The Celtic Dagger (13 page)

CHAPTER 21

Back in Sydney, James left the hospital and made his way to the museum to see Edward Sommersby, the events of the weekend at Cragleigh and their consequences, weighing on his mind.  He found Edward in his office.

‘James, I’ve been trying to reach you.  I need your expertise this afternoon at a meeting.  Should only take an hour.'  Edward gestured for James to sit down.

'I just heard about what happened at Cragleigh.  How's Tristan?'

'He's out of intensive care and all the signs are positive.  They expect him to make a full recovery eventually, thank God.'

'And Ashley Manning?'

‘I’ve only spoken to her on the phone since we got back, but she assures me she’s okay.’

‘You don’t sound convinced.’

‘I’m not.  You see, she was there when Tristan was attacked.  Saw the whole thing.’  James paused.  ‘I’m worried about her, Ed.  She’s shut herself away in her flat.’

‘I’m not surprised.  An experience like that isn’t easy to get over.’

‘I agree, but there’s more.  Not everything that happened at Cragleigh was reported in the newspapers.’

‘Oh?’

‘Simon Rhodes is involved.’

‘Simon?  He’s on our board.  What’s he got to do with this?’

‘I think you can expect another visit from, Chief Inspector Fitzjohn.  Simon threatened Ashley before she left for Cragleigh.  In fact, that’s part of the reason she went.  He’s involved, in some way, with the artefacts that went missing.’

Edward Sommersby’s brow furrowed.  ‘In what way exactly?’  James relayed what he knew about Simon Rhodes.

‘Seems hard to believe,' said Edward.  'He comes across as the epitome of integrity.’

‘I know what you mean.  I’ve found the whole thing difficult to believe myself.  It makes me wonder what we’re dealing with.’  He paused.  ‘And I don’t like the thought of Ashley being alone in that flat in case Simon decides to pay her another call.  I think I’ll go and see her after we’re finished here.’

Edward Sommersby sat forward.  ‘You’re in love with Ashley Manning aren’t you?’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Because I’ve never seen you like this.’

‘Like what?’

Edward smiled.  ‘James, I’ve known you for what, five years?  And you’ve rarely talked about anything but work.  But now...’

‘I’m just concerned about her, that’s all.’

Edward shrugged his shoulders.  ‘Okay, have it your way.’

An hour later, in Paddington, James made his way up the narrow staircase in Ashley’s building to the first floor, where he found her at the door of her flat.

‘I hope you don’t mind me dropping by like this.’

‘No, I’m glad you did.  Come inside.’  As he brushed past her into the small entrance, Edward Sommersby’s words came to mind.  James dismissed them and followed her into the living room, where she gestured for him to sit down.

‘Can I get you anything?  Coffee?’

‘Thanks, but no.  I can’t stay.  I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.’

Ashley smiled, the gash on her forehead still evident beneath the wisps of hair that framed her face.  ‘I’m fine.  In fact, I was just thinking it might be a good idea if I spend a few hours at the museum today.  Being locked away here gives me too much time to think.’  She pushed her hair back from her face and settled herself into the sofa.  James sat in the armchair opposite.

As he did so, his eye caught a photograph on the table next to him.  In it, Ashley stood between him and Alex, her hand shading her eyes from the glare of the sun, her face smudged with dust.  It brought to mind his compelling urge to stay on at the excavation site long after his work there had finished, despite Ashley’s aloofness toward him at the time.  ‘I see you kept a photograph from last summer’s dig.’

‘Yes.’  Their eyes locked and an awkward silence ensued.

‘Are you sure I can’t get you anything?’ she offered again.

‘Yes.  As I said, I can’t stay.’

Ashley looked over to the photograph.  ‘You and Alex were very different, weren’t you?’

‘We were.  I suppose that’s part of the reason we never agreed.’

‘And the other reason?’

‘He never told you we weren’t really brothers?’

‘No.’  Ashley looked aghast.  ‘I had no idea.’  She listened while James told her the accident of his birth.  ‘So you weren’t related at all.’

James shook his head.  ‘And with all that’s happened over the past couple of weeks, it seems so unimportant.’

‘I can imagine.’

A moment of silence followed before James said, ‘I’m sorry about all this, Ashley.  I should never have suggested you and Edwina go to Cragleigh.’

‘You aren’t to blame.  I should have realised Robert might follow me there.  I only hope Dr Harrow is going to be all right.’

‘He is.  I was at the hospital this morning.  He’s doing well.  I did suggest he come to stay with me for a while when he’s released, but I don’t know that he’ll accept.  I think I irritate him as much as he irritates me, but I believe we should be able to put up with each other, at least until he gets back on his feet.’  Ashley started to laugh.  ‘I see that amuses you.’

‘I can’t imagine you two living under the same roof.’

‘Neither can I, to tell you the truth.’  James grinned, carried along by Ashley’s amusement.  ‘It’s wonderful to see you laughing.’

Ashley looked away from his gaze, picking up a well-thumbed magazine from the coffee table.  James looked at the front cover.  ‘The Spanish Steps.  They’re lovely in springtime.’

‘You’ve seen them then?’  James nodded.  Ashley held the magazine up.  ‘On dull, rainy, days, I imagine myself sitting on those steps in the sunshine.  Definitely a place I intend to visit when Simon Rhodes is, hopefully, behind bars.’

‘That might happen if we can link him to Alex’s blackmail.’

‘I wish Alex had told me why he was being blackmailed.  What did Patrick Spender say?’

‘Alex told him it was to do with something that happened years ago when he was at university.  Not much to go on really.’

‘How did he and Alex meet?’

‘Patrick said he found Alex hitchhiking one night outside Gosford and gave him a lift into Sydney.  I can’t imagine what he was doing out there.’

‘Maybe his car broke down.’

