A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) (18 page)

Chapter 32

It
was getting dark as Julia drove home. She knew for certain that she was being
followed. There had been two cars at first, but now there was only one.

She
wasn
’
t
surprised to find DS Pendleton waiting for her outside her house. He got out of
his car and gave her a friendly smile. Julia forced a smile back at him.

He
said,
“
You
must be surprised to see me here. Do you mind if we have a talk? I wanted to
give you the full details of Cain
’
s confession.
You must be wondering why he killed Hugo Barnes. Could I come in?
”

Julia
locked her car, her cleaning bag in one hand.
“
Of
course, follow me.
”

She
opened the back door. DS Pendleton was right behind her, she could hear him
breathing. She cocked her head to one side. Was that the sound of a car slowing
down nearby?

Julia
stepped into her kitchen and switched the light on. She glanced at DS Pendleton
’
s
reflection on the kitchen window, he was still smiling in what looked like a
friendly manner.

She
jumped as he spoke,
“
Would you mind if I put some shoe
protectors on? I
’
ve been trampling about in mud today and
I don
’
t
want bring that into your house.
”
He pulled out a pair of plastic covers
and put them over his shoes.

Julia
thought he could have just taken his shoes off. She said,
“
Would
you like a cup of tea?
”

He
waved a hand at her, that smile still plastered on his face,
“
No,
thank you. I don
’
t want to take up much of your time.
”

Julia
told him she was just going to hang her coat up in the front hallway. She did
so then returned to the kitchen. She put her bag of cleaning things next to a
kitchen chair and sat down.
“
Please, sit
down.
”

He
shook his head.
“
I
’
ll
stand, I
’
ve
been sitting down all day. Are you expecting any visitors tonight? I wouldn
’
t
want to be in the way.
”

“
No, I
’
m not
expecting anyone. I was surprised to find out that Cain confessed to killing
Hugo, what was his motive?
”

DS
Pendleton clasped his hands behind his back and walked towards the window.
“
He
said something about Hugo uncovering some secret from his past, something to do
with that manslaughter charge of his. You
’
ve
got a lovely garden, from what I can see in this light. Have you got any
neighbours overlooking you?
”

“
No, it
’
s
quite secluded. I
’
m surprised that Cain said that. He
’
s
served his time in prison so I don
’
t understand
what secret Hugo could have uncovered.
”

DS
Pendleton turned to face her, hands still clasped behind his back.
“
Doesn
’
t
matter now. It
’
s all
over.
”

“
Well,
it isn
’
t
really. Did you ever question Dinah Wells, or Hugo
’
s
brother about their visit to Hugo on the day he died?
”

He
shrugged.
“
No,
it doesn
’
t
matter. Cain killed Hugo, we
’
ve got his
confession.
”

Julia
continued,
“
And
what about the last case that Hugo was working on? He was asked to look into
the family tree of a man called William Roper.
”

Julia
noticed the slight twitch in the sergeant
’
s
left eye.

His
smile died a little.
“
Like I said, it
doesn
’
t
matter now.
”

“
It
does,
”
Julia said.
“
William
Roper had a reason to kill Hugo because Hugo had found out that William had
committed bigamy, twice. But then Hugo also found out that William
’
s
current wife had also committed bigamy.
”

DS
Pendleton
’
s
smile had gone altogether now.

Julia
didn
’
t
stop,
“
The husband
of William
’
s
second wife had been following me recently, I think he was waiting to see what
I uncovered. But he died last week, your mum ran him over. And I think that
when you found out his identity you decided to frame Cain for Hugo
’
s
murder.
”

In
a cold voice DS Pendleton said,
“
And who do you
think that man was?
”

“
He
was your father, Robbie Pendleton. I saw a photo of him when he was younger, he
looks just like you. I
’
ve found out
that your dad faked his own death, with help from your mum, and he left the
country. He returned recently when he heard that Hugo was asking questions
about him. From what I saw of him, he didn
’
t
have much money. Did he contact you or your mum? Ask you for money?
”

DS
Pendleton put his hands in his pocket and took a step closer.
“
You
have been nosy, haven
’
t you. Doesn
’
t
matter, that scumbag is dead now. No one but me is going to know his true
identity. He was the victim of a hit and run, case closed.
”

