[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.’ She put down her mug.‘Well, it’s no use putting it off any longer.Let’s get this over with.’Rona led the way upstairs and motioned her into the guest room.‘There are a few things in the wardrobe,’ she said, opening its door.The sight of the familiar clothes was, finally, too much for Debbie, and she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.Rona held her, letting her cry.She wasn’t far from tears herself.Who did this? she kept asking herself.Who in the name of heaven could have killed her?After a few minutes Debbie straightened and Rona, hastily concealing the lipstick-smudged tissue, passed her the box.‘Sorry,’ Debbie said shakily.‘I’ve been dreading this.’‘I’m sure.Would you like me to help?’At her nod, Rona wheeled the neat little suitcase out of its corner, lifted it on to the bed, and opened it.It was empty; if it had ever held anything of note, the police would have taken it.Between them and in silence, they laid the clothes carefully in the case, together with the items on the dressing table and the sponge bag Rona retrieved from the bathroom.‘What will happen to all her things?’ Rona asked, as Debbie finally closed the case.‘She hadn’t made a will, so as next of kin, her brother will be the benefactor.But he made it clear he doesn’t want her personal effects, so most of them will go to charity shops.I’ll probably keep something as a memento – an ornament, or something like that.’They went down the stairs together and Gus, who was asleep on the front doormat, looked up hopefully and wagged his tail.Debbie was too upset to notice him.She handed Rona a card.‘My phone and mobile numbers,’ she said.‘You’ll let me know what’s going on, won’t you?’‘Of course I will.’Brought together by the shared tragedy, they reached for and held each other’s hand.Then Debbie went swiftly down the path, put the case in the boot, and got into her car.Two minutes later, the sound of her engine had died away.Rona returned to the kitchen, washed up the cafetière and mugs, and put them away.Then she, too, left, hoping that the house was now sufficiently purged to welcome the new lodger the following week.Thirteen‘Daniel?’‘Hi, darling.’‘Sorry to ring you at work, but I’ve just bought a copy of the Gazette, and it says it was Rona who found that body in Chilswood!’There was a pause, then Daniel said incredulously, ‘Are you sure?’‘Quite sure; I’ve read it twice.Do you think your mother knows?’‘She will if Tom does.’‘Strange they haven’t said anything.’‘Not really; after all, what is there to say, other than what you’ve read? And we’re seeing everyone on Saturday, so we’ll hear it first-hand then.Sorry, love, I must go – there’s a call on the other line.See you later.’‘See you,’ Jenny echoed, and thoughtfully switched off her phone.As Rona approached Marsborough, she became increasingly reluctant to return to the empty house.Her mind still circled round Debbie and Julia, and the tragedy that had overtaken them, and she felt in urgent need of distraction.Reaching a decision, she used her hands-free mobile to call Max.‘I’m feeling restless.Any chance of joining you for lunch?’He sounded abstracted.‘It’s barely twelve o’clock, love, and I’ve just mixed some fresh colour.Can you give me an hour?’‘OK.I’ll pass the time by looking round Netherby’s, in the hope of finding something for Catherine.I’ve been to her bungalow, so I’ve some idea of her taste.’Guild Street when she reached it was, as usual, lined with parked cars, and she drove slowly, searching without much hope for a space.Then, just ahead of her, a car pulled away from a meter, and she slid smoothly into its place.Furthermore, there were forty minutes on the clock, which should be ample for her purpose.‘Shan’t be long,’ she told Gus, who was asleep on the back seat, and set off in the direction of the department store.The lunch invitation had stressed ‘No presents’, but Rona had no intention of going empty-handed.On the other hand, she knew Catherine would be embarrassed by an expensive gift, and the challenge was to come up with a compromise.The store was busier than she’d anticipated; and she realized belatedly that it was the school holidays, and children were stocking up on Easter eggs.After trying unsuccessfully to fight her way to a counter, she took the escalator to the second floor and the gift department proper.There was the usual display of Curzon, but not, at the moment, wanting to underline her link with the firm, she moved instead to a cabinet containing a collection of crystal.And nestling at the back, she found what struck her as the perfect present: a small, delicately coloured paperweight.The search had taken longer than expected, and time on the meter would be running out.Having paid for her purchase, Rona was relieved when the lift stopped right in front of her, and discharged a couple of people.She stepped inside and pressed the down button, her mind already moving ahead.She’d still be on the early side for Max, but she could stroll round the little garden with Gus, who would be glad of some exercise.The lift stopped, and she was preparing to leave it when she realized they’d only reached the first floor.The doors opened, and to her consternation, Rona found herself face to face with Mrs de Salis, accompanied by two teenaged children.The woman stiffened as she recognized her, and would have let the lift go, but the children had already stepped into it and perforce she followed.‘Good afternoon,’ she said stiffly, and Rona, equally taken aback, smiled in acknowledgment, her eyes going to the teenagers.Dressed unisexly in jeans and anoraks, they slumped against the sides of the lift, their eyes on the floor.The girl’s hair, a mousy brown, was drawn severely back and held in place by a rubber band.Her brother, tall and lanky and aged, Rona guessed, fifteen or sixteen, was, despite his spotty complexion, the better looking of the two, taking after his father rather than his mother.Catching Rona’s glance on them, Mrs de Salis said unnecessarily, ‘My son and daughter, Aidan and Lorna.’ They looked up on hearing their names, and their mother turned to them, completing the stilted introduction.‘And this is Miss Parish.’Interest flared immediately on both their faces, and Lorna exclaimed, ‘The lady who found the body?’‘Afraid so,’ Rona answered, since the other woman seemed incapable of doing so.Both children were now staring openly at her, and she was relieved when the lift reached the ground floor, the doors opened again, and they were faced with a crowd of people waiting to enter.‘Have a good Easter!’ she said fatuously, and made her escape.‘Mind if I join you, Ed?’DI Barrett looked up.‘Be my guest,’ he invited laconically.Charlie Harris, a fellow DI, unloaded his tray on to the pub table – a brimming tankard and a plate of sausage and mash.‘How are things?’ he asked as he sat down.Barrett grunted and pushed away his own plate, where egg yolk was already congealing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]