Deathly Christmas (12 page)

“Yes, I’m free, Jane,’ James replied as they walked towards Paul. “The police didn’t have enough evidence to hold me, but I swear to you, I didn’t kill my aunt. Of course I can’t have my passport back yet, like everyone else.”

“I’m so happy to see you. I knew you didn’t do it. Come and have a drink.”

By this time, Paul was fuming, but he decided to stay put. He wasn’t going to leave Jane and James alone together.

“Have they any other suspects in mind?” Paul asked while Jane went to get James a drink.

“I have absolutely no idea. I think I’m the last person they would tell.”

“They’re probably back to square one,” Jane said, sitting down.

“My aunt was a secretive woman. Goodness knows who she upset. It could be any number of people, I’m sure.”

“She hadn’t been here for long though,” Paul remarked. “Could she have aggravated somebody so much that that person would have wanted to kill her?”

“Looks like it,” Jane said.

Jane was starting to get annoyed. Was Paul ever going to leave? She knew he was only staying to infuriate James, but James was being the perfect gentleman and wasn’t even being rude to Paul. However, she could see Paul was getting angry and the last thing she wanted was a fight to start. After all Paul had no rights over her at all. James was her boyfriend, not Paul.

“I’ve been to see Eve,” James said a moment later.

“Oh,’ Jane replied. Looking anxious. “Is everything alright with you two?”

“Yes, fine. We had a good chat. There are no hard feelings between the two of us.”

“Really?” Paul remarked. “I don’t think I’d ever speak to that woman again if she turned me into the cops.”

“Ah well, that’s where we differ.”

What does he mean by that? He’s trying to make me look like the bad guy, thought Paul angrily.  

    
However, before Paul could say anything, they all saw Eve walking by with her dog. She had managed to stop crying now and had calmed down a little. She had decided that David wouldn’t be able to live without her and would be back soon.

Eve saw Paul sitting with Jane and James. She waved and Jane came running up to see her.

“Hello, Eve. Any ideas of how to get rid of Paul?” she whispered.

Eve wasn’t in the mood for this. She still wanted to be on her own, but Jane looked so plaintive and in need of help. In addition, Eve felt guilty. She knew she had interfered badly in Jane’s relationship with James, but it seemed as if Jane had forgiven her, so perhaps she had better make amends by helping her.

“I take it things are going well with James then?” Eve asked.

“Well, they could be if Paul would only leave. I’m sure he’s only staying to be awkward. I’m certain James isn’t the killer, Eve.”

“I don’t think so either. I’m sorry he was arrested. I wouldn’t have said anything to the police if I hadn’t been poisoned. I was very scared that somebody had tried to kill me again. I have already spoken to James and we’re back on good terms.”

 She spoke hurriedly. She wanted to be friends again with Jane, especially after such an awful day. She might need a shoulder to cry on, and while she liked Annie, she might let it slip about the problems she was having with David and then the whole village would know.

Eve had totally forgotten about her guests, Alison and Robert. They had been going off on their own exploring the island, but she knew she would have to tell them what had happened between her and David. What would they say at Annie and Pete’s party tomorrow? Robert was useless at keeping secrets.

She had to stop thinking about all this. Jane needed help at the moment and it was better she kept her mind off David for the time being. Anyway, he’d probably come to his senses and realize how dull his life was without her.

“Right,” Eve said to Jane. “I’ll have a word with Paul.”

Jane breathed a sigh of relief. It was much better to have Eve as a friend than not. She always knew what to do in a crisis.

“Paul, just the man I wanted to see. I have a couple of plants which are dying before my very eyes. Do you think you could come over and have a quick look at them?”

“What?” he replied, sounding slightly annoyed. “Now?”  

“If you could be a darling. I don’t want to lose them. They were so pretty. I’m not that good at gardening, I’m afraid. Perhaps you’d come over once or twice a week to look after my garden as well? I’ll pay you well.”

Eve was not short of a bob or two and Paul knew that. This was an offer he couldn’t refuse. While work had started off well for him, recently people had been cutting down the number of hours they employed him, mainly due to the austerity measures in Greece and the extra taxes imposed. He couldn’t turn down another job.

