Chapter 20

Jack woke the next morning to find Levi staring intently at him one paw on his face. "What's up Buddy? Need to go out?" he looked quickly towards the bed and saw Sue sleeping peacefully. With a wince he sat up, the sofa had not been particularly comfortable, and he rubbed his back where it hurt before trundling out of the room, Levi bounding ahead. Business done, Jack let him back in and went to get showered and changed before heading downstairs for breakfast. He met Mrs Roseveare on the way but she refused to hand over the breakfast tray she was holding saying that she was more than capable and didn't he have somewhere to be? Jack gave a half grin and set off down the stairs and towards the dining room. The others were all there, tucking into a delicious looking meal and Jack was quick to join them, now everything was over he realised that he hadn't eaten since yesterday lunchtime and he was feeling decidedly hungry.

Alex's colleagues, or as they became known 'The People', had arrived from London and were in the process of interviewing the men found in the cave but Alex had demanded that he should be allowed to talk to Lionel, even though they were distantly related and to do so would be against protocol. Jack expressed an interest in joining in with that interview but Alex shook his head, "I have another job for you." he said. "I need you to go to Derriford to see Frances. I'd like to know how she got entangled in all this and if she can throw any light on Lionel's involvement."

"Derriford?" asked Jack.

"The hospital in Plymouth," Replied Alex "I'll give you directions."

"I'd like to go too," said a quiet voice. "I need to see her and thank her for saving my life." Everyone turned and looked at Sue, Jack jumped up and led her to a seat before pouring her a coffee.

"I don't think that is a good idea," began Alex but Sue interrupted him.

"I think she will talk to me, especially now. And," she added turning towards Jack "I have had a lovely nights sleep and feel quite alright so there's no reason to keep me out of this."

"Not a problem," capitulated Jack without protest. "Once you've proved that you have eaten a good breakfast and you've had your wrists checked."

Sue grimaced, "Mrs Roseveare brought me breakfast and stood over me whilst I ate and she has checked my wrists, they're healing nicely, look." She held them up and though his stomach twisted when he saw the abrasions and thought again about what she had gone through he was amazed to see how well they had healed overnight.

Alex passed them a folder with Frances' name on it. "Just some background info, not much but it may help start the conversation," he said. They read the notes together whilst drinking their coffee and not long after, Jack and Sue headed out to the hospital. The route was fairly straight forward and they were suitably impressed with Brunel's bridge over the RiverTamar, the boundary between Cornwall and Devon. Apart from having to go round one roundabout twice because they had missed their turn off and having trouble finding somewhere to park, they soon found themselves outside Frances' private room. She was sitting in an uncomfortable looking chair and although she appeared to be gazing through the window at the duck pond below it was obvious that her thoughts were elsewhere. Indeed she visibly jumped when Sue went up to her and Frances looked at her apprehensively but Sue being Sue just bent over and gave her a gentle hug. "Thank you," Sue whispered. "Thank you so very much."

Frances gave her a tiny smile, "I suppose you've come to interrogate me."

"We need to know things, that's true." Said Sue sitting down and taking hold of her hand. "We think we know a bit already but we need your help to fill in the gaps. But first I need to know why you did it, why did you jump in front of Dessa's gun when he tried to shoot me?"

"I couldn't let him do it, I hated having to blindfold you in the cave, you had been so kind to me I should have said 'no' then but I was a coward. At the station I saw my chance to help you and took it." Answered Frances, her eyes filling with tears. "I prayed for some-one to help me and you came."

"I, for one, am pleased that you gained the courage to fight," interrupted Jack. "I can't thank you enough." He smiled gently at Sue his eyes capturing and holding hers for a while.

Frances gave a little embarrassed cough, "Where would you like me to start?" she asked breaking the spell, Sue cleared her throat they had agreed that she would start the interview hoping to put Frances at ease.

"Was Lionel using your brother to get you to do things? We know that Callum was involved in a motorbike accident and that he now needs specialist care. We also know that Lionel told you that he was paying for the nursing home."

Frances nodded, "I was surprised when he said that he would do that and relieved because I didn't know what to do for the best, I had no money for private care. It was later that he began to use it as a way to make sure I did as he said, he would threaten to remove Callum from the home if I didn't. Why would he do that? He already had the best reason for making sure that I did as he wanted." Sue glanced at Jack who shrugged his shoulders he had no idea what she was talking about either.

