Three Little Maids(57)

‘Naturally. You aren’t alone, sir. We are checking on the alibi’s of all the men who came into contact with the three victims. And how did you get home eventually? Did you walk or take a taxi? When you discovered your car had been stolen?’

He laughed shortly. ‘I walked. I thought better of getting a taxi.’

‘So if I might take the name of the lady in question, please?’

Ludlam`s heavy brows knitted tightly together over the Roman nose and he twisted the fountain pen round between the palms of his hands. ‘I’d much rather you waited till I can consult her, Inspector. But can I rely on you not to take it further till then?’ Ludlam said. ‘I’d much rather she wasn’t named. My wife believes I attended the Gilbert and Sullivan rehearsals. Which I did. Afterwards I stayed over with my friend.’

‘And Mrs Ludlam didn’t notice what time you came in, sir?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. My wife takes a sleeping pill. She wouldn’t be able to tell you the actual time when I came in. As I have already told you she suffers from migraine occasionally.’

‘Thank you, sir. We will check again with you later. Sorry about your car. I hope the insurance people play ball. It’s a costly business losing a car. Turner can tell you about that. Joy-riders damaged his family car last year.’ Turner nodded in confirmation. ‘Sorry if we’ve held you up somewhat for the service. And I hope your congregation appreciates the hard work you have put into your sermon.’

Ludlam got up to show them to the door. ‘Thank you, I hope so too.’

Kent clicked on the car belt. ‘So what have we got here? Here’s an interesting situation. It seems as if this case is making more waves than a hurricane at sea. There’s no doubt about that. So it’s Cherchez la Femme. To make his alibi hold water. He has to have her word on that. But he seems confident that she will support him. Now who could that lady be? Any ideas, Turner?’

‘I’m no wiser than you.’ Turner pursed his lips together and shook his head. ‘It could be any of the women he comes into contact with in the town hall at the chapel or at the school he runs. You won’t know unless he’s prepared to tell you.’

‘But it narrows the field considerably if she lived in Foxglove Grove?’

‘Not necessarily. The car could have been picked up somewhere else and the kids wanted to shake the place up a bit. They’d done it before apparently.’

‘But it gives us every indication that it was taken from Foxglove Grove.’





41




‘Who lives in Foxgrove Grove that you know personally, Viviane?’ Kent said placing his jacket neatly over the back of the wooden garden seat before sitting down.

‘Are we talking about a woman or a man?’

‘A woman.’

‘Let me see now. Major Colby’s wife. She’s a library reader. And Mrs Goring, a doctor’s widow, and Frances Leach. Frances works for Carey’s. She plays the organ in the chapel. And is appearing as Yum Yum in the Mikado. The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, they’re putting on in the theatre. How does that help you?’

‘Sounds like Miss Leach could fit the bill. Thanks. She would do nicely. Tell me more about her if you can - ’

‘Why do you want to know? Or shouldn’t I ask?’

He grinned. ‘It’s for checking a suspect’s alibi.’

‘Really whose? Or am I breaching a confidence?’

‘I’ll explain later. Now you can tell me about what you know about Miss Frances Leach.’

‘Frances, Jon. An interesting woman. Her age, I think, is about forty three or four. Single. She has no family or ties as far as I know,’ Viviane said, bringing a glass of beer and white wine for herself out onto the patio, where Kent made himself comfortable now with his feet resting up along the wooden garden seat.

‘What else do you want to know?’ She handed over the beer.

‘Thanks. Anything you think I should know about the woman?’

‘Well - her invalid mother Sylvia died three months ago. Sylvia was an actress. Only a small fish in a big pond. The West End stage. She had some singing parts and dancing roles in one of two musicals just after the war. She was selfish, idolised and spoilt by her doting husband. He was a bank clerk. He died and left Frances to take care of her mother. And since her death,’ Viviane said smiling. ‘I have noticed the change for the better in her. Frances has been living it up a bit.’ She took a sip of her wine thoughtfully. ‘She’s bought new clothes recently and taken up with the Light Operatic Company. She has a good voice and dramatic ability. Some talent inherited from her mother. She was kept very much under her mother’s shadow for years, poor girl.’