Deathly Christmas (11 page)

Jane took a sip of her gin and tonic and then closed her eyes, remembering the first time James had seen her with her new look. She would never forget that moment. He had been totally mesmerized. Perhaps it would take her more than a couple of days to forget about him.

“Hello,” a voice interrupted her thoughts. “Are you alright?”

Jane sat up and took off her sunglasses. Paul stood there, looking quite bashful. She felt sorry for him, especially after the way he had been treated by James. James had pushed him to one side when he had tried to talk to her and she knew that James had avoided giving him a lift home from the hospital. However, she knew she was guilty as well. Although she had seen Paul waving, she hadn’t wanted James to give him a lift, not wanting anyone to spoil their time alone together.

“I’m fine,” Jane said. “Would you like a drink?”

“Yes please, a beer would be great if you have one.”

“I do. Come into the garden and sit down.”

Paul was trembling as he pulled up a deckchair. So much for being one of the lads. He was actually quite shy and hadn’t had a great deal of experience with women. There had been a few girlfriends, but they hadn’t lasted long and he’d never been married or engaged. He always put on an air of confidence, but he was far from being self-assured.

“There you go,” Jane said, giving Paul his beer.

“Are you feeling okay, what with James being arrested?”

“Yes. I mean they haven’t proved anything yet,” Jane said. “Just because he was here on Christmas Eve doesn’t mean he killed his aunt, does it? He obviously came here to see her before Christmas and then he came back after because she was murdered.”

Paul’s heart sank. She wasn’t convinced James was guilty. Perhaps there wasn’t any hope for him.

“But it is pretty likely though, isn’t it? He didn’t tell anyone that he was here on Christmas Eve. That smacks of guilt.”

“But perhaps he didn’t tell anyone because it would make him look guilty, not because he is guilty,” Jane said sharply.

Jane was getting worked up. She knew Paul liked her so he was trying to convince her that James was guilty, but she couldn’t switch off her feelings so quickly. It was turning out to be a difficult day. She wanted to talk to Eve. Her anger against Eve had more or less dissipated now. Eve was intuitive and would help her through this. .

“What are you thinking about, Jane?” Paul asked after an awkward silence. “You seem miles away.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Paul, My mind was drifting. I’m terrible company today.”

Paul was upset. How could he stop her thinking about James? Suddenly he had an idea.

“Look Jane, I know you like James and I’d be a fool to think otherwise, so let me just be a friend to you. Hopefully he’ll be exonerated and be back in no time, but if not I’ll be here to give you support, no strings attached.”

Jane studied Paul. Was he being sincere? She’d like to think so, but she doubted it. Still, Jane hated to have enemies, so she smiled at him.

“Thank you, Paul. It’s very kind of you. We’ll see how things go.”

Seeing his face fall, she tried to make amends.

“Would you like another beer? It’s so warm for the end of December. I’m sure you could do with one.”

“I’d love one,” Paul replied, cheering up instantly.

All was not lost yet.

* * * *

Eve got up and went to answer the front door. She was pleased to be back home even though David was upstairs carrying on with writing his second novel. He didn’t want to be disturbed for the next few hours as he was behind schedule, and anyway he had told Eve that she needed to rest. She knew he was right, but she always found it difficult to keep still for long.

The following evening was New Year’s Eve and they were going to Annie and Pete’s party. Eve still didn’t feel one hundred per cent and she had to relax and recover from the poisoning so that she could cope with a late night, but she was bored, especially now that she didn’t have the murder to keep her mind occupied.

“Who’s that at the door?” she asked Portia, her dog.

Portia looked up at her, but seeing no food was on offer, went back to sleep again. The dog had been spoilt over the Christmas period and Eve thought she had better cut down on her treats after the holidays were over.

Eve finally got to the door and stood there in amazement when she opened it.

“James,” she said, dumbfounded.

“Well, it’s not often you’re almost lost for words, Eve. Feeling guilty, are we?”

“David is here, I’ll have you know,” she replied hurriedly.

“Don’t worry, Eve, I haven’t come here to murder you. I just want to talk.”

