Murder in House by Veronica Heley Page B

got involved, financially?’
    â€˜The building was designed by a much bigger practice, but Roy designed the health centre on the ground floor and basement. It’s really striking, very upmarket, designed to appeal to people with lots of money. I know Miss Quicke advised Roy against putting money into it and you did, too, but—’
    â€˜He went and did it, anyway?’
    Felicity nodded. Was she going to cry? ‘He wants to, and I can’t talk sense into him.’
    â€˜Your own money’s safe?’ Felicity had been left a wealthy woman when her first, extremely unpleasant, husband had died, and her affairs were now managed by Kate, Ellie’s neighbour at the old house. Kate was much younger than Ellie, of course, but was something of a financial wizard and the age difference didn’t seem to matter.
    Felicity said, ‘Roy has made enquiries about selling or mortgaging the block of flats that Miss Quicke left him in her will, so that he can buy into Prior’s Place. I think he’s mad! He says the flats in Prior’s Place will sell like hot cakes and he’ll be able to pay the mortgage off in no time, but of course nothing is moving because of the recession. Also, a couple of people who were going to buy into Prior’s Place have backed out at the last minute, and the gym’s not making a penny yet, and I have the most awful feeling that it’s going to be a white elephant and Roy will lose his inheritance and everything he’s worked for.’
    Ellie refrained, with difficulty, from saying that in her opinion no bank should trust Roy with a credit card for over fifty pounds. He was a kind and generous man, a loving husband and father and a talented architect, but in money matters he had no sense of danger.
    â€˜It’s like . . . like they’re cursed,’ said Felicity, in a rush. She blushed. ‘Of course I know that’s nonsense, but when I think about that place, it’s like a dark cloud came down from the penthouse that night and it hasn’t moved, hanging over everything. I do totally understand why people don’t want anything to do with it.’
    â€˜You were at the Grand Opening when the boy died?’
    Felicity shuddered. ‘All dolled up, four-inch heels, wearing the latest fashion with a skirt well above my knees – which in this weather is stupid, but I did it because Roy wanted me to look nice and smile at all the important people who might want him to work on something else. So of course I did just that. By eleven o’clock most people had gone. I was tired and wanted to go home, because of getting up in the night with Mel. Only, Roy wanted to stay to the end, so of course we did. There was this horrible man who kept putting his arm around me and squeezing. But that’s nothing, really, is it? I mean, not compared to . . .’
    â€˜No. Did you know the boy who died?’
    â€˜I saw his picture in the paper after, but there were quite a few young people, not waitresses but college students, friends of the young Priors, showing would-be clients around. Someone said – I think it was Caroline’s husband, he works for the Town Hall you know, and it was nice to see a friendly face among all those important people – anyway, he said the young things were there as sucker bait, and I did see what he meant, because they were concentrating on the middle-aged and elderly people with money to spend.
    â€˜The party started off in the Health Club in the basement and the show flat just above it. Lots of important people, councillors, everyone. Speeches, you know. I got stuck with this man who . . . I’ve told you about him already, haven’t I? All I know is that after eleven, after the bigwigs had gone, someone said the young people had gone upstairs to continue the party in the penthouse suite. Apparently they were drinking heavily, things got out of hand and this lad