“I am sorry.”
“Happens to us all sooner or later. You’ve been out to the house, then?”
“Yes, we have. I did see a rather ramshackle summerhouse in the forest when we were walking yesterday, but I don’t remember any cottages.” Hamish waited for him to speak, hoping he’d find out more about the young girls.
Shutters came down on the old man’s eyes. “Wasn’t at the big house. Was further up the road near the shearing sheds. Two cottages, one for the farm manager and one for the gardener.”
“Of course. We haven’t travelled that far past the house so I didn’t see it. Let me come to the reason for our visit. As you know, Billie was doing a story on the estate and now she’s gone missing. Her car is still parked in front of the house and nobody seems to know anything about her.”
“Lots of things nobody’s got an answer for.” His lips thinned and he reached for his tea.
“Please tell us what you know, Mr. Wilkes. I miss my mom.” Alex’s voice shook. “She’s all I have left and I want to find her. Please.”
Mr. Wilkes sighed, shook his head. “Not really my story to tell, young man. Best you talk to that grandmother of yours.”
“But if she left when she was young, what could she tell us? You stayed behind working, you said so yourself. You must know something.” Maggie stood up and pushed her nose into Alex’s leg, whining with distress.
“I know what I said. And it’s true, I did stay, but there’re things about that house that I don’t feel right talking about. You need to talk to your grandmother. Stories are hers to tell, not mine. Not sure how that will help find your mother though.” He shifted his focus away from Hamish. “That’s all I’m going to say on the matter. Not my business.”
“But she won’t tell us anything, Mr. Wilkes.” Alex fidgeted with Maggie’s collar. “She didn’t even want Mom coming up here to see the house. There’s no way she’s going to tell us what happened.”
“I can’t help that, young man. You might need to go back and try to talk some sense into her, then.” He refused to be drawn into the conversation again and they had no option but to head back to heed his words.
Hamish patted Alex on the arm. “Mr. Wilkes. I understand your reticence in not adding to gossip but a woman’s life is at stake here. We don’t know what’s happened to Billie but I suspect foul play. Anything you can tell us would be helpful.”
“Young man…
Hamish held up his hand. “Please, hear me out. Lucy is in some way connected to that estate and I think you know more about it than we ever will. You wouldn’t want Billie’s disappearance to go unsolved, would you?”
Eric’s lips twitched and his wrung his hands together. He stared down at the carpet, gave a quick glance at Alex and sighed. Hamish sat quietly and waited, hoping for answers.
“He was a hard man, the master. Those poor girls didn’t have a happy life in that house once the mistress died. Poor Miss Gertrude turned inside of herself. Was a quiet wee thing to start with too. The only time she blossomed was when her big sister took her away to the city.” He leaned back in his recliner. “And didn’t the master carry on then? I’d get called in to settle him down. Reckoned they were trying to run away, cheat him out of his bank account. He was a hard man to live with.”
“Give me some examples.”
The chair creaked as he sat forward again, agitated by his memories. “I remember once passing the house when the mistress was alive. She’d asked for a bouquet of roses for the front room. Red ones they were, her favourites. I can still see them scattered over the floor. Something about them reminded him of the war and he ripped them from her arms and threw them down, cursing her and using such horrid language.”
“How did you manage to calm him?”
Eric frowned. “I tried to walk him out of the room, talked about the horses as I always did. Offered to take him down to feed his favourite mare. They kept her close by the house for that reason. He refused to go that time. Pushed me away, screamed at me to get the hell out of his house.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbed at his lips. “The mistress tried to calm him but he grabbed her by the arms, shook her like a rag doll.”
“What happened next?” Alex stared at the older man.
“Miss Gertrude came running into the room, tried to get between her parents. I attempted to stop her but she was too fast. The master grabbed her, dragged her away from her mother and hurled abuse at her. Before I could help her, he’d slapped her on both sides of her face. She crumbled to the ground sobbing and he stepped over her, ignored the poor child as if she wasn’t there.” Eric paused then frowned. “He looked confused for a moment, his mood changed immediately. ‘Let’s go and see the horses, shall we, Wilkes?’ Just like that, he was back to normal.”
“Did you notice that kind of behaviour often?”
“Yes, I did. Kept happening right up until the poor child ran away. Never did blame her either. If it was me, I would have run a lot earlier. Often wondered what became of her. Never did find out.”
Chapter 21
Singleton 1940
“Papa is having a mad turn in the dining room. Please come quickly, Wilz.” Gertie stood at the bedroom door, her hands twisted in fear.
Wilz sat on her bed, still shaken from her episode in the bath. She stood up, straightened her spine and shook off the feeling of impending doom.
“Give
