The Knapthorne Conspiracy by Malcolm Ballard (best english novels for beginners txt) 📕

I hates to say this but even I felt good that day knowing your father had been shot. Now if that ain’t a terrible thing to say I don’t know what is but we’ve all had thirty-odd years to live with what we done an’ I feels as bad about it now as I did soon after it ‘ad appened. An’ that goes for the rest of us too. We all wanted to be free o’ that burden once and for all. It’s been a cloud ‘angin’ over all our lives for too long so we agreed to tell you everythin’. Provided that is, that you keeps it to yourself.”

As a result of what he’d said, Bella at first felt aggrieved that the burden Samuel spoke of seemed to have been dumped in her lap. Then thinking about it, she had to concede that if she hadn’t have been so persistent in wanting to find out about Cora’s sister, neither this meeting nor the conversation would have taken place. God, why hadn’t she let the matter drop? Now she had the power to solve a thirty year old murder mystery but had been asked to do nothing about it. Thirty years is a long time, she couldn’t deny that and, if she were really honest, knowing the details of Patrick’s death stirred no emotions in her at all now she’d had a chance to rationalise the scenario in which it had occurred. Samuel’s request sat a lot easier with her, suddenly, but she wanted an opportunity to think about things in her own time. Also, seeing that it was her father, as Samuel called him, that had been murdered she felt a compelling need to meet his killer. There was no way she could logically explain it but the urge was so strong she had to find out who he was and arrange to meet him. That was, of course, if he was still alive.

Samuel had been quietly watching her after he’d said his piece knowing that she’d want to work things out for herself. Whether or not she’d stand by her promise he had no way of knowing. All he knew was that he’d done his best and now it was up to her. Whereas she had been looking thoughtful and introspective, now her features changed as she took on an inquisitive look and he knew there was a question coming. What was it Miss Foxton was a-goin’ to ask, he wondered.

“Samuel…”

“What is it you be a-wantin’?”

“I know you told me some time ago that Cora’s parents are dead…”

“That be right.”

“What about this man you refer to as the bloke from Thornden, the one who actually killed Patrick. Is he still alive?” Samuel’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t a question he’d expected. Why did she want to know?

“He is, Miss Foxton, and still livin’ in Thornden. Why would you be askin'?”

“I’d like to meet him, Samuel, that’s all.” His surprise was evident but she felt sure that he would make it possible for her.

“Why would you want to be doing that. What good’s that goin’ to be a-doin’?”

“Samuel, I don’t know! I can’t explain it to you but something tells me I’ve got to meet him. Will you help me?” He couldn’t see the sense in it but he didn’t have the heart to refuse. Not many men, whatever their age, could have resisted Bella when she’d set her mind on something.

“I can tells you where to find him and how to get there but he ain’t an easy man to talk to. Never was for that matter. Bit of a loner. Sid was about the only real friend ‘e ever ‘ad.”

“Who is he Samuel? What’s his name?” Unexpectedly, she felt the stirrings of excitement as she waited for his reply.

“Allsop, Miss Foxton. ‘is name’s Frank Allsop.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Neither of them had had the heart for further discussion and Samuel left shortly after he had explained how to get to Thornden. As he was leaving he made the comment, once again, that Frank Allsop was not an easy man to get along with and he also took the opportunity to remind Bella of her promise. The meeting had had a marked effect on both of them but for entirely different reasons. In Samuel’s case it had been because of what he had said, revealing the dark secrets of more than a quarter of a century ago. Feeling relieved to have finally told someone he, and the others involved, knew there was no telling what the consequences would be and it was going to be an anxious time for them all. Bella, on the other hand, had been stunned because of what she had heard. The shocking details of Ruth’s murder and the fact it had taken place at Willow Cottage were dreadful enough in themselves. But then to learn of Patrick’s killing and how it had been covered up had left her struggling to come to terms with the challenge to all of the values in life she respected. Fairness, justice, decency, integrity. All of them had been flouted in one brutal act yet she found her sympathies veering towards the man who had broken the years of silence. Not only him but the group of people he represented. Having the knowledge they had possessed, solely, for so long, Bella could now understand how it must have blighted their lives over the years, especially Alfie and Cora. Hadn’t they all suffered enough? What good would dragging it all out in the open do now? It was a responsibility she wasn’t prepared to take but the fact that she knew about it at all disconcerted her greatly. Unless she was prepared to unload that knowledge onto someone else it was the price she was going to have to pay. What made a man like Patrick kill, in the first place? It was a question that could never be answered now and it was certainly something she hadn’t been