Free Murder in House by Veronica Heley

that her flight was on time.’
    â€˜When did you hear of Lloyd’s death?’
    â€˜It was in the local papers, wasn’t it? Ursula showed it to me last week, got really worked up about it. I had to tell her not to shout. My ears hurt! Honestly! These young people take things so hard, wind themselves up with conspiracy theories about people not drinking when he obviously had. I told her, when she’s seen as much of the world as I have, she wouldn’t get into such a state about a young man falling off the wagon. These things happen, big party, everyone at it. If he wasn’t used to drink, then the vodka probably had more of an effect than it would have done otherwise.’
    A note of grievance entered her voice. ‘I thought she was settled with Daniel, that they’d be married and I’d be having the place to myself next summer. I had plans to . . . I deserve a life of my own now, don’t I?’
    â€˜Your daughter also talked about a disappearance. Do you know anything about that?’
    A shrug. ‘She had a friend called Mia. A little dark girl, almost gypsyish to look at. Tiny little thing. She was quite bright, studying some strange language, it may have been Japanese. Apparently she went off with some unsuitable man or other after the party, as girls do. Ursula wouldn’t accept that, oh no! Tried to ring her, went round to see the family, but the girl’s dropped out of sight. Youngsters . . .’ She sighed. ‘They never think that we worry about them. A shame, really. Mia might have talked some sense into her, instead of this.’ She gestured to the ring.
    â€˜So Mia really has disappeared. Have the police been informed?’
    â€˜She’s old enough to decide what to do with her life. I suppose the group is breaking up now. Pity. They have so many advantages that I never had. I had to work hard from the moment I left school. Nowadays they have these gap years and travel all round the place, having a whale of a time.’
    â€˜New York for a holiday . . .?’
    â€˜We should be so lucky.’ She gave Ellie a twisted smile that morphed into a coughing fit. Ellie waited while Mrs Belton dragged herself into the kitchen for a glass of water. She reappeared, holding a packet of pills. ‘Time for a pill.’ Her voice was fading from exhaustion.
    â€˜You shouldn’t think of going back to work this week, and you shouldn’t go out in the cold. Do you have a neighbour who can do some shopping for you?’
    â€˜Oh, her. We don’t speak.’
    â€˜Well, can I fetch you something from the shops?’
    â€˜I’ll go back to bed for a bit, I think. Ursula left me with a whole lot of frozen meals, not that I fancy them in the least. Junk food! I can still hardly believe what Ursula’s done. They’ve been together for so long.’
    â€˜Better to break it off now than after they’re married.’
    â€˜I suppose.’
    â€˜I’d like to ring her, if I may. Tell her what’s happened about the ring.’
    â€˜She’s got no mobile at the moment. Dropped it, clumsy girl, will have to get another, though I should think she’s fairly broke at the moment, what with the trip to America and all. I’ll let you have the emergency number for students at the University, if you like. You can leave a message for her there.’
    Mrs Belton consulted a telephone book and wrote down a number on a piece of paper for Ellie. At the same time, Ellie wrote down her own home number for Mrs Belton. ‘Just in case she rings you before I can get hold of her.’
    Mrs Belton gave Ellie’s phone number one glance, and screwed up the piece of paper, saying she only needed to look at telephone numbers once to remember them.
    Considerably intimidated by this evidence of a superior intellect Ellie, who had been known to forget her own phone number at times, got herself out of