Read Murder With Mercy for Free Online Page B

job of sorts, and though by no means a pillar of the community, he hadn’t shown up very often on Ellie’s radar.
    Thomas scanned the letter which Ellie had received that day and let it flutter to the ground. ‘I’ve never heard of these solicitors. Are they “No Win, No Fee”? I see they’re threatening to upset Mrs Pryce’s will or, alternatively, to make you hand over your shares in the hotel by way of “compensation” for the loss of Edwina’s inheritance. They’ve got a nerve, haven’t they?’
    Ellie sighed. ‘Edwina doesn’t really think she can upset the will. It’s been through probate. It’s been scrutinized up hill and down dale and, despite her screams of rage, it’s been pronounced valid. No, what she’s doing is trying to make herself such a nuisance that we’ll pay her what she calls “compensation”.’
    â€˜Give the letter to your own solicitor and forget about it.’
    â€˜I know that’s what I should do and I will, but it doesn’t stop me getting into a state about it. Oh, Thomas, I’m so worried. Hugh, the project manager at the hotel site, such a nice man, he came round to see me this evening, and I’m terribly afraid that Mikey’s been playing tricks at the hotel. More than tricks; it’s equivalent to sabotage. No, I really can’t believe that Mikey would do what they say he’s been doing, but he’s been banned from entering the site. I promised to have a word with him about it but I can’t do it behind Vera’s back, and now she’s ill and I don’t know what to do.’
    He reached for her hand. ‘Ellie, light of my life. Don’t lose your perspective on things. I can’t believe Mikey has been up to anything dreadful, either. Have you asked him about it?’
    â€˜No, I got interrupted. Then I thought Vera ought to be the one who … But you are quite right. If it were just boyish pranks … But there’s been real damage done and it’s delaying the project.’
    â€˜Well, that’s not Mikey.’
    She thought about it. Was he right? How could they possibly tell? No, Thomas was right. Mikey wouldn’t. Hadn’t. Couldn’t. ‘I’ll see if Vera’s fit to come down and talk to us with Mikey. If not—’
    â€˜We’ll do it ourselves. We can’t have the lad’s reputation traduced.’
    Ellie climbed the stairs to the top floor, where all was fresh and clean. The builders had done a good job of creating a spacious, two bedroom flat in the attic. They’d put in masses of insulation to keep the place warm in winter and cool in summer. They’d extended the central heating, put in fitted cupboards, a bathroom and a kitchen. The only thing the builders hadn’t been able to do so far was to create a separate outside staircase to make the flat completely self-contained, though one day Ellie hoped the council would pass the plans for that, too.
    Vera was in her kitchen, swaddled in an outsize dressing gown which looked as if it might once have belonged to her husband. She’d made herself a hot lemon drink. Her eyes were half-closed, and she was swallowing painkillers.
    â€˜Bed,’ said Ellie. ‘No arguments. Thomas and I will have Mikey with us for a bit. We’re told he’s been neglecting his homework to potter around Pryce House.’
    Vera’s voice was hoarse. ‘I hope you can get through to him. I can’t. In my day we were in awe of the teachers, in primary school at any rate. He says they’re all morons, except for the IT teacher. He sits there looking out of the window, and if they ask him what they’ve just said, he parrots it back to them in their own tones and that makes the other kids laugh. If you can think of a way to make him do his homework, then please do!’ Her voice faded, and she started to cough.
    Mikey appeared in