Jay Salerno did not turn up at Cleo’s cottage,
much to everyone’s relief, though Gloria had threatened to give the guy a piece
of her mind if he did.
***
Cleo offered to help in the shop while Robert helped
Gareth Morgan with his stuff, but Gloria was sure she could manage. Robert went
up to the flat to see how things were going, and presently the harmonium, the
only really cumbersome piece of furniture Gareth possessed, was pushed out of
the flat door onto the landing.
"We'll
have to wait for my friend Richard," said Gareth. "I can't move heavy
stuff like this. Bad for my hands, you see."
Robert
thought it more likely that Gareth Morgan did not have the strength, but said
nothing. He could not get the harmonium down the stairs by himself and Gareth
Morgan was more of a hindrance than a help when it came to anything practical.
"When is
he arriving, Gareth?"
"He should
be here by 10. He was planning to leave Swansea very early."
"That's
wise of him. I see you have quite a lot of stuff. Where did it all come
from?"
"I had
a few bits in store at my old lodgings. I got Phyllis to help me get them here.
She's a strong girl and was willing to help in those days."
Did Robert
detect a note of nostalgia there? Typical of Gareth Morgan to get someone else
to do the work. His mother had probably done all the lifting in the old days to
save her precious son's delicate hands from damage.
***
To Robert’s
relief, Gareth seemed to have accepted the recent estrangement from Phyllis (or
hadn't realised she had ditched him) and was now clearly excited about going
home to mother.
Richard
arrived shortly after ten in the removal van, a transporter that had seen
better days. Richard had also seen better days. He was short and stocky, with puffy
cheeks, a lumpy red nose and a huge paunch. The drive had made him sweaty and
thirsty. Only when he had fed his avoirdupois on a large bottle of ale that
Gareth handed to him, and had wiped his brow on the corner of his grubby green
sweatshirt, was Richard willing to help with the move.
***
The first
part of getting Gareth’s possessions into the van consisted of a dramatic descent
bearing the harmonium, in which Robert took the weight, Richard held on to the top
end and Gareth stood by giving instructions from a safe distance and telling them
not to damage it. He flexed his organ-playing fingers in desperation.
"I
can't drive back with you after all, Richard," Gareth told him. "I've
got to get my car to Wales. I thought my girlfriend would have time, but she's
too busy," he fabricated.
Robert went
into the back room to chuckle at that little swindle. No point in aggravating
the situation by calling Mr Morgan to order. It really didn't matter where
Phyllis was. The main thing was that Gareth Morgan would soon be sitting in his
ancient Morris with the crocheted sun blinds, crouched low behind the steering
wheel on a driver's seat that had long since said farewell to its springs, and
buzzing along the country roads to Wales, avoiding any motorways and as many
dual-carriageways as possible. The two Welsh pals would career off home bearing
their precious load, and go to the local pub that same evening. Richard would tell
everyone that Gareth had an English girlfriend. And wasn’t that simply amazing?
A few beers later, Gareth would have been reinstated as one of the lads.
By 11 a.m.
everything was stored in the van. Edith Parsnip and the vicar turned up to say
goodbye and Edith looked tearful. Mr Parsnip was, according to his own
admission, severely hurt and bruised from Mr Morgan's refusal to take a
part-time contract with half the salary. Edith had argued that they would never
get a better organist, but the vicar was adamant. He insisted that if he didn't
cut costs, they would all be jobless and homeless before they could turn round.
If he also had an ulterior motive for letting Mr Morgan go, he did not mention
it.
***
So Edith was
about to lose what she loved best: Mr Morgan's splendid playing when he
practiced at the big old organ while she hid motionless and almost breathless behind
a column to listen in. She had argued that now they had nearly enough funds to
recondition the instrument it was not going to be played any more. Her pleading
in all directions had fallen on the vicar’s deaf ears, and if Mr Parsnip
suspected that Edith had a soft spot not only for the organ playing but also
for the player, he did not let on. The vicar was not for turning. There was
nothing left but for Mr Morgan to wash his hands of Upper Grumpsfield, Phyllis
and Edith.
