by Joy Ellis
‘You know, when I picked them up, they were with a large plain envelope. I assumed that’s where he kept them. I wonder now if he intended to send them to someone?’
‘What, like blackmail?’
‘I don’t know. Or perhaps he wanted someone else to see them. Dave, make copies of all these cuttings and add the dates. Highlight the relevant articles on the copies, then bring one set to me and take another out to Dr Draper. He might just be able to fathom out who Fred Cartwright would want to share this knowledge with.’
‘Okay, ma’am.’ Dave turned to leave, then stopped. ‘You don’t think he was going to show them to his daughter, do you?’
‘Perhaps, but I don’t think so. The envelope was new. He’d obviously kept those old papers somewhere safe for years. Why put them in a brand new envelope if you weren’t going to post them? Whatever, well done, Dave, for spotting it. I don’t know how it’ll help us, but it’s another puzzle solved.’
‘Thanks, ma’am,’ Dave left.
‘Nikki! Sorry to have kept you.’ Gill Mercer came out of the DCI’s office. ‘Good news! I think we’ve managed to convince HQ to give us some manpower from the other divisions.’ She fell into step beside Nikki.
Nikki smiled. ‘A few more flat feet on the job certainly won’t go amiss. Now, who’s first on our list?’
‘Zena Paris. She said she’d be in her shop all afternoon, so we’ll kick off with her. Then, I’m sorry but I have to get back here. I’ve got a couple of people calling in to see me about the Lawson girl. If they don’t take too long, perhaps we can visit Professor Anna Blunt afterwards.’
They walked to the car park.
‘I’ve upped the watch on the remaining victims, Gill. Lucy Clarke is staying with her manageress, who lives over the cafe, and uniform are keeping a careful eye on them. PC Ciaran Streeter has taken over Steve Royal’s beat at West Salterton. He and two other officers are watching Peter Lee’s house round the clock. Delia Roberts has her company security men with her while she is at work, and we have officers on duty outside her flat. Skegness sector are looking out for Sally King and her family, so with HMP Lincoln kindly looking after Terry Harvey for us, we can’t do any more. They have all been warned that they may be in danger — not easy considering the fragile state of some of their heads,’ Gill said.
Nikki eased the Land Rover out into the main road. ‘Now, what do you know about Zena Paris?’
‘Precious little. She’s owned the antique shop for about five years and lives in the apartment above it. Seems to have come here from London. Her past is rather hazy, so we’ll clear that up today. She has not yet admitted to being friends with Madeline Prospero, and yet you say they go back a long way?’
‘So I’m told. And I’ve also been told that Madeline had a secret admirer. Zena should know who that was.’
‘Right. Is she, er, seeing anyone that you know of?’ Gill asked
‘Ah, well today I was given a list of unofficial liaisons between the Briar Patch women. Zena doesn’t even get a mention. Another source tells me she’s supposed to be a bit of a goer, so make of that what you will!’
‘Lord! I’m confused already.’
‘Wait till you see the list!’
‘Spare me! I’ll look at it later when we get back to the station and I’ve got a strong black coffee in my hand.’
* * *
Nikki parked directly outside Paris Antiques.
Gill peered through the window. ‘Phew! Pricey!’
‘And guarded by a Rottweiler called Harriet Page. She’s the manageress.’
‘She’s not on the Briar Patch membership list, is she?’
‘Funnily enough, no, although she comes across as butch as hell. She frightened the life out of me when I first saw her.’
Gill pushed open the door.
No Rottweiler this time. Instead, they were greeted by the tall, willowy woman from Spooky’s photograph. Nikki took her hand and was surprised at the strength in the slender fingers.
‘I’m Zena Paris. Do come through to my office.’
Zena stood aside and indicated an open door at the back of the showroom.
The office obviously doubled as a stock room, and they were shown to two rather splendid chairs in front of an ornate desk.
Gill lowered herself gingerly onto her plush brocade seat, and Zena smiled. ‘Please, they’re just reproductions. Can I get you a drink?’
