‘Come in.’
‘It was your day out on the van, wasn’t it? How did it go, Viviane?’
‘Okay. How did yours go?’
‘Funny you should ask. It was weird. This afternoon your son’s friend, Michael Berkley, walked into the station and said he wanted to confess to all three murders.’
‘Why- for God’s sake?’
‘I don’t know. None of it held water of course. He hadn’t got a clue about any of it. He said he lured the girls to the Cricket Pavilion of all places.’
‘What on earth made him do it? Was he doing a Sydney Carton for his dad by any chance? Look Jon, do you fancy something to eat? You haven’t had anything I take it? Will ham salad do you?’
‘Yes, lovely, thanks. That’ll be fine. Sorry I seem to be making a habit of eating down here, Viviane.’
‘So what did he actually say?’
‘He seemed to be far more concerned about Raymond Perkins. He said Raymond wasn’t responsible for the murders. He definitely didn’t like Maureen Carey. He might have been sorely tempted to be rid of her by the way he spoke. But I think it was more than likely his dad he was worried about. But he obviously didn’t want to give us cause to suspect Tom Berkley.’
‘So you’ve had an eventful day,’ she said putting out the ham. ‘Some cold new potatoes do you? Tomatoes?’
‘That’ll be fine, thanks.’
‘It’s your birthday soon, isn’t it?’
He leaned against the dresser and stared at her as she filled up his plate. Then his face cleared and he grinned. ‘I’d almost forgotten it myself. How did you work that out?’
‘Saw the birthday cards that came this morning in the post.’
‘Then it’s no good pretending I’m only thirty-five still, is it?’ He smiled back at her cheerfully and she felt a warm glow fill her up. ‘I’m forty-six.’
‘I know. You’re the same age as Bill would be now. You’re two days older than him because he told me when you celebrated your birthday before his. So in Pealinghurst when I spotted this merry old fellow sitting on a top shelf in the village antique shop, I couldn’t resist him,’ she said gleefully whipping open the dresser cupboard where she’d hidden the Toby Jug she handed it over to him.
‘Wow!’ He reached out kissed her twice on each cheek before she could stop him. ‘You’ve made my day for me! Thanks.’
‘I thought you’d be off and out again so early in the morning. I’d rather give it to you now. You haven’t gotten another like it, have you? I don’t know much about them. So it might not be as good as I thought.’
He was examining it now. ‘It’s great. In good nick. No cracks that I can see. I think you’ve bought me a treasure. Thanks, Viviane, for everything.’
It was while they were eating she wondered whether she should mention the meeting between Michael and Aiden Ludlam or not. Then remembering Michael’s confession attempt, and the boy’s anxious look that he’d worn throughout lunch, decided that she should.
‘I met up with Aiden Ludlam today. He’d run Michael Berkley over to the church to take some brass rubbings.’ He listened attentively as he filled him in on it.
‘Michael was definitely worried about something. It looked as if he’d been spilling out his worries to Aiden by the cartload before we met up. They’d arranged to meet there by Aiden’s suggestion. I suppose I could have imagined that he was walking on coals of fire...’
‘I doubt it. So young Michael bares his soul to the preacher man and then comes walking into the station prepared to take the can back for the crimes. Whatever made him do it, I should hardly think that it was on Aiden Ludlam’s advice.’
58
Esmeralda picked up the small silver crucifix and its broken chain off the green matting under her table in the Tarot booth. She knew she’d felt something worrying her for the past few days. And it had to do with Yvette. And now knew why she’d come along this evening to open up the booth.
She sat quietly with the silver crucifix in her hand. Yvette had lost it out of her purse when she’d tipped out the money onto the table. Yvette was upset, she hadn’t noticed her loss. She would have to see that her mother had it. The police would give her the address if she asked for it.
The crucifix was warm in her hand, Esmeralda closed her eyes leant back in her chair and pictured a black case in her mind. And then... A letter. She knew that this was important. Knew it had to do with Yvette. She saw the envelope next. It was addressed to Yvette and there was something else... An anklet, a gold one, so real she could read the name engraved on it... Yvette.