“Alright, come in.”

Eve led James into the sitting room. She felt slightly tense, wondering what was going on.

“Would you like a drink?” she asked, trying not to show that she was nervous.

“I wouldn’t mind a whisky if you have one.”

“Yes, I do. I think I’ll have a metaxa,” she replied.

As she got the drinks, she found she was trembling. This was crazy. It was highly unlikely that James had escaped from jail, so the police must have released him. She didn’t have anything to worry about apart from James being angry with her, but she wished David was downstairs. He was probably so engrossed in his work that he hadn’t even heard the doorbell ring.

    “So the police have released you, James,” Eve said, handing him his drink.

“Well, I didn’t break out of prison, Eve,” he said, with a mischievous grin on his face. “You know, I should be very cross with you, turning me in as you did.”

“I didn’t intend to tell the police I thought you might have killed your aunt, James. I was a little worried when I heard you say how much you disliked your aunt. You seemed to be the only one with any motive to kill her, but I was only concerned for Jane. However, after I was poisoned, I had to tell the police what I heard you say. After all, I was nearly killed again.”

“Whoever did it didn’t give you enough arsenic. It looked like a warning to me.”

“You seem very knowledgeable about poisons, James.”

“I know a little, but that doesn’t make me a killer, nor does it mean I tried to kill you or my aunt. In fact, I have come here to swear to you that I did not kill my aunt or poison you.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“It’s up to you, but I’m telling you the truth.”

Eve sat there for a moment before saying anything else. She had noticed that James hadn’t elaborated on his knowledge of poisons, but she didn’t think it worth questioning him. She was certain he wouldn’t tell her anything else.

“Why did the police let you go?”

“Basically there’s not enough evidence. Just because I was here on Christmas Eve doesn’t mean I killed my aunt. I was in Athens on business before Christmas and popped over on the 24
th
to see Jennifer before flying back to London. My fingerprints aren’t on the bottle of desert wine and obviously they can’t find any strychnine in my belongings. They asked the police in England to search my house in London this morning, but they didn’t find any there either. Also, there was no arsenic in my belongings here or in my hotel room. They have no case whatsoever.”

“You could of course have been very clever. You are an intelligent man.”

“I am and I could have been, but I didn’t do it. However, I want to know who did. It’s completely beyond me. We have no other family as far as I know.”

“Perhaps you have and you aren’t aware of it. Or perhaps Jennifer had an affair with a married man and she said she was going to tell his wife and he decided to get rid of her.”

“Ha! The prudish Jennifer….an affair!”

“Shows how well you knew her. She was all over my David. Luckily I’m secure enough in my relationship to not get worried.”

“And attractive enough.”

Eve blushed. She never tired of compliments, even from a potential killer.

“I’ve been on to her lawyers in England and here about her wills, but I don’t think we’ll know anything until the New Year.”

“Damn. That might have told us if there was a secret member of the family. Were you expecting to get it all?”

“Not really. I reckon she’s left it all to a cat’s home or something like that. Anything but leave it to me. I have enough money so I’m not particularly bothered.”

    “Oh, you can never have enough money,” Eve commented.

“James,” David exclaimed, coming into the room. “You’re out of jail.”

“Yes. The police didn’t have enough evidence,” he said, deciding to leave it to Eve to elaborate.

He knew he wasn’t David’s favorite person and now he’d finished his whisky he thought he’d get on his way. He desperately wanted to see Jane. James hoped she had faith in him and didn’t think he was guilty.

“Well, thanks for listening to me, Eve, and not shutting the door in my face. I’m certain there are a lot of people who would.”

“Yes, Betty for one.”

“You don’t know that Eve,” David put in. “She was quite taken by James.”

Eve grunted. David seemed to be criticizing her a lot these days. Was he going off her? However, for once she decided to ignore him.

“I’ll see you out, James. By the way, are you coming to Annie and Pete’s New Year’s Eve party tomorrow?”

“I don’t know if I’ll be welcome.”

“I’ll have a word with them. They’re lovely people so I’m sure they won’t mind. Unless you don’t want to face people yet.”

