The Woman in the Peacock Patterned Coat by Jennifer Jones

Author:Jennifer Jones [Jones, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-10T22:00:00+00:00

He went straight to Ruth Harrison’s house.

‘Detective Hammond! How lovely to see you again! Come in, come in.’

Once inside, she said,

‘Can I make you a cup of coffee?’

‘A glass of water will be fine, thank you.’

‘Oh, but I make a truly wonderful cup of coffee, Detective.’

He smiled. ‘All right then. That would be nice.’

While Ruth was in the kitchen, Neil studied the numerous photographs which were arranged on a sideboard. It seemed her whole life was laid out before him – Ruth on her wedding day, breathtakingly beautiful, her husband a large, almost ugly, rather serious looking young man. Ruth holding a baby in her arms, that same baby growing into a girl, then a young woman – plain, solidly built, taking after her father. Grand-children – three of them, two girls and a boy. Lastly, a photograph of four generations – Ruth, her daughter, her grand-daughter and a little girl of about two or three.

Ruth came in. ‘Ah, my beautiful family.’ She set the cups down and joined him, picking up this last photo. ‘This grand-child lives in Canada, this was taken when she was over for a visit a couple of years ago. And this one is now twenty-one and studying in Paris. And this one married an Irish girl and moved to Galway. So we’re very scattered, but still very dear to one another. I’m very blessed.’

‘Yes. I’m part of a close family, too. It’s very … it gives me a great sense of comfort, and stability.’

‘Do you have children, Detective? I’m sorry – I don’t remember your rank.’

‘It’s Chief Inspector, but call me Neil. No, not yet. We’ll start trying next year, that’s the plan.’

‘And if one should come sooner?’

‘That would be absolutely all right, too.’

‘For your wife, as well?’

‘I … I think so.’ He felt suddenly uncertain. Would it?

She looked at him appraisingly. ‘It’s really best to be on the same wavelength about these things, you know.’

They sat together on the couch.

‘So what can I do for you, Detect… Neil? I’m sure this isn’t just a social visit, lovely as that would be.’

‘Ruth, I’ve come to double-check with you about the date you saw the missing woman – Katie Campbell – with her suitcase. The day you saw her speak with your daughter at the gate.’

Her eyes twinkled. ‘Why? Doesn’t it fit in with the theory you’ve formed?’

‘Well, yes and no … the thing is, there’s rather too many theories – possibilities – and not enough facts. If I’m to have any chance of solving this, I need to be absolutely certain of the facts that I do have.’

‘Then you can be sure of that one. My daughter had just returned from a fifteen day cruise along the Rhine and Danube, and the very next day she flew out to Canada to join her daughter, where she’s been ever since. So it could only have been that date.’

‘Thank you. That’s really good to know.’

‘You’re no further along towards finding this young woman, then?’

‘Not really, no.’

‘It must be terribly hard on her family.

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