Murder by Mistake (33 page)

Thomas gently pushed Craig back on to the floor. ‘Keep still. Don’t try to move. The ambulance is on its way.’

Stewart turned Frank’s head away from the bodies on the floor. Ellie tried to stand unaided and found she could make it.

Diana appeared in the doorway. ‘What the . . .? Is that Denis on . . .? Who is that other man? Why have you tied Denis up? Set him free, instantly.’

‘We’ll let the police decide,’ said Ellie. ‘He and his accomplice have a few questions to answer. It’s Denis who’s been trying to kill me, all along.’

Diana stared. ‘Why should he do that?’

‘He made a mistake. You didn’t tell him that I’d made a will leaving everything to the Trust, did you? I suppose you thought being an heiress would make him even more keen to marry you. That’s what all this has been about. My money.’

‘You mean, he was only after me for my money?’

‘Sex as well, I suppose. You were well matched there, I take it.’

‘Yes, but . . . He wouldn’t, he couldn’t go so far as to . . . I mean, he hasn’t killed you, has he?’

‘He got this man Craig to “borrow” the Volvo on Monday and drove it at me. He missed me because a passer-by pushed me out of the way, but he killed a young woman and put her toddler in hospital. It may not count as murder, but it’s certainly manslaughter in my book. Then he rented Craig’s van and drove it at me twice more. To kill. It was only by the grace of God that he failed to do so.’

‘That’s nonsense. You make it sound as if he’s been following you around for days, but he’s been at work all week.’

‘He only caught up with me when I took a minicab. I think he’s been paying the controller at the minicab firm to let him know where I’m going to be. That’s how he knew I’d be with Mia walking along from the solicitor’s office to the restaurant, because I’d told the cab driver that was what we were going to do. The controller also knew when I paid a visit to Mia’s mother and when I’d be at the church last night. I’m sure he killed Mrs Summers, too. I’m sorry, Diana, but he’s a bad one, through and through.’

It was Diana’s turn to freeze. She didn’t change colour because her make-up was too good. But her eyes fastened on Denis’s unconscious form, and after a long minute, she recoiled.

They all heard a cheer from the marquee, as the disco began to play something loud and tuneless. Diana said, ‘We’re supposed to be cutting the cake now. Denis said the knife wasn’t sharp enough, and he came out to . . .’ She sank on to the nearest chair. ‘What am I going to do?’

Thomas said, ‘Leave it to Mr Balls.’

Ellie nodded. ‘We’ll tell the guests that Denis has been taken ill, and that you’re so sorry, but when they’ve eaten would they please go home as there’ll be no disco-dancing tonight.’

Diana gave a sharp nod. ‘I’ll be upstairs if you need me.’ She turned and left the room, the train of her beautiful dress swaying along behind her.

Someone leaned on the doorbell. This time it was the police, closely followed by an ambulance.

The house was quiet at last. The ambulance had taken Craig – cursing the day he’d ever met Denis – off to hospital. He’d lost a lot of blood and the cleaners were not going to be pleased about that, were they? Did blood ever come out of wooden floors? Well, never mind, the carpet would cover the stains when the room was put back to rights.

The police listened to what Ellie and Stewart had to say and formally arrested Denis, who was sitting up and looking around him by that time. He said nothing except to ask for a solicitor before he was removed by the police.

Mr Balls suggested that the caterers continued to serve the rest of the meal to the guests, and that they should then be asked to depart, as there would be no disco that evening. Ellie recalled, with deep thankfulness, that the event had been fully insured.

The caterers cleared their equipment away and departed. The cleaners descended to stack chairs and tables into the hall and to give everything a quick wipe over.

Finally Mr Balls himself departed, leaving one of his minions outside to explain to late-arriving guests that the disco had been cancelled.

Getting the house back to normal was going to take for ever, but they would start on it on the morrow. Also on the morrow, she would find time to check up on Leon, who had saved her life at the beginning of this affair.

But for now, Ellie went up to see if Diana wanted anything. She got a resounding ‘no’, so went away again.

Stewart took little Frank home, arranging to start their holiday proper on the following day.

Thomas and Ellie changed into casual clothes and gravitated to the kitchen. Rose, also back in everyday clothes, said, ‘Does anyone fancy anything to eat?’

Incredibly, Thomas said he might.

‘Not caterers’ food,’ said Ellie. ‘I couldn’t bear it.’

Mia, still wearing her pretty bridesmaid’s dress, said, ‘Ta-da!’ and produced a dish of lasagne from the oven, while Rose prepared a salad to go with it.

Thomas said, ‘Mia, you are worth your weight in gold.’

Mia went pink. ‘That’s what Jim said. He’s one of the ushers. The one who’s carrying a bit too much weight, though I must say he’s got a lovely smile. He was talking about business, of course. He’s in an old-fashioned publishing firm and thinks we might discuss their using the printing firm which I’ve inherited. He loves good food. I told him about the recipes my cousin had given me, and about doing the canapés for Ursula, and he ate six on the trot and wanted to know if I’d thought of writing a cookery book. My firm could print it, and his firm could publish it. He’s nice.’

Thomas, Ellie and Rose all nodded. Perhaps something might work out there for Mia. Perhaps not. Give it time.

After they’d eaten, Ellie drifted around the house, which looked as if it could do with a good spring clean. She thought she heard an echo of her aunt’s voice saying, ‘I told you to take out insurance. It’s a good thing you listen to me occasionally.’

She stood in the entrance to the marquee. Fairy lights twinkled, golden draperies swung, expensive flowers scented the air. The DJ had removed his equipment, but the tent seemed to echo and re-echo with the noise of the party that had ended so abruptly.

Something brushed against her legs. Midge had returned, looking none the worse for his absence. Ellie picked him up and huffed into his fur, which he permitted for all of five seconds. Then he jumped down and, tail waving, made off to the kitchen for sustenance.

From somewhere came the sound of music; not the raucous noise the DJ had produced, but a gentle quickstep, thirties style. Thomas had unearthed and reinstalled his stereo equipment from where he’d put it in his study. An old-fashioned dance tune filled the air, seductively.

He joined her in the marquee, holding out his arms. ‘Shall we?’

‘I didn’t know you could dance.’

‘You never asked. I was ballroom champion of my old school. My foxtrot has to be seen to be believed.’

She tried to smile. Not a good effort. ‘Prove it.’

He proved it.

She produced a better smile. ‘You’ve convinced me.’

‘Dance, dance, little lady,’ he said.

So they did, driving the dismals away.