Page 117 of The Stranger in Room Six

Mabel

The police arrive to take statements about the broken window. Then Mabel is interviewed by more official people whose questions make her head spin.

Afterwards, Belinda brings her lunch in her room to avoid the other residents’ staring eyes. ‘I’m not hungry,’ Mabel says.

There’s a knock at the door. It’s Harry.

‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ says Mabel tearfully. ‘I’m so confused.’

Belinda gets up. ‘I’ll give you some privacy.’

‘No,’ says Mabel. ‘Please sit with me and hold my hand. It makes me feel comforted.’

‘Yes,’ says Harry. ‘It might be helpful if you stay. Now let me try and explain all this as simply as possible.’

He takes a deep breath.

‘There’s a prominent business tycoon who’s been pressurizing the government to pass new tax legislation that will help large companies like his but make it much harder for small businesses.

According to our sources, he saw an advertisement for Sunnyside while looking for a home for his own mother.

He spotted that it had originally been in Lady Sinclair’s family before passing to the Marchmonts.

The name “Sinclair” rang a bell because his grandfather had been a friend of Clarissa and Jonty. ’

‘What was his name?’ asks Mabel.

‘Bedmont.’

‘I remember him.’

‘His name was also on the list in your doll,’ says Harry grimly.

‘Bedmont then discovered that you, Clarissa’s niece – or so he thought – are not only living here but also own what was known as the Old Rectory.

He knew from his parents and grandparents that there was a list of all the prominent names involved in supporting Hitler but that this list went missing years ago.

He suspected that as the sole family survivor, you might have it. ’

‘As indeed I did, without realizing,’ chips in Mabel.

‘Exactly. He feared that if the names were released, he’d lose his business.

It’s struggling badly at the moment and is dependent for its survival on securing a large contract in the Middle East against fierce competition.

Any stain, even if it’s from the past, could tip the balance away from him.

At the same time, he wants me out, in the hope that Parliament will support my rival’s bill to give tax relief to companies like his: something I’ve been fighting against.’

‘How can he get you out?’ asks Belinda.

‘Through Mabel, I’m afraid. His people have been spreading rumours in the press to say that I was aware of your “support” for Hitler during the war. We are also concerned for your safety.’ He shivered. ‘You could have died if Garth hadn’t saved you.’

He puts an arm gently around Mabel’s frail shoulders. I can see how much she means to him.

‘Luckily,’ he continues, ‘you mentioned Alexa, which came out as a command word. As a result, part of the following conversation was recorded in the history section of your Alexa app. So we have legal evidence. We also recorded what Amanda Smith said on her way to hospital. Unfortunately, she confirmed my worst fears about her source …’

Mabel gasps. ‘Who was it?’

Harry looks straight at her companion. ‘Belinda Wall.’

The air goes very still for a second. Belinda looks at the ground as Mabel stares at her in disbelief.

When Harry continues, his voice is cold. ‘It seems that your favourite carer had been feeding information to Amanda about your work for Clarissa and Jonty.’

‘No,’ cries out Mabel, dropping Belinda’s hand. Was it really possible that she’d been betrayed by the woman she’d told her life story to? The only woman who knew the truth about her?

‘I thought you cared for me, Belinda,’ she chokes.

‘I do, Mabel. I really do. I can explain –’

‘GET OUT!’ Mabel startles herself with the sound of her own voice. ‘Do you hear me, Belinda? I never want to see you again.’

If it wasn’t that Belinda knew so much about her, she’d dismiss her on the spot.

After that, come more headlines. There’s no mistaking them: every time Mabel is wheeled into breakfast, ignoring Belinda’s pleading face, she sees the other residents poring over the papers and giving her hostile looks.

99-YEAR-OLD OWNER OF OLD PEOPLE’S HOME HID LONG-LOST LIST OF HITLER SYMPATHIZERS, INCLUDING HER OWN NAME

Of course she didn’t hide it, Mabel wanted to say. She didn’t know it was there. But who would believe her? Then, at the end of the week, comes the final nail in the coffin.

As Mabel arrives at breakfast, there’s the usual group hovering over the papers.

‘In those days, it would have been a scandal,’ she hears one say, before looking at her with contempt. ‘My father was a prisoner of war in Italy. I don’t want to be in a place where the owner had an affair with one of them.’

Mabel’s blood runs cold as she leans towards the group.

They move aside, their faces shooting daggers.

The picture is of a young couple who are clearly in love.

Gently, Mabel runs her finger over the black-and-white picture on the front page, stroking the young man in uniform, as if doing so might bring him back. ‘Antonio,’ she whispers. ‘My love.’

Below the picture is a caption.

Proof that Mabel Marchmont, half-sister to PM candidate Harry Marchmont, socialized with the enemy. This man was an Italian prisoner of war.

Below is another picture. This time it is Mabel holding a baby.

And this was their child.