A Body in Seaview Grange by Dee MacDonald (jenna bush book club TXT) 📗

they did have their man but, at this juncture, did not think it politic to say so. ‘Well, at least now you know that Miss Martinelli did not kill herself, and that the surgery are in no way to blame. I suppose that’s progress of a sort.’ She smiled sweetly in his direction.

Bill Robson did not react and, just then, Woody reappeared with a tray of coffee.

‘I bet you’re glad you retired,’ Robson said, packing his briefcase.

‘Damned right I am!’ Woody said cheerfully. ‘But let me tell you that Kate here is pretty good with her hunches about who did it, or who didn’t do it. Am I right, Kate?’

Kate grinned. ‘Well, I’m more inclined to know who didn’t do it,’ she said.

‘So who didn’t do it?’ Robson asked without a trace of a smile.

Kate could see he was plainly without much sense of humour.

‘Well, just for a start, I don’t think Edgar Ellis poisoned Edina. I know it looks like it, but he was in love with her, you know.’

Bill Robson sniffed. ‘Murder’s not unknown where love is concerned,’ he said, gulping his coffee.

‘That’s true but I still don’t think it was him. I reckon he just didn’t want to go on living without her.’

‘How very romantic!’ Robson said nastily. He was plainly not a great one for romance either. ‘Well, I’m off to the hospital now to see our friend before he falls asleep again,’ he said, draining his coffee.

‘Good luck with that,’ Woody said as he accompanied the detective inspector to the door.

When he came back into the room Kate said, ‘I cannot stand that man. He’s most likely a chauvinist; doesn’t think women’s opinions are worth anything.’

‘He’s OK, just a little out of his depth in a rural environment.’ He glanced at his empty coffee mug. ‘Do you think we need something a little stronger?’

‘Yes, we definitely do. I’ll find some brandy. And, before we go any further, don’t tell me not to get involved because I am already involved!’

‘So you are. Perhaps you and I should set up a detective agency!’

‘Don’t mock me!’ Kate handed him a goblet of brandy. ‘And besides, how could I work with a man who doesn’t trust me?’

Woody looked aghast. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t even know your real name.’

‘Oh – that…’ Woody took a large gulp of his brandy.

‘Yes, that! You have never told me your real name,’ Kate said, ‘the name you were christened with. I’ve asked you several times but you always make a joke of it and change the subject. I know you wouldn’t have been baptised as Woody. Surely your real name can’t be that bad?’

‘Cheers!’ he said, raising his glass.

‘Tell me!’ she yelled.

‘OK then,’ he said with a sigh. ‘You’re very persistent. It’s just that it makes me feel a little idiotic.’

She waited.

‘You’ll laugh,’ he said.

‘I won’t, I promise.’

‘It’s Abraham Lincoln Forrest.’

‘You’re joking!’

‘I’m not! And you promised not to laugh.’

‘Oh my God,’ she said, smothering a giggle, ‘how did that happen then?’

‘It’s like this,’ Woody replied, ‘my dad, although proud to be British, was even more proud to be American. He said it gave him the opportunities he’d never have got here. It gave him a beautiful, devoted wife, three kids and success in business. This was one way to show his allegiance. My brother is Theodore Roosevelt Forrest, known as Roose.’

‘What about your sister?’

‘Mom got her way that time. My sister’s Silvia Virginia. Dad insisted on the Virginia, but fortunately it’s also an Italian name.’

‘You couldn’t make it up,’ Kate mused.

‘My dad did.’

‘OK, Abraham Lincoln, more brandy?’

‘I should never have told you!’

Twenty-One

Andrew Ross was standing on the doorstep having a crafty cigarette when Kate arrived at the medical centre the following day. It was normally another of Kate’s days off but they were short-staffed and Kate was glad to accumulate a few days owing to her to add to her Christmas leave. She was also concerned about Edgar Ellis.

‘I know, I know, doctors shouldn’t smoke!’ He grinned at Kate. ‘Everyone lectures me!’

Kate laughed. ‘I promise I won’t.’

‘Incidentally,’ he went on, ‘I know I don’t have to tell you, but it’s best that we say nothing to anyone about the old vicar trying to finish himself off. You know how word gets around and there are enough rumours circulating about Edina Martinelli already. But I think you should go up there and check him out when he’s released from hospital which’ – he consulted his watch – ‘should be in about a couple of hours.’

‘I’ll keep checking,’ Kate said.

It was early afternoon before Edgar Ellis was released, and collected from the hospital by Stan Starkey. Kate decided she’d let him settle in, visit him about four o’clock, and then she could go straight home afterwards.

As ever there was the usual gathering of residents in the hall at Seaview Grange, gossiping away, their voices tailing off as they saw Kate approach.

‘He’s home,’ Ollie Pratt said, nodding upstairs.

‘That’s why I’m here,’ Kate said, edging past them.

‘Causin’ everyone a lotta trouble,’ added Gloria. ‘What was the matter with him anyway? Any chance he was poisoned?’

She really is a most objectionable woman, Kate thought, as she made her way upstairs to Flat 6. The door was ajar.

Once again she found the vicar sprawled on the settee, but conscious this time.

He looked up. ‘Oh, it’s you, Nurse!’

‘Yes, it’s me. How are you feeling?’

He shrugged. ‘My throat’s sore with being sick and answering all these questions. The police won’t leave me alone.’

‘You can’t really blame them,’ Kate said, setting down her bag on the floor, ‘after the note you left.’

‘But they took it the wrong way,’ he said petulantly.

‘So what was the right way?’ Kate asked, indicating that he roll his sleeve up so she could check his blood pressure.

‘What I meant,’ he said, ‘when I said that if it wasn’t for me she’d still be alive, was that I should have checked on her days earlier. If I had she might well be alive now. I can’t live