Still Death (A Lexie Wyatt murder mystery Book 1) Read online

  ‘Mummy, look.’ Ruth held up a fire engine. ‘We saw one like this.’

  ‘We did,’ said Lexie, and as they went into the living room she told Helen about the previous evening.

  ‘Evelyn rang me this morning about the fire,’ said Helen. ‘Gareth and I went round to do a bit of clearing up, not that there was much left. She’s not sure how it started. Poor thing, she really doesn’t need any more difficulties at the moment.’

  ‘I met Evelyn today when we walked past the house. We didn’t go in last night after the fire. There was another woman there. Miriam? I think that was her name. She said she’d check on Evelyn, mentioned something about her not being well.’

  ‘Evelyn was diagnosed with cancer some months ago. The doctors said she had a year.’ Helen shook her head. ‘She lives on her own. Until recently she’s done well, but it’s all taking a toll on her now.’

  That must have been what Evelyn alluded to when she said she didn’t want pity.

  ‘Has she got any family other than her son?

  ‘No. Her husband died a few years ago.’

  Lexie was beginning to get used to Helen’s accent. She sounded like the Queen, if the Queen ever talked about neighbours.

  ‘Did you manage to speak to Patrick? Evelyn told me about the hit and run and that a witness identified him as the driver.’

  Lines appeared on Helen’s forehead as if she wasn’t sure how much to say. ‘Patrick seems to have disappeared.’

  ‘Disappeared?’

  ‘No one’s seen him since the morning after the accident.’

  Rachel and Tilly burst into the room.

  ‘Mum, Rachel’s got a Living Lucy doll.’

  ‘That’s lovely, but make sure you’re careful with Rachel’s things.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Rachel’s not exactly gentle with her toys,’ said Helen.

  As soon as Ruth and Fiona saw the dolls, they left Jake with his cars and shuffled over to join the older girls.

  ‘Why do you talk different?’ Tilly sat on the floor with Living Lucy and stared up at Helen.

  ‘Tilly, that’s rude.’ At least she had said Helen’s accent was different, not funny. ‘I’m sorry, Helen.’

  ‘Don’t worry. I blame my mother. She didn’t like the local accent and so she sent me to elocution lessons as a kid. You can imagine the jokes I got at school.’

  ‘The things parents inflict on us,’ muttered Lexie. She wondered what Tilly and the twins would blame on her.

  ‘Mummy, I’m hungry,’ said Fiona.

  Lexie glanced at her watch. ‘Hell, I hadn’t realised it was so late.’

  Tilly wasn’t happy leaving Rachel and Living Lucy, but Lexie eventually got them into the car.

  Back at home, Lexie struggled with the antiquated cooker. The thermostat didn’t work and the oven just got hotter. Oh, how she hated cooking. She chucked some chicken and vegetables in a dish and added a stir-in sauce she found in one of the boxes marked Kitchen tins/jars and stuff.

  She considered letting the children stay up until Nathan came home, but after fighting through three baths and hair washes, she declared it was too late and they all had to go to bed. At least they had hot water.

  ‘But Mummy, I’m much older than Ruth and Fiona. I never go to bed at the same time. Astrid always lets me stay up later.’

  Lexie stopped herself from saying Astrid wasn’t here.

  ‘It’s late, and we’ve been busy this week.’

  She sat on Tilly’s bed and they talked about school for a few minutes. Tilly was excited about the following week.

  ‘I think you should colour your hair like Miss Barnes,’ she said.

  ‘Hmm, I’ll give that some thought. Now lights out and time for sleep.’

  Nathan arrived home just before the chicken was totally ruined. He kissed her and nuzzled her neck. ‘I’m sorry. I hadn’t planned on being this late, but things kept happening.’

  She kissed him back, determined not to be the nagging wife.

  The meal wouldn’t have won an award, but Nathan ate as if he hadn’t eaten all day. They talked about progress at the new factory and Lexie asked him about Compton Cheyney.

  ‘It’s a small place and the business park isn’t very old, but getting busier. We’re next to an airfield.’

  ‘Do many planes come in?’

