The Kingston Case Read online

  “Have they all come from the same magazine, then?”

  “No. I haven’t recognised anything in the other three notes.”

  Janet shook her head. “You need to ring Robert,” she said.

  “I thought about it, but the first one didn’t seem like anything serious,” William told her. “I was going to show it to you and Joan and see what you thought, but you were on holiday, so I decided I would just wait until you got back. I honestly didn’t think it was anything to worry about.”

  “But now that you’ve had four, you’re getting worried,” Janet suggested.

  “A little bit,” William admitted.

  “Are the envelopes done with bits cut from magazines as well?”

  “No. They appear to have been printed on a standard home computer printer,” William told her.

  “If they have access to a computer and a printer, why not just print the actual letters as well?”

  “I have no idea,” William said. “It seems like it would be a lot easier than cutting and pasting things from magazines. That was one of the reasons I didn’t take it all that seriously, really. It seemed like a silly prank at first.”

  “But now it doesn’t?”

  “Not as much. Not when I’ve been getting a new letter every day.”

  “You’ve been getting one a day?”

  “The first one arrived on Thursday last week. Then I received another on Friday and another on Saturday. The fourth one was in yesterday’s post. I’m not looking forward to what I’m going to get today.”

  “You have to ring Robert,” Janet repeated herself. “Whoever is sending them could be dangerous.”

  “They don’t seem dangerous. They seem odd and a bit silly,” William told her.

  “Do you have any idea who might be behind them?”

  William blushed bright red. “Not at all,” he said, staring down at the kitchen table.

  “Who do you think is sending you the letters?” Janet pressed him.

  “I don’t know,” William said firmly.

  “But you have some idea,” Janet said. A sudden thought crossed her mind. “You don’t think they’re from your ex-wife, do you?”

  “Alice wouldn’t do that,” William said unconvincingly.

  “But you think she might have,” Janet suggested.

  William shrugged. “When she decides she wants us to get back together, well, she can be a little obsessive,” he told her.

  “Like how?” Janet asked.

  “Nothing serious, really, she just rings all the time or sends me little presents or things like that,” William said. “She once tried to persuade some of my friends to talk to me on her behalf. One time she told me she’d been diagnosed with a fatal illness and just wanted to spend her dying days with me. Little things like that.”

  Janet stared at him, open-mouthed. “Those aren’t little things,” she said after a minute. “Pretending you’re dying is pretty serious.”

  “She didn’t mean to upset me,” William insisted. “She was going to tell me as soon as we were back together. Anyway, she knows I won’t fall for her tricks anymore. That time I insisted on seeing her doctor with her and that put an end to that.”

  “What would she be hoping to accomplish by threatening you?”

  “She wants me to move back to London. She’s made no secret of that. I used to help her around the house with odd jobs and I’m sure she misses that.”

  “So she’s threatening you to get you to move back down south?”

  “Maybe,” William shrugged. “If the letters are coming from her, that is. They may not be, of course.”

  “Who else wants you to move out of Doveby Dale?” Janet asked.

  “That’s just it. I have no idea. I’d almost rather it was Alice. I can handle her. If it’s someone else, well, I don’t know. It’s scary to think about.”

  “Let’s ring Robert,” Janet suggested.

  “I don’t want to get Alice into trouble,” William protested. “If it is just her being Alice, then I don’t want the police involved.”

  “But what if it isn’t?”

  “At least now someone else knows about the letters,” William said. “If something does happen to me, the police will have a place to start.”

  Janet found herself staring at the man again. “If something happens to you?” she echoed. “That’s a horrible thought.”

  William put his hand over hers. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. “But I’m flattered that you seem to care.”

  “Of course I care,” Janet snapped, pulling her hand away. “I’d like to think we’ve become friends over the past six months or so. The idea that someone might be planning to hurt you is very upsetting.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have burdened you with all of this. I should go to the police.”

  “Yes, you absolutely should,” Janet nearly shouted.

  “Let me see what turns up in today’s post and then I’ll ring Robert,” William said. “Maybe he can look into things on an unofficial basis, just in case it is Alice behind it all.”

  “If it is Alice, you should want her arrested,” Janet said. “Whoever is behind it is threatening you.”

  “Alice is harmless,” William told her. “I almost hope it is her, although I’m sure she’ll be devastated when I refuse to go back to her this time.”

  “I don’t understand why she’s coming to Doveby Dale,” Janet said.

  “She wants to see me and I won’t visit her in London.”

  “Why does she want to get back together with you?”

  “Every time she’s in a relationship and something goes wrong, she runs back to me and begs me to take her back,” William explained. “The first few times, I fell for it and we tried again, but we always end up fighting over something stupid. Eventually we both get fed up with the fighting and separate again. It was something of a vicious circle until I finally learned to simply refuse to even consider trying again.”

  “But she’s still coming to see you here,” Janet pointed out.

  “Just because I stopped agreeing doesn’t mean she’s stopped trying,” William told her. “I don’t know. Just when I’m convinced she’s behind the letters, I think that they’re a step too far, even for her.”

