Page 43 of The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club Mysteries #5)
What a day to be alive. Sure, she has to do the night shift this evening because Prince Edward has decided he wants to go to a Nando’s, and she has to stand outside until he’s finished his Lemon & Herb Chicken Pitta, but at least she is going to have some fun before that.
Jill Usher. The name Elizabeth gave her. Donna has done some digging and struck gold.
Donna isn’t often in this position. Knowing that Elizabeth has made a mistake. It’s intoxicating.
She is on her way to London to talk to Paul Brett, on Elizabeth’s instructions.
Donna doesn’t have any qualms about that.
If you’ve been invited to someone’s wedding – the evening reception anyway – surely you’re allowed to visit them and talk about a murder?
That’s not a police thing, that’s a friendship thing.
Just don’t tell Joyce. Elizabeth had been very clear about that.
Joyce’s flat is a detour well worth taking, however. She really intends to make the most of it.
‘You didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary?’ she asks Elizabeth and Joyce. ‘When you visited Jill Usher in Manchester?’
‘If you have information,’ says Elizabeth, ‘kindly just tell us. I don’t need you smirking, Donna. It’s very unprofessional. Tell her, Bogdan.’
‘Is not my business,’ says Bogdan, wisely. He has tagged along because Elizabeth is having problems with her underfloor heating. This little gang certainly get their money’s worth from Bogdan. He was off seeing Ron about something on Saturday too. It’s nice to turn the tables on them a little.
‘Just getting the full picture,’ says Donna. She sees Elizabeth calculating angles in her head and coming up with nothing.
Ever since she’d got the information from Manchester, Donna has been looking forward to this conversation. Elizabeth clearly decides to go on the attack. She usually does when she’s rattled. Or when she’s not rattled.
‘Yes, we noticed something unusual,’ says Elizabeth. ‘We noticed a nursery-school teacher somehow tied up in a murder. Is that usual?’
‘Is that usual?’ Donna thinks out loud. ‘I’d say not, wouldn’t you?’
‘Ever so unusual,’ says Joyce.
‘Ever so,’ agrees Bogdan.
Joyce thinks about it some more. ‘If I was worried about being killed, I wouldn’t ring a nursery-school teacher? I would ring Joanna. Or, actually, Elizabeth, because I wouldn’t want Joanna to worry.’
‘I swear to you, Donna,’ says Elizabeth, ‘if you string this out any further, I am cutting Bogdan out of my will, and it’s a big will.’
‘I’m in your will?’ Bogdan asks.
‘You’re clinging on by your fingernails,’ says Elizabeth. ‘Why did Holly Lewis ring Jill Usher?’
‘Well, that’s just it,’ says Donna. ‘I don’t think she did ring Jill Usher.’
‘Ooh,’ says Joyce. ‘What has Elizabeth missed now?’
‘You didn’t meet anyone else?’ Donna asks. ‘On your trip up north?’
She looks at them, and feels a rush of love for them both.
‘The husband,’ says Joyce.
‘Joyce gets it,’ says Donna. ‘The husband.’
‘The husband,’ says Elizabeth. Donna sees she is annoyed at herself for not spotting it.
‘Always the husband,’ says Bogdan, nodding.
‘Jamie Usher,’ says Donna, reading from her pocket book. ‘The reason the Ushers left the South Coast in the first place. He has convictions for benefits fraud, insurance fraud and mortgage fraud. Moved up north, started again, and has been in no further trouble since.’
‘Hasn’t been caught for anything since,’ says Elizabeth.
‘Innit?’ agrees Donna.
‘So Holly wasn’t ringing Jill Usher?’ says Joyce. ‘She was ringing Jamie Usher?’
‘It would make more sense,’ says Donna. ‘Perhaps Jill bought the phone, contract was in her name, she didn’t trust him after everything he’d done, wanted to keep her eye on him? Who does Holly ring? A nursery-school teacher or a convicted fraudster?’
Elizabeth thinks. ‘But you haven’t found any other connection between Holly Lewis and Jamie Usher?’
‘Not yet,’ says Donna. ‘But Greater Manchester Police are visiting him today.’
‘His eyes were very close together,’ says Joyce. ‘I will say that.’
‘Like my friend Woyzeck,’ says Bogdan. ‘He can’t even wear glasses.’
‘This is actually not bad,’ says Elizabeth to Donna. ‘Jamie Usher. You’re really coming along. Chris being away really suits you.’
‘Thank you,’ says Donna. ‘Is Bogdan really in your will?’
‘For now,’ says Elizabeth. ‘A bit of money, some weaponry.’
There is a ring on Joyce’s intercom, and she buzzes someone up.
‘Will you stay for a cup of tea, Donna?’ Joyce asks.
‘Got to be somewhere,’ says Donna. Got to be in London, Joyce, to talk to your new son-in-law about a murder.
‘Of course,’ says Joyce. ‘Can I pack you some cake for your journey? It’s only fruit cake, but I saw it on Saturday Kitchen and thought of you.’
‘That would be lovely,’ says Donna.
‘I walk you to your car,’ says Bogdan.
Donna takes the cake, and she and Bogdan head out and down the stairwell.
Can she eat Joyce’s cake before questioning Joyce’s son-in-law?
She’ll give it a go. Besides, perhaps Jamie Usher is more of a suspect than Paul Brett now?
Donna certainly hopes so. Either way, she’s enjoying her day off.
As they leave the building, they practically barrel into Ron.
‘My favourite police officer,’ says Ron, giving her a hug. ‘Mind you, that’s like saying “my favourite Millwall player”.’
Ron and Bogdan share a handshake.
Donna looks at them both. ‘Can I ask you a question, Ron?’
‘If you arrest me,’ says Ron. ‘Sure.’
‘Where did you two go on Saturday? I never quite got to the bottom of it,’ Donna asks.
Bogdan looks at Ron. Ron puts his hand on Bogdan’s arm, as if to take charge.
‘Bowling,’ says Ron.
‘Bowling?’ says Donna. ‘Like ten-pin bowling?’
‘Yes,’ says Ron.
‘Bowling,’ repeats Bogdan. ‘Like ten-pin bowling.’
‘On a Saturday morning?’
‘Half price for pensioners,’ says Ron.
‘Where was this?’ Donna asks.
‘Fairhaven,’ says Ron.
‘Fairhaven,’ agrees Bogdan.
‘Who won?’ Donna asks.
‘I did,’ says Ron.
Bogdan looks at Ron but doesn’t argue.
‘Big win, poor lad,’ says Ron. ‘A lot of it is in the wrist. What you doing at Joyce’s?’
‘Just been telling Elizabeth about a new prime suspect,’ says Donna. ‘Jamie Usher.’
‘Jamie Usher?’ asks Ron. ‘I thought it was Jill Usher?’
‘Elizabeth got it wrong,’ says Donna.
Ron nods. ‘Well, she’s had some time off.’
‘Do I need to worry about what you two are up to?’ Donna asks.
‘Course not,’ says Ron. ‘We were bowling.’
‘Bogdan?’
‘Course not,’ agrees Bogdan.
Donna can tell he’s not telling the truth, but she knows there will be a good reason. He’s being bullied into something by Ron. It is very easy to bully Bogdan: you just tell him you need his help.