Page 26 of A Very Bookish Murder (Ally McKinley Mystery #3)

TWENTY

Ally wondered if she should contact Amir Kandahar now that she had definite proof about Laura’s affair with Jodi’s husband.

The detective inspector had taken over what had been Rigby’s temporary local police station.

This was a small bungalow owned by the Craigmonie and normally let out to visitors.

Amir had done precisely what Rigby had done and had a ‘Temporary Police Station’ notice fixed above the door, then placed a constable with a telephone on a desk just inside the doorway.

According to Callum, it was being treated more as a tourist information centre than anything else, with visitors queueing up to ask the way to all manner of remote places.

There didn’t seem much point in joining the queue if Amir wasn’t there, having been informed by the constable that ‘he’ll definitely be here tomorrow’.

As she walked home from the castle, Ally decided it was about time she had a chat with Laura on her own. Later, when she spoke to Ross on the phone, she said, ‘I really need to get Laura on her own, just to sound her out, because I can usually sense when people are lying.’

‘And how are you going to do that?’ Ross asked.

‘I have to assume that she visits Owen just as soon as they finish their evening meal at the hotel,’ Ally replied, ‘so I really need to be there to confront her and have some sort of conversation. I need to be sure.’

‘She doesn’t sound like the friendliest of characters,’ Ross pointed out, ‘so, for God’s sake, be careful! I think I should come with you.’

‘No,’ Ally said firmly. ‘I know you mean well, Ross, but I think I have a better chance of extracting the truth from her if I’m alone, woman to woman, and all that. And then there’s Morwenna…’

‘I didn’t think she was a prime suspect?’

‘No, she isn’t,’ Ally said, ‘but she wants to move in up here. I’ll explain when I see you.’

‘Promise me one thing, Ally. Promise me you’ll see this Laura at the Craigmonie, and not, repeat not , at Owen Jones’s van? Because he’s a rough character, and I’ll definitely come with you if you’re going there.’

‘No, I promise that I’ll contact her at the Craigmonie.’

‘OK,’ said Ross. ‘Just don’t wear a scarf.’

Ally arrived at the Craigmonie at about five o’clock, unaware that all of the women were having a final meeting to sum up their previous week’s experiences, and now they came streaming out.

‘What are you doing here?’ Penelope boomed as the group made their way through the reception area.

‘I just want to have a word with Laura,’ Ally replied, deciding it was best to be honest. ‘Just something I want to ask her.’

Morwenna, who was with them, said, ‘She’ll be up in her room, I expect, although I know she’ll go out soon. She always does and doesn’t join us for dinner.’

‘Good. I’ll wait,’ Ally said, wondering if Morwenna had already agreed to move in with one of her guests.

‘We were all wondering if you’d join us here tomorrow night for dinner?’ Millie asked.

‘Thank you,’ Ally said. ‘That’s most kind of you.’

‘Well it’ll be our last supper, in a manner of speaking!’ Brigitte remarked and looked around. ‘Our treat – yes?’

They all nodded enthusiastically.

Ally thanked them again. She was on her own tomorrow evening and hadn’t even begun to think about what she might have for supper, and a meal at the Craigmonie did seem to be the better alternative to beans on toast. ‘I’ll look forward to it,’ she said as they made their way towards the door.

After a few minutes, Ally decided it might be an idea to contact Laura, in her room, via the receptionist, worrying that there might be another exit where Laura could sneak out without being seen. And she had promised Ross that she wouldn’t go near Owen Jones’s van.

She was also beginning to feel very tired. She’d had a sleepless night, followed by a busy day, and she promised herself that she’d go early to bed.

Just as she stood up to go to the reception desk, Laura came dashing down the stairs, wearing a low-cut top, skinny jeans and a frown, with a capacious tote bag slung over one shoulder.

‘Laura?’

Laura’s frown deepened. ‘Yes?’

‘May I have a word, please?’ Ally asked.

‘I’m just going out !’ Laura snapped with a further scowl.

‘I realise that,’ Ally said, as soothingly as she could, ‘but this is important. Can I buy you a drink?’

Laura looked at her watch, gave a huge sigh and said, ‘Five minutes then,’ as she followed Ally towards the bar.

‘What’ll you have?’ Ally asked, disliking this woman more and more.

‘I’ll have a G&T,’ said Laura.

Ally ordered a gin and tonic for Laura and a glass of white wine for herself, and then they made their way towards a table for two.

‘So, what’s this important thing you want to talk to me about?’ Laura asked, taking a generous sip of her drink.

‘Your relationship with Owen Jones,’ Ally replied, knowing there was little point in beating about the bush.

