An Expert in Murder (40 page)

Josephine considered. ‘It would be my first guess, although I purposely didn’t ask – I wouldn’t have been able to lie to Archie in the mood he was in. It’s where Marta met Arthur so, in spite of Vintner, she was happy there. If she has gone to Cambridge, though, I don’t think she’ll be able to keep it a secret. It’s a small place, and Archie knows it well.’

‘Has all this caused problems between the two of you?’

‘It certainly hasn’t made things any easier, but then my relationship with Archie has never been easy.’

‘Why is that? Because he loves you and knows you don’t feel the same way?’

‘It’s more complicated than that. It goes back twenty years.’

‘Doesn’t everything?’ Lydia raised an eyebrow wryly. ‘We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.’

‘It’s not that. It just feels disloyal to Archie.’

‘Then you should speak to each other – get it all out in the open.

Look what secrets can do to you.’

Josephine nodded, knowing that Lydia was right. After what had happened in the last couple of days, she was reluctant to let old grudges continue to fester. ‘I’ll talk to him when I get the chance,’ she said.

Voices drifted through to the kitchen from the central studio, confirming that Ronnie and Lettice were finally awake, so she added two more cups to the tray before carrying it in. Lettice thumped down onto the sofa next to Lydia and gave her an enor-280

mous hug. ‘Look on the bright side, darling – you hated that alabaster statue from the moment Hephzibar gave it to you.’

Lydia had to smile, as Ronnie leaned forward and poked her sister in the shoulder. ‘What did I tell you?’ she said triumphantly.

‘Everything that Hephzibar touches is cursed.’ Then the smugness disappeared. ‘She hasn’t ever given us anything, has she?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Lettice snapped, but Josephine was amused to see her glance nervously at a small Buddha by the door. ‘Listen,’

she continued, ‘with all the fuss, we forgot to tell you that Johnny telephoned last night. He wants to talk to you about adding a week to the tour and finishing in Hammersmith as a tribute to Hedley’s girl – he thought of dedicating the week’s performances to her. Do you think the family would like that, or is it too soon?’

‘I think they’d be very touched,’ Josephine said. ‘If it can be made to work, it’s a wonderful idea.’

‘Good. He’s going to see if people are free. It might mean delay-ing rehearsals for
Queen of Scots
by a week or so, though.’

‘I’m sure no one will mind,’ Josephine said, adding privately to herself that the longer she could put off going through another play, the better.

‘Actually, we were a bit bewildered by the rest of the conversation,’ Lettice added. ‘It scarcely sounded like the real Johnny.

Apparently, he’s given Fleming three months off on full pay to sort out some personal problems. I don’t know what’s come over him.

We half-wondered if we should do a few sketches for
A Christmas
Carol.
’

There was an abrupt knock at the door and Ronnie got up to answer it. ‘Archie, dear,’ she said, letting him in. ‘Where are you going today? I believe you can get season tickets if you intend to make a habit of rail travel.’

Josephine was relieved to see that Archie’s wrath had been replaced by composure tinged with embarrassment. ‘Is there any news of Marta?’ Lydia asked as soon as she saw him.

‘I’m afraid not,’ he said, sitting down and accepting some tea. ‘I really am sorry, Lydia. I know that whatever professional duty I have to find her, it’s nothing compared to how much you must long 281

for news. I promise I’ll tell you as soon as I know anything. And I owe you an apology, too, Josephine.’ He looked at her a little sheepishly, but a smile hovered at the corners of his mouth. ‘So I’ve decided not to arrest you after all.’ He drank his tea, and continued more earnestly. ‘We’ve checked the hospital records, though, and they confirm what Marta told Josephine about her time there. In fact, she didn’t tell you how bad it was.’ He glanced at Lydia.

‘Go on, Archie,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry about me.’

‘Well, I managed to speak to someone who was a young nurse there at the time – she’s moved on now – and she remembers Marta very clearly. The depression was severe, it seems, and this nurse didn’t mince her words about how Marta was treated by those in charge. Apparently, she made a couple of attempts to take her own life just after Elspeth was born, then simply resigned herself to her fate.’

‘It’s hard to imagine how she got through it at all,’ Josephine said.

