‘You really have something there, Salt my love. She certainly looks dead right, and she’s had the social experience. It doesn’t follow that she’ll know how to run a shop of this sort, and for all I know she may not have the right temperament. But I’m going to talk to her – and as soon as possible. Do I arrange it through you?’
‘I think not, Alice. She denounced me hotly last night – said I was trying to play God—’
‘Oh – that’s what you meant on the phone—’
‘Yes. Everybody’s denouncing me and threatening me, Alice, because I’m determined to find out who killed a patient of mine—’
‘Something Wilks – it’s in tonight’s paper – how you helped to find the body. Isn’t it exciting?’
‘No,’ he told her flatly. ‘It’s miserable, nasty, horrible. Let’s get back to Jill Frinton. I suggest you ring her up and ask her to visit the shop in the morning. But leave me out of it. She doesn’t like me.’
‘Then that’s one bad mark, my pet. I ought to tell her I love you. I do in a way, too.’
‘I love you in the same way, Alice my dear. Only it’s not the right way for either of us, as we both know very well. We enjoy each other’s company, but don’t need each other. What you need is a slender man with a beard, a delicate chest and wood engravings nobody wants to buy.’
‘I’d kill him in a week. I don’t know what you need – but I know what you’ll get – sooner or later. A nurse – with a very straight back and a will of iron. But how do you come to be mixed up in this Jill Frinton thing?’
‘This Noreen Wilks business, which I don’t want to discuss, involved her boy friend’s family – Culworth’s – keep a bookshop in Hemton.’
‘I noticed it the other day when I was up there. Once you keep a shop, you notice all the other shops. But tell me, Salt my pet, why did you ask me to come here? Not your sort of place – unless you’re not the man you were.’
‘I’m staying here.’
‘Why – for God’s sake?’
Then he explained about Buzzy and Jet Age Hospitality and Young Executives and Trend-setters and all that had happened to him so far under this roof, probably due to collapse at any moment. And she laughed and laughed, and he began to laugh with her. Then he saw Maggie.
He hurried across, to catch her before she turned away. ‘Maggie, come and join us. Unless, of course, you’re looking for somebody else—’
‘Well, I was just wondering—’ she began vaguely.
‘Come on, come on. I’ve been discussing something with an old friend – something that’ll interest you, but I’ll explain later. In point of fact, I was going to telephone you. Now then – this is Maggie Culworth, Alice. Maggie, this is Mrs Alice Marton – of Alicia’s Boutique fame—
‘Alice, order something for Maggie. I’ll have to leave you women for a few minutes.’
He moved briskly towards the entrance, but then swerved and went up to the table in the corner. ‘Miss Donnington, isn’t it? Thought I recognized your voice. I’m Dr Salt, you remember?’ He looked at the beefy young man whose cheeks were dark and his eyes glittering and insolent with drink. ‘Let me see,’ he said in his special innocent-chump voice, ‘have we met? I seem to know your face—’
‘My name’s Walsham. And I don’t think we’ve met. Can’t imagine why we should have done.’
‘He’s really telling you to go away. Aren’t you, darling?’ And Erica Donnington, who had obviously had her share of the drink, gave a shriek of laughter.
Dr Salt showed no sign of embarrassment. He grinned, nodded and hurried away. A few moments later he was at the reception desk. ‘I have an idea that a young man I know called Walsham is staying here. Could you give me his room number, please? I’m staying here myself, you know – 1012.’
‘Yes, of course,’ said the receptionist. ‘Mr Walsham is in 806. If I see him, shall I tell him you inquired?’
‘No, don’t do that. I’d rather like to give him a surprise.’