Presently the
two vehicles moved off. The little group of self-styled well-wishers stood and
waved till the little procession had disappeared.
***
"That's
that," said Robert, going back into the shop.. "Good riddance to the
worst tenant ever. Gloria, you can move in now."
"All in
good time, Robert. I'm going to give the place a scrub and a coat of paint
first. You will help, won't you?"
Cleo, who
had not been able to resist witnessing the departure of Gareth Morgan, stood by
in wonder. Poor Robert. They did lead him a dance, she and her mother.
***
Later, while
Robert delivered the home orders, Gloria and Cleo cleaned up the shop ready to
close for the weekend.
"Are
you serious about the decorating?" Cleo wanted to know.
"Sure,"
replied Gloria. "It's only one day's work for the three of us."
"Four. I'll
get Colin to help," said Cleo, and Gloria nodded in agreement. She had thought
Cleo would suggest Gary. She liked him, but thought it would make life more
complicated if he was around.
Cleo's
mobile rang. Colin’s timing was impeccable.
"I've
been stood up by that secretary woman, Musgrave," he said. "I'm going
round to the agency to check up on her. Could she be in danger?"
"I
doubt it, Colin. I don't think the agency is involved in anything criminal.
It's the employees who jump on the gravy trains, but they are only interested
in the perks: money, new clothes, jewels and stuff. I doubt if your Miss
Musgrave is involved in anything of the kind."
"You
may be right."
"Find
out why she didn’t turn up. Chat her up next time.”
“Next time?”
“We need
more information on Silver, Colin.. All in the line of duty.
We’ll need Musgrave
as a witness to his escapades. She sounds the kind of person who knows
everything and will be flattered to be asked. If you were to drop the name Burton,
she might even know something about him. His name crops up so often, I don’t
think he can have been hiding."
"You're
the boss, Cleo."
“Oh, and
before I forget, can you spare some time tomorrow to paint Robert’s flat before
Gloria moves in?”
“I’ll have to
ask Julie, Cleo. I don’t know if she has anything planned for tomorrow.”
“Forget it,
Colin. You work hard enough without going into interior decorating.”
“I’m no good
at it, anyway,”
***
Only minutes
later, Gary rang. As usually, he crashed into his news without any preamble.
"Good
news, Cleo. They've caught up with Salerno."
"Where?"
"On a
platform at Crewe station, waiting for a train to Holyhead."
"He
moved fast."
"Not
fast enough, but he did not resist arrest."
"He
really has changed."
"He'll
probably change back when he realises what's in store for him in the USA."
"But
he's not a murderer, and the security guards should have been more
watchful."
"That's
as maybe. But it's humiliating to lose a prisoner. Salerno will be punished for
their negligence."
"I'm
just glad it's all over. Now we can get down to business."
"You
can. I'm having a few days off."
"Not
now, Gary. What about the Burton schlimazel?"
"It’s at
a standstill. You know that, and I need time to think."
"What
about Mrs Temple?"
"Blissfully
unaware that we're on to her."
“So you have
passed on the information, I take it,” said Cleo.
“Yes, but
only to Roger. He will act accordingly.”
"I
don't think May Temple will confess to Shirley's murder even if she did it. She
got away with two, after all."
"She
thinks you are on her side, Cleo, but she is a main suspect in the Shirley
Temple case because she has the only motive we know about."
"I
can’t think of anyone else who has a motive, either, unless it’s Roger Stone
eager not to have his affair with Shirley exposed,” said Cleo.
"We're
watching his movements, too.”
“That’s
really creepy, Gary, and you are taking time off!”
“Well, we’re
not exactly watching.”
“But you
want me to, I suppose,” said Cleo.
“Colin might
have time.”
“I’ll ask
him, Gary.”
“I'll be
back here on Wednesday. We can compare notes then."
"If you
insist on taking time off, we’d better communicate via Doris Morris."
"Good
idea. Ciao."
