Damned by Logic

by Jeffrey Ashford

  The phone rang. He once again ignored it.

  Ansell’s home in Bracken Lane had been secured since the finding of his wife’s body. It would be unusual if there were not a photograph of him somewhere about the house. That photograph could easily be transmitted to the Helios ...

  The phone rang. He swore as he lifted the receiver.

  ‘So a cat may speak to a king!’ Anne said. ‘It’s taken me half a dozen attempts to get through to you.’

  ‘Two.’

  ‘You sound sharp so I’ll be brief. Will you promise to go out to dinner on Saturday, whatever happens?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘There are times when I wonder why I married you.’

  ‘You know fixing a definite time can get blown to hell. Who’s been unwise enough to try to make me name one?’

  ‘The Wilkins. And since in your present mood you’ll tell me you don’t know who they are, Eric’s parents.’

  ‘Why do they want to dine and wine us?’

  ‘Because they haven’t met you more than a couple of times. Is work being extra stressful?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then come back at a reasonable time, I’ll cook you a good meal, you’ll provide a nice wine, and you’ll relax.’

  ‘Forget it.’

  ‘Duck paté, roast beef, Yorkshire puds, chocolate almond pudding.’

  ‘I only want cheese and salad.’

  ‘Lighten up, darling.’

  ‘How many times have I said ...’

  ‘I’ve never been able to count that high. We want to be on good terms with the Wilkins and if you make it seem as if you’re reluctant to meet them, it could make all sorts of problems for Shirley and Eric. Incidentally, they’re trying to fix a wedding day.’

  ‘When she’s only eighteen ...’

  ‘Stop being possessive.’

  ‘How’s he going to keep her?’

  ‘By working.’

  ‘In his job, as yet he can’t be paid much.’

  ‘She’ll keep working.’

  ‘Until she’s pregnant.’

  ‘You’re becoming quite impossible. Don’t forget, if money becomes very tight for them, they can start fiddling social security ... Do I need to explain that’s meant to be funny? When you’re more approachable than a grizzly bear with toothache, we can discuss things.’ She rang off.

  If she had to deal with as many cases as the CID concerning the bitter, often violent rows between couples who had married too young for their characters and lack of maturity ... He called himself several choice names for allowing the black side of his job to threaten the white side of his life. After all, Eric seemed to be relatively intelligent and was surprisingly respectful for the present generation ...

  Belinda entered. ‘You want something, sir?’

  He picked up a photograph which had been in number thirty-four. ‘Show this to Fred Hellan on the Helios. Find out if he can identify this man as the one he knew as Taffy, who drank with Melanie Caine and looked at her as if ... Never mind what. As quick as you like.’

  She picked up the photograph. ‘I’ll fax or email this later ...’

  ‘You fail to understand my order?’

  ‘Which is difficult, though not impossible.’

  ‘What the devil does that mean?’

  ‘A day or two back, I got in touch with the Rex Cruising Company to find out how long the Helios would be in harbour. I thought we needed to know, should we wish to get in touch with anyone aboard.’

  ‘Good thinking.’

  His praise was appreciated.

  ‘What did you learn?’

  ‘It sailed a couple of days ago on another Mediterranean cruise.’

  ‘Then follow your suggestion. Send the request to the captain in official terms and in the name of the detective chief superintendent to add weight since the captain may be over-conscious of his rank.’

  ‘A common failing.’

  ‘Do you have Australian blood in you?’

  ‘Why d’you ask?’

  ‘You have a habit of denigrating authority.’

  She smiled, left.

  THIRTEEN

  The email from MV Helios was received just after ten on a morning of grey cloud, intermittent drizzle, and a shifting wind; a day on which not to imagine those on the Helios enjoying cloudless skies.

  Belinda took the printed message to Glover’s room. ‘Just come though from the Helios, guv.’

  ‘Does it answer the question?’

  She passed the paper across.