"What reason?" Sue asked, gently.

Frances looked at her and took a deep breath, "I murdered my husband. I killed Louis. Lionel knew but said that he wouldn't tell anyone if I helped him with his little projects." Jack and Sue looked at each other in shock, they hadn't expected that!

"How did you kill Louis?" asked Jack.

Frances looked puzzled, "I don't know, I can't remember." Jack and Sue looked confused.

"You must have some idea," said Jack and stopped as Sue gave him a look. Sue took hold of Frances' hand hoping to reassure her.

"You told me that you argued with Louis about his gambling the night that he died. What happened next?"

"I don't know!" Frances cried. "I've tried to remember but I can't."

"How did Louis die?"

"He fell down stairs and broke his neck."
"Did you argue upstairs?"

"No, in the living room but I don't remember what happened after Lionel came in."

"Lionel was there?"

"Yes, I had a headache and he gave me some paracetamol but I don't know what happened next. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up Lionel told me about Louis being dead and that he had called the police. He said that it looked bad for me so I was to say that I was with him that night visiting Aunt Judith who had had a fall, that was true she had sprained her ankle, and when he brought me home we had found Louis. I didn't know what to do, my head felt so funny like it was full of cotton wool and I couldn't think straight so I went along with it. Then he started to ask me to do things, he asked me to take packages to different places or to collect them and bring them to him. I didn't want to but he kept reminding me of what had happened. But I don't know if it did happen. Do you think I killed my husband?"

"I think there are lots of questions that only Lionel knows the answers to," replied Sue, gently. "But first, I need a coffee and I am sure that Jack will, we'll take a short break for now. Can I get you anything?" Frances shook her head.

"I could do with a snack too," said Jack. "I'll give you a hand."

They got up and left the room.

"You know what I think," began Sue.

"That Lionel killed Louis and passed the blame onto Frances?" said Jack

"Mmm, and he's been worried ever since that she might remember what really happened." Continued Sue.

"So when Callum was in the accident and needed specialist nursing Lionel used that to pressure Frances instead." Finished Jack.

"But why? Why did he need Frances in the first place? And what does Aunt Judith have to do with anything?" Sue groaned. "This is getting quite complicated." They sipped their coffees then headed back into the room.

"How is your shoulder feeling?" asked Sue.

"Fine, I've been given painkillers." Frances gave a small smile. "They're hoping to discharge me later today if I can give them the name of some-one who can look after me for a while."

"You will come back with us," said Sue firmly. "I should imagine we will have to stay here a few extra days now, we were due to fly home tomorrow, and I know Alex will want to look after you until you are settled." Frances didn't look convinced but lacked the energy to argue.

Jack explained their theory about why Lionel had started to use Callum's accident as a threat and Frances nodded.

"We also know that he hasn't paid for the home for a couple of months now, according to his financial records he is deeply in debt. Was he hoping to be paid well by Dessa?" asked Jack.

Frances stiffened, her face paled even further and Jack became worried that he had overdone things. "He hasn't been paying the home?" she fumed. "He always acted as if he was rolling in money, going to the casino nearly every night or to expensive restaurants, buying designer clothes and such things." She paused, lost in thought. "But you know, apart from taking me on occasional trips to Holland, I'm assuming so that I could act as a courier, we only ever visited Alex. He was obsessed with that place and would go two or three times a year. He did say that this job would be very profitable and that we might be going on holiday to somewhere nice soon." Jack nodded, they would find out what she was carrying back from Holland later.

"What about your boyfriend Richard?" asked Jack "He left for Truro before the party do you know why?"

"He was my boyfriend," began Frances. "We just said that. He was actually Lionel's friend not mine, he worked in a bar in London and I used to collect packages from him. I think he may have gone back there." A nurse wandered in stopping all conversation for the time being and when she left Sue switched to other, less intense, topics.

The hospital was as good as its word and by mid-afternoon Jack, Sue and Frances found themselves on their way back to Lanpetroc House. Jack, in particular, was looking forward to finding out what Lionel had to say for himself before the onerous task of interrogating Dessa began.