Three Little Maids(74)

She clipped tight on the sharp retort she felt like giving him. She was getting tired of people reading more into the tenant and landlady relationship than there actually was. She was pretty sure that he was getting some of the same in work. But how did he handle it? Okay? Probably. He could laugh it off. He wasn’t the kind to take offense.

But she smiled sweetly. ‘He’s a friend, Mr. Ludlam and nothing more. And my tenant. He knew my husband for a while when they worked together at the Met. And I felt that I owed him something. I’m sure that if our positions had been reversed, my husband would have fitted in just fine with Inspector Kents’s family too.’

‘Of course, Mrs Sherlborne. Have a pleasant journey back. You do a splendid job here. I hear nothing but praise for the library van service from our library committee. And I notice that you have a good attendance. Looks like nearly every household turned out for your appearance. Books are sorely missed when you can’t get them so easily. My children love going to your library. Gwynith makes sure that they read from a book every day.’

‘Yes, I’m sure they do enjoy reading. Oh- I can see my driver getting into the van. I must go. Thank you once again.’





56




‘And what is your business, sir. Can I help you? The Inspector is busy at the moment.’

‘I would like to see Inspector Kent.’

Police Constable Jack Crosby looked at the young man. He was hardly more than a teenager. He thought he recognized him from somewhere.

‘And what would your name be, sir?’

‘Michael Berkley, officer. And I would like to make a statement.’

‘One moment, Mr. Berkley. Would you like to take a seat over there, please? And I’ll see if Inspector Kent is free to see you.’

Crosby picked up the phone. ‘Inspector, Crosby here. There is a young man out here who is anxious to speak to you. To put it mildly, he seems all het up like he could burst into tears any minute. Could be important. Says he wants to make a statement. Sounds like a confession more like.’

Kent groaned. Not another confession. That make’s sixteen so far. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Michael Berkley. I could be wrong but I think he’s the Mayor’s son. He looks screwed up. Ready to burst into tears. Had we better call his father? He’s young. About eighteen. He’ll need a brief.’

‘Wheel him in. Let’s just see what he wants to tell us first, Jack.’

‘Okay, sir. Righto. Inspector Kent will see you now. You can go on in. Take the first door along the corridor on the left hand side, Mr. Berkley.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Good afternoon, Mr. Berkley.’ Kent viewed the youngster across his desk. He was hardly more than nineteen if that. More like eighteen. He’d seen him recently in the company of Simon Sherlborne. He looked as if he was primed for a breakdown.

‘Good afternoon, Inspector.’

Kent held out his hand and indicated a chair. ‘Sit down please.’

‘You have taken Raymond Perkins in for questioning. And I understand he’s attempted suicide.’

‘That’s right. So what’s it to you? Do you know him personally? Do you want to give some evidence against him? Or to help him?’

‘No definitely not, Inspector. But you have the wrong person. I want to confess to killing those three girls.’

‘You do? And what makes you think I will believe what you are saying, Mr. Berkley. It’s not April the first. And I’m not a priest, I have warned you already. I don’t want to be messed about.’

Michael Berkley leaned forward in his chair. His eyes burned in his white face. ‘I killed those girls, Inspector. It’s down to me entirely. Raymond Perkins did not, could not have done it.’

Kent sighed heavily. ‘Why have you come in, Mr. Berkley? Why are you wasting valuable police time? Have you any proof of what you say? And what motive have you to kill any one of them? Maureen for instance.’

‘She was after anything in trousers. She was a slag. She pestered me.’

‘That doesn’t give you the right to kill her. And Yvette? What did she do to you? Why did you want to kill her?’

The answer came quickly. ‘She was after my father’s money. She would have ruined him and our family.’

‘And the last girl, Jodie. You didn’t know her. Did you?’

‘No. I saw her walking out with Raymond in the park. Maureen made his life miserable and I thought Jodie would do the same. So when I saw Jodie left on her own, I-I went over and chatted to her. She was on her way out, she said. She was running out on him. He was going to be upset all over again.’