Page 53 of A Very Bookish Murder
‘So, what’s this important thing you want to talk to me about?’ Laura asked, taking a generous sip of her drink.
‘Your relationship with Owen Jones,’ Ally replied, knowing there was little point in beating about the bush.
Laura didn’t flinch. ‘What’s that got to do with you?’
At least she’s not denying it, Ally thought, studying her and admiring her composure. ‘It made me, and the police, wonder why you came on the writing retreat?’
‘The police?’ Laura asked. ‘Why would the police be interested?’
‘I think the police want to know why all of you came on the retreat, particularly those of you who have some obvious connection with Jodi Jones. It might indicate there could be a motive. I thought it only fair to warn you.’
Laura was silent for a moment. ‘How come the police haven’t askedmeyet?’ she asked.
‘Don’t worry – they will,’ Ally said.
‘I came here to improve my writing skills,’ said Laura.
‘It seems a little strange to me that you’d choose to come on a writing course organised by the wife of your lover,’ Ally remarked casually.
At this, Laura leaned forward, her eyes glaring. ‘That woman was a cow!’ she said. ‘A controllingcow! She left Owen years ago, but she still controlled him. He wanted a divorce, but she wasn’t having that. She made a shedload of money, you know, whatever you think of her books.’
Ally nodded. ‘So I believe.’
Laura seemed to be in full flow now as she took a large gulp of her gin. ‘She told him she was leaving half of her money to him and the other half to the child she gave up years ago, in her will. But we damn well need that money now to keep our commune going, and when he asked if he could have it now, she wouldn’t hear of it. “You’ll have to kill me first,” she told him.’
‘And did he? Or did you?’
Laura shook her head. ‘No, but I really wanted to, and that is precisely why I came,’ she replied, draining her glass. ‘Someone else pipped me to the post. Got there first. I swear on my life!’
‘But you did intend to kill her?’ Ally asked.
‘I just told you that I wanted to. I’d get some poison maybe – appropriate, don’t you think? – and I thought I could perhaps pop it into her dinner or something. Or I thought I might push her down the stairs perhaps, but do you know what? When it came to it, I justcouldn’t do it. I’m not at all sad that she’s dead though.’
Ally had to produce what she considered to be her ace card. ‘Then perhaps you can explain why you suddenly appeared at the malthouse last Sunday after everyone had got back from the castle? And it just happened to be the evening that Joyce died?’
Laura rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll tell you why. I came up here to Scotland without my new pack of beta blockers, which I have to take daily, and Penelope Whatsit-Whatsit just happened to have a spare foil because she takes them too. All last week I asked her to bring them down, and all last week the silly woman forgot, and so finally, in desperation, I came up to your place to get them. If you don’t believe me, askher.Now,’ she said, standing up, ‘I’m off to see Owen. But thanks for the drink.’
She turned abruptly and headed towards the door, leaving Ally speechless.
‘Has Laura given you a hundred reasons why she didn’t come here to kill Jodi Jones?’ Ross asked as he came in shortly after Ally got back, having walked the dogs.
Ally shook her head as she towelled down a very damp Flora. ‘Have these dogs been in the loch?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ Ross admitted ruefully, grabbing another towel for Ebony.
‘Believe it or not,’ Ally said, ‘Laura actually admitted that she did come here to kill Jodi, although, when it came to it, she just couldn’t do it.’
‘So she’s human after all,’ Ross said.
‘She said that someone else had “pipped her to the post” – her own words – and it saved her the bother.’
‘A likely story!’ Ross scoffed, stroking Ebony’s head.
‘For some strange reason, I believe her,’ Ally said. For one thing, she thought, when could Laura have gone into the kitchen to get at the insulin? She and Ross had been in there for most of Sunday evening, so her entry could hardly have gone unnoticed.
‘Why on earth would you believe her, Ally?Of courseshe’s going to say that, isn’t she? She’s no fool, that one!’
Ally shrugged. ‘I know logically that you’re right, but I just have this feeling…’