‘Yes, but that’s not everything. The reason this woman remembers Marta so clearly is because of what happened when the baby was taken away from her a few weeks later. Her husband came to fetch it, she says, and he brought a young boy of about five or six with him. Marta clung to the baby, desperate not to let her go, but of course it was no use. When the husband – Vintner – had Elspeth in his arms, he turned to the young boy and told him to go and give Mummy her present. The child went over to Marta and, when she bent down to him, he spat in her face. The sisters just stood by and watched. The woman I spoke to left the hospital the very next day – she said she couldn’t bear such cruelty.’

Lydia was pale by now, and even Ronnie and Lettice were too shocked to speak. ‘Have you spoken to Rafe Vintner yet?’

Josephine asked at last. ‘It seems that everyone’s a victim in this. I can’t imagine how being filled with so much hatred must have affected him at that age.’

‘Yes, and I couldn’t begin to tell you how it’s grown over the years. I’ve only spoken to him briefly because he’s still in hospital and fairly weak from that knock on the head, but I don’t think I’ve 282

ever seen so little remorse. He’s trying to blame his mother for everything, but that doesn’t surprise me.’

‘He won’t get away with it, surely?’ Josephine was horrified.

‘Oh no, if only because he can’t resist making it clear how clever he’s been, even as he tries to push all the responsibility onto Marta.

He’s his own worst counsel – so keen to make sure I’ve appreciated all the little signs he’s left along the way. You know, I still think that’s the most chilling part of these murders for me – the extent to which each scene was designed to humiliate his victims.’

‘Were the dolls his?’ Josephine asked.

‘We’ll find out when we can interview him properly, but I’m sure they were. Now we know what we know, the doll with the broken hand and the wedding ring was clearly a reference to Marta’s infi-delity. The iris was a jibe at Arthur, and the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that the choice of nicotine was, too. It’s used by gardeners, don’t forget, and I’m sure the irony wasn’t lost on him when he was planning the worst possible death for Bernard Aubrey.’

‘And the locked door?’ The question was from Lydia, and Archie could imagine how the memory of that terrible discovery had stayed with her.

‘I’m not certain yet, but there’s no doubt Swinburne used the bridge between the two theatres to get to Bernard’s office that night and leave the bayonet on the desk,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he expected the room to be empty – nicotine would have killed most people long before they got up those stairs –

and, if so, he’ll have had the shock of his life to find Bernard there, alive or dead. Perhaps he just panicked and locked the door without thinking – everybody makes a mistake eventually.

Whatever happened, we’ll get to the bottom of it.’ He thought for a second, remembering his promise to Grace Aubrey. ‘Vintner and I have a lot to talk about, so the sooner he’s fit enough, the better I’ll like it.’

‘But will there be enough evidence to convict him?’ Lydia asked, an urgency in her voice.

Archie looked at her reassuringly. ‘Yes, we’ve got a very good case, and Walter’s confession was lodged with Aubrey’s solicitor, 283

which helps tremendously.’ He turned apprehensively to Josephine. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to testify against him, though.

We can’t risk it without you.’

‘In court against one Vintner is misfortune, but two looks like carelessness.’ Josephine spoke lightly, but the prospect of another trial filled her with dismay. This time, if she were successful, she really would be sending a Vintner to his death. Would it never be over?

Archie looked at his watch. ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go now –

Bill’s expecting me back at the station. Will you see me out?’ he asked, and Josephine nodded.

‘Actually, I’ll walk with you,’ she said. ‘I could do with some fresh air.’

Traffic coiled around Trafalgar Square as Josephine and Archie made their way towards Whitehall, and news vendors were just starting to emerge, ready to catch the lunch-hour trade. ‘They’re going to have a field day when this comes out,’ Archie said. ‘I just hope we can find Marta before she has her life story splashed all over the front pages. I didn’t want to tell you in front of Lydia, but Bill and I are going to Somerset House this afternoon. Apparently, Aubrey telephoned there on Friday to make an appointment. I’m not certain yet, but I’d say he was about to go through the records to find out who Elspeth’s mother was. If only he’d done it sooner.’

