The Murder Of Gonzago

17

‘Such a sweet, gentle boy. So clever and he could be really funny.’ Hortense sighed. ‘But he became a demon when provoked… He is prey to the extremes of mood that seem to agonize all drug addicts. He had already tried to shoot his stepfather with that very same gun.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes! It happened earlier that day. Stephan detested his stepfather. Only the week before he’d stabbed Lord Remnant in the hand with a quill pen! It left a nasty red scar between his thumb and index finger.’

‘Why did Stephan try to shoot Lord Remnant?’ Antonia asked.

‘Well, it seems the earl caught Stephan red-handed in his study, trying to steal an extremely valuable porcelain dragon of the Ming dynasty. Stephan said he needed money badly. He said he needed a fix. He was quite open about it. Stephan liked to talk about his addiction. When Lord Remnant took a step towards him, Stephan opened the top desk drawer and pulled out the gun.’

‘He clearly knew it was there.’

‘He did know it, Major Payne. He brandished the gun in Lord Remnant’s face, then he aimed it at his head. The gun, as it happened, was empty, but Stephan kept pressing the trigger. Eventually, Lord Remnant and Augustine – that’s the black major-domo – managed to disarm him. Lord Remnant told us the story himself, with great relish.’

‘Where did Lord Remnant keep his ammunition?’

‘In that same drawer. Several boxes of it. In some ways, he was a very stupid man – impetuous – careless – reckless – so you may say that he was to blame for his own death. He should have kept the ammunition under lock and key, only he didn’t. It was almost as though he had a death wish!’

‘Lord Remnant was shot only moments after the doctor pretended to pour poison in his ear,’ said Payne thoughtfully.

‘I believe that is so. It was SS – that’s what we all called Dr Sylvester-Sale – who examined the body and told us Lord Remnant had been shot. We knew at once who had done it. We all knew it was Stephan.’

Antonia said, ‘You didn’t think it could have been someone else?’

‘We didn’t. At least no one offered any other theory. Who else could it have been? I personally don’t believe it was one of the locals. Clarissa then asked SS and Basil Hunter to take Lord Remnant’s body upstairs, to his dressing room.’

‘No question of an ambulance and the police being called?’

‘No. Clarissa said there would be no point in calling an ambulance since her husband was irreversibly dead. She said the local police were an absolute nightmare, a criminal bunch, a posse of desperadoes. She warned us we’d all be in big trouble if the police got involved. Lord Remnant had already managed to upset the local police chief in some way. Clarissa said we’d all be put in jail.’

‘No one tried to argue with her?’

‘Louise did, unsuccessfully. Clarissa managed to scare us off. She said she had a plan, which she described as foolproof. She assured us everything was going to be all right. She insisted her main concern was for Stephan’s welfare. She said Stephan would die if he were to be locked away in a Caribbean jail, which was the worst thing that could happen to anyone. I do believe she genuinely loves Stephan. So we never called the police.’

‘All highly irregular.’

‘We were perfectly aware it was all highly irregular, Major Payne, but we had no choice, really. Clarissa then told me to go and get Stephan. She wanted him inside the house.’

‘I don’t suppose you’ve told Stephan you are his grandmother?’

‘No, of course not. He has no idea – but we get on. For some reason he has taken to me… Renée came with me. She is wonderful, simply wonderful, always so composed. We found him sitting calmly by the swimming pool, dropping pebbles. It was obvious he had been smoking pot. We could smell it. He came like a lamb. He could hardly walk. I took him to his room and put him to bed. Several minutes later Dr McLean arrived. Clarissa had called him.’

‘A local doctor?’

‘Yes. A black doctor, whom, it became clear, Clarissa knew very well indeed. She got both doctors – SS and McLean – together in Lord Remnant’s study. The long and the short of it is that a death certificate was eventually produced giving the cause of death as ‘heart attack’. It bore the signatures of the two doctors. Later that night Clarissa called us to the study-’

‘All together?’

‘No. One by one. When my turn came, she took my hand and said she relied on my discretion. She then gave me a cheque. She knew I had a passion for cruises, she said. She told me to treat myself to a cruise. The money she was giving me was enough for ten cruises.’

There was a pause. ‘Did she give the others cheques as well?’

‘I believe she did. I assume so. I never discussed it with anyone. Well, that’s it, really. We all acted in cahoots. I am not in the least sorry Lord Remnant was killed. He was asking for it.’ Hortense sounded defiant. ‘But I am not as strong as I imagined I was. I have been suffering terrible pangs of conscience.’

‘Didn’t Lord Remnant employ any security guards?’ Antonia asked.

‘He did, but it was their night off. There were two of them – unreliable as they come. They returned about midnight, blind drunk. I don’t think they quite took in what had happened. They held their hands to their foreheads in salute. I believe one of them tried to kiss Clarissa. She sacked them the very next day.’

‘What did Stephan say? I mean when he recovered?’ Payne asked. ‘Did he actually admit killing his stepfather?’

‘He said he didn’t remember a thing. He said he must have done it. He actually got rather excited about it. He seemed pleased. He wanted to know every detail.’

‘Where is Stephan now?’

‘At an ultra-expensive place called Sans Souci. He’s already been there a couple of times. Clarissa says they are used to Stephan and his hallucinations there. Which means that if he brags about killing his stepfather, they will think nothing of it.’

‘Why did you send the tape to Gerard Fenwick?’ Payne asked after a pause. ‘You couldn’t have wanted your grandson exposed as a murderer, surely?’

‘No, of course not. That’s the last thing I’d ever want.’ Suddenly Hortense Tilling sat up. She took off her glasses. ‘I have a confession to make. Please, don’t be angry with me. I never sent the tape.’

‘But you said-’

‘I know I let you believe it was me. I did so because I was curious to know what’s been happening. Who’s been saying what and to whom. I’ve been sick with anxiety. I rather hoped you’d tell me more. I am sorry I misled you. I felt I needed to talk to someone. I rather liked your faces. I really did. That’s God’s truth.’

Payne stared back at her. ‘But if you didn’t send the tape, who did?’

‘I left the camera on a side table. For several minutes there was general confusion. Augustine broke down and wept. Then the other two servants appeared – the two women. They also started weeping and wailing and tearing their hair… Then – then I saw-’ Hortense broke off. ‘Oh dear, it must have been her! Yes! I am sure it’s her.’

‘Who?’

‘Louise. Louise Hunter. I saw Louise Hunter pick up the camera. She stood looking down at it. She has one of those big expressionless faces… She must have taken the film out. I don’t think she likes Clarissa. Clarissa was a bit sharp with her… I didn’t see her do it, but she must have done!’

‘But the postmark on the padded envelope was Kensington and Chelsea,’ Payne objected. ‘You are the only one of the house party who lives in Kensington.’

‘Louise comes to Kensington quite often. I have bumped into her several times. She goes to the V &A and other museums. There is also a tea place she goes to. Every Thursday afternoon, she told me. Belarus tearooms called Matroni. Actually,’ Hortense said, ‘I have seen her sitting at a table by the window, sipping tea out of a saucer and staring glassily at the samovar. I don’t think she is a particularly contented woman.’