The Celibate Mouse (27 page)

‘Sssh. Make no mistake about it! Now for goodness sake, shut up and talk!’

She snorts. ‘Shut up and talk?’

We look at each other. She’s trying to keep a straight face.

‘Oh ... yes ... you’re right.’ I grin acknowledgement. ‘Well, I’m on leave, but I’m still a serving police officer and entitled to ask you questions if I think they’re warranted.’ I deliberately soften my approach. ‘Please, Penelope, would you talk to me?’

‘Detective Inspector Maguire and his mate came to the farm yesterday morning and I told them everything I know.’

‘Tell
me
now,’ I command.

Quickly she tells me the little she knows about Jack’s involvement in the family secret. A movement nearby attracts my attention. I step over and stick my head around the screen. Someone’s aura lingers; we’ve been overheard and my anxiety becomes full-blown fear. ‘Have you got somewhere you can go or a friend you can ask to stay with you?’ I pitch my voice low, so Penelope is compelled to follow suit.

Penelope stares at me, white-faced.

‘Just a feeling I have. Make sure you’re not alone under any circumstances. Go and stay with someone from your own family in town. Now. I can’t stress this too strongly, Penelope.’

‘But Mrs Prescott–Senior Sergeant–’

‘It’s Susan and don’t tell anyone I’m a policewoman.
Promise me?’
I whisper. I hope she’s taking me seriously. I don’t think she knows any more than she’s told me, but the eavesdropper can’t know that. Penelope’s horrified gaze focuses on my throat and I discover the two top buttons of my blouse have opened. How many people have seen the remains of my bruises?

‘Edna tried to tell me something at the hospital before she had her heart attack and I believe the murderer overheard. He attacked me at the farm on Wednesday night, but no one knows about it, except the police, my daughter and now yourself. It’s confidential. I can’t impress this on you enough. Ring someone you can trust in your family and sort out some security for yourself. But before you do, what do you know about Euon Jellicott?’

‘He’s a relative of Jack’s, but nothing bad. Why?’

‘He’s asked me out to dinner tonight, that’s all.’

Her face breaks into a smile. ‘He’s very much the gentleman. Not like Jack,’ she adds sourly.

‘I’m sorry, Penelope. It can’t have been easy for you.’

‘Daniella tried to warn me when I got engaged to him, but I wouldn’t listen. My sheep and dogs are my babies.’ She looks at her watch. ‘Good grief, it’s almost four thirty. I’ve got to get home to do the evening chores, anyway.’ She waves her mobile at me. ‘I promise I’ll call a friend now and have her come over.’

I say goodbye to Lady Ferna who is all warmth and light. ‘Thank you for coming, Mrs Prescott. You will say goodbye before you leave the district, won’t you?’

Well, if that isn’t a hint, I don’t know what is.
Briony inclines her head in acknowledgement of my signalled intention to leave and turns back to Lily, who hasn’t stirred from her position close to the makeshift bar. It’s odds-on whether she could if she wanted to. I collect my coat and trot down the front steps.
Thank God that’s over.

My mobile rings as I open my car door. ‘You won’t forget I’m picking you up at 6 o’clock, will you Susan?’ Euon Jellicott. I look back at the house and see him standing at the top of the steps.

‘Of course not, Euon. I’ll be ready.’ Behind him the crowd parts and slightly to the right, I can see the silhouette of a man looking out of a window at the far end of the house.

I know he’s watching
me
.

CHAPTER 39

A Family Scuffle

David, Marli & Brittany

Saturday: evening.

M
aguire drove back to the farm, growling with frustration and hunger. No progress on the case, the Chief Super in a snit, Glenwood still hadn’t remembered anything, and Susan was going out to dinner with another suspect. Exhaustion threatened to swamp him, as he stowed his car around the side of the house and climbed out. As he went to lock it, a scream tore through the air.

He ran for the house, drawing his gun as he pelted up the side steps. Shrill squeals came from the kitchen; girlish insults were exchanged. Crockery smashed. Marli and Brittany were having a fight. The dogs huddled together on the verandah, looked at him, tails waving. The old spaniel whimpered and pawed at his leg.
‘Bloody hell!’
He stowed his gun away, let the dogs into the house and followed them to the kitchen doorway, ear-drums ringing with angry shrieks. The sink was piled high with dirty dishes, broken crockery lay on the floor and the garbage can kicked over. It was a disaster.

