Unnatural Wastage by Betty Rowlands Read Free Book Online

every time I went to see her—’ Once again, he was cut short by emotion.
    â€˜Please be assured of our sincere sympathy,’ said Sukey quietly.
    He nodded, put away the handkerchief, took a deep swig of coffee and continued in his normal voice. ‘All right, let’s get on with it. What do you want to know?’
    â€˜You referred to Ms Tremaine as “Fenella”,’ Vicky began. ‘How well did you know her?’
    â€˜She used to visit an elderly woman who usually sat beside Mother in the lounge in Holmwood and we got chatting.’
    â€˜A relative?’ asked Sukey.
    â€˜No. I think she was a woman who used to look after her when she was a child. She called her “Auntie Peg” and said she was the only person who ever really loved her.’
    â€˜Why do you suppose that was?’ asked Vicky.
    â€˜I gather her father walked out soon after she was born and her mother took it out on the child, as if she was in some way responsible for the breakdown of the marriage.’
    â€˜That must have had a pretty damaging effect,’ Sukey remarked.
    â€˜I’m sure it did. She – Fenella – was in some ways an odd mixture. With Auntie Peg she was gentle and loving, but in her dealings with the staff she was a bit of a battleaxe. If she wasn’t satisfied with the treatment the old lady was getting she’d lay into the staff in no uncertain terms.’
    â€˜Has Auntie Peg been told about her death?’
    He gave a sad smile and shook his head. ‘It wouldn’t mean a thing to her. She calls all the female staff “Fenella” – one woman is the same as another to her.’ He made an impatient gesture. ‘Shall we stick to the point? I don’t see what this has got to do with the death of my mother or Fenella’s murder.’
    â€˜It’s important that we find out as much as possible about Fenella’s background,’ Sukey explained. ‘We know she had a daughter, Nancy, who identified her body. Did she ever mention her?’
    Donaldson appeared surprised. ‘No, never. Were they close?’
    â€˜We understand they had their differences,’ said Sukey, ‘but there is nothing to indicate that the relationship has any bearing on the case.’
    â€˜Now, according to the medical report submitted at the inquest,’ said Vicky, ‘your mother suffered what was in effect a comparatively mild stroke which in a younger, fitter person would not have been fatal, but in her case—’
    â€˜I know what was said at the inquest,’ Donaldson broke in angrily, ‘and I made the point then that had the staff been doing their job they’d have noticed there was something wrong and called the doctor, in which case she might still be alive. I couldn’t prove it, of course – not at the time. It was only when Fenella told me what she overheard that it became clear that not only was it due to negligence, but there was a deliberate cover-up.’
    â€˜What did she overhear?’
    â€˜She had occasion to go to the office one day some time after Mother’s death and as she approached she distinctly heard two members of staff talking. One said, “Her time was up anyway,” to which the other one replied, “That’s why I didn’t say anything.”’
    â€˜And you assumed they were speaking about your mother?’
    â€˜Well, it was obvious wasn’t it?’
    â€˜Why didn’t this come up at the inquest?’
    â€˜This was after the inquest – in fact, it was the day after Mother’s funeral, which was reported in the local paper. Mother was a local councillor for many years so a lot of people turned up and Fenella was sure that was what they were talking about. She got in touch with me straight away and I immediately said, “I knew those so-called carers weren’t doing their job properly,” and asked her if she’d be willing to