He strolled away, like a man killing time and not looking for anybody or anything. But between half-closed lids his eyes were bright and sharp indeed, and very soon they saw, protruding from one of the large armchairs facing the hotel entrance, a pair of trousers of a faded-chocolate shade. They could only belong to Herbert X. Coleman, who was sitting there waiting for somebody to arrive. As if wondering whether to walk forward into Herbert X. Coleman’s area of vision and perhaps accost him or to remain out of sight, Dr Salt hesitated a moment or two. Then he moved slowly and thoughtfully towards the Cocktail Bar, but just before he reached it he went down some steps beneath the illuminated sign of Gentlemen, hoping that one of the urinals would not crumble as soon as he started making use of it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Maggie’s Odd Evening
1
After Alice had ordered a Dubonnet for Maggie, she said to her: ‘I’m opening a branch boutique in Hemton and I’m looking for somebody to manage it. Dr Salt has suggested Jill Frinton. Is it your brother – at the university – who’s her boy friend?’
‘Yes – Alan,’ Maggie replied rather shyly. But she no longer felt jealous of this large plump woman. ‘They seem to be crazy about each other. And I know Alan, who’s very serious, will want to marry her. And I was dreading it because he hasn’t much money—’
‘And you just couldn’t see her trying to make do on it, could you, dear? Well, if she was right for my job, I’d pay her at least as much as he gets. With commission – probably more. You know her – what do you think of the idea?’
‘Well, I’m sure she’s very clever about clothes and accessories and all that. She’s that type. And I can see her being charming and tough at the same time – if you know what I mean, Mrs Marton?’
‘Alice, dear. And I know exactly what you mean. Between nine-thirty and five-thirty I’m very charming and tough as hell – you just have to be. Anyhow, I’ll have a talk with her – tomorrow morning, I hope. And if I do take her on, she’ll owe it to our friend and poppet, Salt. And he says she doesn’t like him.’
‘She would if he wanted her to, Alice.’ Maggie spoke with more conviction than she intended to convey.
Alice gave her a flashing look. ‘But you can’t have known him very long, my dear.’
‘Only a few days. But it seems a long time because a lot of things happened – all part of this horrible murder business—’
‘He didn’t want to tell me, so you needn’t, Maggie. I’ve known Salt ever since he came here, though I saw a lot more of her than I did of him. He was always working so hard. I lost my husband – a car smash – just before he lost his wife. We’re fond of each other, but only as friends. Couldn’t be anything else. But he’s a lovely man – very clever and yet kind and sweet – and very brave—’
‘I know he is,’ cried Maggie. Then she checked her enthusiasm. ‘But isn’t he very obstinate and self-opinionated as well?’
‘Of course, he is, my dear. And why not? He’s a real man – just as my Bill was. Maddening and marvellous. And getting dam’ scarce, let me tell you. I don’t really know young men now, though I like the look of some of ’em, as if they didn’t give a damn. But – say, between thirty-five and fifty-five – real men, like my Bill and Salt, seem to me harder and harder to find. Too many of ’em seem to be frightened of something – of us women or not pleasing the chairman of the board or not having enough money – you know—’
‘Yes, I do know.’ Maggie was emphatic.
Alice gave her a look. ‘A-ha!’
‘Yes – a-ha!’ Maggie finished her drink. Then she hesitated. ‘What was she like?’
‘In appearance, not unlike you – but a size or two larger all round – and, of course, much older. She was one of those rare women – and I’m not one but I admire them – who are serious but not solemn, boring. She could be very lively, quite gay, but she wasn’t frivolous. She was a serious person, just as Salt, for all his talk and antics, is a serious person.’
&nbs
p; ‘Yes, I know what you mean, Alice. She must have been wonderful. What are you laughing at?’
‘I don’t know. Yes, I do. But here he comes. And I must fly. I’ve a dinner date.’ She got up to greet him. ‘I’m sorry to be running away, Salt darling, but I’m late already. When are you actually going?’
‘Monday morning, probably. We must meet some time on Sunday, Alice.’
‘Will you still be staying here?’
‘Don’t be silly, woman. I leave this gorgeous dump in the morning. I’ll ring you.’
‘You’d better, Salt.’ She gave him a hasty comradely kiss. ‘And thanks for the drink. And the tip about the girl. And the nice talk with nice Maggie, who’s pretending not to adore you. ’Bye.’
‘I heard all that,’ said Maggie, because Alice had moved a few steps away from the table. ‘I like her, but I’m not pretending not to adore you, because I don’t adore you, Salt.’
