Dead in the Water by Mark Ellis

Author:Mark Ellis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hachette Headline Accent
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

London

Before heading off to Wapping, Merlin had spoken briefly to Johnson about Ursula Dunne. ‘Robinson did a good job, but she’s young and perhaps there are some angles she missed. Mrs Dunne might also give different responses to a man. Get more on Vermeulen and her husband.’

Johnson had made straight for her London residence, a flat in a large modern block not far from Kensington High Street. The place was bright and airy, with tasteful modern furniture. Colourful paintings covered almost every inch of the walls. They were seated on a stylish blue settee in the drawing room. Through the window, Kensington Gardens was visible in the distance.

Johnson declined the proffered cup of tea. ‘Thanks, Mrs Dunne, but I just had one at the Yard.’

‘No doubt you’re very busy and would like to get down to business. I have to say, I thought I’d given the young lady everything you needed.’

‘We need to follow up in light of developments.’

‘You’re making progress, then?’

‘Some. You mentioned that Mr Vermeulen had revealed to you that he was engaged in secret work?’

‘I did, although he never said quite what.’

‘You have to be a brave man to do that kind of stuff.’

‘He . . . he was.’ There was a small catch in her throat. ‘He was wonderful in many ways.’ She sighed and carefully smoothed the pleats of her skirt.

Johnson nodded sympathetically. ‘Is your husband in, by any chance?’

Mrs Dunne looked a little disconcerted by the question. ‘He’s at work.’

‘Of course. He’s quite high up in the civil service, I understand. Did he know about you and Mr Vermeulen?’

Mrs Dunne looked away. It took her a while to answer. ‘There are large areas of life my husband and I don’t discuss, some of our friendships among them. It’s possible he knew about Frederick but if he did, he never said anything. We have, what shall I call it, a laissez-faire attitude to each other’s attachments. A modern attitude, dare I say. We are both devoted to our son. We would not allow anything to make him unhappy.’

‘So divorce and remarriage to Mr Vermeulen was never on the cards?’

‘No.’

‘Was Mr Vermeulen married too?’

‘No. Frederick lived most of the time in Lisbon and was committed to his life there. I loved the man, but a long-distance relationship suited both of us best.’

‘How long had you known him?’

‘As I told Constable Robinson, I met him around this time last year. Charles took me to a cocktail party but was called away on business. Frederick came over to chat. Things went from there.’

‘Mr Vermeulen’s path never crossed with that of your husband? London can be a small place sometimes.’

‘No. To tell the truth, Charles and I don’t spend an awful lot of time together. Apart from his work, which is very pressured and time-consuming, he has his golf, and he loves spending time in our country home, on which I am less keen.’ She reached out for a lacquered black box on the table in front of them. ‘Cigarette, Inspector?’

‘No thank you.

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