Murder at the Ritz by Jim Eldridge

Author:Jim Eldridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

That evening Coburg returned to the Ritz to see if there were any tables free for Rosa’s performance in the Rivoli Bar, but was told very apologetically and with many sad looks from the maître d’hôtel that every one was booked. ‘She is very popular, monsieur. It’s not just the hotel guests coming to see her; word has been spreading even wider.’

‘I understand,’ said Coburg. ‘Might I be permitted to stand just inside the door?’

‘We don’t usually permit that, but as it’s you, Monsieur Coburg …’

There was still an hour before Rosa was due to appear, so Coburg made his way to her dressing room.

‘Edgar!’ She smiled happily as he tapped at her door, and then opened it at her call to enter. ‘Coming to see the show again?’

‘Yes, however, fortunately for you, but unfortunately for me, every available table is booked, so the maître d’ is allowing me to stand by the door.’

‘That’s horrible!’ exclaimed Rosa.

‘Not to see you,’ said Coburg. ‘It’s worth any amount of leg cramp I may suffer. So, I thought I’d call in first and see how you’re fixed for afterwards.’

Rosa sighed and shook her head. ‘I really need to be at home with Donna tonight,’ she said. ‘Despite all your good words, she’s really edgy. Did you have a word with the man you think took Julie?’

‘I did,’ said Coburg. ‘A very firm word. But I understand how things are. Will you at least let me drive you home, get you to your door safely?’

‘Yes, please,’ said Rosa. ‘And maybe tomorrow night, providing there’s been nothing bad happening, Donna might feel able to face being in the house alone.’

There was a knock at the door, then it opened and the smiling face of Raymond Harris looked in. He was carrying a bouquet of flowers.

‘Miss Weeks?’ His smile wavered as he saw Coburg, then he recovered it. ‘My apologies, I didn’t realise you were busy.’

‘Mr Harris, this is Detective Chief Inspector Edgar Coburg. Edgar, this is Raymond Harris, the record executive I was telling you about.’

‘A pleasure to meet you,’ said Coburg. He held out his hand.

‘And to meet you too, Chief Inspector,’ said Harris. ‘The flowers, though, are for Miss Weeks.’

Rosa beamed. ‘Why, thank you.’ She took the flowers from him. ‘I have a vase here that will be perfect for them. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go and get some water.’

‘Allow me,’ offered Harris.

‘Staff only behind the scenes in the kitchen,’ said Rosa. She picked up the vase and left, saying: ‘I won’t be a minute.’

‘So, Chief Inspector, are you here to watch the show?’

‘I am,’ said Coburg. ‘The maître d’ is allowing me to hover discreetly by the door.’

‘You don’t have a table booked?’

Coburg shook his head. ‘I didn’t know how things would go today, so I didn’t want to take the chance of making a booking I might not be able to keep and risk having an empty table in the audience.’

‘Why don’t you share mine?’ offered Harris. ‘I’m on my own and it will be great to have your company.

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