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“Doesn’t the fact that Wendy’s hair is on the statuette mean that she didn’t do it? I mean, if the killer wants to place the blame on someone else?”
“Yes. Unless it’s a double bluff. But that’s risky,” Alistair said.
“It does indicate that someone didn’t panic after killing him. It’s possible that the killer planned this.”
Alistair rubbed his face. “But we still don’t know why, or who.”
“Yeah, those questions are kind of important.”
“Then there’s also the possibility that it was someone who simply came here to kill him and then left.”
I bit my lip. “It is possible that someone knew he would be here.”
“Anyway, we’ll just have to wait and see. Keep our eyes and ears open.” He got up. “I better get back to work. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.”
“Thanks. I’ll do the same.”
“Just be careful.”
I gave him a smile. “Always.”
After Alistair left I wrote for about an hour and then went to Nancy’s shop to hang out. I hadn’t expected Emblyn to be there since it was a Sunday, and she might have wanted to relax, but she was clearly dedicated.
I waited until Nancy was done selling incense to a few tourists, and then I told her about the murder weapon being found at Gus’. She’d already heard about it, because gossip spread fast, but she hadn’t heard the details. Emblyn was listening while she was restocking the candles.
“And why were you at Gus’?” Nancy asked with narrowed eyes.
“I wanted to see how he was doing. I figured he was a tad lonely, perhaps. Or upset.”
Nancy lowered her voice. “Was he?”
“He was putting on a brave face, I think. He was quite down to earth about it all, but he must miss you.”
Nancy’s lips turned downwards. “Yeah, well, I miss him too. But this is for the best. We haven’t been together long, and taking care of someone in their final days is no small task.”
“I don’t think he’s looking for a nurse. In fact, he’s still fine enough, physically speaking. All he wants to do is work in his shop. You could easily go for a pub meal once a week or something. That might just be the thing both of you need,” I said.
She tilted her head, her big hair unmoving as she did. “Hmm,” she simply said, which meant that she would consider it.
At that moment, Sophia came in. “Ah, there you are,” she said to me. “I heard about the murder weapon being found and Wendy being arrested. What a dreadful mess. First Gregor, now Wendy. I don’t understand it at all. Do you think they were in on it together?”
Detective Black said, “They’d have to be very good actors if they were.”
“I doubt it,” I said. “But I also don’t think Wendy did it.”
Sophia nodded. “Because the murder weapon was placed in the shop by the killer. That is weird, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. Especially when there’s evidence on it.”
“Unless the killer wants you to think that. I mean, if it was Wendy, then it means she could have been planning to cast suspicion on herself, only to have it cast on someone else later. Usually when someone’s ruled out, they’re not ruled back in,” Sophia said.
She really, just like me, had a mystery author’s mind.
“Yes, but it seems unlikely. Evidence is more important than hunches. She would have to be very sure that there’s other evidence. Or a confession.”
“So, do you need any help with anything? I’ve been a bit distracted by work and by Eddie, but I’m still willing to help, if you need it. I mean, I’ve finished my novel, and I’m itching to do something.”
“Do you think it’s possible that someone had an axe to grind and followed you guys here, with the intent to get rid of Carl? Was he ever threatened?”
“Only by that Rachel woman. Nobody else.”
“Right.”
“Do you think she set up a plan of some sort?”
“We know too little to know for sure,” I said. “But if I do think of something you can help with so we can change that, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks. I know Carl wasn’t the nicest person, but I do hope there will be justice for him soon. I liked him.”
I simply smiled.
When she left, Emblyn stepped away from the shelf with all the candles. “I recognise that woman,” she said. “I think she was talking to our former cleaning lady once.”
“Okay. Why is that special?” I asked.
“It wasn’t, just a bit odd that they met up so late at night, that’s all.”
“Couldn’t they have been friends hanging out?”
“It looked like they were arguing about something. Anyway, I don’t know her very well. She cleaned for us once before she took up a new job at the hotel.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said. “Is your former cleaning lady Kelly?”
“Yeah, that was her name. She seemed nice, but apparently the new owner at the hotel paid her more.” She shrugged. “Can’t say I blame her.”
“Do you know where she lives?”
“In one of those terraced houses behind the vicarage.”
“She lives near the church?”
“I suppose.” Emblyn frowned. “Why are you asking me all this?”
I looked at Nancy.
She nodded her head. “Go.”
I dashed off.
“Is she always this weird?” I heard Emblyn ask.
“Yes,” said Nancy loud enough for me to still hear.
––––––––
KELLY’S SMALL FRONT garden was littered with gnomes. Most of them were nearly completely white because of the sun damage. I had texted Miles to ask for her house number, so I was sure I had the right place.
She opened the door after a minute. “It’s you,” she said with wide eyes. She looked around to see if I was alone. Maybe she was expecting Alistair. Was that because she had done something wrong? Was it risky for me to go in? I sized her up. I could probably take her in a fight.
“Of course you could,” Detective Black said.
