Grant left the other two at the restaurant. He felt they should have some private time together, knowing their affinity to Suzie was much closer than his own. Tony was departing the following day, returning to New York, although he was already making plans to return for a memorial service the following week. After calling Brigit, Grant headed straight to Justyn’s flat in Maida Vale and yet again was glad of his friend’s company and conversation. He related all that Tony had told them over dinner.
Finally Justyn asked, ‘So how did Estelle know so much about Richard’s medical affairs – in particular the Animal Life Science place and the shock therapy?’
‘That’s a good question. She’d never got over being discarded by Richard and – unusually for a wife in those days – being screwed financially in the divorce. His case against her was well documented, and his lawyer played a blinder. Let’s just say that they played a few cards from the bottom of the deck. Estelle never forgave him and looked for vengeance for ever after.’
‘But how did she find out so much about Richard’s work?’
‘She had a lucky break. She lived in St Mawes near Falmouth, and one of her neighbours, a retired GP from the St Ives area, had been encouraged by Richard to administer electroshock treatment. In fact, Richard was involved directly in some of the treatments. On being introduced to Estelle, and hearing her unusual surname, the doctor had asked if she knew a Richard Hughes-Webb.’
‘Don’t tell me,’ interrupted Justyn. ‘The doctor revealed the treatment meted out to poor old Ted Jessops.’
‘Yes, sirree, and Caroline holds a major grudge against Hughes-Webb to this day. I had no idea and only found out en route to Mevagissey when Caroline was offloading her long-standing grievances against Richard on me. Anyway, Estelle from Hell never stopped stalking Richard after the divorce, even after the restraining order. Her doctor friend had learnt a great deal about electroshock therapy from Richard when he recommended it for Ted.’ At that point Grant noticed that a call from Caroline was coming in, and, despite some misgivings, he decided to take it.
‘So how was dinner with Tony?’ She got straight to the point. Grant had phoned her after the inquest and told her about the evening’s plan with Tony and Danny. He was, however, surprised to receive a call from her at one in the morning.
‘It’s a long story. I’m in the process of telling Justyn right now, but I think you can rest now, Caro. You found a justice of sorts for your dad.’
No sooner had he said it than he regretted it, but Caroline took no offence. She seemed to have recovered her equilibrium after the devastating events of the previous week.
‘Thanks,’ she replied with genuine warmth. Then she added, ‘I guess we have no reason to see each other now.’
Grant glanced again at his watch, checking it really was one in the morning. ‘Let’s meet for lunch one day next week, perhaps in town. For now, how about “the season of all natures – sleep”?’
‘I would really like that. Lunch, that is. I’m still too churned up for sleep,’ she replied, hoping he might continue the conversation. Grant, however, was direct in concluding the call.
Afterwards Justyn was quick to give an opinion. ‘She’d like to rekindle intimate relations with you.’
‘I know, but that flame went out a long, long time ago.’
‘Whatever. Anyway, I still don’t see why Hector had to perish in the sea. And do you have a taste for Van der Graaf Generator now? “Death in the sea, death in the sea. Somebody, please come and help me.”’ Justyn bellowed out the lyrics.
‘No,’ replied Grant. ‘But there is no doubt that Ivan was choreographing the scene that morning with all the ominous, dramatic music. He had chosen it for Suzie’s and Danny’s benefit, of course, and he probably thought he’d scored bonus points when Caroline and I arrived. However, I remain convinced that Hector’s death was an accident. Paul Galvin was very worried about money after the failure of the house-building project, and he knew he had major enemies in the Youlen family. Then word got round that Hector’s Aunt Agatha was terminally ill and that Hector would be the sole beneficiary of her estate. Paul put Trevor and Ivan up to getting Hector drunk, hardly a difficult thing to do, but the high jinks in the sea got out of control when Hector started swimming further out, saying he was going to give that mermaid a good seeing to. I think Trevor Mullings panicked and vanished into the night. He was very lucky no one thought to study your brother’s last film.’
‘What mermaid?’ inquired Justyn.
