Concluding chapters of a great mystery novel .sx That long wet summer .sx by JOAN AIKEN .sx They told her their insane plan- gloating and triumphant- trying to force her hand .sx . The story so far :sx .sx JANE DRUMMOND was trying to keep her marriage together- for the sake of her children , CAROLINE and DONALD .sx Her architect husband , GRAHAM , was selfish and self-centred , living above his income to " keep up appearances .sx " He encouraged her to return to work while MYFANWY MACGREGOR was engaged to look after the children .sx Myfanwy and her husband TIM , seemed to have some hold over Graham .sx Living near the Drummonds was TOM ROLAND , a TV celebrity Jane once met at a party , whom Graham tried to cultivate because Tom was famous .sx Jane was driven home from the station each night by Tom and their friendship grew .sx She suspected that Mrs. MacGregor- whom she was beginning to detest- could not read or write and was horrified when she found an anonymous letter in Caroline's handwriting .sx The note was for Graham and read :sx YOUR WIFE IS CARRYING ON WITH MR. ROLAND .sx Between the MacGregors and her strained relationship with Graham , Jane's life became unbearable .sx She was pleased when her old friend , ELLIE came to stay- but surprised to see that Ellie and Tom obviously knew each other , though neither admitted this .sx Then Ellie- a scatter-brained blonde- told Jane she was pregnant .sx Jane promised to help all she could- and to adopt the child .sx Tim MacGregor tried to kiss Jane- and for a second she mistook him for Graham .sx Later , in their bedroom , she told Graham the MacGregors must go .sx " I'm terrified of them , " she said .sx " You're terrified ?sx " Graham answered .sx " What do you think I am ?sx Jane , do you know who that man is ?sx " Now read on :sx " NO , of course I don't know who MacGregor is , " Jane said , trembling .sx " How could I ?sx Who is he ?sx " " He's my cousin , " Graham said .sx " Your cousin ?sx Then that's why- " " He used to live in Tangier , " Graham went on , ignoring her .sx " It was he who suggested I should go out there .sx He had a factory- a makeshift hole , in a tin shed , making plastic doorknobs , " he added with a sour smile , seeing Jane's look of incredulity .sx " But for all that , Tim's a clever chap. Doorknobs weren't his main line .sx He had quite a nice sideline in penicillin and black market machine oil .sx " Things began to fall into place in Jane's mind .sx " And you helped him ?sx " " Only occasionally .sx " Graham's voice was angry , defensive .sx " Only when clients weren't biting .sx At first it was all okay .sx Then there was a bit of trouble .sx " The curtain blew in above Jane's head and she heard a volley of rain spatter on the window-sill .sx I ought to get up and shut the window , she thought , and lay still , thinking of how she had first met Graham in Tangier- the hot sun , the white roofs , the charming things he had said .sx Now it seemed like some twopence-coloured fairy-tale .sx " I was helping him at that time , " Graham said .sx " The profits were going to be rather good .sx But someone had used a batch of Tim's oil for making salad cream or something , and a lot of people had died .sx Things had been tightened up and they were on the lookout .sx We were followed into Spanish Morocco and we had to get away fast from the rendezvous .sx There was a bit of shooting and Tim got hit .sx We- I thought he was killed .sx There wasn't time to make sure .sx " " What happened to him ?sx " " We had to leave him behind and he was picked up .sx He was sent to jail for three years .sx Quite a short sentence really .sx So I decided the game wasn't worth the risk .sx It was rather a murky business , " Graham said with a flicker of his normal self-righteousness .sx " And it was just after that I met you , so I opted out and decided to come home and set up as a law-abiding citizen .sx " " I see .sx " Jane turned away from him , willing herself to ask the next question .sx " Graham , that legacy from your uncle in Scotland- " " Well ?sx " His voice was wary .sx " Was it really the profits from that- that consignment ?sx " His silence said yes .sx " Why did you lie to me about it ?sx " " Well , damn it , I hardly knew you .sx I couldn't very well have told you a thing like that then .sx " He was injured .sx " You thought the world of me .sx " And so you did of me , Jane thought , with a sudden , uncharacteristically hard perception .sx I was broke and in a dreary job ; just the same , Daddy and I had something you hadn't got that you needed on your climb up the ladder .sx Needed as much as a new house , or a gardener , or Tom Roland's mower .sx " And MacGregor- what happened to his share of the profit ?sx " Jane asked .sx " For the Lord's sake , Jane , must we go over all this ?sx It's ancient history now and I'm tired , I want to go to sleep .sx I've got enough to worry about ; all I ask is that you don't antagonize Tim and his wife .sx " " You took his share , is that it ?sx " " Well , what else could I do ?sx " said Graham sulkily .sx " It didn't amount to much , anyway , and there was no one to leave it with .sx Naturally , I thought when he came out I'd have done well enough to pay him back .sx It was just bad luck I couldn't .sx " " Where was his wife while he was in prison ?sx " " In Wales with her family .sx " Jane knew that she ought to feel pity for the MacGregors , but she thought of Tim's cunning sidelong look , his wife's hostile air of concealed knowledge , and could find nothing but loathing .sx " We'll have to sell the house , " she said .sx " Sell it and pay him what he thinks you owe him and move away from here .sx " " Are you mad ?sx " Graham said with violence .sx " Sell this place ?sx Just when I've got it finished ?sx Just when we're making some useful friends ?sx I'll pay Tim off somehow ; it's just a matter of time .sx All we have to do is keep