A Murder In The Family Part 10

The Reardon family, Mrs Wainwright and Elizabeth Sherwood stand looking at the bloodstain face of an unconscious Peter Wilson. Mrs Wainwright moves closer to him her whole body goes cold and she visibly starts to tremble: "My Son. That's my Son, what's going on? Why is he unconscious?

Davina is also in shock: "That's your son? Father what are you doing to him. Why have you knocked him unconscious?"

Thomas Reardon looks at his daughter: "I'm sorry dear but he was holding Elizabeth at gun point, we had to stop him!"

Davina is confused: "Why would he hold anyone at gunpoint. He doesn't even know Lizzie......"

Her words trail off as she looks questioningly at Elizabeth. Thomas moves closer to his daughter and puts his arm around her shoulder: "We think he was the one that killed your grandfather."

Tears well up in Davina's eyes as she shakes her head: "No you're wrong. Peter would never hurt anyone. He was working for grandfather. He found out about Stacey and Arthur's affair. He's no killer. He's kind and gentle. He's the most wonderful man I've ever known. I love him.... I'm having his baby!......."

As Davina starts to cry Thomas holds her closer to himself: "I'm sorry but it looks like he's the one that forged the letters we all received and was trying to turn us against each other."

Mrs Wainwright looks from Davina back to her son, shocked by the revelations, then she turns to Elizabeth: "Miss did my son try to hurt you?"

Elizabeth nods: "Yes! He threatened me with the gun to my head and told me he he should have killed me last night when he knocked me unconscious in Gerald's room. I found some forged signatures and he seemed to be trying to hide your letters to Gerald and the photo of himself. I guess he was trying to eliminate any evidence connecting him to Gerald."

Mrs Wainwright shakes her head: "I can't believe it...."

At that moment the man starts to stir and Davina rushes over to him. She pulls out a handkerchief and gently tries wiping the blood from his face: "Peter they are saying terrible things about you. They say you killed my grandfather. Please Darling, say it isn't true."

Peter opens his eyes and slowly adjusts to his surroundings. He looks around the room at each of the faces staring back at him. Groggily he mutters: "Oh. My head..."

Davina continues to wipe the blood from his face: "Peter darling it's me. You have to put them straight. I know you haven't done anything wrong but you need to convince them."

Peter stares at Davina but remains silent. Davina swallows hard not wanting to even consider for a moment that the accusations may be true but Peter's silence makes her panic: "Please Peter, tell me you didn't kill my grandfather...Please!"

Peter turns his head away from Davina and remains silent. Tears run down her face as Davina lets out a scream: "Nooooooo!"

Instinctively Arthur moves towards his wife and puts his hands on her shoulders supportively. Davina turns and looks at him and starts to pound her fists on Arthurs chest as she sobs: "No No it isn't true. This isn't happening. Not now... not when I've finally found happiness. No........"

Arthur pulls his arms tightly around Davina pulling her closer to him and holding her so tight so she is unable to keep hitting his chest. Instead her body goes limp as she sobs helplessly in his arms.

Anger surges inside Mrs Wainwright as she moves towards her son and slaps him around the face. He glares at her, spits back at her and snaps angrily: "Get away from me you evil bitch. This is all your fault. You denied my my rightful place in this family. You denied my my birthright. You kept me away from my father. You deserve to burn in hell. If things had gone to plan you would be rotting in a prison cell right now."

Mrs Wainwright is taken aback by the outburst. Elizabeth moves closer to her, takes her hand and squeezes it for support. Mrs Wainwright snaps at her son: "So you did kill him and tried to frame me for his murder."

Peter laughs: "And I'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for this bloody woman." He motions to towards Elizabeth and continues: "If you hadn't disturbed me moving those letters and found the photo no one would have connected me to Gerald's death. The police would have food the poison and the family would have exposed my Mother as the killer and she would have paid for what she did to me."

Elizabeth is confused: "But why kill your own Father to frame your Mother. If you wanted to be part of this family. If you wanted to get to know your father and develop a proper relationship with your father it could have still happened?" If you had to get revenge on your mother surely there was another way?"

