‘I know you,’ said Gault suddenly turning to Rattigan. ‘You were here before.’
‘Yes, I was,’ said Rattigan. ‘I didn’t believe you then and I don’t believe you now.’
Chapter Ten
Sybil and Sonia’s flat was large enough to accommodate a cook-housekeeper, a chauffeur-butler in the person of Harry Saunders, and a daily maid. One of the mushrooming modern blocks that had so transformed London, it was beautifully appointed in the contemporary style. Anywhere less like Ickborne Abbey could scarcely be imagined.
‘Hello Miles,’ said the Countess, ‘we thought you might call eventually.’ Bare-footed, she was wearing a fashionable, one-piece Turkish-style garment, cut very full, and smoking a cheroot in a long holder.
Sonia, in black leotard and tights, was sitting on the floor. She rose, cross-legged, to greet him. ‘How too awful it is!’ she said. ‘And to think I was dancing with him not long before.’
‘Nasty piece of work, by all accounts,’ said Sybil gruffly. ‘At least he didn’t suffer. According to Maudie anyway.’
‘He didn’t deserve to die,’ said Sonia reproachfully. ‘And he was perfectly polite to me.’
‘Did you know Nigel before-hand, either of you? Before the ball, I mean.’
Sonia shook her head. ‘I’d never knowingly seen him before.’
‘Sybil?’
‘Yes, I met him once. It was before Sonia’s time. I mentioned to Kitty I was thinking of making the Abbey habitable – that was about six years ago – and she insisted on motoring down to see it. Nigel and Amelia came too. They hadn’t been married long then. Have you got your policeman’s hat on or is this a social call? Not that we aren’t pleased to see you.’
‘I regret, it has fallen to me to investigate this case,’ said Felix. ‘So, yes, I’m a policeman today. I’m collecting witnesses, or possible witnesses, and it has occurred to me, Sonia, that you must have gone upstairs to change. Indeed, twice. You changed in the ladies’ room presumably?’
‘No, I didn’t, as a matter of fact,’ said Sonia. ‘Betty let me change in her apartment. She left it open for me.’
Felix took out his notebook. ‘That’s interesting. Can we make this a witness statement? You’ll get a chance to see it later, and alter it if you’re not happy with it. Then we’ll make it official. Was anyone in Betty’s apartment when you arrived? Can you remember? ’
‘There wasn’t supposed to be, though I only saw the living room. I just walked in, did what I had to do and left. I understand she doesn’t make much use of it. Still lives with her mother.’
‘What about your dress, the one you performed in, did you leave it there earlier?’
‘Yes I did.’
‘So that makes three visits?’
‘I suppose it does, if you count that one.’
‘And did you see anyone on that floor on any of those occasions, or hear anything unusual? A fight or struggle, for example, or raised voices.’
‘That’s where the murder was, isn’t it? In his apartment. I didn’t hear anything, but I did see someone. It was when I came out from changing back. He was coming from the opposite corridor, across the landing. I suppose I noticed him because there was no-one else about and – this will sound foolish – because he had such prominent ears. Was it him, do you think?’
‘It’s not impossible,’ said Felix. ‘Can you describe him further?’
Sonia looked doubtful. ‘Not in detail. He was bald or nearly so, and quite heavily built, with a thick neck. They’re a type, aren’t they?’
‘Yes they are. What was he wearing?’
‘White tie, I think. Yes, I’m sure it was.’
‘Where was Tony when you were changing back? You ran back upstairs together as I recall.’
‘He was with me,’ said Sonia, glancing defiantly at the Countess. ‘I need him when I’m changing to pin me up and unpin me.’
‘A fine tale,’ muttered Sybil nastily.
‘Sybil!’
‘Sorry,’ growled Sybil, turning away.
‘Miles doesn’t want to hear our rows,’ scolded Sonia. ‘He’s got a murder to think about.’
‘And where were you, Sybil, when Sonia was changing back?’ said Felix, ignoring this spat.
‘I went to the ladies’ room,’ said Sybil.
‘Did you see Sonia and Tony at all, when you were there?