They declined, and she eased her elegant frame into an ornate carver chair behind the desk.
‘Mrs Paris—’
‘Ms Paris, Detective Inspector, but call me Zena, please.’
‘My apologies, Ms, er, Zena. I explained on the phone that this is about a murder inquiry. We have spoken to you once about Louise Lawson, but today we’d like to ask about Madeline Prospero.’ Gill looked directly into Zena’s eyes. ‘We believe you knew her, although you omitted to tell us that before?’
Zena looked at Nikki.
Nobody spoke. Then Gill quietly said, ‘We could charge you with perverting the course of justice if you were found to be withholding evidence.’
Zena stared down at the oak desk. She seemed to be going over her options. She sighed deeply. ‘I chose not to speak about Madeline because I thought it was irrelevant to your investigation.’
‘Perhaps we should have been the ones to decide that, Zena.’ Gill’s tone was cool.
‘Madeline had a very difficult existence, Detective Inspector Mercer. Misguided loyalty to her family and their business compelled her to live a lie, and it troubled her conscience. With me, and other like-minded friends, she was able be herself.’
‘At the Briar Patch?’ asked Nikki softly.
‘I wondered how long it would be before you betrayed your friends’ confidences, Inspector Galena.’ Zena almost spat this out.
Before Nikki could respond, Gill turned on her. ‘How dare you sit in judgement on someone who is trying to save your precious friends’ lives! You are supposedly intelligent women, but in relation to this killer, you don’t seem to have a brain cell between you! Wasn’t young Louise Lawson being sliced to ribbons enough for you? Or Madeline being butchered? Oh, remind me, she was your friend, wasn’t she?’
Nikki laid a hand on her arm. ‘Gill, that’s enough, okay?’
Gill bit hard on the side of her thumb and looked away from Zena.
Zena was deathly pale and her long thin hands shook. ‘What do you want to know?’
‘Anything that could help us, Zena.’ Nikki leaned forward. ‘Listen, I don’t want anyone to suffer because of this investigation. I’ve seen plenty of my friends do the guilt trip, live the lie. A lot of us, straight or gay, have bought the bloody T-shirt when it comes to hiding our true feelings. I’ve seen people in emotional turmoil, Zena, and I can assure you that you do not have a monopoly on suffering. The thing is, there is a killer out there who has you and yours in her sights. Surely it’s better to tell the truth than to have to bury your only daughter, like Maria Lawson?’
‘Her sights?’
‘Yes. We suspect the killer to be a woman.’
‘Excuse me.’ Zena got up and almost staggered to the door. ‘Harriet! Get some coffees, please. Strong, if you would.’ She closed the door and sat back down. When she spoke, her voice was flat and unemotional.
‘I met Madeline in London. She was at an auction, selling some furniture for her father. I was interested in what she had, and purchased a few bits for my shop in the Fulham Road. We got talking, exchanged cards, and met for lunch the following week. That was many years ago. It was Maddie who told me about this shop when it came onto the market. I was sick of the big smoke, so I came to live in Greenborough. I was surprised to find a thriving lesbian community in such a small place, but there you are.’ She shrugged. ‘I went for the occasional drink at Sammy’s bar and later, with several other professional women, we founded the Briar Patch Club. It has flourished. We’ve helped numerous women, gay and straight, with career and business
problems. We’ve raised money for charity and we’ve supported each other through rough times. The club worked for all of us.’
There was a rap on the door and Harriet Page entered carrying a tray of drinks. She looked anxiously at her boss and asked if everything was all right. Assured that it was, she left.
‘I knew about Maddie’s problems, so I introduced her to the club. She had to be very careful, and right up to her death she managed to keep her sexuality from everyone but a select few.’ She sighed heavily.
‘Were you in love with her, Zena?’
Zena shook her head sadly. ‘No. She was my dearest friend, but Maddie was more like a little sister. I protected and nurtured her, but I wasn’t “in love.” You see, I’ve been with Harriet since long before I met Maddie. Almost fifteen years now, and yes, we both see other people from time to time.’
