was a criminal. You should have seen their faces when I went up to the front desk. They said I should never have taken the guns down there in the car. They said I should have left them right where I found them. Could have gone off at any time, they said.’
Evelyn tries not to smile, but the corners of her mouth are twitching. ‘I hardly think so, Pat. Papa taught us never to leave guns loaded, especially in the house. He was most particular about that.’
‘I’m sure he was, but the police weren’t to know that, were they? Anyway, there was an awful lot of fuss down there at the station and then they even wanted to take my fingerprints. Can you believe that? Said they had to do that to eliminate me. See what a lot of trouble you’re causing?’
‘Well, why would they want your fingerprints? You haven’t done anything wrong, have you, Pat?’
‘Of course I haven’t. They’ll be wanting yours next, I expect.’
Evelyn inspects her spotted veiny hands with their neat oval nails. Mary had applied two coats of No7 Dusky Rose varnish the previous day. So important to maintain appearances and well-manicured nails are a mark of one’s standards. Evelyn glances at Pat’s hands. The nails are unpolished and uneven; the skin looks dry and rough. ‘I’ve never had my fingerprints taken before. What fun! Just like on television.’
‘No, it isn’t fun, Aunt. They have to do it, to check against their records. It was because I’d handled the guns and the other stuff. And they said they not only had to make the guns safe, but they had to check the serial numbers in case the guns have ever been used for criminal purposes, as they put it.’
‘Well, they haven’t, have they? Oh, I do hope you’ve been careful to lock up properly at Kingsley, Pat. Nobody’s been able to borrow any of our guns, have they? We only kept guns for the pheasants and sometimes Papa and Charles went duck shooting, but nothing else…’ Evelyn pauses and frowns. ‘Oh, I might have put down the odd deer a couple of times. Do you think that’s what they’re worried about?’
‘No, I don’t, Aunt. They wanted to know all about you and the family and said they will have to check their records.’ She gives a great gust of a sigh. ‘Honestly, I could do without all this. I’m meant to be sorting out bric-a-brac for the church Christmas fair. But, oh no, I have to stay here with you, because you’re a vulnerable adult, apparently.’ She adds these last words with a roll of her eyes and Evelyn coughs to disguise her laughter.
‘A policeman is coming here today.’ Pat looks at her watch. ‘They should be here very soon. I said I’d meet him in the home.’
But it isn’t a him, it’s a her. A petite uniformed officer, WPC Thomas, with dark hair neatly tied into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, is ushered into the morning room by Mary, whose offer of coffee is declined, much to Evelyn’s evident disappointment.
‘Can you please explain to my aunt why you have to do this,’ Pat says. ‘She really hasn’t grasped why it’s necessary.’
WPC Thomas smiles and shakes hands with Evelyn. ‘Hello, Mrs Taylor-Clarke, I just need to ask you a few questions. It shouldn’t take too long.’
‘Oh good, because I’m going out soon for a hair appointment later this morning.’ Pat catches the policewoman’s eye and shakes her head from side to side, mouthing, ‘No, she isn’t really.’
WPC Thomas smiles at this, but only says, ‘If you don’t mind, I just need to take your fingerprints first.’ She sets out her inkpad and forms and Evelyn holds out first her left, then her right hand, then sits staring at her inky fingertips, palms uppermost.
When the WPC has finished filling in her paperwork, she says, ‘Can you remember the two locked suitcases that were kept in one of the bedrooms at Kingsley Manor?’ She sits with notepad poised, eyes alert, watching Evelyn. ‘And can you tell me anything about the guns that were found in the cases?’
Evelyn is quiet for a moment, then says, ‘We always kept guns in the gun cupboard. That was the rule. Guns were never kept anywhere else.’
‘I see.’ WPC Thomas makes a note. ‘We’ve taken a look at the firearms in the gun cupboard. Their licences have expired, but those aren’t the guns we’re interested in.’
‘Oh, but you should