A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) (13 page)

Chapter 23

DS
Pendleton raced out of the room, Julia followed him.

They
found his mum sitting on a chair in the main reception area, her head in her
hands. She was sobbing uncontrollably. The police officers at her side looked
uncomfortable.

“
Mum!
Mum! It
’
s me,
calm down. Take some deep breaths,
”
DS Pendleton knelt at her side, his hand
on her back.

The
sobbing decreased and his mum eventually looked up. Julia handed her a tissue.
It was a good job she kept a supply handy.

DS
Pendleton spoke again,
“
Mum, tell me
what happened. Take your time.
”

His
mum wiped her eyes and looked at him. In a voice barely above a whisper she
said,
“
I
killed him! He came out of nowhere! I couldn
’
t
stop the car! Oh! Jason, I
’
m so sorry.
”

DS
Pendleton stroked her back while a fresh torrent of crying overtook her. He waited
patiently until she was ready to talk again.

Her
voice shook as she said,
“
When I left you
I went to my car. I
’
d parked on that little street round the
corner. I got in my car and was about to set off when I saw a scruffy-looking
man trying to break into a light blue car further up the road. I think I
’
ve
seen that car before, there
’
s a small logo
on the back.
”

Julia
’
s
lips set in a grim line. That sounded like her car. She didn
’
t
want to interrupt DS Pendleton
’
s mum at this
stage.

His
mum carried on,
“
Well, I didn
’
t
know what to do. I didn
’
t want to come
back to the station because I was afraid he would get away. So I drove slowly
on and I beeped my horn at him. He jumped and looked at me. I made sure my
doors were locked. I beeped again, several times. It had the desired effect. He
took off, running up the road and around the corner. I can tell you, Jason, my
heart was beating so fast!
”

“
Mum,
you should have come back here to let me know, or you could have phoned. You
put yourself in danger, don
’
t ever do that
again.
”

She
patted his hand and gave him a grateful smile.
“
I
know. I
’
m
sorry, I wasn
’
t
thinking.
”
Her smile died.
“
I
carried on driving, and as I rounded that bend at the top of the road, the same
man
…
oh! Jason, he jumped out at me.
He looked so angry! I screamed and my hands flew to my eyes. Then
…”
she shivered.
“
I
heard a thud, and I felt the thud. Time seemed to stand still as I realised
what I
’
d
done. I
’
d run
him over. I hadn
’
t stopped when he jumped out at me. I
think I
’
ve
killed him!
”

DS
Pendleton said gently,
“
It
’
s
okay, Mum, no one is going to blame you. Where is he now?
”

His
mum swallowed and tried to compose herself.
“
He
’
s
still on the road. I checked his pulse and I shouted at him to see if he
’
d
move. But there was no response.
”

DS
Pendleton straightened up. He pointed to the police officers behind his mum and
said,
“
Go
and have a look. I
’
ll follow you in a minute or two.
”
He turned to Julia and said,
“
Would
you mind keeping an eye on my mum for a while? I
’
ll
phone Dad and tell him to come and get her.
”

Julia
nodded.
“
Of
course I will. Shall I take her through to your office?
”

“
Yes.
Thank you. I
’
ll
get someone to bring you both a cup of tea.
”
He gave his mum a quick squeeze
around the shoulders and told her he wouldn
’
t be
long.

Julia
took his mum into his office and settled her into a chair. She said,
“
I don
’
t
think we
’
ve
been properly introduced. I
’
m Julia Blake, I
run a cleaning business. That
’
s what I was
doing at Hugo
’
s
house on Tuesday.
”

“
I
’
m
Vivianne. You must think I
’
m such a fool! I
always seem to be crying in front of you!
”

“
I don
’
t
think that at all.
”
Julia
was desperate to ask her what the man looked like, the one that had been trying
to break into Julia
’
s car. Was it Smoking Man? Had he been
watching her earlier? She looked at Vivianne, fresh tears were rolling down her
cheeks. Julia needed to distract her.
“
Tell me about
Jason, you must be very proud of him.
”

Vivianne
brightened immediately.
“
I am! So proud.
We didn
’
t
have the best of beginnings but he
’
s worked
incredibly hard to get where he is today. He
’
s
determined to progress up the ladder. He keeps telling me how well he
’
s
doing, and how pleased DI Clarke is with his progress.
”

Julia
didn
’
t
make any comment. The door opened and a friendly-looking police officer set down
a tray of tea things.

