Under Mary's Oak

UNDER MARY’S OAK

  Book 1 in the Laura Jessop series

  by

  Tanya Carlysle

  Copyright 2013 Tanya Carlysle

  All characters in this novel are fictitious and any resemblance to a real person, alive or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Title and Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Personal message from Tanya Carlysle

  Free sample of Book Two You Know What They Say About Lightning

  Chapter One

  Laura Jessop was enjoying a lie-in. Her husband, Robert, was downstairs preparing her breakfast tray. It was to be a special treat for her birthday and Robert hoped he could surprise her before she got out of bed. He could hear no signs of activity upstairs, and he worked quickly and quietly. The egg was just about ready to come out of the water. Laura liked a five minute egg so the white was firmly cooked and the yolk was still runny. And a boiled egg is no good without soldiers to dip. The cafetiere was ready, butter and marmalade on the tray and a red rose was added as the final touch.

  As he crept up the stairs he was confident he had been successful in his mission. But Laura had heard him. After nearly thirty years as a teacher, latterly as a headmistress, she had a good ear. The girls at school often expressed their amazement when she used information from their whispered conversation to challenge a version of events being put forward to confuse her. She also smelt the toast and smiled as she looked forward to ‘the surprise’.

  She and Robert had been married for ten years this coming August, a second marriage for both of them. She counted herself very lucky to have found this thoughtful and caring man after such a disastrous first marriage. As headmistress of a large girls’ independent school, she led a hectic life during term time. She left the house before seven o’clock and rarely returned before seven in the evening, often much later. She tried to devote her weekends and holidays to her husband, but all too often something cropped up requiring her attention. But Robert was understanding, and the surprise breakfast was but one example of the little treats they regularly planned for each other. It was this that kept their marriage alive and they were very happy together. Laura snuggled down in the duvet, ready to be surprised.

  ‘Happy Birthday, darling!’ said Robert as he pushed open the bedroom door.

  Laura stirred and looked towards him.

  ‘You do spoil me,’ she said. ‘What a lovely idea. I haven’t had breakfast in bed for a while.’

  ‘No, you’re usually rushing off somewhere, but as it’s a Saturday it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate in style. I have the whole day planned,’ Robert added.

  As Laura moved to sit up, he placed the tray over her legs and poured the coffee. Laura cut the top off her egg and dipped the toasted soldier.

  ‘Perfect!’ she exclaimed as the soldier pierced the yellow yolk.

  Robert helped himself to a slice of toast adding butter and marmalade. Settling down beside her with his cup of coffee he said, ‘Your present will arrive later.’

  ‘It all sounds very mysterious,’ Laura said.

  ‘Well, I hope you like it. You’re almost impossible to buy for.’

  ‘You’re a fine one to talk! I suppose it’s not surprising really, that by the time we reach our age we’ve accumulated most of what we need, and more. I would be quite happy just to spend time with you. You don’t need to buy me presents, but I shall love it I’m sure.’

  The letterbox clattered as the newspaper dropped onto the doormat.

  ‘You stay there and I’ll fetch the paper for you to read,’ Robert said.

  ‘No, I want to get up now and make the most of the day. Look, the sun is shining. It’s going to be a lovely day, and I’ve really enjoyed my lie-in.’

  ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word,’ he retorted playfully. ‘It’s not 9 o’clock yet.’

  As Laura enjoyed a hot shower, the telephone rang. A minute later and Robert tapped on the shower screen.

  ‘I’m sorry. I think you need to take this,’ he said, holding the receiver towards her.

  Laura wrapped herself in a towel and sat on the edge of the bath.

  ‘Hello. Laura speaking,’ she said.

  ‘Good morning, Laura. It’s Bob.’

  Laura groaned inwardly. Bob Hinchcliffe was the Bursar at the school. If he rang on a Saturday morning it was because there was a problem. She hoped it could be resolved quickly.

  ‘Hello, Bob. What’s the problem?’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s bad news. Richard has been found dead this morning.’

  Laura gasped. Richard was the Head Caretaker and he lived in a cottage in the school grounds.

  ‘That’s awful. What was it? A heart attack?’

  In his early fifties, Richard had a history of heart problems. As Head Caretaker he could organise the work in such a way that he didn’t have to do too much of the manual work himself but he and Laura had talked about whether he should take early retirement.

  ‘No, I’m afraid it’s worse than that. It looks like he’s been murdered. I’ve called the police. They’re on the way.’

  ‘I’ll be there in twenty minutes,’ promised Laura.

  She handed the receiver back to Robert who was looking at her quizzically. She relayed the content of the phone call, the shock making it hard for her to catch her breath.

  ‘What happened?’ Robert asked.

  ‘I don’t know any more than I’ve told you, but I shall have to go in. I’m sorry, I know you had plans for the day.’

