An All-Consuming Fire Page 20

  Antony stopped at the unexpected sight of Zoe snoozing by the fireplace. His mental script fled from his mind. Should he mention the fact that the monks would not have kept pets? The director saved him from having to decide.

  “Get that almighty nuisance out of here!” Harry roared.

  That should have been enough to dislodge the animal from her snooze, but she didn’t so much as flick an ear. “Sylvia, get that blasted dog off my film set!” Harry’s ferocity seemed out of proportion to the inconvenience of needing to redo the take.

  “Here, girl, come on.” Sylvia pushed forward, stooped and ruffled a long, golden ear.

  Zoe was unresponsive.

  Sylvia drew back with a cry. “She’s not breathing! Zoe!” Sylvia threw her arms around her dog and buried her face in the silky amber hair.

  Harry charged forward and put a rough hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Don’t be daft. Come on.”

  Sylvia jumped to her feet with such force it made everyone else in the small room step back a pace. “She’s dead! You killed Zoe! Murderer!” She pounded Harry’s chest with both her fists. “I knew you were desperate, but I didn’t think even you would stoop this low!”

  Sylvia jerked her hands up. Antony thought for a moment she was going to scratch Harry’s face with her long nails but instead she covered her own face with her hands to stifle her sobs.

  Harry stood there helplessly. Antony was wondering if he should do something. The blessing of animals was a fairly common practice, although he had never conducted such a service. Was there such a thing as last rites for pets? Certainly a prayer for the bereaved owner would be in order.

  He was saved from action, however, by Cynthia entering from the hall. “What happened?” Her voice was shrill with anxiety over the dog she had so recently been walking. Without waiting for an answer she knelt by the prone Golden Retriever and put her head to the soft chest. “There’s a heartbeat.” She struggled to get her arms under the animal. “Help me. We need to get her to a vet.”

  Sylvia fell to her knees beside Cynthia with a cry and the two women struggled to lift the dead weight of the animal. “Here,” Antony pulled the pewter candlestick and mug from the trestle table and lifted the top. “Use this.”

  Harry turned to help Sylvia place Zoe’s limp form on the stretcher, but Sylvia spat at him, “Don’t you dare touch her! I can’t believe even you could stoop so low.”

  Antony and Fred helped the women with their burden, but after a few steps Antony halted. “Wait. Lenny, take Sylvia’s corner. Sylvia, is your car in the park?” She nodded. “Good. Drive it up to the door of the manor house.” Sylvia gave a jerk of a nod and set off running across the Great Cloister.

  Cynthia took her place in the back seat with Zoe’s comatose head nestled on her lap, then looked up at Antony standing by helplessly. “You may as well come with us. You can’t drive the hire car and I may be hours.”

  His door was barely closed when Sylvia drove off, her tires spinning gravel behind her.

  Chapter 22

  New Year’s Eve

  The next morning Felicity, sitting up in bed sipping the morning tea her mother had brought her, listened, wide-eyed, as Cynthia recounted her adventure of the night before. Antony had rung late in the evening to tell Felicity of the startling scene and to let her know not to wait up for her mother.

  “Is Zoe all right?” Felicity asked, indicating that Cynthia should make herself comfortable beside her on the bed.

  “Yes, thank goodness. That gorgeous creature. Who on earth would want to harm her?”

  “Did the vet think it was done on purpose?” Felicity set her half-drunk tea aside.

  Cynthia spread her hands. “How do you prove a thing like that? The drug was most likely Acepromazine—I think that’s what the vet called it. It’s apparently a widely used calmative for animals, but can be dangerous. Especially in high doses. The vet thought Zoe might have eaten double the safe limit.”

  “So she could have died?”

  “Probably would have if we hadn’t got her to the vet.”

  “Mom, you saved Zoe’s life. You’re a heroine!” Felicity leaned over and hugged her mother, then flung herself back on her pillows. “Oh, how frustrating that I wasn’t there! I might have seen something, heard something…”

  “Antony was just trying to protect you, darling.”