‘Of course you don’t, Maggie. But Alice says anything that comes into her head. Not that she’s a fool – far from it. And she had a rough time but came through – bands playing, colours flying.’
‘Has she a lover?’
‘Probably, but if so, I don’t know who he is. I’m very fond of Alice, but I haven’t seen much of her lately. I’ve had to work all hours, and she not only runs the shop but has to keep dashing off to London and Paris, buying her expensive nonsense. Perhaps it’s a Frenchman – one of those with deep voices who stick out their lower lips.’
‘I’ll bet he has a lovely time. Why are you doing this for Jill – when she was yelling at you only last night?’
‘It’s part of a tidying-up process. I’m not conscious of wanting to move people around like chessmen, as Jill – and you too, perhaps – seem to believe. But if she gets the job – and I believe she will – then you won’t be worrying away thinking she’s going to ruin Alan. So I might leave everybody feeling happier,’ he concluded lightly, not looking at her.
‘But that doesn’t mean you aren’t really a bit of an old busybody.’ She spoke lightly, too.
Now he looked at her. ‘I’m not, Maggie. It’s a wrong view of me. It just happens we’ve become friends at an odd time. You might as well imagine that I’m always sitting in a dusty room among piles of books and records. By the way, all those I wanted to sell have gone now. I was swindled, of course, but both chaps paid me in notes so that I feel as if I’m bulging with money. Let’s spend some of it on dinner. Aren’t you hungry? I am.’
‘I think I am, too. But I’m not dressed for that dining room. I peeped in when I was looking for you – I rang up Buzzy and he told me where you were – and I wouldn’t feel happy in there. We’d better go down to Ye Oldie Englishie Grillie Room. Unless, of course, we go out and eat somewhere else.’
‘No, Maggie, I’m against that,’ he said rather slowly and apologetically.
‘Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with this place—’
‘This place? Me? Didn’t you hear Alice and me laughing when you first came in here? Well, I’d been telling her what had happened. I’ll tell you later. But I must stay on now.’ Both his look and his tone changed. ‘I wanted to say something about that, Maggie. My own behaviour may soon seem rather peculiar. I may want you to do one or two odd things—’
‘Nothing you learnt from the Chinese, I hope, Salt—’
‘I’m serious, girl. Silly as I look and probably sound – and idiotic as this place is – I’m trying to do a bit of work here tonight.’
‘Work? On what?’ Then she brought her voice down. ‘Not the Noreen Wilks thing?’
‘I’m afraid so, Maggie.’ He leant towards her, dropping his tone almost to a whisper. ‘And if you don’t mind, we’ll begin with a little odd behaviour now. While I’m paying for the drinks, you go out—’
‘To the ladies’ loo first, if you’ve no objection—’
‘Perfect from every point of view. Then go down to the Grill – and if I’m already there, then join me of course – but if I’m not, simply ask for a table for two and wait for me. And get one out of the way, in a corner, if you can.’
She stared at him for a moment. Even now she was never quite sure if he was really in earnest. ‘Now look – if you mean this – hadn’t you better explain what the idea is? Have you some reason for our not being seen together?’
‘Partly that. Partly, too, that there are some things I ought to do by myself. Now Maggie, please, off you go.’ But he gave her a smile.
As she walked out slowly, she heard a scream of laughter coming from some girl in the corner on the left; nearly all the tables were occupied now, and people seemed to be two-deep at the long, curved bar; the two red-coated waiters were hurrying with loaded trays; and seeping through the mosaic of noise like warm flooding syrup came the sound of the hotel’s canned music. And it was hard to believe that she was here because Salt was here, because Salt was still thinking about a girl’s body left in a cavity in a wall. No doubt he could join everything together, making one world out of it all, but she couldn’t. It was all split up, and it split her up, making her feel bewildered and terribly inadequate. If she was so close to Salt that she saw everything through him, would that do the joining-up trick for her? But what would she be giving him then, what would she have to offer?
The Ladies didn’t help. The woman looking after it was all right, quite friendly, but the place itself suggested it was waiting for girls more important and better-dressed than Maggie Culworth of Hemton. Even when she had re-done her face, putting in some rather reckless eye-shadow work too, it still made her feel a rather shabby little thing. So when she reached the Grill Room she was relieved to discover, after some staring around, that Salt was already there.
