Cream Caramel and Murder Read online

  Lady Philippa clutched her chest and gasped.

  “What’s wrong? Is it your heart?” I raced over and kneeled beside her.

  “Just a ... prediction.” She grabbed my hand. “Oh! Holly, you must be careful. I see dark times ahead of you. They’re charging toward you as we speak. Danger is approaching.”

  “Danger! Coming for me? You don’t think Christian’s going to try to keep me quiet? I have to report what I’ve heard to the police, or at least tell Campbell. That will stop him.”

  She shook her head. “Campbell is part of your problem. He’s the danger I’m seeing.”

  “Campbell?” That had to be a mistake. “Lady Philippa, perhaps you’ve overexerted yourself. All that excitement of leaving your room. You should rest. Campbell protects everyone in the castle. He’d never hurt me.”

  She was quiet for a moment, her hand trembling as she still clung to me. “I am feeling tired. But don’t forget my words. You’re in real trouble.”

  “What should I do to get out of trouble?” I helped her out of her chair and over to her bedroom.

  “I’d suggest making a run for it, but that would only make you look guilty.”

  “Guilty of what?”

  “All I see is darkness and fear in your future.” She settled back on her silk pillows and closed her eyes.

  Horatio opened one eye before shuffling over and resting his head on her stomach.

  “So, what should I do?” Her words sounded so sincere that I found myself believing them. But Lady Philippa couldn’t be right about this. Why was I in danger from Campbell?

  She closed her eyes but didn’t speak.

  I wanted to nudge her, ask her how I was supposed to get away from this danger, but I didn’t like to push. However these predictions happened, they exhausted her.

  After a few moments, Lady Philippa appeared to be asleep, her chest rising and falling at regular intervals. I tucked a cashmere blanket around her and then walked slowly out of her rooms and back down the stone stairs.

  If Christian had killed Kendal, he wouldn’t make a move on me. If he did, Lady Philippa would be able to tell everyone what had happened.

  I grimaced. It had better not get that far.

  I hurried back to my abandoned trolley of cakes and tea. I checked the teapot and frowned. The tea was lukewarm and looked stewed. I’d have to go back to the kitchen and get a fresh pot. If I got caught doing that by Chef Heston then I’d know all about real trouble. Maybe this was the darkness Lady Philippa had seen. Chef Heston shouting at me. If that was the worst that was going to happen to me tonight, I could handle it.

  I reversed the trolley and turned it around in the hall. I froze to the spot as Campbell loomed in front of me.

  I blew out a breath and tried to slow my racing heart. “I wish you wouldn’t do that.”

  “Do what?” he asked.

  “Your creepy silent spy behavior moves. My nerves are already frayed this evening.”

  “Then prepare for them to be even more frayed. Holly Holmes, you’re under arrest for the murder of Kendal Jakes.”

  Chapter 19

  I stared at Campbell, my fingers gripping the trolley as Lady Philippa’s words flooded back to me. “Is this payback because I’ve been asking questions that I shouldn’t?”

  “No joke. I’m deadly serious.”

  My eyes narrowed. He did look super serious and a bit intimidating. “I have a delivery to make. Can you arrest me later?”

  He didn’t even blink. “No.”

  Oh my goodness, this was really happening. “Why do you think I’m involved in Kendal’s murder?”

  “I’m taking you to the police station for formal questioning. You’ll learn everything then. Unless you’d like to confess now.”

  I backed away, my heart pounding. “I didn’t do it.”

  “Don’t make this difficult, Holly.”

  My hands grew clammy as my heart beat out an unhealthily fast rhythm.

  “And don’t even think about running.” Campbell strode over and grabbed my arm.

  “I wasn’t going to.” The panic-filled portion of my brain absolutely was thinking that, but I’d only make it five steps before Campbell tackled me to the ground.

  I allowed him to escort me out of the castle to the waiting black car.

  Campbell settled in the driver’s seat. Saracen was next to him. I was in the back, feeling guilty as heck, even though I had nothing to worry about.

