Joy and jealousy, p.13
Joy and Jealousy, page 13
part #10 of Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Series
“She’s probably in her late twenties and she has long and beautiful red hair,” Fenella said.
“From the description, I’m going to say that I don’t know her. She sounds pretty unforgettable.”
“What about Diane Jenkins?”
“I don’t think so, but I do know Carol Houston,” Tim said.
“You do?”
“Thirty-something blonde?” he asked. “She drives a really cool blue sports car and only goes out with men who have money, if I’m thinking of the right woman.”
“That sounds like her,” Fenella agreed.
“How do you know her?” Shelly asked.
Tim laughed. “She spent some time hanging around with the band. I think she had her sights set on Todd, but he isn’t really into much younger women. I think she may have gone out with Paul once or twice, but he does his best to avoid relationships.”
Paul was a very talented musician in his thirties who sometimes fronted Tim’s band. He spent a lot of his time in the UK, chasing after his big break, and Fenella really hoped that he’d find success one day soon.
“What did you think of her?” she asked Tim.
“I thought she was okay. She seemed like fun, and she was willing to help out sometimes with moving equipment and things like that. It was pretty obvious fairly quickly that she was just there looking to find a man, though. Once she discovered that Todd wasn’t interested and that Paul wouldn’t commit, she stopped coming around.”
“How long ago was that?” Fenella wondered.
“Oh, goodness, it’s probably been six months or more since I saw her last. Let me think. Todd was here in the spring for a few months, which is when I first met her. Paul did some shows with us in March. I believe he played with us through Easter, if I’m remembering rightly. I can’t say for sure if Carol was around during all of that time or not.”
“Interesting,” Fenella remarked. “I’ll have to call Daniel and tell him what you’ve told me.”
“Now that I think about it, I think she found herself a boyfriend in the end,” Tim said thoughtfully. “The last time I saw her, she was with Matthew Arkwright, or at least they seemed to be together.”
“Who is Matthew Arkwright?” Fenella asked.
“He owns a few of the hotels and restaurants on the island,” Shelly told her. “He’s probably one of the island’s most eligible bachelors, given that he’s wealthy, single, and under fifty. He doesn’t spend much time on the island these days, though, or at least that’s what I’ve heard.”
“You’re right,” Tim confirmed. “We play at a lot of his places and I haven’t seen him in a while. In fact, I think the last time I saw him was back in April when he was with Carol.”
“She didn’t mention a boyfriend when we spoke at Dr. Grady’s house,” Fenella said thoughtfully.
“They may well have split up by now,” Tim said. “April was a long time ago. Matthew isn’t known for having long relationships.”
Tim insisted on helping Shelly clear the dessert plates before he rushed away to get ready for his show. “You are coming later, right?” he asked Shelly in the doorway.
Fenella hid a smile and turned away as he pulled her friend into a kiss. After all of the uncertainty that Shelly had felt with Gordon, she had to know exactly where she stood with Tim.
“I’d better go and call Daniel,” Fenella said as Shelly shut the door behind Tim. “He’ll want to hear everything that Tim said.”
“And then you’re coming with me to enjoy the band, right?” Shelly asked.
“Yes, of course. Jack, do you want to go home or do you want to go and see the band?” Fenella asked.
“If you don’t mind driving me home late, I think I’d quite like to see the band,” he replied.
“Let me make my phone call, then,” Fenella said.
“You can stay and chat with me,” Shelly told Jack. “I want to hear more about your research.”
Fenella mouthed the words “don’t encourage him” at her friend, but Shelly just laughed and then let Fenella out.
“It’s me, again,” she told Daniel when he answered his home phone. “Tim knows everyone in the world, or at least everyone on the island.”
“I hope you’re exaggerating,” Daniel sighed.
“I am, a bit. He doesn’t know Hannah or Diane, but he does know Carol Houston,” Fenella told him. She recounted as much of the conversation they’d had over dessert as she could remember.
“I may have to talk to Tim myself,” Daniel said when she was done. “It may even be smart to talk to everyone in the band. Where are they playing tonight?”
Fenella told him. “It’s a Christmas party. Tickets are available at the door, or so I’m told. Tim gave Shelly a handful of them, though. She can probably leave one for you at the door.”
“That would be great. I won’t do any formal questioning tonight, but I may stop in for a short chat with the guys in the band. They may tell me more informally than they would in an interview.”
“They’ll be drinking,” Fenella warned him.
“As I’m only looking for background information at this point, I’ll just see how it goes. I could do with a night out anyway.”
“I’ll see you there, then,” Fenella told him.
Shelly and Jack were both ready to go when Fenella got back to Shelly’s apartment.
“Jack’s charming,” Shelly whispered as they started down the corridor. Jack had dashed ahead to summon the elevator for them.
“Yeah, he’s great,” Fenella replied.
Shelly laughed. “Well, he’s been charming to me.”
“He’s available, if you want him.”
Shelly just laughed again, and then they caught up to Jack, who was holding the elevator door open with his leg.
“I was afraid I might get stuck in there,” he said as he stepped backward into the elevator car.
