03 - Murder in Mink (25 page)

Tommy’s eyes wandered to the boot of the car. It was
reasonably big, the sort advertised for being capacious enough for a luggage
trunk or a picnic basket. Maybe even a body…

Tommy rolled himself around the back of the car. The
sergeant was still shouting at his constable, clearly feeling the need to make
a very elaborate point over the matter. Tommy fingered the boot. There was a
spare wheel fixed to it and a shiny oval handle in chrome just below. Tommy took
it in his hand and turned it. The handle moved easily and a click followed
indicating the boot had popped open. Tommy knew he was holding his breath, but
couldn’t help it because beneath the lid of that boot could be the clue they
needed or nothing at all. Tommy lifted the boot; the space below was dark and
empty except for another travel blanket.

Tommy sighed. It had been a nice hope while it lasted.
For the sake of thoroughness he moved the neatly folded blanket. There was
nothing behind it. Tommy went to put down the blanket and paused. The bundle of
cloth felt oddly bulky, as though something was tucked inside and causing the
blanket to bulge in the centre. Tommy unfolded the blanket, he was just pulling
it open when the sergeant appeared.

“And what do you think you are doing?” Demanded the
policeman.

Tommy looked up at him and grinned.

“I think you better go fetch Inspector Jennings.” He held
up a folded mink stole.

Inspector Jennings glanced up at the sergeant hovering in
the doorway. He was feeling more than a little frustrated and the last thing he
wanted to see was his sergeant standing anxiously to one side.

“What is it sergeant?” He demanded.

The sergeant gnawed at his lip a moment and then held out
his arms. The mink stole was draped over them.

“We found it in the Reverend’s car boot.”

Draper’s eyes flashed.

“H…how did you get into my car?”

Clara ignored him. She stood up and fetched the stole.
She studied it for a while.

“This is Shirley Cox’s mink stole, the one she was last
seen wearing on Saturday. The one that was missing when her body was found.”
Clara said softly.

Draper glanced between her and the inspector.

“I…I…I…”

“I believe you said you did not know Shirley Cox?”
Jennings said coolly.

Draper’s calm was leaving him. He was beginning to tremble.

“Wait, I do recall a lady visiting me. She was
distressed, I never did quite catch her name. I gave her a lift in my car, she
must have dropped the stole.”

“It was folded in a blanket in the boot of your car.”
Tommy announced from the doorway. The constable had helped him up the steps
into the house.

Draper stared around at them all, his mouth working but
no words coming out.

“How…” He finally settled his attention on Jennings, “You
can’t do this to me, my reputation is everything.”

“You murdered Shirley Cox.” Jennings said calmly, “You
ruined yourself. I have witnesses to place her here and the mink stole that we
were certain had been taken by her killer. With all that against you, do you
still deny knowing Shirley Cox?”

Draper hesitated for a long time. There was really little
he could do. Denying the evidence was not going to help. He whirled his thumbs
together in his lap, slowly making up his mind. He gave a little sigh at last.

“I don’t suppose I really thought I could carry on
forever.” He said sadly, “Someone was going to spot it eventually.”

“I think your bishop will be very curious to know how you
could afford a car on a Reverend’s living.” Jennings hinted, planting the last
nail in the coffin.

“Need I explain that? You have Mrs Patterson after all. I
presume she has explained our association.”

“She has and it was clearly a profitable one for you at
least.” Answered Jennings, “Now, will you tell us about Shirley?”

Draper sighed again, he eyed his audience warily. He was
not a tough man, not really, and he knew when the game was up.

“I never meant to kill her.” He said quietly, hoping to
draw some sympathy from at least Clara, but she remained silent, “She came here
on Saturday night. I dreaded she would, I hadn’t seen her in years. The last we
spoke she was planning on marrying this young soldier, that was what finished
our affair. Not that I really worried, I’m not the jealous type. I wished her
luck and off I went. Normally when I finish with a girl I give them a little
something to set them on their way, but Shirley finished with me, so I didn’t.
Then she comes on Saturday with all these ideas that I owe her.”

Draper shook his head.

