Paws for Alarm (21 page)

‘One other thing,' he said to Hazel. ‘You'll need money and I gather you'll be leaving house and contents behind. I'd like to buy your living-room furniture. We need something comfortable and practical for ourselves – something the whole family can live in from now on.'

Hazel nodded.

Lania opened her mouth, shut it again, and lingered behind a moment as Richard and Hazel went out.

‘The suitcase –' she whispered to me. ‘Just shove it through the wall, would you? Then we needn't come back for it and disturb you.' She left hurriedly.

I stood looking at the suitcase. The wall – all the ramifications rose in my mind again. I still hadn't told Rosemary about that. The bedroom would have to be repapered – I hoped she hadn't been sentimentally attached to the old wallpaper. I'd have to get samples of wallpaper and send them over to her and let her choose. We'd probably have to repaint to match the new paper, too.

That was bad enough, but I
couldn't
tell her about Hazel. Nor could I tell her that John had been so uselessly, senselessly murdered. I'd write to Patrick and Celia; they could break it to her when they judged the time was right. Maybe they could let her enjoy the summer and tell her just before she was due to return to England. It might make it easier for her if she knew she'd never see Hazel again ...

‘You see, honey,' Arnold called me out of my reverie. ‘Everybody's noticed it.'

‘Noticed what?'

‘You've got to admit it. Sometimes you treat me like a rat's ass.'

‘Arnold, sometimes you
are
a rat's ass!'

‘You're still mad about New Year's Eve, aren't you?'

‘Mad enough.'

‘But you're kinda glad they didn't manage to kill me, aren't you?'

‘Glad enough ...' I picked up the suitcase and started for the stairs. ‘Coming?'

‘I don't know. I was just thinking. That sofa looked pretty comfortable when it was pulled out. And it's quiet down here ... and private. Why don't you get rid of that suitcase and come back down?'

‘Hmmm,' I said. ‘I'm not sure you deserve it but ... maybe I will.'