Reckless Endangerment(54)

‘Would you mind telling me how you spent the rest of that evening?’

‘Does that have something to do with Sharon Gregory?’ asked Harrison, the trace of a frown on his face.

‘Yes, it does, but I’ll explain why in a moment.’

‘As a matter of fact, I was here all evening. I watched The Cruel Sea: Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden and the delectable Virginia McKenna. I once nurtured the idea of going into the navy, but eventually opted for making money instead.’

That all came out like a well-rehearsed alibi, I thought.

‘Was it on TV or was it a DVD?’ asked Liz casually.

‘A DVD,’ replied Harrison immediately.

‘Were you alone?’

‘No. Shona was here.’

Really? I couldn’t imagine Shona settling down to watch a war film. A porn video maybe, but not The Cruel Sea. That idle thought was interrupted by Harrison speaking again.

‘But you still haven’t told me why you want to know.’ Harrison spent a few seconds discreetly appraising Lizanne’s nylon-clad legs before switching his gaze back to me.

‘That was the evening Sharon Gregory was murdered,’ I said.

‘Murdered? My God! What happened to the poor little bitch?’ Harrison shook his head. ‘But it can’t be true …’

It’s strange the way people always say that when a police officer has just related an incontrovertible fact to them.

‘That’s why I’m interested in your whereabouts that evening, Mr Harrison.’

‘Hey, whoa, hold on! Surely you can’t think I had anything to do with that?’ Harrison’s protest sounded genuine, but murderers are often good actors, which is how they manage to persuade their victims into vulnerable situations where help is far from hand.

‘D’you think I could use your bathroom, Mr Harrison?’ asked Lizanne, affording Harrison a shy smile before giving me a knowing glance.

‘Yeah, sure. It’s up the stairs and first door on the right. That’s the bedroom. The bathroom leads off it. If Shona’s in there, chuck her out.’

‘Thank you.’ Lizanne stood up and made for the door.

‘What happened, Mr Brock? To Sharon, I mean.’

‘Someone strangled her,’ I said.

‘Why the hell would anyone want to do that? She was a sweet girl and very …’ Harrison paused. ‘How can I put it … amorous.’ He smiled boyishly.

‘And when did you last have contact with Sharon?’ I knew what he had said previously, but wanted to find out if he would say the same again.

‘A month ago, I think I said, the last time you were here. Yes, it was at least a month.’

‘Do you happen to know the name of anyone else she might’ve been seeing?’ I asked.

‘No, I’m afraid not. Mind you, knowing what sort of girl she was, it wouldn’t surprise me to know that she had a string of lovers.’ Harrison glanced out of the window before looking back at me. ‘As well as a husband,’ he added ruefully. ‘And you told me that he was murdered too.’ He shook his head as he tried to absorb a situation that was entirely outside his own experience.

Lizanne came back into the room and gave me a discreet nod just as I stood up.

‘We’ll not delay you any further, Mr Harrison,’ I said, ‘but I might need to see you again.’

‘Of course.’

‘Enjoy your trip,’ said Lizanne, as she stopped in the hall to pick up her shoes.

Shona, having abandoned her negligee, returned to the sitting room.

‘Who is this Sharon Gregory they were talking about, Gordie?’

‘Were you listening, you little bitch?’

‘Of course I was. You said last time that they’d come about your car, but they hadn’t, had they?’

‘It’s nothing to do with you, Shona, my pet. It was about a girl I knew ages ago.’

‘That policeman said something about her being murdered. Do they think you did it?’

‘Of course not. They’re talking to everyone who might have known her.’

‘Why did you tell them that you were here with me that night, Gordie?’

‘For God’s sake stop calling me Gordie. My name’s Gordon,’ snapped Harrison. ‘I told them that because otherwise they’ll start making enquiries. And they might find out what I really do on these trips of mine. And that’d be a damned nuisance because I didn’t have anything to do with her murder. But I told them I was here with you, so don’t forget to back me up.’

‘Too late,’ said Shona, throwing herself into a chair and hooking one leg over the arm. ‘When that policewoman came upstairs she asked me if I was here that night, and I told her I was at work. Well, they check on these things, don’t they?’