A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) (12 page)

Chapter 21

William
began,
“
You
may have detected a slight accent in my voice. I
’
m originally
from America, New York in fact. I grew up in a borough that was less than
savoury. That
’
s a
polite way to put it. Let
’
s just say that
the sound of gunfire wasn
’
t an unusual
thing in my neighbourhood. I worked hard at school because I was determined to
better myself, I wanted to get on in the world. I won
’
t
tell you about the level of poverty that my family experienced, it
’
s not
something I care to recall.

“
Anyway,
as I said, I worked hard and got good grades. My teachers were confident that I
could apply to college. There was even talk of a scholarship.
”

He
looked past Julia, a faraway look on his face.
“
Then
I met Maria. I
’
d
never seen anyone so beautiful. I fell for her the second I saw her. She came
from a big family and they made me feel part of it straight away. I still
planned to go to college. Maria said she was upset but she would wait for me.
Her family thought I should forget about college and concentrate on starting a
family with Maria. They even offered me a job in their business.
”

“
What
kind of business were they in?
”
Julia asked. She shot a sideways look at
Cain, he had bits of chocolate around his mouth.

William
gave a mirthless laugh.
“
They were in the
kind of business that no one spoke about. Let
’
s
just say that they dealt with import and export. They worked at a level that
was just about above legal during daylight hours. I don
’
t
want to talk about the things they did that were illegal after dark. They had a
reputation for being tough, and I was proud to be included in their family. But
I was determined to go to college.

“
Then
everything changed a month before I was due to leave for college. Maria told me
she was pregnant.
”

“
Ah,
”
Julia said.
“
Did
you still go to college?
”
She swiftly passed Cain a tissue under
the table.

William
shrugged.
“
How
could I go? I couldn
’
t leave her behind. I offered to take
her with me, but she said she couldn
’
t leave her
family.
”
He gave a slow shake of his head.
“
And
her family wouldn
’
t let her go, they made that clear to
me. I remember feeling scared for the first time ever in their presence. Maria
pleaded with me to stay, her family insisted that I stay. What could I do?
”

Julia
added,
“
Sounds
like you didn
’
t
have a choice.
”

“
I
didn
’
t
have a choice, you
’
re right, I had to stay. We were married
quickly, to everyone
’
s delight, and the family started to
introduce me to their way of business. Listen to this, they actually gave me a
gun for a wedding present. Maria
’
s oldest brother
told me that I should carry it with me at all times.
”

Cain
wiped his mouth.
“
Sounds like the Mafia.
”

William
gave him a hard look.
“
They weren
’
t the
Mafia, but they were very close to it.
”

Julia
said,
“
Were
you and Maria happy? Was it a boy or a girl?
”

William
shook his head.
“
Neither. She wasn
’
t
pregnant at all. She told me she
’
d lost the baby
but I overheard her talking to her mother. She said that she
’
d got
me right where she wanted me. I felt such a fool! It wasn
’
t
long before I saw her true nature, I was nothing more than an employee to her.
And it wasn
’
t
long before the family asked me to
…
get rid of a problem.
”

Cain
leant forward and said,
“
Did they ask you
to kill someone? To wipe them out?
”

William
smiled.
“
That
’
s a
good expression. Yes, they did. That
’
s when I knew I
had to get away.
”

“
Before
you ended up wearing concrete-shoes and swimming with the fishes,
”
Cain added knowingly.

Julia
frowned at Cain. All that sugar had gone to his head. She was about to move the
biscuit-filled plate away from him when she noticed it was already empty.

William
said,
“
I
planned my getaway. I was going to stowaway on a ship to Liverpool. I carried
as many belongings as I could and then made a midnight break for it. I was all
set to creep onto the ship when I saw Maria
’
s
brothers on the dock. They must have followed me. I hid behind some crates and
watched them as they went aboard. They got back off a while later. I heard one
of them mumble that I must be on board somewhere, and that they
’
d
follow me to England later and find me. They stood at the side of the ship as
it sailed away. My heart was beating so fast that I was sure they would hear
me!

“
They
eventually left the docks. I found out that the next ship would leave in three
days so I hung around the docks and did odd jobs, all the while looking over my
shoulder. You couldn
’
t imagine my relief as I got on that
ship three days later. I even managed to save enough money for a third-class
ticket. I didn
’
t
want to take the chance of being caught as a stowaway.