“Very well, I’ll come and have a look. Thank you for the beers, Jane. Will I see you at my brother and sister-in-law’s party tonight?”

He wanted to ask her to come with him, but with James there, he daren’t. He knew James would butt in and say she was going as his date and she would agree. He was fed up of making a fool of himself. There must be some way of proving James was the murderer. After all, it was obviously him. Who else could it be?

“I haven’t decided if I’m going yet,” Jane said to Paul. “Perhaps.”

She didn’t want to go unless James went, but would he go? There would be so many staring faces there.

* * * *

“Thank you for coming with me so promptly, Paul,” Eve said graciously.

“I know it was a ruse to get me to leave Jane and James alone,” Paul replied.

“Nonsense,” Eve said. “I really do have dying flowers.

“That’s as maybe, but you still wanted to get me away from them. I’m not stupid you know, but perhaps you are. James could still be the killer and you’ve left Jane with a crazed madman.

“I don’t think James is a crazed madman, Paul. I don’t even think he’s the killer, but if he is, it was a cold calculated murder and it was his aunt he wanted to kill. I hardly see any reason for him to kill Jane.”

“I hope I don’t have to remind you of that one day.”

Eve looked at Paul and felt a little sorry for him. He was very taken with Jane, but there was no future for him there, not even if James wasn’t in the picture.

When they reached Eve’s house, Paul went to look at the plants while Eve went to get them drinks. She didn’t want to be alone in her house. Perhaps she should go and talk to Annie after all, but would she let it slip to Betty that she and David were taking a break from each other.

After Paul had given her instructions as to what to do with her plants, they sat down to have their drinks and then Alison and Robert arrived and joined them.

“Where’s David?” Alison asked.

Eve didn’t want to announce anything in front of Paul, so she lied.

“He’s gone home to get some serious writing done. I’m afraid I’ve been a distraction this Christmas season.”

“Yes, you have,” Robert laughed. “Ending up in hospital again. Poor old David.”

“What about poor old me,” Eve asked crossly. “I was the one who nearly died.”

“Nearly died, my foot,” Robert continued. “I bet that whoever did it could have killed you if they really wanted to. Both Alison and I think it was just a warning.”

Eve grunted. She preferred to think that somebody had tried to kill her. It sounded much more dramatic.

“Well I hope this has made you stop hunting for Jennifer’s killer. It really is silly, not to mention dangerous. I bet next time it won’t only be a warning.” Alison said.

“Yes,” Eve said. “I finally agree with everybody. I am getting scared so I think I’ll leave it to the experts.”

“Glad to hear it, Eve,” Robert put in. “Never thought I’d hear the day though!”

“Right, I’d better be off now,” Paul got up, finishing his drink quickly.

He wanted to get home. He felt humiliated after another rejection from Jane. This was the last time he would pursue her. It was pointless.

“I’ll see you tonight?” he asked before he left.

“Tonight?’ Eve asked. “What’s happening tonight?”

“Have you forgotten? I only mentioned it half an hour ago! My brother’s having a do at his house. Don’t say you won’t be able to come? It’s their first party since they moved here. They’re a bit nervous nobody will turn up.”

“We’ll be there,” Alison said. “I don’t know if Eve’s up to it.”

Eve didn’t feel like going, but she did feel sorry for Paul. He seemed to be having a lot of bad luck at the moment.

“I’ll try,” she said, smiling weakly.

However, when Paul had gone, Eve finally burst into tears.

“What’s wrong, Eve.” Alison said, rushing to put her arms around Eve. It wasn’t often that the strong and secure Eve cried. It had to be something serious. Robert sat there slightly embarrassed. He never knew what to do when women cried, especially not someone as tough as Eve.

“I can’t go to Lucy and Kevin’s party tonight,” wailed Eve. “I’ll be alone. David and I have had a big argument. He’s gone home. He hates me. He probably won’t want to speak to me again.”

“There, there, Eve,” Alison said, trying to comfort her friend. “I’m sure that whatever he said was in the heat of the moment and when he calms down, he’ll be back.”

“No, he won’t. This was a big row. It’ll take a lot for him to get over it. I’m too scared to go over and see him.”

Although Eve had decided only a little while ago that David would be back because he wouldn’t be able to live without her, now she had changed her mind again. Now it was all over.

