Виктория Холт - The Captive

“I shouldn’t have thought that Goldie would have played tricks like that … and then to come walking back, meek as you like.”

“I’m glad she came here,” said Lucas.

“A real bit of luck.”

I was in the inn parlour, the brandy was brought, and at last I was alone with Lucas.

“I’ll begin at the beginning. I’ve been careless. I ought to have guessed something …”

I told him about the wine.

“You see, he intended to drug me and throw me over the cliff, as he did in the case of the sailor who was without doubt Mirabel’s husband and had come back to spoil her chances at Perrivale. But Kate came and foiled his plan and at Perrivale this morning when your groom came over he heard me make arrangements to come here this afternoon. So he waylaid me.”

“That was a daring thing to do.”

“Yes, it would have been so much easier with the wine,

but I think he thought he had to act quickly. He was annoyed, I realize now, when Kate spoiled that plan which would have been so much easier to carry out. “

I told him about our visit to Ada Ferrers and what we had discovered through her.

“But,” I said, ‘it was the visit to the nursing home which betrayed me. You see, I mentioned Mrs. Parry . “

Lucas caught his breath, “I knew it was foolish, as soon as I said it. But I was caught up … and so embarrassed. I had only meant to look at the place. I made such a mess of it. But he must have known her fairly well and that was why he sent Mirabel there … and she described me and then he knew that I was on the track and he planned to get rid of me … just as he had the sailor.”

“So you think he killed Cosmo?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you’d selected Tristan for that.”

“I don’t know whether he was concerned in it, too. Oh … by the way, he said something about Harry Tench. He said I’d been talking to him or something like that. He was the one who came under suspicion in the beginning and was quickly dismissed by the police. He’s the farm hand who lost his cottage because of Cosmo and hated him for it. He could of course have witnessed the murder.”

“How … ?”

“Because it took place in Bindon Boys and that is where Harry Tench sleeps. He made the derelict farm his home … since he had no other. Lucas … that’s what we have to do quickly … we have to talk to Harry Tench. We have to do it now.”

“I’m going to take you back to Trecorn. You can’t go back to Perrivale after this. That’s the first thing.”

“No, Lucas. I couldn’t rest. I’ve got to see Harry Tench, and I want you to come with me.”

“When?”

“Now … without a moment’s delay. Who knows? We may have delayed too long already.”

“My dear Rosetta. You have just been nearly murdered. You’re deeply shocked.”

“I can think about that afterwards. I know this is important. I’ve got to see him. I’ve got to talk to him without delay.”

“Do you think you’ll be all right… ?”

“I wouldn’t be all right if I didn’t go. I should be tortured by what might be happening. Already the Major may have gone to him.”

“Look … I’ll go alone.”

“No, Lucas. This is my affair. I started it and I want to be in at the end. I hope this is the end.”

He could see that I was determined and at length he agreed that we should go to Bindon Boys together.

I mounted Goldie. I was feeling shaken but somehow buoyed up by the thought of further revelations.

The farmhouse looked more desolate than ever. We dismounted. The front door was open. It was a long time since the lock had disappeared. The place sent a shiver down my spine. I kept thinking of Cosmo’s coming here and facing death. I had very recently been made aware of how that could feel. I had faced it before, but it was not the same when one was being threatened by the elements. To be fighting for one’s life against a murderer is a different experience.

A streak of sunshine shone through the dirty window. It accentuated the cobwebs and the accumulation of dirt and dust on the floor.

“Are you there?” called Lucas. His voice echoed through the house and there was no answer.

I pointed to the stairs and Lucas nodded.

We were on the landing and the three doors faced us.

We opened one. The room was empty; but when we tried the next we found him there, lying on a pile of old clothes. He put his hand up to his face as though to shield himself.

“Hello, Harry,” said Lucas.

“Don’t be afraid. We’ve just come to talk.”

He lifted his head and leaned on his elbow. He was dirty, unkempt and very thin. I felt a surge of pity for him.

“What you want?” he muttered.

“Just a word or two,” said Lucas.

He looked bewildered.

Lucas went on: “It’s about the day Mr. Cosmo Perrivale was killed.”

Harry was really frightened now.

“I don’t know nothing. I weren’t here. I didn’t do it. I told ‘em I didn’t.”

“We know you didn’t do it. Harry,” I said.

“We know it was the Major.”

He stared at me.

“Yes,” said Lucas.

“So it doesn’t matter about keeping quiet any more.”

“What do you know about it. Harry?” I asked gently.

“He robbed me of my ‘ome, didn’t he? What ‘arm was I doing? The place stood empty for three months after … my little ‘ome …”

“It was cruel,” I said soothingly.

“And then you came here.”

“There was nowhere else. It was a roof. And then they was going to do it up … I stayed here … I wasn’t going till I ‘ad to.”

“Of course not. And you were here on that day.”

He didn’t answer.

I said: “It’s all right now. You can talk. The Major has told me now so it doesn’t matter.”

“He were good to me, he were. I wouldn’t have been able to get by but for ‘im.”

“Payment for your silence?” asked Lucas.

“He said not to tell. He said I’d be all right then. He said

he’d kill me if I told . in a jokey sort of way . like he always had. ” He shook his head, smiling. I could see that the Major had charmed him, too.

“Tell us what happened on that day. Harry,” I said.

“You sure … ?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“The Major knows I know. So it’s all right for you to talk.”

“You sure … ?” he said again.

“Oh yes … quite sure.”

“I want to be left alone.”

“You will be … when you’ve told us.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“I know you didn’t and nobody said you did.”

“They asked questions.”

“And they released you. They knew you didn’t do it.”

“I didn’t tell them what I see.”

“No. But you’re going to tell us.”

Harry scratched his head.

“I mind that day … never forget it. Dream about it sometimes. It was being ‘ere when it happened. Can’t get it out of me ‘cad.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I was ‘ere. I didn’t know when they was coming in to measure an’ all that. But there was always time when I heard ‘em come in to slip down the back staircase to the back door and out.”

“And you heard Mr. Cosmo come in.”

“No, it weren’t Mr. Cosmo who come first. It was the Major. That’s why I didn’t get right away. I thought it was one of them coming to measure up. I didn’t expect to see the Major.”

“What did he do?”

“Well … he came in and went over to the door what leads down to the basement. He opened it and went in. I wondered what ‘e were doing in the basement. But he didn’t go down … couldn’t have. He was just waiting behind the door. Then Mr. Cosmo came in. There wasn’t a word spoke.

I saw the basement door open. The Major stood there. He lifted the gun and shot Mr. Cosmo. “