Ten Years Ago

Chapter 9 : The Soft Secret

                                                                          I
'How's the case going on , Lavingham ?' said Dr.Murray .
'I need you to find a Vanessa Treadway or Tucker .'said Lavingham .
'Tucker ? I know one . That's Ness Tucker . A colleague of mine .'
'The point is , I don't know whether it's Tucker or Treadway . Just look for one .'
'Right , whatever .'said Murray . She left the room . Susan Murray's words were annoyingly striking Lavingham's head over and over again . Ness was rather a weird name , wasn't it ? But Ness , oh Ness ! It was short for Vanessa ! Could Ness Tucker be the late Julian's friend Vanessa Tucker ?
'Susan ! Hey Dr.Murray ! I need to speak to your colleague .'
'Who , Ness Tucker ? Alright , then , I'll see if she's free . But why ?'
'She might just know all the little clues that could reconstruct the entire story and give me the final clue to the murderer .'
'You mean she witnessed something? She doesn't quite look the type . She's not doctor of medicine, she's a -'
'- therapist , perhaps?'
'Yes , how'd you know ?'
Lavingham got up and marched towards the door .
'Tomorrow , 4pm sharp . Right here . Your colleague, Vanessa Tucker .'
And she left the room .
                                                                        II

Lavingham waited eagerly on her armchair . She heard the gossip going on between her guest and her associate - how she hated gossiping ! It was such a womanly thing and rather ridiculous.But she felt that the voice of Vanessa Tucker was quite mellifluous - she must be around twenty nine or thirty - thought Lavingham . Then the door opened . Lavingham stood up. Susan was there , but with an elegant woman who was slightly stout but still had a pretty face . She had blonde hair , and plenty of freckles . She wasn't that pale . Lavingham greeted her and asked her to sit down .

'Are you Vanessa Tucker ?'said Lavingham .

'I go by Ness . I changed it that way after I turned twenty .'said Miss Tucker .

'To escape the scandal , I perceive ? Of the Brown case .'

It upset her a little . 'Yes .'she said softly .

'And Julian Brown was your best friend ?'

'I considered him my best friend but he expected more from me . I resented . He wasn't a very decent boy . Always using bad words , had bad manners , and was a manipulator .He was the kind to be around girls and I didn't like that . People might've gossiped - that Julian and I were getting serious - but we hadn't even started it . It upset me a little - but he and I were just friends and that was all . There was nothing else . I was only nineteen - a young adult - I didn't feel anything for him - he was good looking but I didn't like him very much . Of this , I can assure you, Miss Lavingham .'

'I see . So you didn't feel anything towards him ?'

'Those things happen in teenage and is perfectly normal . It can't be taken seriously .'

'True . Tell me - did you ever go to Whittekar Manor on that dreadful day ?'

'I don't really remember - I suppose I went there the previous day . That was the fourth of May . He wasn't his usual self - in fact he was much more cheery than anyone could possibly imagine. The police didn't question me about this - I wasn't really a suspect . Well , we went into the study. He was quite poor in mathematics - I always used to help him out . It was a normal day , and as we were studying he told me . He told me that thought of me as more than a friend . I said no , he didn't really react .I told him I could never think of him the way he thought of me - he didn't take it that seriously and we got back to studying . He didn't say anything after we'd finished . Then I went home . That's all .'

'Are you sure you're not hiding anything ? You're the only person who can help me now , Miss Tucker . You might just give me the final clue to unravel the murderer . Then justice will finally be served . To Lucinda . To Julian .'

'I can't see why you're doubting me . He didn't tell me any secret . We were just friends , for god's sake !'

'Just friends . Rather an obvious meaning , isn't it ? You were his best friend ! He must've confided in you .'

'Hey , go easy on her , Charlotte !'said Susan . Lavingham gazed at her and set her eyes back on Vanessa . She got up and opened the door . Vanessa Tucker got up .

'Not you , Miss Tucker . Susan . Please go .'said she .

'Why me ?'said Susan .

'Our dear Miss Tucker finds it rather uncomfortable to let out a secret of hers in front of two . One's better .'said Lavingham . Susan sighed and left the room . Lavingham closed the door .

'Well ?'said Lavingham . Miss Tucker was nervous . She held her purse tightly .

'I - I spoke rather harshly with Julian . I felt what I said was wrong , so I went to the house on that dreadful day . At around ten , or so . I wanted to apologize . I wanted to say that I would accept . He was in his room , it was in the ground floor , so I could talk to him through the window . I went there through the backyard and knocked the window . He opened it and was quite surprised to see me . "Vanessa ? What're you doing here at this time ?"he said . I stood there nervously and apologized . He held my shoulders and stared at me and came out of the window . " I've to tell you something . It's not safe here , in Whittekar Manor , Vanessa . Don't come here . Promise that. Coming to this house was a great mistake . It's nothing but peril . There's someone , in this house , who's going to kill . He's killed before . He might've killed our parents ."he looked sad . He then asked me to go away . I did . I never had anything to do with that incident ever since .'

Lavingham moved closer to Miss Tucker's face . 'Make this clear - did Julian say "he" or "she" ?'

The lady looked scared . 'I remember it as a "he" . I'm not very sure .'

Charlotte Lavingham sat back in her chair . She sighed . 'Thank you very much , Miss Tucker . You've been of great help to me . You may go .'

Vanessa Tucker immediately got up and went out . Susan came in .

                                                                                    III

'I was wrong .'said the young detective .

'What do you mean ?'

'I thought I could get everything from Miss Tucker - but it was sort of incomplete . I haven't got everything yet . In the morning there's a quarrel , at that time Julian changes sides , he tells Vanessa what he feels , it's not right !' Lavingham picked up her book and threw it on the ground.

Suddenly the landlady came in . ' Have you seen my scarf ? I looked for it everywhere ! I'm an old lady , for heaven's sake !'

'Sorry , no , Mrs.Murphy .' said Susan .

The old lady sighed and left .

'Oh ! Ask the maid ! She might've seen it !'said Susan , closing the door .

What ? Lavingham thought . The maid - the maid ! Of course !

'Yes ! Of course !A maid ! A maid always knows what's going about the house !She hears everything ! She sees everything!'said Lavingham , and got up and hugged Susan in a weird fashion . She went out of the house , and inquired about this maid , Wendy .