Murder In Bloom Part 31

'And you didn't tell them you knew Gerald Shepherd.'

There was complete silence while Frank stared at Fran as though mesmerized.

'Or,' Fran continued with her fingers crossed, 'that you still visited him in a home because he has Alzheimer's disease.'

'How do you know?' Frank's voice was almost a whisper and he leant forward so that Libby could see the veins standing out on his neck. She pushed herself back in her chair.

'I'm right, aren't I?' said Fran. 'And you've been doing it to protect him, haven't you?'

'He was my mate,' said Frank truculently.

'Still is, obviously,' said Fran. 'But don't you see you could have helped the police find out the truth? They thought that skeleton was him at first.'

'I could have told them it wasn't,' said Frank scornfully.

'Then why on earth didn't you?'

He looked awkward. 'I promised.'

'Promised who?' Libby said in surprise.

'Gerry. Him and me was mates years ago, see, in London, and when he went into this home he didn't want everyone to know. He wasn't that far gone, then, see.'

'So you knew all about him going missing, supposedly?' Fran looked astonished.

'Oh, yeah. It fitted with Ken's wife going off and the papers put two and two together. That's when I promised, see. Ken said he'd look for her '

'Ken said?' echoed Libby.

'Yeah. It was Tony who organised the home, see, while Ken was in that telly thing.'

'Tony West?' said Libby faintly. Why on earth hadn't the police been to see this man?

'Yeah. Another old mate, he was. Can't believe he's gone.' Frank shook his head. 'Anyway, when Ken come out, he went straight down to see Gerald, and when he got back to the house Cindy was gone.'

'So he started looking for her?'

'He made a show of it,' said Frank. 'He couldn't have cared less, really, she was a grasping little b.i.t.c.h. Anyway, then he goes off, and that was it. Didn't think any more about it. I just kept visiting Gerry. I asked Tony why Ken didn't come any more and he said he didn't know where he was.'

'So when they put out that the skeleton was probably Kenneth, and Tony West had been murdered, you didn't come forward?'

Frank's cheeks became pink. 'I didn't want to get involved,' he said. 'Poor old Gerry. Don't know what's going on these days.'

'What about the people who look after him?' asked Fran. 'Why haven't they said anything?'

'They don't know who he is,' said Frank.

'But they'd need all his medical records,' said Libby, 'how can they not? You can't go into a home under a false name.'

'He didn't,' said Frank, surprisingly. 'We just said it was the same name as the actor and they believed us. 'Course, poor b.u.g.g.e.r was looking old then, not even like he was in that Collateral Damage.'

'Well.' Fran sat back. 'You're going to have to talk to the police now, Frank.'

'Why?' The truculent manner was back.

'Because Cindy Dale came back.'

'That cow?' Frank's fists bunched. 'You wait till I see her.'

'But now she's gone again.'

'Gone?' Frank looked bewildered.

'They questioned her about Kenneth's murder or supposed murder then let her go and she vanished. We don't know where she's gone.'

Frank pulled at his lower lip. 'I reckon I'll have to think about this,' he said.

Libby leant forward. 'Frank,' she said, 'Cindy told them Gerry killed Kenneth.'

'What?' Frank looked, eyes blazing. 'f.u.c.k's sake. I'll soon put that right.' He stood up. 'All right, ladies. I don't know how you managed to get on to me when no one else has, but you're right. I'll go to the police. Who should I speak to?'

'Superintendent Bertram,' said Libby, with a grin, 'and don't forget to tell her we sent you!'

Chapter Twenty-eight.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING LIBBY remembered she hadn't asked Frank where Gerald Shepherd was. He answered the phone on the first ring.

'Oh, it's you,' he said.

'Who were you expecting?' asked Libby.

'The police,' said Frank. 'I phoned 'em this morning. Yes, I know I said I'd get on to them straight away, but I didn't think one more day would hurt, and I wanted to talk it over with Bren. So I phoned this morning.'

