White Lies (35 page)

Catherine gasped. “Four million?”

“Yes, Mrs. Godwin. I spoke to the family solicitor myself last night and she confirmed both the will and the insurance details.”

Richard interjected. “But then why would I come forward?”

“Perhaps because someone was close to discovering your play?” White raised an eyebrow.

“But I took a train to Paris. Surely you can check that? I used my own name and passport, which I wouldn’t have done if I was planning what you suggest.”

Meinwen relaxed. Richard was innocent of everything except being gullible and open to manipulation, not only by Catherine but by whoever this anonymous buyer turned out to be. For her part his wife had known he was insured but not the sum involved. Meinwen was convinced she, too, was innocent in the affair though if Richard had an accident now she would suspect a size six, patent leather stiletto boottee.

“Indeed, and I give you the benefit of the doubt about all this, Mr. Godwin, but please don’t go on any further unscheduled visits for a while, will you?” White stood up to leave and got as far as the door before turning back. “One more thing. Why was Mr. Oakley in the cemetery at all? What prompted him to go there and who did he intend to meet?”

Richard shrugged. “I really don’t know, Inspector. I have been in negotiations with someone who wants to buy the rights to my father’s work. Could it have been him, do you think?”

“Possibly. Who is it you’ve been negotiating with?”

Richard laughed. “That’s it. I don’t actually know. He’s kept himself anonymous ever since he got in touch at the beginning.”

“But surely there must be a return address? A number for you to contact him on?”

“That’s just it. There isn’t. He uses a solicitor in London. I can give you the letters if you’ll wait a minute or two.”

“I’d be happy to. Anything that brings us a step closer to solving the mystery.”

“Right. Just a moment.” Richard left the room. Meinwen heard the study door open and a minute later Richard returned and handed the inspector a bundle of envelopes. “That’s all of them. I don’t think it’s anything to do with the murder, though. After all, the purchaser wouldn’t want to murder me, would he?”

“No, sir, probably not.” White used the bundle of papers to tap him on the lapel. “But somebody does.”

Peters paused as he followed White. “When you came in, you said the photograph was yours. I take it you meant you were the photographer?”

“That’s right. I inherited the house and everything of my stepfather’s except his name. It seemed serendipitous. I learned the profession and I’m following in his footsteps. I’m nowhere near as well known as he was but I’m still young and there’s plenty of time yet.”

“Unless someone kills you for the insurance.” Peters grinned. “Cheerio, sir.”

“Goodbye, Inspector.” Meinwen offered him a tight smile in return to he nod. Richard followed them into the hall to see them out and she released a long breath. She looked at Catherine. “You don’t seem too upset about Kevin’s death.”

“I was fond of the boy.” She pursed her lips and shook her hair free of its barrettes. “Honestly, though, it’s a relief it wasn’t Richard.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

Meinwen placed one hand on Jimmy’s knee. “I think I’ll have that drink now.”

“Sure.” Jimmy half stood to pour her a cup. He passed it to her just as Richard closed the sitting room door and came back to the chair White had vacated.

“You’re Jimmy Fenstone, aren’t you? John’s brother?”

“That’s right.” Jimmy passed the tea to Meinwen before standing properly to be at the same eye level as Richard. “And you’re his lover.”

“Very much so.” Richard stepped forward, his hand out. “In every sense of the word. I loved your brother very much. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Not as much as he is.” Jimmy took a step back and Richard dropped his hand.

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone made out John hanged himself but he didn’t, did he? Somebody did that for him.”

Richard sank onto the edge of the chair. “I don’t understand. Are you saying John didn’t kill himself?”

“I am. Are you saying you didn’t know?”

“Of course not. I loved John. It was John that put me on to the apartment in Paris. It was going to be our hideaway. Somewhere where people didn’t know us.”

Catherine’s mouth had dropped open. “I thought it was for you and me. ‘Our little Paris getaway,’ you said.”

Jimmy glanced at Meinwen and sank back onto the sofa. She sipped at her drink and watched. The more excited people became, the more they revealed their true feelings.

Richard patted Catherine’s leg. “It is, my love. We weren’t back together when John told me about it. That’s why I was making plans to sell the rights to my stepfather’s photographs. With the money from those I could have bought somewhere for John and I without touching the bank account. It wouldn’t have affected you at all, would it?”

“Except that you’d have gone away with him and left me all alone.”

“I’d still have the house here, darling. I’d just have been splitting my time between the two. Think of the photography possibilities of a studio in Paris. Anyway, I’m not sure why you’re upset. We weren’t together at the time.”

“That’s not the point, is it? You were off buying yourself a love nest with John and when he died you just decided it would do for me instead. I’m your wife! I shouldn’t have to play second fiddle to the cock you liked inside you.”

“Actually I was generally...Never mind. I thought you wanted to move to Paris?”

“I did. I still do, only I think I’d rather go there on my own.” Catherine glared at him, her hands balled into fists and visible shaking. Meinwen caught Jimmy’s eye and raised her eyebrows. Jimmy looked away, stifling a smile.

“You’re impossible.” Catherine stalked from the room slamming the door behind her.

“Heh!” Richard let out a long breath and reached for the coffee pot. “She’ll come around. What a temper, eh? The sex tonight will be amazing.”

Meinwen leaned forward to place her cup and saucer on the tray. “Is she often like that?”