  He read, swore, did not apologize as normally he would have done in defiance of canteen culture. ‘Why the devil was a useless photo sent?’

  ‘It wasn’t.’

  ‘You fail to understand what this says?’ Glover shook the papers at her to reiterate his annoyance.

  ‘You chose which photo to send so I’m sure it was the sharpest.’

  ‘Then they mucked things up in communication. Tell them to make certain it gets through clearly this time.’

  She went over to the door.

  ‘By the way, I came across an old book of nursery rhymes, printed before anyone had heard of political correctness. You remember my asking what Taffy did?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘“I went to Taffy’s house, Taffy was not at home, Taffy came to my house and stole a marrowbone”.’

  She left.

  Not long afterwards she was called back to Glover’s room. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked.

  ‘For what?’

  ‘As I said, to go and question Ansell.’

  She was about to remind him he had not expressed that intention but for once decided to remain silent.

  They went down to the car park.

  ‘Shall I drive, sir?’ Normally he preferred her to do so since it gave him time to brood.

  ‘I will,’ he said and accelerated off before she’d barely shut the car door and settled into her seat.

  As they turned into Bracken Lane, he said, ‘I’ll do all the talking; is that clear?’

  ‘Of course,’ she agreed. A snarky superior was a fact of life, but it was unusual for the DI to growl so often.

  There was room to park directly in front of number thirty-four. He did not immediately turn off the engine but stared through the side window. ‘With the rates as high as they are, you need a bob or two to live here.’

  ‘To live anywhere.’

  The PC by the front door looked as bored as he felt; the monotony of standing guard at a crime scene was one of the more disliked tasks. ‘Morning, sir. Mr Ansell is inside.’

  Glover walked up to the front door, pressed the bell. The door was opened by Olive Kelton, the cleaner. ‘Yes?’ she asked suspiciously, taking her job as gatekeeper very seriously.

  ‘We’re here to speak to Mr Ansell.’

  ‘He ain’t seeing anyone.’

  ‘I’m afraid he has to see us, Mrs Kelton.’

  ‘How d’you know my name?’

  ‘I’m Inspector Glover, my companion is Constable Draper.’

  She spoke more aggressively. ‘Then it must be a good time for the yobbos with all you lot here.’

  ‘We’ve called out the reserves to spoil their fun.’

  She was briefly uncertain whether he was serious or making fun of her. ‘I suppose you’d best come in, but don’t worry him rotten like the others did.’

  They went into the hall. As Inspector Glover was clearly not going to speak, Belinda thought it might be more fruitful to be polite and try to get the redoubtable Mrs Kelton on side. ‘We are sorry to have to be here and will be away as soon as possible, you can be assured of that, Mrs Kelton.’

  Olive’s annoyance ebbed slightly. ‘He’s real bust up.’

  ‘Of course he is and we fully understand.’

  ‘Then ...’ She pointed. ‘He’s in there.’

  They went into the sitting room. Ansell, slumped in a chair, saw Belinda and came to his feet.

  ‘Good morning, Mr Ansell,’ Glover sai
d.

  He did not return the greeting.

  ‘I’m Inspector Glover and my companion is Constable Draper. We’d like to have a word or two with you.’

  Ansell said nothing.

  ‘Do you mind if we sit?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  Once seated, Glover said, ‘We’re here to ask a few questions which—’

  Draper interrupted her boss. Official behaviour was all very well until one faced a man who looked as if he’d lost everything, including hope. ‘We apologize for bothering you at so sad a time, Mr Ansell, and would not think of doing so were it not necessary.’

  ‘Quite.’ Glover contained his annoyance at her interruption to the single word. ‘Mr Ansell, I have to inform you that Mrs Ansell suffered from no disease or damage to internal organs. However, when first medically examined, individual marks on her neck were noted. They later almost disappeared and there was no indication of internal bruising, yet there is the possibility that fingers were placed on her neck.’

  ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘Had there been lasting external and internal bruising, there would have been evidence as to the cause of death.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘There are circumstances in which a person’s body closes down and there seems to be no physical reason for its doing so. This is called vagal inhibition and is caused by violent shock or extreme fear. It seems possible that such was the cause of Mrs Ansell’s death, but medically one cannot be certain. Consequently, we have to learn whether there were circumstances which make it likely that she had reason to suffer overwhelming shock or fear.’

  ‘Then someone must have broken into the house,’ Ansell muttered.

  ‘Naturally, we are considering that.’

  As Glover knew, the locks of the outside doors of the house had been examined with the aid of an illuminated lock probe and there had been no sign of the scratches to be expected had they been forced with the aid of skeleton keys. Glover continued, ‘Are there many valuable articles in this house – jewellery, paintings, antique furniture or pottery, that sort of thing?’

  ‘No valuable antiques, not much jewellery. Eileen ... My wife had the usual sort of things – rings, bracelet, necklace which she frequently wore, but all the jewellery she inherited from an aunt is kept at the bank.’

  ‘Then why would someone believe it worth breaking into here?’

  ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘Then probably the person was what we call, an opportunist. The security system was not switched on. Were you not in the habit of having it on at night?’

  ‘She must have forgotten.’

  ‘It wasn’t part of the normal routine of closing down the house before going to bed?’

  ‘Yes. I always did that, but I was in Oxford.’

  ‘It didn’t occur to you to mention the alarms when you phoned her that night?’

  ‘I didn’t phone. When I had to be away because of work, I seldom did unless there was a specific reason.’

  ‘One could say it had become a settled marriage,’ Glover said lightly. Would any wife forget to set the alarms when on her own? he wondered. Would not most wives expect to hear from their husbands when they were away? ‘I understand you are friendly with Mrs Morley.’

  ‘My wife ... was.’

  ‘You would not call her a friend?’

  ‘I find her too interested in other people’s lives.’

  ‘Then you perhaps will not be surprised to learn she believes you had an affair when aboard the Helios?’

  The indirect question shocked Ansell.

  ‘Did you become over-friendly with someone on the cruise?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘There’s no truth in her suggestion?’

  ‘It’s one of her bloody lies.’

  The door opened and Olive entered the room. ‘That’s enough!’

  ‘What the devil d’you think you’re doing?’ Glover demanded.

  ‘You ain’t the Gestapo, so clear off.’

  ‘I’ve a damned good mind ...’ Glover began but was once again interrupted by his subordinate.

  ‘You’re right, Mrs Kelton, we’ve been here rather a long time. We’ll go and leave Mr Ansell in some peace.’ Belinda stood.

  Glover’s expression showed thoughts he did not immediately put into words. He remained silent as he said goodbye, led the way out of the house and only spoke when they were in the car. ‘What the hell did you think you were up to?’ he demanded harshly.

  ‘Couldn’t you understand the emotional torment he’s suffering? How would you cope if you were at the bottom of the world and someone uninvited turned up and bullied you?’

  ‘D’you think you’re running this case?’

  She started the engine and drove off. There was silence until they were stopped by lights.

  ‘When I was a DC, I very quickly learned to keep my mouth shut when the DI was questioning someone,’ Glover said.

  The lights changed, she engaged first gear and drew away.

  FOURTEEN

  The email arrived at 10.15 the next morning. Belinda, who had been scanning her email in box impatiently ever since she’d sat down at her desk that morning, was relieved to have an answer at last. Hellan had identified the second photograph as that of the man who had been very friendly with Melanie Caine.

  She went up to the DI’s office; the door was half open, so she walked in. ‘Just arrived, guv.’ She handed Glover the printed-out sheet of paper.

  He read the message. ‘Then we need another word with Ansell. And that woman who works there will get on with her job and not interfere.’

  ‘Her determination to protect him from hassle says a lot for him as an employer, I suppose,’ Draper pointed out.