‘And who did Madeline see?’ asked Nikki.
‘She had one or two casual affairs, just for the sex and a bit of fun. She couldn’t afford to commit to a steady relationship, she had too much to lose. She saw a woman called Victoria a few times, and I think she may have had a bit of a fling with Cindy Stamford, but nothing heavy.’
‘Did she tell you about her secret admirer?’
Zena sat up in her ornate chair. ‘How the hell did you get to know about that?’
‘Your very effective grapevine.’
Zena’s eyes narrowed. ‘Someone was sending her gifts. At first we thought it was one of her male admirers, then we weren’t so sure. It went on for about a month, and then stopped. I suppose whoever it was got bored, or got the message that Maddie wasn’t interested.’
Gill suddenly came alive again. ‘If she let them know she wasn’t interested, she must have known who it was, surely?’
‘They wanted to meet, but she never went.’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘She would have told me.’
‘Did you ever have any suspects? One of the other women, perhaps?’
‘No, never. Sure, some of them fancied her, which was hardly surprising, she was pretty, feminine and very well off. But they were open about it.’
‘Was she frightened by the gifts?’
‘She was more concerned about the consequences, if the admirer turned out to be a woman, but not really frightened.’
‘Zena? Do you have any idea who killed Madeline Prospero, or why?’ Nikki’s eyes were ice cold.
‘If I had, I would have come to you. The club voted to keep quiet, but believe me, I want the killer caught as much as anyone. I just didn’t want to be the one to betray Madeline’s secrets.’
‘Lastly, can you think of anything that would have connected Madeline’s death to that of Louise?’
‘Nothing, other than the fact that Maria Lawson knew them both.’
There was nothing more to say.
* * *
Back in the car, Gill apologised for her outburst, but said the stupidity of the Briar Patch women was beyond her. Why would they refuse to help in the hunt for a murderer? A murderer who had killed two of their own?
Nikki wondered why Spooky hadn’t mentioned that Zena and Harriet Page were partners. She obviously knew them both well.
* * *
‘What? You are joking, aren’t you? She had to be taking the piss! Zena and Harriet? Never!’ Spooky said.
Her reaction surprised Nikki. ‘That’s what she said. Fifteen years together, but they weren’t entirely monogamous.’
‘Well, I don’t know what to say to you. I really had no idea.’
‘Perhaps they’re not, but she wants us to believe they are.’
Spooky threw up her hands. ‘But why?’
‘Pass. But I think Zena knows a lot more than she’s letting on.’ Nikki gazed around the computer room at the boxes of new equipment. ‘How’s all this going?’
‘Really well. I should have most of it operational by tomorrow.’
‘Do you have an “ageing” programme? Like if I gave you a kid’s photo, could you generate an image of what she would look like thirty years on?’
‘Sure. You’re talking about an age progression tool. I can progress from one to eighty if you want. It’s fast too.’
‘And would it be fairly accurate?’
‘It works remarkably well. In fact when we did trials, our rendered photos were often confused with current ones. Even their families were unable to reliably distinguish between the two.’ Spooky gave her a worried look. ‘You are thinking of the killer?’
Nikki nodded. ‘Joseph is trying to source a photo of her as a child. If he finds one, have you got the appropriate software here?’
‘I will by tomorrow.’
‘And you said it was fast?’
‘Is thirty seconds fast enough for you?’
‘Brilliant. I’d better leave you to get on.’ She smiled at her friend. ‘Are there any more Briar Patch meetings coming up?’
‘Not officially, but I know most of the women will be at Sylvia Caulfield’s Greenborough Hospice Charity night. They are having a “Silly Auction,” you know, bidding for ridiculous items. They were going to cancel it, but the members said they refused to let this threat control their lives, so it’s going ahead. Why? Do you still want to talk to them en masse?’
‘No, I’ve just thought of something though.’ Nikki suddenly seemed absorbed in a mark on her trousers. ‘It’s nothing. I’ll let you get on. Bye for now.’
