Three Little Maids(70)

She shook her head. ‘I still can’t believe it. How did Turner feel about it? I think he has a soft spot for the boy.’

‘He has and he’s not happy. Far from it. I phoned him as soon as I heard. I hope he got to sleep. Though I doubt it. He’s probably down in his kitchen raiding the fridge right now and drinking gallons of strong tea.’

She laughed. ‘That’s him. And I bet he’s got through some peppermint lumps too. When he stopped smoking, he got onto them instead. Carole said she can’t stop him eating them plus extra sustenance from the fridge. Hence his weight problem.’

She doubted Kent was taking it in but she had to keep talking.

‘Turner will be over soon, I expect. You can imagine this has muddied the waters considerably if you like.’

‘It most certainly has,’ he agreed automatically.

‘Has Raymond done this because he’s guilty? Or for some other reason entirely?’

‘We shan’t know till he’s able to be questioned,’ he said taking a cup of tea from her. ‘Thanks.’

‘You don’t usually try taking your life unless you think there is no other way out. Nowhere else to go. Or you’re trying it out to see if anyone cares about you. He’s lost Maureen remember. And his new friend, Jodie, was taken as well. So what about Raymond’s mother? Have you thought about her?’

Kent frowned and thought for a moment. ‘You could be right. His mother! Could be, I suppose. I think his grandmother might shed some light on that.’

‘Yes. Speak to her, Jon. See what Raymond talked about when she saw him yesterday.’

Kent studied her carefully for a moment or so. ‘Oh-ho! You’re not just a sweet attractive woman. You’ve got a brain there.’

‘Thank you, sir. Glad to be of help. Honestly. I really would like to see you tie up this case satisfactorily.’ She smiled. ‘Don’t look like that. You’ll do it. Sometime soon this killer will make a mistake. Bound to- he’ll get too clever.’

‘I hope you’re right. God! What’s that? It’s hardly the dawn chorus,’ he groaned as the wooden cuckoo in the clock across the room made its wobbly appearance and announced the time in six shrill calls minus the coos. ‘Can’t you get that poor bird fixed? He’s pathetic, Viviane.’

She grinned. ‘No. He’s not. He cheers me up. Whenever I feel a bit down, I only have to see him trying to do his best. Beazy tried to chew him up that’s why he wobbles. And he makes me feel I can do something, if only I try harder.’

‘Well, I suppose there is that way of looking at it. You never cease to surprise me. I think you could do anything if you put your mind to it. Getting into one of those wasp waisted corsets for a start.’ He chuckled as she scowled back at him over her tea cup.

‘Don’t you dare think it. It’s a lost cause.’

‘Well, I think I’d better get dressed. This might not do your reputation any good if Turner sees me chatting you up in here.’





54




At the hospital Sherwood greeted them with a tired smile. It had obviously been a worrying night. She was about to come off duty and PC Harrison was taking over. They looked into the room where Raymond Perkins was lying pale and supine in bed with a formidable array of pipes and drips attached.

‘How’s he been?’

‘Once they sorted him out, topped up his blood and knocked him out with sleepers, he’s been fairly stable. He must have been pretty desperate, sir.’

‘Where’s his grandmother, Mrs Perkins? Is she still here?’

Sherwood groaned. ‘I’ve had to bolster her up, sir. She’s been in a really bad way. Crying and sobbing. I think she blames herself. If anything happens to Raymond she might try it on, I think. I made her go to the hospital canteen to get something to eat. Here she comes now.’

June Perkins face was tearstained, her eyes red rimmed and swollen. ‘Mr. Turner. Inspector? I hope you’re satisfied. Look what Raymond’s gone and done to himself.’

‘Mrs Perkins. This has nothing to do with us. Raymond did this.’

‘Did you say anything to upset him yesterday, Mrs Perkins? Sergeant Peebles said he had quite a paddy on him while you were there. Got upset, didn’t he? And Peebles had to ask you to leave.’

‘You’re saying that I was responsible for this? Mr. Turner asked me to go and see him because Raymond wasn’t eating.’

‘What did you say to him? Did you by any chance mention his mother?’

She gulped, sniffed and dabbed her red eyes. ‘Yes-yes I did.’

‘So what did you say?’