‘The Mermaid of Zennor, part of local folklore in west Cornwall. Evidently, drunken Hector had been persuaded that if he swam out with a message in a bottle, written in blood, he might get lucky with the mermaid. Incidentally this was the same mermaid that Ted Jessops was drawing on his deathbed.’
‘Weird and sad, but how would getting Hector wasted enable them to inherit Aunt Agatha’s loot, particularly when she was still alive?’
‘It seems it was Paul Galvin’s ruse, attempting to get Ivan and Trevor to persuade Hector to invest his forthcoming inheritance in some dodgy scheme. Paul had offered Hector a “put-and-call option” for twelve months’ time, claiming it was a preferential rate if he signed now. He knew the prognosis on Aunt Agatha was death by Christmas – and he wasn’t wrong there; she died on 23 December. However, the drunken swim to find the mermaid was never part of Paul’s plan. All that came from Mullings and Youlen getting smashed with Hector in the pub.
‘So Paul had the option to “call” on the money any time before the following August, which he knew was a pretty safe bet. He conned Hector that, among other things, out of this fund Paul would pay all future holiday bills at the hotel and at the Office until the end of Hector’s days, taking care of booking his reservation each year, negotiating his rate, sorting out all the extras and thus freeing Hector from all administration. So Hector’s focus wasn’t so much on his investment potential as on his future freedom and having the means to carry on going to Cornwall and getting pissed every night. Whatever happened to the investment, that was a hell of an incentive to Hector. All he had to do was exercise his “put” option for this to work, but he never got the opportunity. No doubt Paul would have presented him with a written document to sign ahead of his departure the next day. But do you want to hear the amusing twist?’
‘Yeah, hit me with it.’
‘When Paul contacted the solicitors acting for Agatha’s estate, having seen the will advertised in the London Gazette, he regaled them with tales of his “put-and-call” option and he was stunned to be advised rather curtly that her debts exceeded her assets. She had run up huge credit-card bills, had bank loans outstanding, and even her house was mortgaged to the hilt.’
‘What the fuck!’
‘It turned out she had been a “Name” in a Lloyds of London insurance syndicate and had suffered several years of successive heavy losses, which continued even after her death and eventually wiped out all her capital and plunged her estate into debt. Evidently Agatha hadn’t taken out an Estate Protection Policy. She refused to change her extravagant lifestyle and for the last few years knew she was on borrowed time anyway. The reason she was so keen for Hector to find a partner was her fear that that she would leave him in the lurch. Hence his message “Tonight I am not alone”. It was his drunken attempt to give her the good news that at least he had some new friends to offer support.’
‘Sad for Agatha, and it would have been tragic for dear old Hector. But, still, it is quite funny.’ Justyn couldn’t suppress a giggle nor Grant a chuckle, and soon they were both laughing uproariously.
Grant continued. ‘Just imagine Paul’s face! And, you know, the probate lawyer to whom he spoke asked him for details of the “put-and-call” option, suggesting he might owe money to Agatha’s estate!’
This was too much for them; they were pleading with one another to stop laughing. Justyn was rolling around the floor, while Grant had to hold his ribs.
Justyn was the first to get a grip. ‘I guess Paul Galvin got his comeuppance, but I’m glad Danny reverted to being the nice guy we always knew. I suppose he thought he had to play a part to try to put you off and prevent Suzie coming to London. Did I ever tell you that he shared this flat with me for a while a few years back?’
At that moment Grant saw he had a call from Suzie flashing up on his phone. Startled, he answered, only to hear Tony’s voice. ‘Hi, Grant. Just for the record I don’t care if you let the full story about Richard get out. His reputation doesn’t deserve protection, and Estelle doesn’t deserve to go to gaol.’
‘Oh, fine, if you’re happy with that, yeah, sure,’ muttered Grant, relieved that he had not received a phone call from a ghost. As he concluded the brief exchange it occurred to him they might never speak again. He now felt very sorry for Tony, who had witnessed some extreme scenes in his childhood and who had now lost his only sister in such a tragic way. He understood now why Tony had told his family’s tale in such a detached way: he had clearly anaesthetized himself from it all, its impact having long since dulled his capacity to respond emotionally.