Sybil, whose face and neck had turned a blotchy red, erupted. ‘I went up there,’ she said through clenched teeth. ‘and caught them kissing.’
‘Sybil, you promised!’
Felix abruptly put away his notebook. ‘Thank you ladies. I think that’s all I need for now. I wonder if before I go I might have a word with Harry Saunders?’
‘Why?’ said Sybil aggressively.
‘One assumes he’ll have spent time in the servant’s hall. He’s a sharp chap and may have heard something the servants won’t tell us, or have forgotten about.’
‘Oh, I see.’ She opened an inner door and cried, ‘Harry! You’re wanted.’
They settled themselves in the little room that served as a servants’ hall.
‘Nice to see you again, Harry,’ said Felix. ‘I presume they’ve kept you abreast of events? Nothing for you to worry about but I’m told you went up to watch Tony and Sonia’s dance routine last night. That puts you rather close to the scene of the crime. I just want to know what you did and where you went between, say, nine and ten, so we can eliminate you from our enquiries.’
Harry looked annoyed. ‘You think because I was a tea leaf I’d do a geezer in? Come orf it!’
‘I don’t think that at all,’ said Felix patiently. ‘I can’t imagine that you’d have any reason to do so or that you’d be so foolish, but that’s one of the drawbacks of your previous career, I’m afraid; it invites suspicion. That’s why I need to know what you did up there. I’ll be asking a lot of other people about their movements, so it’s not just you.’ He took out his notebook again. ‘Now take me through it, there’s a good chap. You went up to watch the cabaret and were chatting to the maids, presumably, and told them you knew the dancers.’
‘Yes, well that’s about ’ow it was,’ said Harry grudgingly. ‘I didn’t know exactly when they’d do it, but the girls was goin’ to watch the dancin’ for a bit anyway and we caught it right. Then they said they ’ad to work, so I come away with them. I took meself down to me bike and ’ad a smoke and waited until I ’ad to collect ’er Ladyship.’
‘And did you see anyone going upstairs to the top floor?’
‘They might ’ave done. There was people goin’ up and down all the time. I wasn’t specially looking.’
‘And how did you yourself get up there and down again?’
‘Back stairs. And I didn’t see no-one there neither.’
‘I saw Harry Saunders,’ said Felix, getting into the car. ‘He was a bit defensive but I suppose you’d expect that. He more or less confirmed what the maid told John.’
‘What about the other two. Am I taking their statements?’
Felix shook his head. ‘I decided I might get more out of them if I took them myself. Also they were squaring up for a fight. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.’
‘What was that about?’
‘The green eyed monster, I’m afraid. Some rivalry over Sonia. It was worthwhile though because she saw someone resembling our Mr Gault. Bald, thickset, sticky-out ears. Must surely be him. Here’s Tony Swindon’s address. Allons-y.’
Tony lived in theatrical diggings no great distance away. Ushered into the dingy hall, Felix wondered why these places always smelled of boiled cabbage. Did they eat nothing else?
‘Come in here,’ said Tony, leading him into the communal sitting room. ‘There’s no-one about, fortunately.’
‘I’ve just co
me from the others,’ said Felix, by way of breaking the ice.
Tony pulled a wry face. ‘Did they mention me at all?’
‘Sonia did. I presume she telephoned you?’
‘Yes, yesterday morning. I understand it was on the same floor as Betty Cotton’s rooms. Bit too close for comfort.’
‘Probably about ten yards away. I’m told that one of your more pleasant duties is to pin Sonia up, pre-performance.’
‘And unpin her afterwards. Yes it is. But don’t jump to conclusions, we’re theatrical folk. We don’t think anything of it.’
Felix shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Tony, but it all came out.’
Tony paled. ‘Oh, I see. Well, now you know.’
‘Jealousy justified? That’s not an official question by the way. It’s none of my business.’
Tony smiled sadly. ‘I’m madly in love with her but . . . Sonia is Sonia. This is going to make things difficult.’
‘Why now and not before?’
‘Sybil hasn’t seen us perform very much, and always on stage as part of a show. Perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea.’
‘Coming back to the murder. Did you see anyone else while you were up there? Anything suspicious?’
