Murder by Mistake (29 page)

Mia seemed none the worse for her outing, though she did wipe her eyes now and then and say she must remember to pray for Billy. Rose annoyed everyone by saying there was nothing like a spot of bother to make you grateful to be alive.

Ellie told herself that all their worries were over. Weren’t they? Well, except for the Denis and Diana problem.

After supper Thomas avoided their usually comfortable sitting room, as it had been denuded of everything that made it homely but went up to spend time in his quiet room.

Ellie didn’t join him upstairs, being too agitated to sit still. Under normal circumstances she would have calmed herself down by doing some gardening; dead-heading and weeding were therapeutic. But today she couldn’t even get at the garden properly. Instead she paced the marquee for an hour. She told herself there was nothing more she could do. The police were trying to track down the white van at that very minute. She told herself to stop worrying and leave everything to them.

She tried ringing Denis. He wasn’t in the flat he’d been sharing with Diana, nor with his wife, Valerie. Or ex-wife. Whichever. Would he turn up at the registry office tomorrow? What could Ellie do to stop Diana committing herself to him?

Answer: nothing.

Diana didn’t return home. She’d probably be out till the small hours.

‘Come up to bed,’ said Thomas, holding out his hand to her. ‘You must be worn out.’

‘Yes. No.’ She climbed the stairs beside him. Their bedroom had been cleaned and polished to within an inch of its life. This was where Ursula and Sam would change into their honeymoon kit on the morrow.

Thomas said, watching her, ‘I’ll be glad when it’s all over.’

‘Yes, the disruption is tiresome.’

‘I did try to get some information at the registry office, but the top bod was off and no one seemed able to tell me anything. Perhaps I should have tried harder.’

‘I don’t think it would have made any difference. She’s set on having him.’ Her voice tailed away as she got ready for bed. She showered, brushed her teeth, got into bed. Her eyes were wide open.

Thomas got in beside her and turned out the centre light.

‘Thomas; both times when I was with Mia, she was on the inside and I was walking next to the kerb.’

‘I was afraid of that.’

She tried to make it clearer. ‘I was the target, not her.’

He nodded. ‘It’s giving me the heebie-jeebies. Do you know why? Or who?’

‘It wasn’t Billy, that’s for sure. I don’t think he even saw the van coming at us this evening. He only had eyes for Mia. He was coming at her with that stick in his hand. I suppose he meant to attack her only the van got to him first. So who was driving the van?’

‘I was talking to Ursula when I heard it start up and looked around . . . Did you see who was driving the white van when you called on Mia’s mother?’

‘It was behind me at first, and when I looked up I couldn’t see inside. The window was tinted. Then I jumped into the bushes. The minicab driver didn’t see, either, although I suppose the police will ask him about it now.’

‘Was it the same white van?’

‘I don’t know. It was past me and gone in a flash. No markings, but a lot of them don’t have markings on, do they? Rented, I suppose.’

‘They’ll find him now they’ve got the licence number. Thanks to Marge. Her liver may be in a bad state, but her mind’s sharp enough.’

Silence.

She said, ‘I can’t see Denis driving a white van at me.’

‘You mustn’t jump to—’

‘I know, I know. There is absolutely no reason to suppose that he should want to kill me, but I can’t think of anyone else who—’

‘Why should he want to kill you?’

‘I don’t know.’ She slid down the pillows. ‘I’m being unreasonable, aren’t I?’

He turned out the bedside lights. ‘I’m going to stick to you like glue tomorrow. Not a hair of your head shall be harmed.’

‘Nonsense.’ She began to giggle. ‘You’ve got to officiate most splendidly at the wedding and do a hundred other things out of my sight.’

‘I’ll just have to catch up on my praying, then. You are one very special person, Ellie Quicke. You do an immense amount of good in the world without ever asking for thanks or even acknowledgment, and I’m asking God to keep His eye on you.’

He put his arm around her, and soon she could tell by the rhythm of his breathing that he’d fallen asleep. She lay awake, eyes wide, wondering how a white-van man had known where and when to find her on at least two occasions.