  “Oh, I know. He wants to wrap me in cotton wool. It’s very sweet, of course, but it won’t work. I’ll go cross-eyed if I can’t be up and doing.”

  Felicity started to fling her duvet off but Cynthia smoothed the covers back over her. “There’s nothing to do at the moment. You can get up when Charlie and Judy arrive. Here,” she put the china mug back in her daughter’s hands, “finish this.”

  Felicity took an obedient sip. “But who would do such a thing to a dog? This is England, they idolize their pets.”

  Cynthia nodded. “Yes, I couldn’t help noticing that Sylvia became hysterical over her dog, but seemed to take Tara’s death in her stride.”

  “Does anyone have any idea how it happened? Zoe, I mean.”

  Cynthia sighed. “Not really, but something worries me. Sylvia said to let her run in the gardens after our walk. She didn’t eat anything in the woods, so it must have happened after that. I did see someone walking there when I was on the hillside, but there was no reason to think they were up to no good.”

  “Do you have any idea who it was?”

  Cynthia shook her head. “I wouldn’t think it was any of the film crew.”

  Felicity nodded. “Besides, why would any of them want to harm Zoe? Everyone adores her, she’s the company mascot.” Felicity thought for a moment, then answered her own question. “Someone with a grudge against Harry, maybe? Someone who wants to stop the film? Someone who blames him for Tara’s death? Antony said Lenny seemed really fond of her.”

  “The one built like a wrestler? I’m pretty sure he was out behind the church with all the others. It looked like everyone wanted to observe that bit of the filming.”

  Felicity nodded. “Yes, Antony told me about Dr. Dedinder’s interview. He was still fuming about it.” She smiled. “I suppose it could have been someone from the catering van, Antony mentioned they were out front.”

  “They were, but the person I saw seemed taller than Gill. And I think it was a man.”

  “That would leave Savannah out, too. I think the grips sometimes help out with catering. Did you see Mike anywhere?”

  Cynthia laughed. “Goodness, I don’t know those people. Sylvia called the police, so if someone was sowing the garden with poisoned food, they might find something. I suppose it could have been put there long before we arrived, even.”

  “Yes, I remember reading the news when someone put marshmallows filled with rat poison in the park in Leeds. Horrible.” Felicity shivered. “But what did Sylvia say about Harry? Antony said she was hysterical. Do you think Harry killed Tara? Did you learn anything about the company? Could Harry be pulling an insurance scam?”

  “Darling, do you still have that insurance scam bee in your bonnet? Surely you’re reaching—”

  “What insurance scam? Can I get in on it?” A rich male voice asked from the doorway.

  “Charlie!” Felicity just missed flinging her tea at her mother in her excitement to get to the newcomer. She bolted over the end of her bed and launched herself into the arms of the brother she hadn’t seen for three years. “When did you get here? Why didn’t we hear you knock? Did Gwen let you in? Where’s Judy?”

  “I’m right here,” a voice from the hall was followed by the entrance of Felicity’s sister-in-law.

  Felicity squealed and hugged her, “You’re gorgeous!” She ran her hand down Judy’s long, redgold hair as Charlie moved on into the room to greet his mom.

  “And enormous.” Judy patted her rounded belly. “I wasn’t sure they’d let me on the plane—or that I’d fit once they did. I think I had the seat belt out as far as it would go.”


  Felicity grinned. “Yeah, you really are blooming. Don’t worry, though, we can let the bridesmaid’s dress out if we need to.”

  Gwena appeared in the hall. “I’ve got tea in the living room when you want it.”

  “Yes, shoo—everyone out and let me get dressed. Go get acquainted with your future sister-in-law. She’s great. I’ll join you in a minute.” Felicity ushered everyone out of her crowded room.

  A few minutes later, feeling the best she had since her encounter in the quarry and with her hair still damp from its first real shampoo, Felicity joined her family to hear the details of their flight from San Francisco and all the latest news from Silicone Valley where Charlie worked as a high-level computer engineer.

  Judy, who had done some acting in college, hit it off immediately with Gwena. “Farce? Oh, how fun! What have you done?” Gwena launched into an animated account of her role as the sexy psychiatrist’s wife in an upcoming production of “What the Butler Saw” and Judy burst into gales of laughter.

