Over the next few days the police were constant visitors to Harper’s Green. Accounts of Harry Gentry’s threats had leaked out and he was questioned several times. It seemed he had an alibi. He had been painting a neighbour’s house until nine o’clock that evening when Gaston was shot, and after that the neighbour had gone to the Gentrys’ cottage with Harry. They had had a beer and a sandwich made by Sheila, and they had played poker till past midnight.
It was reckoned that the shot which had killed Gaston had been fired between ten-thirty and eleven that night. So Harry Gentry was, as they said, ‘in the clear’.
I went to see Rachel. I was glad that her connection with Gaston was not generally known. Daniel, Tamarisk and I were the only ones in the secret.
She was very relieved to see me.
“I knew you’d come some time,” she said.
“I wanted to come before … but I was not sure …”
“Freddie, you don’t think it was Daniel?”
I was silent.
“It’s not true,” she burst out vehemently.
“He came in in the late afternoon and was in the house till morning. Jack was here. He can prove it.”
“Oh Rachel, I’ve been so worried.”
“So have I … or would have been if I didn’t know that Daniel had been here all that time. It happened that night between ten and eleven, didn’t it? He’d been lying there … dead … all that time.”
“Why should Daniel come into this?” I said.
“Why should Gaston be connected with you? No one knows that there might be a motive.”
“They mustn’t know, Freddie. Oh, they mustn’t know.”
“No one knows about you and Gaston but us, and … er … Tamarisk.”
She looked at me in dismay.
“He told her,” I said. I went on quickly, “She wouldn’t say anything.
She wouldn’t want it known that while he was courting her he was making love to you. It’s all right. There’s nothing to worry about.
Aunt Sophie thinks it might have been someone from his past. A man like that would surely have a shady past. He must have made enemies. He has in the short time he has been here made many. “
“Oh, Freddie, I know it’s wrong, but I’m glad he’s not here any more.
There would never have been any peace. I’m glad. I’m glad. “
“I understand how you feel. I can really see no reason why you should be connected with this.”
She put her arms round me and clung to me.
“I’m glad you’re here, Freddie. I’m glad you’re my friend. Daniel often says what a wonderful friend you have been to us both. When I think …”
“Don’t think of that. Forget it. It isn’t going to matter now. You are free of him. I just wanted to make sure that Daniel was not…”
“He wasn’t. I swear he was here all the time.”
I wanted so much to believe her. I did while I was with her, but when I went away, I thought how much Daniel must hate him because Rachel had once loved him. The child he loved was not his. And then Gaston had come back to threaten.
He was innocent. She had sworn he was innocent. But then a little voice within me said: Well, she would, wouldn’t she?
I went to see Tamarisk. I was told that she was in her room and not seeing anyone.
“Will you tell her I called?” I said.
“If she wants to see me I could come at any time.”
I hovered while the maid went upstairs. She came down hastily just as I was leaving.
“Mrs. Marchmont says she will see you. Miss Hammond.” She looked at me and shook her head.
“Poor lady. The police have been pestering her again. She’s taking this badly.”
“I know what it must be like,” I said.
“I won’t stay long unless she wants me to.”
Tamarisk was lying on her bed. She was fully clothed but her long fair hair was loose about her shoulders. She looked very pale.
“So you came, Fred,” she said.
“I wanted to before, but I wasn’t sure whether you’d want to see anyone. I was almost turned away today.”
“I didn’t want to see most people. But I’d like to talk to you.”
I sat down by the bed.
“Isn’t it awful?” she went on.
I nodded.
“I can’t believe that I shall never see him again. I can’t believe he’s dead. The police have been here. They keep asking questions.
They’ve interviewed Crispin . my mother . some of the servants. My mother is very unhappy. She was really fond of him. “
“Tamarisk, how are you feeling?”
She stared ahead of her and I noticed the sullen droop of her lips.
She said: “I know I mustn’t say this … but it’s only to you. I’m glad. That’s the truth. I hated him.”
I was startled and she smiled wryly.
“I didn’t tell the police that, of course. They might have thought I was the one who did it. I can tell you there were times when I might have done it.”
“Don’t talk like that. Tamarisk!”
“It’s unwise, isn’t it? In fact, it’s almost as though they suspect me although they haven’t said so in so many words. I’ve been an awful fool, Fred. But you always thought I was, didn’t you? I believed all he told me. And while he was telling me he wouldn’t look at anyone else, he was carrying on an intrigue with Rachel.”
Tamarisk, please don’t talk of that. Think of what it would mean to her and Daniel. And there’s the baby. “
“But it’s true,” she said.
“Listen, he did a lot of harm while he was alive. He’s dead now. Let that be an end of it.”
“An end of it! What about this pestering by the police?”
“That’s inevitable. This is a case of murder.”
“They suspect Harry Gentry. Apparently Gaston was chasing young Sheila. Oh, he was foul! I wouldn’t blame Harry Gentry one little bit.”
“What did the police say to you?”
“Oh, they were very polite. One talking to me very gently and the other making notes in his little book. I had to tell them about our marriage and how I’d known him only a short time. They knew he had come here under a false name. They knew something of him. Apparently he had been in trouble … under another name. It’s so humiliating to think I was so taken in.”
“Never mind. Lots of people are taken in at some time and you were very young.”
Tt will be in all the papers. I wonder who did it. They say Harry Gentry was with a neighbour of his when Gaston was killed. I was here all the time. So was Crispin. At one time I wondered whether Crispin”
“Of course he wouldn’t! He has too much sense.”
T suppose so. But he did hate him. In any case, he was here. I suppose we shall know one day. The police will find out, won’t they?”
“I dare say they will. They usually do.”
“I’m glad you came, Fred. I like talking to you. Nothing lasts, does it? This will be over some time. Then I shall be free.”
“Tamarisk, I hope everything turns out all right.”
“I know you do. You cheer me up. I guessed you’d come along with your wise old sayings.
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
“Good come th out of evil.”
“When this blows over everything will be different.” It will be a new start. I’ll have to forget. And one thing I keep telling myself is, I’m free. “
Yes, I thought. You are lucky to be free of him. There must be several people to rejoice that Gaston Marchmont was dead.
The next morning when the postman arrived with the mail, he had more news for us. Lily brought him in while we were having breakfast. “There’s something going on up at St. Aubyn’s,” he told us.
“They’re digging up in the shrubbery.”
“What for?” asked Aunt Sophie.
“Don’t ask me, Miss Cardingham. But the police are I there.”