Chapter Fifteen

JONATHON POURED himself a mug of coffee, then sat down at the kitchen table. The increase in noise from beyond told him Mike had opened the pub, but Jonathon was in no mood to help out. He’d fetched a notepad and pen from his room and was making a list of suspects.

What frustrated him was that every time they thought they’d found someone with the perfect motive for hurting Dominic, that person turned out to have an alibi, or in one case, was dead. He regarded his short list with a sigh.

Sue—argued with Dominic, threatened him. BUT raid in Reading, witnesses.

Aidan Prescott—deceased.

Andrew Prescott—promised to avenge his dad. BUT on same raid as Sue.

Amy Prescott—promised her husband—see above—BUT in a wheelchair.

Melinda Talbot—LILIES. But motive?

Bryan Mayhew—staying at the manor. No motive?

Ben Threadwell—tenant in cottage near manor—land being sold—about to be evicted.

Points to note:

Brass rubbing wax / brass polish on photo album.

Missing photo—who was in the photo with Dominic?

Lily pollen on Dominic’s clothing.

Jonathon was starting to think he wasn’t cut out to be a detective. Damn Poirot. Damn Miss Marple. They made it look easy. He left the notepad on the table and wandered into the bar.

Mike looked up from his task of pulling a pint, and smiled. “How was the walk?”

“Not as productive as I’d hoped.” Jonathon glanced around at the patrons already seated at the bar or at tables. “Abi’s not here yet, is she?”

Mike pulled a face. “She called to say she won’t be in today. She’s had to go to the dentist. I’ve put up a sign saying no food. Anyone who’s hungry will have to go elsewhere or put up with packets of crisps and pork scratchings. Unless….” His eyes gleamed. “I don’t suppose you could make a few sandwiches? Rustle up a salad or two?” Mike widened his eyes. “Pretty please?”

Jonathon couldn’t stand to see Mike doing puppy-dog eyes. He was already too damn cute. “Fine, I’ll see what’s in the fridge, then give you a revised list. How’s that?”

Mike grinned. “You’re a star.”

Jonathon shook his head, chuckling. “I’m a mug, more like.” He didn’t really mind helping out, not if it kept Mike’s customers in the bar for longer. He went into the kitchen and peered into the fridge. Then he checked the bread supplies. A quick shopping trip was called for, but yeah, he could feed a few hungry mouths.

“Just going to the shop,” he called out to Mike. “There will be the usual fare on offer when I get back. Just give me forty minutes.”

Mike wiped his brow in mock relief, then smiled. “You’re wonderful.”

Jonathon laughed. “Yeah, yeah.” His last thought as he left the pub was that he liked putting that smile on Mike’s face.

JONATHON WALKED into the bar to find Mike already wiping down the surfaces. There were only a handful of customers left, and the pub would be closing in five minutes. It had been a busy start to the afternoon for both of them.

“Have I got time for a swift half?” someone called out.

Mike glanced at his watch. “Only if you can drink it in five minutes.” He shook his head. “Anyone would think you didn’t want to go home. I’ll bet Sarah expected you hours ago.”

Jonathon jerked up his head at the name and peered into the bar. Sure enough, it was Trevor, sitting in the far corner. Great. Jonathon strode across the bar and up to Trevor’s table. “Hey, just the man I was looking for.”

Trevor gazed up at him, his brows scrunched up. “Me? Why would you be looking for me?”

“I saw Dominic’s solicitor this morning, and your name came up in conversation. I was wondering about your connection to my uncle.”

Trevor paled. “Connection? What connection? I didn’t even know your uncle. That solicitor fella has made a mistake.” He glanced around the pub at the few remaining customers, blinking nervously, and started to rise from his chair.

“Please, wait.” Jonathon was not about to let Trevor walk out of the pub, not when there were questions to be answered. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Who’s upset?” Trevor stuck out his chin but sat back down. “You got the wrong man, that’s all there is to it.”

“Time, gentlemen, please,” Mike called out, ringing the small gold bell that hung behind the bar. “You’ve got a whole two hours to wait until we open again. I’m sure you’ll survive.”

A couple of men snickered at that.

“Okay, that’s me out of here.” Trevor got to his feet and grabbed his jacket. “Sarah will be worrying where I’ve got to.”

“She knows you’re coming home sometime today, right? Surely five more minutes won’t matter?”

