Elizabeth nodded. “I can understand that. So you went up to Mr. Sutcliffe’s room.”
Fiona paused, looking down at her hands. “Yes. I regretted it the minute he closed the door behind us. In spite of how Malcolm is, I really love him, and I knew I’d made a big mistake. I told Brian that, and tried to leave, but he got nasty and told me it was too late to change my mind. He grabbed hold of me but I managed to get away and got out the door. He followed me but I told him if he didn’t leave me alone Malcolm would-” She broke off and stared at Elizabeth. “Malcolm never knew about Brian,” she added finally. “I never told him. When I found out Brian was dead, there was no need to tell him.”
“Did you speak to Mr. Sutcliffe at the wedding?”
Fiona shuddered. “No, I didn’t. I stayed as far away from him as I could get.”
“And Malcolm didn’t speak to him?”
“I don’t think Malcolm knew who he was. At least, he didn’t seem to recognize him at the wedding.” Fiona met Elizabeth’s gaze. “If you’re thinking that Malcolm might have had something to do with Brian’s murder, then you’re looking at the wrong person. Malcolm’s not a killer. I’d stake my life on it.”
Elizabeth rose to her feet. “I certainly hope you’re right.” She thanked the woman and left, still not wholly convinced by what she had heard. She couldn’t help thinking there was something she was missing, but she still couldn’t put her finger on it. It annoyed her greatly when that happened.
To her dismay, when she started back to the manor, large drops of rain splattered on her hat. Huge flashes of lightning lit up the sky over the ocean, and the ominous roll of thunder promised a nasty storm on the way.
Elizabeth zoomed up the hill, anxious now to speak with Earl again. Since the musketeers had apparently stolen two Jeeps, perhaps he could spare some men to help search for the culprits and hopefully find the missing women.
Polly was in the office when she went in and looked up with an expression of relief. “We was getting worried about you, m’m. Violet was really put out when you didn’t turn up for lunch.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Don’t worry about Violet, Polly. I’ve had a word with her and she’s forgiven me. Especially when she heard the news about the kidnapping.”
Polly frowned. “You mean about Nellie? But I thought she already knew about that.”
“I’m talking about Florrie Evans.” Elizabeth sat down at her desk and started sorting through the post that Polly had left for her. “She was helping in the search this morning and now she’s missing as well.”
Polly let out a shocked cry. “What’s happening to everyone? Is it the musketeers?”
“We’re not really certain about that.” Elizabeth did her best to reassure the frightened girl. “I’m going to call the American base and ask for help in searching for them. I’m quite sure they’ll be found safe and sound before too long.”
Polly’s eyes were wide and scared. “What if them blokes killed them and buried them somewhere? We might never find them. What if the musketeers are going around killing all the women? None of us will be safe!”
“That’s nonsense,” Elizabeth said firmly. “I’m sure there is a simple explanation for Florrie’s disappearance.”
“But they did take Nellie,” Polly insisted. “Sadie said the Housewives League saw them.”
“Well, yes, but I’m sure they meant no real harm. They’ve never hurt anyone before.”
“There’s always a first time.” Polly sat hugging herself as if she were cold. “I’m scared, m’m. I’m really scared.”
Elizabeth abandoned the bills for the moment. “Polly, why don’t you just go home and be with your mother. It’s almost time to leave anyway, and there’s a bad storm on the way. You’ll feel safer once you are home. I’m sure by the morning we’ll have some news and all this will be over.” She was sure of no such thing, but it felt good to say the words.
Polly looked somewhat relieved. “Oh, can I? I would feel better, I know.”
“Of course. Just leave what you’re doing. It can wait until tomorrow.”
She waited for Polly to leave the room, then reached for the telephone. She badly needed to talk to Earl. Not only to ask for his help, but just to hear his voice. His quiet strength always seemed to steady her in times of turbulence, and she needed him now as she never had before.
She had to wait for some time before the ringing was answered at the base. The stern voice that spoke to her informed her that Major Monroe was unavailable. With a deepening feeling of dread, she replaced the receiver. How she hated those words and what they conveyed. Now she had to suffer another night of torment before she knew he was safe again. What’s more, at least another night would pass before she could ask for his help in finding Florrie and Nellie. She could only hope it wouldn’t be too late.
Polly ran down the steps and hurried around the corner to the stables where she had left her bicycle. She wasn’t going to feel safe until she was in her own bedroom, surrounded by all her pictures of her favorite film stars on the walls. How she wished Marlene would come home. She missed her sister more than she ever thought she would.
A voice called out behind her, making her jump. “Where are you going in such a blinking hurry?”
“Sadie!” She swung around, trying hard not to burst into tears. “Have you heard the news? Florrie Evans has disappeared.”
“Blimey.” Sadie shifted the bulging shopping bag she carried to the other hand. “Who’s going to be next?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Polly wheeled her bicycle out under the black sky. The rain was pattering down steadily now. She was going to be soaked by the time she got home.
Sadie frowned at her. “Is anyone looking for her? They never found Nellie, did they?”
“No, they didn’t. I don’t think they’re going to find Florrie, neither. Lady Elizabeth said she was going to ask the base if they could send some of their boys to look for them both.”
Sadie frowned. “I’m going to help look for them, too. The more people looking for them, the more likely we’ll find them.”
Polly swallowed. Sadie was awfully brave. She wished she were as brave as that. “Where will you look?”
Sadie put the shopping bag on the ground and rubbed her arms. “Well, I’d start with the old windmill. That’d be a good place to hide someone.”
“But you saw the Jeep go into the woods. That’s miles from the old windmill.”
“A Jeep can go miles, silly, can’t it?”
Polly’s stomach quivered. “What if you did find them there? They’d get you, too.”
“Not if they didn’t see me. Once I knew they were there I’d go back and get the bobbies, wouldn’t I. I’m not daft.”
“You’re not going alone, are you?”
Sadie smiled. “Think about it. All those women tramping about in groups, talking and carrying on? That lot never did know how to keep quiet. Of course they didn’t find no one. They heard them coming, didn’t they. Now if there’s only one person out there…” She looked hopefully at Polly. “Or maybe two.”
Polly’s stomach took a nosedive. “If you think I’m going with you out there you can blinking think again. I hate going out in a thunderstorm.”
“It’ll be over in a little while. We can go when it moves off.”
“It’s dangerous out there with them musketeers running around kidnapping everyone. I’m going home. Where it’s safe.” She pushed her bicycle past Sadie and swung her leg across the saddle.
“Nellie would be out looking for you if you was missing,” Sadie called out after her.
Polly let the bicycle freewheel while she fought her conscience. It was no good. She couldn’t let Sadie go out there on her own. She’d worry herself sick about her. Although the fluttering in her stomach got worse at the thought of what she was about to do, she deliberately swung the front wheel of her bicycle around and pedaled slowly back to the manor.
