‘So?’ asks Stephen.
‘So, most are home-made, and are a basic mix of sawdust and wood chips,’ James explains as he holds up the tiny piece of wood for all to see.
‘I think we should take this to the station and get it analysed,’ says Jonathan.
Gus rushes over to the bin, opening the lid. He rummages around for a moment before taking a deep breath and shaking his head, holding up a small, clear plastic bottle. ‘Paraffin,’ he announces. ‘I was using it to clean the engine of the car.’ He turns to his wife slowly, his face full of sorrow. ‘Marianne? What on earth…?’
‘Wait, just wait…’ cries Marianne, her eyes wide in panic. ‘I can explain…’ Shelooks around the room before she slowly sits down again, her face ashen.
Gus takes a deep breath. ‘Why would you do something like this?’
‘I had to!’ she cries, her face crumpling in despair. ‘You don’t understand what it’s been like…’ Marianne swallows, her face serious. ‘Because it was all going wrong!’ she says, her voice breaking. ‘I was so sick of it all… We had the perfect plan! Ciaran would buy The Lake House, develop it and move into it, and we could hand the guest house business over to him – we could retire and he’d be set up for life. That way he’d move back from Chicago and we’d be a family again. He’d sort Stephen out – give him some tough love, not be an enabler like you – and… he could talk some sense into Grace… he’d be here, back at home, where he belongs!’ She turns to Daisy, her voice rising to a shout, ‘But then you came… And you ruined it all, turning down our bid! Letting Moya stay on! Turning your nose up to our offer. It was meant to be ours! You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?’
‘Marianne… how could you?’ asks Gus as he stares at her, disbelief in his eyes. ‘I told you I would come up with something, that I’d find a way.’
‘Well, I needed more than words. I had to do something,’ she replies, her voice shrill. ‘It was all falling apart… I couldn’t let that happen!’
‘So you decided to burn the house down?’ asks Stephen, his voice incredulous.
‘You could have killed someone!’ Gus trembles and his voice quivers.
‘I didn’t mean for it to happen. I set the barn alight; it was just a small fire – a warning! I didn’t know that it would take like that… but the wind… I didn’t want to hurt anyone; I just wanted Daisy to sell the place,’ she cries, tears streaming down her face.
‘And frame me to get rid of me in the process? Send me behind bars?’ Stephen exclaims with uncontrollable anger.
Gus wipes his hands across his face, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘I don’t believe this… I just can’t believe it.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Marianne sobs, tears still flowing down her cheeks. ‘Please, Gus, you must believe me. I did it for us and our family… but I didn’t think it would turn into such a mess.’ She covers her face with her hands and continues to cry inconsolably.
CHAPTER 49
THE END
‘It’s not the first time you’ve taken matters into your own hands though, is it, Marianne McDonagh?’ says a voice at the door. ‘Not the first time things have got out of control. Not the first time you’ve tried to frame someone so you can get your own way.’
Everyone turns to see Moya standing there with Sergeant Brennan.
Marianne gasps and shakes her head. ‘What are you talking about, you mad ole witch?’
‘I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,’ replies Moya as she steps into the room. ‘I’ve kept your lies too long. No more.’
‘What are you talking about, Moya?’ I ask.
‘I’m talking about the fact that Marianne here framed your mother because she was jealous – she wanted Mick as her own. She wanted to move into The Lake House and live the life of lady muck as Mick Kennedy’s wife. But he wasn’t interested. He was already head over heels for Rose Clarke. A traveller, an outsider, an unworthy object for his affections, according to Marianne. So she decided she’d take matters into her own hands, stage a theft and pin it on Rose,’ explains Moya, her voice cold. ‘And itworked… in so far as it drove Rose away – never to return. But Mick still didn’t want Marianne. The Lake House was still out of reach. Scores were still to be settled.’
My hand flies to my mouth. ‘Is that true?’ I look between Moya and Marianne.
‘You’re delusional – always were, always will be,’ replies Marianne, her voice shaking.
‘Don’t give me that, Marianne!’ snaps Moya. ‘I know exactly what you did! You took Rose’s key from her coat pocket, let yourself into the guest room and stole the jewellery box. You staged the whole thing – made it look like it was an inside job, that it could only be Rose. It was the reason she left. You scared her off then, just like you tried to scare Daisy off now… well, no more.’
‘You’re lying!’ exclaims Marianne.
Moya shakes her head and speaks louder. ‘No, I’m not! See, I witnessed it myself – I saw you let yourself into the room with the key.’
‘Moya, you knew all along?’ I stammer.
She softly bows her head and places both palms together. ‘I’m truly sorry, Daisy. There isn’t anything I can say or do to return what was taken away from you. Shame, fear and guilt have ruled my life and kept me silent when I should have spoken up – until now. I’m here to try and right those wrongs… if you’ll let me?’