Julia
asked Vivianne how she took her tea. Vivianne waved a hand at her and said,
“
I
usually have a squeeze of lemon, I try to impress people with my
sophistication. I don
’
t want people to
know where I came from.
”
She sighed, and then gave Julia a bright
smile.
“
To
hell with the lemon, pour some milk in. And I
’
ll
have a couple of sugar lumps too!
”

Julia
did so. She listened as Vivianne spoke more about her son. It seemed to be
taking her mind off the man that she
’
d just knocked
down.

DS
Pendleton returned ten minutes later. His face looked serious. He said,
“
Mum,
the man is dead. I don
’
t want you to
worry any more about him. You
’
ve told me what
happened, and that
’
s enough for me. I will have to take a
formal statement later, maybe tomorrow. Dad
’
s
here, he
’
s
waiting outside in the car. Come on, you
’
ve
had a terrible shock.
”
He turned towards Julia.
“
Thanks
for looking after her. I
’
ll be in touch
about the other matter. Can you see yourself out?
”

“
Of
course,
”
Julia said. She waited whilst DS
Pendleton led his mother out. Vivianne bade her a goodbye.

Two
minutes later Julia walked cautiously towards her car. She hoped to goodness
that the man hadn
’
t damaged the car lock. She could do
without the hassle of calling a mechanic out. She inspected the lock.
Everything looked fine. She got in and started the engine up. Why would someone
want to break into her car anyway? She looked ahead. The police had cordoned
off half of the road so she was forced to drive slowly on the wrong side of the
road. A grim-faced policeman waved her through.

Julia
didn
’
t
want to look at the man sprawled on the ground but some instinct made her look.

The
man lying in a pool of blood was Smoking Man.

Chapter 24

As
soon as she got home Julia phoned DS Pendleton. He didn
’
t
answer so she left him a message about Smoking Man. She didn
’
t
refer to him as that in her message, she said that she
’
d
seen him hanging about, and that this had happened after the death of Hugo. She
ending her message by saying that she felt the man was somehow connected to
Hugo
’
s
murder. She asked DS Pendleton to phone her back.

He
didn
’
t.
Julia presumed he was too busy. She hoped that once the police discovered the
identity of the man, they would find out his connection to Hugo. A thought
suddenly struck Julia - was Smoking Man the killer? Why hadn
’
t she
considered that before? She knew why, she was too hung up on Dinah, Gilbert or
William Roper being the possible killer.

Dad
phoned later for a catch up.
“
I
’
ve
had a smashing time with Cain. He
’
s a quick
learner and he works hard. We
’
ve made a good
start on painting the woodwork on his house. I must say that he looks better
than he did when we first met him. He looks less haunted now, more like a
normal person. I
’
m glad you gave him a chance.
”

“
Me
too,
”
Julia admitted.

Dad
continued,
“
We
’
re
starting work on the garden tomorrow, you can help if you like.
”

Julia
pulled a face, glad that her dad couldn
’
t see
her.
“
I
’
m not
sure, you know gardening is not my thing.
”

Dad
laughed.
“
I
know. But there
’
s something else. I
’
ll
mention it now because I think Cain is too embarrassed to say it.
”

“
Go
on,
”
Julia said, her curiosity piqued.

“
It
’
s the
inside of his house, the kitchen in particular,
”
Dad explained.
“
He
hasn
’
t got
the heart to clean the cupboards out. He doesn
’
t
want to see his gran
’
s things. He got upset and told me that
the cupboards needed a good clean, and that his gran wouldn
’
t be
happy about them being left so long. And
…”

“
And
you
’
d
like me to clean them out,
”
Julia finished for him.

