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‘Kitty’s not in any trouble but we believe she might be able to help us with an enquiry. Do you have contact details for her, by any chance?’
Melanie’s mouth sets into a tense line and her expression clouds.
‘A phone number?’ Jen offers. ‘Address?’
The other woman shakes her head. ‘I haven’t had sight or sound of her for the best part of twenty years. She disappeared from here first chance she got. Kitty thought she was better than the rest of us.’
Jen swallows. It sounds like her own story, but she’s not going to share that. She also feels the bite of disappointment. Melanie’s the only living family member of Kitty Ellis that they’ve been able to locate.
‘Was she working at Lancaut Manor, then?’
‘Where? No, she had a job at the Co-op. Hated it. She thought she was too good for that, too.’
‘Are there any other family members who might be in touch with her?’
‘None that I’m in contact with.’
‘Anyone whose name you can give me?’
Melanie licks her lips. It’s clear her sister isn’t a comfortable subject for her. Her nerves and hostility are visibly building and Jen senses that her time in this house is running out. Flattery might be needed.
‘It’s so kind of you to help us,’ she adds. ‘Really.’
Melanie looks as if she’s uncomfortable acknowledging the compliment. Jen has a sinking feeling that she’s not going to get anything else out of her.
‘So, just to confirm. You haven’t heard from Kitty at any point in the last two decades?’
‘I just said that, didn’t I?’
Jen snaps her notebook shut. ‘You did. You said you hadn’t seen her for twenty years, but I wanted to check whether you’d spoken or been in touch any other way. Thank you. I should get going. You’ve been more than helpful,’ she lies.
Melanie visibly relaxes, almost attempting a smile, and begins the painful-looking process of raising herself up out ofher seat. She needs help, Jen thinks, and makes a note to check if she’s on social services’ radar.
Jen waits until her hand is on the front-door handle to lob a final question at Melanie now that her guard is down somewhat. Sometimes, people only open up when they know you’re on your way out.
‘Are you sure there are no other family members we can contact?’
Melanie’s lips twist, deciding whether to help or not. ‘Our other sister died but you could try our nephew, her son. He was close to Kitty after he lost his mum. If any family are still in touch with her, he’ll be. He had the same sense of entitlement as her.’
‘What’s his name?’ Jen asks.
Melanie makes a face, as if even saying the name disgusts her. ‘Oliver,’ she says. ‘She called him Olly, but he was always Oliver to me. Nasty little prick.’
‘What’s his surname?’ Jen asks. She feels her excitement building. Could it be the same Olly who lives at the Manor House? Or is that a stretch? It would mean he might have done something unthinkable to his own aunt, with the emphasis onmight. But still, the back of her neck crawls.
‘Palmer,’ Melanie says. ‘Oliver Palmer.’
It is the same man. Jen can’t get out of the house quickly enough.
She pulls her phone from her pocket to call Hal and sees she has a message from him:CALL MEShe remembers Hal went to the emergency at the Manor. She dials his number. She has the sense that things are about to get exciting.
49
THURSDAY
Anna
Anna watches Nicole closely. She has so much sympathy for her. Widowhood makes you vulnerable. She should know. Nicole is looking out of the Yellow Room window, down the drive. She’s waiting for the detective to come back and tell her what happened with Patrick. He’s bad news, Anna can feel it in her bones. He arrived at the Barn too quickly, and it hasn’t taken long for Nicole to feel terrified of him. He can’t be a true friend. Not the kind of friend you’d want by your side at a time like this. It sounds as if he’s a man on the edge. But, as she knows, a misplaced sense of loyalty can bind you to the worst of people.