‘On that floor? Yes and no. Sonia saw a thickset fellow with protuberant ears. I expect she told you. I saw him too but only from the back, going down. I don’t know whether he was suspicious or not.’
‘Where did he go? Do you know?’
‘He got to the bottom of the stairs and turned as if to leave the building. Not sure he did though. Will you be able to find him, do you think?’
‘We’ve interviewed someone who fits his description. There’s no knowing at this stage whether he was involved or not. I’ve got my sergeant in the car. Do you mind if he takes your statement?’
Chapter Eleven
‘It’s a pretty close match, sir,’ said Yardley, putting the photos side by side for comparison. ‘I’d say it’s Harry Saunders’s dab all right. Or if not, it’s a heck of a coincidence.’
‘Bring him in?’ said Rattigan.
‘Not yet. Let me think about it. Yes, Dolly, what is it?’
‘DC Hardy to see you, sir,’ said the secretary, ‘And a Lady Ickborne would like you to ring her when you’re free. Here’s the number.’ She stood aside for an eager-looking young plain-clothes constable.
‘Come on in, Hardy,’ said Felix affably. ‘A tap on the door will always suffice. What news?’
‘I’d like to report that the world has grown more honest, sir,’ said Hardy, ‘but actually we’ve apprehended a fellow about to ring Mrs Cotton’s doorbell. When we asked his business he tried to make a run for it. He refuses to give his name, sir, and the footman said he’d never seen him before. The lady of the house was out but the children’s governess didn’t know him either.’
‘Any otapostasis at all?’
‘Yes, sir, very marked. Also bald, build pyknic, about five foot seven.’
‘That’ll be our friend Mr Gault. Doomsday is near for someone anyway. Did you empty his pockets?’
‘Yes, sir. The usual bits and pieces, and this.’
Watched with interest by everyone in the room, Felix opened the small package.
‘Aha!’ said Nash. ‘The contents of the drawer.’
‘Sans note or letter,’ observed Felix. ‘Did he try to put it through the door first?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Any keys on him?’ asked Rattigan.
Hardy produced an official bag. ‘This is the rest of it, Sarge.’
‘Nigel’s apartment,’ said Rattigan, holding up a key. ‘Bet you sixpence.’
‘Who is watching the house now?’ asked Felix.
‘DC Brewster and Constable Scott, sir.’
‘All right, you’d best relieve Scott. She may have other callers. Well done for that, and to Brewster.’
‘What was that about the world growing more honest,’ demanded Nash, when he’d gone.
‘It was because I asked him “what news?” He was quoting Hamlet.’
‘Humph!’
‘Needs the rough edges knocked off him,’ growled Rattigan.
‘No doubt they will be,’ said Felix. ‘He’s a clever chap and we need clever chaps but, John, he’s a constable and you’re a sergeant. There’s a reason for that. Now I must ring the Countess.’
‘Hello, Sylvia,’ said Felix. ‘I understand you asked me to telephone.’
‘Yes, what have you done to my chauffeur? Cook says he’s packed a bag and scarpered.’
‘Has he taken the motorbike?’
‘No, that’s what worries me.’
◆◆◆
‘Sit down, Mr Gault,’ said Felix. ‘Now then, you were seen at Burton House on the night of the ball by at least three people. Furthermore, you’ve been apprehended in possession of some property belonging to Mr Nigel Cotton; property which has been identified by Mr Cotton’s chambermaid as coming from his private rooms. Do you still maintain that you weren’t there?’
‘You can’t prove it was me,’ said Gault sullenly. ‘It could have been someone that looked like me. Someone could have planted the stuff on me. That smart-alec copper for one.’
‘Mr Gault, you had Mr Cotton’s room key in your pocket. How do you explain that?’
‘I could . . .’ began Gault. ‘Oh, damn you! Damn you to blazes! Yes, I was there. But I didn’t kill him!’
‘I see,’ said Felix. ‘Care to tell me about it?’
‘I went there to kill him,’ admitted Gault. ‘She hired me to do it.’
‘Whom do you mean?’
‘Mrs Cotton of course.’
