No Stranger to Death: A Scottish mystery where cosy crime meets tartan noir: Borders Mysteries Book 1 (23 page)

‘Did you ask if she thought they might have been closer than they should be?’

‘I did, although it wasn’t easy raising the subject of incest with my mother, especially involving someone who used to be a member of the family.’

‘If it helps, Alice and Gregor aren’t blood relatives, so strictly speaking it wouldn’t count as incest.’

‘That may be, but Mum was still shocked at the idea. Although when she gave it some thought, she admitted those two spent what she described as “an unhealthy amount of time” together, especially as Gregor must be about fifteen years older than Alice. Don’t forget they lived above The Rocket then, and Chrissie and Jimmy would have been downstairs working every evening. Plenty of opportunity for Gregor to introduce his little step-sister to all sorts of bad habits.’

‘Didn’t he help out in the pub too?’

‘I’m glad you asked that.’ Kate grinned broadly. ‘Mum did remember something interesting. Gregor was once barred from the pub. By Chrissie. For picking a fight with a customer.’

‘And . . . ?’ Kate seemed too pleased with herself for this to be the end of the story.

‘And the bloke he beat up was Alice’s boyfriend. At the time – this was before she got her claws into Tom – she was going out with Gerry Hall’s son, Lee. He works for his dad. You might have seen him working at the coach house.’

‘Not much chance of that.’

‘He’s a big laddie, plays rugby. Alice was very keen on him apparently, and Chrissie obviously thought he was good son-in-law material. One night she was boasting to anyone who’d listen about him taking Alice to some fancy restaurant in Edinburgh. Gregor was working behind the bar and serving himself more than the customers. Lee came in for a drink after dropping Alice off and when he left, Gregor followed him out to the car park and beat him up.’

‘Did someone call the police?’

Kate shook her head. ‘Mum and Dad were having a meal there the night it happened, that’s how they knew about it. They left not long after Lee, and came across him and Gregor fighting. Dad managed to pull them apart, and handed Gregor over to his father. Then Chrissie appeared and started shouting, threatening to throw him out. Gregor was never seen in the bar again, either drinking or serving.’

‘And you think he picked a fight with Lee out of jealousy?’

‘That must be a strong possibility.’

‘What does your Mum say?’

‘She’s never heard anyone mention the episode since it happened, so she has no idea what was behind it. But now I’ve started her thinking, she may remember something else useful.’

‘You took care not to arouse her suspicions about why you were asking, didn’t you?’

Kate looked affronted. ‘Zoe, this is my mother we’re talking about. She and I gossip all the time. You should hear the questions she asks me about you and Neil.’

‘Please tell me you’re not exchanging titbits about my private life for the lowdown on the Bairds.’

‘Certainly not. I’ve told her you value your privacy and she must respect that.’ Kate’s assertion would have been more convincing if she had not abruptly changed the subject. ‘Anyway, before you tell me what you’ve been up to, I’ve got something else to report. I took a diversion on my way here to stop and peer in through the front window of Horseshoe Cottage. It’s an absolute mess – you’d think it had been ransacked by burglars. I can’t believe the police would have left it like that.’

‘They didn’t. It was Alice.’ Zoe told Kate about her encounter with Terry the previous day and they put their sugary plates down to Mac as a reward for the part he played in it.

‘The Fiesta must be Terry’s,’ Kate said. ‘I don’t think Alice can even drive. So, the vultures have descended already – and what a state they’ve left the place in. Do you think they were looking for something? Like a will, maybe.’

‘I don’t know the answer to that, but thanks to Mac, I can tell you they aren’t only sorting out clothes to take to the charity shop. The box I peeked into was full of good-quality china, although as far as I could make out there was nothing of great value.’

‘Jimmy wasn’t the type to let his wife spend his hard-earned cash on expensive antiques.’

‘That’s not the first time you’ve suggested he was tight-fisted. Maybe people were unfair to assume Chrissie only married him for his money.’

‘He might not have been rich, but he offered her security. Though who can blame her for wanting that? It’s not easy being a single mother. And whatever her motives, she worked hard to make the pub a success. Not everyone is cut out for it.’

‘That’s true. I would make a terrible pub landlady,’ Zoe said, and they both laughed at the very idea.

‘Speaking of landladies,’ Kate said, ‘how did it go with Hazel?’