“
When
I got to Liverpool I found out that the ship I
’
d
intended to sail on had sunk. There were no survivors.
”

Julia
gasped.
“
How
awful!
”

William
gave her an embarrassed smile.
“
I
’
m
ashamed to say that I was overjoyed at that news. Maria and her family would
now think I was dead. I could start a new life. And that
’
s
what I did. I changed my name, got a job and started working as hard as I
could. I got married and had a family. I know! I committed bigamy. But I could
hardly ask Maria for a divorce. I don
’
t know if you
saw a show about good bosses? It was on the TV last year.
”

Julia
nodded.
“
I did
see it. That
’
s
where I recognised you from.
”

“
I had
no idea that show was being filmed. I was terrified that someone would
recognise me. Luckily, no one did. I thought my secret was safe. Then Hugo
Barnes contacted me. My daughter, Bethany, had hired him to look into our
family tree as a birthday present for me. I never spoke about my background and
I think she was curious about it. Hugo said he
’
d
been to New York after discovering I was born there. How he found that out, I
don
’
t
know! He
’
d
found a wedding certificate but no divorce certificate. He knew I
’
d
married again and he assumed my wife didn
’
t
know. He was right about that. He wanted to give me a
‘
heads-up
’
before he told Bethany.
”

Julia
’
s
scalp began to prickle.
“
Why did you go
to Hugo
’
s
house?
”

“
I
wanted to talk him out of telling Bethany. I was angry, I
’
ll
admit that. We had a good talk and Hugo said it was best to let the secret out.
I eventually agreed with him. I left about an hour later.
”
He caught Julia
’
s
look.
“
No, I
didn
’
t
kill him if that
’
s what you
’
re
thinking.
”

“
It
hadn
’
t
crossed my mind,
”
Julia
lied.
“
Have
you told your family about your past?
”

William
sighed.
“
It
was a difficult situation but they took it well. I should have told them years
ago. I
’
ll
have to contact Maria and her family, sort things out legally. I am not looking
forward to that!
”

He
stood up.
“
So,
now you know. Do forgive me, but I have a meeting to go to. I
’
ll
give you my number in case you have any more questions.
”

Julia
stood up and took the offered card.

William
walked them out of his office and towards the lift. He said,
“
I
wasn
’
t the
only visitor that day. As I was leaving, a convertible car pulled in. It was
driven by a youngish man. What caught my eye was his passenger, a woman. At
first, I thought her hair was on fire! But I realised it was the sun reflecting
off it like a mirror. I
’
ve never seen
such shiny hair before. Ah, here
’
s the lift. A
pleasure to meet you both. I hope you catch Hugo
’
s
killer.
”

As
he shook hands with them Julia hoped that she wasn
’
t
shaking hands with Hugo
’
s killer.

As
the lift descended, Cain said,
“
Wow, what a
story. Do you believe he didn
’
t kill Hugo?
”

“
I
’
m not
sure. He
’
s
made a good job of lying to his family for years, he could be lying to us now.
Well, we know now that Dinah Wells did visit Hugo on Monday, and a convertible
car sounds like the sort of thing that Gilbert would drive. We
’
ll
have to confront them.
”

Chapter 22

Julia
and Cain had a few more clients to visit. As they finished the last one, Julia
’
s
phone rang.

“
Hi,
Dad. Yes, we
’
re
both fine.
”
She looked at Cain and then
continued with her conversation.
“
Yes, okay, I
’
m
sure he
’
d
like that. Dad, thanks for doing this.
”

“
Were
you talking about me?
”
Cain asked.

‘
Yes,
Dad wants to know if you want to do some more painting on your house. He
’
s got
nothing to do this afternoon. He mentioned something about starting on the
garden.
”

Cain
’
s
face lit up. He looked hopefully at Julia and said,
“
Can I
go? Have we finished for today?
”

Julia
didn
’
t
know whether to laugh or cry at his expression.
“
You
don
’
t
need my permission. We have finished, I
’
ll
drop you off now. Seems like you and my dad have become good friends.
”

Cain
nodded.
“
Ray
’
s a
great guy.
”

Julia
did laugh this time.

She
took him home. Dad was waiting in the front garden for them, lawnmower at his
side. Julia said a quick hello, told Cain to have a good time, and then drove
away.

Hugo
’
s
death had been on her mind all day. She wasn
’
t
entirely convinced that William Roper had been telling the truth. William had
been to see Hugo that day, but what if he had come back later and decided to
silence Hugo once and for all?

And
there was still the mystery about Gilbert and Dinah. They were up to something.
She sighed. She
’
d have to tell DS Pendleton about her
discoveries. She didn
’
t want to but
she felt she had to go through the
‘
proper channels
’
.

She
drove to the police station. There was no room in the police car park so she
parked down a quiet side street. As she walked away from her car the back of
her neck began to tickle. She turned around quickly and scanned the street. She
could have sworn someone was following her. She looked again, there was no one
there.

She
made her way to the police station and asked to speak to DS Pendleton. He soon
appeared, an annoying swagger in his walk. Julia gave herself a mental shake,
he might be a nice man, this might be just a show he was putting on. If it was
a show, he was very good at it.

