False Diamond--An Abbot Agency Mystery (13 page)

‘A word.' She led Max out to the hall. Shut the door behind her. Reached up and took his ear lobe in her fingers and twisted. ‘I thought I'd taught you to treat women with respect.'

Eyes watering, he tried to twist out of her grip. ‘Ouch! Mother, what …!'

She gave his ear one more twist and released him. ‘Try to imagine what Nicole would have done to you, if you'd treated her that way.'

She opened the front door, picked up his overcoat and considered throwing it out on to the steps. It would give her great satisfaction to do so, but perhaps it was a somewhat childish way of getting her own back? She handed it to him with a smile. ‘Take care. It's raining hard.'

‘I'm seriously worried about you, Mother. If you can't take a joke!'

‘Your pulling me around like that was no joke.'

‘Oh, well. As long as you've been to the solicitor's.' He tried to retrieve his jaunty air. ‘I must spread the good news.' He took out his smartphone and went down the steps, trying to maintain his dignity while struggling into his overcoat. ‘Taxi!'

The first taxi that came along was occupied and went on by. Max waved at another, which was also occupied.

Bea continued to hold the door open, waiting for Leon, who had taken the hint and was donning his overcoat. He put his arm around her from behind. ‘Are you all right? Can I help?'

‘Keep your great niece safe.'

‘Is that all? Am I not invited to join your council of war this evening?'

So he'd worked out that her impromptu supper party had a serious agenda? She shook her head. She didn't trust him enough.

‘I'll ring you tomorrow.' He produced a large umbrella, unfurled it and walked out into the street to snag yet another taxi without waiting for Max … who was left damply gazing after him. Bea shut the door on the night to find Maggie and Oliver waiting for her.

‘Bless you, my children,' she said, and let them take care of her.

Bea rested while Maggie threw something together for supper. They ate round the central unit in the kitchen, as soon as their guest arrived. Then, with coffee provided, they gathered in the living room to hear Bea's tale of woe.

CJ Cambridge took the high-backed chair, as of right. The grey man sat with immobile face and fingertips touching. A judge in mufti.

Oliver had his elbows on knees, his dark good looks a contrast to Maggie's pallor. The girl was still wearing an all black outfit, but had wound a bright-red bandanna around her short-cropped hair. There were pink shadows under her eyes, but she was making an effort to put her own troubles behind her for the moment.

Bea gave them chapter and verse, emphasizing the difficult position she was in. ‘So,' she said, winding up the tale, ‘the police won't act because Dilys hasn't died – yet. Oh, I wish I knew where he'd put her! My imagination is working overtime, thinking she may be in some hell-hole of a private clinic, perhaps sectioned “for her own good”.'

Maggie said, ‘Well, she could do with a rest from that monster.'

‘True. And I'm sure that, even if he's paying through the nose for her treatment, a reputable doctor would soon realize where the real trouble lies. Then the police may or may not take Bernice's bruises seriously. I hope they do, but it may take a while for them to act. In the meantime, Benton has turned his attention to me, supported by Max.'

Oliver was in shock. ‘Max stood by and let that man hit you? I can hardly believe it.'

Bea produced a tired smile. Her face hurt and she felt worn out, but this had to be done, and done tonight. ‘Let me tell you how I see things with Max. He's in a cleft stick. If he doesn't work his way into directorships in various private companies, he's not going to get invited on to the quango which handles such matters, and will remain a backbencher pure and simple. That might be enough for some. But Nicole doesn't want to remain the wife of a backbencher. She wants him to climb the ladder and take her with him. If he doesn't, I believe that she will discard him for a better prospect. If Nicole discards him, he loses not only his wife and child, but also the backing of his in-laws and therefore his safe seat in parliament. His political future and his marriage are in jeopardy and—'

CJ raised his hands to stop Bea. ‘I know you've never liked your daughter-in-law but—'

‘I've tried to like her,' said Bea. ‘I've never said a word against her to Max. I've supported her in all sorts of ways, and of course I'm delighted that she's given me a grandson. But I've studied her over the years to find out what makes her tick. It's ambition, not for herself – as she is at least aware that she's no great brain – but for her place in the world. Her parents have money and have used it to further Max's career because that's what she wanted. If Max fails her, then I don't think she'd hesitate to look out for someone who would boost her further up the ladder, perhaps eventually acquire a title. She's a shallow, self-centred, grasping little—'

CJ said, ‘She may be all of that, and I don't entirely disagree with you, but … evidence, Bea?'

