A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) (6 page)

Cain
continued,
“
Jason
Pendleton was the one who gave me the nickname of Stinky Cain. He moved schools
after a few years of tormenting me, thankfully. His mum got married to some
wealthy man, and Jason ended up at a private school.
”

“
So he
never saw how you changed when your gran took you in?
”

“
Wouldn
’
t
make any difference to someone like Jason Pendleton. Be careful around him, I
’
ve
seen his nasty streak.
”

Julia
started the car up. She wished DI Clarke was dealing with the investigation on
his own, she didn
’
t like the idea of having to talk to DS
Pendleton. If she didn
’
t watch out, he
’
d
have Cain arrested for Hugo
’
s murder.

Chapter 10

Julia
had been driving for two minutes when Cain said,
“
Don
’
t you
think we need to talk about the elephant in the car?
”

Julia
laughed.
“
Elephant?
I hope you
’
re
not referring to me. I try my best to keep on eye on my diet, but you know how
it is with chocolate - impossible to give up!
”

Cain
sighed.
“
I
think you know what I
’
m talking about.
”

Julia
pulled over to the side of the road and switched the engine off. She looked at
Cain and said,
“
I
’
m
presuming you mean that speech that DI Clarke gave? The one about you turning
up on Saturday, and then one of my clients being found murdered a few days
later?
”

Cain
nodded.
“
You
have to admit, it does sound suspicious.
”

Julia
considered the matter.
“
It does. But
what would your motive be? Had you met Hugo before? Perhaps he was uncovering
some aspect of your family that you didn
’
t
want him to know.
”

Cain
gave her a wry smile.
“
All my history
is out there for the world to see. I
’
ve nothing to
hide.
”

Apart
from your guilty brothers, Julia thought. She said,
“
I don
’
t
think you
’
ve
got anything to worry about. We
’
ll give our
statements to the police later.
”

Cain
frowned.
“
But
they
’
ll
want to know what I was doing last night. I don
’
t
have an airtight alibi, is that what they call it? I was home alone watching
TV.
”
His voice rose.
“
I
haven
’
t got
anyone to confirm that!
”

“
I
haven
’
t got
an airtight alibi either. I was catching up on paperwork, and I was alone too.
The police can hardly arrest us for that.
”

“
I
’
m not
so sure, Jason Pendleton looks like he
’
s ready to throw
me back into jail.
”

Julia
tutted.
“
I don
’
t
like that man! Fancy talking to us like that. He
’
d
better watch his ways, if he talks to me like that again I
’
ll
give him a piece of my mind!
”

Cain
grinned at her.
“
I believe you will too. I wish I could
stick up for myself like you do.
”

Julia
looked at the young man, his lack of self-confidence was so apparent. Even the
way he sat in the passenger seat spoke volumes about him: arms folded and knees
together as if trying to make himself as small as possible.

Julia
patted Cain on the arm and said,
“
We
’
ll
deal with our statements later. We
’
re going to see
Mrs Boyce now. Here
’
s an opportunity to stand up for
yourself, she complains about everything!
”

But
Mrs Boyce had no grounds for complaint. She actually smiled as Cain got to work
on her windows. She even chuckled at one point. Julia wondered what the strange
noise was at first, Mrs Boyce rarely cracked a smile.

“
What
a lovely shine!
”
Mrs
Boyce declared as she looked through her windows. She flicked a glance towards
Julia and added,
“
I
’
ve
never seen my windows so clean.
”

Julia
ignored the insult.
“
I
’
ve
vacuumed upstairs and cleaned the bathroom. Same time next week?
”

Mrs
Boyce beamed at Cain and said,
“
Will you be
coming back next week? My kitchen is due to be cleaned next week, and I
’
ll
bet your magic hands will bring my oven up a treat.
”

Cain
looked towards Julia.
“
I think I
’
ll be
here next week.
”

“
Good!
”
Mrs Boyce clapped her hands
together.
“
You
must take some cake with you. I
’
ve made a lemon
drizzle cake. I
’
ll pop some in a tin for you to take
home. Bring the tin back next week and I
’
ll
refill it.
”

Julia
shook her head in disbelief. Mrs Boyce smiling and chuckling - and now giving
away cake! Cain was having a strange effect on her clients. She was going to
start bringing plastic tubs for all this cake he was acquiring. She was sure he
wouldn
’
t
mind sharing with her. She took in his skinny body. Perhaps he
’
d be
better eating the cake himself.

Mrs
Boyce stood on the doorstep, waving merrily as they drove away.

Cain
looked at the metal cake tin on his lap.
“
Would
you mind if I had a slice now? I didn
’
t have time for
breakfast.
”

“
You
go ahead,
”
Julia said. She gripped the
steering wheel. She
’
d love to go inside his house and see
how much food, or not, that he had. Her mouth watered as the scent of lemon
filled the car.

