Silent, The Car

Two Years Earlier, Lucy  
 
A figure stood by a tree, watching her.  
 
A stationery figure in a light blue anorak, staring directly at her, like a crow perched on a fence.  For a second or two, she thought of Ash, always wearing blue.  But Ash was in bed in Yorkshire, sleeping off a hangover. The figure remained still, like the silence around her.    
 
Blue, blue, blue.  
 
The next second, the figure had gone.  
 
She ran as fast as she could.    
 
A car approached then.  Slowed down. Stopped.  
 
She was about to jump over a fence when she caught sight of the driver. The driver activated the window electronically. 'Ah, you're one of the young staff who served us such a wonderful meal last night.  Are you going back to the House now?'  
 
She nodded, careful to retain a mutual expression. Her heart hammered in her chest.  This was too much. She'd just paid a visit to the driver's ex-wife. Surely, he couldn't have found out.    
 
'Good,' Terence Harlesden said, smiling at her from inside the car.  'In that case, let me give you a lift?'  
 
'I'll walk.'  
 
'It will be no bother.  Allow me.'  
 
Reluctantly, she got into the car. Terence started up car engine. She didn't want to go with Terence, but the shadowy figure presented too much of a risk.    
 
'Have you had a chance to listen to any of the musicians at the theatre yet?' Terence said, eyes fixed on the lane ahead.  
 
'Not yet,' she said, struggling to keep her voice steady.  
 
'Well, you must if you get the time,' Terence said. 'The standard of playing is exceptionally high this year.  You'll enjoy hearing them play.'  
 
'I'll drop into one of the classes. Thanks for the suggestion.'  
 
'You're welcome.'  
 
Her hands grew clammy. Dad and Terence's wife Katie. Dad double-crossing his friend and cousin Terence. It would explain why Dad had cried on the night of the fire. Sobbed and said he hadn't meant for things to go so far. His final phone call to Arthur in which he said he'd done something terrible, something for which he could never gain forgiveness. Had he confessed this affair?    
 
 'Here we are then,' Terence Harlesden said, parking by the front of the House.  
 
'Thanks for the lift.'  
 
'Pleasure. Are you staying at the bungalow with Veronica and the other young lass?'  
 
'Yes.'    
 
'Ah well, I expect I shall see you at dinner. So long.'  
 
He activated the door to let her out, and she hurried through the car park, looking back one final time when she reached entrance to the side alleyway that led past the Remembrance Garden to the bungalow. Terence was still in the car, watching her.    
 
He waved and reversed out of the car park, driving back up the private driveway.  And then, all was still again. Terence had gone without even entering the building. She ran the remainder of the way, arriving at the bungalow out of breath.  
 
Another note lay under the bedroom door, folded in two and placed in an envelope.  
I KNOW WHO KILLED YOUR PARENTS.  BE CAREFUL, LUCY.