“Come in,” she said and led the way to the kitchen where she was making some tea. “Do you want a cup?”
“Sure.” I figured if I pretended this was a social call, I could make this easier. Hopefully she’d lower her guard.
She gave me a cup with too much milk and sugar, but I took it anyway. She was clearly accustomed to living alone and not having to ask anyone how they wanted their tea.
“So what brings you here? I heard about Wendy’s arrest.”
“I’m sure you did. The police are hoping to get a confession. How are you feeling about it?” I asked.
“It’s terrible, of course. I mean, that it happened. I don’t know, I just want this whole thing to be over with.”
Her hand trembled slightly as she put her cup to her lips.
“Have you ever met the other authors? Did Carl ever introduce you to them?”
She shook her head. “No, not at all. I think he wanted as little to do with me as possible, in hindsight. I mean, I think deep down he had a good heart, but—”
“It didn’t really show?”
She blushed. “I don’t want to speak ill of the dead.”
“Right,” Detective Black said.
“Do you know anything at all about the other authors? Can you imagine any of them killing him?”
She looked at me. “I can’t imagine anyone doing it. Nor do I want to go around thinking about murder, do I?” Then she remembered who she was talking to. “No offence.”
I smiled. “None taken.” Though I wasn’t sure what to discuss next, I wanted some more time to chat with her. Get her to soften up a bit, before I would bring up Sophia.
“I grew up in Birmingham,” she said. “When I was little, I visited one of our neighbours. She was very sweet and always left her front door open. She also always had biscuits that she’d give to the kids. Sometimes I’d just go over to have some milk and biscuits, and she’d talk with me about my day. The dad would come home, and we’d all sit there like a proper family. It was nice.”
“That does sound nice.”
“But one time I went over there and there was red stuff on the carpet. I thought for a minute she had spilled some juice, but it smelt funny, and I knew something was wrong.” She started tearing up. “It turned out that someone had come in and robbed her, then killed her when she put up a fight.” She cried.
I put my hand on hers, and she smiled appreciatively.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It’s just awful what people do to each other, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I said.
She got up to blow her nose and when she calmed down, I got ready to ask her. “Sophia is one of the authors. Someone saw you and her arguing together. Which means that you do know her.” If I said it as if I was already a hundred percent sure, it would make it harder for her to lie.
She started crying again and nodded. “Yes.”
“I have to know. What from? What were you arguing about?”
She shook her head and continued crying. It took a while, and all that time I sat there patiently until she softly told me to go.
“What?”
“I won’t tell anyone anything except for the police,” she said with conviction.
“So there is something to tell.”
“Please, leave. Now.” She looked at me with determination, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Still, I didn’t mind whether or not she told me. As long as she told the police.
“Alright, then.” I got up and left. I closed the door behind me, relieved she hadn’t stabbed me in the back while I’d walked out. I mean, you never know. It would be just the kind of danger I’d love to put Detective Black in.
“Yes, just typical. Always putting me in danger right after the reveal,” he said. “It’s getting old.”
“Putting your protagonist in danger never gets old,” I said. Just as I took out my phone to ring Alistair, Pandora crossed the street and our eyes met. For a second I was frozen. Surely she would not attack me. We had an understanding. I think.
She let out one of her infamous screeches, and I ran, going straight towards the church. I’d hide at Eleanor’s. I glanced behind me as I kept running until I hit something and would have fallen to the ground if it wasn’t for two hands grabbing me.
“I knew you’d fall for me,” Alistair said with a chuckle. Then he stepped between me and Pandora. This time Alistair didn’t have a broom, but he still had that same intimidating stare.
She flapped her wings a few times, even looking like she’d advance, but at the last minute she trotted off. Happy to pretend she wasn’t scared of Alistair at all.
“Thanks for the rescue. Again.” I dusted off my shorts even though I hadn’t actually fallen. I was also sweating a lot, and I was lucky I hadn’t stuck to Alistair.
“Or maybe that makes you unlucky,” Detective Black said.
“Are you okay? Miles rang me to tell me you had asked for Kelly’s address.”
Clever Miles. “Sorry, I should have let you know myself, but I was excited about this lead, and I didn’t think Kelly was dangerous. I still don’t. Emblyn told me she saw Kelly and Sophia arguing. I didn’t think they knew each other, but they do. Something is fishy there. She said she didn’t want to tell me, but that she’d tell the police.”
“Interesting.”
“She clearly has a secret, but do you really think she could have killed her own family? Especially like that. There was so much blood.” I shivered.
“If it was premeditated, then she would have known that. They have the same disease.”
“Excuse me, say what now?”
“Right. Carl had Von Willebrand’s disease. His GP let us know before the autopsy. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. He died of blunt force trauma as we suspected, and the disease isn’t really important. It just explains why there was so much blood. Now, let’s go see what Kelly has to say for herself.”
I started following him as I Googled the disease. “Holy cowbell,” I said and stopped. “I know who the killer is.”