Your wife obviously has her priorities sorted out, Mallon commented, hovering uncertainly in the doorway.
My sister, he replied, opening one of the many drawers and placing a couple of kitchen hand towels on a table near Mallon. Im not married, he added. According to Faye he paused as if expecting the name might be familiar to herit wasnt the heart of the home is the kitchen. With small input from me, I left her to arrange what she tells me is essential.
As he spoke, so Mallon began to feel fractionally more at ease with the man, though whether this was his intention she had no idea. She found she had wandered a few more steps into the room, but her eyes were watchful on him while he made a pot of tea.
Theres an electric radiator over there, he thought to mention. Why not go and stand by it? Though, on second thoughts, since you cant stand there nursing your wet frock to you the whole time, why dont I go and find you a shirt to change into while you drink your tea?
Mallon didnt answer him but, discovering a certain decisiveness in him, she moved out of the way when he came near her on his way out. She was still in the same spot when he returned, carrying a shirt and some trousers, and even a pair of socks.
Theres a drying machine through therethat will eventually be a utility room, he informed her, and added, Theres a lock on the kitchen door. Why not change while I go and check on a few matters?
Mallon was in no hurry to change. She felt this man was being as kind as he knew how to be, but she wasnt ready any longer to take anyone at face value. Eventually she went over to the kitchen door and locked it, presuming that, since the place was uninhabited apart from work hours Monday to Friday when the builders must traipse in and out of the place, it had been a good idea to be able to lock in the valuable kitchen equipment.
Quickly, then, Mallon made use of the towels. She was past caring what she looked like when, not long afterwards, her dress tumbling around in the dryer, she was warm and dry in the garments the man had brought her. She was five feet nine inches tall, but he was about six inches taller. She rolled up the shirt sleeves and to prevent the trousers dragging on the floor she rolled the legs of those up toobut she was stumped for a while as to how to keep them up. That matter was soon resolved when, her brain starting to function again, she vaguely recalled that some of the timber in the hall had been kept together by a band of coarse twine.
By the time she heard the stranger coming back, she had the largest of the hand towels wound around her now only damp hair, and was feeling a great deal better than she had.
She found a couple of cups and saucers, discovering in the process of opening various cupboards until she came to the right one that his sister, Faye, had not only organised the kitchen but had stocked it with plenty of tinned and packet foods as well.
Mallon had unlocked the kitchen door, and as the man came in she informed him, half apologetically for taking the liberty, I thought Id pour some tea before it became stewed.
How are you feeling now? he asked by way of an answer, taking up the two cups and saucers and carrying them over to the large table. He pulled out a chair for her, but went round to a chair at the other side of the table and waited for her to take a seat.
Warmer, dryer, she replied, trusting him enough to take the chair he had pulled out for her.
Care to tell me your name? he asked when they were both seated. She didnt particularlyand owned up to herself that she had been so thoroughly shaken by the afternoons happenings she didnt feel at her sunniest. Im Harris Quillian, he said, as if by introducing himself it might prompt her to tell him with whom he was sharing a pot of tea.
Mallon Braithwaite, she felt obliged to answer, but had nothing she wanted to add as the silence in the room stretched.
He drained his cup and set it down. Anything else youd like to tell me? he enquired mildly.
Not a thing! Mallon stared at him, her deep blue eyes as bright as ever and some of her colour restored to her lovely complexion. She drew a shaky breath as she began to realise that she owed this man more than a terse No. He need not have stopped and picked her up. He need not have given her some dry clothes to change into. She acknowledged that it was only because of the kindness of Harris Quillian that she now felt warm and dry and, she had to admit, on her way to having a little of her faith in human nature restored.
Wh-what do you want to know? she asked.
He shrugged, as though he wasnt all that much interested anyway, but summed up, Youre a young woman obviously in some distress. Apparently uncaring where you go, apart from a distinct aversion to return to your last port of call. It would appear, too, that you have nowhere that you can go. He broke off to suggest, Perhaps youd like to start by telling me what happened at Almora Lodge to frighten you so badly.