“
If
you could. But can you make out it
’
s your idea. Don
’
t let
on that I told you. I don
’
t want him
thinking I
’
m
talking behind his back - even though I am. I think he
’
s
starting to open up to me, I don
’
t want to lose
any trust we
’
ve
built up between us.
”

Julia
smiled.
“
That
’
s
kind of you, Dad. I
’
m sending you a hug over the phone.
”

“
There
’
s no
need to be so soppy,
”
he
said. Then he chuckled.
“
Caught it! That
was a big hug. See you tomorrow! Bright and early!
”

Julia
regretted her offer the minute she opened her eyes the next morning. She
’
d got
used to having a lie in on a Saturday. She groaned and pulled herself out of
bed.

Thirty
minutes later she pulled up outside Cain
’
s
house. It did look better. The windows had been painted and it looked like Cain
and Dad were sanding down the front door now.

Julia
walked over to the pair and handed an envelope to Cain.

“
What
’
s
this?
”
he said.

“
Your
wage.
”

“
But I
…”
Cain began.

“
And a
formal offer of employment, with a contract to sign if you decide to take the
job,
”
Julia said.

“
But I
…”
Cain looked up from the envelope,
his eyes moist.
“
Thank you, thank you so much.
”

“
I
should be thanking you,
”
Julia said.
“
You
’
ve
helped me out a great deal this week. If we carry on working at this rate
together we
’
ll be
able to take more clients on. And, of course, you
’
ll
have to learn how to drive so that you can have your own clients. Is that okay?
”

Cain
nodded, his chin trembled slightly. He looked as if he didn
’
t
trust himself to speak.

Julia
put all thoughts of her comfy bed behind her and said,
“
I
thought I
’
d
come over and offer you a hand, I
’
ve nothing else
to do today. I
’
m not
doing any painting or gardening work though. How about any jobs inside?
”
Hoping her tone was still casual
she added,
“
Any
cupboards need cleaning out?
”

Cain
’
s
face lit up.
“
Well,
I was going to do the kitchen cupboards. You could do those for me, if you don
’
t
mind. Thank you.
”

“
Consider
them done,
”
Julia said with a smile. Dad sent
her a secret wink. Julia headed towards the back door and the kitchen. Dad
called out,
“
Put
the kettle on whilst you
’
re in there,
love.
”

Julia
made drinks for everyone and then started on the cupboards. She looked around the
kitchen, it needed updating but it had a cosy old-fashioned look to it. She
took every item out and piled them on the kitchen table. She gave the cupboards
a thorough scrubbing. She sat back on her heels and nodded to herself.

As
she was putting things back she saw an old biscuit tin in the far corner of a
cupboard. Surely it wouldn
’
t have biscuits
in? She
’
d
better check, she didn
’
t want her new
employee coming down with food poisoning. Inside the tin was a battered-looking
notebook. Being the nosy kind, Julia opened it and read the first page. Tears
sprang to her eyes. She
’
d have to show
this to Cain.

She
finished tidying up in the kitchen and then took the notebook outside.
“
Cain,
I found this in one of the cupboards. I think you should have it.
”

Cain
’
s
face softened as he looked at the notebook. He took it and smiled.
“
I
’
d
forgotten about this. It was Gran
’
s instruction
book for cleaning products. She liked to make her own.
”
He looked up at Julia.
“
Just
like you. You can have this.
”

“
No!
It belongs to your gran. I can
’
t take it.
”

Cain
held the book out,
“
I think she
’
d
like you to have it. You
’
re quite similar
to her. It
’
s no
good to me, I haven
’
t got the patience to go looking for all
these ingredients. And if you do make any products up I
’
d
love to see them, and smell them. Please, take it. You
’
ve
been so kind to me, it
’
s the least I
can do.
”

Julia
took the book, blinking away the tears that had suddenly appeared. She couldn
’
t
wait to have a good look inside.
“
Is there
anything else you
’
d like me to do in your house?
”

Dad
came to her side and put his arm round her.
“
Go on
home. I can tell you want to have a look inside that book. You
’
ll be
cooking some lotions and potions up before this day has ended.
”

“
You
make me sound like a witch,
”
Julia said.
“
Okay,
if you insist.
”

Dad
released his arm and placed it around Cain
’
s
shoulders. The young man seemed to grow and his smile widened as he looked over
at his new hero.

Julia
kept that happy image in mind as she drove away.

It
was the same image that kept her going when she received the bad news about
Cain on Monday.