Page 69 of Old Girls Behaving Badly

‘My dear, Gina, you have earned every single penny and more and I am indebted to you. Perhaps when you get home and sort out what needs to be done, you might still consider coming and staying in the boathouse for a while, or maybe we could work something out with your role as companion?’

‘I wouldn’t want to take a job where I wasn’t really needed, but I will certainly consider the boathouse,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’

I made my goodbyes brief to the rest of the family, but I did linger a little with Juliet.

‘It’s been a real pleasure to meet you,’ I told her.

‘You made this week a whole lot more fun than I thought it was going to be. So, are you going to become a super sleuth and go around the country solving crimes?’

‘God, no.’ I laughed. ‘I won’t be solving anything more involved than a crossword puzzle for as long as I live. I hope to see you again at some point.’

Unexpectedly she stepped forward and slid her arms around me in a tight hug. I hugged her back and felt a little tearful. I could see my taxi making its way down the driveway, so I let her go.

‘I’ll be in touch soon,’ I said to Dorothy, and then after a final wave to everyone, I opened the door of the taxi and while the driver wedged my suitcase into the boot, I sank gratefully onto the back seat.

‘Could you make a brief stop at the church as you go past, please. I promise only to be a couple of minutes.’

‘No problem,’ he said. ‘I’ve got time and you’re paying after all.’

I walked up the pathway that cut through the cemetery and pushed open the oak door. I wasn’t entirely sure that Peter would still be in here after the morning service, but it was closer than his house and worth a quick look. He was actually cleaning the floor, which surprised me. He had a mop and bucket of soapy water and was splashing it merrily around.

‘Hello, Peter,’ I said. ‘You look busy.’

‘What’s happening at the house?’ he asked. ‘I’ve been so busy in here cleaning after the morning service, but really I should have come down to see if you needed any help.’

‘You know Leonard tried to run last night, once he’d realised the painting had been found, but he had an accident and fell on the back steps. He’s got a head injury and badly broken his leg, but an ambulance has taken him this morning and Paul has gone with him.’

‘This morning? Why wasn’t it called last night?’

‘Unfortunately he wasn’t found until this morning. We should have thought to check the back of the house but we didn’t, did we. We all assumed he’d have gone out of the front or even through that side door.’

‘Is he going to be okay?’

‘I don’t know, Peter. I hope so. He did look in a bad way, but he survived the stormy night with injuries so he’s fighting – that’s for sure. He’s not a good person, but I don’t wish that on him.’

‘Have you come for the painting? Is Dorothy going to call the police?’

‘The police are on their way, but I haven’t come for the painting. The family will come for that. I’m actually going home now. But I wanted to give you something that Sandra found.’

‘Oh?’

‘This,’ I said, handing him the memory stick.

He took it from me and swallowed audibly, his face a picture of embarrassment.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I appreciate you doing this for me.’

‘I don’t like that Leonard has all these people at his beck and call. If he survives, I hope he faces up to what he’s done, to all those lives he’s ruined.’

‘I’d like to think that were true, but I know he won’t. He will feel he’s been betrayed by people he considers should be thankful to him. He operates in a way that leaves him always in a place of virtue. When he goes to prison, and it seems there is enough for that to happen, he will still be surprised and disbelieving about the situation he finds himself in. He will never change and I hope he is inside for a long time. Thanks again,’ he said and slipped the stick into his pocket.

Once it was out of his hand he seemed to relax and smiled at me. I decided it was time to get going. The taxi was waiting outside for me anyway.

‘It was lovely to meet you and I wish you all the best,’ I said.

‘You too, Gina, you too.’

I closed the door of the taxi, the driver started the engine and then pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road toward Norwich.