Peter snarls: "Don't try to psychoanalyse me. You know nothing about my life. I wasn't interested in being part of this family. Yes as a child I would have wanted nothing more but when you move from foster family to foster family and they beat you and treat you like dirt. You soon give up on living happily ever after with your real family. It's a pipe dream and will never come though. Nothing can make up for the childhood I missed out on, nothing. My father was 82, just how many good years do you think we would have had to build a relationship with each other? The only thing that mattered was the money. By exposing all of the families lies and secrets I turned my father against you all. Oh most of you gave me the ammunition I didn't really need to do anything but reveal your secrets. I lolled the old man into a sense of false security, got him to trust me and turn against all of you so I would inherit his estate. I figured after everything I'd been through the money would go some small way for making up for it. Framing my mother for the old man's death was just the icing on the cake...."

Mrs Wainwright shakes her head: "Oh my God forgive me, it's all my fault. I gave birth to a monster..."

Peter angrily interrupts: "No you didn't give birth to a monster you made me into a monster. You abandoned me. You abandoned your baby. You tossed me aside like some worthless piece of junk. You didn't care what happened to me, just as long as you didn't have to see me."

Mrs Wainwright becomes upset: "That's not true. I wanted my baby but I had no money and no family to turn to for help. I thought giving you up for adoption would give you a better life than I could provide for you. I did it because I loved you!"

Peter shakes his head angrily with tears rolling down his face: "Then why when you found your place here didn't you come back for me. My father wanted me, he told me he would have provided for both of us....."

Mrs Wainwright snaps: "I didn't know that and by the time I was working here it was too late. They'd taken you and I had no idea where you were."

Mrs Wainwright falls to the ground sobbing: "It was too late...I'm sorry...."

Elizabeth tries to comfort Mrs Wainwright: "It's not your fault!"

Thomas pulls David to one side and whispers: "I think we should call the police."

David agrees and goes into the hallway to make the call.

Davina regains he composure and calmly turns to face Peter: "Was it all a lie? Were you and I a lie?"

For a moment there is silence. Slowly Peter moves his head to make eye contact with Davina, blood and tears staining his face: "No... not all of it. I hadn't planned on falling in love. When we met and you just thought I was a private investigator and we got close, that was all real. When you told me about the baby that was the happiest day of my life. For a moment I even considered not going through with the plan. So you and I could go away together..."

Davina sighs: "Then why didn't you? I was prepared to give up everything for you.. Now what do we have nothing..."

Peter bows his head in shame: "I'm sorry....."

Slowly Davina walks out of the room and goes to sit quietly in the study.

Stacey asks questioningly: "But if Gerald was his Father doesn't that make Peter her Uncle?"

Thomas replies: "Well I suppose technically he's her half uncle but I don't think she realised that at first."

Stacey is unimpressed "Eww that's disgusting!"

Peter snaps: "Like that would ever stop you!"

Beatrice adds: "Well for the first time ever I agree with Stacey!"

Stacey is pleasantly shocked and turns to give a genuine smile to Beatrice.

Thomas is surprised by the statement: "I guess we don't choose who we fall in love with do we?"

Beatrice exclaims: "Maybe not. I guess it's not every day that you meet a half brother and discover he's murdered your father. I think I need a drink."

As Beatrice leaves the room Stacey follows her: "You know Beatrice maybe you and I should team up. I've got some friends who are into women maybe for the right price I could introduce you."

Beatrice smiles: "You know Stacey on a different day I would probably tell you to go to hell but today... Why don't you have a drink with me and tell me more."

Soon after the police arrive and escort Peter away. Seeing the state of the household the chief states they will come back the next day to take statements from everyone. Mrs Wainwright thanks Elizabeth for her concern but says she wants to be alone so goes for a lie down in her room.

Elizabeth shakes her head: "Well David I guess you were right when you came to me about your grandfather being murdered. I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

David smiles: "Well you came with me didn't you and in fact you solved the mystery. I think you've found the perfect story for your next book."

Elizabeth nods: "I think you're right."

An idea strikes avid: "Hey maybe I could play myself in the TV movie?"

They both laugh. Elizabeth links her arm through David's as they head towards the kitchen. David mentions: "I don't know about you but I'm starving this murder mystery stuff certainly has worked up my appetite"

Elizabeth nods: "Yes I think I could do with something to eat."