‘Oh. Well, no. Perhaps I did get carried away there, but … Look, I'm sure I'm right about this. Benton has been cultivating Max for months. He's been in and out of that household all the time, and I'm sorry to say that he's exactly the sort of man who'd appeal to Nicole.'

She lifted her hands in defeat, seeing the doubt on their faces. ‘All right! I agree that's just supposition. I'll go to see her as soon as I can. She should be bringing little Pippin back down to London any day now that Parliament's sitting again.'

CJ said, in a mild tone, ‘Guesses apart, you've heard Max say that he's worried about his future, and that Benton offers him a way out. I'll accept that as a working premise.'

Oliver still wasn't happy. ‘But for him to let someone strike you!'

‘He didn't like it,' said Bea. ‘I could see he was stifling doubts about the course he'd chosen, but he couldn't see any alternative. Where Benton leads he's going to follow in the hope that it will work out all right. I understand where he's at, and I can't altogether condemn him for it.'

Oliver shook his head. ‘That doesn't excuse his behaviour.'

‘Oliver, if you were asked to do something a bit dicey but not illegal and told that if you didn't you'd lose whatever it is that makes life worth living for you, wouldn't you do it?'

He had to think about that. ‘Ah. Well. Doesn't everyone have something they wouldn't want to lose? I don't like to think I'd cave in if I were threatened with being thrown out of university, but I might. I hope I wouldn't, but I might.'

CJ moved uneasily in his chair. ‘I dare say we all have a private nightmare … There is no need to specify, but …' He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘You are right, of course, Bea.'

Maggie started up out of her seat. ‘I'm not sure I'd be able to cope with being beaten, time and again. I saw Bernice's bruises; some were yellow and some black. That child's been abused over a long period of time. If a man attacked me I hope I'd have enough courage to fight back, but … would I? Especially if he waited a while, and then came at me again. Consider his record. I've seen for myself that he's been hitting women. His wife, his daughter, and now Bea. He thinks it's the quickest way to getting what he wants. Oh, call me a coward if you like, but I've seen it happen to a school friend of mine. She was the outgoing sort, sporty but not academic, you know? I was one of her bridesmaids when she got married, great galumphing creature that I am, but she didn't mind. Then she stopped being a happy bunny. A few months after she got married she started walking into doors and tripping over steps. Or so she said.

‘It was ages before I understood that he was beating her up whenever he got drunk. She said it was all her own fault for being clumsy. Then he said I was a bad influence on her and that she didn't want to see me any more. She committed suicide a week later. I've always blamed myself for not interfering, though what I could have done, I don't know. But I do know that a man can destroy a woman by using her as a punchbag, and so I have to be frank with you. I'm not sure I could stand up to being assaulted like that.'

Bea's voice cracked. ‘Maggie, I think you are the bravest of us all, because you've had actual experience of what can happen in such a case. If you'd asked me this morning, I'd never have guessed how it would make me feel. At first I was angry, but now I have moments when I think of him threatening me and I want to give in and do whatever he asks, even though I know I'd despise myself if I did. I have to find a way to defeat the man, and for that I need you, all of you, to help me.'

Oliver put his arm round Maggie and gave her a hug. ‘“Imagination makes cowards of us all.” That's Shakespeare. Real courage comes from outfacing the danger. I don't know how I'd react if I were being beaten up every day, either.'