If anyone could, it would be you, Fenella thought but didn’t say.
The restaurant they were heading for was only a short walk away. It was crisp and cold outside, and Fenella pulled her coat more tightly around her as they went. “It feels like it might snow,” she said.
“Except that it’s far too warm,” Shelly told her. “It’s like six or seven out here.”
“That’s well below freezing,” Fenella complained.
“Six or seven Celsius,” Shelly replied.
“Oh, what’s that in Fahrenheit?” Fenella asked.
“Around forty-four,” Jack said.
“So, too warm for snow,” Fenella sighed. “I don’t suppose we’ll get a white Christmas, either.”
“If you want a white Christmas, you just have to go back to Buffalo,” Jack told her.
“I don’t want a white Christmas that badly,” Fenella laughed.
The restaurant looked warm and inviting as they made their way toward it. “I’ve never been here before,” Fenella whispered to Shelly as they crossed to the door.
“Me either. I’ve been told the food is good, but there a lot of other places to eat. I’ve never even consider coming here, really” she replied.
“Good evening, ladies, gentleman,” the man who’d opened the door for them said. “Are you here for tonight’s special Christmas performance by The Islanders?”
“Yes, we have tickets,” Shelly said, pulling the tickets from her bag.
“Excellent. The band will be performing in the ballroom,” he told her. “You can follow the red carpet all the way there.”
Shelly left a ticket with Daniel’s name on it with him, and then the trio did as they were told and followed the red carpet to the ballroom.
Tim must have been watching for them because he met them before they’d gone more than a few steps into the room. “There are tables over here for guests of the band,” he told them, leading them to a corner near the stage. While they would be close to the performers, the view wasn’t the best.
“It’s a good thing we came to hear the band rather than see them,” Shelly laughed.
“Todd’s away, obviously,” Tim said, glancing at Fenella. “Paul’s going to be performing, though. He’s going to be on the island until after Christmas.”
“That’s good news,” Shelly said. “He’s so talented.”
“I would have told you sooner, but I only found out when I got here,” Tim replied. “He was talking about going back across after all the, um, well, trouble in October, but he hasn’t.”
The ballroom was about half-full when the band began their first set. By the time they took a break, there were only a handful of empty seats left in the room.
“They’re very good,” Jack said as soon as the music stopped. “I’m impressed.”
“They’re even better when Todd plays with them,” Shelly told him. “He’s celebrating Christmas somewhere exotic, though.”
“There you are,” Daniel said as he joined them. “I arrived just after the first song and didn’t dare try to find you in the crowd.”
“No one is sitting here,” Jack said, pointing to the seat next to him.
The only other empty seat at the table was on the other side of Fenella. Daniel grinned and then slid into that seat.
“I hope no one is sitting here, either,” he said in a questioning tone.
“It looks like you are,” Jack said grumpily.
“Not for long,” Daniel replied. “I need to go and talk to the guys in the band.”
“The break won’t last long,” Shelly warned him. “The owners want them to do three sets, so they’ll have to keep things moving.”
Daniel picked up his glass and headed for the cluster of band members near the stage.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” a familiar voice said from behind Fenella.
She turned around and smiled at Carol Houston, not feeling the slightest bit surprised to see the woman. “Hello,” she said brightly.
Carol was clinging to the arm of a very handsome dark-haired man. He looked Fenella over and then gave her a small smile. “Friends of yours?” he asked Carol.
“I wouldn’t quite put it that way,” Carol replied. “Why don’t you go and get me another drink while I chat with them?”
The man raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. “If you need another drink.”
“Oh, I definitely do,” she told him. She leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He nodded and then turned and walked away without so much as another glance toward Fenella.
Carol dropped into the chair next to her. “I should have just stayed away from you, but I need a favor. Please don’t tell Matthew anything about how we met,” she said plaintively.
“As I don’t even know who Matthew is, I’m unlikely to tell him anything,” Fenella replied.
Carol shut her eyes, and Fenella could almost hear her counting to ten before she spoke again. “You told the police I was at Peter’s house the day he died,” she said.
“Yes, I did,” Fenella agreed.
“They’ve questioned me twice,” Carol complained.
“They’ve questioned me a good many more times than that,” Fenella told her. “They’re just doing their job.”
“Yes, I understand that, but I’d rather people didn’t know that I knew Peter,” Carol said in a low voice. “It would complicate things.”
“You were seeing him behind Matthew’s back,” Fenella suggested.
Carol winced. “That makes it sound a good deal nastier than it was. Matthew and I have an understanding.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The understanding doesn’t include either of us getting caught up in a murder investigation. Matthew has a certain image to uphold and being questioned by the police doesn’t fit in with that image.”
“I think finding out who killed Peter Grady is more important than anything else,” Fenella told her. “He was murdered.”
“Perhaps he shouldn’t have been involved with so many women at the same time.”
“Are you suggesting that one of the women he was seeing killed him?”
“One of them, or one of their husbands or boyfriends.”
“Then you can clearly see why the police have had so many questions for you. All things considered, they’re probably going to want to talk to Matthew, too.”