Thomas and Arthur stand alone in the lounge. Thomas sighs: "Well I better see how Davina is!"

Arthur holds him back: "No let me go".

Arthur walks slowly towards the study door and knocks lightly.

Davina calls out from the other side: "Go away!"

Arthur ignores the comment and opens the door. Davina is surprised to see him him: "I said go away."

Arthur can tell she's been crying and nods: "I heard. I just chose to ignore you!"

Davina snaps: "Why? have you come to gloat?"

Arthur shakes his head and speaks gently: "No, I came to see how you were and if there's anything I could do."

Davina looks at him in surprise: "Well my life is a complete mess. The man I've fallen in love with and the father of my child is a murder. My marriage to you is over so it looks like I'm going to be a single parent. I don't think there's anything anyone can do to fix that."

Arthur comments: "It doesn't have to be!"

Davina is puzzled: "What doesn't have to be?"

Arthur smiles: "Our marriage. It doesn't have to be over!"

Davina can't believe her ears: "What? You're kidding me, right?"

Arthur approaches and takes her hand: "No I'm not kidding I'm serious. No one knows what happened here today apart from the family. Our marriage was always about what benefited you and what benefited me. Why should that change?"

Davina protests: "But we weren't happy we both had affairs. I'm pregnant by another man..."

Arthur interrupts: "Who said we weren't happy? You got to be a Lady which allowed you to feel superior to your friends and I got on well in business and made money. We both seemed pretty happy with that. Why can't it work again. You arrange for your grandfather's business connections to start working with me again and provide a father for your child. I always said I wanted to be a dad and now's my chance. No one need know the truth and we just carry on like we were before."

Davina ponders the proposition for a moment.

Four weeks later having completed her novel Elizabeth sits having lunch with Lydia Grant. Lydia looks at her friend expectantly: "Well what happened? You're not going to leave it the story there are you?"

Elizabeth takes a sip of her drink and smirks: "Maybe you'll have to buy my book to find out the ending!"

Lydia is frustrated: "Elizabeth I can't believe you could ruin a friendship over the ending to a story."

Elizabeth is puzzled: "How am I ruining a friendship?"

Lydia becomes sarcastic: "Because if you don't tell me I may just have to commit murder myself!"

Elizabeth smiles: "Okay Okay. Well Davina went back to Arthur and as far as all their society friends know they are very happy expecting their first child. Arthur is back in business with all his contacts back. Beatrice has even ventured out for a night on the town with Stacey. The new Will that Gerald signed leaving Peter all the money has been revoked and so the original will is in place meaning all the family inherits their share of the estate. I have my new book which should keep my publishers happy and I've booked myself on a cruise to get away and relax. Life is good."

Lydia is surprised: "So a happy ending all round then? I bet you can't wait for your next adventure?"

Elizabeth shakes her head: "Oh no, no I don't want to get involved in anything like that again. It worked out well for the book but I'd rather stick to my imagination for the next book."

At that moment an excited David comes rushing into the restaurant: "Elizabeth, there you are. Hi Lydia! Mrs Berg told me you'd be here. I've got to tell I was talking to a friend of mine and he thinks something odd is going on in his family he thinks one of them is trying to murder him!"

Elizabeth is confused: "Why did you need to tell me that?"

David smiles: "Because I thought you'd want to investigate. Hey you could get the story for your next book!"

Elizabeth shakes her head: "No David. There's no more murder mysteries. I'm going on holiday..."

David is taken aback: "But you're so good at it ...."

Elizabeth interrupts: "David I said no..."

Lydia starts to hum the theme to Murder she Wrote.

David laughs: "See Lydia thinks you should do it!"

Elizabeth scowls at her friend: "Lydia stop that. Don't encourage him."

Lydia starts to hum louder and David also starts to join in.

Elizabeth glares at both of her friends, shaking her head: "I said NO!"

The three friends look at each other and suddenly burst into fits of laughter.

Elizabeth shakes her head but finally succumbs and smiles: "Okay, okay I'll do it!"

Lydia and David Hi Five and again they all start laughing!

The End