  “What makes you think I killed Kendal?” I asked as the car pulled away.

  Neither of them replied.

  “You need to give me a hint. Should I call a lawyer?”

  “That’s your privilege,” Campbell said. “Do you think you need one?”

  “I’m innocent, but it sounds like you don’t think so. Why is that?”

  I got no reply to that question.

  I took a few deep, steadying breaths as I tried to make sense of this. I should have stayed out of this just like Campbell told me to. If I hadn’t poked around and gotten involved, I’d have my feet up on the couch, snuggling with Meatball and thinking about what to have for dinner. My Granny Molly always said I was too nosy for my own good. That was definitely the case this time around.

  The drive to the police station only took ten minutes. Once we were parked, Saracen climbed out and waited outside.

  Campbell turned to me in his seat. “Just answer the questions. Don’t conceal anything.”

  “Are you sure this isn’t a joke?” It was the only explanation I could drag up to make sense of this.

  “As I’m sure you’re already aware, I don’t do jokes.”

  “Which means you’ve got something on me. What is it? Please, just a hint.”

  “Let’s move.” He climbed out of the car and opened the door for me.

  For a second, I considered protesting and not moving, but Campbell would only pull me out and drag me into the station.

  There was nothing I could do but follow him into the station with Saracen guarding my back in case I made a run for it, and await my fate.

  “Is the interview room ready?” Campbell asked the female police officer standing at the reception desk.

  “All ready for use, sir.”

  I felt dizzy as I was escorted past the reception desk and along a beige corridor into a small room with only a table and chairs in it.

  “Is this room soundproofed?” I asked as I settled in my seat.

  “Doubtful. Why do you want to know?” Campbell asked.

  “If it is, you can torture anything you like out of me and no one will know.”

  He sighed as he sat in the seat opposite me. “Holly, this is deadly serious.”

  “I get that now. I still don’t know why you think I’m involved with murdering Kendal, though. You’d discounted me as a suspect.”

  The door opened, and a police officer walked in. He nodded at Campbell and glanced at me before sitting in the only spare seat.

  “This is Detective Inspector Gerald from the Cambridgeshire constabulary,” Campbell said. “He’s been supporting the investigation at the castle.”

  I recognized him from my many trips into Audley St. Mary doing my cake deliveries. He had a long thin face and a broad nose. He looked like he was in need of a good night’s sleep. He placed a notepad on the desk alongside a pen and a file.

  Campbell nodded at him before his attention returned to me. “Let’s start with your relationship with Kendal Jakes.”

  “I had no relationship with him,” I said. “I didn’t know him.”

  “You met him when he came to stay at the castle, is that correct?”

  “Only once.” I glanced from Campbell to the police inspector. “And only for a few minutes. I delivered some desserts to Lord Rupert and his friends the first night they arrived.”

  “What impression did you have of Kendal after meeting him?” Campbell asked.

  “He’d been drinking and was perhaps a little over friendly.”

>   “He made an inappropriate advance toward you?”

  “Kendal was just a bit crass. But I’ve already told you this. It isn’t new information.”

  “And now you’re telling me again,” Campbell said. “You must have been annoyed by his behavior.”

  “I’ve had much worse. And Lord Rupert stepped in, as did his other friends. It was over in a moment. I left and forgot all about it.”

  “Yet you continued to poke around in the murder investigation. Why is that?” Campbell asked.

  “Because I don’t believe Izzie’s guilty.”

  Campbell’s eyes narrowed. “Is that because you killed Kendal and you’re feeling bad about it?”

  “No!” I tapped on the top of the table. “I’ve found out that Izzie’s innocent. I overheard a conversation between Simon and Christian. Izzie was with Simon when Kendal was killed. She couldn’t have done it.”

  Campbell glanced at Detective Inspector Gerald. “Did you see them together?”

  “No. They were most likely in Simon’s bedroom. I’d have been fast asleep at the time.”

  “Which is where you claim to be when Kendal was murdered.” Detective Inspector Gerald consulted the file he’d brought in.

