Three Little Maids(41)

Kent nodded. Turner’s sandy eyebrows were raised. He was more than likely thinking the same thing. With Berkley in the running there was the chapel connection again. Was Berkley really under pressure from Yvette to pay or be shown up for what he was; a middle aged married man who lusted after a young girl?

‘So you would say then that she was meeting Mr. Berkley often?’

‘Yes, she was.’

‘He took her out for long drives in his car.’ Ilse intervened. ‘And sometimes he met her when she wasn’t working in the pub at night.’

‘And do you know where they used to meet? Did he have a key to her place, do you know?’

‘Yes he did. I asked Yvette one day whether she let him come to her room.’

‘And what did she say?’

‘She told me she gave him a key.’

‘She encouraged him then.’

‘Oh yes. But she was afraid that Cliff might come on them meeting there. So she met him sometimes at the chapel.’

‘At the chapel? That’s not a usual place to take a girlfriend, is it?’

‘No. But, there is the meeting room over the chapel. M’sieur Berkley, he has a key to it. He’s on the chapel committee.’

‘Cozy, wouldn’t you say, Turner?’

‘Yes, guv.’

‘That is why Yvette used to laugh about it. His wife wouldn’t find out about them, Yvette said. She’d never dream of looking in the chapel for her husband. If she was to suspect him of being unfaithful. I thought it was bad to use a holy place for such things. And I told her so.’

‘Thank you for your help, young ladies,’ he said standing up. ‘We may have to call on you both again.’

Yvette and Maureen. Obviously neither of them suffered any qualms about frolicking in the chapel. They were two of a kind it seemed. If Susan Flitch was speaking the truth about her friend, they were both familiar with the meeting room, Kent thought as the students left the canteen.

‘It looks like our Mr. Berkley is well in the frame, Turner. I wonder if young Maureen had a go at tempting him?’

‘More than likely. But I shouldn’t think he would. She was the daughter of his friend. And under age only fifteen, guv. He’d be risking a great deal than messing about with Yvette.’

‘But he was already stupid enough to get mixed up with Yvette. So I think we shall have to have a chat with his Worship, the Mayor. And as soon as possible.’





28




‘I’m Cliff Jones. And I want to see Berkley.’ Cliff Jones glowered at the young blonde secretary seated behind the desk in Berkley’s Head office. ‘Now!’

‘Mr. Berkley’s busy. He has a business conference at eleven. What was it you want to see him about? Is it business, sir? You can’t go in.’ She stood up to block his way in a vain attempt to stop him from going in.

‘It’s my business. And I don’t care what he’s bloody doing. He’ll have to speak to me.’

The young man pushed the startled girl to one side. And bursting through the inner door like steam out of a geyser, he made his entrance into Tom Berkley’s office. And closed the door in the secretary’s frightened face.

Tom Berkley stood up, surprise mixed with bewilderment, changed quickly to anger on his face. ‘What the hell do you mean by barging in like this? I’ll have you forcibly removed if you don’t leave straight away.’

His answer came swiftly with Jones’s hard fist in his face. Blood spurting from his nose splashed down his pale blue silk shirt.

‘You tell me now, man, what you did to my girl? My Yvette! And don’t tell me it wasn’t you that she had a date with on Saturday night. You’re not going to get away with it you-you bastard. I’m reporting you to the police today.’

Jones stood shaking his fist over Berkley who collapsed back down into the leather chair behind the desk.

There was a knock on the door and it opened again. ‘Mr. Berkley!’ His secretary cried out when she saw the bloody mess his face was in. His nose resembling a squashed tomato. ‘Shall-shall I call the police. sir?’

‘Yes you do that, miss. Straight away. Your boss killed my girlfriend!’

Tom Berkley was mopping his face with a handkerchief in a vain attempt to stem the blood flow which was still giving him trouble. ‘No Penny,’ he mumbled. ‘Take no notice. Just hold the fort outside. Tell Mr. Martin and the others, I’m sorry, I cannot possibly see anyone today. Tell him - tell him I’m indisposed. I’m going home. And you’d better clear out Jones before I put the police on to you. Do as I say please, Penny.’

‘Yes, Mr. Berkley.’ The door shut behind her again.