A Perfect Likeness (6 page)

‘Yes,’ Trish sobbed as she spoke. ‘And I didn‘t phone the AA like I said I would.’

‘I know you didn’t, but I have. They are holding an open meeting in two days time and
we
are going together. Speakers will tell how they were habitual drinkers and how, with the help of the AA, they have managed to remain sober and live a normal life. Then you will be on your own as I won’t be allowed to go with you to the closed meetings.’

‘Thanks, Jackie. I don’t deserve your kindness.’ She took a tissue from the table and wiped her eyes. ‘I just know I’m going to let you, and Mack, down. What a mess I’ve made of my life.’

‘Don’t be silly and don‘t start crying; it’s not good for your complexion. Come to think of it, Trish Lister, you look an absolute mess, almost as bad as when I first met you. I think you should lay down again until you feel a bit more like moving around. I would hate to start laughing watching you trying to stay upright.’

‘Ha, ha, but there’s no need. I’ve slept off so many drinking bouts over the last few months that I’m an expert at recuperation. Got an honours degree in it. When I wake up I’m always fit enough to stagger back to The Study and start all over again. Would you like me to prove it to you?’

‘Oh, no you don’t, those days are over. If you’re that fit then you can stagger up the stairs and make yourself respectable while I brew up a strong pot of coffee. Then I’ll show you the fax you’ve had from Dr Ingles.’

Trish reached out in a fruitless attempt to snatch the paper from Jackie’s hand.

‘Not now, after you’ve cleaned up I said.’

‘Yes, Mother.’ Trish cautiously made her way to the stairs and ascended without clinging on to the banister.

Jackie watched from the hall expecting her to fall at any time and not believing how easy she made it look.

‘I know you’re there,’ said Trish without turning. ‘Perhaps now you’ll believe what I told you. Suggest you get that kettle on the go.’

Jackie smiled when she heard Trish humming to herself as she walked across the landing from her bedroom to the bathroom. She read the fax again, but wasn’t hopeful it would come to anything. ‘Coffee ready,’ she shouted from the bottom of the stairs. ‘Don’t let it get cold.’

‘Just putting on some warpaint to cover the scars. One more minute.’

Jackie was pouring the coffee when Trish entered the office. ‘That’s better. Isn’t it great what a quick face repair can do?’

‘Yes, but it doesn’t hide the inner pain I have,’ said Trish.

‘Don’t worry, in time it will become nothing more than one of the many bad memories we have stored away. Here, drink this while I read out what Michael has remembered. It would appear, about two months prior to her death, Victoria started talking about this woman she had met in the ladieswear department of Maxfords store. When they first met, Victoria had said it was like looking in the mirror, they were so alike. Michael says Victoria always referred to the other lady as her ‘twin’ whenever they met. And they always met in Maxfords. Their dress and shoe size were the same, height and colouring identical. Only the hairstyle was different. They would sometimes have coffee together in the cafeteria. Michael says he and Victoria thought it quite amusing, but nothing more.’

‘Well, it’s not a lot but it is something to work on. If it’s true, that is,’ said Trish as Jackie took a bite of the biscuit she had dunked in her coffee.

‘I believe it is true and I’ll tell you why,’ said Jackie. ‘Victoria and I were in a church for the christening of a friend’s daughter when Victoria whispered in my ear that she had something to tell me later about a stranger. A lady she had met a few times whilst shopping. I’m afraid we both forgot about it, but I assume it was this ‘twin’. Does this information help us in any way?’

‘Could do. One way to find out is to visit Maxfords and interview a few of the staff.’

‘Come on, Trish, it’s over two years ago. Even if they still had staff working there after that time do you think they would remember something like this?’

‘Remember, we are talking about Maxfords who claim an excellent staff relationship and with a bit of luck we’ll find someone whose memory we can jog. I’ll phone the manager later.’ She made a note.

‘Then what?’

‘Depends on the results, but I will also go and see Victoria’s employer and see if I can turn up anything there.’ Trish removed a photo of Victoria from the case notes Jackie had given her. It had become badly creased. ‘Do you have another one I can use as this one is a little damaged? I’ll take care of it, I promise.’

