Three Little Maids(22)

‘And did your husband guess that you suspected him of infidelity, MrsWelbeck.’

‘He doesn’t.’ There were traces of tears in those green eyes. ‘And I don’t think he killed her.’ And now a trace of raw agony tempered her husky voice. ‘She really wasn’t worth it and I knew that. But it didn’t stop me wishing her dead. So she was murdered and I might well have done it myself. I had the motive as the wronged wife.’ She shrugged her slim shoulders. ‘I wanted to slash and stab her with my palette knife while she was sitting here smiling back at me so sweetly.

‘I want to get this bloody picture out of the house as soon as possible. I’m afraid that I might take the knife to it instead.’ Her laugh was harsh and short. ‘I feel so damn sorry for her poor mother. Does this make me a bad woman, having evil feelings like this, Inspector?’

‘I gather that it wasn’t a pleasant situation for you to be in, MrsWelbeck.’

‘It wasn’t, Inspector. I could hardly express my reason for not wishing to paint Maureen to her parents.’

Turner with his biro suspended over his notebook, wondered uneasily how many more lives Maureen Carey might have spoilt and ruined during her young life. If she was still alive now.

‘Well - thank you for your co-operation, MrsWelbeck. When shall we be seeing any of your work on show?’

‘In November, Inspector. In the Dolphin Gallery in the old town.’

‘I shall look forward to it.’

‘Thank you.’

In the car again Kent said, ‘So tell me more about the Welbecks, Turner?’

‘Since the car crash six years ago, Roger attends chapel and he works hard. They’ve pulled together well since the accident but it only needs a stupid mistake like his fooling around with the girl to ruin it for them all over again. She was under age.’

‘I don’t think Sara Welbeck is going to allow it. How many times has he fooled around with Maureen? Once I think would be enough to make him feel guilty again and it could have tipped the scales enough to make him want to commit murder.’





14




‘To the chapel next, Turner. Roger Welbeck is working there today. I called him on his cell earlier. We do not mention that we have already spoken to his wife, Turner. He sounded okay, so we’ll see what he has to say for himself.’

‘He’s had fair warning that we’re coming then.’ Turner settled himself in the driver’s seat and clicked on his belt. ‘And - I think I should tell you now that he is my wife’s cousin, guv.’

Kent smothered a grin. ‘Really - Turner. I’m not surprised to hear that as you’re a local. It shouldn’t affect your work on this case, should it?’

‘No, guv.’

‘Well then, don’t worry about it.’

The door of the Victorian chapel was standing open. It was an old stone building built in 1865 according to the stone engraving over the large oak door. It would take quite a bit of heating to keep out the damp and chill and the gloomy atmosphere, Kent reckoned. To reach it there was a high climb of worn grey stone steps like Jacob’s ladder leading up from the old part of the town, between rows of terraced houses to where the building was tucked away in a small road. That must test the stamina and the legs of some the chapel elders considerably, Kent thought as they drove by.

The chapel was built high on the top of the hill overlooking the old town and there was a long curving rise and a parking place for those with cars to reach it from the opposite direction.

Roger Welbeck was waiting near the entrance, an oily rag and a spanner in one hand. He smiled pleasantly at them. ‘Good morning, Inspector Kent, Stan - Sergeant Turner.’ He had the boyish, youthful face of a Peter Pan, Kent noted, as they went inside.

‘It was good of you to agree to see us, Mr. Welbeck.’

‘Anything I can do to make your work easier, Inspector. You’ve got to find the killer sooner than later and you want to check out how well I knew Maureen Carey.’

‘Anything you can tell me will be in complete confidence, sir.’

He seemed taken aback for a second or so and his face reddened noticeably. ‘I’m a happily married man, Inspector. You’re not suggesting that I had a sexual relationship with Maureen, are you? She was only a schoolgirl. Just a kid.’ His laugh had a raw ring to it. Kent looked around and waited.

Turner felt uncomfortable. He wondered how long it would take before Kent put the pressure on Welbeck. How on earth did the silly blighter get himself involved with the wretched girl and what would Carole have to say about it? She was fond of Sara, that young woman had overcome terrific odds and if anything she was much stronger than her husband, but she didn’t need this bother in her life right now.