“Well, I’d leave him be,” Robert put in. “I bet I know what it was all about, Eve. It was about you and all your attempts at detective work, wasn’t it?”

Eve looked at him sheepishly.

“I knew it,” Robert said. “I’m not surprised one bit. I mean, you ended up in hospital again. David’s in love with you and he doesn’t want to go through all the pain of losing you.”

“I’ve hardly done anything this time,” Eve said, wiping away her tears with a hanky.

“Well you did enough to get poisoned, didn’t you? And I bet if you got another clue you’d be off searching for the killer again, wouldn’t you?” Robert asked.

Eve looked away and refused to answer.

“Well,” he continued. “You can’t stay in tonight just because you’ve argued with David.”

“What will Betty say?”

“Oh for goodness sake, forget about Betty.  She’s so unimportant. Just say David’s busy working.”

“What if David turns up?”

“Stop making excuses, Eve,” Robert said crossly. “I’ll check with him for you if you like, but I doubt if he’ll be there. Now go and have a bath and start getting ready.”

Once Eve had gone upstairs, Alison went and put her arms around Robert.

“My, my, Robert, I do like it when you’re forceful.”

“Thank you, darling. It’s one of my hidden attributes!”

She smiled at him as he bent down and kissed her. He was looking forward to coming back from the party that evening.

That evening Eve was the first person downstairs for a change. She sat waiting nervously for Alison and Robert, wishing that she wasn’t going out. She hadn’t taken quite as long with her hair and make-up, not feeling in any mood for getting dressed up and partying, but she had still made an effort and looked as attractive as usual. She didn’t want anyone to know there was anything wrong.

When Alison and Robert came downstairs, they were surprised to see Eve waiting for them. It was most unusual. Robert was concerned to see there was a drink in her hand.

“I hope you haven’t had too many of those,” he asked, looking anxious.

“Only one,” she replied harshly. “And it wasn’t even a large measure of gin. Just needed a little Dutch courage, that’s all.”

It’s none of their business, she thought. It’s me that’s got to get through this evening, not them.

However, she was wrong. Both Robert and Alison were dreading the night ahead, not knowing how Eve was going to act. They didn’t think she looked at all tipsy, but Eve had always been able to keep control, however much she had drunk. Alison was worried about other things as well. Eve didn’t want Betty to know about her and David falling out with each other, but Robert could often let things slip. On top of everything, Eve was her own worst enemy. It was highly likely that she would act strangely and make people wonder where David was.

Earlier in the evening, after Eve had gone to have a bath, Robert had quickly popped over to David’s house. As soon as David opened the door, Robert realized how upset he was about the whole situation. David had told him he still loved Eve, but he didn’t know if he could cope with her putting her life in danger all the time. Robert had told him how miserable Eve was as well, but David had still said he needed a few days on his own. He had also said he wasn’t going to the party that evening and he wouldn’t tell anybody that they had split up, especially not Betty.

“I was angry with Eve because she was so bothered about Betty knowing we were having a break from each other, but I wouldn’t hurt her by going to the party alone. I’m not a cruel and heartless man, Robert, and anyway, I’m gradually going off Betty. She’s tried to interfere in our relationship too much. I certainly don’t want her gloating and upsetting Eve. I hope you and Alison will keep this to yourself.”

“Of course we will. I know I sometimes let things slip, but I’ll be more than careful with this news, I promise.”

“Thanks, Robert. It’s appreciated.” 

Eve was relieved to hear that David wasn’t going to Kevin and Lucy’s that evening, and she had even prepared her story. David was on a deadline to finish his book and was way behind. However, she was worried about the following evening. How was she going to make an excuse for David not going to the New Year’s Eve party at Annie and Pete’s? Nobody would believe he would be working on his novel on New Year’s Eve. There was nothing for it. She couldn’t go. She would have to pretend to be ill.

* * * *

Meanwhile, Jane was getting ready to be picked up by James and was feeling excited that he was accompanying her again. Just think, this time yesterday evening her world had collapsed. James had been arrested for the murder of his aunt, but now he had been released and they were going to a party together. What was even better, they were going alone and were not being escorted by Eve and David.