Ellie hadn’t thought she would sleep at all, but in the event she managed a good six hours’ of unconsciousness and woke to find a pearly sky brightening to gold. It was going to be another hot, airless day. Thomas’s side of the bed was empty. He’d be up and in his quiet room already.

She threw back the curtains and looked out over the marquee to what she could still see of the garden below, which wasn’t much. She spotted Mia, hanging up fat balls for the birds. Mia looked like a child, in sandals and a cotton nightie. Mia was smiling.

Well, at least the threats to Mia should stop now. Thank the Lord.

Ellie knew she ought to be thanking the Lord for a lot of other things, too, but there were so many problems buzzing around in her mind that she had to take a deep breath, and tell herself: Stop! Concentrate! Do one thing at a time!

No reply.

‘
Well, dear Lord. You know how I’m fixed today, all the things I’m worrying about. Not just about the silly little tragedies that will no doubt occur such as the caterers forgetting to bring a knife to cut Diana’s wedding cake, but the big things such as . . . such as please will You bless Ursula and Sam in their marriage? Now that is important.

Breakfast was important, too. She got herself dressed and went along the corridor to see if Diana wanted any on this her second wedding day. Diana’s door was firmly shut but Ellie eased it open long enough to see that her daughter was asleep in the spare-room bed.

Marge was stirring in little Frank’s room and said she never ate breakfast normally, but would make an exception today.

Down in the hall, Ellie found the keys which Diana had borrowed on the hall table. Good.

Thomas and Rose made a substantial breakfast for them all: fresh orange juice, scrambled eggs and bacon, toast, tea and coffee. Mia jumped up and down from the table to collect things, eyes bright, full of excitement. Rose was quieter, smiling fondly at the transformation in the girl.

Thomas advised them to eat something to still the wedding nerves, and all but Marge – bleary-eyed – agreed with him. Marge moaned, driving everyone mad. Finally Thomas said he’d drop her at the police station so she could bail her son out. With luck. She brightened up at that and went off with him happily enough.

Diana didn’t appear.

Ellie rather hoped Diana wouldn’t be too demanding that day, but . . . Suppose it had been Denis who’d tried to run Ellie down? No, no. In the cold light of day, she really couldn’t see him driving a white van. Or stealing a Volvo.

The Party Planner arrived, followed closely by the first of the workmen. The front door was propped open, and people began to traipse through the hall and back again. There was an argument between the cleaners, who wanted to polish the floor, and the florist, who wanted to finish the decorations. One lot of tablecloths had still not arrived. The man who was to run the disco rang to say he was going to be late.

Mia flitted about, colour in her cheeks and light in her eyes. ‘Isn’t this exciting?’

Yes, it was, in a way.

The phone rang. It was Ellie’s grandson, little Frank. ‘Do I really have to dress up and be a ring-bearer?’

‘I’m afraid you do, my poppet. Think about the lovely holiday you’re all going to have straight afterwards.’

A stifled sob. Oh dear.

Stewart came on the line. ‘Never again, Ellie.’

‘Agreed. If I don’t see you before you take off, have a wonderful time away.’

‘Yes. That Summers woman. Her death was on the local news this morning. Was it a random thing, or is there a connection?’

‘No proof yet. Forget about it. Have a good holiday.’

There were raised voices in the hall. The first set of caterers were bound to clash with Diana’s lot. Oh well. That was for Mr Balls to sort out.

Normally the bridesmaids would foregather at the bride’s home to help her to get ready, but Mrs Belton – true to herself in this as in all other matters – had decreed that she would not have extra people cluttering up her flat that morning, that she herself would deliver her daughter to the church, and that the bridesmaids should meet the bride there.

Possibly this was to avoid her ex-husband setting foot in her flat? Seeing that there was no help for it, Ursula had meekly agreed, while assuring Mia that they would make up for it with lots of visits as soon as the honeymoon was over.

While Rose cleared away the breakfast table and checked that there were enough cold meats to make sandwiches for lunch – always providing anyone was hungry enough – Ellie went upstairs to tidy up their bedroom and bathroom and then to see if Diana was awake. Which she was.

‘Would you like some breakfast?’

