Death in Leamington (21 page)

‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said, now beginning to feel completely out of his depth.

‘Ok, don’t worry, I can see I’m confusing you, it’s a lot to take in at once and I’ve been thinking about it for years. As I said, I trained as a psychologist, but that probably doesn’t surprise you.’

‘Indeed, now you remind me, it doesn’t.’

Based on Wikipedia
– Schrödinger’s Cat

‘So maybe it’s about time I got to my point in inviting you,’ she said. ‘To keep it simple I might have brought you here under slightly false pretences. What I probably should have told you directly rather than all that psychobabble is that I’d really like you to model for me,’ she laughed, pointing to some clay life studies of male torsos, strangely distorted from the classical ideal. ‘I’m going to work all these up until they are ready to create bronzes for my own show next year and I need some new models – real flesh and blood men rather than willowy art students or over-blown body-builders. I thought you’d do for starters.’ He stood in silence for a moment, while she looked him up and down, sizing him up, apparently waiting for him to say something. ‘In fact, I think you’d be a great subject.’

He was certainly taken aback.

‘I don’t really think I’ve got the body shape to be a model,’ he said.

‘Rubbish. You have a nice body and more importantly you are 100 per cent real and honest rather than manufactured like most models.’

He hesitated still, despite the clear signals she was giving him.

‘OK,’ he said ‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Well we’ll start with you showing me your stuff.’

‘What, here, now?’

‘Yes like this.’ She gently unbuttoned his shirt.

Christ, why hadn’t he seen this coming? Why was he always so self-controlled; why couldn’t he be more forward? Her mouth was for an instant deliciously close to his. He had hoped but had never imagined that something like this would happen. Maybe Bas was right about artists. His knees were shaking as if they wanted to sink to the floor, a place from where he felt he may never want to get up.

‘I think I love you,’ he whispered to himself but was then suddenly aware of another woman in the room, already beginning to take photographs as he stood there, stripped to the waist, looking up at the light playing on the ceiling.

‘Who’s this?’ he asked, confused.

‘Don’t worry, Jade is a professional photographer that I work with and my partner. I need her to get some initial images so I can work out the form. She’ll be quick,’ said Claudia, laughing. She had heard his words. ‘But I’m not sure what she would think about your professions of love – she might even be a little jealous.’

The new woman called Jade nodded to her.
God, she is gorgeous as well
, thought Hugh. She offered him a cup of tea.

‘You can put your shirt back on, Jade’s got what I need for now and they’ll be closing up the front of the house soon.’

*

The receptionist of the Holly Hotel did as they had promised and rang me as soon as Pearl returned to the hotel so we made our way there as quickly as we could. Pearl had returned to her room, but frustratingly Hunter asked me to wait at reception and went alone to meet her.

*

He knocked at her door.

‘Miss Taylor, sorry to disturb you, but I wondered if you had a minute?’

‘Inspector, what a nice surprise this is. Of course I have, but I really wasn’t expecting a visitor and I’m packing up. Sorry this room is in a bit of a mess. Please come in but can you give me a minute to tidy up?’

He nodded and followed her into the living room of her suite discreetly after a few seconds. He noticed she had gone straight for a package on her desk.

She pushed past him, smiling as sweetly as ever, with the package in her hands, which she placed in the room safe. He heard her tap seven digits into the keypad, which interested him immediately as most people would only use four digits when they were locking a hotel safe.

‘Just family jewellery,’ she said. ‘Anyway, Inspector, how good to see you again so soon.’

‘I’m sorry to bother you but there have been some more developments this morning in our murder case, I understand you have been out and about this morning and wonder if you saw anything on your travels.’ He was aware that she was watching his face carefully as he was speaking.

‘Oh dear, I’m afraid not, Inspector. My purpose in visiting your town was just to meet up with an old friend. I did that this morning and although I am only too aware of the terrible incidents from our conversation last night, I am afraid I have seen nothing myself of any significance, in fact those events have not troubled me at all.’

