The Stratford Murder by Mike Hollow (best thriller novels of all time .TXT) 📗

‘That’s not what I mean. It’s because you’re a medium that people tell you things – things that other people don’t know.’

‘Joan didn’t tell me anything.’

‘I’m not talking about Joan. I’m talking about someone else who came to see you – a young lady from the cinema, called Cynthia Carlton. You told me yourself, didn’t you, when you were boasting about saving her life? She’s the only person who’s admitted to suspecting Joan’s condition, and you’re the only person in this room who’s mentioned knowing her. She’d found out, hadn’t she? And she told you. It’s true, isn’t it?’

Vera Ballantyne’s head dropped. She gazed down into her lap and nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘Right. And who else knew?’ He stared at Audrey expectantly.

‘All right,’ she said, ‘I knew too. Vera mentioned it to me.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Mrs Lewis?’

‘Surely it’s obvious. Put yourself in my shoes, Inspector. Why would I want to do that? She’d brought shame on her husband and his family, and when I heard she’d died I hoped no one would ever know. I thought it was something we could keep within the family.’

Jago glanced at Elsie, but her face remained impassive.

‘And you, Mrs Marwell? Did you know?’

Elsie returned his gaze, her eyes widening in astonishment. ‘No, I certainly did not. I had no idea.’

‘Your mother didn’t tell you?’

The question seemed to anger her, and she replied through gritted teeth, looking Jago in the eye. ‘No, she didn’t.’

Jago turned to the men.

‘Mr Ballantyne. Did you know?’

Ballantyne looked shocked. ‘No, certainly not. How would I know about something like that? It’s women’s business, surely.’

‘And finally you, Mr Marwell.’

Derek Marwell gulped. He opened his mouth, but no words came, and as his eyes flitted from one person to another round the table it looked as though he couldn’t think of what to say. Finally he turned towards his wife, looking at once guilty, frightened and beseeching.

Elsie Marwell said nothing at first, but her face flashed with anger, as if a dam within her had been breached. She sprang from her seat and leant forward towards her husband where he sat, her finger stabbing at his face.

‘You pathetic liar,’ she hissed venomously. ‘You thought I didn’t know, didn’t you? What did you take me for? I knew what you two were up to – amateur dramatics my eye. She didn’t love you, you know. She did it to spite me and my mother. What are you? Useless, that’s what. You’re so incompetent, you couldn’t even have an affair with my sister-in-law without getting her pregnant. You killed her, didn’t you?’

Marwell sat in shocked silence as Elsie turned to Jago.

‘I know what he did, Inspector. That cap you told me about – the sailor’s cap you found at the flat. He must’ve known what he was going to do that night. He was going to murder the woman who was about to reveal what a useless swine he is. Then when we found that sailor stretched out on the street he could see the man was so drunk he’d passed out, so he went back to that shop doorway – he’d have to walk right past him on his way to his fire-watching duty. And when he saw the man was still there, with his cap on, he stole it and left it in her flat where he knew you’d find it. You’d draw the right conclusions, and he’d be in the clear.’

‘What are you talking about?’ cried Marwell, his eyes widening as at last he found his voice. ‘This is all madness, Inspector. Don’t listen to her.’

‘You’re the one who’s mad,’ said Elsie. ‘You were so scared when you found out she was pregnant you panicked, you decided to kill her, and when you saw that sailor you thought it’d be an easy way to cover your tracks. You couldn’t bear the thought of having to be a man and take responsibility for your actions, so you decided to get rid of Joan and let someone else swing for it. You’re just a coward. I despise you.’

Marwell crashed his chair back and stood up, glaring at her.

‘Shut up, you stupid woman,’ he sneered. ‘You’re not so bad at amateur dramatics yourself, are you? But you’re not fooling anyone. I know what you’re doing – you’re trying to pin the blame on me when you’re the one who did it. You couldn’t accept a rival, could you? Joan was everything you’re not – she had imagination, a sensitive spirit, a gentle and caring heart. It was only knowing her that made me see you as you really are – as hard as nails and as cold as ice.’

Cradock got out of his chair and moved discreetly to guard the door.

‘Mrs Marwell,’ said Jago quietly to Elsie. ‘He betrayed you, didn’t he? Humiliated you. And you wanted revenge.’

Elsie’s expression turned from rage to panic as his words sank in.

‘Help me, Mum,’ she pleaded. ‘Tell him I didn’t do it!’

Audrey took a packet of cigarettes from her handbag and lit one, then rose from the table and took up a position standing beside a bookcase. She drew slowly on the cigarette before speaking.

‘She can’t have done it, Inspector,’ she said at last. ‘Elsie got home last Sunday night at twenty to nine, and an hour later Derek went off to do his fire watching – or whatever else it was he had in mind to do that night. As soon as he’d gone, Elsie said she needed a word with me. She told me what her husband had been up to, and we talked about it. We were together for the rest of the evening, and we didn’t get to bed until after midnight.’

‘So,’ said Jago to Marwell, ‘you set off to your fire watching at twenty to ten?’

‘Yes.’

Jago now addressed Elsie. ‘And can you confirm that was the time your husband left?’

‘Yes.’

‘And Mrs Lewis, you say you and your daughter were together, just the two