Murder at the Rocks (18 page)

‘Chief Inspector Fitzjohn.’

‘Good afternoon, Ms Ashworth.’  Fitzjohn looked past her to see a handbag and coat lying across a chair in the living room.  ‘You’re on your way out, I see.’

‘To the hospital.’  Ellen looked at her watch.  ‘I can spare a few minutes, though, if you’d care to come in.’

Fitzjohn and Betts stepped into a small sitting room where the late afternoon sunlight flooded in through a glass door and window on the far side.  She gestured for them to sit down before perching herself on the edge of a dining room chair.  ‘I thought you might want to speak to me after you saw me at Nick Harford’s the other day.’

‘Well, as I’m sure you can appreciate, Ms Ashworth, it pays to speak to as many people as we can in an investigation such as this.  It helps to build up a picture, so to speak.’  He continued.  ‘I understand you nursed Edward Harford before his death.’

‘Yes.  For three months.’

‘In that time were you ever aware that Edward Harford and his brother Laurence didn’t get on?’

‘Oh, yes.  That became clear early on.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes.  Laurence Harford came to see Mr Harford at his Mosman home not long after I’d started working there.  He seemed to me to be a very disagreeable man, and I’ve since learned from Nick Harford that he was there that day to persuade his brother to sign a Power of Attorney.  I think harass him into it might be a better word though.  After that meeting and several telephone calls later, I suggested to Mr Harford that we leave Sydney and go to Bowral so he could get some rest.  Mr Harford had a house there.  “Gray’s Manor”.’  Ellen paused.  ‘It was where he died.  The next time I saw Laurence Harford was after Edward Harford’s funeral.  I returned to Mosman to pick up a few of my belongings and found him dismissing the staff and closing the house up.’

‘Was that the last time you saw Laurence Harford alive?’

Ellen fidgeted with the ring on her right hand.  ‘Yes, I believe it was.’

‘You’re sure about that?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did Edward Harford ever speak to you about his brother?  For example, did he mention his fear of him contesting his will?’

‘Not in so many words, but it wasn’t hard to see that he was obsessed by the possibility that his brother might get his hands on his estate.  It didn’t help his situation, of course.  The last thing he needed was acute anxiety.’  Ellen Ashworth paused.  ‘I believe he was doing something about it though.’

‘Like what?’

‘I heard the tale-end of a few conversations Mr Harford had on the telephone when we were in Bowral.  They left me with the impression that he was talking to someone about his brother.  But then again, I might be wrong.  After all, I only heard one half of the conversation.  I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, Chief Inspector.’

‘Tell me, Ms Ashworth, have you met a man called Piers LaSalle?’  Fitzjohn sensed Ellen Ashworth’s hesitation before she answered.

‘Yes, he came to see Mr Harford not long after we arrived in Bowral.  Mr Harford told me later that he’d hired Mr LaSalle to try and find his son, Nicholas, whom he thought was in Ecuador at the time.’

‘So you weren’t in the room when he and Piers LaSalle spoke.’

‘No.  Strange, now I come to think about it.  If Mr Harford met with anyone, he always asked me to make the arrangements.’  Ellen paused.  ‘Anyway, at the time, I assumed Mr LaSalle was a local from Bowral.  Someone Mr Hartford had known a long time.’

‘And now?’

‘It seems I was wrong.  According to Mr Pemlett, Piers LaSalle was someone who had done some work for a friend of Mr Harford’s.’

‘Have you seen Mr LaSalle since?  At Quay West Suites perhaps.’

Ellen gaped at Fitzjohn and after a moment’s hesitation she said, ‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I called in there the other evening on my way home.  I had to deliver something to him.’

‘What exactly?’

‘An envelope.’  Ellen paused.  ‘Mr Harford had asked me to make sure that Mr LaSalle received it on his return from South America.’

‘Do you know what it contained?’

‘His personal papers, I believe, from when he applied for his position with Mr Harford.’

Ellen Ashworth glanced at her watch.  ‘I’ll have to leave shortly, Chief Inspector.  I’m due on the ward.’

‘Yes, of course.  I just have one more question, Ms Ashworth.  The telephone conversations you overheard.  Was that before or after Edward Harford had hired Piers LaSalle?’

‘It was after.’

‘Do you think she knew what was in the envelope, sir?’ said Betts as they descended the stairs minutes later.