“On the contrary. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m completely innocent so I’m not going to hide from anybody.”

Eve showed James out and as she shut the door, David came up to her.

“He’s asked you to help him find the real killer hasn’t he?” David asked crossly. “That is, if he isn’t the murderer himself. I still have a feeling he is…. Eve, I don’t know how much more I can take. All this worrying about you, not knowing from one day to the next whether you’re going to be alive or dead. I don’t know if I can take it anymore. I’m sorry.”

David’s voice was trembling as he spoke.

“David,” Eve said, starting to feel scared. “He didn’t ask anything of the sort. He only came to tell me he’d been released because there wasn’t enough evidence to hold him. He didn’t ask me to help him find the real killer, I promise.”

“But you’re thinking about it, I know you are,” David replied, his voice rising.

“If it comes between you and looking for the killer, I choose you, David. I always would, believe me.”

“That’s what you say now, but I know you. I’m even finding it hard to write now.”

“David, please, I promise, I won’t do anything.”

She was really anxious now. Was David breaking up with her?

“I think I need to go home for a few days and think about things, Eve.”

He turned away from her, head in hands.

“What things? Are we splitting up?”

Eve put her hands on his shoulders, but David moved away. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Had she really driven him out of her life?

“I don’t know if we are breaking up, Eve. I have to think. I need time on my own.”

Eve was almost in tears, but she desperately tried to hold them back. She wasn’t going to let him see her cry. She refused to be weak even though that side of her might have been what would have kept David there.

“What about the party tomorrow?” she asked.

“I’m going to give it a miss. Perhaps you should too?”

“What will Betty think?” Eve wailed.

“Is that all you can think about, Eve? Betty? Our future’s at stake and all you’re worrying about is what Betty thinks. If that’s all you’re concerned about, then I don’t think we have a future,” David said, getting angry now.

“Of course that’s not all I care about. I love you, David.”

“And I love you, Eve, but you’re a difficult woman to live with and I need time on my own. I’m going to pack my stuff and we’ll speak in a few days’ time.”

David turned and went up the stairs to get his things. He was trembling. He didn’t want to leave her, but he had to be alone for a while. Eve kept getting into trouble and putting her life in danger. She had to pull herself together and grow up otherwise there was no hope for them.

Eve felt tears falling down her cheeks. David couldn’t see her like this so she called her dog, Portia, and they went out for a long walk in the countryside. She didn’t care if she was well enough to walk far or not. She couldn’t bear to see David go.

* * * *

James left Eve’s house feeling reasonably pleased. It had been a successful visit. Eve was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as far as his innocence was concerned and she had come up with some pretty good ideas. She had been quite convinced by the idea that there was another member of the family around that he didn’t know about. She was probably wondering now if it was someone in the ex-pat community here or if it was a stranger who had come over on Christmas Eve from England with the sole purpose of killing his aunt. If only they knew what was in the will. Perhaps that would reveal more information. Unfortunately, everything looked like it could take a long time, and without their passports that meant he was stuck here on Crete, but so was Jane.

Thinking of it that way, things aren’t all bad then! James smiled

As James got closer to the Phillips’ house, he saw two people sitting outside. Who was that with Jane?

It’s that prat, Paul. No sooner am I locked away that he makes a move on my girlfriend.  

James was annoyed, but he decided his best course of action was to try and hide it. He was going to be a gentleman. After all, he wasn’t going to stoop to Paul’s level.

As he approached the house, Jane saw him. She jumped up and rushed to the gate. Paul sighed.

How on earth has he got out of jail? I was certain he was going to be put away for his aunt’s murder.

“James,” Jane called out, smiling. “You’ve been released.”

For the past half an hour Paul had been telling her all about Crete and had suggested they had a day out in Heraklion. She had almost been persuaded. He had been very sweet, telling her of a couple of monasteries they’d stop off at on the way. He was going to take her to a lovely taverna he knew in Heraklion for a bite to eat and a couple of glasses of wine. It sounded like a nice break from the village and the awful shock of James being arrested. However, James was now back, as large as life, and Paul’s offer was now completely forgotten.