“I didn’t owe her anything, but she wanted money. She was
completely broke and the old life had worn her down. How was I to know that
soldier had been Andrew Campbell or that he had left her like that? She was
aggressive. She shouted. I hate shouting. I wanted to leave but she wouldn’t
let me go. I tried to make
her
leave and she turned into a banshee
yelling abuse. I…I don’t really know what happened. She was making me so angry
and afraid. What if the neighbours heard? What if she told somebody about me? I
wanted her to be quiet and I grabbed at her, I only meant to make her stop
yelling but my hands fell on that damn stole and I hauled it tight. At first I
hardly knew why I was doing it, only it made her quieter. Then I couldn’t let
go and then…” Draper fell into silence.

“Why did you leave the body at the racetrack?” Clara
asked.

“I thought it might throw the blame onto Andrew
Campbell.” Draper rubbed at his arms as if he was cold, “Are you going to
arrest me?”

“Yes.” Jennings nodded.

Draper resigned himself to the situation.

“They don’t hang men of the cloth, usually.” He said,
almost to himself, “I imagine they will be lenient.”

Clara wanted to kick him. His amiable expression was back
as if he had not just confessed to murdering someone. He was so complacent,
assuming his dog-collar would spare him the worst the courts had to offer. She
hoped he came upon a very mean jury and a judge who wasn’t swayed by the façade
a man wore.

“Shouldn’t you rather be worrying about God’s leniency?”
She said.

Draper looked at her, his expression genuinely puzzled.

“Why?” He asked.

And Clara realised he meant it.

Bags packed, Clara was only too glad to be leaving the
Campbell house. Timmy was loading the car with their belongings. Their train
would be leaving at 11.15am, taking them back to Brighton, back home.

Hogarth stood on the porch of the house and watched the
proceedings. He was a quieter man than when she had first arrived, a man with a
lot of challenges ahead of him. Clara went to say her farewells.

“I hope you will come down for a visit at Christmas.” She
told him, “Brighton does a good show at Christmas, the shops are beautiful.”

Hogarth gave her a smile and embraced her.

“Thank you for everything Clara.” He said in her ear.

She knew he didn’t just mean finding Shirley’s murderer
and saving Andrew, his thoughts were on Susan and Peg too.

“I was just being my usual nosy self.” Clara shrugged at
him, “I would do it for anyone.”

Hogarth patted her shoulder, his eyes growing tearful.

“Just like your father. I miss him dreadfully.”

“Oh now Hogarth.” Glorianna fussed at her husband, “Clara
doesn’t need tears to see her off. Where is everyone?”

Andrew, Peg and Susan were holding back in the shadows of
the hallway. Glorianna ushered them forward, her final duty as hostess to see
her guests off in style. Andrew took Clara’s hand and shook it, a gesture she
appreciated.

“Thanks. I mean, for sorting out my mess. Can’t say if
Laura will ever forgive me, but if we do finally have that wedding you will be
first on the list of guests.”

Clara smiled brightly, but hoped to Heaven she was never
invited to another Campbell wedding.

“I was rather mean with you at first. I’m sorry about
that.” Andrew continued, “If you ever need anything.”

“Thank you.” Clara answered.

Peg was next on the farewells. She couldn’t meet Clara’s
eyes.

“Safe journey.” She said rather stiffly.

“Keep strong Peg.” Clara winked at her, “You know you are
a decent soul at heart.”

Susan interrupted them by wrapping her arms around Clara
and hugging her.

“Come back whenever you can!” She said with a smile, “If
I have a girl I’ll call her Clara.”

“Oh no, the poor child!” Clara laughed, “Don’t burden her
with my name!”

“Without you there would not be a child, I’m very glad
you were here. Sorry about how awful we all were, but I hope you can forgive us
and come back soon.”

Clara promised she would, then she disengaged herself
from Susan and stood before the whole family. She started to speak but words
were rather difficult. Should she say thank you for a lovely stay? Of course
not, that would be silly, but saying nothing would be awkward too. As it was
Tommy came to her aid.

“Well there is a train to catch folks!” He cried, “So
Cheerio, Pip, Pip! Come on Clara.”

Clara stumbled into the car, waving at the family. They
waved back, their farewell not ending until the car was out of sight. Clara sat
back in her seat and closed her eyes.

“I’m never attending another wedding.” She said firmly.

Tommy laughed loudly.

“Not all of them involve murder!”

“No, just the ones in our family!” Clara hissed a sigh
out through her teeth, “Tell me we aren’t as peculiar as that lot?”

“Don’t worry Clara.” Tommy grinned at her, “We are far
worse.”

He chuckled all the way down the hill as Clara groaned at
him.