Gloria had been
listening to Cleo and immediately wanted to know who Doris Morris was.
"Just a
joke name for a private e-mail address."
"Ah. One
his superiors don't know about."
"Yes. Gary’s
taking time off, Gloria, and I’ll have to work tomorrow. No time for home
decorating."
"Monday
will do. Don't you want to drive to Wales tomorrow? You told me about a woman
who runs a chip shop."
"That's
the real Doris Morris."
"Tell
me about her."
"Him.”
“I don’t
know any men by the name of Doris.”
“He’s
transsexual, Mother.”
“Is he
really? In Chicago they have a club for them. I took some line dancers to
entertain them once. They were charming and very appreciative,” said Gloria. “So
what can we do tomorrow?”
"What
can you do, Mother? I'm going to work at the office."
"On a
Sunday?"
"I have
to update my files. Everything we do has to be documented and I have new material."
"I can
type."
That would
entail Gloria looking at information she did not need to see.
"You are
going to work in the flat tomorrow, aren’t you? You wouldn't have time for an
outing or to help me."
"Oh
yes. I'd forgotten. But we are postponing the painting for a day or two, aren’t
we?
“The decorating
will have to wait till everybody has time, Mother. You're working for Robert,
remember, so a weekday is not a good idea.
As if on
cue, Robert drove up in his white delivery van.
"I saw
Kelly on the way back from Lower Grumpsfield. He looked really depressed. Can
we do anything for him, Cleo?"
“Are you
sure it was Kelly?”
"I
could get Gloria to buy some eggs if he hasn't eaten all the hens," said
Robert. “Show her a photo of the guy.”
"Who's
Kelly?" Gloria wanted to know.
"Wait a
minute, Robert. Kelly is in a coma in the hospital. He’s not there to sell eggs."
"I'm
sure it was him though. Maybe he has a double."
"I'm
going to phone the hospital,” said Cleo. “If you are right, there's something weird
going on."
"Cleo,
don't read a mystery into everything. I was probably mistaken."
"We'll
soon find out."
***
In truth,
the Kelly accident had almost been forgotten. She wished Gary was around to
talk things through. Why had he taken time off?
***
A few
minutes later, Cleo was brandishing her cell phone triumphantly.
"You
aren't going to believe this, Robert," she said. "It can't have been
Kelly. He's still in a coma."
Now it was
Robert's turn to point out the flaw in that argument.
"Or
someone else is in that coma, Cleo. Nobody who could identify him has actually
seen him since the accident, have they? You all assumed it was Kelly."
"If it
wasn't, someone else was in the accident," said Gloria, as if she had just
solved a crime.
“Could it
have been a client, Robert? I'm going to
the hospital to take a look at the guy," said Cleo. "I wish Gary was
around to go with me."
“Where is
he?”
“Taking a
few days off.”
“At least
you aren’t going with him, Cleo,” said Robert.
“I’d prefer
to,” said Cleo.
“Don’t spat,
kids.”
"There's
no need for you to go to the hospital, Cleo. It was definitely Kelly I saw"
“There is
every need in that case. If you weren't
mistaken, that was not Kelly in the hospital, and if it was not Kelly, who the
hell is it?" said Cleo.
"Maybe
she had arranged something with a client," said Robert.
"What
kind of client?" Gloria wanted to know.
"He means
the guy in a coma. Mrs Kelly was a part-time hooker, Mother."
"Another
one?"
"They
are everywhere you go,” said Robert. “Easy pocket money for bored housewives."
***
Gloria was
gobsmacked. What sort of a nest was this place? Then it occurred to her for the
first time that people might have seen her in that light when she shacked up
with Cleo's father all those years ago.
"I expect everyone assumed it was Kelly's way of
making extra money," said Robert. “I don’t suppose that farm of his makes
any profit.”
"What if Kelly hired the guy for a different reason?"
said Cleo.
"Not to
kill her, surely!" said Cleo.
"What a
cunning plan. It was his car, he looked like the guy and fingerprints under the
bonnet would be normal," Robert reasoned.
