The Hanging in the Hotel by Simon Brett

Author:Simon Brett [Simon Brett]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780330466776
Publisher: Pan Books

Chapter Twenty-Three

After her lavish lunch with Suzy Longthorne, the last thing Jude really felt like was fish pie, but she didn’t want to offend the cook in Carole, so she did her best with her piled plateful. The new bottle of Chardonnay helped maintain the comforting haze which had been engendered by the lunchtime’s Sauvignon Blanc. She was excited too, and although Carole wanted to talk about her meeting with Donald Chew, Jude was full of what she had learned from Suzy.

‘Rick Hendry was actually staying at the hotel that night! Well, not at the hotel – in Suzy’s barn conversion behind the hotel.’

‘Why? Surely they’re not back together again?’

‘No. It was just Rick living up to his image as the meanest man in rock. He’d been in Brighton doing auditions for his Pop Crop show, and he wanted to save on accommodation costs, so a free bed at his ex-wife’s place sounded like a good idea. But at least that explains it, doesn’t it?’

‘Explains what?’ asked Carole a little testily. She was miffed that Jude’s news had taken priority over hers.

‘Explains the way Suzy’s clammed up over what happened. A death in the hotel would be bad enough publicity, but if it got out that Rick Hendry was on the premises at the time, the tabloids’d be all over her. I can see the headlines now – “TV’s Mr Nasty in Death Riddle at Ex-wife’s Hotel.”’

Carole tapped her chin thoughtfully. ‘You said the chef told you he was there?’

‘That’s right. Max.’

‘I wonder who else knew.’

‘What are you thinking?’

‘Just that you said the girl Kerry was terribly keen on the idea of a career as a pop singer – or whatever they call themselves nowadays. And Rick Hendry’s television show is very influential in launching young singers’ careers.’

‘I see. Yes.’ Jude nodded. ‘Bit of a coincidence. If Kerry did know he was there, she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to introduce herself. She’s not lacking in self-confidence, that kid. And, actually,’ she remembered, ‘Max said something about taking her to an audition in Brighton.’

‘Maybe you should ask her about it.’

‘Don’t worry. I will.’ Jude forked the remainder of her fish pie to the side of her plate. She really had tried, but after that lunch . . . She avoided Carole’s reproachful eye, as she went on, ‘Still, it makes me feel better about Suzy.’

‘What does? I’m sorry. What do you mean?’

‘Well, as you know, she’s one of my oldest friends’ – Carole nodded curt acknowledgment of this fact – ‘and I hated the idea she was lying to me, or holding out on me, so Rick’s presence does at least explain her behaviour.’ The lines around the brown eyes tightened with frustration. ‘But I’ve thought it through from every angle, and I still can’t see how Rick being there can have had any connection to Nigel Ackford’s death.’

‘No, of course it can’t. That’s to do with the Pillars of Sussex. Some internal feud or argument there.’

‘I’m afraid you’re right.’ Jude looked wistful.

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