50.

Belle glanced at Oliver. ‘Did you find an address for the nanny?’

He grinned. ‘What do you think?’

She laughed. ‘You did?’

‘Come on.’ He held out a hand. ‘Better get back to the flat. It’s looking like rain.’

‘Shouldn’t we look for her now?’

‘It’s getting dark. We’re both tired and her business is in Chinatown, not a great place to be at night. First thing tomorrow. To be honest, I need a shower and I’m sure you must too.’

Belle felt damp inside her dress and, yes, she’d kill for a shower but … ‘Shouldn’t we get a move on?’ she said. ‘If she does know anything, someone might get to her before we do.’

‘True. A bite to eat first?’

She agreed, so after a rickshaw ride to Chinatown they entered a small dimly lit restaurant bursting with Chinese folk.

‘Always a good sign when a place is jam-packed with locals,’ he said as they were seated at the last available table.

‘I hope the service isn’t too slow.’

‘Relax. We have time and the Licensing Office is already closed so nobody will find out we know where she is.’

‘Edward told me he knew I’d been making enquiries.’

‘The Land Registry may have let him know.’

‘Why would they?’

‘A man like Edward has informants everywhere. But remember, apart from the familial connection we have no reason to link him to the bomb or to Elvira’s disappearance.’

She thought for a moment. ‘Except for what Harry told us about the Rangoon Intelligence Unit.’

‘True. But a lot of people could be responsible, not only Edward.’

‘Why are you defending him?’

‘I’m not. I’m just saying we don’t know.’

They stopped talking and listened instead to the sound of Chinese voices and the clang and clatter springing from the kitchen. Suddenly hungrier than before, Belle’s mouth watered at the fragrant aroma of Chinese spices. She was glancing around the room at the other customers when a sudden burst of rainfall followed by thunder grabbed everyone’s attention. All heads automatically swivelled in the direction of the window where the restaurant lights had turned a solid sheet of rain to red and gold.

‘The monsoon,’ Oliver said, and she could hear the relief in his voice. ‘First rain of the season. Wonderful.’

She felt the wonder too. The gathering humidity had become intolerable and though rain made some things more difficult they needed the respite from the heat.

When they had finished their meal, Oliver borrowed an umbrella from the proprietor with promises to return it the following day.

The world outside had dissolved in the deluge, the rain discharging a thousand scents and odours into the air, some, like the fragrant flowers cascading from window boxes, enjoyable, others less attractive. Perhaps rancid oil and something sour from overflowing drains. The torrent obliterated anything they might otherwise have been able to see and, despite the umbrella, within a few minutes they were soaked. Oliver had a reasonable idea of where they were headed and kept glancing at doorways and into alleyways to identify their exact whereabouts. They spotted the shine of a car’s headlights as it came crawling up the street and he pulled her back into a dark doorway until it had passed. Soon after, they reached an area where the shops were still lit up like hazy beacons shining through the wall of glistening rain.

‘Let’s ask,’ he said as they eventually stood outside a newsagent’s shop. ‘I think this is it. I’m pretty sure I’ve been here before, although it’s not a woman who runs it. I know the guy.’

He held on to Belle’s arm, then opened the door. They both went inside, shaking the wet from their hair.

Oliver explained who they were looking for and the man stared at him coldly. ‘Like I say the other man, she gone. I do not know where.’

‘Come on, you know who I am. We are not the government and I believe the old lady might be in danger. We can help.’

The man looked confused.

‘At least tell me what the other man who came looked like.’

‘Tall man. Eurasian.’

Belle and Oliver exchanged looks.

‘But other man with him. Older, British. Not too tall. Slim, grey hair coming here.’ He pointed to his temples. ‘He was boss, in charge.’

‘Could it really be Edward?’ Belle whispered, but then thought of the many British men who might fit a similar description.

‘Look,’ Oliver was saying, ‘we are here to help the lady. Not cause trouble.’

