Weekend in Weighton Final Amazon version 12-12-12 (19 page)

‘No, but it explains why she ended up here.’ Her eyes wandered right to left and back again, taking in the small, sunlit room.

‘I got told some mumbo jumbo about a poisoned arrow? Was it to do with that?’

‘Not quite,’ she murmured.

‘Was it a disease she picked up?’

‘If you can call a silly infatuation a disease, then yes, I suppose.’

‘Helen, none of this is making sense. Why don’t you tell me what happened? Why was she in this place?’

She flinched at the question and held herself tightly. After breathing in a long stream of air she found her voice. ‘Elaine was in Africa on voluntary service. It was something she’d always wanted to do, from as young as I can remember. She went into nursing after leaving school, but it was all part of her grand plan to save the world. And once she qualified, there was no stopping her. She joined the VSO as soon as they’d have her. They sent her to Lagos for basic training and gave her field experience, but she was always pushing for more. Careful what you wish for, I always say, but she got what she wanted. They asked her to take charge of a school and medical centre in the bush. The VSO saw something in her very early on.’

For a moment, a proud smile beamed on Helen’s face. ‘Typical of our Elaine, she shook the place up with her teaching ways. The head of the village showed a big interest in her, even insisted she give extra lessons to his son. And then to him. They spent more and more time together. She was always such a big romantic. I lost count of how many times she watched the
King and I
. It was more than a film to her, it was her dream. I suppose it was inevitable she’d try to make it come true.’

‘But wasn’t “Big Chief Ha Ha” already married? I don’t remember that in the film?’

She nodded slowly. “Yes, but he wanted Elaine for another wife. All quite acceptable over there, apparently. She said “no” at first, but he kept asking and begging. Eventually she gave in. Secretly, I think that’s what she wanted from the moment she met him. Anyway, that’s how it started, how it led to …’ She stopped and stared at the floor.

‘Go on.’

Her eyes wouldn’t leave the fraying carpet, but her sombre voice continued. ‘Elaine came home to tell me she was getting married to this African
king
or whatnot. When I found out he already had a wife and son, I tried to talk her out of it. She wouldn’t listen. She was … headstrong.’ Helen blew her nose and then resumed the story, her voice quickening. ‘I hid her passport and forbade her to go back. One day we started arguing. She slapped me, and I pushed her. She slipped, she ...’

‘She what?’

Helen clasped her hands together, her lips trembling. ‘She fell. Banged her head. It was an accident. An appalling accident. She was in a coma for days at the hospital. It might have been better if she
had
died. When she came round she wasn’t the same person. Or any kind of person, really. The brain damage was so severe she was like a child again. She lost her memory, her speech, and most of her hearing.’

‘So you arranged for her to come here?’

‘Yes. She needs–needed constant care.’

‘You and Tony were her only visitors?’

She gripped the tissue hard and nodded. ‘I told everyone she’d died in Africa. I closed it out. It was the only way to make it bearable. I actually believed it myself, apart from when I saw her.’

I went back to my plastic chair, spun it around on one leg and sat down. I gave her a little respite before pulling at the next thread. ‘How does Jimmy C figure in all this?’

The fear creased back into her face. ‘He mustn’t find out.’

‘I told you. I’m working for
you
.’

She pulled her shawl closer, as if to stave off the bad memories. Her voice strengthened. ‘He knew my husband, George. He sent a lot of building work our way. When George died, Jimmy was good to me. We started going out. We were lovers for a while.’ She said it with a fondness.

‘And then?’

‘He ended it. It was hard for me.’

I gave her a reassuring look.

‘You don’t understand. It wasn’t just hard in the way you think. He got me into gambling. I loved going to the casino with him. He always gave me unlimited credit. But after the split I couldn’t stop. Sometimes I’d see him there, and it was like we were still together. It was such a comfort for me. It all seemed so easy. Then they started putting my losses on an account. I didn’t realise they’d done it at first. Not until they froze my credit and gave me the bill.’

‘Ouch. How much?’

There was a helpless shake of her head. ‘Over five hundred thousand.’

I winced. ‘You pay up?’

‘I couldn’t. Not without selling my house. That’s when I realised what a bastard he was. I begged and pleaded, but he wouldn’t let me off. He converted it to a loan and forced me to make payments. But with the interest it was never enough. Then I got behind with the fees for this place.’ She looked around the room as she said it. ‘I was getting desperate, and he knew it. That’s when he offered me a way out.’

‘I think you just gave away the ending.’

Helen closed her eyes and nodded.

‘I’m guessing he agreed to wipe the loan in return for a small favour?’

There was barely a nod, the tears overrunning her cheeks.

‘He tell you to make whoopee with Clegg?’

Her eyes held mine. There was no need to nod.

‘And then dearest Jimmy turned up the heat?’

‘Yes, he set me up. I had to tell Michael we were being blackmailed.’ She took a short breath. ‘The blackmail notes, the ones I showed you, Jimmy had them done. He wanted Michael to know it was serious.’

It was beginning to come together. Almost.

‘Did Clegg suggest using a private investigator?’

