Three Little Maids (21 page)

Ludlam got up to show them to the door. ‘Thank you, I hope so too.’

Kent clicked on the car belt. ‘So what have we got here? Here’s an interesting situation. It seems as if this case is making more waves than a hurricane at sea. There’s no doubt about that. So it’s Cherchez la Femme. To make his alibi hold water. He has to have her word on that. But he seems confident that she will support him. Now who could that lady be? Any ideas, Turner?’

‘I’m no wiser than you.’ Turner pursed his lips together and shook his head. ‘It could be any of the women he comes into contact with in the
town hall at the chapel or at the school he runs. You won’t know unless he’s prepared to tell you.’

‘But it narrows the field considerably if she lived in Foxglove Grove?’

‘Not necessarily. The car could have been picked up somewhere else and the kids wanted to shake the place up a bit. They’d done it before apparently.’

‘But it gives us every indication that it was taken from Foxglove Grove.’

41

‘Who lives in Foxgrove Grove that you know personally, Viviane?’ Kent said placing his jacket neatly over the back of the wooden garden seat before sitting
down.

‘Are we talking about a woman or a man?’

‘A woman.’

‘Let me see now. Major Colby’s wife. She’s a library reader. And Mrs Goring, a doctor’s widow, and Frances Leach. Frances works for Carey’s. She plays the organ in the chapel. And is appearing as Yum Yum in the Mikado. The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, they’re putting on in the theatre. How does that help you?’

‘Sounds like Miss Leach could fit the bill. Thanks. She would do nicely. Tell me more about her if you can - ’

‘Why do you want to know? Or shouldn’t I ask?’

He grinned. ‘It’s for checking a suspect’s alibi.’

‘Really whose? Or am I breaching a confidence?’

‘I’ll explain later. Now you can tell me about what you know about Miss Frances Leach.’

‘Frances, Jon. An interesting woman. Her age, I think, is about forty three or four. Single. She has no family or ties as far as I know,’ Viviane said, bringing a glass of beer and white wine for herself out onto the patio, where Kent made himself comfortable now with his feet resting up along the wooden garden seat.

‘What else do you want to know?’ She handed over the beer.

‘Thanks
. Anything you think I should know about the woman?’

‘Well
- her invalid mother Sylvia died three months ago. Sylvia was an actress. Only a small fish in a big pond. The West End stage. She had some singing parts and dancing roles in one of two musicals just after the war. She was selfish, idolised and spoilt by her doting husband. He was a bank clerk. He died and left Frances to take care of her mother. And since her death,’ Viviane said smiling. ‘I have noticed the change for the better in her. Frances has been living it up a bit.’ She took a sip of her wine thoughtfully. ‘She’s bought new clothes recently and taken up with the Light Operatic Company. She has a good voice and dramatic ability. Some talent inherited from her mother. She was kept very much under her mother’s shadow for years, poor girl.’

Very vulnerable then to the charms of the preacher man, Kent thought. ‘You’re most probably right.’ He took along appreciative drink of his beer and relaxed back against the seat. ‘So how do you think I approach her as regards an alibi?’

‘An alibi? What does she need an alibi for?’

‘Her lover.’

‘Her lover! What on earth are you talking about, Jonathan Kent?’ she said laughing.

‘You heard.’

‘So she’s having an affair. Can you tell me who with? This is important?’

‘Right first time. And this is for your ears only. Aiden Ludlam’s her lover boy she’s been sharing her bed with
- but he has not divulged the name of his lady friend as yet to us.’

‘Never! Aiden Ludlam! I don’t believe it!’ Viviane giggled and smiled. ‘Oh, perhaps I do. Frances is more than likely in seventh heaven that Aiden has singled her out for his
favours. That is once she managed to dampen down her conscience. What will you do? Wait till he gives you her name? Or do you ask her tactfully if she does she have his company after the rehearsals?’

‘Don’t know yet. I should imagine he’ll be in touch with her soon.’