The man shook his head but was looking increasingly worried and Belle wondered what to say next. ‘Are you certain you don’t know where she is?’ she came out with.

‘She give me the shop. All legal.’

Belle smiled at him and spoke gently. ‘We’re not bothered about that.’

He narrowed his eyes. ‘So, what you want?’

‘To talk. Are you a relative?’

He opened his mouth but just as Belle felt they were beginning to get somewhere he asked them to leave. She felt utterly despondent. There was nobody else who might know and now it looked like they’d never find out who had buried the baby, or why they had buried it at number twenty-one, or even who the child had been. She didn’t want to admit it but in her deepest being she felt certain it had to have been her sister.

But right then, an old lady slipped through from the back. The man quickly gestured she should go back inside but Oliver was ahead of him.

‘Liu Lin?’ he asked, and the woman nodded without seeming to consider first. ‘You used to be a nanny?’

She nodded again cautiously. ‘A long time ago.’

‘I think we need to talk.’

The man spoke to her in a Chinese dialect, but she waved whatever he had said away.

‘I’ll speak with you. Upstairs.’

They followed the old lady up a narrow staircase. At the top she pulled aside a curtain and then pushed a section of the wooden wall behind it. They went through what was clearly a secret door into what had to be the next house.

‘My sister’s house,’ she said by way of explanation. ‘Dead. Mine now and my brother has the shop. I am hiding here.’

She indicated they were to sit on cushions on the floor.

‘What is it you wish to speak about?’ she said, once they were settled.

Belle spoke first. ‘I want to know if the baby who was buried in the garden of George de Clemente’s house, where you used to work, is my sister.’

Liu Lin stared at her for a long time.

‘Please, if you know anything?’ Belle pleaded.

‘Who was your sister?’

‘My parents, Diana and Douglas Hatton, lived two doors away in Golden Valley. Their baby, my sister, a little girl called Elvira, vanished from the garden in 1911.’

The old woman shook her head. ‘It was not her.’

‘Then who?’

‘They gave me money never to say.’

‘Who? Please tell us.’

‘The body in the garden of the de Clemente house was my mistress’s child. Born without breath.’

Belle frowned. ‘But why did it have to be a secret?’

Liu Lin bit her lip and paled.

‘People must have known her baby had not lived.’

‘Only me. I knew. The baby was a little early and I assisted with the birth. Mr de Clemente was still on his way back from Shan States and arrived three days later.’

‘So?’

‘Mrs de Clemente had gone crazy, told me I would be dismissed if I told anyone. She refused to accept the baby was dead, would not let me near, would not let me arrange a funeral, would not let anyone in her room. Just me. No one in the house knew the baby was dead. I told them everything was fine and Mrs de Clemente needed her privacy. A day later when she heard the Hatton baby crying and crying …’

The woman paused but Belle, mesmerized by the story, and feeling a lump in her throat, knew what was coming next.

‘She slipped into the garden of number twenty-three, from a path that ran behind all the gardens, picked up the baby girl and brought her home. That night she told me to bury her own baby in the wild part of our garden where nobody went.’

‘Oh, dear God,’ Belle exclaimed as the truth of it sank in.

‘I dug a hole and covered the ground with branches and leaves. I had to wait until the servants had gone home or were asleep.’

‘Didn’t anyone make the connection when Elvira went missing?’ Oliver asked.

‘No, because nobody but me knew Mrs de Clemente’s own baby had been born dead.’

‘What about a doctor?’

‘She forced me not to call a doctor.’

‘And what about her husband? Did she tell him the truth?’

‘No.’

‘He knew nothing about it?’

‘When the police began searching for the missing baby I got scared and told him what had happened. I thought he would insist his wife give the baby back, but he said no. They would leave Rangoon instead. The scandal if people know his wife had stolen a baby would ruin him.’

‘So, they went to Kalaw?’