“How the—” Trevor’s eyes widened. “You’ve seen Sarah?” He slumped back onto his chair.

Jonathon nodded. “This morning. I went to your house to talk to you.”

There was no mistaking the fear in Trevor’s eyes. “What… what did you say to her?”

An uneasy roiling started in Jonathon’s belly. “Just that I wanted a chat with you. That was all.” He caught the solid thump of the bolt being drawn across the pub door. Mike had locked up. It was now or never. “Look,” Jonathon said, softening his voice. “I was just curious as to why Dominic changed his will to include a bequest to you.”

Trevor narrowed his gaze. “That bastard,” he hissed. “He swore to me he’d change it back, that he wouldn’t go through with it.”

“And how could you know that if you claim not to have known Dominic?” Mike asked, walking across to where they sat.

Trevor’s back was rigid, his face still ashen. Jonathon took a moment to really look at him. Trevor was maybe in his late forties, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Despite the way he glared at them, Jonathon liked his face. He got the feeling Trevor was a kind man.

“Okay.” Jonathon made his tone coaxing, hopefully soothing. “It’s just us now. And whatever you say will stay between us. I… I’m just looking for answers here.”

Mike pulled out a chair and joined them.

Trevor nodded, his expression softening a little. That small step forward gave Jonathon hope.

“Dominic told you he’d changed his will?”

Another nod. “He told me he was leaving me fifty thousand. I… I told him I didn’t want it.”

“But why? Why would he want to leave you money? And why would you turn it down?”

Trevor sighed. “Because too many questions would have been asked, that’s why. Nothing stays secret for long in this village. I’m surprised we lasted as long as we did without someone spotting us.”

Secret…. We lasted…. Jonathon swallowed. “I think you’d better start at the beginning.”

Mike went over to the bar and returned with a couple of glasses of brandy. He handed one to Trevor. “I think you might need this.” He retook his seat.

Trevor didn’t hesitate. He drank it down in one long swallow, then shuddered as he placed the empty glass on the table. “Where to start? I suppose it all boils down to the fact that Dominic and I were having an affair. Last month was our ten-year anniversary.” He snorted. “Anniversary. Not that we could tell anyone. Still, we got a night together in a hotel, and as always, he made it special.”

Jonathon felt as though he’d taken a step through a door into The Twilight Zone. “Dominic… and you? But….” His brain was having difficulty making the connections.

Trevor regarded him keenly. “You don’t appear disgusted. I’d have thought that would have been your first reaction.”

Jonathon smiled. “Yeah, well, glad to disappoint you. Firstly, I finally have a reason why Dominic never married. And secondly? Why would it disgust me to learn that Dominic and I were more alike than I imagined?”

Trevor stared at him. “You’re… gay? Did Dominic know?”

“I never told him, and I doubt my father would have shared that particular piece of information. He had enough problems digesting it himself.” A wave of mingled sorrow and regret washed over him. Too late now. Yet again he was conscious of being robbed of time. So much they could have learned about each other and would never get the opportunity to do so.

“I’m not gay, by the way.” Trevor regarded them, visibly calmer. “I’ve always been aware that I’m attracted to both men and women. I love my wife, but Dominic came along when we were going through a bad patch.”

“How did this all get started?”

Trevor shook his head. “I was staying in a hotel near London, during one of my sales trips. Dominic was in the same hotel. We ended up sharing a bottle or two of wine, and I guess I let slip more than I’d intended. One thing led to another, and I… spent the night in his room.” He sighed. “I think back then it was just sex. I don’t believe either of us anticipated how long it would last… or that I’d fall in love with him.” Jonathon drew in a sharp breath, and Trevor nodded slowly. “Oh, I loved him. We were careful, though. About once or twice a month, we’d meet up for a night in a hotel in Kent. It was far enough away from Merrychurch that we thought no one would ever spot us.” He rubbed his ring finger absently. “We always went there as a married couple. Dominic had bought me a ring that I’d wear.” He swallowed. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it must be somewhere at the manor…. If you…?”

Jonathon nodded hurriedly. “If I find it, I’ll bring it to you.” It was obvious from every word that left Trevor’s lips that he spoke from the heart. “I take it your wife didn’t know?”

Trevor shook his head vehemently. “And I want it to stay that way. I wouldn’t hurt her for anything. I know I’ve cheated on her, but…. Dominic was a hard man to resist, and when he came along… I guess I just gave up fighting my impulses and went with the flow. I never thought I could love two people, but God help me, I did.”