  ‘Mostly light aircraft from the flying club, but an executive jet came in just as I was leaving. Fabulous plane. I’d love to look round it. The interiors are usually finished off to the owner’s specifications.’

  He gazed at the bare wall, obviously dreaming about the type of plane he’d like to own. ‘There was something strange, though.’

  ‘What, at work?’

  ‘No, when the plane came in. I was locking up the factory and thought I’d drive over and have a look. The only thing on the far side of the airfield is this compound. There’s a hangar and a couple of small buildings and they’re completely surrounded by a high fence topped with barbed wire.’

  ‘So what happened?’

  ‘The plane landed and taxied over to the compound. As I was in the car, I drove around the outside of the airfield. Just before you reach the compound, the road curves away and there’s a wood between it and the road. I parked and had a quick walk through but stayed within the tree line. The jet went straight into the hangar and everything was closed up. The hangar had all its lights on and there were cars parked outside, but I didn’t see anyone.’

  ‘Maybe they were late. Who’d be doing anything secretive in a place like this?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. It just seemed peculiar, that’s all.’

  ‘Maybe there’s a rehab place around here, and celebs come to dry out and don’t want the papers to know.’ Lexie picked up their plates and took them over to the sink. It was an old porcelain basin with numerous chips and no doubt home to millions of germs. She gazed around the kitchen. If it had a make-over the house wouldn’t be as bad.

  ‘How was your day?’ Nathan rested his head on her shoulder and gave her a kiss.

  ‘Not so great to begin with but it improved. I’ve enrolled Tilly in school; she starts on Monday. She’s very excited and wanted to stay up and tell you. You’ll have to act surprised in the morning.’

  ‘I could win an Oscar for acting surprised.’

  The subject of school reminded her that Tilly and Rachel had interrupted them as Helen told her about Patrick’s disappearance.

  4

  The following day Lexie unpacked more boxes, but her heart wasn’t in it. Dark grey clouds obscured the sky, which didn’t improve her mood. She wanted to visit Evelyn, but the children grizzled and argued with each other. Perhaps she’d have time to pop in once Nathan was home.

  ‘Let’s go out in the car.’ The words surprised her, as she was sure she’d been about to snap at them, yet again.

  She drove around, trying to figure out where she was in relation to the few parts of Nettleford she had already navigated. She’d only found the supermarket by accident. The town square loomed in front of her with the ubiquitous monument to someone who’d been born here. She negotiated the square twice before driving down one of the roads leading away from the lawns and found a parking space.

  The twins were grumpy and uncooperative, one lagging behind while the other raced ahead, but eventually they reached the patch of green marking the square. She fancied a drink in the pub, but it wasn’t a good look with three children. It would have to be the café.

  The clouds parted for a beam of sunshine to slant through the trees. Outside the café, three women sat around a metal and glass table. Lexie summed them up as a leader and two followers. The two followers sat in the shade, while the third woman enjoyed the only patch of sunshine. She was bronzed, as if she’d been away on holiday. It was unlikely she’d acquire such a tan in England. Her long, dark hair was sleek and shiny, unlike Lexie’s tangled curls. Fiona had dragged her sticky fingers through them while Lexie tried to get her into the car. The woman
wore a cerise silk dress, with a heavy gold chain around her neck and a matching bracelet. On anyone else, Lexie would have assumed the jewellery was imitation, but this woman didn’t look the kind to do fake.

  The two admirers laughed, and one said, ‘Oh Roni, I wish I’d seen his face.’

  Lexie herded the girls across the road, and Roni gave her a sweeping glance before turning back to her friends.

  Inside the café, Ruth chose her cake quickly but Tilly and Fiona took ages.

  ‘Come on, girls, hurry up.’

  Fiona eventually chose the same cake as Ruth, which Lexie had known she would, and Tilly selected a sausage roll. Tilly had always preferred savouries to cakes. Lexie ordered a coffee and went to join the girls. They’d chosen a table with only three seats. Lexie wondered if there was a subliminal message for her. She pulled a chair over from another table.