“Bonnet?”
said Gloria.
“Hood, Gloria.”
"But
the guy in the car did not kill Magda," said Cleo. "Whoever cut those
brake leads did that. And Kelly did not have an opportunity."
"But someone
else could have," said Gloria.
"You
could be onto something there," admitted Cleo, who did not want her mother
to interfere in the case. On the other hand, she had to admit that Gloria had a
point.
The problem
was that the car crash was being treated as an accident. As far as Cleo knew,
no criminal investigation had been installed.
***
As long as
the hospital thought it was Kelly unconscious in that bed, they would have no
reason to take any action," said Cleo. “They would wait until he came round.”
"Kelly
could have hired that guy," Gloria suggested.
"Good
thinking, Gloria," said Robert. "That would explain why they looked
alike."
"The
perfect crime, folks." said Gloria. “A hired killer is lying in a coma at
the hospital."
“I’d just
like to inform Holmes and Watson that Kelly might have hired the guy so that he
could change his identity,” said Cleo.” He would not care if the driver and
Magda were killed. In fact, it would have been better for him if they both had.”
“What does
your pat cop say?” said Robert.
"I'll
have to get in touch with him," said Cleo. "We need him here. He
can't just take a vacation with all these new angles to deal with."
"I'm
going home, Cleo. I need to put the washing machine on. I don’t want to move
into Robert’s flat with dirty clothes."
“There’s a
washing machine n the flat if Morgan hasn’t pinched it,” said Robert. “I think
we’ve finished here, so we can all go home. I’ll do the deliveries after lunch.”
"I'll get
back to the office," said Cleo. "I've got to think some more about all
this mess. And find Gary, if he’s findable.”
***
By the time
Cleo had switched on the coffee maker and the computer she had reached a
decision. She would phone Dorothy. Everything they'd been doing for the past
few days had been harmless compared with the possibility that Kelly had deliberately
planned Magda's death and hired an assassin to do it, and then had the brake
leads cut intending the assassin to be identified as him. She knew Dorothy had
not quite believed the arrangement between the Kellys. She would view this new
angle as a serious possibility, but she would no doubt point out that Kelly’s presence
in Lower Grumpsfield might be proof that he was completely innocent.
Dorothy had
been hoping Cleo would invite her to brunch or even lunch, so she was pleased
to have the phone call. She had kept away from Robert's shop that morning
because she would have had no joy in giving Mr Morgan a good send off. After
all, she knew exactly who would have to pick up the pieces. She fully expected
Frederick Parsnip to phone her and beg her to play the organ the following day
and had no intention of volunteering her services.
Dorothy had
again advertised the organist job at the church to save herself having to play.
She was a pianist, not an organist. The pedals on the organ were far too
difficult to manage for someone not used to it. She wondered how organists with
short legs managed at all. Hers were fairly long, but she still had a low average
striking record.
"I
think the vicar has clinical depression, Dorothy," said Cleo when Dorothy
had finished relating her tale of woe. "But Edith is probably in the same
state."
"They
should get help," said Dorothy.
"The
only people that Frederick Parsnip listens to are you und God, Dorothy. But his
prayers to the Almighty seem to be falling on deaf ears these days and he’s just
piled more culpability on himself for letting a perfectly good organist go."
“But at
least it will get Gloria out of your cottage, Cleo.”
“That is
unfortunately true.”
"I'll
go and see if I can help at the vicarage," said Dorothy. "But not
today. I couldn't face Edith's stiff upper lip today, and I'd rather like
Frederick to notice how dreadful his services are when there's no organ music."
"That's
a bit drastic, Dorothy, after all Edith has gone through."
"Most
of it's her own fault. She shouldn't be so cagey."
Cleo thought
the same, but now was not the time for a discussion on that topic. She hazarded
a guess that Dorothy would not want to be asked to replace Gareth Morgan
because her conscience would not let her refuse.
“I have
something more pressing than the vicarage, Dorothy. We are suspicious about
Kelly.”