him quiet for a bit .sx He can't really do anything .sx " He spoke with the old confidence that had once sounded so reassuring to Jane .sx Now she knew how much it was worth .sx " But Graham- " " Stop nagging , stop nagging , " he said with passionate irritation , and turned towards her , holding her in a tense , nervous grip .sx His voice changed .sx " Just let's forget about it all , shall we ?sx " Jane was used to these sudden exigencies of Graham's desire when the world had gone against him .sx Long after he was sleeping , one arm flung possessively across her , she lay awake , staring at the greying sky , while slow , cold tears trickled backwards into the roots of her hair .sx JANE made Ellie stay in bed until after lunch next day , hoping an affectionate smile and the Sunday papers would serve as sufficient evidence of sympathy until she had gathered herself together .sx To listen with constructive attention to Ellie's problem was more than she could manage just yet .sx Graham went out immediately after breakfast and was absent all morning .sx When Jane collected Ellie's tray after lunch , Caroline went with her and stayed chatting to Ellie while she dressed .sx Ellie was devoted to the children and began brushing Caroline's hair and tying it in ribbons .sx Then she offered to take Caroline and Donald for a walk .sx Jane thankfully accepted , put the baby in his pram and saw them off .sx She thought she would go to church ; that might clear her thoughts and bring her to a decision .sx Graham , who had come back just before lunch and been completely silent through the meal , walked into their bedroom as she was putting on a hat .sx " I want Ellie out of here by tonight , " he said .sx " She's not going .sx " Jane's tone was firm , light ; she stooped over a drawer , rummaging for gloves .sx Graham was obviously at a loss before her unexpected mood .sx At last , angry and irresolute- " You'll be sorry for this .sx . " he muttered and turned on his heel .sx She could hear his steps , heavy and defeated , dragging down the stairs .sx Something made her look out of the window .sx MacGregor had arrived and was wheeling the mower out on to the lawn .sx His wife had installed herself on a rug with Susan .sx The active force of her own hate startled Jane .sx She went into the garden .sx MacGregor had paused to say something to his wife and Jane was able to address them both .sx " I understand I've been doing you an injustice , " she said coldly .sx " Naturally , if I'd realized that my husband owed you money it would have been different .sx However , now I have found out it makes it easier to say this .sx I don't want ever to see either of you again .sx I shall get a full-time job and pay you back myself , if necessary .sx But if you pester Graham or send any more anonymous messages about me I shall go straight to the police .sx " I'm going to afternoon service now and when I come back I shall expect to find that you've packed up your things and gone .sx " She walked on without waiting for an answer , leaving four malevolent eyes fixed on her back .sx A feeble sun was trying to shine .sx Little Susan , sitting in a patch of sand on the drive , raised an indifferent , vacant face to her , and Jane shuddered , seeing suddenly a resemblance to Caroline .sx This child was her cousin !sx There were few people in the church .sx Jane , at first hardly able to follow the service , presently found herself calmer .sx The office will take me on full time , she decided hopefully , and I'm sure Ellie can be persuaded to look after the children for a bit .sx If I contribute all my salary to pay the MacGregors , Graham will surely agree .sx She ignored a small warning voice that said :sx Leave Graham .sx Take the children and get away while you can , before you get dragged in any deeper .sx For a brief moment she considered asking advice of the vicar , the kind old man who had christened Donald .sx But the story was not hers alone .sx It was Graham's , MacGregor's , even Ellie's .sx The MacGregors might be a repellent pair , but they had a right to the money Graham owed them ; it was not for her to be sanctimonious about how they had come by it .sx And Ellie- she had promised to help Ellie and would not run out on her now .sx Tom , she thought .sx If only I could have asked Tom's advice .sx But now it's too late for that .sx WHEN she walked home after the service , it was raining hard .sx She had no coat with her , and hurried up the village street , head bent against the cold , driving gusts .sx " Ellie !sx " she called , as soon as she was inside the house .sx " Shut the bathroom window , will you ?sx The rain always comes in on that side .sx " There was no answer .sx Were Ellie and the children not back from their walk yet ?sx They would be soaked .sx She went into the sitting-room- and stopped short .sx The MacGregors were there , Tim lounging on the piano stool , Susan on the floor , Mrs. MacGregor upright and expressionless on the sofa .sx " I told you to leave this house , " Jane said .sx " Oh , madam , " Tim said softly , " you wouldn't expect us to leave in this rain , would you ?sx " His narrow black eyes slid past her , rested on his wife , came back to Jane again .sx " Graham !sx " Jane called .sx There was no reply .sx Apart from herself and the MacGregors , the house appeared to be empty .sx A fear began to take hold of Jane .sx " Graham !sx " she called again .sx " He was out sunbathing , " MacGregor said , smiling .sx " Very keen he is on getting brown .sx He went out to get a good tan .sx I shouldn't wonder but what he's still there .sx Asleep maybe .sx " He nodded down the garden , and Jane's disbelieving eyes saw something on the sloping lawn- a round blob- Graham's head ?sx Was he lying on the grass in the pelting rain ?sx She flung open the french windows and ran over the sodden grass , calling frantically , " Graham !sx Graham !sx "