Marli shouted ‘Sod off, Brit!’ as she tried to scoop up broken egg on the floor in front of the refrigerator. The dogs jostled each other to scoff it up. Brittany slapped Marli with a wet tea towel. ‘You stinking little pig! You
sneak!’

‘Ow, stop that.’ Marli grabbed the side of her head.

‘What’s going on here?’ Maguire roared, slamming his briefcase on the table. Dirty dishes bounced. Fuming, he grabbed the dogs by their collars, dragged them to the laundry door and shoved them through, shutting it firmly behind them.

‘Dad! She said–’ Marli scrambled up and launched herself at him, but he wrested her out of his left armpit.

‘And don’t come the Little Princess act with me, Marli. It won’t wash.’

‘I told you, you’re a sneak!’ screamed her sister.

‘I’m not. You weren’t–’

‘Quiet!’

They froze, open-mouthed. ‘I want this place cleaned up right now. If you don’t get it done within twenty minutes, you can get to bed, both of you. You want to behave like babies, then that’s the way you’ll be treated.’

‘But we haven’t had any dinner!’ wailed Marli, glinting at Brittany, who narrowed her eyes and scowled viciously at her father.

‘Make some!’ he snapped.

‘Why should we? Mum always does the cooking, or Har–dad,’ sneered Brittany. She snatched her cigarettes off the table and stuck one in her mouth.

‘I don’t tolerate rudeness, nor do I put up with smoking, Brittany.’ Maguire snatched the cigarette out of her mouth and threw it into the bin. ‘And take that sanctimonious look off your face, Marli. I don’t accept bad language, which I’ve heard you using more than once in the last few days. When you two have cleaned up here, you can get cracking with dinner. I don’t care what you cook–bacon and eggs, spaghetti on toast– whatever. After that we’re going to get a few things straightened out.’ He turned to leave, but swung back. ‘Where’s your mother?’

The girls looked at each other, silently deciding who would answer. ‘She’s gone out with a man,’ snapped Brittany, ‘all done up.’ Her eyes glittered, as she gauged her father’s reaction to the news. Surprised by a fierce spurt of jealousy, Maguire struggled to keep his expression neutral.

‘How long ago did she leave?’ he asked, glancing at his watch.

‘An hour. He got here at six o’clock.’

‘Right. I’m going to have a shower. I want this lot sorted by the time I finish. And clear that up!’ He gestured to the broken saucer, then, without another word, walked out of the room. The girls heard the bathroom door slam a few minutes later.

‘I’m not doing this! You can if you want, but he’s not the boss of me!’

‘Brit, don’t be stupid. You can’t win so you may as well do what he says.’ Marli put the plug in the sink and turned the water on full, sending splashes all over her clothes. Hastily, she turned it down. While the sink filled, she swept up the shards and put them in the bin.

Brittany picked up a tea towel and fired the only salvo she could think of. ‘You rotten, shitty little bitch! Daddy’s little
girl!’
The worm had turned; something had to be done to get her back into line.

As Marli was about to retaliate, the dogs set up a racket in the laundry. Someone had arrived. Brittany threw the tea towel down and stalked to the front door, to be confronted by a uniformed cop, so good-looking she was struck dumb.

‘Hi, Adam!’ chirped Marli from behind her, delighted that for once she had the drop on her domineering sister. Adam Winslow glanced at them in confusion and then, with the ease of far too much practice, diplomatically divided his smile between them.

‘I’ve got some information for your dad. Is he here?’

‘In the shower; come on in.’

Needing no encouragement, Adam went inside, escorted by a triumphant Marli. ‘Want a drink?’ she asked, making sure she remained the focus of Adam’s attention.

‘No thanks, I just want to speak to the DI.’

‘Oh, come on, at least have a Coke.’ Greatly daring, she grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the kitchen, where she proceeded to pour drinks all round. Brittany seethed. Marli got the drop on
her?
Well, she’d soon make sure his focus switched to herself.

