Aunt Bessie Volunteers

by Diana Xarissa

  “It sounds right, and terribly sad when you put it that way. Hannah was quiet and shy, but I hope she wasn’t suicidal.”

  “So do I,” Bessie told her. “Do you know where Daisy and her family went?”

  “Leeds, I believe.”

  Bessie sighed. “Evans is far too common of a surname for the police to ever track her down there.”

  “Maybe Rosemary Quayle will be able to tell you more. She might know where Daisy went. Maybe Hannah went across to join Daisy wherever she was. I’d like to believe that’s a possibility.”

  “At this point, everything is a possibility. Can you tell me anything else about Daisy?”

  “As I said, she was quiet and shy, too, just like Hannah. Not entirely like Hannah, though, as she had a man in her life. I remember her laughing with Hannah one day, talking about him. He was very upset about her moving away. Apparently he’d suggested that she marry him and remain here. From what I could overhear, Daisy didn’t think the man was at all suitable for marrying. She planned on ending things with him when she left, or so she said at the time.”

  “I should be writing all of this down. I’m going to go and see Rosemary next, but the police need to try to find Robert if they can, and they need to look for Daisy Evans, too.”

  “I hope the body isn’t Hannah’s. She was a sweet girl and I’d hate to think that something horrible happened to her.”

  “As I said before, at this point the police aren’t certain how the woman died or how she ended up at Peel Castle. It’s possible she died of natural causes while exploring the tower, for instance.”

  “If it is Hannah, I hope that’s what happened. She was planning on leaving the island, though. I’ve always imagined that she ended up in Australia, living in the outback in a little house all on her own.”

  “You said she never told you anything about where she was going or why she was leaving. Did she seem happy about leaving?”

  “I don’t know that happy is the right word. She was anxious for a few weeks, jittery and not quite herself, and then one day she came in and said she was leaving. She was much calmer. I assumed she was relieved because she’d made the decision to go, or maybe a job offer had come through or something along those lines.”

  “How much notice did she give you before she left?”

  “On paper, it was a fortnight, but she had some holiday pay due to her, so I don’t think she worked more than once or twice after the day she told me she was leaving. I probably asked her a few more questions about her plans on those days, but if I did, I’m certain she refused to answer.”

  “I think I need to go and talk to Rosemary,” Bessie said.

  “Good luck with that. Her son and daughter-in-law live with her now. I’m sure they’ll talk to you, but he wasn’t much more than a baby all those years ago and she’s from across.”

  “You said Rosemary’s memory isn’t good?”

  “It comes and goes. I saw her at a fundraiser for the wildlife park about three months ago and she knew who I was clearly enough to try to avoid me,” LouLar laughed. “Which reminds me, have you ever considered adopting an animal? We have three new capybara babies who need sponsorship.”

  “You’d have to talk to my advocate. He handles all of my charitable donations for me,” Bessie told her.

  “You’ve been telling me that for years, but I’m sure you have some say in what you support.”

  “I do have some say, and I have given gifts to the wildlife park over the years. I’m not certain I want to support capybaras, though. They’re giant rodents, aren’t they?”

  “Yes, but they’re adorable, really. You should go and meet them.”

  “Perhaps, one day,” Bessie said, turning towards the door. “Thank you for your time today. I appreciate it.”

  “I hope I was helpful. I don’t like to talk about other people, but in this case, I was prepared to make an exception. I’d like to know what happened to Hannah. I’ll feel much better if you find out she’s alive and well.”

  “I keep hoping the police will find all of the women whose names have come up in the investigation alive and well. So far, two of them have, anyway.”

  “Dan Ross had five names on his list. Which two have been eliminated?”

  “Meredith Houseman and Emma Gibson.”

  LouLar nodded. “Emma left with Janice, of course. I saw them together once and realised they were a couple. Are they still together?”

  “They are. They’ve lived all over the world and Emma told me that they’re very happy together.”

  “Good for them. Meredith probably just wanted to get away from her parents. They weren’t very nice, really. Not that that husband of her was anything to brag about. If I were her, I’d have stayed behind in the UK, too.”

  Bessie nodded. “Any thoughts on Lauren Bell or Joselyn Owens?” she asked.

  “You should ask Harold Newman about Lauren.”

  “Harold Newman?”

  “He ran off with Lauren once, leaving his poor wife behind. He came back eventually, and his wife took him back, as well. I never understood why. He wasn’t a great catch before he ran off with Lauren.” She began to laugh heartily. “He ran a chippy,” she said, laughing again. “That’s why I said he wasn’t a great catch.”

  Bessie nodded and smiled. She didn’t think the remark was all that funny, but clearly LouLar found it hilarious. “I had heard that he was still on the island.”

  “He is, although I lost track of him when he sold the chippy.”

  “What about Joselyn Owens?”

  “I don’t know that I ever knew her. Oh, I’ve heard of her, of course. The paragraph about her in the paper was actually quite funny. It made the point that Joselyn got herself pregnant while her husband was away, without coming right out and saying that in so many words. Her husband, Sam, is still on the island, anyway. If anyone knows where she is, surely he should.”

