okay? I don't even know what's inside it.'
'You do,' Katie said, her voice now firm and stern again. 'You know very well what's inside, Vera Bower. That's why you wanted it.'
Katie glanced at Chris, who moved to block the door. Jack's tightened his grip on Vera's shoulder.'
'Get your hand off me,' she snarled.
'Let's keep talking about it, Ms Bower. Calmly, if possible. Would you like to sit down maybe?'
'No, I wouldn't,' she snapped and wrenched her shoulder away, but Jack was faster, now blocking her access to Katie's bed. 'There is nothing to talk about. I tried to steal that ugly box, I'm returning it. Now, can I go, please? I've a job to do.'
'This is a police investigation, Ms Bower. A theft and also what it looks like attempted murder. Ms Redford has identified you at the person who attacked her yesterday evening. Is this correct, Ms Redford?'
It was strange to hear Jack getting all official with her, using her family name and stuff.
'Yes, inspector,' she answered.
'That's impossible! I've been at work since yesterday afternoon. Afternoon shift and then night shift. You can ask the shift coordinator. They were short-staffed and happy that I could come in.'
'We've already checked it,' Jack said. 'Your shift coordinator says that, although you have been on those shifts, she couldn't vouch for your presence on the ward the whole time. You are apparently well known for sleeping on night shifts. That's why they don't like hiring you, unless they are seriously short-staffed, which, as you say, was the case last night. Your alibi doesn't hold water.'
'Why would I try to kill a woman I barely know?' Vera crossed her arms over her chest, an expression of defiance on her face.
'Because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And because I've found what you've been looking for.'
'Which is what?'
'The box, and what's inside it.'
Vera gave a short, rattling laugh.
'And what's inside it?'
'I would have opened it for you, but it's too complicated. Besides, we opened it earlier tonight. And here are the documents we found.' Katie reached under her pillow and pulled out the large envelope.
'The confirmation of marriage banns and a postcard sent by a certain Maggie, or Margaret to Mr William Dunbar.'
Katie didn't really know what to do next, or what to say. Everything was happening so fast. Her head was spinning, but the fog that had been making everything confusing was dispelling.
'Margaret? What has it got to do with me?'
'Margaret was your mother’s name, wasn't it?'
Vera's face froze. Her jaw tensed. She curled her fingers into fists again.