"We?"
"Me and
Gary."
"Gary
and you?" corrected Dorothy, wincing at the grammar. “About what are you
puzzled?”
"Burton
and Shirley. They were both killed on our common. How and why were they
there?"
"Coincidence.
There’s no point in speculating," said Dorothy. "Without any clues we
are all in the dark. I don't suppose there are any, are there?"
"Gary
hasn't mentioned anything significant up to now, and we have to do something
that should have been done straightaway."
Which is?”
“Identify
the guy at the hospital. Right now! That was the other reason I phoned you. Can
you come with me?”
"Are
you at home, or shall I come to the office?"
"I’m at
the office. We were getting Mr Morgan out of the flat with all his chattels
this morning, so we started the day really early."
"Understandable.
I’m sure Robert had to make sure that silly man only took what was his. Poor
Gareth."
"Why
poor, Dorothy?"
"Being
jilted is horrible."
"Being
jilted by Phyllis was probably a godsend."
"Even
so..."
***
It didn't
take long for Dorothy to get to the office. As usual, she had indulged in a
round of baking and had the foresight to take a currant loaf and butter with her.
“I don’t
think we’ll starve,” joked Cleo.
"Talking
of starving, can you ask Robert to save me something for Sunday?"
"Sure.
Any preference?"
"No."
Dorothy
fetched the coffee from the utility room while Cleo phoned Robert. He would bring
her something nice. Cleo told Robert that they were going to take a look at the
guy in a coma and would come back to the cottage. Maybe Robert would want to start
cooking for the three of them? He would when he had finished delivering.
***
"I
think Shirley being found almost at the spot where Burton's body was found was definitely
a coincidence, said Dorothy. “That little copse is a good place to leave a
corpse. I’ve seen unwanted sofas there before now."
Despite
herself, Cleo was amused.
"It’s
only a good dump if a gang of little boys is not playing Robin Hood."
"They
must have had a terrible fright."
"At
first Gary thought Shirley had been abducted," said Cleo.
"He
would," said Dorothy, nodding knowingly. "Do you know, Cleo, I caught
him exchanging glances with her recently, but I had the feeling that she was
avoiding eye contact."
"You
never mentioned that, Dorothy."
"It was
obvious that something had been going on between them."
"You
never fail to surprise me!"
"Gary's
a bit of a conundrum," Dorothy went on. "I bet he has an awful
marriage."
"I
think so too, but he won't talk about it, and now he's gone off duty for a few
days. He says he needs a break - in the middle of all the chaos!"
"He
can't cope, Cleo. We'll have to help him."
"You
may be right. He doesn't even know quite a basic fact about Magda's
death."
"I’m
listening, Cleo."
"No one
has challenged the identity of the man in the car who is now in a coma, least
of all Gary."
"Not
very efficient," Dorothy commented.
"Robert
swears he saw Kelly when he drove past the farm."
"But Mr
Kelly is in a coma."
"Is he?
I think Gary assumed it was Kelly. He confirmed a description of the unconscious
man over the phone."
"Ridiculous.
Lots of men fit the same description. There are apparently only 12 kinds of
looks altogether, so we all have many thousands of doubles."
"Millions.
But the guy was in Kelly's car."
"Cleo,
we know what sort of a woman Magda was. What if he was a client?"
"Or a
deliberate look-alike planted to take Kelly's place in an accident Kelly knew
was going to happen? Dorothy, something's staring us in the face!"
"So
that’s why we have to identify him, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and
I’ve only seen Kelly close up a few times. I’m not sure if I'd know him unconscious
in a hospital bed.”
“I’ll take a
look at the man, Cleo. I'll say I'm his only relative. They'll let us in, I'm
sure."
"Would
you do that?"
"Of
course, and I’m too frail to go in by myself."
"Then
let's finish the coffee and get going," said Cleo.
"Won’t
we get into trouble for interfering, Cleo?"
"Why
should we, Dorothy? It's perfectly natural for an aunt to visit a sick
nephew."
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