Once again, Josephine considered how differently things might have turned out – for Marta and for Elspeth. ‘I’m glad you didn’t mention it,’ she said. ‘Lydia’s had about as much as she can take for now – I think everyone has. She spoke to Hedley last night, and said he was absolutely inconsolable.’

‘At least he needn’t be on his own – the Simmonses have said he can stay with them if he wants to.’

‘Have you been to see them yet?’

‘Yes, first thing this morning. When I got there, Frank Simmons was out the back burning the doll that Hedley had sent. He said he couldn’t bear the thought of anything Vintner had touched going near Elspeth, and he’s already packed away all his theatre stuff, 284

ready to sell to another collector. He and Betty seemed to be getting on better, though; there was a warmth between them today that I didn’t see the last time we were there. Strange how people can be brought closer together by the death of someone they love.’

‘Or driven further apart.’ She stopped, and looked at Archie.

‘Why have you never told me?’

‘Told you what?’ he asked, but she could tell from the way he hesitated that he knew what she meant.

‘The soldier Jack saved – the man he died for – it was you, wasn’t it?’ She waited for him to say something, half hoping that he would deny it, but he simply looked at her with a mixture of shock and relief. ‘It’s the only thing that makes any sense,’ she continued. ‘I know you were wounded at around that time, and it explains why you avoided me for so long after Jack died. God knows, I’ve had long enough to think about it.’ His silence was making her angry now. ‘How could you let me go on wondering year after year? You’ve made it impossible for us to have any sort of truthful relationship, and you can’t even speak to me about it now.’

‘I didn’t know you had any idea,’ he said at last. ‘I suppose that’s why I haven’t said anything – because I didn’t want it to affect our friendship.’

The excuse sounded feeble, even to him; to Josephine, it was insufferable. ‘And you don’t think it has been affected?’ she said scornfully. ‘For Christ’s sake, Archie, there’s always this sadness about you when you’re with me. I thought at first it was because I reminded you of Jack, but you’ve had years to get over that, and if I can manage it, you should be able to. I watch you with other people, and there’s a spark in you. But not with me. You’re so bloody careful around me all the time. You know, it was quite gratifying yesterday when you were furious with me – at least it felt honest.’

‘Oh, don’t talk to me about honesty,’ he said, relief giving way to resentment. ‘Why didn’t you say something? If you wanted this so-called truthful relationship, you could have made it easier for me to talk to you. But no – instead, you have to piece it all together like some sort of cheap detective story, building your 285

evidence out of my feelings and my silence. Do you have any idea how cold that is?’

Afraid of what he might say next, Archie turned to walk on but Josephine caught his arm. ‘All right, I should have done things differently, too. I know that, and I’m angry with myself as much as with you. But I needed to feel you
could
tell me – don’t you understand that?’

‘But I couldn’t,’ he said. ‘Facing up to it with you would have meant dealing with it myself, and that was too much to ask.’ He paused, wondering how he could ever give Josephine the explanation she wanted when he barely understood it himself. ‘You see, I didn’t know much about it at the time. I was unconscious for days, and it was a long time before anyone thought I was well enough to talk about it. I don’t know if they’d ever have told me exactly what had happened if I hadn’t started to remember bits and pieces, and to ask questions about Jack. When I heard the whole story, it was as if it had happened to someone else. I don’t know if it was some sort of defence mechanism or just cowardice, but I distanced myself from the whole thing, acted as though I hadn’t been there.

I’d talk about that soldier in the third person, as if he were a complete stranger. Eventually, I came to some sort of peace with myself

– well, acceptance rather than peace – but I could never find that with you. All I could think about was that last summer when I went to stay with Jack in Scotland, and I’d watch the two of you together and marvel at how happy you were. So no, I couldn’t own up to what I’d taken from you, and the longer I left it, the more impossible it became ever to say anything.’

‘Did it never occur to you that it might be easier for me to know Jack died for someone I care about?’ As soon as the words were out, she realised how selfish they seemed. Archie smiled, but there was no reassurance in it.

‘That’s a nice sentiment, but I doubt it’s true, however much you care. It’s not to my credit to be jealous of a dead man, especially one I loved, but if you’d had the chance to play God back then, it wouldn’t be me you’d have allowed to live.’

Now it was Josephine’s turn to pull away. ‘Listen to yourself, 286