  “I don’t claim anything. That’s exactly where I was.”

  “Yet you only had your dog as an alibi.”

  “You’re not listening to me. Christian insisted that Simon covered for him. Simon is lying to protect his friend. You shouldn’t have me in here; you need to speak to Christian.”

  “Why are you trying so hard to shift attention from yourself? Do you have something to hide?” Detective Inspector Gerald asked.

  “I’m hiding nothing. And I’m not deflecting attention. I’m trying to help.”

  “You began by tailing Miss Northcott and spreading rumors that she killed Kendal. When that failed, you targeted someone else. Explain your actions.”

  “They’re the actions of a woman determined to get to the truth. A concept you appear to have great difficulty coming to terms with.”

  Campbell cleared his throat. “Let’s keep this civil, Holly.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me if I’m spiky, but you’re trying to pin this murder on me. I’m not letting that happen. Tell me why I’m here.”

  Campbell and Detective Inspector Gerald exchanged a glance.

  Campbell nodded. “Very well. We have evidence that you murdered Kendal.”

  This was the information I’d been waiting to hear. “What’s the evidence?”

  “Your fingerprints are on the murder weapon.”

  The air felt like it vanished from the room. I tried to breathe, but all I heard was a strange wheezing gasp coming from my mouth.

  I clutched the edge of the table and stared at Campbell. “What was the murder weapon?”

  Detective Inspector Gerald leaned forward. “Why don’t you tell us what you used? I’ll put in a good word and say you cooperated. That could go in your favor when it comes to sentencing.”

  My mind blanked as my hands shook. I had to get control of this situation. “Tell me my motive, present me with witnesses, and provide a timeline of my movements leading up to Kendal’s murder.”

  “We’re working on that,” Detective Inspector Gerald said.

  “You’ll be working for a long time, because I didn’t do it.” I checked in with Campbell. A glitter of something I couldn’t determine appeared in his gaze.

  “The murder weapon was a spade,” he said.

  “Then there’s no way it was me. If you’d said a heavy frying pan or a cast iron griddle, I can get my hands on plenty of those, but I haven’t been anywhere near any garden tools. I can’t even remember the last time ...” My eyes widened, and I swallowed.

  “What is it?” Campbell’s brow lowered. “What have you remembered?”

  “I mean, it’s possible my fingerprints were found on a spade, but not because I used it to kill Kendal. A few days ago, I helped the gardeners load up their tools when they’d finished with the new memorial garden. I picked up all sorts of equipment. Was that where the spade was found?”

  “Why don’t you tell us where you left it?” Detective Inspector Gerald said.

  I barely resisted the urge to be rude. My freedom was at stake. “Nowhere, because I didn’t kill Kendal.”

  “Your fingerprints were the freshest on the spade. You’d done a poor job wiping off the prints. Plus, there were traces of Kendal’s blood on the weapon,” Detective Inspector Gerald said.

  “Where did I hide this evidence laden murder weapon?” My voice wobbled.

  “It was found among the tools used by the gardeners,” Campbell said.

  “That was clever, hiding it there. I expect you hoped it would get used, and the evidence destroyed,” Detective Inspector Gerald said.

  My head whipped from side to side. “I didn’t kill Kendal! Why would I do that?”

  Campbell leaned back in his seat. What looked like disappointment flickered across his face. He’d given up on me.

  “If you confess now, we might do a deal. From your account given to Campbell, it’s plausible that Kendal pressed unwanted advances on you. If Lord Rupert and his friends support that, the sentence may be reduced,” Detective Inspector Gerald said.

  “Sentence! Nope, no way. This is wrong. I didn’t kill him. I didn’t appreciate him making crass comments, but I wouldn’t kill someone because of that. Campbell, you have to believe me. You know me.”

  He glanced away. “I thought I did. I’m usually an excellent judge of character. You have a bad alibi for the night. No one can corroborate where you were. Trust me, I’ve asked around.”

