Murder in Time (34 page)

‘I suppose so.' He didn't give a fig for what happened to Vera.

‘Hedda understood what had happened?'

‘She has put it behind her.'

‘She never thought of marrying again?'

He cleared his throat, uneasy. ‘She has a man now who wants to marry her. When that happens I plan to sell this house, give her half and buy a small service-flat for myself.'

‘How did Marcella cope? She must have noticed that Raff was there with you when she and the doctor returned from the golf club. Didn't she ever suspect what had happened?'

‘Marcella is a charming woman, but she's only ever been interested in herself and protecting her own interests. She believed, as the police did, that the murder had been committed by a member of the gang. She was devastated. I only saw her for a few minutes after that fatal night. She was too distressed to talk, needed full-time attention. Dan was wonderful, put his own career on hold to look after her. Eventually, she got Dan to find her a flat in Knightsbridge, and she moved on, made some new friends. I haven't seen her for years. I don't wish to do so, either.'

Ellie said, ‘You understand that I must tell the police what really happened that night.'

‘Can't you forget what you've heard? What good will it do to blacken my son's name now?'

‘He blackened his own name.'

‘And died for it.'

‘He'd always wanted to join the Army, remember? He didn't commit suicide because he'd raped Vera, killed an old family friend and forced your au pair to have sex with him. He did those things of his own accord, and he's left a trail of misery behind him.'

‘You are hard.'

‘I've had to be. A good many lives were twisted askew because of what Raff did. Dan still mourns. Vera's life was destroyed.
Her
son was brought up without a father, in poverty. Another of the offshoots of your son's action has been to cast an undeserved slur on my husband's reputation. By the way, you weren't surprised when I rang you today. Who told you I was on the warpath?'

‘Simon Trubody. He's my sister's son. My nephew. He's been very helpful.'

Ellie sighed. Of course! Simon had probably worked it all out years ago. Simon had seen no evil, heard no evil, and spoken none. Bravo, Simon: you'll go a long way in life.

Mr Scott said, ‘I spoke to my solicitor about this yesterday. He thinks it unlikely I'd land up in court for what I did, but that if that did happen, I'd only get a suspended sentence.'

‘Dan deserves to know the truth.'

‘Oh, I'm sure he worked it out long ago.'

No, he hadn't. Not long ago. Recently, perhaps, he'd begun to suspect …? But that was another matter.

Ellie reflected that the seeds of the happenings of that tragic night had been sown long ago. The clinging nature of the doctor's wife, Marcella, and of her niece Daphne, which had hampered and stunted the men in their lives. Dick Prentice's halitosis and acne, his failure to get a girl, leading to his attacks on women. Vera's bright, practical nature and good looks, which had attracted the attention not only of the doctor's son, but also of Dick and Raff, and the others … The link between Simon and his sister … and his cousin Raff …

The elderly dog heaved himself to his feet as the little girl shot out into the garden. ‘Grandpa, Grandpa, they're going to let me be the one and only bridesmaid when they get married, and I can choose my own dress!'

A tall, blonde woman came out of the shadows in the house and stood there, smiling. Behind her came another tall, fair-haired man. Also smiling.

Ellie drew in her breath. Hedda was the same physical type as Vera.

Which meant that … had Raff gone after Vera because she reminded him of Hedda? Or the other way round? Vera had said Raff had tried to force her one day at school. Which meant that Raff had taken Hedda as second best … or had it been the other way round?

Mr Scott had risen. ‘My daughter Hedda … this is Mrs Quicke. Hedda, my dear, I have something to tell you …'

Diana bustled in, late, to collect Evan.

She picked him up and dandled him in her arms. ‘Has my little chickabiddy had a good day, then? Have you missed your mama?'

Evan crowed with delight. Something dropped on to the floor.

Diana held it up. ‘WHAT … is … this!'

The lost dummy.