"Rebecca": Ch 6 (part 2)

[wanda1969]

Rebecca- Chapter 6 (part 2)

 

“Well, I never thought I would be thanking Mrs Cooper today- it’s given us at least an hour or two together,” Jack said as he and Ianto made their way out of the court building, arm in arm, as they walked to  the car to find Frith waiting for them.

 

“I took the liberty of bringing some sandwiches and a flask of coffee, Sir. They’re in the car.”

 

“Thank you so much, Frith.” The younger man said as he and Jack followed the butler to the car. They settled into the back seat as Frith made a tactful retreat.

 

Jack leant against Ianto as the younger man wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “It’s only a matter of time, Cariad. They’ve heard Tadd’s evidence, now; they know the boat was scuppered. This really could be our last day together.”

 

“Don’t talk like that, Jack. We can tell the truth. And anyway, they’d have to charge you- like I said, it could take six months to get a date for the trial. We’d call you solicitor, post bail...”

 

“It’s just delaying the inevitable, Ianto. And who’s going to believe that after today? After I identified that woman...And the bloody Coroner making those comments and looking over at you like that?”

 

As Ianto was about to reply he was aware of a figure at the open car window. John Hart.

 

“Well , isn’t this sweet? The condemned man and his lovely new husband, sharing a quiet moment.” Hart raised an eyebrow, looking at Ianto before shifting his attention to Jack with a sneer. “You know, Rebecca always did have her suspicions about your...proclivities, should we call them?”

 

“What the hell do you want, Hart? Here to gloat, are you?” he said irritably, as he and Ianto moved apart.

 

“Actually- yes. After the revelations of those holes made from the inside of the hull, I’d say it’s only a matter of time before the Coroner puts two and two together, don’t you think?”

 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about- now why don’t you just piss off, Hart?”

 

“Now, now, Jack, you might not want me to do that when you’ve heard my proposition...”

 

“Proposition, what the fuck are you talking about?” Ianto knew that Jack’s temper was fraying; he’d never heard Jack swear before.

 

“Language, Jack!” Hart laughed. “It’s not such a bad job selling fast, luxurious cars, but it can get a little tiresome never owning one for oneself, you know. It’d be nice to have the opportunity to own one myself...perhaps have the cash to take some time, go travelling. I hear you two met in Monte Carlo? I’ve often fancied a trip there myself...”

 

“Are you trying to blackmail me? Because I’ll tell you now, it’s not going to work- I’ve got nothing to hide.”

 

The young man watched Jack as he tried to control his anger. He held on tightly to the older man’s arm;  it was clear that Jack was restraining the urge to strike out at John Hart.

 

“Are you sure about that, Jack? Both you and I know that Rebecca was in no way suicidal, in fact, she e-mailed me two days before the accident, saying she hoped to have some very happy news. There was no way that she was about to take her own life. I’ve got the e-mail if you’d like to see it...Or indeed, if anyone else would like to see it.”

 

Jack looked uncomfortable for a moment, before he looked out of the car over at the local pub, The White Lion, and steeled himself, “Perhaps we should take this somewhere else. What do you say we arrange for the back room over the road at the pub? I think it would be a bit more comfortable, don’t you?”

 

“An excellent idea- we should go somewhere a little more civilised.”

 

“I’ll be back in five minutes tops, Hart, when I’ve made sure the room's free- wait here.” Jack excused himself with a gentle squeeze to Ianto’s hand before looking at him, “Cariad, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

 

Ianto nodded as both he and Hart watched Jack leave the car, before the car salesman turned back to the young Welshman.

 

“Ah - so sweet. Let’s hope that Jack and I can come to an arrangement which doesn’t ruin this lovely honeymoon period, eh?”

 

“You’ve got nothing on Jack” Ianto started.

 

“So loyal...but then, you haven’t seen the letters or the emails have you? I’ll wager Mr Harkness is nowhere near as innocent as you think.”

 

There was an awkward silence as the two men waited for Jack’s return. They didn’t have long to wait before Ianto spotted Jack making his way back across the market square.

 

Jack reached the open car window and leaned through before he reached for the handle and opened the car door. “C’mon, Hart. The room’s sorted.”

 

As soon as Hart had left the car, Jack leaned back towards the window and spoke quietly. “Yan, get DI Kathy Swanson and Owen- bring them to the pub.”

 

***

 

Jack made his way through the saloon of the White Lion, Hart close behind him. He nodded a “hello” to the landlord, who left the bar to show them through to the snug.