“So when Dominic made that bequest…,” Mike said slowly.

“I couldn’t let him do that. I know he was only thanking me for my discretion all these years and trying to make my life a little more comfortable. But let’s face facts here. If people got to hear about it, tongues would start wagging and everyone would want to know why the lord of the manor was leaving a lowly salesman fifty thousand pounds. Stuff like that? Somebody would have got curious and started digging. And if that happened, you know what would have followed. I’d have been outed in a heartbeat. So I thanked him but refused. I begged him to draw up another will, going back to how it had been.”

“He did.” Mike pointed toward Jonathon. “He named Jonathon as his heir.”

Trevor’s face lit up. “Now that feels right. Every time he spoke about you, pride just… shone out of him. And maybe he had an inkling that you were gay. A sense, perhaps? I know he loved you very much.” Trevor’s face darkened. “But the last few weeks, there was something eating away at him. I don’t know what it was, but…. He talked a lot about putting things right. I don’t know what he meant by that. I just know that the last time we were… together, it was as if some secret was gnawing at his insides. All I wanted to do was hold him and comfort him. I felt so fucking useless.” Trevor bowed his head, but not before Jonathon caught the glint of a tear on his cheek.

“I hate to throw a spanner in the works,” Mike said suddenly, “but a thought has just occurred to me. Now that Jonathon has been informed of the contents of Dominic’s will, the police might ask to see it too.”

“Why?” Jonathon frowned.

“Think about it. We wanted to see it because we wanted to know if Dominic had made any bequests that might have thrown light on his death. If we can think that way, so can the police.”

“You think they’ll find out about the changes? Even though he didn’t go through with it?” Trevor stiffened. “But why would they think I had anything to do with Dominic’s death?”

“Maybe there was the possibility that Dominic would out you. Maybe you killed him to make sure that didn’t happen. Not that I think you did kill him, all right?” Mike held up his hands. “But look, you have an alibi.”

“I do?” Trevor’s face was the picture of bewilderment.

Mike nodded. “Thursday night last week. Think about it. Where were you?”

Trevor bit his lip, but then he widened his eyes. “Oh God. That was the night I got really drunk, wasn’t it? The night you drove me home?”

Mike nodded again.

“Is that when he died? That night?”

“They say the evening,” Jonathon interjected. “They haven’t given a more specific estimate. So they could still argue that you killed him before you got to the pub. Where were you before then?”

Trevor’s brow furrowed. “I was… driving back from Birmingham. I’d been away for a couple of days. But when I got to the village, I couldn’t face going home. I… wanted to see him, only I couldn’t, of course. That was our one rule—no contact in the village. I wasn’t even to go up to the manor. That way there was nothing to draw attention to us. And as Sarah had no contact with him either, it was an easy rule to stick to.” He sighed. “I parked the car a few miles away in a lane near the hall. I just sat there, staring out the window. Then I thought, ‘this is stupid,’ so I drove to the pub. I didn’t intend to drink that much. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself, and… overdid it. You know the rest.”

“So the police might think they have a case and you don’t have a good alibi.” Mike scrubbed his hand across his face. “Okay, at least we know it might be coming. I doubt even Gorland would let this opportunity slip by him. Be prepared, Trevor, okay?”

He nodded. “Though heaven knows how I’ll explain all this to Sarah if they do take me in for questioning.” His face was still clouded over. “I guess it might finally be time to be honest with her.” Trevor stood and grabbed his jacket. “I’d better go home, guys. She’ll be worrying.”

Jonathon laid a tentative hand on Trevor’s arm. “Thank you for telling me. It did answer some questions, but more importantly… I’m glad he had someone. I hated to think of him all alone all these years.”

Trevor gave a half smile. “He knew I loved him, and I like to think he loved me too. Dominic was never one for romantic lines, but he showed how he felt in… other ways.” His face flushed. “I know I’ll never forget the last ten years, that’s for sure.”

Jonathon withdrew his hand. “Let us know if anything happens, okay?”

“Sure.” Trevor followed Mike to the door.

Jonathon picked up his glass of brandy and took a sip before downing all of it, coughing as it hit the back of his throat.

I certainly didn’t see that coming. But Trevor’s remarks about Dominic’s recent state of mind opened up another avenue to explore. What had Dominic meant about putting things right?

Yet another mystery.

There can’t be any more surprises out there—can there?