Three Little Maids(23)

‘Well, sir, if you wish to deny it. You could perhaps tell me if she was having an affair with anyone else that you knew about.’

He shook his head. ‘I can’t. Sorry - ’

‘Perhaps then, you will admit that Maureen did make advances towards you. She was not above coming forward, was she?’

Welbeck dropped the tool he held in his hand with a clatter, his face reddened and looked anxious. ‘Look here, Inspector, I don’t like to speak ill of the dead and the Carey’s have just lost their daughter.’

‘Mr. Welbeck - ’

He breathed in sharply as he bent down to pick up the spanner. ‘I must confess she did try it on with me more than once. When I was working upstairs. She took me completely by surprise.’ Kent doubted that but said nothing. ‘She put her arms round me and kissed me with her tongue in my mouth, she left me in little doubt of what she wanted. Scared me rigid she did, and if Aiden had walked in, or any of the women, I would have been accused of child assault.’ He pursed his mouth together ruefully. ‘I was flattered, there’s no denying that. And I was tempted; I’m sure any full bloodied man would be. And I did take her up on her offer. But it happened only the once mind. Sorry Stan. Sorry - you’ve got to be hearing this.’

Turner frowned and chewed furiously on his sweet. He wished that he had cloth ears too. His cousin had been an even bigger fool than he’d expected.

‘I realised my big mistake as soon as I’d done it and I knew I’d be a bloody fool if I let it go any further than that. I’d committed an offence against an underage girl. Maureen - she laughed at me and said I didn’t know what I was missing. But I did.’ His laugh was short and raw.

‘A bloody court case and there was her father to be reckoned with. I couldn’t let it go on. Carey could have ruined my business and my marriage. My reputation would have stunk and I could never live in this town afterwards.’ He shook his head. ‘I avoided any close contact with her after wards. She knew what she was doing all right. If anything she could have taught me a thing or two.

‘A right little raver she was. She was only fifteen. Although you wouldn’t have thought it when she was dressed up. She was really asking for it and I wouldn’t put it past her to shout rape if she felt like it. Hey - perhaps that’s what she did and got herself killed.’

‘And where exactly did this romantic encounter take place, Welbeck?’ Kent’s voice left Turner in little doubt as to what he was thinking right then.

‘Upstairs in the Chapel rest room...’

‘And where exactly were you on Thursday evening, Welbeck? Your wife will give you an alibi?’

He shrugged. ‘I was at the theatre rehearsing for a part in the Mikado. Nanky Poo as it happens and afterwards I was in the pub the Nag’s Head having a pint or two. I felt I needed it after all those rehearsals.’ He paused to think a moment. ‘I think I got home just after eleven, or thereabouts. Sara was working in the studio on a portrait of Maureen. I guess you’d call it posthumous now.’ He laughed weakly. ‘Er-I suppose Sergeant Turner has already told you that I caused the car crash that crippled my wife and killed Becky our small daughter - -’

‘I was sorry to hear it, sir. You’ve gone through quite a lot together already in the past.’

Welbeck cleared his throat and grimaced. ‘Yes - well the other night I’d had a few pints, came home by taxi and went straight to bed. Sara can’t always hear me coming in when she’s painting. She’s in a different world altogether then. She might have heard the lift though. I used that instead of the stairs but she could hardly have come to assist me if I missed half a flight and fell down or broke my neck come to that.’

At least he’s being honest, thought Kent. ‘Well, thank you, Welbeck. That’s all for now. We’ll be in touch if we need anything more from you.’





15




The girl looked cautiously ahead of her up the shadowy flight of carpeted stairs. There was no light on them to see by and it was dark but the chapel door had been left open for her so he must be there.

She called out, ‘Hello - Tom? Are you there? Tom Berkley?’

She tried the light switch again on the stairs it clicked but it still didn’t come on. If she had really thought it out carefully she would have known something was very wrong. His letter asked her to come here at this late hour. He wanted to avoid being seen by anyone and so did she.

She was later than planned but she hadn’t been able to get away as early from the pub as she’d hoped. So perhaps he hadn’t waited for her after all. She hadn’t seen his car outside but he could have parked it further down the road. She would try the door, see if he was there, if not she would tell Cliff he didn’t turn up. It was obvious Berkley didn’t want to pay for his fun.