  Felicity sipped her tea and looked around the snug little room. It seemed as though this family thing might work out all right after all. She knew Antony had been especially worried, wanting everyone to get on well and knowing his own clashes with his sister—not to mention Felicity’s with her mother.

  As if her thoughts had conjured him up, a knock at the door announced Antony’s arrival. He entered the already crowded room followed by a slightly shorter, darker, more serious-looking version of Charlie. “Found this fellow on the pavement. Claims he’s part of the family.” Antony grinned.

  For the second time that day Felicity squealed and flung herself into the arms of a brother she hadn’t seen for years. “Jeff, why didn’t you let us know? We didn’t know when you’d get here. It’s so good to see you! How do you like London?” She pulled him into the room and introduced him to Gwena.

  Jeff seemed very pleased to meet this striking Englishwoman who would soon be his sister-in-law. After giving his mother a warm hug he squeezed in beside her on the sofa and Antony brought in a chair from the kitchen table. Before Jeff sat, though Judy scrambled up from the depths of her chair to give him a hug, then laughed when her bump got in the way.

  “Right. Meet your almost nephew. He’s definitely making his presence known. I’m afraid it’s a warning.”

  When everyone was settled Cynthia and her sons dominated the conversation, catching up on family news.

  Except for the piece of news Felicity most wanted to hear. She noted that Jeff and Charlie avoided the topic of their father, just as she had been doing for days, while asking their mother about her legal practice instead. Andrew was definitely becoming the elephant in the room. The wedding rehearsal was in three days. Would her father be here to walk her down the aisle or should she ask Jeff? She needed to know.

  “Now, what’s this about an insurance scam?” Charlie’s question broke in on Felicity’s reverie.

  “Insurance scam?” Jeff asked.

  “Long story,” Felicity replied. “Do you want the details, or are you too jet lagged?”

  “No, no. I slept on the plane,” Charlie replied, then turned to his wife. “Poor Judy, though. I don’t think she ever got comfortable.” He gave her a consoling pat.

  But Jeff wasn’t to be distracted. “Tell us what’s going on.”

  “Yes, with your business acumen, and Charlie’s computer skills you may be just what we need. You see, Antony’s helping this film company with a mini-series—”

  “For my sins,” Antony muttered as he reached for a teacup, then found the pot empty.

  “Time for another round.” Cynthia and Gwena were on their feet together. The morning moved on to another round of tea, this one with bacon and eggs for everyone except Judy who turned slightly green at the suggestion and stayed with nibbling dry toast. “They gave us breakfast Paninis on the airplane.” Judy shuddered. “They had some sort of yellow glue they called cheese.”

  “Let me know when you’re ready for a lie-down and I’ll take you up to the house where you’ll be staying,” Antony said. “A married ordinand—an American, actually—has taken his family home to Texas for the holiday and offered their home for our wedding guests.”

  “Oh, how lovely. How about now?”

  It was mid afternoon before Jeff, Charlie and Antony returned to the cottage from settling Judy and their luggage in their borrowed accommodations, leaving Cynthia in attendance on the mother of her first grandchild. Gwena had gone off to confer with Kendra about final details for the dress rehearsal, accompanied with appropriate reminders from Felicity to be careful—they still didn’t know who was lurking about out there hitting people over the head. Or why.

  That left Felicity, Antony and her brothers alone to tell Jeff and Charlie about the mysteries, mishaps and possible murders surrounding the film-making and the pageant. “You mentioned insurance?” Charlie asked.

  Felicity explained. “We can’t make any sense out of any of it. But we did wonder if Studio Six might be in dire need of funds.” She grinned at her brothers. “Maybe if you two combined your talents you might be able to find something out for us.”

  Jeff, two years older than Charlie, more somber and with none of Felicity’s full steam ahead impetuosity, frowned. “And you think that might have something to do with someone running Antony off the road and assaulting you and maybe even killing people? Look, this is serious business. You shouldn’t be mixed up in it. Aren’t the police on the case?”