CJ did not care for frivolity, and somehow his stillness got through to them and they all turned to him. ‘So, Bea; you are in trouble. I might not have appreciated how much until Maggie explained exactly how Benton's assaults can work. No one here thinks either of you are cowards, and we realize you are in very real danger. What you haven't pointed out is that if you cave in, Maggie and Oliver will lose their home, and I, I must admit, would find this life less tolerable without your presence. But, before we go any further, may I ask whether you consider the man Leon to be a potential ally or an enemy in this situation?'

B
ea played for time. ‘You were going to make some enquiries about him for me.'

A dismissive gesture. ‘I could find nothing which would draw him to the attention of the police. He is a self-made man, who seems to have had a crisis when his partner died.' Clearly, CJ didn't approve of men who gave way to grief and indulged in crises. ‘He was on a shortlist for consideration to stand for Parliament as a Liberal Democrat, but his move away from the south-west has probably put paid to that.'

Was CJ jealous of Leon? Well, now: there's a thought.

Bea said, ‘No debts?'

‘A blameless citizen, apparently.' CJ cracked his knuckles. ‘What do
you
make of him, Bea?'

‘Frankly, I don't know. From what he's told me of his background, I think he's long been estranged from his family and is taking a certain amount of pleasure – no, that's not the right word. Not pleasure exactly, but … satisfaction? – in watching his family's business disintegrate. He says he's refusing to help the family firm out of their difficulties, even though he seems to me to be more than capable of doing just that.'

She hesitated. ‘This is just an impression … There's something going on at Holland Holdings which I don't understand. I can't think that Sybil would have flown over just because her dividend at H & B has been cut. There must be more to it than that. I'm wondering if they think Benton is involved in some big scam, something that would affect the whole organization and not just H & B. I can't see why Leon should have accepted an invitation to stay with the man, unless it was to study him.

‘He's a man of lazy charm, and a liar. On the one hand he told me he has money in the bank from selling his business and his old home, that he's renting a service flat somewhere and is considering buying a flat in the Barbican for weekend use … but on the other hand, his house is still on the market and he told Benton he was an undischarged bankrupt. He didn't interfere when I was threatened, but he did save Dilys's life and he seems concerned about Bernice. Oh, I really don't know.'

‘You don't trust him?'

‘I'd trust him in some matters, perhaps. But not in others.'

Oliver recognized his cue. ‘Let me find out what paper trails he's left in life.'

‘Before you start,' said CJ, ‘what evidence do we have that any crime has been committed? I don't mean hearsay. I mean evidence that will stand up in court.'

Bea said, ‘I have some, though probably not enough. I have the photos I took on my smartphone, which I transferred to my computer, and printed out. I gave one set to my friend the detective inspector and sent another set through the post to my solicitor. I can print out another set for you whenever you wish. I believe these show that Dilys's “suicide” was nothing of the kind.

‘Benton believes he's destroyed both my phone and my computer. He's mistaken. Come to think of it, I must look at the small print in my insurance details; perhaps I can recover the cost of both that way. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for Benton to cough up for them. Oh, and another little precaution Carrie and I took before Benton's visit. We set up my little tape recorder and left it running throughout the interview.'

Oliver nodded. ‘Satisfactory. So you've got evidence that he threatened and hit you?'

‘Sort of. There's the sound of the slaps, but maybe that's not enough. He doesn't actually say, “I'm going to hit you!” Which is what we'd need if this came to court. And if it did, would Max back me up? To tell the truth, there was a moment when I could have ducked, or kicked him, deflected him in some way. A split second. The thought crossed my mind that if he did hit me, Max would see what Benton was really like. But it didn't work.'

Oliver was holding back anger. ‘Max didn't intervene?'

‘I don't think he likes himself very much at the moment, but no; he didn't intervene. I had hoped he would, but I have to come to terms with the fact that he didn't. It's distressing, but I can't just cut him out of my life. He's my son, and he's in trouble. I must try to save him from himself if I can.'

CJ's fingers twitched. A sign of impatience with lesser mortals. ‘What precautions have you taken to safeguard your position, and what do you want us to do about it?'