  “She seems the most likely candidate for the body, in my opinion,” Bessie said.

  “You may be right. Hannah did tell me she was leaving. Of course, Sam might argue the same about Joselyn. I’m sure the police have a difficult job working out whom they can trust.”

  “No doubt. I’m glad that’s their job and not mine.”

  LouLar laughed. “And yet here you are, asking me more questions that any police inspector I’ve ever met.”

  Bessie flushed. “Thank you for everything you’ve told me.”

  “Again, you’re welcome. As it’s past midday, we should have lunch together,” LouLar said.

  Bessie glanced at her watch. She hadn’t realised it was that late. “Is there anywhere to eat nearby?” she asked.

  “No, but that doesn’t matter. Clara can make us sandwiches. She makes me lunch every day when I’m here.”

  Although she was eager to get away and talk to Rosemary, Bessie didn’t feel as if she could refuse the offer. Clara was called out from the back of the shop and told to prepare lunch for two. While they ate, the two women chatted about their lives on opposite sides of the same small island.

  “Thank you for lunch,” Bessie said an hour later. “Now I must go and try to find Rosemary.”

  “You’re welcome here anytime, even if you didn’t buy anything,” LouLar laughed.

  A light rain was falling as Bessie began the short walk through the village to the address that LouLar had given her. While she walked, she thought about everything LouLar had said. Was it possible that a depressed and lonely Hannah Butler had committed suicide? If she had, how had her body ended up at Peel Castle? Hoping that Rosemary might have some answers, Bessie made her way up the short walkway to a large house that had clearly been there for hundreds of years. As she knocked on the door, she wondered if she could find an excuse to walk through some of the house. She wanted to see every inch of it, really.

  “Can I help you?” The woman who opened the door was not old enough to be Rosemary.

  “I’m looking for Rosemary Quayle,” Bessie re
plied.

  “Are you a friend of hers?”

  “Not exactly. I live in Laxey, so I didn’t know Rosemary well, but I was talking with LouLar about a woman she and Rosemary knew many years ago. I was hoping I could ask Rosemary a few questions about the matter.”

  “You’re Elizabeth Cubbon, aren’t you?”

  “I am, yes.”

  “So this must be to do with the body you found at Peel Castle.”

  I didn’t find it, Bessie thought to herself. It seemed better not to say it aloud, and risk getting the door shut in her face. “It is, yes,” she said instead.

  “Mother read about the body in the paper. It upset her a great deal.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t want to upset her.”

  “She knew one of the women, Hannah something. Is that who you are interested in speaking about with her?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  The woman frowned. “I don’t know what to say, really. Some of the things Rosemary told me about Hannah might be relevant to the case, but I’d rather not see her upset again. At the same time, I’d prefer that she speak to you, rather than the police. She talks about you all the time, whenever you’re in the papers.”

  Bessie frowned. She hated when she was in the papers. “I’m surprised she remember me.”

  “She usually does, on her good days. She only reads the papers on her good days, as well. When she having a bad day, she tends to keep to herself.”

  “Who is at the door?” a loud voice called imperiously.

  The woman made a face and then turned around. “It’s Elizabeth Cubbon.”

  “Bessie has come calling? Why haven’t you let her in?” the other woman demanded.

  “You’d better come in,” the first woman sighed. She shut the door behind Bessie and then led her down a short corridor and through the first door. The sitting room was large and all of its furnishing appeared to be expensive antiques. The woman sitting in the corner next to a window, slowly got to her feet. It took her several seconds to shuffle forward to greet Bessie. Her grey hair was very short. Her blue eyes looked clear and focussed as she studied Bessie.

  “Miss Cubbon, I haven’t seen you in a great many years,” she said.

  Bessie took the offered hand, giving it a squeeze before releasing it. “Mrs. Quayle, you’re looking well.”

  The other woman laughed. “I’m not, though, not well or looking well, actually. I know I look my age and then some. I blame the children. I had six of them, if you recall, and they were all difficult.”

  The other woman made a noise. When Rosemary looked over at her, she flushed. Rosemary laughed.

  “You’ve met my daughter-in-law, then,” Rosemary said. “She married Harold, which was a very foolish thing to do, in my opinion. He was the worst of the lot, really, although I shouldn’t say that as he takes rather good care of me now.”

  “I’m Eloise,” the woman told Bessie.

  “Oh, yes, I should have said that. You must call me Rosemary, of course, and I’ll call you Bessie, because everyone does.”

  Bessie nodded. “Everyone does,” she agreed.

  “Sit,” Rosemary ordered. “None of the chairs are very comfortable, but they’re all very valuable and I can’t persuade Harold to change them for anything that people would actually want to sit on for any length of time.”

  “You know Harold wants the furnishings to be in keeping with the age and style of the house,” Eloise said in a tired voice. It was clearly an argument that had been had many times.

  Rosemary glanced at her and then shrugged. “Try the couch,” she told Bessie. “It’s slightly less ghastly than the chairs.”

  Bessie sat down as directed. The couch was uncomfortable, which made her wonder just how bad the chairs were.

  “Eloise, we need tea,” Rosemary announced.

