ANOTHER TRAGEDY
AT HEMLOCK BAY
Jacob flourished the Clarion’s headline for the benefit of Rachel and the Truemans. They were back in the drawing room of Gaunt House, and Trueman had just served cocktails. His latest triumph had a rich orange flavour and was called Damn-the-Weather. No question of basking under the sun in the roof garden today. The clouds had burst and the rain was bucketing down.
Hetty peered at the story. ‘So Jackson ran his car off Hemlock Heights?’
‘Remember the sharp bend on Beggarman’s Lane, between the lighthouse and the Fisherman’s Arms? Instead of dropping his speed, he pressed the accelerator and went straight over and on to the rocks.’
‘A horrible way to go,’ Martha said with a shudder.
‘At least it was quick and he made his own choice,’ Rachel said. ‘Inspector Oakes tells me he sent a note describing where his dead wife’s body is buried. But the police will handle matters without blighting two children’s lives by making their father’s crime public. I know you won’t breathe a word, Jacob.’
‘I gave you my promise,’ Jacob said. ‘You know I’d never break it.’
‘Thank you. The car accident itself can be blamed on the traumatic effect of recent events.’
Jacob nodded. ‘Gomersall has ended the Clarion Charlie campaign as a mark of respect. His editorial says the sympathies of all right-thinking people will be with Lady Jackson and her family.’
‘Good to see a popular newspaper showing compassion,’ Rachel said wryly. ‘I suppose you’d describe it a victory for civilised values?’
‘You took the words out of my mouth. Anyway, Gomersall has got all the publicity out of the seaside that he could hope for. And Harley was threatening to resign if he wasn’t allowed back to report on the cricket.’
‘I’ve had a note from him, inviting me to join him at the Lord’s Test match. He’s offered to teach me the finer points of the game.’
‘Hoping to bowl a maiden over,’ Martha said with an impudent grin.
‘Will you go?’ Jacob asked.
‘Let’s just say that he was stumped by my reply,’ Rachel said. ‘What’s the latest news? I can see you’re dying to tell me.’
‘Carson has cheated justice. Hung himself by a shoelace in the prison cell.’
Rachel shrugged. ‘Once he knew that Pearl wanted him dead, he had nothing left to live for.’
‘Joseph McAtee is paralysed. It’s still touch and go whether he’ll survive. If so, Pearl Carson will be on a capital charge. Assuming she’s fit to plead, that is. Apparently she’s raving like a maniac. Her mind has gone.’
‘I doubt she’ll hang. More likely she’ll end her days in a straitjacket.’
‘And Virginia Penrhos?’
Rachel handed him a postcard bearing a picture of S.S. Île de France and a scrawled message on the back:
On my way to Le Havre and then to New York and on to Santa Fe. Then perhaps Mexico. I miss Ffion but I shall miss you more.
Ginny
xxx
Jacob passed the postcard back to her. ‘She shielded a murderer.’
‘She cared for a sick lover. For a while she was swept away by Ffion’s homicidal fantasy, but working on Hemlock Bay offered her catharsis.’
Jacob glanced at the painting. He was beginning to understand what Rachel saw in it. There was something hypnotic about the blend of curve and colour.
‘When she came to her senses,’ Rachel said, ‘she did her utmost to talk Ffion out of her plan to commit the murder.’
He shrugged. ‘To no avail.’
‘Some people are beyond persuasion.’
Jacob savoured the earthy tang of his cocktail.
‘How much does Oakes know?’
‘Enough. He may have guessed more, but he’ll let well alone. Meanwhile Inspector Young is lapping up the credit for the arrest of the Carsons.’
‘So all’s well that ends well?’
Rachel looked him in the eye. ‘Not for everyone.’
He shifted in his chair. ‘What about the four of you?’
‘Our trip to the seaside wasn’t entirely restful. But holidays are like the English summer. Like life itself. You can never be sure what will happen next.’
‘I still don’t know what the future holds in store,’ Martha said wistfully.
Jacob was surprised by the bleakness of Rachel’s response.
‘Isn’t it better not to know?’