  “Of course they are,” Felicity replied. “If we learn anything we’ll tell them.”

  “I don’t think—” Jeff began.

  But Charlie, his eyes sparkling, cut him off. “What do you want to know? Exactly?”

  Felicity sighed. “If we knew that we probably wouldn’t need to ask. But it would be useful to know if Studio Six is solvent. Or might their director Harry Forslund be desperate for money—desperate enough to run an insurance scam, for instance.”

  “Ah, so there’s the insurance angle,” Charlie said.

  “That’s something else we need to know. Can you even get insurance on a dog?”

  Now it was Charlie’s turn to frown. “For enough to bail a company out of bankruptcy? Who is this dog—Lassie?”

  Felicity made a face at her brother. “Just see what you can find out. Okay? Maybe you can come up with a better theory.”

  “Why someone might want to hit you over the head? I can’t imagine.” Charlie ducked as she threw a sofa pillow at him.

  Jeff gave his slow grin with an air of submission. “All right. Where’s your computer?”

  Felicity gave a hoot of triumph and led them to her room. She settled on the bed across from her desk, where she would have a clear view of the computer screen. “Out.” Jeff pointed at the door.

  “But I could help. You might not recognize the leads…”

  Jeff gave her a strong-eyed stare. The same one he had used long ago to control a pesky ten-year-old sister. She scrambled off her bed and closed the door behind her.

  Antony, waiting in the hall, laughed. “Ah, I’ll have to get Jeff to teach me that technique.”

  But in the end Felicity and Antony spent the time more pleasantly snuggled on the sofa. It was getting dark outside the windows when the brothers emerged. Felicity jumped up. “What did you learn? Did you find anything? Is Harry broke? Should we tell the police?” She cut off her own flow at the sight of the smug smirks on their faces. “You didn’t do anything illegal did you?”

  “Little sister, we love you but there are limits to even our devotion.” Jeff took the chair by the Christmas tree.

  “Actually, it wasn’t necessary to do any hacking. Jeff knew where to look.” Charlie sounded just the least bit disappointed.

  “So?” Felicity sat on the edge of the sofa.

  “Pet insurance is readily available everywhere in England—even at the super market. But only liability and health. If Zoe is insured, her owner will be able to recover the vet fees
,” Charlie said.

  “Or if she had bitten someone and they sued, the policy holder would be covered,” Jeff added.

  “But not if she died?”

  Jeff shook his head. “Nothing I could find for a normal household pet. Maybe, like Charlie suggested, if she were Lassie.”

  Felicity sighed and slumped back on the sofa. “No, just a lovely, beloved pet. So much for that theory.”

  “And did you find anything on Studio Six?” Antony asked Jeff.

  “From what I could find out the company is solvent. Just. Looking at the figures I could turn up I’d say they could be on the brink, but haven’t fallen over yet.”

  “So not bad enough for Harry to be running a scam?” Felicity asked.

  Jeff considered. “I would think it’s more likely to make him very, very anxious that his project succeed. Rather than putting everything at risk by trying something illegal.”

  “So not likely to be sabotaging his own enterprise,” Antony said.

  “Did you learn anything about his recent projects? Did they pay?” Felicity asked.

  Jeff nodded. “A little. Assuming the figures they’ve made public are legit. It would take a full audit to be absolutely certain.”

  Then Felicity jerked forward. “Or maybe it means he has been running a scam and has been successful so far.”

  Jeff grinned. “Remember Occam’s razor? The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.”

  “Meaning?” She challenged.

  “Meaning maybe it’s what it looks like—that he’s just marginally successful with his documentaries and historical mini-series. It is possible.”

  “Yes, but if he isn’t.” Felicity wasn’t letting go. Not yet. She had heard a passing reference to a director’s job in Australia. Could Harry be looking for an excuse to emigrate? “Could he be trying to make the series fail on purpose?”

  Jeff shook his head. “Not unless he has some ulterior motive we haven’t thought of. Not for insurance, at least.”

  “You can’t get insurance on a film?” Felicity’s voice was heavy with incredulity.