DS
Pendleton looked at her and barked,
“
What do you want
now? I thought DI Clarke told you to keep your nose out of this investigation.
Go back to your cleaning.
”

Julia
took a deep breath and tried to smile.
“
I
’
ve
found out some information that might help with your enquiries.
”

“
I don
’
t
need your help. Where
’
s Stinky Cain?
Has he been arrested again? Wouldn
’
t surprise me,
it
’
s
just a matter of time before he
’
s locked up
again.
”
He gave her a satisfied grin.
“
I
hope I
’
m the
one to lock him up. Clear off, I
’
ve got work to
do.
”

“
Jason
Pendleton! Don
’
t you
talk to members of the public like that!
”

DS
Pendleton blanched as he looked at the owner of the voice. Julia recognised the
voice too. She turned around and smiled at DS Pendleton
’
s
mum.

His
mum returned her smile and said,
“
Oh, it
’
s
you, from that house the other day. How lovely to see you again. How are you?
”

“
I
’
m
fine. Are you feeling better after your shock?
”

DS
Pendleton
’
s mum
laughed and made a show of rolling her eyes.
“
I
feel such a fool. I shouldn
’
t have gone into
the house that day. I should have let Jason get on with his job. I can
’
t
help it though, he
’
s still my little boy.
”

DS
Pendleton moved to his mother
’
s side and
hissed,
“
Stop
saying that! What are you doing here? I told you not to bother me at work!
”

His
mum narrowed her eyes and said,
“
Don
’
t
talk to me like that, young man. I was just passing. I
’
ve
been to the supermarket and they had your favourite chocolate on offer, that
expensive one that you like.
”
She put her hand into her handbag and
pulled out a gold-wrapped bar. She shoved it towards DS Pendleton and said,
“
I
’
m not
sure you even deserve it. Do you normally talk to people in that atrocious
manner? Is this what you
’
ve been trained
to do?
”

DS
Pendleton took the bar, his eyes downcast. He actually looked ashamed. Julia
savoured the moment. She saw an opportunity.
“
I
came here to tell your son about some information I
’
ve
come across. I thought he should know.
”

“
Is it
about that poor man I saw the other day? What was his name? Hugo?
”

“
It
was,
”
Julia confirmed.

DS
Pendleton
’
s mum
said,
“
Jason,
isn
’
t
that good news, that members of the public are coming in here of their own
accord to help you? I hope you
’
ve said thank
you.
”

Julia
pushed her luck a bit more.
“
He hasn
’
t had
chance to listen to me yet.
”

“
Oh!
Then don
’
t let
me stop you! I
’
ve a
million things to do.
”
DS Pendleton
’
s mum
turned to Julia and said,
“
Lovely to meet
you again, I do hope you get this murder thing sorted out.
”

She
gave them a cheery wave and walked out of the station. Julia could feel DS
Pendleton glaring at her. She turned to face him and said,
“
Well,
shall I begin? We can share that chocolate if you like.
”

DS
Pendleton let out a snort of laughter.
“
You
really are an annoying woman, DI Clarke was right about you. But, I admire your
determination. Come on, we
’
ll go to my
office. And, no, you can get your own chocolate. Two words that don
’
t go
together in my vocabulary are
‘
chocolate
’
and
‘
sharing
’
.
”

“
I
totally understand,
”
Julia
said with a smile. She was relived that the tension between them had gone.
Maybe DS Pendleton would be able to solve Hugo
’
s
murder after all.

He
listened attentively as Julia explained about Dinah Wells and Gilbert Barnes.
He made notes as she continued with her conversation about William Roper.

He
put his pen down and said,
“
Thank you for
all that. I can see I
’
ve got some
questioning to do.
”
He paused
and seemed to be wrestling with something in his head.
“
I
’
m
sorry about being so rough with Cain, he doesn
’
t
deserve it. I think I get annoyed when I see him because he reminds me of the
terrible time that me and Mum had when we lived on the Clover Estate. We weren
’
t
there for long but I still remember how Mum used to cry with tiredness after
working three jobs throughout the day. She was so relieved when we finally
moved off that estate. Marrying Dad was the best thing that ever happened to
her.
”

“
Dad?
Your real dad?
”

DS
Pendleton
’
s
chin lifted proudly.
“
My real dad died
in action, he was a war hero. He died when I was young, I don
’
t
even remember him. I consider my stepdad to be my father now, although I have
kept my real dad
’
s surname. Let
’
s get
back to the investigation. You might be able to help me with something we found
in the kitchen, or should I say, something we didn
’
t
find.
”

DS
Pendleton was cut short as his office door flew open. A red-faced policeman
said,
“
Sarge,
I
’
m
sorry to interrupt but your mum is here.
”

DS
Pendleton swore and said,
“
What does she
want now? Tell her I
’
m busy.
”

The
policeman went on.
“
Sorry sir, I can
’
t do
that. She
’
s in
a bit of a state. She said she
’
s just killed a
man.
”