  “So you need to make a list of your enemies,” Janet suggested.

  “I hope I don’t have any in Doveby Dale,” William said. “I know I was insufferable when I first arrived, but I’d like to think that I’ve made amends for my poor behaviour in those early days. I may still have a few enemies in London, but why would they want me to leave Doveby Dale? The last I knew, they were all happy that I was gone.”

  “What about business rivals in the area?” Janet asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to give the whole matter some thought,” William said. “Which is ironic, because that’s about all I’ve been able to think about for ages. I just kept thinking it was Alice, but the more we talk about it, the more I doubt that. I know Alice has behaved badly in the past, but sending anonymous and threatening letters is too much, even for her.”

  “Ring me when you get your post and let me know what’s in it,” Janet told him as the man got up to leave. “I’m going to worry about you.”

  “I appreciate it,” William told her. “I’m hoping I’m making a big deal out of nothing, though. Maybe the notes don’t really mean anything.”

  Janet frowned and didn’t reply. The notes sounded awful and scary to her. It seemed unlikely that someone would go to the trouble of sending them if they didn’t mean to scare William away.

  At the door, he stopped and gave Janet a hug. “Thank you for listening to me,” he told her. “I owe you dinner one night soon.”

  “I’d like that,” Janet said. “Maybe after your former wife has gone.”

  “That might be best,” William agreed.

  Janet let him out and watched as he walked to his car in the house’s small car park. She felt a horrible sense of unease
about the anonymous letters. If William didn’t ring Robert about them, she might just have to do it herself.

  Before she pushed the door shut, she spotted Joan turning off the main road. She waited in the doorway for her sister to park and then walked down and helped her unload the car.

  “The shop was far too busy for this time on a Tuesday,” Joan complained as she unpacked the shopping. “Don’t people have jobs to go to?”

  “Surely it was mostly pensioners and young mums,” Janet said. “That’s who’s there when I go, anyway.”

  “I suppose it was,” Joan conceded. “But there seemed to be an awful lot of both groups today, more than normal.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have come and helped.”

  “At least you got your laundry done,” Joan said.

  “My laundry!” Janet exclaimed. “I forgot all about it. It’s still in the washing machine.”

  She switched her clothes to the tumble dryer, not feeling patient enough to hang things outside to dry today. Back in the kitchen, Joan was making their lunch. They ate a light meal together that was interrupted by the phone.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” Joan said when she’d put the phone down, “but I’ve invited Michael for dinner.”

  Michael Donaldson was the handsome widower who lived across the road from Doveby House in a small semi-detached house. While Janet had had a few boyfriends in her younger days, Joan had steadfastly refused to entertain any suitors. Both sisters had been surprised when Michael began a very slow courtship of Joan, but they were both gradually growing accustomed to the idea that Joan had acquired her first boyfriend at the age of sixty-seven.

  “I never mind seeing Michael,” Janet said truthfully. She liked the retired chemist a great deal, actually.

  The phone rang again as they were putting the last of the dishes into the dishwasher.

  “Is that Janet?” a somewhat timid voice asked when she’d answered the phone.

  “It is, yes,” Janet replied.

  “It’s Edna, Edna Green,” the caller said. “I was just looking at my empty refrigerator and I can’t stand the thought of driving all the way to the supermarket. I know it’s terribly short notice, but are you by any chance free for dinner tonight?”

  “I am,” Janet said impulsively. “Where would you like to go?”

  “Oh, can we just go to the café? It’s affordable and friendly,” Edna said.

  “That sounds exactly right,” Janet laughed. And it would be good to leave Joan and Michael to have a quiet dinner on their own, as well, she thought as she put the phone down.

  She’d only taken a few steps away from it when it rang again. Goodness, aren’t we popular today, she thought as she picked up the receiver.

  “Janet? It’s William.”

  “Oh, yes, what came in today’s post, then?” Janet asked.

  “It’s nice to talk to you, too,” William said in a teasing tone.

  Janet laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “How are you this afternoon?”

  “I’m fine,” William said cheerfully. “And I’m happy to tell you that I didn’t get another letter today.”

  “Oh, that is good news,” Janet said, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t mentioned the letters or William’s ex-wife to Joan.

  “I’m sure whoever it was has grown tired of the game,” William said. “I’m glad I didn’t ring Robert now.”

  “Maybe,” Janet said with less certainty. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet. If you don’t have any more letters this week, then maybe you can forget all about it.”

  “And take you to dinner to celebrate,” William added.

  “That, too,” Janet said.

  The entire subject still made Janet feel quite unsettled, so she went to find her sister.

  “William Chalmers visited today,” she began. “His ex-wife is our guest who is arriving on Saturday.”

  “I did notice the surname, but she didn’t mention the relationship when she booked. I wasn’t about to ask,” Joan said.

  “And he’s been getting anonymous letters,” Janet said.

  “Pardon?” Joan asked.

  Janet repeated as much of the conversation with William as she could remember while Joan listened intently.

  “I hope he’s right,” she said when Janet was finished. “I hope whoever was behind it has stopped.”

