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Chapter 19
Danny had been listening attentively to her conversations.
"You've found some letters?"
"That's what I said, isn't it," said Alice unambiguously.
Danny looked hard at her and then his face broke out into a broad grin.
"You're some lady," he said, appreciatively.
"And I may be in need of some protection this afternoon, so if you would be so kind as to watch over me from the hill by Hangman's Tree when Jack visits, I would feel most reassured. In the mean time, I have another visit to make."
As the day progressed, Alice became increasingly tense and aware of the danger she was running. By three o'clock, she was feeling completely nervous and stressed out. It was therefore a relief when the doorknocker sounded. She opened the door and found Melanie waiting.
"The others will be here shortly," she said and walked in. She wasn't smiling.
Alice walked through to the kitchen and stood by the window. There was the sound of people entering through the back door. They didn't knock. Hugo, Jack, Fred and Ruby walked in. Alice commented wryly to herself that there were no solicitors or surveyors.
Fred came to the point. "Who are you and what do you want."
"I am Alice as you know. I had a friend once and she was murdered here. I know why and intend to ensure that the murder doesn't go unpunished."
"You are a busybody, interfering where you are not wanted." Jack's face was grim. "Give me those letters now!"
"I am someone who, like Estelle, believes in telling the truth," said Alice. "In a moment, I am going next door and I am going to tell Jessica that the lease that her dead father granted to your business consortium has expired and that the ownership of this property and all the land that goes with this property stretching along the heart of this valley, including numerous bridle paths belongs to her. I appreciate that this will cause you some distress because you have continued acting as the owners although the lease came to an end seven years ago. But, inconvenient though it might be, it is the right thing to do. It is also what Estelle wanted to do and it is why she was killed."
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