‘I’ll sort one out. Trish, while you were asleep I was thinking how I could be of help. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of using your phone to book a weeks holiday. My manager is very good and agreed for it to start straight away. So now we can be together, in your place or mine. Please don’t think I’m being pushy, but I don’t think it is a good idea for you to be on your own at the moment.’

‘I hoped you would offer to stay with me because I know I won’t be able to cope on my own just yet.’

‘Great. So why don’t you phone Maxfords while I wash up. I think it’s late opening tonight so they should still be there if you are quick. Then we’ll pop over the road for a bite to eat. And before you ask, if you want a drink it will have to be of the non-alcoholic variety. Okay? Mack did tell me that you can’t just stop drinking overnight after having relied on it for so long, but let’s see how it goes.’

As Jackie began putting the clean plates in the cupboard she heard Trish talking, but couldn’t make out what was being said. She completed her chores as swiftly as possible and returned to the office.

‘Well, any news?’

‘Yep, sure have. I spoke with the manager,’ said Trish. ‘A Mr Myers, very helpful. I have to be there at ten-thirty tomorrow morning. Can you come with me?’

‘To Maxfords yes, but not to the meeting. I’ll wander around the store. Might treat myself to something, although I’m not sure what. You can ring my mobile when you’ve finished. Tonight we’ll stop at my place so you’d better go and pack a few things. Tomorrow we will go straight to town so make sure you take your best working-clothes, I want you to impress our Mr Myers.’

Chapter 4

Trish felt good, the best she had been for months. Spending the night at Jackie’s house had been a much needed tonic for her. All the better as no gin was involved. Her one nagging thought was whether Mr Myers would permit his staff to speak with a private investigator during working hours, should there be any who could possibly help. She guessed she might have to exaggerate her authority, perhaps even misrepresent. Just a little. Despite her one little doubt, Trish was feeling confident as she took the staff lift up to the management suite.

Phillip Myers was a lot younger than his voice had portrayed on the phone and very handsome too, considered Trish. She was beginning to warm to the task ahead. ‘Good morning, Mr Myers, I’m Trish Lister, thank you for agreeing to see me.’

‘Good morning to you, Miss Lister, we at Maxfords are pleased to help whenever we can.’

‘Perhaps, first of all, I should explain exactly why I asked to see you. Just over two years ago a young woman was murdered in the town and her husband, who has always pleaded his innocence, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, as you would expect. Some new evidence has surfaced that may, or may not, require the conclusion to be reconsidered. To make it clear, I am employed by the family of the murdered woman and
not
the husband. I have been instructed by the police,’ she cleared her throat and continued, ‘to inform them of my findings in order to assist them in reaching a decision. Victoria, the deceased, often came to your store and it is believed she became friendly with another woman, possibly a customer, not known by her husband or any other member of the family. Although I might be asking a lot would you be likely to have any staff working here now who have been here for three years or more?’

Myers appeared surprised, almost offended. ‘Why, of course we have, Miss Lister, there will be a good many I can assure you. This is Maxfords you know and we are justifiably proud of our low employee turnover. We always look after our staff.’

‘Er… yes, Mr Myers, I had heard it was rather good. I’m particularly interested in anyone who was working in the cafeteria and ladieswear department during the last three years.’

‘If you can give me just five minutes, Miss Lister, I’ll have names for you. Would you like a coffee? It’s our own brand, has a great taste and the most perfect aroma.’ He tilted his head and inhaled. ‘Mmm, I’ve almost persuaded myself to have another.’

Trish shook her head. ‘Sounds very tempting, but no thank you.’

Myers was away for less than three minutes. ‘Wonderful things, computers, especially when you’ve good staff operating them. Afraid I have yet to get to grips with it. Every piece of information at your fingertips.’ He gave Trish a copy of the list that showed a total of fifteen current staff members who had been at the store for longer than three years. ‘You’ll see this includes two in the cafeteria and one from ladies-wear.’

