Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
‘Where is everybody?’ Wendy’s voice sounded different somehow, and Ally’s stomach did a complete somersault. Why was the woman looking at her like that?
Ally took a deep breath. ‘Patti appeared to be in a coma, so I called for an ambulance.’ She’d managed to pick up her phone from the kitchen table, and when Wendy was distracted for a moment at Flora barking at birds in the garden, she clicked ‘Reply’ on Ross’s message from earlier and sent him a new text:
HELP!
Wendy turned back towards her, and there was a moment’s uncomfortable silence.
‘You did? Did you not think to contact me first, as her family?’ Wendy asked.
‘You didn’t seem to think it was necessary,’ Ally replied. ‘But I did. And the girls have gone with her. Can I have my rolling pin, please?’ Ally held out her hand, but Wendy completely ignored her.
‘How dare you make decisions for my family?’ Wendy asked. She’d advanced a couple of steps closer.
‘Someone had to make a decision. She appeared to be in a coma, and you were nowhere to be seen.’
‘There was nothing wrong with her,’ Wendy snapped. ‘She was just tired.’
Ally had had enough. ‘Perhaps she was tired of being fed laburnum seeds, Wendy!’
Something dangerous flashed in Wendy’s eyes for a second. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ she said, now glaring at Ally with renewed fury.
‘I’m just curious to know why you had laburnum seeds in your bedside drawer?’
‘And why the hell were you looking in my bedside drawer?’ Wendy asked, her face twisted with anger, still clutching the rolling pin.
‘A landlady’s privilege,’ Ally replied, her eye on the rolling pin. ‘I was cleaning your room, and your drawer wouldn’t shut properly.’
‘If you must know, I’m taking the seeds home to plant in my garden,’ Wendy snapped.
‘Oh, good,’ Ally said, ‘I just wondered. Anyway, I’ve given a few to the paramedics, just in case it’s got anything to do with Patti’s strange illness. I did have another question though – were you blackmailing your own husband, Wendy?’
‘You cow!’ Wendy was now properly brandishing the rolling pin and rounding the kitchen table in Ally’s direction. She gave a strange smile. ‘You know what? By the time they find out what’s wrong with Patti, Joel and I will be on our way home!’
‘Oh, will you indeed?’ Ally was now eyeing the rolling pin with some alarm.
She could only hope she’d be strong enough to ward off this woman if she really planned to attack.
If she could just hold her off until Amir got there…
‘I don’t think somehow it’s going to be that easy.
But, tell me, why were you trying to kill Patti? ’
Wendy laughed. ‘Isn’t it bloody obvious?
Just for a start, the silly cow was having an affair with my husband – who she cajoled into killing my brother!
But my stupid husband did as he was told.
He’d probably have wanted to kill me next, but I wasn’t having that!
He and Patti wanted to run the business together, and they didn’t want Joel and me in there at all.
And why the hell not? I have as much right to inherit my father’s business as Archie had.
More right than Patti, and Greg, who only married into it.
And they didn’t want Joel in there either.
It’s Joel’s birthright! Let’s face it, he and I could run that business with our hands tied behind our backs.
’ She sighed, almost as if glad to have got that off her chest. ‘Stupid, bloody Greg!’ she added for good measure.
Ally was aware of Flora barking to get back in, but she didn’t dare move.
‘So did you kill him?’ Ally asked, frantically backing towards the rear door. Wendy was still advancing and brandishing the rolling pin.
Wendy laughed. ‘Oh, I did, Ally, I did! At least I succeeded there. But do you know what? You’re not going to be around to tell anyone any of this.’ She raised the rolling pin high.
The last thing Ally remembered was a draught as the back door opened behind her as Wendy advanced, and then everything went black.