Thursday evening
Ellie switched off her computer for the day and, prompt on cue, her phone rang.
It was Rafael on the line. ‘Are you in? I’ve rung the doorbell several times, but it doesn’t seem to be working. We’re outside in the driveway and Susan’s struggling with a mountain of food for you.’
Bother! Ellie realized she hadn’t yet told Hetty that there were guests for supper and that they were bringing food. Hetty would take umbrage, there would be a scene, and it would be all Ellie’s fault.
She hastened down the corridor to the hall, calling out to Thomas that food was up. She opened the front door, and yes, saw that the wires in the porch were not just hanging loose but trailing on the ground. Oh dear.
Rafael called out to Susan to wait for him to help her, as she was struggling to get out of the car while holding on to a number of foil boxes.
Predictably, Hetty appeared at Ellie’s shoulder. ‘Was that someone at the door?’
‘Afraid so,’ said Ellie, bracing herself. ‘We really must get someone to deal with the wiring for the bell. Now, I forgot to tell you, but—’
Hetty peered around Ellie. ‘The nerve of them. They were only here the other night. You’ll have to tell them to go away, because I’ve made you a lovely dish of roasted ham and dumplings and there’s nowhere near enough for five.’
‘It’s perfectly all right,’ said Ellie, trying to be firm. ‘It’s all very last minute and I didn’t know till just now, but they’re bringing in food for us four to eat tonight.’
‘But I’m just dishing up and—’
‘Nothing will go to waste. Look, you take what you want for yourself up to your flat, and we’ll freeze any leftovers. You work so hard that I’m sure you’ll be pleased to have an evening to yourself.’
Hetty looked as if she were going to cry. ‘Oh, but if they’ve brought food, we could all sit down together and—’
‘You’ve done enough for us this week,’ said Ellie. ‘Now you take your meal upstairs and enjoy yourself for once.’
Hetty sobbed, ‘Thomas wouldn’t want me to be cast aside like this! I’m going to ask him what he thinks of your being so nasty to me!’
‘Thomas leaves the running of the household to me. Now, off you go.’ Ellie actually gave Hetty a little push to see her on her way.
Hetty sobbed aloud as she fled back to the kitchen.
Ellie felt guilty. Poor Hetty! She was so alone in the world, and so anxious to please. But lines had to be drawn.
She turned back to welcome Rafael and Susan. ‘Come in, come in! Hetty’s just dishing up her own meal in the kitchen, and the dining room is too big for a cosy meal for four. Suppose I fetch the hostess trolley from the kitchen with some plates and cutlery, and we can eat on our knees in the sitting room? Oh, we’ll also need some glasses. Beer for the men, and soft drinks for me and Susan, right?’
A glance was exchanged between Rafael and Susan. ‘Sounds good,’ said Rafael.
Susan picked her words with care. ‘Hetty’s occupying the kitchen at the moment?’
Ellie nodded. Thank goodness, neither Rafael nor Susan was going to make a fuss about it.
Thomas, however, was not the sort of person who ate on his knees. He said, ‘There’s a gateleg table in the window in the sitting room. Why don’t we use that? It’s got a plot plant on it at the moment, but we can put that on the floor for the time being. I’ll bring in a couple of chairs from the dining room and we can eat in comfort.’
‘Splendid,’ said Rafael. ‘Home from home. Susan doesn’t have a lap at the moment. A ledge, but not a lap!’
Susan, still holding the foil dishes, aimed her elbow at him. ‘Who’s responsible for that, pray?’
Thomas and Rafael had only just started to rearrange the furniture when Hetty appeared, sniffling. She reached out to touch Thomas but didn’t quite make it. ‘Thomas, could I have a word? Please?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Thomas sent an ‘Oh dear!’ glance to Ellie, put down the chair he was carrying and disappeared with Hetty in the direction of the kitchen.
Susan and Rafael looked questions at Ellie, who shrugged. ‘Hetty hasn’t fitted in. I’ve asked her to find somewhere else to go to. She’s upset. I hate to cause her distress, but … well, it just hasn’t worked out.’
Susan nodded. She’d seen enough to understand what was wrong with having Hetty in the household. Rafael checked with Susan that Ellie was doing the right thing and made no comment as he fetched another couple of chairs from the dining room.
