Elizabeth Duncan: A Killer's Christmas in Wales

Glynnis gave a little snort. “That’s what he told you, was it? Well, it wasn’t over, and maybe we’d still be together if you hadn’t ruined everything. I could have been happy. I might have had children.”

She leaned forward. “So you see, Penny,” she said, emphasizing her rival’s name with bitterness, “you took all that away from me. If I’d been going to kill you, I would have done it years ago.”

She slumped back in her chair, limp and drained, the carving knife still resting on her knees. A moment later she sat up and glared at Penny. “I’m not stupid, you know. Of course the police are on their way, and they’ll be here any minute. But you know what? I don’t care anymore. You’re right. It’s over.”

As they sat in suffocating silence, Penny could feel the wild beating of her heart start to subside and return to normal. A few moments later they heard quiet voices in the kitchen, and then Gareth Davies quietly entered the room followed by Sergeant Bethan Morgan and Chris Jones, who had opened the Conwy Police Station door to Penny just a few nights ago. At a nod from Davies, Jones slowly reached down and grasping its blade, picked up the carving knife.

“All right, Glynnis, we’re going to take you into custody for questioning,” Davies said. “Do you have anything to say before we go?”

She looked wildly around the room and then asked, “What’s going to happen to Huw?”

“We’ll hold him for a bit longer while we continue the investigation, and then we’ll see,” said Davies. “He might be charged with wasting police time. Depends.”

Davies gave a few instructions to his officers and they left, taking a docile Glynnis out the front door, which another officer had been guarding in case she tried to make a run for it.

Davies returned and wrapped his arms around Penny.

“All right, love?”

Gwennie appeared in the doorway and cleared her throat.

“I’ve left out some food for you, sir, in case you’re hungry. There’s salad and cold turkey and bread rolls. It was a pity you and your sergeant had to miss lunch, but what can you do? I guess when duty calls, you have to go.”

Davies smiled. “I guess you do.”

“Oh, there’s just one more thing, Miss Penny. I’m going to spend the night at my sister’s. She and her husband always invite a few of the neighbours round on Christmas night, and being true Welsh, they just can’t help themselves and the singing starts, and wonderful to hear, it is. But you know my sister’s view of animals. She’s that house-proud, neither fur nor feather allowed past her front door. So if you wouldn’t mind, I’m going to leave Trixxi here for the night with you. She’s had her dinner, her water bowl’s full, and I’ve made up a bed for her in the kitchen beside the Rayburn, just the way she likes it. I’ve left her lead by the back door. She’ll want a walk about eight, but other than that, she won’t be any bother.”

“She’ll be just fine with us, Gwennie, don’t you worry.”

Penny and Gareth exchanged a quick glance and he nodded.

“Gwennie, would you like Inspector Davies here to drive you home?”

“Thank you, but no. My sister wouldn’t want the neighbours seeing a police car at the house. Begging your pardon and no offense meant, but she and her husband are much too respectable for that, thank you all the same.” She looked from Penny to Gareth and back to Penny.

“Well, then, if there’s nothing more you’ll be needing this evening, I’ll be off.” As Gwennie pulled on her gloves, the telephone rang. Excusing herself, Penny answered it. She listened for a moment, exchanged a quick greeting with the caller, and then held out the receiver to Gwennie. “It’s for you.” As Gwennie approached to take the call, Penny tapped Gareth’s arm.

“You must be starving. Let’s see what Gwennie’s left for you.”

A few moments later Gwennie joined them in the kitchen, looking thoughtfully apprehensive.

“That was Mr. Emyr.” Penny nodded. “Yes, he was calling to say he’s been approached about the Hall and he’s decided to sell it. He says he expects a quick sale, as the buyer is motivated, was the word he used. Yes, motivated. He says he’s going to be traveling more and will live the rest of the time at the house in Cornwall.” She looked from Penny to Gareth and finally to Trixxi, who was seated at Penny’s feet. “I don’t need to tell you that the Hall has been my whole life. I’ve never worked anywhere else, and my mother before me worked there her whole life, too. We took care of the family and we took care of the house.” She shook her head. “How many times we dusted that banister, washed those floors…” Her voice trailed off, unable to keep up with her thoughts.

“So it looks as if I will be accepting that position you offered me at the spa, Miss Penny. I’ll start in the new year, I expect.”

“Well, we’ll be lucky to have you, Gwennie. You’ll start a new chapter in your working life with us.”

Gwennie accepted the envelope Penny held out to her and then turned to go. And then she bent over, gave Trixxi a pat, and was gone, watched by a loving pair of Labrador eyes.

“Well, Florence, all in all, I’d say our Christmas was quite a success, wouldn’t you agree?” remarked Mrs. Lloyd as she put her feet up. She had a glass of sherry on the table beside her, and she and Florence were settling in to watch the first episode of a new serial on television, involving the upstairs and downstairs lives of an aristocratic old family in a magnificent stately home.

“Yes, very successful,” agreed Florence. “In fact, one of the nicest Christmases I’ve had in years. Certainly one of the most eventful. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

“You did a wonderful job with the food and organizing everything,” Mrs. Lloyd said.

“Evelyn, I wasn’t born yesterday. When you start in with the compliments I know you’re angling for something. So just come right out with it. What is it?”

“Ah, well, yes. It’s just that I was wondering what you were planning to do about that job offer in Liverpool. You see, what with me losing all that money from Harry Saunders, things will be a little tight from now on, so I was hoping you’d be staying on here as I could do with the rent money. I am sorry to have to be so blunt, Florence, but that’s the way it is, I’m afraid.”

“That’s all right, Evelyn, I quite understand. I’m very settled here now. I like the people, so I’m going to stay. There doesn’t seem much point in going back to Liverpool.” She turned to her companion. “But I think I’ll do a bit more in the new year. You’re right. I should get out and about more. I thought I might offer to teach old-fashioned cooking skills at the community centre. With all the ready meals and cooking not being taught to young girls anymore, it’s getting to be a lost art.”

“That’s a lovely idea, Florence. I’m sure it’ll be very popular. Especially with the young mums.”

“Well, maybe not as popular as the dancing classes, but we’ll see. By the way, I was reading the travel section in the newspaper and they had a story about America. I couldn’t remember. Where did that Harry Saunders say he was from?”

“Palm Beach,” said Mrs. Lloyd. “Or was it Palm Springs? Palm something or other, I can never remember. Someplace we’ll never go, anyway.”

She took a sip of sherry. “Which reminds me-”

“The program’s about to start,” Florence interrupted, “and I like to see it from the very beginning. We have to be quiet now.”

Mrs. Lloyd did as she was told.

Penny unclipped the lead from Trixxi’s collar as Gareth locked the kitchen door behind them.