  “Plus, your fingerprints are on the murder weapon. I suspect a search of your apartment will reveal mud on your clothing and shoes from the site the body was buried,” Detective Inspector Gerald said, a hint of smugness in his tone. He thought he’d solved this case.

  “You most likely will find exactly that,” I said. “You seem to have forgotten that I discovered the body with Princess Alice. I stomped around in the mud for ages. And I often go to that site to walk my dog.”

  “And that’s another thing.” Detective Inspector Gerald had a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “You knew where the body was.”

  “No!” Jeez, how did this guy ever get to be an inspector? “You’ve got this all turned around. My dog, Meatball, smelled the body and took us to it. I had no clue Kendal was buried in the woods. And it makes no sense to take Meatball into the woods if I’d buried a body there. I know what he’s like, he can sniff out a disgusting smell from miles away. I’m telling you the truth. This has nothing to do with me.”

  The door to the interview room burst open. Lord Rupert stumbled in, a large bandage stuck to his right forehead. His eyes widened as he saw me. Right behind him was a tall, imposing man in an expensive suit, holding a briefcase.

  “I demand you let Holly Holmes go immediately,” Rupert said, bright dots of color bursting on each cheek.

  Campbell stood. “Lord Rupert, we’re simply questioning Holly. There are no formal charges being brought at this stage.”

  “Which means she’s free to go.” Rupert gestured for me to stand. “If you have anything more to say to her, you do it through the family lawyer. Smitherington will deal with any inquiries. And the next time you drag a member of my staff in for questioning, you will inform me first. She’s an invaluable member of the team, and to have her dragged away from her duties with no warning is unacceptable.”

  Campbell pulled back his shoulders and clasped his hands in front of him. “It’s for your own safety, sir. The safety of the family overrides any other inconveniences.”

  Rupert pulled himself up to his not insubstantial height and glared at Campbell. “Do not forget who your employer is.”

  “I would never do that, sir. But—”

  “Holly, you’re with me.” Rupert held out his hand.

  I thought about taking hold of it, but then jumped from my seat
and hurried past him. I glanced back to see Campbell and Detective Inspector Gerald glaring at me.

  I wasn’t out of trouble just yet, but it looked like I’d been given a short reprieve.

  Rupert muttered under his breath as he strode alongside me, the lawyer right behind us.

  “What happened to your head?” I whispered.

  “Oh! An accident. One of the buggies used by the grounds people went out of control. I almost got run over.” He touched the bandage. “I whacked my head on a stone pot when I fell.”

  I tried to feel sympathetic, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d been reading a book and not noticed the buggy heading his way.

  There was a car waiting for us outside. Rupert ushered me into the back, alongside his lawyer.

  He let out a breath as the car pulled away before reaching over and grabbing my hand. “Holly, I’m so sorry about this. The second I heard what happened, I was on the phone to Smitherington. I don’t know what Campbell’s playing at.”

  I gently eased my hand away. “I do. They have the murder weapon. It’s got my fingerprints on it.”

  He blinked rapidly. “Well, I mean, that doesn’t mean you did it.”

  “It absolutely doesn’t,” I said. “I’m as surprised as you. I can only assume the spade used to kill Kendal was hidden amongst the gardeners’ tools.”

  “Go back to the beginning, Miss Holmes. Lay out the facts for me,” Smitherington said. “Lord Rupert was a trifle panicked when he contacted me. The murder weapon was a spade?”

  I nodded. “I don’t know exactly where it was found, but it was among the gardeners’ tools and had a set of my fingerprints on it.”

  “Maybe whoever used it thought the evidence would be wiped away if they placed it with this other gardening equipment,” Rupert said. “That’s not enough evidence to charge Holly with murder, is it?” He addressed the question to Smitherington.

  “Not for definite, but I need more context,” Smitherington said.

  “Campbell said the police found other smudged fingerprints on the spade, but mine were the most recent,” I said. “There were also traces of Kendal’s blood.”

  “I shall need to see this evidence,” Smitherington said. “Before I do, I have a question for you, Miss Holmes. How do the police have your fingerprints on record?”