Carol shook her head. “I’d really rather they didn’t. He didn’t approve of Peter.”
“But you were still seeing Dr. Grady behind his back.”
“I was going to end things with Peter once he was back on the island. I was tired of him playing games with me. It was obvious that that was all he was ever going to do, too, play games. Peter wasn’t looking for anything serious. I’m hoping Matthew might be, but he won’t be if he gets dragged into the mess.”
“It’s amazing how many women were planning to dump Dr. Grady,” Fenella said thoughtfully. “It seems as if he would have been spending Christmas all alone.”
“I truly was going to end things with him,” Carol insisted. “You have to believe me.”
“Okay, I’ll believe you,” Fenella said. She didn’t really care whether the woman was planning to dump Dr. Grady or not. All she wanted was for the police to find out who had killed him.
“Good, then you can tell the police you were wrong,” Carol said happily.
“Tell the police I was wrong about what?” Fenella asked.
“About my being there that day. Tell them that you met me here tonight and realized that you had the wrong woman. Tell them that whoever you did meet was using my name but wasn’t me.”
“You’ve told them that you weren’t there?” Fenella asked, shocked.
“Yes, and I need you to back me up,” Carol said. “It’s the only way to keep Matthew out of everything.”
“What if Matthew killed Dr. Grady?”
Carol shook her head. “He wouldn’t have done that. If he found out that Peter and I were still seeing one another, he simply would have ended things with me and broken my heart.”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t lie to the police for you.”
“But you have to,” Carol insisted.
“Ms. Houston?” Daniel’s voice interrupted the conversation. “I think we need to talk.”
Carol looked up at the police inspector and the color drained from her face. “How long have you been standing there?” she asked softly.
“Long enough,” Daniel replied. “I think we should probably have our conversation down at the station.”
“The station? I don’t think that’s necessary. I can get us a room here at the hotel,” Carol suggested. “That would be a good deal more comfortable, wouldn’t it?”
Daniel glanced at Fenella, who raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t entirely sure what Carol was suggesting, but she knew Daniel was going to refuse.
“I think the station is a better idea,” Daniel told her. “I’d rather not make a scene, so maybe we could just walk out together?”
Carol looked very much like she wanted to argue, but after a minute she shrugged. “I don’t have much choice, do I?” she muttered as she stood up. “Don’t tell Matthew where I’ve gone,” she told Fenella. “Just tell him I wasn’t feeling well.”
Fenella opened her mouth to reply, but Carol was already walking away. Daniel followed, and Fenella was pretty sure Carol was doing everything she could to pretend she didn’t know the inspector was behind her. The band started the second set a moment later and Fenella sat back to enjoy the music.
“They’re very good,” Jack said between songs. “I’m really enjoying this.”
Fenella spent the next song trying to work out why Jack had never wanted to go anywhere when they’d been together. She’d asked him to go with her to plays, musicals, band concerts, lectures, and a dozen other places, and he’d never agreed. The look on his face tonight suggested that he was having fun, which made her think that he’d missed out on a lot he would have enjoyed over the years.
“I should have let you drag me to more things back in Buffalo,” he said as another song finished. “This is amazing.”
“Do you think he’s just pretending to have fun in an effort to win you back?” Shelly whispered in her ear.
“I think he’s genuinely enjoying himself,” Fenella told her. “I also think that we wasted ten years together not doing things like this.”
When the band stopped for their second break, Jack headed to the bar to get another round of drinks. Fenella insisted on soda as she had to drive later, but Shelly could walk home, so she was happy to have another glass of wine with Jack.
“She’s left me, then,” a voice said in Fenella’s ear.
She turned and discovered that Matthew had taken the seat next to her. “I’m sorry?” she replied.
“Carol’s gone home, has she?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, I believe she wasn’t feeling well.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure as soon as she saw the police inspector she began to feel quite unwell.”
Fenella shrugged, unsure of how best to reply to his words.
“I’m Matthew Arkwright,” he said after a moment. “Carol and I are, well, I’m not sure what we are, but she came with me this evening.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Fenella Woods.”
“Yes, of course, Mona’s niece. I’ve been wanting to meet you. I have some investment ideas I’d love to share with you.”
“Doncan Quayle handles all of my investments. You’d have to talk to him,” she replied firmly.
He chuckled. “Maybe not, then. Doncan has very exacting standards for investment. Never mind. Let’s talk about why Carol was escorted out of here by the police instead.”
“Was she?” Fenella played dumb.
“Come now, you saw her talking to Inspector Robinson, and I’m sure you saw them leave together. No doubt you know why he wanted to speak with her, as well.”
“It really isn’t my place to discuss it, though.”
Matthew frowned and then nodded slowly. “Shall I tell you what I think happened? Carol was involved with a man called Peter Grady. I think you know something about him or about his relationship with Carol. No doubt she was asking you to keep that quiet when Inspector Robinson joined in the conversation. As Dr. Grady was murdered just a few days ago, I’m sure the inspector is investigating all of the women who were involved with Peter. That should take him up to retirement, I reckon.”