 

“I hope this will be alright, Mr Harkness?”

 

“Of course, Bob.”

 

The two men settled into their seats. Jack had ordered a bottle of brandy and he poured two large measures into a couple of glasses and set them down on the table.

 

“So, Jack, I’d be interested on your views of exactly how much money it takes to spend a few months per year in Monte Carlo, run a fast car...”

 

Hart didn’t have time to finish the sentence as the door to the snug swung open as Ianto led in Detective Inspector Swanson and Owen Harper.

 

“What...?”

 

“DI Swanson, meet John Hart.”

 

“Hello Ms Swanson,” Hart said smoothly.

 

Jack spoke. “I think DI Swanson might be interested in your proposition”

 

“Proposition? Jack and I were just discussing business weren’t we Jack?”

 

“I think you’ll find that Mr Hart has offered to withhold a vital piece of evidence if I pay him a considerable amount of money. Blackmail, if you will.”

 

“Nonsense, I just want to see justice done...the boat builder’s evidence suggests a few possibilities as to Rebecca’s death. But I have an e-mail here- I printed it off.” Hart reached into his coat pocket and handed a folded piece of paper to Swanson. The Detective Inspector unfolded it before scanning it and then reading it out.

 

“Darling, meet me at the boathouse on Friday- after 9- I’m seeing my doctor. I think we’ve got some good news to celebrate! The door will be open. I’ll be there- I so need to see you. All my love

Rxxx”

 

“Does that sound like a woman who was about to commit suicide? And if she did, why go to the trouble of putting out to sea and scuppering the boat? Rebecca was pregnant- with my child. She was happy, she’d ‘phoned me a few days before that she wanted to leave Jack. She wanted a divorce- she wanted a settlement.”

 

“That’s absolute rubbish!” Jack said, his voice raised.

 

“Come now, Ms Swanson, you must know that Jack would defend his fortune and Manderley, before he let Rebecca go? Imagine it- there’d be quite a case for her getting half the estate- and half of Mr Harkness’ personal fortune. She had no reason to kill herself. I’d said that I’d drive up, but I had an appointment that ran late- by the time I arrived at Manderley the next day I found out that Becca had drowned.”

 

“You have nothing to back this up, Hart,” Jack said angrily.

 

“Oh, I don’t do I? If anyone had any common sense, they’d see that Eugene was lying. He was always down at the beach, He even caught me and Rebecca down there once. She threatened him with the loony bin- that’s why he was going on about asylums.”

 

“You haven’t got any proof about this...”

 

“Haven’t I? Get Mrs Cooper from the courtroom- she knows everything about Rebecca. She’ll tell you. Go on DI Swanson- call the court.”

 

With a reluctant look at Jack, Swanson retrieved her ‘phone from her pocket and flipped it open. “Davidson, bring Mrs Cooper here, we’re in the White Lion. Bob will show you through.”

 

“Gwennie will confirm what I’ve said- there were no secrets between those two.”

 

“You’re making a lot of accusations, Hart,” Swanson said. You’d better be able to back all of this up or this is a simple case of Blackmail.”

 

“You’ll see...”

 

It didn’t take more than a couple of minutes for Andy Davidson to show Mrs Cooper into the back room.

 

“Ah, hello Gwennie,” Hart smiled. “This is important, I need you to tell us about Rebecca’s doctor-who was it?”

 

“Dr Boyd in Portreath.”

 

“No Gwen, I mean her doctor in London.”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr Hart.”

 

“Gwen, please tell the truth- you know she wanted to leave Jack. She was in love with me. Wanted to leave Manderley.”

 

“She was full of life- she enjoyed life. Love was a game to her...She didn’t take any of this seriously. She’d laugh herself silly at you all.”

 

Swanson interrupted. “Mrs Cooper, I have to ask you, can you think of a reason why Mrs Harkness would commit suicide...take her own life?”

 

“No, no- of course not. She was happy...”

 

“Gwen, I know Rebecca went to London to see a doctor before she came back to Manderley. I KNOW she didn’t commit suicide- I’m just defending her. Please, tell us who the doctor was then I can clear her name!” Hart sounded frustrated.

 

Mrs Cooper paused for a moment and then relented. “It was Dr Fortesque, in Pimlico.”

 

“Thank you, thank you, Gwen. We’ll clear her name yet.”

 

***

 

Chapter List: http://wanda1969.dreamwidth.org/17042.html