Thomas did not return for ten long minutes, during which the others chatted about when Susan’s next appointment at the hospital was to be and when she should stop even trying to work.
At long last Thomas returned, trundling the hostess trolley with him. He’d brought plates, cutlery, glasses, some beer and a jug of water. ‘Sorry to have held you up. Hetty was upset. I told her to leave everything in the kitchen as it was and take herself off up to the flat. Now, what good things have you two wonderful people brought with you tonight?’
He didn’t seem to want to say any more about Hetty, so they investigated the contents of the foil dishes Susan had brought for their meal. An excellent beef stew with vegetables was polished off in short order, followed by one of Susan’s specialities, an apple crumble infused with spices and topped with proper clotted cream.
Only when they had finished everything in sight and the women were clearing the table, did Thomas bring up the subject of the latest cheque to land on his doorstep, and handed it over to Rafael.
Rafael put on his rimless glasses to inspect the latest solicitor’s letter and cheque. ‘A reputable firm, and you knew the man. I don’t see why you shouldn’t accept this.’
Ellie, stacking dirty plates on to the trolley, said, ‘I agree.’
Thomas nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve thought it over, and I believe that money was given me in good faith. I don’t feel the same about the others. If this had been the only cheque I received, I would have accepted it with gratitude. But it isn’t. It’s the sixth, and I’m turning it in, along with the others. Now, don’t argue, please. The news is out that I’ve inherited a small fortune, and I’m taking the problem to the police before they come knocking on my door.’
Susan said, ‘Well, I think it’s all a storm in a teacup, myself.’ Then she covered her mouth and burped.
Rafael reached over to rub her back. ‘Can’t take her anywhere.’
Susan shifted in her chair. ‘Baby’s active tonight. According to the hospital, she’s not due for another week, but I think she’s anxious to get going.’
Rafael informed Thomas and Ellie, ‘Sometimes she tries to push me out of bed, and I have to speak to her severely.’
Thomas and Ellie laughed, as they were supposed to do. Rafael passed Thomas a second bottle of beer, which was duly uncapped and poured out.
Susan nudged Rafael. He gave her a ‘not now’ look.
Thomas picked up the hint. ‘So Rafael, you have some news for us? Was it about your drunken councillor? Ellie went to see the widow of another of my benefactors this afternoon, but her husband was neither a councillor nor a drunk.’
Rafael seemed reluctant to talk about this, but when Susan nodded at him, he sighed and got on with it. ‘Councillor Thornwell. He was a councillor for twenty years or so, in a wealthy part of Acton. I got to know him when I was arguing with the planning officer at the council about putting in a fire escape at the back of my block of flats. He wanted it at one end, and I wanted it in the middle. I contacted the councillor for advice, we met briefly when I explained why my plan ought to be adopted, he spoke up for me in the council meeting, and we got it through. I’d forgotten it was he who’d been had up for driving when under the influence and knocking over a child in the Avenue. I just remembered he wasn’t a very likeable man. But someone must have liked him, because he managed to remain on the council afterwards.
‘I’m amazed he lived as long as he did. He was no ad
vert for a healthy way of life, being short, fat and breathy. I didn’t take to him, but I believe he was kind to dogs. He had a Labrador with him when we met. The dog died of old age, his wife left him, and he drank. His replacement on the council is an old school friend of mine and was happy to give me the latest gossip about the late and unlamented Mr Thornwell.’
Thomas drank his beer. ‘I never met him. Why would he have left me any money?’
Rafael moved his beer glass around in circles. ‘He left lots of small amounts to all sorts of charities. Samaritans, Cancer Research – you name it, and they all got a mention in his will. I think it was conscience money, myself. Perhaps he was hoping to leave a good impression in people’s minds, even if he hadn’t managed it in real life? I can’t think there’s anything untoward about his gift to you. I believe you can accept the money and be thankful.’
‘He didn’t leave any to his wife?’
‘There’d been an amicable divorce, and she wasn’t contesting his will. I can understand why, if he had no other family to leave his money to, he’d parcel it out to charities.’
