‘And your car was parked up outside your home, Mr. Ludlam? Not in your garage when it was taken, sir? Do you usually leave it on the road at night with this gang on the lookout for cars?’
‘No, I don’t, Inspector?’ For the first time in the interview it appeared as if his composure had been disturbed. ‘Well not exactly. Not that it makes much difference now. I suppose I shall to declare it to the insurance companies.’ He did seem more a little uncomfortable while he struggled to offer an explanation to the officers. ‘But I’m sure you have more important enquiries to make than where I parked my car.’
‘Yes, sir. Where were you last evening, sir? Did you go out at all if you had need of your car?’
‘My wife unfortunately suffers with migraine frequently. And she retires to bed with it. Yesterday was a bad day for Gwynith. So I took the children to see the Firework display in Victoria Park. Where I should imagine everyone else was last evening.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I didn’t want to disappoint them. They were looking forward so much to it. It would have been such a shame for them to miss it. We only do it here once a year. No, I’ll qualify that. We do make a big thing of the Guy Fawkes celebrations too. And there are fireworks along with the large bonfire. But I think the Carnival show is the best.’
‘And about what time did you bring the children home, sir.’
‘Let me see now. As soon as the display was over. My little girls were ready by then for the Land of Nod.’ He smiled.
‘And about what time would that be, sir?’
‘Let me see now.’ He hesitated a second or so. ‘About ten thirty; near the end of the program, I would think. And if it is any help to you, in passing, earlier in the proceedings, I had occasion to speak to Raymond Perkins. He was with a girl who came to our chapel looking for help. And his grandmother, our cleaner, Mrs Perkins, spoke to Mr. Welbeck who was able to get her into a hostel. Mrs Perkins has a generous heart. She is a good woman.’
‘Yes, sir. I’m afraid that Jodie, the girl Raymond Perkins was with, is the latest victim.’
‘Oh no! Where will it end? What a terrible time we’re going through. And before you ask, I realised just now that I have met the French girl who was killed. I was placed in a rather delicate situation when I met her in the company of one of our chapel members the other day. He is a married man and he holds a high position on the police committee and is also a dear personal friend of mine. He was foolish. He has a great deal to lose. His reputation and a lot more.’
He’s a cool one and no mistake, Kent thought. ‘The gentleman in question has already been able to assist us with some helpful information.’
Ludlam looked relieved. ‘I am glad to hear this. Now you can see why it troubles me to tell you this. It’s better to have it all out in the open.’
‘Thank you, sir. And now to assist us further, we come back to where you parked your car after you took the children home. Outside your house? You forgot to put it into the garage as usual?’ Ludlam looked as if about to protest and made a point here of glancing at his watch. ‘But first, sir, I can tell you, that at two am this morning, a gentleman phoned us to say his night’s sleep had been disturbed in a loud and noisy manner by a joy rider. And in the car that fits the description of your own. A black Mercedes.’
‘Really! And where does that gentleman live?’
‘Foxglove Grove, sir. Have you anything to say about that?’
Ludlam leaned forward in his seat, pursed his fleshy lips. And for the first time a look of panic appeared in his grey eyes. He laughed. ‘What can I say, Inspector. It’s a fair cop?’
‘You can verify, sir, that you left it outside your house? Or did you perhaps go out again. And it was stolen from there?’
It was a long shot. But Ludlam hadn’t rushed to deny it. So let’s see how he handles this, Kent thought, studying the face of the man in front of them. Turner beside him was hanging on to every word. Chewing a sweet as if his life depended on it.
‘I was,’ Ludlam said, clearing his throat before going on. ‘Visiting a dear friend of mine. A lady friend. But this is a delicate matter. You must understand, Inspector, I do not want this to become public for her sake as well as my wife’s of course.’
‘Of course, sir. I agree entirely.’
‘And this lady can give you an alibi, sir?’ Turner intervened quickly.
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘If I needed one. We had to be discreet. It was most embarrassing that it should be taken from outside her house in the cul-de-sac. It’s a very private area. And she has a good reputation to keep up too.’