Diana laid down the mobile phone she’d been using. ‘I brought a flask of tea with me so I won’t need anything till later. Bring me some freshly roasted coffee at noon. Denis says there’s been a hitch and we can’t have the registry office wedding this afternoon.’

Ellie carefully said nothing at all, but waited for Diana’s reaction.

A shrug. ‘Oh, well, we’ll go ahead with everything here. All our friends have been told to expect an exchange of vows and a good party, and that’s what they’re going to get.’

Ellie nodded. She wondered what friends the couple had. People like themselves, out for what they could get? Friends in the trade?

Diana yawned. ‘After all, I can always change my name to his by deed poll.’

Ellie nodded again. She went to draw back the curtains, till Diana winced and said to leave them. Ellie said, ‘We’ll be off to church soon for Ursula’s wedding. How will you amuse yourself till it’s time for your “do” this afternoon?’

Diana threw herself back on the bed. ‘Is it too much to hope that I can be left in peace for a few hours? I’ve a cracking headache.’

‘I’ll bring you some aspirin.’

‘I’ve got some. Just tell everyone to be quiet downstairs, will you?’

Ellie thought, Oh yes? I don’t think so. But said nothing, and left.

The chaos downstairs gradually sorted itself out. The caterers arrived and polished their cutlery and glasses till the designer brought the tablecloths. The florist helped the designer to dress the chairs, since she’d finished her own work and everything else was behindhand. The cleaners buffed the hall floor to a mirror finish and glared at anyone who dared to cross it after that. The electricians said they’d finally got the mike working, while Rose and Mia provided cuppas and cleaned up after everyone else.

The caterers were still laying tables when Ellie coaxed Mia and Rose to leave the kitchen in order to get dressed.

Thomas returned from taking Marge to the police station – from which she’d been able to retrieve her son – and checked over what he’d got to take with him to the church. ‘You’ve ordered a cab to take you there?’

‘No, but I will,’ said Ellie, suddenly understanding how it might have been possible for white-van man to know where and when she was going to be. ‘Thomas, suppose—’

A quick kiss, an anxious look, an extra-tight hug. ‘I must be off. Don’t be late. You’re responsible for getting Mia there on time, remember.’

Ellie nodded, thinking rapidly. Once he’d gone, she rang the police station and asked if DI Willis happened to be back from leave yet. She wasn’t. ‘DC Milburn, then?’

‘Not available.’

‘“Ears”?’

‘WHO?’

‘Oh. Sorry. Will you give him a message for me? I think the missing link is the cab company. When I ring for a cab, they know where I’m going and roughly how long I’ll be. I think that someone who books the cars in and out may be giving my movements to the man who drives the white van. Would you look into it, please?’

Heavy breathing at the other end. Her message was repeated without comment. She shut up her phone and went to change into her wedding outfit, remembering that the master bedroom was going to be used later that day as a changing room, so she’d better not leave it or the en suite untidy.

Before she’d finished, Mia came dancing into the room, carrying her bouquet of lavender dianthus and white roses, livened with puffs of gold ribbon. ‘Aren’t I looking pretty?’

‘You are indeed!’ Ellie snatched up her hat and crammed it on. ‘How long have we got, and where are my shoes?’

Mia found them for her. ‘This is all due to you, all this. I do love you, you know.’

Ellie laughed. ‘You love everyone today.’

‘That’s true. I am so fortunate.’ She sobered. ‘When I think back . . . but I’m not going to think back any more, or at least, not intentionally.’ Her smile lit up the room. ‘I’m going to be positive and helpful and loving and kind, and not get annoyed by Mrs Belton, and pray that Ursula has the loveliest possible wedding today because she deserves it.’

‘She does, indeed.’

Someone rapped on the bedroom door, which was ajar. Diana, in a negligee, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Diana looked drawn and irritable. ‘Do you think you could be a little quieter, please?’ She returned to the spare room.

Ellie and Mia giggled to one another, like chidden children. Ellie snatched up her gloves and handbag, and they went downstairs to find Rose waiting for them in the hall. Rose was togged up in a bright pink costume with a pink rose – a large, home-made boutonnière – in her buttonhole.