‘It’s hard to say, but I think it would be a good idea to keep an eye on both she and LaSalle.  See whether they get together again.’

‘Yes, sir.  Where can I take you now, sir?’

‘Home.’

Aware that Fitzjohn never went home while there was any hint of daylight, Betts said, ‘Taking an early mark, sir.’

‘One of necessity, being the roots from that tree on the nature strip in front of my house.  Even a murder investigation doesn’t stop them growing into the pipes.  The plumber came early this morning with his electric eel and in about half an hour, I have someone from the Council arriving to look at the offending tree.’

‘You’ve asked the Council to remove it?’ asked Betts incredulously.

‘Yes.’  A sly smile came to Fitzjohn’s face.  ‘You don’t think I’ll be successful, do you.’

‘You might be lucky, but I remember my mother had the same problem.  It took her years to wear the Council down.’

CHAPTER 26

Uncharacteristically dressed in a slim fitting charcoal grey suit, his unruly fair hair tamed for the evening by hair products, Nicholas approached the bar at Cafe Sydney and ordered a whisky.  The charged atmosphere, a plethora of conversations, music and the aroma of food filled the air as he took a sip and waited for Ellen Ashworth to arrive.  Moments later, the elevator doors opened and a slim young woman, her fair hair falling around her shoulders emerged, the black dress she wore exuding an elegance seldom seen.  She stood for a moment before she caught sight of Nicholas, and smiled warmly.

‘My, you look suave this evening, Dr Harford.’

‘I thought I should set aside my customary slovenly appearance when escorting a beautiful woman to dinner.’  Nicholas took Ellen’s hand as their eyes locked.

Moments later, they followed the waiter through the hubbub to the outdoor terrace overlooking the lights of Circular Quay and the Opera House.

‘Oh, this is lovely, Nick.’

The waiter pulled out Ellen’s chair and they sat down to receive their menus and the wine list.  As they did so, a group followed another waiter onto the terrace, among them Claire Howell.  Nicholas sighed, feeling the perils of his involvement with Claire revisiting him.  When she reached their table, she stopped.  ‘Nick.  I didn’t expect to see you here.  I thought you’d have had far too many problems with the local constabulary, to be out wining and dining.’  A smirk across her face, she glowered at Ellen before moving on.

‘Sorry about that, Ellen.’

‘Who is she?’

‘The colleague I mentioned to you the other day.’

‘The alibi who denied seeing you on the night Laurence died?’

‘Yes.  The reason being because I didn’t want to get involved again.  At least that’s what I suspect.’  Nicholas paused.  ‘I should explain.’

Ellen shook her head.  ‘No, you don’t have to.  And we’re not going to let it spoil our evening.  After all, this is your homecoming dinner.’  At that moment, the drinks waiter arrived and poured the wine.  When he left, Ellen raised her glass.  ‘I’m sorry things worked out the way they did, Nick, but I’m pleased you’re back.’  Their glasses touched and their eyes met, Nicholas taking in the beautiful woman who sat across from him.

‘So, have you decided what you’ll do about Brayshaw’s?’ she asked.

‘Well, as it turns out, it’s not solely up to me.  My aunt tells me that Laurence left his shares in the company to her.’

‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I think it’s great for both of us because she’s expressed a wish to be actively involved in the company.  Not only will it help me, but I think it will be good for her too.

They sipped their wine in silence for a moment or two before Nicholas said, ‘Did I tell you that I’ve decided to sell the house in Mosman?

‘Are you serious?  Why?’

‘Too many memories.  I just can’t see myself living there.’

‘I think it’s called moving on,’ said Ellen.

‘You did it yourself when you came to Australia.’

‘I did and I highly recommend it.  So, what do you plan on doing?’

‘I’ll move back into my apartment in North Sydney as soon as my tenant’s lease is up.  Providing I don’t find myself behind bars, that is.’

‘So the police haven’t yet said what caused Laurence’s death?’

‘Oh, yes, that at least, has been clarified.  He died from stab wounds.’

‘Oh, thank God.’  Ellen paused.  ‘What I mean is, what a relief.’

‘It’s one less thing to worry about,’ said Nicholas.

‘So you don’t feel completely exonerated?’

‘I don’t think I will until Laurence’s killer has been found,’ said Nicholas thoughtfully.