Zoe briefly ran through her visit to the flat above the pub. She purposely left out any mention of Hazel seeking solace in a glass of whisky, but her diplomacy was wasted.

‘Was she already drunk?’ Kate asked. ‘I bet she was.’

‘Um, maybe a bit.’

‘That shows what a state she’s in. No wonder Ray never lets her behind the bar during opening hours any more. Have you noticed how she doesn’t pour drinks for people in the dining room herself, but asks Ray for them?’

‘Now you mention it, I have. But we should feel sorry for the poor woman, not condemn her.’

‘Next you’re going to tell me you never got round to talking about Chrissie.’

‘I wouldn’t make a good detective either, would I? Hazel was so distressed, I didn’t even mention her.’

‘What are you like?’ Kate said. ‘You never want to upset anyone. In fact, it’s more than that. You feel responsible for them and want to make their troubles go away. Did becoming a doctor make you so compassionate, or was it the other way round?’

‘You can’t be a doctor without wanting to help people, although I may take it a little more seriously than some of my colleagues.’

‘Like Walter Hopkins, you mean.’

They exchanged knowing looks.

‘Call me naive,’ Zoe continued, ‘but I think you get more out of people by being kind to them.’

‘Well you’ve got the ideal excuse for seeing Hazel again. You can say you hated leaving her in such a bad way and wanted to check she was alright.’

‘You’re a schemer, Kate. Have you always been one or did you have to work at it?’

Kate laughed. ‘I guess I asked for that. But seriously, now you’ve earned Hazel’s trust it would be a pity to waste it. She may be more forthcoming about Chrissie when you go back than she would have been if you’d broached the subject on your first visit.’

‘I got her to mention this mysterious man in Norham before she clammed up. That could be important. Where is Norham, by the way?’

‘It’s the first village on the English side if you follow the road Hazel was on when she passed you that morning in her Volvo.’

‘You still think she couldn’t have a lover?’

‘It looks like I may be wrong on that count. Who else would a husband forbid his wife to see?’

‘If he does exist, he’s probably a red herring,’ Zoe said. ‘If Ray already knew Hazel was having an affair, she’d have no reason to kill Chrissie to keep it a secret.’ She gathered up their plates and mugs to put them in the sink. ‘I think I’d rather run a pub than be a policeman. We’re making no progress at all.’

‘Cheer up, it’s early days. Let’s talk about our next moves. Have you spoken to Erskine recently?’

‘No, I’ve not heard from him.’

‘Let me know if he arranges to come and see you again. Only because he might tell us something useful.’

‘If you say so. And apart from pumping an old flame for information, what are your plans?’

‘Even though I refuse to consider the possibility of Tom being the murderer, he was married to Alice and probably knows more than anyone about her relationship with Gregor. So I’m away to see him and Jean. I really should get to know her, if she’s marrying into the family. Want to come too?’

‘When?’

Kate looked at her watch. ‘About ten minutes ago, actually. I recently had a big sort-out and found lots of my girls’ things which would be perfect for Tom’s twins. Mum arranged for me to drop them round to Jean today, and when I do I’m sure she’ll invite us in . . .’

Chapter 28

Zoe had last seen Jean the day her mother died, and was shocked by how much weight the young woman had lost since then. As Kate had predicted, they were immediately invited in for a cup of tea.

‘I heard about your accident, Doctor Zoe,’ Jean said. ‘What a terrible thing to happen.’

‘I’m sorry it meant I couldn’t make your mother’s funeral.’

Explaining that Tom was working and the twins were at a birthday party and due to be dropped off by a friend’s mother very soon, Jean stowed the two large bags of clothes Kate gave her into a cupboard.

‘Thank you so much. Angie and Maddy will be tired when they get home, so I’ll save the clothes for another day. They’ll have such fun – they love dressing up.’

The doorbell rang.

‘This must be them. You haven’t seen them for a while, Kate, so you’ll be surprised how much they’ve changed. They’re very grown-up now.’

But it wasn’t the twins at the door. It was their mother, Alice. And Zoe could tell by her expression this was no social visit.

In defiance of the cold weather, Alice wore a short denim skirt and no tights. Hands on hips, she met Jean’s startled greeting with, ‘I’ve come to see my girls. Where are they?’

‘They’ve gone to a birthday party,’ Jean said. ‘I’m expecting them home any minute. Do you want to wait?’