‘Excellent. Better than I’d hoped for, Mr Myers. I appreciate I’m pushing my luck, but would it be possible to speak to these three ladies now, if they are on duty and if you have no objections, of course?’

Myers smiled. ‘I thought you might like to, so I’ve asked my secretary to bring Angela Griffin up. She works in the cafeteria. You can use this office, I have plenty of work to do on the shop floor.’

‘Thank you, but I was hoping you would sit in on the interviews as it might help the ladies feel more relaxed.’

‘Fine, no problem at all.’ He waved to the young woman standing outside the office and beckoned her to enter. Her spotless pale green and white chequered catering top displayed her name and position. ‘Angela – Supervisor’. Her white framed glasses didn’t hide the uncertainty in her eyes.

‘Have I done something wrong, Mr Myers?’

‘No, Angela, you’ve nothing to worry about. Miss Lister is investigating a crime that took place over two years ago and believes the victim met someone in our store. Miss Lister, would you like to continue.’

‘Hello, Angela, first of all I’m not from the police, I’m a private investigator, so please relax.’

Angela’s apprehension visibly eased. ‘Thanks,’ she said, ‘I thought I was in trouble, but couldn’t think for why.’

‘I have a question for you, Angela. One that is going to test your memory a bit. The lady in this photo,’ Trish slid the picture of Victoria Campbell across Myers’ desk, ‘was murdered two years ago. We now understand she shopped here on a regular basis, normally during her lunch-hour, and just before her death she was believed to have had coffee here with an unknown person. Angela, can you think back and see whether you can recall this lady?’

‘Yes I can, Miss Lister,’ Angela Griffin responded without hesitation, her face expressing a true sadness. ‘I shall never forget her, poor lady. A day or two before the papers reported her death I had served her. That’s why it is all so clear in my mind. She seemed very cheerful so I asked her what was making her so happy. I remember her saying she had found her long lost twin sister.’

‘Was the twin sister with her, Angela?’

‘Yes, but she never spoke, only smiled.’

‘Did she also look like the lady in the photo?’

‘Oh yes, very alike. As twins you’d expect them to be, wouldn’t you?’ Angela Griffin looked puzzled by the need for the question. ‘Except her hair was shorter and a different colour.’

‘Can you recall any distinctive features the twin may have had? A mole or, perhaps, a scar. Anything?’

‘No, I’m afraid not.’

‘Have you ever seen the other lady in the cafeteria since that day?’

‘Yes, she has been back a time or two on her own. She was here last about, oh… I don’t know really, maybe just under three months ago. That time, in fact, she was with a man. I imagined it was her boyfriend because they were very lovey-dovey towards each other. I remember how pleased I felt that she had found happiness as it must have been terrible losing her sister.’

‘What was the man like, Angela?’

‘A big man, muscular and rather handsome, in a rugged sort of way, I recall.’

‘Would you be able to describe him well enough for an artist to draw him if I felt it necessary?’

‘I could try, but Claire would be better, she really took a fancy to him. Not only that, she might draw him for you. She is very good at portrait painting. Claire works with me and I pointed them out to her.’

‘Is Claire on the list for me to see, Mr Myers?’

‘Yes. Claire Hall. She will be next.’

‘Thanks, Angela, very much, you’ve been most helpful. Also, if the twin should come in again, with or without her boyfriend, serve them in the normal way, but don’t mention anything about our conversation. And please let me know straight away. Mr Myers has my number.’

‘Yes, of course. Glad I could help.’

Claire Hall, not showing any sign of nerves, confirmed Angela’s recollection. She had not seen Victoria although Angela had told her of the excitement at finding her twin.

‘I am sure Angela has told you already, but about ten, or maybe twelve weeks ago, I’m not sure, she pointed out the twin sister who was having a cup of coffee with a real hunky bloke. Tall and muscular and very tanned. To me he was like someone who has worked at sea all their life and was keen on body-building. I can see him now. Wow, what a man. I suppose I can dream can’t I, if I’m allowed to dream during working hours, Mr Myers?’