A Finer End by Crombie Deborah

Author:Crombie, Deborah [Crombie, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

As anxious as he was about Winnie, Jack felt he must take the time to let Simon Fitzstephen know about Garnet’s death — and not by telephone. Simon and Garnet had been friends for too long for an impersonal notification.

At least he could feel sure that he’d left Faith in good hands. Duncan’s Gemma had a quiet authority that inspired confidence, and she had succeeded in calming Faith where he had failed.

So they were colleagues as well as lovers, he thought, wondering how long they’d been together, and if Duncan had finally managed to lay his troubled marriage to rest. Jack had been sorry to hear of Vic’s death the previous spring, but had done nothing more than send Duncan a brief note — such things still struck too close to home.

And now he found himself the apparent custodian of a pregnant young woman who might deliver her child at any moment. The prospect terrified him.

He found Simon on his knees in front of his perennial border, snipping the dead stalks from bloomed-out plants. ‘Dreary time of year, isn’t it?’ Simon rose, wincing, and as he came across the lawn Jack saw that he was limping. ‘And digging in the dirt may be good for the soul, but it plays hell with my bad knee.’

‘Old injury?’ Jack asked.

‘Climbing accident. Slipped in the scree years ago and tore a few ligaments. Just let me wash my hands and I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘No, really, I can’t stay. I just came — Simon, I’m afraid I have some bad news.’

Simon went very still. ‘Not Winifred?’

‘No. It’s Garnet Todd. She’s dead. I thought you should know.’

‘Dead?’ Simon groped for the weathered wooden bench beside his front door and sank onto it. ‘But she can’t— I don’t understand... Was there an accident?’

‘No. The police seem to think she was murdered.’

‘But — but that’s absurd! Surely there’s some mistake. Why would anyone want to kill Garnet?’ There was a quaver to Simon’s voice, and his skin had taken on an unhealthy hue. ‘Did someone break into the house?’

‘No. She was found in her van, round the other side of the Tor. I’m afraid that’s all the information I have. I am sorry. I know you were old friends.’

‘Friends... yes. Lovers, once. An odd woman, Garnet. I never understood how she became who she was, after such an ordinary beginning... And now she’s gone. I can’t quite believe it.’ Simon gazed into the garden as if he had forgotten Jack’s presence. ‘Simon, I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’ll have to go — but there was something I wanted to show you if you feel up to it.’ Jack pulled the pages he’d scribbled that morning from his pocket.

Simon took them abstractedly, but once he began to read, Jack could see his interest quickening. ‘So that’s the connection. An illegitimate child. We should have guessed.’

‘Is there any possibility we could trace the woman — the daughter of a stonemason who worked on the cathedral at the time Edmund gives?’

‘That would be a tall order.

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