Three Little Maids(47)

Turner was looking out for any young girls out on their own or separated from their friends. The girl that Raymond was with didn’t seem his usual type, Turner thought. Looked a bit of a hippie with a ring through her nose. Now he’d had a closer look. Pretty but much too thin though. He frowned, feeling the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He was sure he knew her from somewhere. He’d tell Sherwood to keep an eye on them. She was around somewhere and on duty with several other constables on the fringe of the crowd.

Kent was accompanied by someone too, he noticed with a broad smile. His landlady, Mrs Sherlborne, from the local library. Birds of a feather, her husband had been a policeman. Turner approved of her. A nice woman and a good looker too. Turner fancied redheads. She’d got herself well together since the sudden unexpected death of her husband Bill. Turner recalled when he’d popped into the station when they were visiting family down here.

According to Jack Crosby, Bill was going to put in for a transfer to Harcombe for his wife’s sake. Her Dad was the Police Surgeon there at the time. He’d had more than enough of the Met, Bill said. Shortly afterwards his death was announced. It came as a shock to everyone who knew him. He’d never had a serious day’s illness in his life. A nice way to go but not when it left two teenagers and a young wife to cope without him.

‘I must say, Viviane, that Harcombe really pulls out all the stops for entertainment,’ Jon Kent said as they watched the fireworks from the vantage point of a high grassy bank that they’d scrambled up. ‘It must cost a tidy quid or two to put all this on. Plus the Carnival procession this afternoon.

‘It’s well on par with the Notting Hill Carnival I would say. It must attract the holiday makers down here in droves. They don’t seem to be put off by the murders. And at least the weather hasn’t let us down yet.’ He smiled at Viviane as her upturned face was lighted by a golden star burst in the sky. She looked like a pretty youngster having a whale of a time.

She laughed. ‘This is all in a line of duty for you, isn’t it? You’re working, aren’t you? I can see that you have put practically all the force on alert around the park. You’re afraid that there could be another victim?’

‘Not necessarily.’ He grinned ruefully. ‘And asking you out this evening is not part of my duty. It’s entirely my pleasure, Viviane.’

She smiled back at him as she felt a sudden thrill go through her and her heart miss a beat.

‘But we can’t risk being careless. We’ve got to look out for any girl coming here alone or separated from family and friends in the crowds here. Putting themselves at risk. Perhaps looking for the chance of picking up a boy. Because we’re still in the dark as to finding the motive for these killings. More than likely the killer is here. And the suspects all have alibis.’ He shook his head. ‘There has to be something that we’re missing. Only I don’t know what.’

She heard the anxious note in his voice. He was not leaving anything to chance. And she was glad she was out with him. He was good company. She was wondering whether she could read more into this evening spent with him than there was. He must know that she wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t asked her out.

She knew how difficult it was to do things on her own. Other than joining evening classes, learning some new hobby. Like DIY. She grimaced at the thought. Her children were following their own pursuits now. And weren’t aware that she badly missed being a woman again. Holding a man’s arm, going to the theatre or cinema or restaurant with someone who wanted to be with her.

She felt that he was observing her closely. Was he reading her thoughts? She said quickly, ‘I’m hungry. Do you fancy something?’

He chuckled. ‘Snap! Let’s follow our noses. I smell onions. There’s a hot dog stall over there. Let’s hope they have something left. They’ll have done a good trade by now. Did you say that Simon`s around somewhere?’

‘Yes. He’s got a girlfriend with him, I think. I didn’t push him for details. I didn’t want to embarrass him by being an over protective mum.’

He chuckled. ‘I’m sure you’re never that. I expect the Carey’s wished that they had been. They never checked up on what Maureen did on the evenings she spent with Susan Flitch. But who am I to judge? I haven’t any children, and not likely to have now.’ His warm smile took some of the edge from what sounded like regret in his voice.

They found the source of the onions at last and bought hot dogs. She turned away when he was settling up and caught sight of a familiar face she knew. And gasped. It was the girl from the sea front again.