'And they said they'd phone you back?'

'I asked for that Bertram, and they said she was in London. So I left a message that it was about Gerald Shepherd and they said someone would call me back straight away.'

'So I'd better get off the line,' said Libby, 'but before I do, where's the home Gerald's in?' 'Why should I tell you that?' Frank was cautious. 'You're not to go and see him, now.' 'I just wondered how far away it was,' said Libby.

'Not far. He used to be in a place called The Laurels, but they had a murder there a coupla years ago, so we moved him.'

'Hmm,' said Libby. She knew all about The Laurels. 'So where is he now?'

'What do you want to know for?'

'I wondered if Cindy would go after him,' said Libby.

'Why? She wouldn't know where he was, anyway.'

'Oh, I think she might,' said Libby, with a sigh.

'I'll tell the police. He'll be safe enough.'

Libby had to give in. Frank was probably right to keep the secret for that bit longer, although how the police were going to see it was another matter. She hoped they didn't charge him with obstruction. Then she called Adam.

'Any news from Lewis?'

'Not sure,' said Adam, sounding puzzled. 'We had the police round here again this morning, although they didn't talk to us. They were going over the inside of the house again. Then Mog got a text from Lewis saying he's delayed.'

'By what?' said Libby.

'Didn't say. The message just said "Delayed". Mog texted back and so did I, but nothing else and now his phone's switched off.'

'Have you tried Katie?'

'Haven't got her number,' said Adam. 'We thought of that, and we were going to go and look for it in the house, but the police were there.'

'Were you expecting him back today?'

'No, which is even funnier. He hadn't said anything about coming back.'

'Looks like some kind of message,' said Libby slowly.

Adam snorted. 'Yeah, Ma a text message.'

'You know what I mean. Something must have happened and he wanted to let you know or warn you, perhaps and that was all he had time to do.'

'You think something's happened to him?' Adam sounded alarmed.

'I was wondering about the police, actually.'

'The police? Why?'

'Because Big Bertha's gone to London.'

'How do you know that?'

'I have my sources,' grinned Libby. 'Let me know if you hear anything.'

Next she called Fran and told her what she had learned so far.

'West's murder,' said Fran. 'Oh, dear.'

'You think that's what it is? But Lewis said they weren't interested in him for that.'

'They must have found some new evidence.' Fran was silent for a moment. 'Libby, I'm sure there's a weapon involved.'

'A weapon?'

'It looks like an outsized darning mushroom.'

'You can see it?'

'I think so,' said Fran, sounding doubtful. 'It popped into my head as soon as you told me about Lewis's message. I should think he's being questioned by the police about it.'

'Heavens,' said Libby. 'I wonder what they'll do next.'

'Send someone to see Frank, I expect,' said Fran. 'I wonder who it'll be?'

'I bet I know,' said Libby.

Ian Connell called Fran at lunchtime.

'Not that I expect you to tell me,' he said in a weary voice, 'but just how did you get on to Frank Cole?'

'At The Fox?' said Fran warily.

'Of course at The Fox.'

'It's a long story,' said Fran.

'I bet it is,' said Ian. 'Are you lunching with your fiance?'

'Er no,' said Fran, waggling her eyebrows at Guy, who was poring over seating plans.

'May I take you to lunch then?'

'Yes, OK. Where? It isn't going to be an inquisition, is it?'

'The Sloop,' said Ian, 'and of course it'll be an inquisition.'

'Do you want me to come with you?' asked Guy, when she explained.

'No,' sighed Fran. 'It'll be awkward enough as it is, without you firing up in my defence all the time.'

'That's what I get for being the protective male,' said Guy, dropping a kiss on her head. 'Go on, go and tart yourself up and make him see what he's missing.'

Ian was already in the bar at The Sloop when Fran walked in. He stood up and held a chair for her.

'Drink?' he said.