“
Would
you like some? There
’
s plenty,
”
Cain offered.

“
No,
thank you, I
’
m
full,
”
Julia said. It was only half a
lie. She
’
d had
breakfast but there was always room in her tummy for cake.

“
I
’
ll
save you some,
”
Cain said kindly.

There
was a silence for a while as Cain ate the cake. Julia noticed from the corner
of her eye that he picked up every crumb that he dropped and put them in the
cake tin. He was so neat and tidy.

She
said,
“
I
wish I could remember who that man was that we saw yesterday, the one who was
driving in as we were driving out of Hugo
’
s
house. I
’
m
sure it
’
s
something to do with a television programme, but I
’
m
equally sure that it
’
s nothing to do with Summersdale
Secrets.
”

“
It
’
ll
come to you. That
’
s what Gran used to say to me.
”
Cain picked up another slice of
cake and bit into it.

“
I
wonder if that man was a client. Perhaps Hugo had uncovered something unsavoury
from his past and the man didn
’
t want anyone to
know about it. That would give him a motive to kill Hugo.
”

“
But
if he was a client, he could have just cancelled his business with Hugo, told
him not to finish his family tree.
”

“
That
’
s
true.
”
Julia negotiated a roundabout.
“
Perhaps
a relation of his asked Hugo to look into their family tree, and Hugo came to
the man in the car. The man found out and knew a terrible secret would be
revealed soon. Then Hugo might have said he couldn
’
t
discuss the case as the man wasn
’
t his client.
That might drive him to murder.
”

“
Good
point. I
’
d
better put the top on this tin or else I
’
m
going to eat another slice.
”
Cain put the lid on and drummed his
fingers on the top.
“
When we were at the house yesterday Hugo
referred to a female client, he said
‘
she wouldn
’
t be
happy
’
.
”

“
We
need to find out who his clients were. And I know just the person to ask.
”

Cain
said,
“
Do
you think we should interfere with police business? That police officer, the
one with the scary eyes
…”

“
DI
Clarke? Yes, he has got scary eyes. It
’
s like they bore
right into your soul. I think he practises that look in the mirror.
”

Cain
shivered.
“
I don
’
t
think he
’
d be
happy about us getting in the way of their investigation. Didn
’
t he
tell you not to?
”

Julia
sighed.
“
I
suppose you
’
re
right. We
’
ll
let them get on with it.
”
She turned left, and then added,
“
For
now.
”

Chapter 11

They
spent the rest of the day on cleaning jobs. About fifty per cent of her clients
were at home during their visit, mainly the older generation. It seemed that
word had got out about Cain. Julia was relieved to see that no one objected to
having an ex-convict in their homes. The people that weren
’
t in
were the ones that worked all day. She
’
d have to let
them know about Cain, and to see whether they were happy to have him in their
homes. She knew that some would object, she
’
d
deal with that later.

As
they left their last client, Julia said,
“
I
suppose we
’
d
better head down to the police station and give our statements. I hope it doesn
’
t
take too long.
”

Cain
said,
“
I
wouldn
’
t be
too sure about that. I think DS Pendleton will have many questions for me.
”

Heat
flushed through Julia as she thought about DS Pendleton. She wished she could
be at Cain
’
s
side when he gave his statement, but she knew that wasn
’
t an
option. Why couldn
’
t DI Clarke be the one in charge?

When
they arrived at the police station they were told by the uniformed woman on
reception that DS Pendleton was busy. Hope flared up in Julia and she said,
“
Can
we give our statements to you then?
”

The
woman shook her head and said,
“
I
’
m
really sorry, DS Pendleton has left strict instructions that he
’
s to
be the one who interviews you.
”
The woman did look sorry. Julia
concluded that the woman was wise to DS Pendleton
’
s
true nature. The woman spoke again,
“
Please take a
seat, I
’
ll
let DS Pendleton know that you
’
re here. There
’
s a
vending machine over there. It
’
s not fantastic
but the tea and coffee are strong. I
’
m afraid it
’
s
drinks only, there
’
s nothing to eat.
”

Cain
held up a plastic tub, smiled at the woman and said,
“
We
have chocolate cake. There
’
s plenty, you
can have a slice if you like.
”

The
woman returned his smile.
“
Thank you, but
we
’
re
not allowed to take food or drink from the public, just in case there
’
s
poison in them.
”

Cain
’
s
smile dropped. He moved the tub away from the woman.
“
I
’
m so
sorry! I never thought of that.
”

Julia
took Cain over to a set of metal chairs and sat him down.
“
I
’
ll
get us a drink. I
’
ll be more than happy to share that cake
with you. Goodness knows how long we
’
ll be here. And
those seats don
’
t look at all comfy.
”

