Murder My Neighbour Read Free

The thought that he might be high on drugs came into her mind, which terrified her not a little. Everyone knew people on drugs were beyond reason.
    She forced the words out. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Now, would you please go?’
    â€˜Oh, but you can. You have so much –’ and here he swept his arm around to encompass the large garden and well-maintained house – ‘and I have so little . . .’
    â€˜What, no job?’
    He reddened. ‘Well, of course. I’m deputy manager of the bedding department at a big department store, but I have outgoings, you know, the flat, the car. And the credit cards have been maxed out for months. I need a spot of help here.’
    â€˜Then go back to the retirement home and ask them nicely for your great-aunt’s address.’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘I’ve tried that, and they won’t play ball. Look, I’m sure you could write me a cheque for twenty thousand without turning a hair—’
    â€˜What!’
    â€˜Think of it as your charity for today. It would only be a loan, of course. Just till I can catch up with Flavia, and then I’d repay you. I could manage with a thousand for a starter, and the rest later.’
    Ellie had inherited money and property both from her first husband and also from her aunt Drusilla, but she’d put the lot into a charitable trust which she administered for deserving cases. She didn’t think her visitor qualified for assistance. ‘Most certainly not!’
    â€˜You wouldn’t even notice it. Five hundred? Surely you wouldn’t condemn my sister to—’
    Ellie realized she was trembling. ‘I’ve asked you to leave once already. Will you please go. Now!’
    He turned back to the French windows. ‘No need to get your knickers in a twist. You attend to the ancient retainer and I’ll see myself out.’ He stood back to let her pass through the French windows in front of him.
    â€˜Yes. Well, thank you.’ She felt limp with relief that he was going without harming her in any way.
    The phone was ringing in the hall. They didn’t have an extension in the sitting room, so she hurried through to take the call.
    A pleasant man’s voice, with undertones of anxiety. ‘Ellie? Stewart here. I know I don’t usually call in on a Monday, but—’
    Oh, the relief. She was fond of her broad-shouldered, practical son-in-law, who managed her properties-to-let. Well, ex son-in-law, actually, but their relationship had survived her daughter Diana’s dumping him for a series of dangerous liaisons. Don’t think about Diana and her terrible news . . . or was that why he was ringing? Ah, but . . . Yes, he could well have heard what Diana wanted.
    She said, ‘Are you coming round, Stewart? I could do with—’
    â€˜If I may, yes. The thing is, I have little Frank with me. He hardly slept last night. Nightmares. We couldn’t get him to go to school today.’
    So Diana had spread the bad news around, had she? Oh dear. Frank was a lively little boy and perfectly happy living with his father, his sensible and loving stepmother, and the two little girls who adored their older half-brother.
    Diana was supposed to have her son at weekends, and actually did so; occasionally. But she was not always wise in what she said or did with him, and now and then he returned to his father in a distressed state of mind.
    Ellie said, ‘Can you come straight away? The thing is, apart from anything else – oh, not to worry, just a rather difficult visitor, who is about to leave – no, it’s not Diana, though I suppose you’ll have heard about . . . No, it’s Rose. She fell off a ladder in the garden and I need to get her to the doctor’s.’
    She lifted a hand to wave off the aforesaid difficult visitor as he let himself out of the front door. He didn’t close it