Viviane chuckled. ‘I still find it hard to believe. You have got a problem. You’ll have to be tactful, won’t you? I don’t know how I’d behave given the same situation.’ She finished her glass of wine. ‘Another beer?’ He nodded and handed over his glass.

‘Thanks.’

She came back with the drinks. ‘Tell her that there is no reason for her to be identified. It’s just to put Aiden in the clear during the investigations. I think you’ll find that she will agree to do this. She feels emancipated now that she’s having a life of her own. She looked after her invalid mother for over twenty years.’

‘Phew!’ Kent made a face. And took a long appreciative draught of his beer.

‘You only have to ask Turner’s wife Carole what she can tell you all about Sylvia. How she selfishly prevented her daughter from having any men friends or fun at all. There was one young man and a tentative engagement. Sylvia soon squashed any marriage plans for her daughter. So please do be careful. You’re treading on eggshells with her, Jon. Francis is a nice woman. I can’t see her as a marriage breaker though.’

‘Nuff said.’ He nodded. ‘I promise I’ll be careful.’

‘Wait! Just a moment. Don’t bring me into it. Whatever you do. You can say you’re making a guess at it. As Aiden Ludlam didn’t name her. And you’re keeping it highly confidential.’

He chuckled. ‘I hope that she is the only one he’s been sleeping with...’

She shook her head laughing. ‘You can’t be serious.’

‘What if there’s someone else who admits to having an affair with him? It’s possible with his kind of Casanova. He gets used to the women in the congregation swooning over him.’

‘No, I don’t think he’s that daft. He wouldn’t want to lose his calling in the chapel or his position as Headmaster and good name in the town. And his wealth comes from his wife remember. He must be concerned about that. Although he is thinking about Frances’s reputation. So that least speaks well of him. But a cheat he is - definitely.’

Jon relaxing with a can of beer in his hand fell silent for a moment. Viviane observing his features by the light from the garden lantern overhead noticed that they seemed keener and tauter than a few days before. The stress of his job had to pitch in somewhere. His long nose seemed more prominent. She wondered what he was really thinking. It wasn’t likely he would give away to her his true feelings about his
days’ work.

‘So next question. Rather important. What about the wife? Do you know Mrs Ludlam well, Viviane?’

‘Gwynith? No, not really. She is pretty adept at keeping her private life private. Her father, Shelley Rayburn, was the Headmaster at the school that Aiden now runs. And so far Aiden has always kept her in the fashion that she has been used to...’

She took another sip of wine. ‘She supports him admirably at the chapel. I think she’s secretly pleased that he has the attention and adoration of the women chapel goers. He’s always presented a picture of a good father and family man. Well liked in most circles.

‘And now he has admitted to having a liaison with the chapel organist. This case is stirring up quite a bit of sludge in the lives of nearly all the men connected with the chapel, isn’t it? None of which would have been exposed if the girls had not been murdered. It makes you think.’

‘Yes it does.’ He rubbed his nose with forefinger and thumb thoughtfully for a moment, swung his feet over to the ground and
said; ‘Time to call it a day. Thanks for the beer and your help, Viviane. You’re a friend in need. And boy - do I need one just now.’

‘Cheer up, Jon. Now that the Carnival week is over perhaps some of the strain will go from the town. But there will be the extra attention from the media. I think you’ve worked hard on the case so far. You couldn’t do any more than you have done so far.’

‘But I’m still hardly the wiser. We need some leads and some extra luck. Before the killer intends to strikes again...’

42

‘Good morning, Miss Leach. May we have a quiet word with you please?’ Kent asked when he walked into the Carey’s office with Turner. It was empty except for the secretary. ‘It’s regarding Mr. Ludlam. And his alibis for the Thursday evening and the two Saturday evenings.’

She didn’t seem surprised. ‘Yes, Inspector. He has already made me aware of it. Although he said he didn’t give my name. But I was expecting you.’

‘And - -Miss Leach?’