She had no intention of telling him anything of the sort. Are you a detective? she questioned shortly.
He shook his head. I work in the city. Im in finance.
From the look of him she guessed he was high up in the world of finance. Must be. To have this place rebuilt would cost a fortune. She still wasnt going to answer his question, though.
He rephrased it. What reason did you have for visiting Almora Lodge in the first place? Stubbornly she refused to answer. Then discovered that he was equally stubborn. He seemed set on getting some kind of an answer from her anyhow, as he persisted, Almora Lodge is almost as out of the way as this place. You wouldnt have been able to get there without some form of transport.
You should have been a detective! She was starting to feel peeved enough not to find Mr Harris-financier-Quillian remotely kind at all!
What panicked you so, Mallon, that you shot out of there without time to pick up your car keys?
I didnt have time to pick up my car keys because I dont have a car! she flared.
He smiledhe could afford tohe had got her talking. So how did you get there?
She was beginning to hate this man. Roland Phillips picked me up from the stationthree and a half weeks ago! she snapped.
Three Harris Quillian broke off, his expression darkening. You lived there? he challenged. You lived with Phillips at Almora Lodge? Youre his mistress! he rapped.
No, I am not! Mallon almost shouted. Nor was I ever! Enraged by the hostile suggestion, she was on her feet glaring at the odious Harris Quillian. It was precisely because I wouldnt go to bed with him that I had a fight with him today! A dry sob shook her and at the instant Harris Quillian was on his feet. He looked about to come a step closer, perhaps to offer some sort of comfort. But Mallon didnt want any sort of comfort from any man, and she took a hasty step back. He halted.
The next time he spoke his tone had changed to be calm, to be soothing. You fought with him? he asked.
Well, in truth, I dont think he actually hit me. Her tone had quieted too. Though I shouldnt be surprised if Im not nursing a few bruises in a day or two from the rough way he grabbed me, she admitted. It was more me fighting him off, fighting to get free of him. Hed been drinking but hed lost none of his physical strength.
You managed to get free before?
You managed to get free before?
Y-yes. Her voice was reduced to a whispershe felt quite ill from just remembering. Then realised she must have lost some of her colour when her interrogator said, It might be an idea if you sat down again, Mallon. I promise I wont harm you.
Whether he would or whether he wouldnt, to sit down again suddenly seemed a good idea. Some of her strength returned then, sufficient anyway for her to declare firmly, I dont want to talk about it.
Harris Quillian resumed his seat at the other side of the table, then evenly stated, Youve had a shock. Quite an appalling shock. It will be better if you talk it out.
What did he know? Its none of your business! she retorted.
Im making it my business! he answered toughly. Just because hed picked her up in a monsoon and given her shelter! He could go and take a running jump! Either you tell me, Mallon, he went on firmly, or Mallon looked across at him, she didnt care very much for that or. Or I shall have to give serious consideration he continued when he could see he had her full attention to driving you to the police station where you will report Roland Phillipss assault
Ill do nothing of the sort! Mallon erupted, cutting him off. While it would serve Roland Phillips right if the police charged him with assault, there were other considerations to be thought of. A charge of assault, and its attendant publicity, was something Mallon knew, even if she was brave enough to do it for herself, would cause her mother grave disquiet. But her mother, after many years of deep unhappiness, was only now starting to be happy again. Mallon wasnt having a blight put on that happiness.
Obstinately she glared at Harris Quillian. Equally set, he looked back. The choice, he remarked, is yours.
Mallon continued to glare at him. He was unmoved. What was it with him? she fumed. So hed given her a lift, given her dry clothes to put onshe took her eyes from him. Her dressalbeit tornwould be dry by now. Her glance went to the kitchen windows, despair entering her heartthe rain was pelting down again with a vengeance!
I worked for him, she said woodenly.
Roland Phillips?
He advertised for a live-in housekeeper, clerical background an advantage, she answered. I needed somewhere to livea live-in job seemed a good idea. So I wrote to apply.
And he wrote back?
He phoned. He works as a European co-ordinator for a food chain. He said he was seldom home, but
You agreed to go and live with him, without first checking him out? Harris Quillian questioned harshly.