  ‘Nothing that won’t keep,’ Robert replied. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’

  ‘Yes, I rather think I would.’

  Laura was very good at her job, and usually managed to remain calm in a crisis. But this morning she felt anything but calm. Her intestines were tying themselves in knots, she was shivering and the thoughts in her head were all shouting to make themselves heard.

  Chapter Two

  Just over twenty minutes later they pulled into the school drive. There was no obvious sign of police activity but Bob was waiting for them.

  The school was purpose built in the 1930s and had been well planned. The main buildings faced south so the classrooms benefited from the heat and light of the sun. The original gymnasium had been built on the north side, presumably so that the young ladies who exercised did not get too hot! And a swimming pool had been added at a later date. The former pupils, the Old Montgomerians, had many tales to tell of their fund-raising activities over the years. It had taken so long to raise the funds that they were unable to enjoy the facility themselves as they had left long before it was completed to commence their glittering caree
rs.

  The site was large, over twenty five acres of green fields and mature trees. The original owner, Mary Montgomery had died without family and had directed in her will that the grounds of her estate be used to build a school for young ladies in the north east. Laura knew they were very lucky to have such a site so close to Newcastle, where many of the girls lived. Over the years the catchment area had grown and some of the green fields had been replaced by a large car park, a necessary evil, providing parking both for staff and for parents dropping off and collecting their daughters.

  And Laura had been responsible for improving many of the sporting facilities. Both she and the Chairman of the Governors, Arthur Connolly, believed in the benefits of physical fitness as well as mental agility. The Chairman was a regular supporter at sporting fixtures, and being a keen photographer he often captured the events on his camera. He really had quite an eye. Close to the school was a large sports hall and artificial pitch, both of which were leased out when the school didn’t require their use providing a welcome addition to their income. At the far end of the site was the sports pavilion with its own access road and parking. Tennis courts, both hard and grass, were on one side, and grass playing fields as well as an athletics track were close by.

  The school had a reputation for its sport as well as its academic success. The U16 hockey team had won the National championships twice and the tennis team regularly featured in the final stages of the Aberdare Cup. Luckily today’s matches were Away and there were no girls on site.

  As she got out of her car, Laura was thinking of the terrible tragedy, but also what she would have to do to ensure the smooth-running of the school over the next few weeks, weeks which included important public examinations for many of the girls. Thankfully, it was the May Day weekend and so school would not re-open until Tuesday.

  ‘Hello, Bob,’ she said. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘John came in about eight o’clock to mow the grass. He went to the tractor shed, and noticed the sports’ store was open and went for a look round. There was nothing obviously wrong in the store, but he walked round the pavilion as well.’

  John Grainger was the Head Groundsman, and often took the opportunity to work on a Saturday morning when the girls were playing away matches. He could work without interruption and without disrupting the use of the sporting facilities. The tractor shed was where all the machinery was stored and was alongside the Games Pavilion, as was the sports store where equipment such as goal posts, rounders posts and athletics hurdles were stored as well as many smaller items including hockey sticks and rounders bats and balls for hockey, rounders and tennis.

  ‘That’s when he found Richard,’ Bob continued. ‘He was lying under Mary’s Oak.’

  There was a large photograph of their benefactor, Mary Montgomery, in the school entrance. She was seated on a round wooden bench built around the trunk of an enormous oak tree, with her two spaniels beside her. The sun was shining, and she looked blissfully happy. Since the school began, this big oak tree at the southern edge of the estate had been known affectionately as Mary’s Oak.

  ‘What makes you think he was murdered?’ asked Laura.

  ‘There’s a lot of blood. It looks like he was hit over the head with something. John rang me and I called the police, and then you. When the police arrived I came up here to wait for you.’

  ‘That’s why I couldn’t see any signs of police then. They’re parked at the Pavilion.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Bob. ‘I’m not sure whether the Detective Inspector is here yet. Do you want to walk down there?’

  ‘I suppose we should, although I’m not looking forward to it. It’s such a terrible thing. How’s Shirley taking it?’

  Shirley was the school receptionist and had been married to Richard for nearly eight years. They lived together on the school site in a cottage behind the main school building. The five cottages had been originally occupied by staff employed by Mary Montgomery, and several of them were now used by school staff.

  ‘Apparently she’s away for the weekend visiting her mother. I rang Josie to find out. I’m sorry, I had to tell her what was happening as well.’

  ‘Don’t apologise, Bob. You’ve done a good job here holding the fort. Thanks.’

  Josie Matthews had been Laura’s PA since she was appointed fifteen years before. They had a very close relationship. Each was privy to knowledge about the other that meant they were much more than boss and employee, they were very good friends. Each had supported the other through difficult first marriages, and both were now in stable relationships again. Josie acted as Laura’s eyes and ears, often alerting her to potential problems and allowing Laura to defuse them before they developed into anything major. Laura would need Josie’s support over the next few days and she knew it would be given without question.