‘That makes sense,’ said Thomas. ‘If I knew why he’d picked on me, I’d be content.’
‘He had all sorts of people buzzing around him towards the end, paid and unpaid carers, Age UK, anyone who was willing to give up their time to care for him. He had carers three times a day, people bringing in food, doing his shopping and cleaning. He was well looked after. Someone must have mentioned how much good you do in the community and he remembered it when he made his will.’
Thomas sighed. ‘So, we’re back to the beginning again.’
Susan nudged Rafael again. ‘Go on. Tell him the rest of it.’
Rafael flushed from chin to forehead. ‘Maybe it’s not appropriate. Not now.’
Susan put her hands on her ample hips. ‘If you won’t, I will.’
Rafael kept his eyes down, concentrating on his beer. ‘Go on, then.’
Susan said, ‘Ellie and Thomas, they say that leopards don’t change their spots, don’t they? I’m here to tell you that sometimes they do, even if it does take time and effort. When I first met him, Rafael thought of nothing but how much money he could make. Oh yes, and how he could get me into bed without commitment. Then he met you two, he got to know me better and somehow we managed to reactivate his sense of right and wrong.’
‘Somehow!’ said Rafael, but he smiled as he said it. ‘You’ll be telling them next that I was rescued by the love of a good woman.’
‘And don’t you ever forget it!’ said Susan. ‘So yes, he’s learned to think more about people and less about money. But in the past … Well, what he didn’t tell you is that Councillor Thornwell had suggested Rafael grease his palm in order to get his planning permission through and Rafael paid up.’
Rafael defended himself. ‘Everyone was doing it at the time. It was all disguised as paying for specialist services. Yes, I paid Thornwell off. Look, he was well known for taking bribes to get various dodgy planning permissions through. He’d been on the council for ever. He knew everyone and everyone knew him, which is what saved him from being shot out of office when he blotted his copybook.’ He stopped abruptly.
Susan said, ‘Rafael thinks that Councillor Thornwell was not the only one who thought it was perfectly all right to help his friends get planning permission.’
Ellie looked at Rafael’s downcast eyes. A nasty suspicion wriggled through to the front of her mind. Diana and Evan, plus the development down by the river, plus Councillor Thornwell’s early death … equals debt. She put her hands to her mouth. ‘Oh, what a mess!’
Thomas was puzzled. ‘Ellie? Explain!’
Ellie said, ‘Some time ago Evan bought an option on a piece of land down by the river for housing. It had been designated as a flood plain years ago. There hasn’t been any flooding there since they dredged the river upstream, but in theory you can’t build on a flood plain. So my question is, why did they think the development would ever be permitted? I’m wondering now if they were assured by Councillor Thornwell that he could get the land rezoned at a price? They have to complete the purchase now or lose what they’ve spent on the option. Most inconsiderately Councillor Thornwell – if it was indeed he – died before planning permission could be granted and now they have to complete the sale, for which they haven’t the money, and the permission to build is nowhere to be seen. Evan and Diana haven’t the money for that or for their ordinary household bills, so they’re up the creek without a paddle.’
Rafael nodded. ‘I asked a few questions today, and yes, that seems to be exactly what’s going on. Councillor Thornwell did have a finger in that particular pie. Evan’s advocate on the council for planning permission is six feet under, and there’s another group ready to move in and take over the project. If Evan can’t complete the purchase price he loses what he’s spent on the option. The item is coming up on the agenda next Thursday.’
‘Wait a minute,’ said Ellie. ‘This other group, whoever they may be … what makes them think they can get planning permission through now?’
Rafael shrugged. ‘What do you think? My information is that there is someone else on that committee who is prepared to help push it through, but that his terms for rezoning are too high for Evan to meet.’ He spread his hands in apology. ‘I’m sorry to bring this up, what with Evan being your son-in-law and all. I didn’t know whether you knew what Evan was up to or not.’
Thomas looked from one concerned face to another. ‘Evan bribed a councillor to get planning permission through for a dodgy development, but the money’s gone and he can’t afford a second expensive bribe? Also he stands to lose the money he’s put into the project if he can’t complete the sale? Hmm. How big a loss is he going to sustain?’
