“I had some candles on my birthday cake, Mummy, didn’t I?”
“Yes, darling, you had five of them. Do you remember when I told you about sups?”
“I’ve forgotten what you said. Is it like soup?”
“No. Sups are what you call people who have magical powers. Like witches and wizards.”
“Am I a sup, Mummy?”
“Mummy is a sup. Daddy is a human. And you are both.”
“Is that good?”
“Yes, it’s very good. You’re very lucky. Sups can live here or in Candlefield. That’s where Great Grandma, Aunt Lucy and the twins live. I thought that you and I could go over there to visit them this weekend.”
“To Candlefield?”
“That’s right.”
“What about Daddy? Can he come too?”
“I’m afraid he can’t. Humans can’t go to Candlefield.”
“That’s not fair.” She turned to Jack.
“It’s okay, pumpkin. I don’t mind,” he reassured her. “You and Mummy will have a great time there.”
“What about Buddy? Can he come with us? Is he a sup?”
“No, Buddy isn’t a sup,” I said. “He’s a pain in the—”
“Jill!” Wisely, Jack cut me off.
***
I was just about to set off to the office when I got a phone call from Caroline. Normally quite composed, she was struggling to speak and clearly upset about something.
“Caroline, slow down a little, please. What’s happened?”
“It’s Mulgrave, Jill. I just—I just can’t believe it.”
“What’s happened to him?”
“He’s dead. I found him hanging in his room.”
“Oh no.”
“The silly man took his own life. And for what? A goblet? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Have you informed the police?”
“Of course. They’re on their way over here now.”
“I’ll come over too. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
I’d only seen Mulgrave the day before, and he’d seemed perfectly fine, no different to any of the other times I’d seen him. What could possibly have happened to cause him to commit suicide? And why had Caroline mentioned the goblet? What did that have to do with anything?
When I arrived at Tweaking Manor, there was a police car parked on the road outside. As I turned into the gate, a uniformed officer flagged me down.
“Sorry, madam, you can’t go in there.”
“I’m family,” I lied. “Carol—err—Lady Tweaking called and asked me to come over.”
He spoke into his radio, then waved me through. There were another two police cars parked outside the house, and the front door was wide open. I’d just stepped inside when a plain clothes officer walked up to me. I didn’t recognise him, but since Sushi had moved on, I didn’t really know anyone at Washbridge Police Station.
“I believe you told my colleague that you’re a relative. Would you mind telling me your name?”
Before I could respond, Caroline had appeared. “I asked this lady to come over, officer. Please move out of the way and let her through.”
He hesitated for a moment, but then moved aside.
“Come on, Jill.” Caroline took my arm. “We’ll go through to the dining room.” The room was uncharacteristically cold because the fire hadn’t been lit.
“Are you alright, Caroline?”
“I think so.” She took a deep breath. “I just need to sit down for a while.”
“Take all the time you need.”
She took a few minutes to compose herself and then said, “I’m okay now.”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“I woke up this morning at the usual time and came downstairs to the dining room. Normally, Mulgrave has a cup of tea waiting for me, but there was no sign of him, and the fire hadn’t been set. He’s normally so reliable, so I assumed he must be poorly. I went up to his room and knocked a couple of times, but there was no answer, so I tried the door and it was open. I found him hanging from the beam. It was horrible. I almost collapsed.”
“I assume it was suicide?”
“What else could it have been? And all because of that stupid goblet.”
“That’s the part I don’t understand. What does the goblet have to do with any of this?”
“It was on his bed. He must have been the one who took it.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Even if it was him, why would he take his own life?”
“I have no idea. Guilt, I suppose.”
“But he could have just put it back in the games room and no one would have been any the wiser. What motive could he have had for taking it?”
“I don’t know. Money maybe? I’d had to cut his wages, but he wouldn’t have got much for that ugly thing. This is all so terrible.”
The door opened, and Ransom appeared. “I’ve made a cup of tea for you, Caroline.”
“Thank you, dear. That’s just what I needed. What about Jill? Did you make one for her?”
“I didn’t realise she was here.” He glared at me.
“I’m okay, thanks,” I said. “I didn’t know you were in the house, Ransom.”
“Caroline called me first thing and I came straight over. I wanted to make sure she was okay. I’m going to stay here for a few days until this is all sorted out.”
“I’ve told him that’s not necessary,” Caroline said.
“It certainly is necessary,” he insisted. “You’ve had a nasty shock. I’m going to stay with you until you’re back on your feet again.” He turned to me. “Thank you for coming over, but you can leave now. I’ve got this.”
Ignoring him, I addressed Caroline, “Before I go, would it be possible to see the goblet?”
“I don’t see why not. I put it back in the games room. I probably shouldn’t have moved it, but it’s too late now.”
“Thanks. I’ll pop over there.”
“I’ll come with you,” Ransom said.
“There’s no need. I know where it is.”
“I insist.”
We walked in silence