‘I went with them. They told everyone it was for a holiday but after a week passed we all came back to Rangoon at night. They paid me a lot of money never to speak of what had happened and then they secretly headed out of the country by car. I believe they were going in the direction of Thailand. Certainly they were never seen in Burma again. They said I’d die if I spoke and so I bought the shop and the two houses, one for my sister, one for me and my brother.’

Oliver looked incredulous. ‘And you didn’t think how the Hattons must have felt? You did not think to go to the police?’

‘I tried to tell Mrs de Clemente it was wrong, but she yelled at me, and Mr de Clemente, he was worse. He threatened my family. I was scared.’

‘They must have needed help to get away?’

‘We came back to Rangoon from Kalaw in one car and then we met Mr de Clemente’s nephew at the Strand Hotel.’

‘Edward de Clemente,’ Belle said in a very low voice, feeling sick.

‘Yes, Mr Edward. He often used to come to the house for dinner. His uncle helped him with his career.’

‘I bet he did,’ Oliver said, his voice deliberately curt.

‘This nephew had another car waiting ready for them.’

‘So, my baby sister went with them and my poor mother was accused of hurting her own child.’

‘I am sorry.’

‘Why reveal all this to us now?’

‘I am ill. It was a terrible thing. I do not wish to go to my grave with it still on my conscience.’

‘Did Edward de Clemente threaten you?’

She nodded. ‘He threatened my brother.’

‘Recently?’

‘A few months ago. I stayed up here, but I heard my brother tell him I had gone to China. This Edward de Clemente told my brother if people come asking questions to let him know or there will be big trouble.’

‘Why didn’t you leave then?’

‘I planned to.’

‘And your brother, he’d go with you?’

‘Yes, but first I had to sell the houses. Without money, where would we go? I knew if we stayed we both might be killed. But I have not found a buyer yet and, as I said, I am ill.’

Oliver put a hand on her shoulder and spoke gently. ‘Are you prepared to say all this to the police?’

The woman closed her eyes and didn’t reply for a few moments but then she agreed.

Oliver gave her an encouraging smile. ‘It would be best if you and your brother come with us and stay in a safe place until you have made a statement to the police.’

She nodded.

For a moment Belle felt shocked but gradually, despite hearing the truth of what had happened, a bubble of something like hope was rising and taking over from all her other feelings. If the de Clementes had gone to America, and if something awful hadn’t happened to Elvira subsequently, then she might still have a real live sister. This was more than she had dared to imagine and her emotions swelled with possibility and hope.

She gazed at the woman before speaking. ‘Do you know if the baby lived?’

Liu Lin and her brother were taken to safety and gave statements to the police. Early the next morning, Belle was alone at Oliver’s apartment milling everything over, while he went out for food. There was a knock at the door and after a moment she heard Gloria.

‘Belle, if you are there, let me in. For Christ’s sake, it’s urgent.’

Belle hesitated but felt so angry hearing her voice, she knew she had to see the woman face to face.

When Gloria came in Belle was shocked. Her face was a ruin. She wore yesterday’s make-up and Belle could see how it had settled into the fine lines around her eyes and into the deeper grooves running from the sides of her nose to her mouth. She smelt of stale perfume and the whites of her puffy eyes were red.

‘You’ve really got to help,’ she said in a rush, not looking at Belle as she paced back and forth distractedly.

‘What do you mean?’

Gloria stared at her as if she was stupid. ‘This is your fault. They’ve arrested Edward and he’s been charged with perverting the course of justice. If he’s convicted he stands to lose everything. Career, reputation, friends.’

‘Like my parents lost everything that really mattered, you mean?’

‘I’m sorry, Belle, but it was such a long time ago. This is now, and Edward still has such a bright future. Surely you don’t want to destroy it?’

Belle was amazed how Gloria could dismiss what had happened to her parents so lightly.

‘I don’t think you understand how much my parents suffered. And how much that affected me.’

‘But you never knew your sister.’