Julia
shook her head.
“
He wasn
’
t a
victim. Your mum ran him down on purpose. She killed him, just like she killed
Hugo Barnes.
”

In
a low voice DS Pendleton said,
“
You don
’
t
know what you
’
re
talking about.
”

“
Your
mum is the second wife of William Roper. She found out from his daughter,
Bethany, that Bethany had hired Hugo to put together William
’
s
family tree. Your mum must have been worried that Hugo would uncover the
identity of her first husband, and also, that she was still married. I think
she could have coped with William finding out about that. But it was you she
was worried about. Your father was a criminal, not a war hero like she
’
d
told you. She
’
s so
proud of you and all that you
’
ve achieved.
What would happen to your glittering career once your superiors found out the
true identity of your father? And that your mother had committed a crime? Your
job would be at risk, you might have been suspended. Your mother wasn
’
t
willing to risk that.
”

DS
Pendleton took out a pair of leather gloves and put them on.

Julia
’
s
heart speeded up. She took a deep breath and continued.
“
I think
her fears were realised when Robbie appeared on the scene. She went to see Hugo
and begged him to keep her secret hidden. Knowing Hugo, he would have told her
that he couldn
’
t,
that he would have to give Bethany the full facts. Your mum must have followed
Hugo into his office and hit him on the head with that heavy paperweight. She
then took whatever paperwork she could find, and poured water on his computer,
hoping to destroy any evidence of Hugo
’
s work. She
wears driving gloves so she wouldn
’
t have left any
fingerprints.

“
Except
for the teacups. Hugo must have taken her into the kitchen and made her a cup
of tea. He probably showed her the back door and let her open it. He does that
for all new visitors, lets them recreate that scene from Summersdale Secrets.
Your mum must have realised on Tuesday morning that she
’
d
left her fingerprints on a teacup. She knew the back door was open and so came
into the house that way. She took both cups as she probably couldn
’
t
remember which one she
’
d drunk from. I remember
that her handbag was a large one, she could have easily put both in. She didn
’
t
take the milk jug as she doesn
’
t normally take
milk.
”

DS
Pendleton nodded.
“
You
’
ve
got it all worked out, haven
’
t you. You
’
re
right. Mum did kill Hugo Barnes, she had to, he was going to reveal her secret.
And you
’
re
right, it would have ruined my career. When I discovered the identity of the
man that she
’
d run
over on Friday, I knew she
’
d done it on
purpose. She confessed everything to me. I didn
’
t
feel anything for Robbie Pendleton. Or for Hugo Barnes, he should have listened
to Mum. And you
’
re right about me planting those teacups
in Stinky Cain
’
s
house. He
’
s
used to prison life, it wouldn
’
t hurt him to go
back in.
”
He flexed his fingers in the
gloves. He smiled, it wasn
’
t a friendly
smile this time.
“
It
’
s all
sorted out now. Cain will go to prison. Mum is no longer married to Robbie. And
I
’
ve
got a conviction under my belt. The only mess that needs clearing up is you.
”

Julia
gripped her chair.
“
Are you going to kill me?
”

“
Of
course. That
’
s why
I
’
m
wearing these shoe protectors, and why I haven
’
t
touched anything in your house. And I know how to stage a murder scene, I
’
ll
make it look like a robbery gone wrong. You
’
ve
been a pain since the moment I met you.
”

DS
Pendleton launched himself at Julia.

Julia
screamed as his leather-clad hands clasped around her throat.

Chapter 33

“
Stop
right there!
”
a voice boomed out.

DS
Pendleton was pulled off Julia, his hands swiped out at her.

She
ducked out of the way as two uniformed policemen grabbed DS Pendleton
’
s
arms and flung him to the floor.