  Laura was also so pleased that Robert was by her side. Murder was something quite outside her experience. As headmistress she had led a reasonably sheltered life with nothing more than the occasional water fight in the cloakrooms to deal with. Her main responsibility now was to make sure that the pupils were unaffected as far as possible by what had happened, although she also had to think about what to tell the parents, and she had to contact the Governors and other staff. It was going to be a busy day. So much for a quiet weekend celebrating her birthday!

  Robert put a comforting arm round Laura as they walked towards the Pavilion. She could see Mary’s Oak, tall and imposing against the sky line. It had always seemed a tranquil place. Things would never be the same again.

  Chapter Three

  By the time they reached the Pavilion it was a hive of activity. There were several cars parked behind as well as a large white van. Police officers, both uniformed and plain clothes all seemed to be busily occupied, and a police cordon was in place cutting off the whole of the area. A uniformed officer was standing on the school side of the tape.

  ‘Can I help you?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes,’ said Laura. ‘I’m Laura Jessop, the headmistress. I don’t know if someone needs to speak to me, or whether I can help in any way.’

  The officer walked towards a group of plain clothes policemen and, after a few minutes, one of them returned with him.

  ‘I’m Detective Sergeant Gary Todd. The Inspector would like to speak to you later. Is there somewhere you can wait?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I’ll be in my office,’ Laura said and turned back towards the school. She wasn’t unhappy to be leaving the scene of the crime. Even though she couldn’t see the base of the tree her imagination was working overtime, and she could picture Richard’s lifeless body surrounded by blood. She had known Richard all the time she had been at the school. He was a good worker, always ready with a cheery smile and nothing was too much trouble for him. He loved the school as did most of the staff. There was a real family feeling. Richard’s death would be devastating news.

  ‘Where’s John, Bob?’ asked Laura as they neared the main building.

  ‘I sent him to get a cup of tea in the caretakers’ room. I’ll go and see how he’s doing.’

  ‘Yes, please do,’ replied Laura. ‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do and ask him to be discreet until we know what’s happening. If Shirley is away the police will need time to contact her. Oh, and what about Josh?’

  Josh was Shirley’s 18 year old son and he lived with Richard and Shirley. He had found it quite difficult to adjust to Richard initially. His real father lived in Brighton and Josh thought Shirley was betraying him when Richard moved in. Things had seemed a little easier of late.

  ‘Oh, crikey! I’d forgotten about Josh. I’ll go up and see if he’s at the cottage when I’ve seen John.’

  In spite of the circumstances, Laura had to smile inwardly at the old-fashioned expletive. She knew Bob’s language could be colourful to say the least, probably as a result of his navy service, but he always remembered to temper it when he spoke to he
r. Many school bursars had a background in the armed forces, and some were inclined to believe a mere woman could not possibly run a school successfully. After all, a school the size of Mary Montgomery’s High School for Girls had fees income of nearly £9 million pounds and a staff of over a hundred and eighty as well as buildings and grounds all requiring maintenance. Because of the financial aspects of their role, it was not unusual for bursars to believe they were the power behind the throne, and they had a direct link to the Governors. Some had been known to use this link to engineer more power for themselves.

  Laura was lucky. Her Chairman, Arthur, also with a forces background, had said that there could only be one chief executive in an organisation and that was Laura. He himself was happy to be supportive and to busy himself with providing the facilities Laura needed to run one of the most successful schools in the north-east. Bob had been appointed into that setting and was answerable directly to her. He had never over-stepped the mark and he and Laura worked well together. He had day-to-day responsibility for much of the non-teaching side of the organisation, but Laura made all the decisions, subject to approval from her Board of Governors.

  When they reached her office, Robert said, ‘Come here. You look as though you need a hug.’

  Robert enveloped her in his arms and gave her a comforting squeeze.

  ‘I’m so pleased you’re here,’ Laura said. ‘I can’t stop thinking about poor Shirley. She’ll be devastated. I suppose the police will inform her.’

  ‘Yes, I expect so, but they might need some information about where her mother lives.’

  ‘Of course, you’re right. I’d better ring Josie.’

  ‘I’ll put the coffee on while you’re doing that.’

  As Robert turned to go out of the Laura’s office he almost collided with Josie.

  ‘Hi,’ she said. ‘I thought you might need me.’

  ‘Oh, Josie,’ exclaimed Laura. ‘That’s so thoughtful, but don’t you have lots of other things to do?’

  ‘I wouldn’t be able to put my mind to anything else anyway. I might as well be here if I can be helpful.’

  ‘Well, Robert’s making the coffee. Let’s try to work out what we need to do. I don’t know any details until the Inspector gets here but we might as well start the list.’