Alice slammed the front door shut behind her, pushed past Kate and Zoe, and strode to the lounge. After a cursory glance around the room she turned to face Jean again. ‘When will they be back?’

‘I told you – any time now.’

‘Why don’t we all have a cup of tea and wait for them?’ Kate suggested.

Alice rounded on her. ‘You don’t need to stay. They’re my daughters.’

‘And we’ve come to see Jean,’ Kate said. ‘Jean, do you want Zoe and me to stay?’

‘Yes please.’

Alice stood glowering, Kate looked back at her defiantly, Jean stared at the floor.
Stalemate
.

Spending time with your future husband’s first wife can never be easy, and given Jean’s submissive nature and the fact that Alice was patently spoiling for a fight, Zoe knew who would come off worse if the women were left alone. However, Jean confounded expectations by raising her head and fixing her gaze on Alice’s face.

‘I’m sorry about your mother. I know how painful that is – mine passed away recently too.’ Jean’s voice trembled but she carried on. ‘But it doesn’t matter how upset you are, you’ve no right to come barging into my home and being rude to my friends.’

Alice may have wanted to interrupt, but Jean, her voice growing steadier the more she spoke, was not going to let her. ‘I expect you’re worried that when Tom and me are married he’ll try to stop you seeing Angie and Maddy. Well, I wouldn’t let him do that, even if he wanted to, which he doesn’t. You’re their mother, and they need to grow up knowing you. For their sakes we all have to get on.’

Zoe’s eyes met Kate’s, then they both looked at Alice. Their hopes she would be affected by Jean’s obvious sincerity were dashed when she raised her hands and started to clap slowly.

‘What a bonny speech. How long have you been practicing that one? Too right I’m their mother. You’ll never be, and you’d do well to mind it.’

Jean’s courage evaporated in the face of such malice. ‘We only want what’s best for Angie and Maddy,’ she whispered, looking down at the floor again. Kate frowned, no longer able to read her lips.

‘Which is why I’m after taking them away from their pervy father.’ The triumph in Alice’s voice made it obvious that saying this had been the aim of her visit all along.

‘What do you mean?’ Jean said.

‘You really don’t know what he gets up to when your back’s turned, do you? Even a sad creature like you wouldn’t stick around if you did.’

Jean looked at Kate and Zoe, her face imploring them to help make sense of what Alice was saying, and now Zoe wished she had warned Tom this might happen. Even on the strength of one encounter she should have known Alice would be unable to resist hurting Jean.

‘Mum had proof, so don’t think you can stop me.’

Kate put her arm round Jean’s narrow shoulders. ‘If you’ve got something to say, Alice, why don’t you just come out with it?’

Alice tossed her hair back and sneered at Kate. ‘I’ll say this slowly so you get it first time. You and your family can’t tell me what to do anymore.’

The bell rang. Jean took a deep breath and went to open the front door. Two little girls in matching blue party-frocks hurtled inside.

‘Look what I made.’

‘I made one too.’

A dark-haired woman stood on the step. ‘They’re a bit over-excited, I’m afraid.’

Jean thanked her for bringing the twins back and closed the door. Angie and Maddy noisily vied for her attention.

‘Look, girls, we’ve got visitors.’ Jean glanced at Alice. ‘And you’ve got one very special visitor. It’s your mummy.’

The girls slowly turned to look in Alice’s direction, then hid their faces in Jean’s skirt. A look of satisfaction passed over Jean’s face, quickly replaced by anxiety.

‘Come on girls, don’t be silly. Mummy’s come to see you. Say hello.’

The girls peered out from the safety of Jean’s skirt, but it took a lot of coaxing to persuade them to approach their mother. Eventually, holding Jean’s hands, they went up to Alice and shyly offered her their creations, small paper plates adorned with pieces of coloured paper and dried pasta roughly in the shape of faces.

‘This is Daddy.’

‘My one’s Jean.’

Alice took the plates, gave them a cursory glance, and put them on the hall table. ‘Do you like hamburgers?’ she asked the girls. ‘Want to come to McDonalds with me and my friend?’

The girls nodded enthusiastically, then looked up at Jean.

‘I don’t think so,’ Jean said. ‘They’ve been to a party and probably eaten more than enough already.’

‘It’s only a hamburger, for chrissakes,’ Alice said.