Julia
rubbed her neck. DI Clarke came to her side and knelt down, concern on his
face.
“
Ms
Blake, are you okay?
”

She
nodded.
“
I
think so.
”

“
Thanks
for leaving your front door open. How did you know I was nearby?
”

“
You
’
ve
been following me for the last few days. I recognised your car. What took you
so long? He nearly killed me.
”

DI
Clarke looked down at her hand.
“
I doubt he would
have succeeded. Is that one of your special cleaning sprays clutched in your
hand? One with lemon juice in? Looks to me like you were about to blind DS
Pendleton.
”

Julia
put the spray on the table.
“
I was protecting
myself. I thought he was going to attack me the minute I saw him waiting for me
outside. He must have known I
’
d put two and
two together.
”

DI
Clarke straightened up.
“
I told you to
leave this matter alone, several times. I knew something was wrong with the
investigation. But you wouldn
’
t listen, would
you? I
’
ve
had my men following you for your own protection.
”

Julia
said,
“
Why
didn
’
t you
tell me you were dealing with it? I would have let you get on with your
investigations.
”

DI
Clarke
’
s
eyebrows rose,
“
Really? Are you sure about that, Ms
Blake? You do have a knack of getting yourself involved. Do you need to go to
the hospital to get yourself checked out?
”

“
No, I
’
ll be
fine. What are you going to do now?
”

DI
Clarke said,
“
We
’
ve
already got Vivianne Roper in custody. It
’
s a
shame, she
’
s
such a lovely woman. She thought she was helping her son. We
’
ve
got all the evidence we need to secure a conviction. We
’
ll
get a full statement from you in a moment, if you
’
re up
to it?
”

“
I
’
d
rather do that now.
”
Julia
stood up and watched as DS Pendleton was led away.
“
What
about Cain?
”

“
He
was released a few hours ago. Your dad came to collect him. I told them not to
say a thing to you about it. I knew DS Pendleton was going to confront you, I
hoped he
’
d
make a confession.
”

His
words sunk in. Julia gasped.
“
You used me as
bait! To get him to confess!
”

DI
Clarke didn
’
t
blink. He kept his voice flat as he said,
“
I
would never do that, that
’
s most unprofessional,
Ms Blake.
”

Julia
glared at him. He winked at her and said,
“
I
’
ll
leave you in the capable hands of one of my officers. I hope I won
’
t see
you again too soon. Goodbye, Ms Blake.
”

Julia
muttered to herself as he left her house.

“
You
look like you need a cup of tea,
”
a policewoman said to her.
“
Shall
I put the kettle on and we
’
ll get on with
your statement.
”

It
didn
’
t
take long for the statement to be taken. Julia was desperate to talk to Cain.

As
soon as the policewoman left, Julia picked up the phone and called him.

He
apologised for causing her so much distress. She told him to stop being silly.
She filled him in on all the facts of the case.

Cain
had something to tell her.
“
There
’
s
some news on the Internet about Summersdale Secrets, seems like they
’
re
moving to a different location to film. So it looks like Gilbert won
’
t be
making money from them.
”

“
Good,
”
Julia added.
“
And
what about Dinah
’
s book deal?
”

“
I checked
on the agent
’
s
website, the deal isn
’
t going ahead.
”

“
Good,
”
Julia repeated.
“
I
’
m
glad those two aren
’
t going to make any money from Hugo
’
s
death. Poor Hugo, he was only doing his job. He didn
’
t
deserve to be murdered.
”

Cain
said quietly,
“
No
one ever does. Did you ever think for a moment that I killed Hugo?
”

“
Not
for a second.
”
She yawned.
“
I
need some sleep. And so do you, we
’
ve got an early
start tomorrow. And I
’
m sure some of
our customers will want to hear the full story behind Hugo
’
s
death. I
’
ll
pick you up at eight.
”

“
You
still want me to work for you?
”

“
Of
course! Make sure you
’
ve signed that
contract.
”

She
could hear the laughter in Cain
’
s voice as he
said,
“
And
do you promise we won
’
t come across
any more dead bodies?
”

Julia
thought for a moment. As DI Clarke said, she did have a knack for getting
herself involved in murder cases.
“
I can
’
t
promise you that, Cain. Do you still want to work for me.
”

“
Absolutely!
See you tomorrow.
”

Julia
said goodbye and ended the call. She yawned again and rubbed her neck. She
hoped she didn
’
t
come across another dead body too soon.