‘He didn’t have one back then.  None of us did.  Only…’

‘What is it?’ asked Ashley.

‘Rosemary Wentworth had a car.’

‘Who’s Rosemary Wentworth?’

‘Catherine Wearing’s sister.  She drove a sports car her parents gave her for her birthday when she was in her last year at university.  Alex went out with her for a time until...’  James fell silent, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair.  ‘Until she died.’

‘Oh?  What happened?’

‘She had an accident.  The car went off the road when she was out one night.  It rolled and she was thrown out.'

‘Was she alone?’

‘Yes.  She must have only been twenty-one or two at the time.  Hadn’t even had a chance to get started in life.’  James paused.  ‘Alex and I went to her funeral.  That’s when we met her parents and Catherine, her younger sister.’

‘So that’s how Catherine and Alex met.’

‘Yes.'  James frowned.

‘What is it James?’

‘Simon Rhodes came to the funeral with us.’  James shook his head.  ‘It doesn’t matter what we talk about, does it?  Simon comes into the conversation.’

‘Well, seeing they were at university together, it’s understandable he went to the funeral, I suppose.  When did all this happen?’

‘Back in the early 1980s.'

‘And you say Alex went out with her.’

‘Yes.’

‘Where did the accident happen?’

‘I’m not sure, but I don’t suppose it would be difficult to find out.  Why?’

‘Did Patrick say where he picked Alexander up?’

‘Not specifically, no.  He just said along a highway outside Gosford.’  James shot a look at Ashley.  ‘You’re suggesting Alex could have been in the car with Rosemary?’

‘Yes.  You said yourself that you found it unusual for Alex to be hitchhiking.  It might be worth speaking to Patrick Spender again.’

James hesitated.  ‘If Alex was in the car that night, it means he’d known all these years what happened.’  James paused.  ‘I’ll phone Patrick when I get back to the office.  In fact -’ he looked at his watch -  ‘I’d better get going.  I have a meeting to attend at the Museum.’

‘I’ll come along if you don’t mind.  I’d like to catch Edward Sommersby before I start work.  I want to tell him I’m thinking about returning to Adelaide.’

‘Oh?’  James frowned.  It had not occurred to him that Ashley may choose to leave Sydney.

‘Yes, Sydney has some unpleasant memories for me now and, really, there’s nothing to keep me here any longer.  I can finish my PhD in Adelaide.’

‘I can understand how you must feel, but I’d hate to see you go.’

‘Well, I will give it a bit more thought before I make a decision.’

As they neared the Museum, Ashley looked ahead and asked.  ‘Is that Catherine Wearing coming toward us?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I’ll be on my way, James.’

‘Does she know about your relationship with Alex?’

‘No, but even so, I think it’s best I go.’

As she turned away, James caught Ashley’s arm.  ‘Would you have dinner with me tonight?’

‘I’d love to, but I can’t tonight.  My mother’s arriving from Adelaide this afternoon.  She’s only here for one night.  On her way to a medical conference.’

‘Well, perhaps another time.’

He watched Ashley disappear into the Museum before waving to Catherine as she walked toward him.  ‘Catherine, I’ve been trying to contact you.’

‘I’ve been in Melbourne for the past few days.  I just had to get away, James.  I did a bit of shopping and visited friends.  It’s the first time I think I’ve relaxed since Alexander died.'  They continued into the Museum together.

‘By the way, Chief Inspector Fitzjohn came to see me this morning.  He told me what happened at Cragleigh.  You should never have let Ashley Manning stay there, James.'

'I thought a few days away would be beneficial after what she'd been through.'

'Well, I know you did it with the best intentions, but that type always attracts trouble.'  James did not reply.  'I couldn’t believe it when the Chief Inspector told me about Tristan.  If only I’d told Eve where I would be, none of this would have happened.’

‘You weren’t to know.’

‘No, but that won’t help Eve, I’m afraid.  She feels responsible for what happened to Tristan.  We both do.’

‘Yes, it’s unfortunate, but the good news is that Tristan’s making progress and he’ll recover.  What I can’t understand is why he needed to see you so urgently that he drove all the way to Cragleigh.’

‘Well, you know Tristan.  He can be a bit erratic.  I imagine it was about his marriage break up.  He’s beside himself, is the poor man.  He’d asked me to speak to Caroline on his behalf.  He wanted her to take him back.  I told him I didn’t think it would help, but I agreed to try.’

‘Did you have any luck?’

‘No.  She’s adamant she wants a divorce.  I’ll have to tell Tristan, but I doubt this is the right time.’

‘I agree, but on the other hand, I’m sure it’ll be playing on his mind.  I think you should talk to him, Catherine.’

Later that day, James dialled Patrick Spender’s number and in a matter of moments, heard Patrick’s voice on the other end of the line.  ‘James, it’s good to hear from you.  How’s everything going?  Have the police had any luck?’

‘Yes, as a matter of fact, we know who blackmailed Alex.’

‘Well, that’s marvellous news.  I’m relieved, to say the least.’

‘It is Patrick but proving it may be difficult.  The person involved comes across as a pillar of the community.  Still, I’m sure there’ll be a breakthrough somewhere along the line.’

‘I hope so.’

‘There is one thing that you may be able to help me with, though.  I’m puzzled about why Alex would be hitchhiking on the night you and he met.  Did he say what he was doing out there?’

‘No, but he looked a bit of a mess as I recall.’

‘Can you remember when this was?’

'It would have been in the middle of the year because it was a very cold night.  I was driving back from Brisbane at the time.  I had a meeting planned in Sydney for the next morning.  Alex was walking along the highway just outside Gosford.  I can look through my records for the exact date if you don’t mind waiting.’

James heard the receiver put down and waited.  Moments passed before he heard Patrick's voice again.