‘It drove my mother out of her mind. I think she came to believe she’d hurt her own child.’

‘Edward was just helping out our uncle. He didn’t take the baby.’

‘He covered it up. A criminal offence, Gloria. And if I have anything to do with it he’ll also be charged with aiding and abetting, plus obstructing the police in their enquiries. As will you.’

‘I swear I knew nothing at the time. It was only later …’ She trailed off as Belle glared at her.

Gloria lit a cigarette and then tried sucking up to Belle. ‘Look, whatever you want, I’ll do it. Maybe contact my cousin, Emily … Elvira that was? Could you help get Edward out if I did that?’

Belle stood motionless. Still alive. Finally, she knew for sure. Her sister was still alive.

And yet, now it had been confirmed, she hardly knew how to respond. After everything she’d been through, she stared at Gloria with mounting relief fighting against her rage. She steeled herself. Gloria and her brother had concealed her sister’s existence and that could never be forgiven.

‘Does she know? Emily, does she know the truth about what happened to her?’

Gloria nodded.

‘When did she find out?’

‘After her mother died, Emily discovered a letter … Marie had confessed everything.’

‘When?’

‘Just a few months ago.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’

‘Does she know about me?’

‘No.’

After a long silence Belle clenched her hands and snorted. ‘And you think contacting her would be enough to make up for what you did?’

‘Well, what would be enough? I have money.’

As Belle’s anger turned icy cold she articulated her words with bitter precision. ‘You mistake my meaning. You knew I was searching for Elvira. You let me believe it might have been my own mother who had hurt her.’

‘I –’

Belle held up a palm. ‘No! You don’t get to speak. You encouraged me to go off on a wild goose chase with Harry where, I might add, I was very nearly killed. How convenient it would have been. And I suppose my little brush with death had nothing to do with you or your brother?’

Gloria shook her head. ‘I don’t know anything about it and I’m sure Edward doesn’t either. Can you prove it was him?’

‘Probably not, but our witness can attest to what happened twenty-six years ago.’

‘Please, Belle. Edward was so young at the time, scarcely starting out on his career. I’m begging you to ask the witness to withdraw her statement.’

Belle stared at her in disbelief.

Gloria threw herself into a chair and, covering her face with her hands, began to weep. ‘This will destroy our family name.’

‘Listen, Gloria, I’ll tell you what we are going to do. You are going to give me Emily’s address and I am going to contact her myself. It’s the least you can do.’

‘And Edward?’

‘Edward will get exactly what he deserves.’

She shook her head as she stared at Gloria and neither woman spoke, but something about the other woman’s eyes, a knowing look, guilt maybe, made Belle’s mouth fall open. Suddenly she felt as if her blood had frozen. ‘It was you, wasn’t it? You sent those anonymous notes. For God’s sake, Gloria, why?’

She’d expected a vigorous denial, but Gloria didn’t deny it. Instead, with a flash of defiance, her eyes lit up. ‘It was for the best of reasons. I wanted to prevent you from getting too close to the truth. I was worried it would put you in danger if you dug too deep.’

‘Danger from whom?’

Gloria ignored her question though Belle knew she was referring to Edward. ‘I hoped the notes might encourage you to leave.’

Belle whistled. ‘Oh my. That’s rich! You’re proud of what you did? You were looking out for me?’

Gloria nodded numbly. ‘It’s why I encouraged you to go to Mandalay. I needed time to think of ways to persuade you to stop searching, especially in Rangoon.’

‘But you helped me at the beginning?’

‘It would have seemed too obvious I had something to hide if I’d tried to hinder you.’

‘Edward too?’

She nodded. ‘Neither of us thought you’d ever uncover the truth.’

‘And so you warned me off Oliver. You knew he had the skill and the contacts. You realized he’d know where to look.’

Gloria didn’t move a muscle, her face frozen but for the mascara sliding down her cheeks. Belle felt no pity whatsoever.