M Beaton - There Goes The Bride

Toni reappeared and Agatha got hurriedly to her feet. ‘Maybe see you later,’ she said to Sylvan. He rose to his feet to hold the police station door open for them.

‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered, putting an arm around Agatha’s shoulders and pulling her against his body. ‘Soon this will all be forgotten.’

‘Unless these murders are solved, not by me,’ said Agatha, pulling away.

In the car, Agatha told Toni about Felicity not being George’s daughter. ‘But there’s something else,’ she added.

‘What’s that? I had the most awful grilling,’ said Toni. ‘I almost felt like confessing to the murders just to get it over with.’

‘You know Sylvan went on to the boat.’

‘Yes.’

‘When he hugged me there, I felt the crackle of papers from his inside pocket – a lot of papers. Now, our elegant friend would not go around distorting the line of his tailored jacket with a big bunch of papers. What if he took something from the boat?’

‘I couldn’t see any papers lying around,’ said Toni.

‘He might have known where to look,’ said Agatha. ‘We’ll go out to the house now and ask Olivia about Felicity. Then maybe we could watch somewhere on the road afterwards to see if Sylvan leaves.’

‘But he’s already out of the house,’ said Toni.

‘I know. But he was wearing a light suit and the weather’s turning chilly. He may return to change. We wait until he leaves and then return to Olivia. You keep her talking while I say I’m going to the loo and I’ll have a quick look in his room.’

‘How will you know which one it is? It’s a big house.’

‘I’ll follow my nose. He smells of some sort of sandalwood scent.’

‘I wish we could hide somewhere in the house instead,’ said Toni.

‘Why?’

‘I would like to hear what Sylvan and Olivia have to talk about.’

‘Let’s ask her about Felicity before we do anything else.’

Olivia at first protested vehemently that Felicity was indeed their own daughter. Then she all at once broke down and sobbed out that Felicity had been adopted. George had always wanted children and it had been a great disappointment to him when she couldn’t have any. Then he went off on business to Spain one time on his own. A little while later, he confessed he’d had an affair and that the woman was pregnant. Olivia threatened a divorce, but he’d pleaded with her that this was the opportunity to have the child they’d always wanted. At last she agreed. He brought the baby home. Olivia had fallen in love with the little baby. George never told her the name of the mother and she didn’t want to know.

‘It’ll be on the adoption papers,’ said Agatha.

‘George said he hadn’t bothered about formalities, and for the last six months before the arrival of the baby, I agreed to appear pregnant.’

‘But how did he get the baby into the country?’ asked Toni.

‘He brought it by our boat.’

‘There are surely customs checks at the harbour?’ said Agatha.

‘Oh, he said, the men knew him. The baby was fast asleep in a locker and they never looked.’

Agatha stared at her open-mouthed. What else had George been bringing into the country under the noses of the customs men?

‘Do you happen to know if the mother was Spanish?’ asked Toni.

‘I suppose so.’

‘But she was very fair-skinned.’

‘Some Spaniards are. Oh, please, don’t tell the police. We would be arrested and I have had so much to bear.’

They waited until she had recovered. ‘All right,’ said Agatha reluctantly.

‘Who told you?’ demanded Olivia.

Agatha racked her brains. Someone in the village? Hardly. The police? No.

‘It was Sylvan,’ said Olivia bitterly. ‘I know it must have been. He never liked me.’

Agatha cleared her throat. ‘I’m afraid we have some bad news.’

‘Bad news? There can’t be anything worse than murder.’

‘Sean Fitzpatrick has been murdered.’

For one moment, Olivia looked as she were about to faint. Her bright red lipstick was the only colour on her white face. ‘Sean,’ she whispered at last. ‘Why Sean?’

‘Was he a close friend of your husband?’ asked Agatha.

She put out a trembling hand as if to ward off any more questions. ‘Enough. I can’t take any more. I am going to take a sedative and go to bed. If the police call, tell them I am indisposed and will answer any questions tomorrow.’

‘Do you want us to help you?’ asked Agatha.

‘Just leave me alone!’ Olivia rose and stumbled from the room.

Toni and Agatha waited in silence and then Agatha whispered, ‘I forgot to ask her where her husband was and when he’s expected back. That boat of George’s. All this security.’

‘I wonder if he was smuggling in anything more than just one baby,’ said Toni.

‘Could be. It would explain a lot. But not much about Felicity’s death. If we wait until Olivia settles down, I could have a look in Sylvan’s room.’

‘But he’ll still have the papers on him,’ Toni pointed out.

‘There might be something else there. Look, Toni, why don’t you go back to the harbour and find out what you can about Sean.’

‘How will you get back?’

‘I’ll phone for a cab.’

Agatha waited and waited in the silent house. At last she rose and made her way up the thickly carpeted stairs. Most of the bedroom doors stood open. Even Olivia had left her door open and Agatha could see that she was fast asleep.

She made her way along a corridor, peering into rooms until she came to a closed door at the end. She tried the handle but the door was locked.

Agatha fished out a credit card she rarely used and inserted it in the lock.

‘It helps if you have a key,’ said an amused French voice behind her. Agatha turned round, her face flaming.

‘I was just taking a look around,’ she said defiantly. ‘I am supposed to be detecting.’

‘The police are downstairs,’ said Sylvan. ‘Where is Olivia?’

‘Taken a sedative and gone to bed.’

‘Then you had better go down there and tell them that.’

Agatha had a few brief words with the police downstairs. Boase said he would call again in the morning. Agatha hesitated. Sylvan had not followed her down.

She felt suddenly weary and rather frightened. She longed to be back in Carsely. Agatha did not know that her wish was soon to be granted.

TONI AND AGATHA had breakfast the next morning. Toni had found out very little about Fitzpatrick. He had ‘kept himself to himself’, according to the locals.

Their breakfast was interrupted by the arrival of Detective Sergeant Falcon. ‘Mrs Bross-Tilkington does not require your services any more and she demands that you leave her alone. You may submit a bill for the days you have worked for her. We, the police, suggest you both return to your homes, leaving us your addresses. All you are doing is muddying a police investigation.’

Agatha’s protests were weaker than they might have been. Home! Back to her cottage and cats.

At last she asked, ‘Has Mr Bross arrived back?’

‘Yes, last night. He also wants you to leave.’

‘You seem almost relieved,’ accused Toni when the detective had left.

‘Well, I am. I can’t seem to concentrate here. I’d like to get back to my usual surroundings and have a good hard think. Maybe I’ll just phone Olivia and make sure she doesn’t want us,’ said Agatha, taking out her mobile.

Olivia herself answered and began to cry as soon as she heard Agatha’s voice. The phone was seized from her and George’s voice, truculent with rage, came on the line. ‘Get the hell out of here, you old bat,’ he roared, ‘or I’ll make you wish you’d -’