Chapter twenty-nine

‘W

hat? You saw Harold kill Edmund?’ Charlotte was stunned. This was the last thing she had expected to hear. But if it were true…

Maud tried to clutch her arm and Charlotte gently gripped the twisted fingers.

‘Yes. God forgive me, but I did. They didn’t…know I was there. It was dark and I was…on my way to see…Harold at the farm from my parents’ house…at Jerbourg.’ She coughed and Charlotte held the beaker of water to her lips, letting her take a long drink. ‘Thank…you,’ she said. Taking a deep breath she continued, ‘I saw them facing each other near…the edge of the cliff and I…hid behind some shrubs. They were…shouting. Edmund said something about…Harold spreading rumours that he, Edmund, was an informer when they…both knew it was Harold. Edmund said when he…confronted Harold about it he had promised to stop…but Edmund said he knew he hadn’t. Said he was going to…report him to the…Resistance. Harold said he wouldn’t…dare, they were family. Got angry and starting punching…Edmund in the head…Harold was a big man. Edmund fell down…didn’t get up.’ Maud gasped and mouthed “water” so Charlotte again held the beaker for her. Her head was spinning with what she had heard and she wished she had asked for tea after all.

Maud went on, her voice sunk even lower, ‘Before I realised what…he was going to do, Harold dragged Edmund…to the edge and…pushed him off.’ Tears glistened in her eyes and her face crumpled in misery. Charlotte gently wiped Maud’s eyes with a tissue, feeling sorry for the old lady who had held such a terrible secret for so many years. Although she did wonder how she could have borne to marry a man she saw kill his brother…

‘To this day I don’t know…if Edmund was still alive when…when Harold threw him off the cliff.’ She gazed at Charlotte through wet eyes. ‘I’ve never told a soul. Not even Harold knows I…I saw him that night.’

Charlotte cleared her throat. ‘May I ask why you didn’t tell him?’

‘I was afraid to. And…and I was in love with him. Or at least I thought…I was,’ she added, a bitter note creeping in. ‘Barely twenty, I was besotted. He had a…swagger, a way of talking, you knew he…would be somebody. There was a war on…the Germans…lack of food. I wanted someone to protect…me.’ She turned her head away, saying, ‘I never wanted Edmund…dead, he was a good…man, but after…I realised Harold would…inherit and if we married I’d be secure.’

She watched as Maud’s face dissolved into a spasm of self-disgust. Again she wondered how she could have lived with herself, but looking at her now she realised she hadn’t. Her ravaged body was the result of what Paul referred to as karma. As for the killer himself…her hands gripped into fists at the thought of him not only getting away scot-free, but of inheriting someone else’s fortune.

‘Have you thought of telling the police? To get justice for Edmund and his family?’

Still with her head turned away, Maud said, ‘I couldn’t face the shame and, and I have no money…of my own. But when I’m…gone, it won’t matter. Want to stop Dave…inheriting, he’s no good. You could tell the police.’ Slowly Maud turned her head and her eyes seemed to be pleading with her.

‘It’s not that simple. Without evidence the police could do nothing.’ Charlotte thought for a moment. ‘Would you be prepared to sign a statement of what happened?’

‘If you promised…it wouldn’t be given to the…police until after I died.’

As it looked as if the poor woman wouldn’t live much longer, she quickly agreed. ‘I can write it all down now, if you wish. And we can ask Sal to witness your signature. She doesn’t need to see what you’re signing.’

Maud nodded her agreement and Charlotte took out her notepad and wrote what she dictated. She then read it back to make sure Maud was happy with it before calling Sal upstairs. Covering what she had written, she asked Sal to witness Maud signing it.

Sal frowned. ‘I’m not sure I should if I don’t know what she’s signing. Could be something harmful to her.’

‘It isn’t, I assure you, Sal, but I respect your decision. Thank you, I’ll sort something out.’

Sal, with a worried look at Maud, left.

The old lady blinked rapidly. ‘Does that mean what I said isn’t…going to count for anything?’

Charlotte had an idea. ‘Not necessarily. What if I asked the rector to witness you signing it? I’m sure he’d be willing to help and wouldn’t tell the police until…’

‘I suppose so, if there’s no other way. Hadn’t wanted him to know…ashamed, but if no choice…’

‘Good. I’ll contact him and he can get in touch with you. By the way, you said something about Edmund’s son. Surely he should have inherited instead of Harold?’

