concluding chapters of a great mystery novel . that long wet summer . by Joan Aiken . they told her their insane plan - gloating and triumphant - trying to force her hand &amp;hellip; . the story so far : Jane Drummond was trying to keep her marriage together - for the sake of her children , Caroline and Donald . her architect husband , Graham , was selfish and self-centred , living above his income to keep up appearances . he encouraged her to return to work while Myfanwy MacGregor was engaged to look after the children . Myfanwy and her husband Tim , seemed to have some hold over Graham . 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 . Jane was driven home from the station each night by Tom and their friendship grew . 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 &apos;s handwriting . the note was for Graham and read : your wife is carrying on with Mr Roland . between the MacGregors and her strained relationship with Graham , Jane &apos;s life became unbearable . 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 . then Ellie - a scatter-brained blonde - told Jane she was pregnant . Jane promised to help all she could - and to adopt the child . Tim MacGregor tried to kiss Jane - and for a second she mistook him for Graham . later , in their bedroom , she told Graham the MacGregors must go . I &apos;m terrified of them , she said . you &apos;re terrified ? Graham answered . what do you think I am ? Jane , do you know who that man is ? now read on : no , of course I do n&apos;t know who MacGregor is , Jane said , trembling . how could I ? who is he ? he &apos;s my cousin , Graham said . your cousin ? then that &apos;s why - he used to live in Tangier , Graham went on , ignoring her . it was he who suggested I should go out there . he had a factory - a makeshift hole , in a tin shed , making plastic doorknobs , he added with a sour smile , seeing Jane &apos;s look of incredulity . but for all that , Tim &apos;s a clever chap . doorknobs were n&apos;t his main line . he had quite a nice sideline in penicillin and black market machine oil . things began to fall into place in Jane &apos;s mind . and you helped him ? only occasionally . Graham &apos;s voice was angry , defensive . only when clients were n&apos;t biting . at first it was all okay . then there was a bit of trouble . the curtain blew in above Jane &apos;s head and she heard a volley of rain spatter on the window-sill . 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 . now it seemed like some twopence-coloured fairy-tale . I was helping him at that time , Graham said . the profits were going to be rather good . but someone had used a batch of Tim &apos;s oil for making salad cream or something , and a lot of people had died . things had been tightened up and they were on the lookout . we were followed into Spanish Morocco and we had to get away fast from the rendezvous . there was a bit of shooting and Tim got hit . we - I thought he was killed . there was n&apos;t time to make sure . what happened to him ? we had to leave him behind and he was picked up . he was sent to jail for three years . quite a short sentence really . so I decided the game was n&apos;t worth the risk . it was rather a murky business , Graham said with a flicker of his normal self-righteousness . 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 . I see . Jane turned away from him , willing herself to ask the next question . Graham , that legacy from your uncle in Scotland - well ? his voice was wary . was it really the profits from that - that consignment ? his silence said yes . why did you lie to me about it ? well , damn it , I hardly knew you . I could n&apos;t very well have told you a thing like that then . he was injured . you thought the world of me . and so you did of me , Jane thought , with a sudden , uncharacteristically hard perception . I was broke and in a dreary job ; just the same , Daddy and I had something you had n&apos;t got that you needed on your climb up the ladder . needed as much as a new house , or a gardener , or Tom Roland &apos;s mower . and MacGregor - what happened to his share of the profit ? Jane asked . for the Lord &apos;s sake , Jane , must we go over all this ? it &apos;s ancient history now and I &apos;m tired , I want to go to sleep . I &apos;ve got enough to worry about ; all I ask is that you do n&apos;t antagonize Tim and his wife . you took his share , is that it ? well , what else could I do ? said Graham sulkily . it did n&apos;t amount to much , anyway , and there was no one to leave it with . naturally , I thought when he came out I &apos;d have done well enough to pay him back . it was just bad luck I could n&apos;t . where was his wife while he was in prison ? in Wales with her family . Jane knew that she ought to feel pity for the MacGregors , but she thought of Tim &apos;s cunning sidelong look , his wife &apos;s hostile air of concealed knowledge , and could find nothing but loathing . we &apos;ll have to sell the house , she said . sell it and pay him what he thinks you owe him and move away from here . are you mad ? Graham said with violence . sell this place ? just when I &apos;ve got it finished ? just when we &apos;re making some useful friends ? I &apos;ll pay Tim off somehow ; it &apos;s just a matter of time . all we have to do is keep him quiet for a bit . he can n&apos;t really do anything . he spoke with the old confidence that had once sounded so reassuring to Jane . now she knew how much it was worth . but Graham - stop nagging , stop nagging , he said with passionate irritation , and turned towards her , holding her in a tense , nervous grip . his voice changed . just let &apos;s forget about it all , shall we ? Jane was used to these sudden exigencies of Graham &apos;s desire when the world had gone against him . 