  ‘More likely that no one will now be checking the plates are clean.’

  ‘You’re very short on sentiment today.’

  ‘Have you any more personal remarks to make before you do as asked?’

  ‘You want me to get the car to the front door?’

  ‘To tell Sergeant Frick to go with me so I can conduct an interview uninterrupted and at the pace I choose.’

  He watched her leave. She reminded him how, at home, Anne never withheld an opinion or a criticism she considered, often mistakenly, valid. His thoughts moved sequentially. Was Shirley sufficiently mature to marry; how would she cope with the problems which so often followed the honeymoon?

  Frick entered, stopped in front of the desk. ‘Constable Draper said you wanted to see me, sir.’

  ‘We’ve received solid confirmation Ansell was very friendly with Melanie Caine on the Helios. We’ll drive to his place now and have another word with him.’

  ‘I’m tied up in another case at the moment, sir.’

  ‘Untie yourself.’

  ‘Because of it, I’m having to meet the DI from A division.’

  ‘Then tell Trent to come along.’

  ‘He’s away.’

  ‘Is anyone around?’

  ‘Constable Draper.’

  ‘Man proposes, the dragon disposes.’

  ‘How’s that, sir?’

  ‘The Welsh dragon.’

  ‘Isn’t it the leek they go for?’

  ‘Her unwelcome habits seem to be catching. Remind her I am running the case, I do not appreciate her interrupting me and her opinions are only of interest when I ask for them.’

  Frick left, a look of humour on his face as if he couldn’t wait to impart their DI’s latest remarks.

  Glover read through a report which was to be sent to county HQ, noted two misspellings, marked them and wrote ‘redo’. Publishers of dictionaries must make very little profit from the younger generation. He knew he should probably just write these reports himself, but he did have to admit that he wasn’t the most accurate of typists. He supposed he’d have to send himself on some sort of course in the near future.

  Belinda entered.

  He looked up. ‘Sergeant Frick told you what’s on
?’

  ‘I am to accompany you to question Mr Ansell again, to remember I am not the senior investigating officer, to say nothing unless asked to speak, to ignore the mental pain your questioning will cause Mr Ansell.’

  ‘You can add, to refrain from insolence.’

  Moments later she started the engine and backed, turned, waited for a van to pass before she drew out into the road. Their journey to Bracken Lane was quick and silent.

  Mrs Kelton, working extra time to help Mr Ansell, as she immediately informed them after opening the door of number thirty-four, opened with: ‘Ain’t you nothing better to do than keep bothering him?’

  ‘We need to have another talk with Mr Ansell,’ Glover stated.

  ‘When you was here barely yesterday? Forgot what you wanted to say, like as not. I’ll find out if he wants to see you.’

  ‘He has no—’

  Belinda quickly interrupted. ‘Once again, we’re very sorry, Mrs Kelton, but we’ll be as brief as we possibly can be and do our best not to distress him.’

  ‘I suppose you’d best come in.’

  Mrs Kelton waited until they were inside and in the sitting room before she said, ‘He’ll be down when he wants to be.’ She closed the door with a bang.

  ‘I suppose I should apologize,’ Belinda said sweetly, ‘but it seemed better to lighten resentment than increase it.’

  Glover glowered at her but had no time to say anything as Ansell entered the sitting room and wished them an unwelcoming good morning. They sat.

  ‘Mr Ansell, you will have understood from what has been said before, we are trying to ascertain whether anyone might have caused Mrs Ansell so great a fright that she suffered from vagal inhibition. On my last visit, I asked if you had met Melanie Caine aboard the Helios. You denied this. Do you wish to stand by your denial?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘You will understand that if we have cause to believe you did meet her and had an affair with her, we will question why you lied.’

  ‘I did not meet her.’

  ‘A bar steward, Hellan, on the Helios has been shown photographs of her and you. He identified you and her as the couple who were frequently together at the bar he served and, in his opinion, you were enamoured with her.’