Clubbed to Death by Ruth Dudley Edwards

Author:Ruth Dudley Edwards [Edwards, Ruth Dudley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, satire, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9781615950577
Google: b0Oao1BJFqsC
Goodreads: 9021031
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Published: 1991-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

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16

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As arranged with the Commander, Milton and Pooley arrived at ffeatherstonehaugh’s at ten o’clock the following morning. He was waiting for them, alert, smartly turned-out and radiating helpfulness.

‘You are welcome again, gentlemen, ’ he said. ‘The circumstances are regrettable, but it is my pleasure to make you as comfortable as possible. Please follow me.’

He led them across the hall and through the dining-room, down a corridor and into what he explained was a private dining-room where members could entertain groups of friends or associates. ‘We call it the Rochester Room,’ said the Commander, without further explanation. ‘It’s not much used these days, but I think you’ll find it comfortable for your purposes. I’ve had some armchairs brought in and put there at the window in case you want to talk to people more informally than around the table.’

He had done more than that. The room had several unexpected creature comforts: mineral water and glasses were on the table, along with a coffee tray, ashtrays and even a vase of fresh flowers.

‘Is there anything else you need, gentlemen?’

‘No, no, ’ said Milton. Thank you very much indeed, Commander Blenkinsop. You’ve been extremely hospitable.’

‘I’ll assign a waiter to you to make sure you have coffee when you need it and, of course, lunch. I’ve instructed all those you wish to see to be available today, but it would be helpful if I could give them some idea of the order in which you wish to see them.’

‘Alphabetical, I think,’ said Milton.

‘Very good. So you’ll want to see me first. Can you excuse me for a few minutes while I have a word with the others and then I’ll be straight back to you?’ Milton nodded and Blenkinsop left the room briskly.

‘Coffee, sir?’

‘Yes please, Ellis. Good grief! If we hadn’t heard so much about him from Robert, we’d find it impossible to imagine that this bloke was anything but the most upright of citizens.’

The paragon was back within five minutes. ‘Now where would you like me to sit, Detective Chief Superintendent?’

‘At the table, if you don’t mind, Commander. It makes it easier for us to take notes.’.

‘Would you care for some coffee?’

‘Kind of you. Yes. Black please. No sugar.’

While Pooley poured the coffee, Milton waited for Blenkinsop to seat himself comfortably. Then he asked, ‘Would you be kind enough, Commander, to describe to us your relationship with the Admiral?’

‘We were old friends. Knew each other for more than forty years. Young shipmates together. He was a fine man, Con Meredith-Lee. A brave sailor and a good friend.’

Milton repressed a familiar urge to tell an interviewee to cut the crap and drop the platitudes. Instead he said, ‘Well, sir, this must all be very sad for you. You have my sympathy. Did you keep in touch with Sir Conrad over all those years when he was away?’

‘With Christmas cards, postcards, that sort of thing. We did eventually rather lose touch, though we’d sometimes meet in London when he was back. But then, of course, in the last year we’ve seen a great deal of each other.

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