‘By rights, yes. No-one knew he…had a son back then, his widow disappeared to France. It was a big…shock when he…turned up years later! Harold nearly had a heart attack,’ Maud said, looking puzzled. ‘He…came here to see us and…Harold took him off somewhere…to talk. Next thing I knew the…man left, looking as white as a…sheet. Harold told me they’d come to an…arrangement and we were…to keep everything. Thought it was odd, but was glad…my son.’

‘I understand. It would have been a big upset to lose your home and land.’ Charlotte was disappointed Maud didn’t know more, had hoped to solve the mystery, for Andy’s sake if nothing else. ‘I think I’d better leave you to rest now, Mrs Batiste. Do take care.’

She patted her arm and the old lady nodded before closing her eyes. Charlotte put the statement in her bag and returned downstairs to find Sal hovering in the hall, looking unhappy.

‘I didn’t mean to imply you were doing anything wrong, Miss Townsend, but Maud hardly knows you and–’

‘It’s all right, Sal, you were right to be cautious. We’re going to ask the rector to be a witness instead.’

The woman’s face cleared. ‘Oh, that’s a relief. If he thinks it’s okay, then I needn’t worry.’

‘There’s just one thing, Mrs Batiste would rather her husband didn’t know about this, so if you’d keep it to yourself please?’

Sal smiled. ‘No problem. I won’t breathe a word.’

‘Thank you. Bye for now,’ Charlotte said, keen to get away. As Sal opened the front door she was relieved to see Harold’s car was not outside and after jumping into her own, sped down the drive. At the bottom she halted, then made a sudden decision to turn right towards Jerbourg. Once in the car park she phoned the rector. Luckily he was at home and she asked to call round to see him, saying it was urgent. He said to give him thirty minutes and she agreed. Her hands shaking with excitement she called Andy.

‘Hi, I’ve got something incredible to tell you…’

Charlotte pulled into the rectory drive, a multitude of butterflies flapping around her stomach. The rector had to agree! Or else…she didn’t want to think about that and rang the bell with gusto. Martin opened the door, eyebrows raised. ‘I know you said it was urgent, but–’

‘Sorry! Forgive me, Martin, but once I explain I hope you’ll understand.’

Once settled in his study, Charlotte told him about Maud’s confession and her request concerning the police. Martin’s eyes widened in surprise as he listened.

‘I hadn’t been aware of this man Edmund until now. I’d assumed Harold had inherited as the only son. It’s quite a sorry tale, isn’t it? And Edmund had a son who should have been the heir?’ He shook his head, frowning.

‘Yes, apparently. Look, I have her statement here,’ she said, handing it over. ‘It’s not signed, of course, but if you were willing to witness Mrs Batiste signing it, then it would be evidence against Harold, wouldn’t it?’

‘I suppose so. It does explain a lot about why she seems afraid of him, doesn’t it?’

Charlotte nodded. She wanted to hurry Martin on, but realised as she wasn’t supposed to have any connection to the family, it might look odd. ‘Are you happy to witness it? Mrs Batiste was happy to have you there and no-one else. Because of confidentiality.’

‘I don’t see why not. If it eases her conscience and brings justice to the poor man’s family. Although it will be up to the courts to decide.’ He sighed. ‘I had no idea what a can of worms we’d open when I put you in touch with her. Still, you weren’t to know either. Must have been quite a shock,’ he said, gazing at her.

‘Yes it, er, was. But perhaps some good will come out of it, as you say. I’m a great one for justice,’ she said, squirming in her chair.

‘Right, well thank you, Charlotte. I’ll go round tomorrow as time seems to be running out for the old lady. Am I supposed to hold on to her statement until…later?’

She hadn’t thought about that. She knew Andy would have liked it in his own hands but couldn’t think of a valid reason to ask for it back. But if you couldn’t trust a man of God, who could you trust?

‘Please. And would you let me know when you’ve been to see her? So I can feel at ease.’

‘Of course. It sounds as if you two built up quite a rapport for Mrs Batiste to trust you with something so, so momentous. I’m glad, as I don’t think she had many friends.’

Charlotte left feeling a little calmer but still anxious. Afraid Maud would not live until the rector witnessed her sign the all-important document. One which would at last guarantee Jim’s inheritance.