This time she shook her head. ‘No. Michael wanted to go to the police. Jimmy never saw that coming. It unnerved him.’ She turned up her mouth, attempting a smile. ‘I remember Jimmy panicking about it. He insisted I tell Michael to use a private investigator. So I convinced Michael we’d keep it discrete that way. We’d find out what we could without risking exposure. Jimmy said he’d find some local loser – um – someone to do it.’

‘He’s a charmer, all right. Who messed up the party?’

She didn’t answer at first because the tears came back. Once her breathing evened out she went on. ‘Me. I fell for Michael. I told Jimmy I couldn’t carry on. He went berserk, threatened me. He told me he wanted the deeds to my house or otherwise he’d–’

‘Yeah, I know how that goes.’ I could feel my face swelling just thinking about it. ‘Did you give him the deeds?’

‘No. That’s why he turned up at my house that day. If I’d been home I don’t think he would have left until he’d got them. I only popped out for a few minutes. When I got back I found Elaine … dead.’

I respected a pause as she suppressed her sobs with the back of her hand. After a brief wait the colour seemed to return to her cheeks. It was the signal for me to return to my questions.

‘Why was Elaine at the house?’ For the first time I saw her eyes dart away.

‘I was allowed to bring her to the house for visits. Just now and then. Give her a change.’

‘So much for change.’ I went as far as a half-smile. ‘You sure it was Jimmy who came that day?’

‘Yes. I saw him leaving, but he didn’t see me.’ She pursed her lips. ‘I waited until I was sure he’d gone, then I hurried back. I was praying he’d just knocked and left, but as soon as I saw the front door open I knew he’d been inside. I knew something bad had happened. My poor, beautiful sister. She wouldn’t have stood a chance.’

‘I understand,’ I said, letting my voice trail off. As I looked at her, a question occurred to me that proved otherwise. I wrestled with myself over asking it but lost. ‘Don’t you think Jimmy would have realised it wasn’t you? I know he didn’t know about Elaine, but–’

‘You didn’t realise,’ she snapped. ‘And in your line of work, I take it you’re trained to observe such things?’

‘It wasn’t quite the same. And for the record I did notice a few differences, but I was interrupted. And to be fair, I’d only met you once before.’ With pins and needles getting the better of my nether nether lands, I had to shift my weight before I could go on. ‘Anyway, I didn’t mean physically, I meant given Elaine’s condition, wouldn’t Jimmy have found her behaviour odd?’

‘How can I know? Perhaps she was asleep on the sofa when Jimmy found her?’

‘At that time?’

‘You don’t understand. Elaine didn’t have a normal sleep pattern. She was in and out of sleep at any time of the day or night. A side effect of the accident.’

‘It still doesn’t add up,’ I said, scratching at the itch from my cut. ‘Let’s say Jimmy had decided to carry out his threat. It’s well known he never does anything himself.’ I tapped the side of my seat. ‘He’s usually in a crowded place far, far away when deeds go down.’

‘It’s always been personal with us.’ She returned her gaze to the scene outside the window, nodding to herself. ‘Why do you think I’m here, suffering this charade? I can’t stop thinking about what happened. It makes me shudder. I hope for Elaine’s sake she was asleep.’

‘Was she awake when you left the house?’

She hesitated then nodded. ‘I looked in on her before I went out. I remember her smiling at me.’ Her voice cracked as she said it.

‘Why
did
you go out, Helen?’

She took a moment to compose herself. ‘My neighbours, a few doors down, they were away, and I’d promised to feed their cat.’

‘And when you got back and found Elaine … like that. What did you do?’

‘I was terrified. I just sat there, trembling and crying. I couldn’t think straight.’ She blinked and looked up. ‘Then it came to me. I realised Jimmy would think I was dead. If I pretended to be Elaine, let everything run its course, I could disappear and start a new life. Tony would get the house through my will, and Jimmy wouldn’t risk going after the debt if he thought he’d killed me. I sat there a long time thinking it all through, calmly, carefully. About everything I had to do to make it look right.’ She patted herself. ‘Then I rang Tony and asked him to come for me. The rest is a blur. I just followed the plan. I had to explain it all to Tony, but I didn’t give him a choice. I knew he’d have to identify the body.’ She looked straight at me. ‘The last thing I did before leaving the house–’

‘Was call me?’

‘Yes. I didn’t want Elaine lying there. Just …’

I squeezed her hand. ‘I know.’

She tried to smile. ‘What will you do now?’

‘I’m not sure.’ I held her hand and deliberately left a pause. ‘I’m afraid I have more bad news.’

Helen stiffened immediately. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s not good.’

‘Michael?’

I pulled my “Gary Lineker to the bench” face. ‘I’m afraid so. I’m sorry, Helen, but he’s dead.’

She put her face in her hands and began to weep. I watched her chest ebb and flow with the emotion. After the realisation hit home she looked up.

‘Jimmy?’

‘No.’

I watched her face closely as I lined up my bait. ‘Two black guys. Not local.’

Her face twitched. To me it was like fireworks hailing over the Town Hall.

I spoke slowly. ‘You know who they are. Don’t you?’

She shook her head in a rain of tears, but even she knew she was busted.