Adam took a sip of cola and looked speculatively at Brittany. ‘No need to tell me this is your sister.’

Marli pouted. ‘This is Brittany. She’s just come up from Sydney.’ Brittany smirked, but was interrupted before she could answer.

‘Adam?’

Maguire stood in the doorway, wrapped in a bathrobe. Adam hastily put down his drink.

‘I’ve got some information for you, Sir,’ he said, casting a cautious glance at the girls.

‘We can talk out here,’ said Maguire, well aware of why Adam had come out to the farm instead of phoning. They moved onto the back verandah. ‘What have you got for me?’

‘We’ve traced the card used in the attempt on Senior Constable Glenwood to a gift-box batch which was on the market three years ago. It was only sold in Australia, and the series of stock from which this came was distributed in Ipswich.’ He named the outlet, a small gift store.

‘Where is it?’ asked Maguire.

‘Limestone Street, sir. Of course they have no records available of who bought them.’

‘It figures ... okay, what else have you got?’ Maguire ran an impatient hand through his hair. They never got a break when they needed one.

‘This might have nothing to do with the case, but I was talking to a mate in Ipswich uniform and he mentioned a call out they received late Friday night. An elderly couple reported an intruder in their garden cutting small branches off their poinsettia tree. He’d gone by the time the patrol car arrived, but some of the cut branches were on the ground.’

Excitement surged through Maguire. ‘Did they get a description?’

‘Yes, Sir. They described the perp as a very tall, thin hoodie, almost certainly male. They didn’t get a look at his face, but the householder said the way he moved reminded him of someone. Of course he couldn’t remember who.’

Maguire narrowed his eyes, sifting the suspects through his mind. Euon Jellicott, tall and slim–nothing would give him greater pleasure than to lock the bastard up. Peter Robinson–too stocky. Either of the “cricketing twins,” as Susan called them, would fit the bill, especially in the dark. Mark Gordon, the archdeacon ... not likely ... but the right size. Adam Winslow ... he looked at the constable thoughtfully. No one would describe him as skinny. He was well-built and had the shoulders of a front-row forward.

Giggles caused them to swing around. Brittany and Marli were standing in the doorway behind them. Adam Winslow’s face turned red, not because the girls were drooling over him, but because their father was home. ‘Have you two cleaned up the kitchen?’ Maguire snapped, surprised by how protective he felt.

They laughed in unison. ‘Yes, David!’ trilled Brittany, without taking her eyes off her quarry. ‘We’re making omelette for tea. Would you like some, Ad-aam?’ she sing-songed his name, which made the young constable squirm.

‘No thank you, er–er–mum’s got dinner waiting.’ Obviously desperate to leave, he flung a glance at the DI, who nodded his dismissal. It was time to have a serious talk with the girls.

Sighing and wishing Susan were home, he herded his daughters back into the kitchen and fed Fat Albert, while the girls argued over making a rather watery omelette. Two eggs dropped on the floor, to the delight of the elderly spaniel, allowed into the kitchen as a treat, some crying from onion fumes and finally dinner was on the table.

‘Before we discuss anything, I don’t want you girls hanging around Adam Winslow. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Why ever not? Adam’s okay,’ said Marli, petulantly.

‘He’s too experienced and he can run rings around you two. He’s a member of the Robinson family, which puts him off limits anyway.’

‘So what? Mum and Mrs Winslow are friends and Carissa’s my friend,’ she countered.

Maguire drew his lips back in a wolfish smile. ‘Mrs Winslow and Carissa are not suspects.’

Wide-eyed silence greeted this remark, as the girls digested the information, and then Brittany fired the next shot in the battle. ‘How long are you going to stay here?’ she asked David, as she scraped up the last of her food.

He sensed Marli’s anxiety, as he got up to fossick in the refrigerator for something to drink. ‘As long as the case takes to clear up. Might be awhile yet.’ He reefed out a box of Chateau Cardboard and took three glasses out of the cupboard.

‘Why don’t you go back to the motel then?’