  Roni’s glance had been swift, but Lexie felt contempt emanating from the woman. If she’d worn her Armani suit Roni would look at her differently, although Armani would be over the top in Nettleford. Even as the thought flashed through her head, it annoyed her. She didn’t have to prove anything. Lexie peered down at her top and realised it was decorated with a patch of dried cereal and Nutella.

  Her real problem wasn’t the woman, Roni. Since she lost her job, she felt worthless.

  The waitress put a tray on the table, and three little pairs of hands reached out. ‘Wait,’ said Lexie. ‘You’ll knock things over. Let me do it.’

  She handed the gingerbread men to Ruth and Fiona, the sausage roll to Tilly, and gratefully picked up her coffee.

  She stared through the window at the square of grass, catching sight of the three women in her peripheral view. Roni, the one hogging the last shards of sunlight, seemed familiar somehow, although Lexie didn’t think they’d ever met.

  A few minutes later the women picked up their designer handbags and stood. They chatted for a moment before giving each other air kisses. Lexie was relieved when they left. Her lack of makeup and grubby clothes were a symptom of this big change.

  Nathan was happy. The thought wriggled its way to her consciousness. He’d never been concerned she earned more than he did. He was very laid-back in that way, but he did love planes and his job. Setting up and running this factory was a huge step for him.

  By the time the girls finished eating they were sticky and covered in crumbs. She must remember to carry around wipes.

  Helen rang as they walked back to the car.

  ‘I didn’t think to ask, but do you want the address and phone number of the pre-school that Jake attends?’ Helen’s posh accent was accentuated over the phone.

  ‘Oh, yes. That would be great. I haven’t got round to looking for one yet.’ Lexie scrabbled through her bag but didn’t have a pen or paper.

  ‘Come on round if you’re not doing anything. I’ve just picked up Jake and Rachel.’

  Lexie was only too happy to postpone going back to Cherry Tree Cottage, and it would be good for Ruth and Fiona to know at least one other child at the pre-school.

  She liked Helen’s modern comfortable house. The ancient oven in Cherry Tree Cottage drove her mad, although it seemed to work fine for Nathan, as if it could tell the difference between them.

  Helen gave her the details of the pre-school and they talked while the children played together upstairs. Lexie told Helen about seeing Miriam the previous day.

  ‘I wouldn’t take it personally. She ignores everyone except Evelyn. I thought things might change when her daughter started school, but apparently Miriam’s home-schooling her.’

  ‘I wondered if she had other reasons for keeping such a low profile. An abusive ex or something like that.’

  ‘She’s certainly taking extreme measures, as if she doesn’t trust anyone.’

  ‘Have you found out anything more about Patrick?’

  Helen shrugged. ‘I’ve rung him, but he hasn’t answered, and I’ve left a couple of messages saying his mother is worried, which I’m sure he knows. I rang the police, but they’re not saying much other than they want to talk to him about the accident.’

  ‘Terrible timing with Evelyn’s garage burning down.’

  ‘It’s not good for her at all considering her health.’

  ‘What’s he like?’ asked Lexie. ‘Evelyn said he couldn’t be involved, but I guess a mother is biased.’

  ‘I’ve met him a few times, but I can’t say I know him well. He’s a journalist, works in London, but he visits Evelyn regularly. She thinks the world of him and he’s always done everything he can for her.’

  ‘Do you think he’s the sort of person who wouldn’t stop if he was involved in an accident?’

  ‘That’s a hard one,’ said Helen. ‘From what I’ve seen of him and the tone of his newspaper articles, I’d say no, but people do panic in the heat of the moment. However, I would have thought he’d go to the police once he got over the initial shock. Especially as Evelyn said the woman was his girlfriend. That makes it feel so much worse.’

  ‘You mean less like an accident.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say it to Evelyn, but yes.’ Helen shook her head and sighed. ‘I suppose we shouldn’t speculate, but it does look bad.’

  Lexie and the girls had only been home a few minutes when her mother rang.

  ‘Hello, darling, how’s everything going?’

  ‘Not too bad, although it’ll take a while to settle in.’

  They talked for a few minutes until Lexie’s mother broached the subject of visiting.