Outside the computer room, Nikki took out her mobile phone and made a call. Then she got into her 4x4 and drove out of the station.
* * *
A smoky haze drifted across the road in front of the car. Cat glanced at Yvonne. “West Salterby looks like an old-fashioned picture postcard, doesn’t it? With that church spire and those picturesque cottages nestled together. It’s so peaceful.”
Yvonne snorted. ‘Sorry to disillusion you, but this part of the fen is anything but bloody peaceful.’
Leaning heavily on a gnarled and twisted walking stick, Old Sid Wilson was endeavouring to pull a few dead plants from his window box. ‘Nasty frost last night, lasses. Had me petunias it did . . . See?’
Yvonne picked up the carrier bag at the old man’s feet and helped to pull out the blackened plants. She asked him how he was.
‘Not too bad, not too bad. Actually I’m glad you’ve come out here again.’ Sid placed a handful of leaves in the bag she held open for him. ‘I lost that card that the officer gave me, the one with the name and number. See, I was talking to me neighbour yesterday, and she mentioned that our post lady’s son was staying with her for a while. I couldn’t place the lad at first, then it came back to me. He was a long-haired, grumpy misery of a boy and he had a bit of a crush on young Avril Hammond. I’d forgotten all about that when I saw the detectives before.’
Cat brightened. ‘Is he still here?’
‘Saw him yesterday. Of course he’s all grown up now, but he didn’t look no happier.’
‘What’s his name, Sid?’ asked Yvonne.
‘James Cooper. His mum lives in that little row of cottages just past the post office. Meadowlands, it’s called.’
Yvonne recognised the name. If he was the Jimmy Cooper she had pulled in several times, he was more than just miserable, he was downright unpleasant. Drugs offences mainly, and he hadn’t been averse to a spot of burglary, if she remembered correctly. ‘Maybe I’ll go and say hello. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see me again.’
* * *
‘Never heard of her,’ Jimmy said.
‘That’s bullshit and you know it, Jimmy. You had the hots for her when she was probably still underage,’ Yvonne said.
‘Never did.’
‘Look, lad, it’s not you that’s in the cack for a change. If you tell me what you know about this, I may just be able to help you next time you get brought kicking and screaming into Greenborough nick.’
Jimmy shrugged his shoulders. His leather jacket creaked. ‘Who’d yer say you’re loo
kin for?’
‘Avril Hammond. Thought to be dead, donkey’s years ago.’
‘Oh yeah, the one whose dad was a perv.’
‘Excellent, your memory seems to be returning.’ Cat glared at him. ‘And you fancied the knickers off her, right?’
‘Me an’ most of the others. She’d do it for the price of a bag a chips, she would.’
Cat looked shocked. ‘She was only a kid!’
‘Really? You do surprise me.’
Yvonne frowned at him. ‘Jimmy, are you making this up?’
‘Sorry to tell you this, WPC Collins, but Avril Hammond would shag anything with a pulse, and believe me, she knew what she was doing alright! She took the virginity of half the West Salterby boys, and most likely some of the girls, before she disappeared.’
‘And can you help me with anything about her disappearance?’
‘I had nothing to do with that! Her dad probably caught her with her knickers down once too often and finished her off. There were some weird rumours afterwards, but she never came back so I guess she’s dead, like they said.’
‘And these rumours?’
Jimmy was silent for a moment. ‘Back then I had this mate. We used to do a bit of business together . . .’
Cat just stopped herself mentioning drugs.
‘Well, this bloke, he liked sowing his oats. In fact he had a bit of a problem in that department, you know, like he couldn’t get enough?’ Jimmy gave Cat a lascivious look. ‘Suddenly he’s all smiles, reckons he’s found a bit of stuff that’ll put out for him whenever he fancies it. When I asked him who she was, he clammed up on me. Said even if he did tell me, I’d never believe it. He never did, before you ask.’
‘And you thought it was Avril?’
‘Dunno what I thought really. Whoever she was, she wore my mate out, and that must have taken some doing! I just didn’t know why he was bothering with being so secretive.’