Marli gasped. ‘Brit, don’t be so rude! Mum needs protecting, remember? And so do we.’

‘Like hell! We can look after mum.
He
doesn’t have to stay here!’ Brittany jumped to her feet and hurled her empty plate into the sink, where it bounced. A piece flew out, ricocheted off the refrigerator door and hit the wall.

‘Brittany!’ roared David. ‘You’re a guest in this house. In fact you’re not even an invited guest. Marli and your mother are, you and I are hangers-on! And you will pay to replace that bowl.’

‘Yeah, right. Like, if I’m not invited, what was that all about last night? You changed your mind now? Or was that all, like, fake?’ Brittany faced her father off, hands on hips.

‘No, it wasn’t fake. You’re my daughter and I love you. However I do not love your behaviour and nor does anyone else.’ He finished pouring the wine and dumped a glass in front of each of his daughters. ‘Sit down. Now.’

She sat, sulky and silent. Marli took a sip of wine and looked up at her father. Brittany picked at the tablecloth.

‘Rest assured the Adam Winslow’s of this world wouldn’t have a bar of you, Brit, if they could see you now. You’re seriously in need of a change of attitude. No one–employers, the law, anyone you come into contact with–likes a smart-arse, cheeky and down-right nasty young woman, so it’s a choice to behave well or badly. I’m told you want to be a doctor. Well, you won’t last five minutes in medical school behaving like a spoilt brat.’

He took Brittany’s hand. ‘You don’t have to fight the world. No one’s out to get you, but if you keep on going like this, they will be. Your problem is, you’re afraid to let people get close in case they won’t like you, so you push them away before they get the chance. You’re beautiful and clever. The whole world is waiting for you to burst into it. Don’t sabotage yourself.’

Brittany’s stuck her bottom lip out and jerked her hand away. ‘Don’t patronise me! You’re as bad as Mum. She says things like that and I know she doesn’t mean them, anymore than you do! I know what you want. You want Mum back, but she’s married to
my father!’

David sighed inwardly. Brittany took a gulp of wine, watching her father with narrowed, mean eyes.

‘I know she’s still married to Harry. But remember it was Harry who left and went to live with another woman. What do you expect your mother to do about that?’

He sat down wearily and picked up his glass. Marli pushed her plate aside and reached for a banana, watching her sister closely. David realised she was gaining confidence. He was determined to be support for them. ‘And Susan,’ he thought, ‘but would Susan want me around?’

He couldn’t get the passionate encounter, aborted by his ex, Donna, out of his mind. Continued association with their daughters would ensure he could be with Susan regularly, but it wouldn’t be enough. An exciting notion flashed into his mind. He would use the time until her divorce was finalised to ... court her. Warmth curled in his gut, as the unexpected, old-fashioned word sprang to mind.

Two months of her legal separation from Harry had already passed. Hopefully not more than about fifteen months would pass before she was single again. Plenty of time to see if they could make a “go” of it. Where they would live, what Susan would do career-wise, he didn’t care. Those details could be worked out any time. Donna had stormed back north, and breaking off with Leanne in Ipswich was next on his agenda. Then, he would launch a full-out assault on Susan’s heart and mind. He leaned forward to put his elbows on the table, the better to hide the evidence of his desire.

‘If
you
weren’t here, she might go back to him,’ said Brittany, with devastating lack of logic.

Marli weighed in. ‘Oh, get real! Like, she’s going to do
that?
Like, he’s going to dump “rabbit-face” and those kids?’

Brittany glared at her sister. ‘What would you know about it? You haven’t even had a steady boyfriend!’ she retorted, kicking the leg of the kitchen table so hard, everything on top jerked.

‘Stop that!’ David caught her glass before it hit the floor.

‘Of course I have! Simon was my boyfriend, until
you
grabbed him!’ shrieked Marli, referring to a former “crush.”

It was time to intervene. ‘Be quiet, both of you.’ He looked at their mutinous faces and wondered if he was biting off more than he could chew. ‘Whatever your mother does, it’s none of your business. She can do what she likes and you’d do well to remember that she’s virtually a single woman.’
And I plan to make sure she doesn’t stay that way.