A Death in the Family by Hazel Holt Page B

in.’
    ‘It’s unusual, certainly.’
    ‘So whoever thought they’d killed Bernard doesn’t know he was already dead and…’
    ‘And they needn’t have bothered. That’s right. It’ll come as a bit of a shock when they do find out.’ Roger took the last biscuit. ‘Sorry, do you mind? I didn’t have time for any breakfast.’
    ‘Of course not. Would you like some cake or something more substantial – a sandwich perhaps?’
    ‘No, these are fine.’
    ‘So,’ I said, ‘will you still be looking for who did it?’
    ‘Obviously there’ll be some sort of enquiry, but not top priority, like it would have been if it was murder.’
    ‘I see.’
    Roger brushed a few stray crumbs from his jacket. ‘Do you have any idea who might have wanted him dead?’
    ‘Goodness yes!’ I began. ‘Well, the person who had the most reason to be glad he’s gone is his wife – he was an appalling bully, he ruined her life – but it can’t be her because she was with me the whole time. His son had every reason to hate him too, but he was in Bristol, and so was his daughter Christine – though she seems to have been quite fond of her father.’
    ‘Not promising.’
    ‘But Bernard was a thoroughly unpleasant person and the most terrible bore. He must have annoyed a lot of people.’
    ‘Much as one would like to one doesn’t usually kill people because they’re boring,’ Roger said. ‘And down here, away from his home territory, who would have a strong enough motive?’
    I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He had several relations round here, and I know he went to visit all of them – because of this family history thing – before he died. There may have been some dark disagreement that I don’t know about. I suppose Janet might be able to tell you. Not,’ I added, ‘that he’d have been likely to tell her anything important.’
    ‘Well,’ Roger said, getting to his feet, ‘have a think and if you come up with anything let me know. By the way,’ he added smiling, ‘you still have a great smear of mud on your forehead.’
    After he’d gone I went upstairs to tidy myself. I felt I must go and see Janet. No wonder she’d collapsed. This extraordinary piece of news – such a loathsome thing to have happened – coming on top of finding Bernard dead. She’d taken that with apparent calm, but this new revelation was enough to upset anyone.
    When I got to the cottage Christine opened the door.
    ‘I came as soon as I heard,’ I said. ‘How’s Janet?’
    ‘She’s calmer now,’ Christine said leading the way into the sitting room, ‘but she was quite hysterical for a while. She’s lying down at the moment, so it’s fortunate you came. I need to go outfor a while – there’s no food in the house, so inefficient. But I do feel someone should be with her, if you wouldn’t mind staying till I get back.’
    ‘Of course I will,’ I said, surprised at Christine’s comparatively conciliatory tone. ‘I was so sorry,’ I went on, ‘to hear of this new development. It’s perfectly horrible to think of such a thing happening. It’s no wonder poor Janet’s so upset. And apparently there’s nothing in the law to punish whoever did it.’
    ‘I shall certainly want my solicitor’s ruling on
that,
’ Christine said. ‘It would be unthinkable if someone who did such a thing were to go unpunished. Right then,’ she said briskly, ‘you can go on up, I don’t think Mother is asleep.’
    Actually Janet was sitting in a chair by the window. She had the same stunned look that she had when we discovered Bernard’s body. She turned as I knocked and went into the room.
    ‘Sheila?’ she said vaguely, then, obviously trying to pull herself together, ‘how kind of you to come.’
    ‘You must be feeling awful,’ I said. ‘Such a shock.’
    ‘Yes,’ she echoed, ‘such a shock.’
    ‘An unspeakable thing to have happened.’
    She was silent for a moment and then she said, ‘He was dead, you see. Dead when…’