2
They had eaten avocados with a French dressing, saddle of mutton, cheese (for him) and fruit salad (for her), had drunk a bottle of a beautifully soft claret whose name she never bothered to learn, and were now talking idly over their coffee. Between the mutton and his cheese, Salt had asked her to excuse him and had then been absent for about five minutes. Throughout the meal nothing had been said about Noreen Wilks, young Donnington and old Donnington, Colonel Ringwood and Superintendent Hurst. And it seemed to her that just talking about other people and things was like escaping from a dark house into clear sunlight. Moreover, having been persuaded to drink some Cointreau with her coffee, she was feeling rather dreamy. She tried to imagine herself in the Dordogne.
‘I’ve never been there, but Alan has and he showed me a lot of photographs.’
‘Been where?’ But Salt wasn’t really attending. He was busy with a cigar that was trying to unravel itself.
‘Oh – sorry! The Dordogne. That’s where you said you were going, didn’t you?’
‘Yes, yes – of course.’ He was now out of his cigar muddle. ‘I’ll only be there a week or ten days. Then I drive to Barcelona, and then to Zurich. There’s a man in Barcelona and another man in Zurich who are specializing in certain kidney diseases. Too late for me to do that – and, anyhow, I like people, not microscopes – but I want to see what they’re doing. And I have a few notes that might interest them.’
‘I must say, that’s not my idea of a holiday. The Dordogne – yes. Marvellous! And Barcelona’s rather exciting. I’ve been there. But then the kidneys take over.’
‘Given the right time and place, I could keep you enthralled by my story of the kidney – its disasters and triumphs, its hopes and fears. But not here, not now.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Just after ten. So – we go to work. You ready?’
‘I suppose so,’ she said reluctantly. ‘But I won’t pretend I’m in the right mood for it, especially if there’s anything difficult to do.’
‘No, no – all as easy as pie—’
‘Pie can be terribly difficult—’
‘Not this one. I want you to go to the eighth floor. If there are any chambermaids or waiters around – and I think it’s unlikely – just waste time until they’ve gone. Look
at your nose, powder it – that sort of thing.’
‘You needn’t tell me. I’ve done hours of it. Every girl has. So what do I do if the corridor’s clear?’
‘You ring, knock or bang on the door of 806. If it’s not opened at once, don’t give up. Try at least once again. If and when it is opened, then tell an urgent but rather confused story that will keep it open. You believe – let’s say – that a small parcel intended for you in 906 may have been delivered to 806. You’re awfully sorry to disturb him but would he mind making sure the parcel isn’t there – you know?’
‘He might want me to make sure with him. And a lot of things could happen after that, especially if he’s a young man and has had a few drinks.’
‘If he asks you in, then he won’t have anybody in there with him, and the whole exercise is washed out. Just mutter some excuse and buzz off.’
‘You mean I’m really trying to discover if this man has got a girl in there? While I’m telling my story and the door’s open, I’m listening for any possible screams, giggles, scraps of girlish song or impatient cries from the bedroom – um?’
‘That’s very sharp of you, Maggie—’
‘No, it isn’t. The female mind works like lightning along those lines, Salt. Then what do I do?’
‘You don’t come down again. You go up to the tenth floor – stairs or lift – make sure nobody’s watching you and then let yourself into my little suite – 1012. And here’s the key.’ He handed it over. ‘Close the door, but don’t let it lock itself. That’s so that I can pretend to be unlocking it when I arrive. If somebody sees me, so much the better.’
‘Is this part of the Room 806 plot or something different?’
‘Quite different.’ He grinned. ‘But they both belong to a grander plot.’
‘Salt dear, do you really know what you’re doing? Or is it the mixture of whisky, claret and brandy that’s at work?’
‘That’s helping, no doubt. But I had all this in mind before the mixture began to work.’ The grin vanished. ‘I may be guessing a bit wildly, but I’m not just fooling around, Maggie. For one thing, I can’t afford the time.’
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