Laura didn’t flinch. ‘What’s that got to do with you?’

At least she’s not denying it , Ally thought, studying her and admiring her composure. ‘It made me, and the police, wonder why you came on the writing retreat?’

‘The police?’ Laura asked. ‘Why would the police be interested?’

‘I think the police want to know why all of you came on the retreat, particularly those of you who have some obvious connection with Jodi Jones. It might indicate there could be a motive. I thought it only fair to warn you.’

Laura was silent for a moment. ‘How come the police haven’t asked me yet?’ she asked.

‘Don’t worry – they will,’ Ally said.

‘I came here to improve my writing skills,’ said Laura.

‘It seems a little strange to me that you’d choose to come on a writing course organised by the wife of your lover,’ Ally remarked casually.

At this, Laura leaned forward, her eyes glaring. ‘That woman was a cow!’ she said. ‘A controlling cow ! She left Owen years ago, but she still controlled him. He wanted a divorce, but she wasn’t having that. She made a shedload of money, you know, whatever you think of her books.’

Ally nodded. ‘So I believe.’

Laura seemed to be in full flow now as she took a large gulp of her gin.

‘She told him she was leaving half of her money to him and the other half to the child she gave up years ago, in her will. But we damn well need that money now to keep our commune going, and when he asked if he could have it now, she wouldn’t hear of it.

“You’ll have to kill me first,” she told him. ’

‘And did he? Or did you?’

Laura shook her head. ‘No, but I really wanted to, and that is precisely why I came,’ she replied, draining her glass. ‘Someone else pipped me to the post. Got there first. I swear on my life!’

‘But you did intend to kill her?’ Ally asked.

‘I just told you that I wanted to. I’d get some poison maybe – appropriate, don’t you think?

– and I thought I could perhaps pop it into her dinner or something.

Or I thought I might push her down the stairs perhaps, but do you know what?

When it came to it, I just couldn’t do it .

I’m not at all sad that she’s dead though. ’

Ally had to produce what she considered to be her ace card. ‘Then perhaps you can explain why you suddenly appeared at the malthouse last Sunday after everyone had got back from the castle? And it just happened to be the evening that Joyce died?’

Laura rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll tell you why.

I came up here to Scotland without my new pack of beta blockers, which I have to take daily, and Penelope Whatsit-Whatsit just happened to have a spare foil because she takes them too.

All last week I asked her to bring them down, and all last week the silly woman forgot, and so finally, in desperation, I came up to your place to get them.

If you don’t believe me, ask her. Now,’ she said, standing up, ‘I’m off to see Owen. But thanks for the drink.’

She turned abruptly and headed towards the door, leaving Ally speechless.

‘Has Laura given you a hundred reasons why she didn’t come here to kill Jodi Jones?’ Ross asked as he came in shortly after Ally got back, having walked the dogs.

Ally shook her head as she towelled down a very damp Flora. ‘Have these dogs been in the loch?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ Ross admitted ruefully, grabbing another towel for Ebony.

‘Believe it or not,’ Ally said, ‘Laura actually admitted that she did come here to kill Jodi, although, when it came to it, she just couldn’t do it.’

‘So she’s human after all,’ Ross said.

‘She said that someone else had “pipped her to the post” – her own words – and it saved her the bother.’

‘A likely story!’ Ross scoffed, stroking Ebony’s head.

‘For some strange reason, I believe her,’ Ally said. For one thing, she thought, when could Laura have gone into the kitchen to get at the insulin? She and Ross had been in there for most of Sunday evening, so her entry could hardly have gone unnoticed.

‘Why on earth would you believe her, Ally? Of course she’s going to say that, isn’t she? She’s no fool, that one!’

Ally shrugged. ‘I know logically that you’re right, but I just have this feeling…’

‘You and your feelings!’ Ross retorted. ‘You’re tired, that’s what it is. It’s been a long day.’

‘But my gut instinct is usually right,’ Ally replied, crossing her fingers.

Could Laura be Jodi’s love child? The way she talked about the child Jodi gave up made Ally think she wasn’t, especially as in the magazine article Jodi said that she had got her motherhood back, so presumably had had a relationship with her child again.

‘And it was just something about her attitude, as if she didn’t care one way or the other if I believed her or not.

Very matter of fact.’ Ally paused. ‘I’ll bet you a tenner it isn’t her! ’

‘I’ll remember that!’ Ross said with a grin. ‘Not that we’re ever likely to find out because this case doesn’t look like being wound up any time soon, does it? And I assume that all these women will be leaving on Sunday, after the funeral?’