Richard leaned back, sucking air between his teeth. “Not recently. She was great for the first year, year and a half after we got married then started getting snipey with the staff and Aunt Joan. Seemed to think she was mistress of the house. So when I met John at a club at the hotel I was amenable to his overtures. I mean, what man isn’t flattered by someone taking an interest in him? I invited him back to the house, things developed and we ended up in love. I don’t think either of us intended to, really. I mean, I was married and very happy here with any member of staff I fancied at my beck and call and John was loving the life of a single gay man. Have you seen his flat on Chervil? Amazing. And that suspension rig?” His voice faltered. “Er...you do know what he was into, right?”

“I had a sharp learning curve.” Jimmy smiled for the first time that day. “Whatever John was into, he seemed pretty happy about it.”

“He was. That was what attracted me to him in the first place. Nothing ever seemed to get him down. He always had an easy smile and something nice to say. I swear, he could drop a hammer on his bare foot and be pleased he hadn’t damaged the floor.”

“Yeah.” Jimmy grinned. “That was John all right. Even when Faye died he was the one that kept us all remembering the good things about her, reminding us how lucky we were to have had her in our lives at all.”

“He was truly a beautiful man.” Richard smiled. “You look like him a bit but not as much as I would have expected. Maybe it’s the tattoos.”

“Maybe.” Jimmy’s smile faded.

Meinwen raised a hand to silence Jimmy. “What was the argument about?”

Richard frowned. “What argument?”

“The one between you and John on the twelfth.” She could see he was still confused. “At the Luminaria?”

“Oh, that.” Richard half laughed. “It was silly. He caught me visiting Catherine and thought I was one of her punters. He felt betrayed when he thought his dominant was seeing a woman to get his arse smacked. I’m sure it looked odd.”

“You fought, I believe?”

“I wouldn’t call it a fight. We had a bit of a tussle and knocked over an ice sculpture. Lady Shadow was livid, though more with him than with me.”

“But you remained friends.”

“Of course. Once I explained Lady Antonia was my ex-wife he calmed right down. We had a laugh about it afterward.”

“And a week later he was dead.”

“The two things aren’t related, I assure you. I loved John”

“Really?” Jimmy spoke again. “Then why were there no pictures of you? Not at the house nor the flat. I found one of you on his computer but other than that, nothing.”

“There should have been.” Richard leaned forward to put his cup down and used the motion to stand. “Come with me into the study.”

With a glance at Meinwen, Jimmy rose, then put out a hand to help her up as well. They followed Richard out of the sitting room and across the hall when he took a bunch of keys out of his pocket and unlocked the study door.

“I thought I saw the Witch of the West.” Mary’s voice rang out in the hallway and Meinwen looked up to see the young woman leaning over the stairwell.

Meinwen narrowed her eyes. “Do you mean me?”

“No, silly. Lady High And Mighty. Catherine. Assistant cook and scullery maid.”

Richard held up his hand. “Please don’t, Mary. You’re as bad as each other.”

“At least I don’t have airs above my station.” She turned to Meinwen. “Obviously I won’t be needing your services now that Richard is alive and well. Not that I’d be able to pay you anyway, finances being as they are. Someone...” She looked pointedly at Richard. “Didn’t die after all.”

He laughed. “I said I’m sorry but hey, according to the police I might still be next on the killer’s list so keep the policy running.”

Mary came further down the stairs until the angle of the walls revealed Jimmy. “And who’s this?”

“This is John’s brother, Jimmy. Jimmy, this is Mary Markhew.” Meinwen performed introductions.

“And are you gay as well, or do you prefer a woman’s touch?” Mary ran a finger down his arm. “I do like your tattoos.” She looked at Meinwen. “He’s not spoken for, is he?”

“Not by me.” Meinwen smiled at him, watching his eyes in case he wanted to deny it.

“Straight as a die, me.” Jimmy’s eyes twinkled in a way they hadn’t at Meinwen. “And no, I’m my own man, thanks very much.”

Meinwen tried not to reveal how much that hurt. Honestly, she could understand not being Jimmy’s type but to be cast aside for this little madam? She suddenly felt in need of one of Sergeant Wilde’s martial arts workout classes.

“And I’m my own woman.” Mary wrapped one of his arms in both of her own. “I shall call you James.”

“Mary, stop manhandling the guests.” Richard grinned. “I apologize for my cousin. She can get carried away sometimes.”

“And I bet you’re just the sort to do it.” Mary felt Jimmy’s muscles. “You’re the strong, silent type, I can tell.”

Richard pushed open the study door and held it open for them. “Wouldn’t Peter be upset if he saw you throwing yourself at another man?”

“Peter?
Pfft
.” Mary made a dismissive gesture. “I’ve hardly seen him the last few days. He’s out until all hours. I think he’s got someone else on the side. Someone he won’t share.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me. He was always more into the men than the girls. I was surprised when you took him on and he accepted, to be truthful. You know your mum made a play for him?”

“He refused, though. She was too old for him.”

“She’s nearer his age than you are.”

“Men mature differently don’t they, James?” She squeezed his arm again.

“If you say so.” Jimmy turned to Richard. “What was it you wanted to show us?”

“This picture.” Richard closed the door and gestured to a photograph printed on canvas. It hung on the wall behind the door and was hidden when the door was open. It showed Richard and John in an embrace, shot in monochrome against a dark background.

“Wow.” Meinwen stood in front of it. It was printed life-size and it was the first time she’d seen a real photograph of Jimmy’s brother other than the wallet-sized one he carried. “He really was the looker, wasn’t he?”