Ellie said, ‘It’s serious enough for Diana to ask me to mortgage or sell this house in order to tide her over.’
Susan and Rafael exchanged quick glances.
‘You don’t want to do that, do you?’ asked Rafael, rather quickly.
Ellie said, ‘No. We love this old place. Inconvenient it may be, but we love it.’
Rafael exchanged another look with Susan. Ellie wondered if she were missing some subtext but couldn’t think what it might be.
Thomas shook his head. ‘I’m sorry for anyone who loses money in a bad deal, but in this case—’
Ellie said, ‘Evan planned to cheat the system, and lost. I’ve been bailing Diana out in small ways and big all these years. She says they’re on the breadline and may not be able to meet the utility bills this quarter. She thinks me very hard-hearted for not helping her now but, even if I had the money, I don’t think I’d give it to her. Or would I? The consequences of their being unable to meet their day-to-day bills don’t bear thinking about.’
Thomas said, ‘You mean Evan and Diana could lose their home?’
‘No,’ said Ellie. ‘They don’t own it. It was owned by Evan’s first wife, Monique, and they pay her rent for it. By the way, it’s Monique’s funeral tomorrow. Diana says Evan was supposed to tell me about it but didn’t. I only heard about it today. I liked Monique. Diana’s hoping she’d left them the house at the very least. She might have done, I suppose. She must know that Diana and Evan have an extravagant way of life and two small children to bring up.’
‘There’s a fine line between ethical practice and bribery,’ said Thomas. ‘I understand that in some countries it’s normal practice to allow a certain amount for bribes or “extra services”. I hope we never get like that here.’ Then, he listened to what he’d said, and sighed. ‘All right, I know it does exist here, too. Every now and then there’s a case comes up in the papers and someone gets sent to jail. But I’d hoped it was the exception.’
Ellie looked into the future and saw Diana in tears, Evan confined to a wheelchair, and two young children put out on to the street. She followed this up to see what might happen next, which was the whole family descending upon Ellie and Thomas to demand housing and su
pport. Ellie had the room in this big house, of course. But. Ellie cringed at the thought of the disruption, the chaos, the shouting, the wails of the children.
Enough! She would not let that happen. She might have to find them somewhere to live in one of the trust properties, which would mean she herself would have to foot the bill. But no, she simply didn’t have that sort of money at her disposal.
Thomas put his hand over hers. Warm and comforting. ‘We’ll manage. We always have done.’
She tried to smile. She couldn’t see how they were going to manage, but it was good to know he was behind her.
Rafael got to his feet. ‘I think that’s enough bad news for one night. I can see Susan is drooping. She’s usually asleep by ten, and it’s five past already. I’ll help you clear up and then I’ll take her back home.’
Susan started awake. She rubbed eyes. ‘Where …? Oh dear. Sorry, all. Rafael, did you ask them about—?’
‘No, not now, Susan.’ Rafael scooped empty glasses on to the trolley. ‘Ellie, have you a lift to the funeral tomorrow? Monique made a strong impression on me when we met and I’d like to attend her funeral, too. Why don’t I take you, and you can scold me all the way there and back about not giving bribes in the way of business.’
NINE
Thursday night
When they’d seen their friends off, Ellie and Thomas took the remains of their meal through to the kitchen. Hetty had left the lights, the radio and the television on before she left and the meal she had been preparing for them was still on the table. The food had not been covered and flies were gathering around it.
Thomas was annoyed with himself. ‘This is my fault. She was in such a state I told her to leave everything. but I didn’t think she’d walk away and abandon the food, uncovered. And the oven’s still on! I’m sorry, Ellie.’ He set about sweeping the spoilt food into the bin.
Ellie reached for her apron. ‘I’m sorry she’s upset, and I’m sorry you had to deal with her, but this is the outside of enough.’
Thomas said, ‘Poor woman. I feel sorry for her in a way. No family, no place of her own. I kept telling her that if you’ve promised to find her somewhere to live, then that’s what would happen. She wanted me to persuade you to let her stay on here. I said that wasn’t an option, that we had both decided she ought to move on. I don’t think I handled it well. She said … Well, people say lots of things they don’t mean when they’re upset.’
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