She viewed them calmly. ‘It wouldn’t take you too long to figure out that I live in Foxglove Grove. And I can confirm that he was in my company during those times he was questioned about.’

‘Thank you. If Turner can take down the dates and times. We shan’t keep you long, Miss Leach.’

‘On Thursday night we both attended rehearsals for the Mikado at the theatre. It was quite late when we finished. Roger Welbeck can confirm that. He’s rehearsing too.’

‘And he stayed with you till what time?’

‘Two am.’ Only a slight pink colouring in her cheeks, and her fingers twisting an elastic band on the desk as she spoke, betrayed the nerves that she kept admirably in control.

‘And on the following Saturday night; it would be the same time?’

‘And last Saturday night, Miss Leach?’

‘Aiden took his children to the park to watch the Firework display and I saw him there. And again, after taking the children home and putting them to bed. Gwynith had a bad migraine so he came over to my place.’

‘In Foxglove Grove.’

‘Yes. And parked his car down the road. He didn’t want to advertise his presence to the neighbours. But unfortunately his Mercedes attracted joy riders from the council estate. They stole the Major’s son’s car last year and trashed it That’s why he gets so angry. They create so much noise and mayhem in our quiet neighbourhood

‘And they took Aiden’s car. It left him in such a dreadful predicament.’ She shook her head. ‘He didn’t know what to do, Inspector. It was most embarrassing for the poor man. He told me afterwards that it had been taken.’

‘You didn’t know about it, Miss Leach?’

‘I was asleep.’ She blushed pinker still. ‘Well
, we’d had some wine, you see. Aiden brought the bottle with him. He usually does. I’m not used to it. I really don’t drink that much.’ And for the first time she showed some embarrassment. ‘He heard the noise. And Major Colby shouting outside. And realised afterwards that it was his car that had been stolen.’

‘He told us he walked home.’

‘Yes. He didn’t think it was wise to order a taxi from my house. It would only invite gossip for me, he said. It took him forty minutes or so quick walking to get home. He lives on the West side of the town. He had to tell the insurance people where he left the car though. And he had to do it without Gwynith finding out.

‘He told her it was taken when he left the car out on the road while he was getting the children to bed. She has no reason to think he was lying. And now he’s been told it’s a complete write-off. And those wicked boys never get caught and punished.’

She appeared more worried about the fate of the car than she was about her reputation. She had indeed become a liberated woman, Kent thought smiling to himself.

‘Yes
, it’s a sorry business. Let’s hope the insurance company play ball. Thank you, Miss Leach. We shan’t need to trouble you again.’

‘I hope not, Inspector.’

‘Well, I’d never have expected that of Miss Leach,’ Turner said as they left Carey`s office. ‘She’s a nice woman. A pity she had to be involved especially when you have a neighbour like Major Colby. I bet he doesn’t miss much that’s going on in that area. He prides himself as a good neighbourhood watcher I expect.’

‘She certainly didn’t make a big scene out of it. Kept herself well in control, didn’t she?’

‘He must have been steaming mad, having to hoof it home, guv. It must have dampened down his romantic inclinations quite a bit. He’s lucky she was prepared to give him an alibi though.’

43

The Medical Examiner looked up from there his unenviable task with a look of disgust on his face as the two detectives joined him quietly. ‘Gentlemen there is no need for me to repeat myself. There is little difference between this victim and the other two. She is undernourished. Not an anorexic. But she obviously hasn’t had sufficient funds to eat properly, I suppose, as one of life’s dropouts. Still very young. She didn’t do drugs. No signs of needles in her arms. And was not a glue sniffer. And she was unlike the other two in one thing.’

‘How’s that?’

‘This girl was a virgin, Inspector. Although it seems tasteless to dwell on this. It barely warrants thinking about, that she should have her life taken in what seems to be a motiveless crime. And she was choked to death with a pair of cotton panties. Not so up market as the two other girls. She wouldn’t have had sufficient funds to buy anything else,’ he said, and the tones of his voice were harsh. He’d not enjoyed the work he’d had to do that day.