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 . 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 . to listen with constructive attention to Ellie &apos;s problem was more than she could manage just yet . Graham went out immediately after breakfast and was absent all morning . when Jane collected Ellie &apos;s tray after lunch , Caroline went with her and stayed chatting to Ellie while she dressed . Ellie was devoted to the children and began brushing Caroline &apos;s hair and tying it in ribbons . then she offered to take Caroline and Donald for a walk . Jane thankfully accepted , put the baby in his pram and saw them off . she thought she would go to church ; that might clear her thoughts and bring her to a decision . 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 . I want Ellie out of here by tonight , he said . she &apos;s not going . Jane &apos;s tone was firm , light ; she stooped over a drawer , rummaging for gloves . Graham was obviously at a loss before her unexpected mood . at last , angry and irresolute - you &apos;ll be sorry for this &amp;hellip; he muttered and turned on his heel . she could hear his steps , heavy and defeated , dragging down the stairs . something made her look out of the window . MacGregor had arrived and was wheeling the mower out on to the lawn . his wife had installed herself on a rug with Susan . the active force of her own hate startled Jane . she went into the garden . MacGregor had paused to say something to his wife and Jane was able to address them both . I understand I &apos;ve been doing you an injustice , she said coldly . naturally , if I &apos;d realized that my husband owed you money it would have been different . however , now I have found out it makes it easier to say this . I do n&apos;t want ever to see either of you again . I shall get a full-time job and pay you back myself , if necessary . but if you pester Graham or send any more anonymous messages about me I shall go straight to the police . I &apos;m going to afternoon service now and when I come back I shall expect to find that you &apos;ve packed up your things and gone . she walked on without waiting for an answer , leaving four malevolent eyes fixed on her back . a feeble sun was trying to shine . 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 . this child was her cousin ! there were few people in the church . Jane , at first hardly able to follow the service , presently found herself calmer . the office will take me on full time , she decided hopefully , and I &apos;m sure Ellie can be persuaded to look after the children for a bit . if I contribute all my salary to pay the MacGregors , Graham will surely agree . she ignored a small warning voice that said : leave Graham . take the children and get away while you can , before you get dragged in any deeper . for a brief moment she considered asking advice of the vicar , the kind old man who had christened Donald . but the story was not hers alone . it was Graham &apos;s , MacGregor &apos;s , even Ellie &apos;s . 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 . and Ellie - she had promised to help Ellie and would not run out on her now . Tom , she thought . if only I could have asked Tom &apos;s advice . but now it &apos;s too late for that . when she walked home after the service , it was raining hard . she had no coat with her , and hurried up the village street , head bent against the cold , driving gusts . Ellie ! she called , as soon as she was inside the house . shut the bathroom window , will you ? the rain always comes in on that side . there was no answer . were Ellie and the children not back from their walk yet ? they would be soaked . she went into the sitting-room - and stopped short . the MacGregors were there , Tim lounging on the piano stool , Susan on the floor , Mrs MacGregor upright and expressionless on the sofa . I told you to leave this house , Jane said . oh , madam , Tim said softly , you would n&apos;t expect us to leave in this rain , would you ? his narrow black eyes slid past her , rested on his wife , came back to Jane again . Graham ! Jane called . there was no reply . apart from herself and the MacGregors , the house appeared to be empty . a fear began to take hold of Jane . Graham ! she called again . he was out sunbathing , MacGregor said , smiling . very keen he is on getting brown . he went out to get a good tan . I should n&apos;t wonder but what he &apos;s still there . asleep maybe . he nodded down the garden , and Jane &apos;s disbelieving eyes saw something on the sloping lawn - a round blob - Graham &apos;s head ? was he lying on the grass in the pelting rain ? she flung open the french windows and ran over the sodden grass , calling frantically , Graham ! Graham ! 