  “Oh, I don’t want to be any bother,” Bessie said quickly.

  “It’s no bother,” Rosemary said firmly. “It isn’t often we get guests, especially not important guests. We must treat them properly.”

  “I don’t think I’m at all important,” Bessie protested.

  “You’ve been in the papers over and over again for the past year or more,” Rosemary countered. “I know you work with the police now on all of their important investigations.”

  “That isn’t exactly true. I do sometimes help the police, but only in a very minor way,” Bessie told her.

  “Eloise, tea,” Rosemary barked.

  The other woman shot Bessie a nervous glance and then left the room.

  “I don’t want to talk in front of her. She fusses over me far too much,” Rosemary explained. “You want to know about Hannah. I got rather upset when I saw her name in the paper. The idea that the body you found might have been hers, that someone murdered her just when she was about to start a new life, well, it was a shock more than anything.” She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

  “The police aren’t certain it was murder.”

  Rosemary looked surprised and then sighed. “They think she killed herself and then locked herself in a tower at Peel Castle? That seems quite far-fetched.”

  “There are dozens of possible explanations, including that she was exploring the castle and simply died of natural causes in the tower.”

  “She was healthy as a horse,” Rosemary scoffed. “Oh, she was sad and tended to mope around, but physically she was healthy.”

  “You remember her well, then?”

  “I do. She was our first lodger, not long after my father-in-law passed away. Money was tight and we needed a bit extra to keep things going. Taking in a lodger helped us pay the mortgage here. Some of Junior’s brothers wanted to sell this house. There were several farms, you see, but I didn’t want to live in a farmhouse. I wanted to live here. Anyway, I had the idea that we could rent out a room or two here. There are twelve bedrooms, you know. We didn’t need them all, or even half of them.”

  “Twelve?” Bessie echoed, now even more eager to see the rest of the house.

  “My husband’s mother had a room, but she moved from house to house all the time, wearing out her welcome at each place as she went. Junior and I had a room, and we’d just had Harold, so we had a nursery. That left plenty of extra room for lodgers.”

  “How did you advertise?”

  “We didn’t advertise. We simply told a few people, including that LouLar woman at the local shop. It wasn’t long before she was sending us potential lodgers.”

  “And Hannah was the first.”

  “She was the second, actually, who came to see about the rooms. She was the first we allowed to stay.”

  Bessie was curious about the other candidate, but she didn’t ask. It wasn’t her business, and she probably wouldn’t have cared for the woman’s reasons for turning the other man or woman down.

  “She was selling her childhood home at the time and hadn’t worked out what she wanted to do next. Her parents had died in a house fire, one she’d only just managed to escape herself. Part of the house was badly damaged, but she was still living there. I know she didn’t get much when it sold because of the damage.”

  “How long was she with you?”

  “Three months, maybe four. Towards the end of her stay, she came and told me that she was leaving, but she paid me for an additional couple of months to make up for the short notice.”

  “What did she tell you about her future plans?”

  “Absolutely nothing. I asked, of course, but she just said she had plans that she preferred to keep to herself. In retrospect, I should have pushed her harder, but at the time it would have felt rude.”

  “Did she have many belongings?”

  “She sold all of the furniture that was salvageable from her house. By the time she moved in here, she had one small suitcase and another bag for toiletries and things, and that was all. I felt quite sorry for her, really. I even offered her a few things, clothes I didn’t wear any longer and that sort
of thing, but she always politely refused.”

  “She took her suitcase and bag with her when she left, then?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “And she didn’t leave you any forwarding address?”

  “She did, actually. She gave me the name of her friend who lived across. I was meant to forward any post that came for her to the friend.”

  “I’m sure you don’t still have the friend’s information, but do you remember her name?” Bessie asked, almost holding her breath in hope.

  “I do still have the friend’s information,” Rosemary told her with a smug smile. “I wrote it in my address book and I’m still using that same book today.” She got up from her chair and slowly crossed the room to a small desk in the corner. It only took her a moment to find the black book.

  “Daisy Evans,” she read out. Bessie copied down the address that Rosemary had been given.

  “If the police can track down Daisy, they might be able to find out what happened to Hannah,” Bessie said. “Did you ever have to forward any post to Daisy?”

  “Not a single thing,” Rosemary said sadly.

  “Tea,” Eloise announced from the doorway.

  Chapter 11

  The three women talked about how much the island had changed in recent times as they sipped tea and ate crustless sandwiches and tiny cakes.

  “How did you manage to put all of this together so quickly?” Bessie asked after a while, as Eloise passed around a platter full of biscuits.

  “We have tea every afternoon,” Rosemary told her. “It’s a family tradition.”

  The look on Eloise’s face suggested that it was a tradition that wasn’t going to be continued once Rosemary was gone.

  “Everything is delicious,” Bessie added.

  “Eloise does an adequate job,” Rosemary conceded. “She’s my favourite daughter-in-law, even if Harold is far from being my favourite child.”

  Eloise choked violently, presumably on words she couldn’t say to her mother-in-law. She sipped her tea and then gave Bessie what appeared to be a fake smile. “I hope you and Rosemary enjoyed your chat.”