‘Mrs Amelia Cotton?’
‘Yes. His door was locked and no-one answering so I decided to let myself in and hide somewhere and wait for him to come back, which is when I found him lying on the floor, bashed over the head. I swear I didn’t do it!’
‘Was he dead?’
‘Dead as a doornail!’
‘And then what did you do?’
Mr Gault didn’t answer.
‘Mr Gault, what did you do, after you found the body?’
‘I wanted my money,’ said Gault at last. ‘I reckoned it wouldn’t occur to her that someone else had killed him. I took those things from his bedside drawer to prove I’d been there. The watch had his name on. I didn’t steal them. I was going to give them to Mrs Cotton. I didn’t do anything wrong. Can I go now?’
‘What was she going to pay you?’
‘Two hundred pounds.’
‘And what was your chosen weapon?’
‘I don’t have to tell you that.’
◆◆◆
‘I charged him, of course,’ said Felix. ‘I could hardly do anything else. But suppose he’s innocent as he claims? Can you be done for attempted murder when the intended victim is already dead?’
‘That’s an interesting question,’ said Polly. ‘Have you any reason to suppose he didn’t do it?’
‘I’m not at all sure in this case,’ admitted Felix. ‘He was really rather convincing. Even Rattigan thought so. It’s the sort of thing one can imagine happening, given what an odious fellow Cotton was.’
‘Morally he’s guilty of course.’
‘Oh, certainly.’
‘What about Mrs Cotton?’
‘I don’t know how we’d prove unequivocally that she employed him; though she pretty clearly did. She’s a good deal more intelligent than he is, and unlikely to catch herself out. One for later, I think.’
*
Returning home, Felix walked in to find Sonia Butterworth, dandling Abby. ‘Connie you’ve changed!’ he said.
Sonia giggled. ‘Do you approve?’
‘Oh, indubitably. I have a passion for redheads. T
o what do we owe the pleasure?’
‘Sonia is here to apologise,’ said Connie, bringing in the tea trolley. ‘I told her there was no need.’
‘Yes there is,’ said Sonia. ‘I hate it when we quarrel in public, and I’m really sorry if we embarrassed you, Miles.’
‘I wasn’t the least embarrassed,’ said Felix. ‘I’ve witnessed more domestic rows than you can shake a stick at. It only becomes awkward when the crockery starts to fly. Does one field it or allow it to shatter? I’m never quite sure of the etiquette. Did you manage to resolve your differences?’
‘No we didn’t,’ said Sonia, handing back the baby. ‘Oh, you want Daddy? There you are then. It’s what you might call an armed truce at the moment. Madam is jealous, and that’s unlikely to change.’
‘Jealous of Tony?’
‘Yes.’
‘Justified?’
‘I’m afraid it is.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Connie.
‘She caught us kissing,’ Sonia told her, ‘while I was changing.’
‘Hence the long faces?’ said Connie. ‘I knew something was wrong.’
‘Was it in Betty Cotton’s apartment,’ asked Felix, ‘where she caught you?’
Sonia nodded. ‘I know what you’re thinking. There we were, having a silly fight, and someone might have been getting murdered only feet away. It’s too horrid.’
‘But you had no inkling of this?’
‘No, none; except, as I said, there was this man. Have you found him?’
‘We’ve interviewed someone,’ said Felix. ‘I can’t comment further, I’m afraid.’
‘Do you love Tony?’ asked Connie boldly.
‘Yes,’ said Sonia. ‘But I love Sybil too. You must think that’s dreadful.’
‘I wouldn’t say dreadful. What if you had to choose?’
‘I don’t want to choose, but I think it would have to be Sybil because she needs me most. Without me she’d get into trouble. I know she would.’ She smiled at their questioning expressions. ‘You probably think she’s a big, strong, capable woman, and in some ways she is, but she can also be quite naive and credulous. She’s led a privileged life and hasn’t really seen the darker side of people. I worry about our builders. They work steadily enough when we’re there and appear to respect her, but they don’t seem to do much the rest of the time. I’ve never really trusted them, and I worry that they’re up to something.’
Death in Patent Leather (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 7) Page 7