‘Well, it might make you feel better to know that the police are questioning widely.  They came to see me today.’

‘Fitzjohn?’

‘Yes.  He asked me about Piers LaSalle and I got the distinct impression he didn’t believe what I told him.’  Ellen relayed her interview with Fitzjohn.

‘I wonder what was in the envelope you gave to Piers,’ said Nicholas.

‘Your father said it was a few personal papers he’d left with him by mistake.’

‘I wonder if that’s all it was,’ said Nicholas, before taking another sip of wine.

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because I heard that they’d also questioned Piers.’

‘Surely they don’t suspect him.’

‘Well, according to Andrew Pemlett, Piers was at Brayshaw’s the night Laurence was murdered.’

Ellen gaped at Nicholas.  ‘I didn’t realise he knew Laurence.’

‘I don’t know that he did.’

‘Then why would he go there?’

Nicholas thought for a moment before he replied.  ‘I’ve been wondering about that myself.  Piers knew that Laurence intended to contest the will because I told him earlier that evening when he came to see me at my hotel.’

‘Do you seriously think Piers had something to do with Laurence’s death?’

‘It depends what Dad hired him for.  To find me, I know, but was there another reason?’

Ellen shook her head.  ‘Now you’re letting your imagination run wild.’  She took a sip of her wine as Nicholas’s thoughts went over his conversation with Piers LaSalle at the Sir Stamford hotel on the night of Laurence’s death.  ‘Piers knew about Dad and Laurence’s estrangement, you know.  Where else would he get that information other than from my father?’

‘I take it you’ve had no luck finding out what their estrangement was all about.’

‘No, although Mr Godwin was at Eileen Hadley’s when I called to see her the other day, and he said he remembered it all started when Dad went to Brisbane after my mother died.’  Nicholas recounted his conversation with Hubert Godwin and Eileen Hadley.

‘So this man handed Mr Godwin a diamond studded gold key in the hope that it would gain him an audience with your father.  It sounds bizarre.’

‘I know, but it worked.  Apparently Dad’s reaction was immediate.  He told Mr Godwin to show the man in.  And what’s more, Godwin suspects that the key came from the green velvet case you gave me.  That’s why I think the locket must be tied up in all this.’

At that moment the waiter arrived to take their orders.  Ellen ran her eye down the menu.  ‘Mmm, this all looks so delicious, but I think I’ll have the venison, please, and a zucchini flower.’  She closed her menu and looked to Nicholas.

‘Sounds good,’ said Nicholas.  ‘I’ll have the same.’

As the waiter collected their menus and left the table, Ellen adjusted the napkin on her knee and said, ‘There is something else I wanted to tell you about my interview with the Chief Inspector, Nick.  When he questioned me, I remembered a couple of telephone conversations I’d overheard your father have.  I don’t know who he was speaking to, but I do remember hearing your name mentioned.’

‘Did you tell the Inspector?’

‘Yes, but not that your name had been mentioned.’

‘And you have no idea what they were talking about?’

‘Not with only hearing one half of the conversation, but I do remember your father telling whoever was on the other end, to take care of matters if the problem arose.’ Ellen paused.  ‘I don’t suppose it’s of any use to you, but I thought you should know.’

‘On the contrary, I appreciate you mentioning it,’ said Nicholas.

‘I suppose it could have been one of Brayshaw’s staff?’

‘No, I don’t think so.  Dad saw Howard Parish and Eric Holmes as valued employees, but I doubt he would have taken them into his confidence about a personal matter.’

‘Nevertheless, that personal matter could very well have been played out in the office before your father retired,’ said Ellen, ‘and if it did, it would have been hard to hide it from the staff.’

‘You could be right.  I’ll speak to them both.’

At that moment the waiter arrived, served their meals and topped up their wine glasses.  As he left, Nicholas raised his glass.  ‘I think that’s enough talk about the investigation, don’t you?  I think we should spend the rest of the evening talking about you.’

CHAPTER 27

The following day, Nicholas took the ferry to Circular Quay, his thoughts interspersed with Ellen and their evening together.  It had been after 2am when they had finally parted company with plans to spend Ellen’s next day off together.  As the ferry docked, Nicholas disembarked and, with a spring in his step, made his way through The Rocks to Brayshaw’s.  Ten minutes later, he arrived in the foyer to find Julia Harford descending the stairs.  She smiled when she saw him.