  “I still think he should ring Robert,” Janet said.

  “Maybe he’ll get another letter tomorrow and agree to contact the police,” Joan said. “Although I hope the letters have stopped.”

  “Me, too,” Janet agreed. She turned to leave her sister and then stopped. “Oh, and I’m having dinner with Edna Green tonight. She rang just before William did.”

  “She rang you?” Joan asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t ring her to make plans so you could avoid Michael?”

  Janet laughed. “I like Michael,” she said. “But I also like Edna, and she didn’t have anyone else to have dinner with tonight. I’m sure you and Michael will enjoy having the house to yourselves, as well.”

  “I suppose so,” Joan said.

  “Is everything okay with you and Michael?” Janet asked, concerned by her sister’s reply.

  “I haven’t seen him since we’ve been back,” Joan pointed out. “Maybe I’m just bit worried that he’ll have decided he’s not interested anymore.”

  “He rang and asked to see you tonight, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, but he asked if I’d make him dinner,” Joan said crossly. “He said he’s missed my cooking.”

  “That isn’t very romantic,” Janet frowned.

  Joan sighed. “I’m sure it will be fine,” she said. “I just wish you were going to be here, too.”

  “I can ring Edna and cancel,” Janet offered.

  “No. You go and have fun with your friend,” Joan told her. “Michael probably won’t stay long after I’ve fed him, anyway.”

  With Joan’s words worrying her, Janet headed up to her room to get ready for dinner at the café.

  Chapter 3

  In her room, Janet rummaged through her wardrobe, looking for the perfect outfit for meeting a friend for dinner. She finally settled on a black skirt and a grey short-sleeved jumper. After a moment’s hesitation, she showered again before she got dressed.

  “Merrrroww?” Aggie asked as Janet combed her shoulder-length grey bob.

  “I’m having dinner with a friend,” Janet replied.

  “Yooww!” Aggie said.

  “Not a male friend, a female friend,” Janet told her.

  Aggie had been a surprise gift from Edward Bennett, the handsome and sophisticated man who had been their first paying guest after the sisters had bought Doveby House. He had been friends with the former owner of the house, Margaret Appleton. Before he left, after his short stay, he’d told Janet that he worked for a secret government agency that had used the bed and breakfast as a temporary safe house on occasion. Even after a recent second visit, Janet wasn’t entirely sure what to believe about the man, who seemed determined to sweep her off her feet, at least when he was in the country.

  The kitten stared at her for a moment and then padded away out of the room. A moment later Janet could hear the animal bouncing down the stairs. No doubt she was going to double-check that Janet had left her dinner out for her. As if Janet would neglect her beloved pet in any way.

  Janet added a touch of makeup to her bright blue eyes. She and Joan shared the same eye colour and the same hair colour and style. People often insisted that the sisters looked alike, but Janet didn’t see it. Standing up, she smoothed her jumper over her curvy hips. Joan, even though she was the cook in the family, had always been slender. Janet was curvier, especially after their holiday which had been full of restaurant meals and other indulgences. Now that she was home, Janet knew she’d have to behave better. But that would have to start tomorrow, as tonight she was eating at the café up the road. You couldn’t possibly b
e on a diet there.

  “Have fun with Michael,” she told Joan when she found her in the kitchen a few minutes later. “I won’t be out late. It’s just dinner with a friend.”

  “I don’t know if Michael will want to watch some telly after dinner or not,” Joan said, frowning. “Perhaps if he does, I’ll send him home to watch on his own.”

  “Be nice,” Janet told her. “I’m sure he missed you terribly and just didn’t think to mention it when he spoke to you earlier.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Joan said grumpily.

  Janet shook her head. Michael was going to be in for a long evening if Joan’s mood didn’t improve. When she opened the door, she startled the man in question, who was just coming up the steps at the front of the house.

  “Ah, Janet, just the woman I wanted to see,” he said to her. “I’ve brought you a little something.” He handed Janet a small wrapped box.

  “A present? For me?” Janet asked, feeling confused.

  “I was missing your sister terribly,” Michael confided. “I covered for a sick associate in Derby while you were away, and over my lunch break I did some shopping. I found several little things for Joan, and when I saw that I thought it would be perfect for you. If you don’t like it, well, I don’t mind what you do with it.”

  Janet smiled. “I’m sure I’ll love it, whatever it is,” she said brightly. “But for now I need to go. If it’s okay with you, I’ll open it later.”

  “Of course, that’s fine,” Michael assured her.

  Janet went back into the house and rushed up the stairs to put the gift in her room. When she came back down, Michael was handing several similarly wrapped gifts to Joan.

  “Enough already,” Joan said, laughing.

  “Only two more,” Michael told her. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, you see,” he explained. “And every time I thought about you, I seemed to stumble across something else I thought you might like. Anyway, I thought if I bought you several gifts, you’d be sure to like at least one or two of them.”

  “I’m sure I’ll like all of them,” Joan said. “I brought you a little something back from the Isle of Man as well, but only one thing.”

  “You did?” Michael beamed at Joan.