  ‘I hate to do this when you’ve only just moved in, but there’s an event in your area that we’d like to see and your father doesn’t have many gaps in his work diary.’

  ‘Sure, not a problem.’

  Lexie sighed as she ended the call. She loved seeing her parents, but she wished they were able to leave the visit until she felt more settled.

  ‘Don’t you want Nana to come?’ asked Tilly.

  Lexie sat on the floor next to her. ‘Your nana is my mum, and I love seeing her, but things are busy right now so it would be easier if she left it for a few weeks.’

  ‘Why don’t you tell her?’ Tilly looked at her with a puzzled frown and Lexie gave her a hug.

  ‘Because it might upset her and make her think we didn’t want her to come.’

  ‘That’s silly. I’d tell you if I didn’t want you to visit me.’

  When Nathan got home, the children demanded his attention. He picked up Fiona and swung her round, playing the girls’ favourite game of planes. She screamed in delight.

  ‘Me, Daddy, my turn now,’ shrieked Ruth.

  While Nathan played with the children, Lexie took the opportunity to visit Evelyn. She opened the back door and called out, as Evelyn had told her to do.

  ‘Hello, dear, I’m in the living room. Come on in.’

  ‘I cut a few roses from the bushes in our garden,’ said Lexie. ‘They’ve got a gorgeous scent.’

  ‘Oh, how lovely. Thank you, they’re beautiful.’

  Lexie found a small vase in the kitchen and arranged the flowers. ‘How are you feeling today?’

  ‘I walked around the garden this morning, so I consider that pretty good.’ Evelyn chuckled. ‘Not like I used to be, though.’

  Lexie wished she was as positive and cheerful as Evelyn. Her problems were pretty trivial in comparison to Evelyn’s. She put the vase of flowers next to a framed photograph. ‘Is this Patrick?’

  ‘Yes. It was taken last year. That’s Caroline with him. She was such a gentle girl, serene. Patrick’s job means he sees the worst of people. Caroline was a good balance for him.’

  ‘She’s very attractive.’

  ‘Caroline grew up in Kent but her grandmother, or great-grandmother was from…’ Evelyn shook her head. ‘I’m sure this medication is playing with my memory. Somewhere in Asia, I can’t remember where.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Lexie put the photo back and sat down. ‘Have you always lived in Nettleford?
’

  ‘No. My husband worked in the oil industry. We lived all over the place. Europe, the Middle East and even in America for a while. We had Patrick late in life and managed to settle down as he got older, but I loved travelling.’

  ‘You sound as though you had an amazing time.’

  ‘Oh, we did. We were lucky. The Middle East was a different place back then. We also lived in Paris for a few years. I think that was my favourite time, it’s such a wonderful city.’

  Lexie thought of their life in London.

  ‘I’m sorry, dear, have I said something to upset you?’

  ‘No, not at all. It all sounds wonderful.’

  ‘It’s hard adjusting to new places?’

  Lexie nodded. Evelyn could already read her well.

  ‘What was your job?’

  ‘I worked for this guy, Freddie. He was full of ideas and created several successful businesses but then decided he wanted to do more than that. He set up Raines to help other people get their business ideas off the ground. I worked with some amazing people on all sorts of projects. There was never a dull moment and it was an incredible atmosphere.’

  ‘You said yesterday the company was sold. How did that happen?’

  ‘Freddie died suddenly. A heart attack. Money wasn’t a problem for the business, but the board decided to sell when an American company made them an offer. Unfortunately, they didn’t negotiate any employment guarantees for us. There was so much talent, but the new owners got rid of most of us and brought in their own people.’

  ‘That’s hard for you, and unfair.’

  Lexie felt the now almost-familiar lump forming in her throat. ‘I can’t help the bitterness.’ She rubbed her eyes. ‘And when I think about what you’re going through, compared to this, it makes me feel bad.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ said Evelyn. ‘Don’t deny your own feelings and say they’re not important. We’re all in different stages of life and have to cope with different things.’

  Lexie reached over and gave Evelyn a hug. ‘Thank you so much.’

  Evelyn patted Lexie’s arm. ‘No one is perfect at anything right from the beginning. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It takes time.’