Hindsights a brilliant tool! she exploded sniffily, and started to feel better againit was almost as if this determined man was recharging her flattened batteries. He said he needed someone to start pretty much straight away. Which suited me very well. He said he was married and
You met his wife? Quillian clipped.
She was abroad. She works for a childrens charity and had just left to visit some of their overseas branches. I didnt know that until Id arrived at Almora Lodge, but it didnt bother me particularly. Roland Phillips works away a lot too. In fact Id barely seen anything of him until this weekend.
Is this the first full weekend hes been home?
Mallon nodded. He arrived late on Friday. He
He? Quillian prompted when her voice tailed off.
Hewell, he was all right on Friday, and yesterday too, she added. Though I did start to feel a bit uncomfortablenot so much by what he said, but the innuendo behind it.
Not uncomfortable enough for you to leave, then, apparently! Quillian inserted, and Mallon started to actively dislike him.
Where would I go? she retorted. My mother remarried recentlyit wouldnt be fair to move in with them. Besides which I hadnt worked for Roland Phillips a full month yet. Without a salary cheque I cant afford to go anywhere.
Youre broke? Quillian demanded shortly, and Mallon decided that she definitely didnt like him. It was embarrassing enough to have to admit to what had happened to her, without the added embarrassment of admitting that, since she couldnt afford alternative accommodation, she had nowhere to rest her head that night. He forgot to leave any housekeeping. I used what money I had getting in supplies from the village shop a mile away.
You never thought to ask him for some housekeeping expenses?
What is this? she objected, not liking his interrogation one little bit. But when he merely looked coldly back at her, she found she was confessing, It seemed a bit petty. I thought Id leave it until he paid me my salary cheque and mention it then. Anyhow, she went on abruptly, Roland Phillips had too much to drink at lunchtime andand she mentally steadied herself and seemed to think I was only playing hard to get when I told him to keep his loathsome hands to himself. It was all I could do to fight him off. It didnt occur to me when I managed to get free to hang around to chat about money he owed me! I was through the door as fast as I could go. Mallon reckoned she had talked out all she was going to talk out. There! she challenged hostilely. Satisfied?
Whether he was she never got to know, for suddenly there was such a tremendous crash from above that they both had something else momentarily to think about.
A split second later and Harris Quillian was out in the hall and going up the stairs two and a time. Mallon followed. There was water everywhere. He had one of the bedroom doors open and Mallon, not stopping to think, went to help. Clearly the roof was still in bad shape somewhere, and with all that rainthat crash they had heard was a bedroom ceiling coming down.
Where do you keep your buckets? she asked.
An hour later, the mopping up completed, the debris in the bedroom confined to one half of the floor space, Mallon returned to the kitchen. In the absence of abundant floor cloths, she had used the towel from around her head to help mop up the floor.
Fortunately her hair was now dry, and she was in the act of combing her fingers through her blonde tresses when Harris Quillian came to join her. Whether it was the act of actually doing something physical, she didnt know, but she was unexpectedly feeling very much more recovered. Sufficiently, anyhow, to realise she had better assess her options more logically than she had.
Thank you for your help, Harris Quillian remarked pleasantly, his grey eyes taking in the true colour of her hair. You worked like a Trojan.
Mallon couldnt say he had been a slouch either, tackling all the heavy lifting, fetching and carrying. It was a combined effort, she answered. For all she knew she looked a sketchtangled hair, any small amount of make-up she had been wearing long since washed away, not to mention she was wearing Quillans overlarge shirt and trousers, and, thanks to paddling about in water upstairs, was now sockless. Id better start thinking of what Im going to do, she commented as lightly as she could.
So long as you dont think about going back to Almora Lodge! Quillian rapped, at once all hostility.
Oh, did he have the knack of instantly making her angry! Do I look that stupid? she flared. But, knowing she was going to have to ask his assistance, had to sink her pride and come down from her high horse. I waserwonderingumwhat the chances were of you giving me a lift to Warwickshire? she said reluctantly.