Behold a Fair Woman by Francis Duncan

Author:Francis Duncan [Duncan, Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

13

THE SUSPECTS FORM PAIRS

THERE WERE KNOTS of sightseers in the neighbourhood of the hotel. Curious eyes watched Tremaine as he came down the path from the headland. He supposed he would have to get used to it; the affair would be a nine days’ wonder and anybody who was believed to have the remotest connection with the murder would be an object of interest.

He reached the bungalow to find Janet and Mark eager for news.

‘Any arrest yet?’ Mark asked.

‘Not yet. So far it’s just been routine procedure—photographs, interviewing of witnesses and so on.’

‘Are you in?’ Janet said.

He did not pretend that he did not know what she meant.

‘Yes, I’m in,’ he said, and went straight to the point. ‘The Chief Officer asked me if I’d begin with you.’

‘With us?’ Janet looked startled. ‘Surely he doesn’t think we had anything to do with it?’

‘No, of course not. But he does think you may know something that might help the investigation.’

‘I wonder,’ Mark said thoughtfully, ‘where he got hold of that idea?’

‘He got it from me,’ Tremaine admitted. ‘I haven’t asked questions, Mark, when it’s been obvious that you didn’t want to talk. But now it’s murder and things are different. The questions must be asked—and answered. I’m sure you’d rather they came from me than from the police. That’s what the Chief Officer thought.’

‘I’m not sure,’ Mark said slowly, ‘that I know what you’re getting at, but if you’ve been given the job of putting certain questions to us, then go ahead. I’ll answer them as well as I can.’

‘I know that, Mark. I don’t want it to sound like an inquisition. Maybe there’s nothing much in it, anyway. It’s just that several times you’ve given me the impression that there was something on your mind, but whenever I’ve tried to find out what it was you’ve put me off by changing the subject or saying that I wouldn’t be interested in your local affairs. Now that your local affairs have turned into something more, perhaps you’ll feel that you can take me into your confidence.’

‘Have we been so obvious?’ Janet looked at her husband. ‘I don’t know quite what to say about this, Mark. When you try and put it into words it sounds so—so vague.’

‘Is it anything to do with Latinam?’

‘It might be. That’s the trouble,’ Mark said.

‘What he means,’ Janet explained, ‘is that we think it’s something to do with Latinam but we can’t be sure about it.’

‘And the Creeds aren’t the kind of people you can cross-examine,’ Mark said.

‘The Creeds? They come into it, do they?’

‘What it amounts to,’ Mark said, ‘is this. Alan Creed and his wife came here at the beginning of the year and took the cottage where they’re living now. At first they seemed willing enough to be friendly, although they were on the reserved side; they even came here with us on one or two evenings. And then, quite suddenly, they changed. They wouldn’t accept any invitations and didn’t seem to want to speak to people.

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