They
had to wait thirty minutes before DS Pendleton graced them with his presence.
His smug smile was firmly in place as he looked Cain up and down. He sniffed
and said loudly,
“
I thought you were here, Stinky, I could
smell you.
”

Julia
jumped up.
“
That
’
s enough!
Any more of that and I
’
m making an
official complaint!
”

“
Do
what you like,
”
DS Pendleton retorted.
“
DI
Clarke has told me all about you and your interfering ways. No one will take
any complaint that you make seriously.
”

“
We
’
ll
see about that,
”
Julia
said. She marched over to the woman on the reception desk and announced,
“
How
do I make an official complaint?
”

The
woman already had a form and leaflet ready. She threw DS Pendleton a disgusted
look and then said to Julia,
“
Fill this in.
Bring it straight back to me, I
’
ll make sure it
goes to the right department.
”

Julia
gave her a smile of thanks and put the paperwork in her handbag. She turned to
face DS Pendleton.
“
You can take Mr Andrews first, I don
’
t
mind waiting.
”

DS
Pendleton sneered at her.
“
I
’
ll
decide who goes first.
”
His lip curled in disgust as he added,
“
Mr
Andrews can wait.
”

Julia
was taken to a stuffy room to give her statement. Was this how members of the
public were treated? Was there really any need for her to be in a room like
this?

She
was in the room for twenty minutes. Then she had to wait one hour for Cain to
give his statement. Her frustration and anger rose in equal amounts the longer
that she waited. Why was it taking so long? What was DS Pendleton saying to
Cain? She wished she could burst into the room.

Cain
looked exhausted when he came out. He gave Julia a surprised look.
“
You
didn
’
t
have to wait, I could have got the bus home.
”

“
Of
course I waited for you. Are you okay? What did he say to you?
”

Cain
’
s
shoulders dropped.
“
I
’
d rather
not say.
”

Julia
pressed her lips together tightly. Her opinion of DS Pendleton would have to
stay inside her head for the moment. She drove Cain home and told him she would
pick him up in the morning.
“
Don
’
t
leave all that cake on the back seat!
”
she called out as he left the car.

Cain
reached into the back seat for the various containers that Julia
’
s
clients had given him throughout the day.
“
People
have been so kind to me. And you have too, Julia. Are you sure you want me to
continue working for you?
”

“
Of
course. It
’
s
lovely to have company. And the cleaning jobs get done quicker. See you in the
morning!
”

She
kept a bright smile on her face as Cain walked away. She didn
’
t
need to know what DS Pendleton had said during his time with Cain, she could
just imagine the accusations that he
’
d thrown at the
young man.

Dad
was waiting for her when she got home. She didn
’
t
realise how hungry she was until he placed a chicken casserole in front of her.

He
sat at her side and said,
“
Tuck in, you
look exhausted. No talking! You can tell me all about your latest dead client
when you
’
ve
finished.
”

“
How
do you know about Hugo?
”

Dad
tapped the side of his nose.
“
Word gets out.
Start eating! I
’
ve found out some more details about
young Cain and his conviction. Did you know he
’
d
taken the blame on behalf of his brothers?
”

Julia
nodded, her mouth full of hot chicken.

Dad
shook his head.
“
You
’
d
better watch out for those brothers of his, people round here think they might
come looking for Cain, to make sure he can keep his mouth shut.
”

Dad
talked a bit more about the things he
’
d found out
about Cain, all good things. When she
’
d finished
eating, she told him about Hugo and the horrible DS Pendleton. She said,
“
He
didn
’
t
take any notes when I told him about that man driving into Hugo
’
s
drive on Monday. He didn
’
t ask me anything
about Hugo
’
s
business. He kept going on about Cain, saying he was bad news and that I should
fire him! Oh! I
’
m so annoyed! I don
’
t
think he even cares about Hugo
’
s killer, he
’
s convinced
that Cain did it.
”

Dad
patted Julia
’
s
shoulder.
“
Don
’
t let
it upset you. I suspect that Cain is stronger than he looks, he can deal with
DS Pendleton.
”
He stood up.
“
Right,
I
’
d
better get going. You try and get a good sleep. Let the police do what they
have to.
”

“
Humph!
”
was Julia
’
s
reply. She stood up and saw Dad to the door. He gave her a hug and then got in
his car. Julia watched him drive away. Her eyes caught a movement at the side
of a lamp post down the road. She squinted. Yes! There was definitely someone there.
It was hard to make out the figure in the darkness but there was a man standing
by the post, a lit cigarette in his hand. Julia shivered as the man looked
directly at her. He raised a hand and then walked away.

Was
that one of Cain
’
s brothers? Or was it someone connected
with Hugo
’
s
death?