‘I see, well that’s reassuring,’ he said coolly. ‘By any chance, would that old friend happen to be a Mr Arthur Troyte? It appears you share at least a similar sounding name, Troyte, Detroit?’

Pearl was somewhat surprised by the question. It appeared the Inspector had made a connection more quickly than she had expected. She maintained a completely straight face, however, showing no hint of recognition.

‘Indeed, well, no I do not enjoy personal relations with the gentleman, I have to say.’ Hunter could read nothing at all into her poker face at this point. He also wondered at the nice use of the word personal. No facial or verbal signs that she was lying.
She is very good
, he thought.

‘It’s just that it is such a coincidence. He’s American and so are you, you have similar sounding names, he’s staying not a quarter of a mile from this hotel and apparently you both arrived on the same train yesterday morning. You understand why I would want to check that out.’

She laughed. ‘Inspector, I agree those are indeed coincidences and indeed neither of our names is a common name, but although all Americans are supposedly brothers and sisters under God, I am afraid I am not intimately acquainted with all of them and certainly none that I know of in this lovely town of yours. As you may be aware, I was named by my mother after the city of my birth – Detroit; and the town of my conception – Taylor. I agree that my middle name Detroit sounds spookily similar to that of your Mr Troyte but beyond that I’m afraid we have no connection.’

‘That’s perfectly fine, Miss Taylor. I’m just checking all avenues, you understand. We are trying to unravel an unfortunate incident that occurred earlier today.’

‘Intriguing, you must tell me more.’

‘I am afraid I can’t at the moment. You do understand, I hope, that I have to follow up anything unusual.’ He paused and then continued. ‘By any chance in your travels around our town did you happen to go up to the beacon at Newbold Comyn?’ Again the Inspector had surprised her with this question.

‘Well, Inspector, I believe the carriage ride I took yesterday took me there, yes but why do you ask?’ she asked, looking puzzled.

‘And did you happen to see the Toposcope?’

‘Yes I did, it was splendid and indeed that name Toposcope is such an interesting albeit unfamiliar word. Unfortunately the view was obscured by mist yesterday, I understand on a good day you can see for miles.’

‘Indeed, things were a little clearer when I was there earlier.’

‘I am very glad about that, Inspector. Your powers of observation are somewhat legendary.’

‘Anyway, it’s no matter, but just one more question if I may. Do you have any naval connections by any chance?’

Pearl feigned puzzlement for the second time.

‘Well, yes my father was a sea captain.’

‘And are you familiar with semaphore, you know, the language with flags that is used to signal at sea?’

‘Well I suppose I have a passing acquaintance, but no more than that.’

‘That’s helpful to know and regarding the naval connection, does that also explain the significance of the name Pearl, if I may enquire?’

‘Good God, Inspector, does your vast knowledge even extend to the Pearl Incident?’

‘You mean Pearl Harbor?’

‘Ah no,’ she laughed. ‘Then I have you at a disadvantage. That is indeed another ‘Pearl’ date, which is certainly a day that will live in infamy, but it’s not the one I’m referring to. No, I mean the nineteenth century Pearl Incident. It was a slave ship that was captured during the Civil War period, that’s the one I’m named after.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
and all that. It’s maybe another one for your pretty young researcher?’

*

She nodded at me, as I had now joined them. I indicated to Hunter that I needed to speak with him. Seeing this, Pearl checked her watch. ‘Oh my, is that the time? Sorry but I must be getting on, Inspector, I have one or two further errands before I have to leave this evening and you obviously have more pressing things to attend to.’

‘Of course, we won’t detain you any longer, Miss Taylor, but it would be helpful if you could let us know of your whereabouts in the coming days.’

‘Of course, I will leave the address with the hotel. Well I hope I’ve told you what you want to know. Please keep in touch, Inspector, and I would be even more delighted if you’d come to a concert I am going to give next month in London. Perhaps I can send you the details and some complimentary tickets?’

‘Thank you, you have been most generous with your time, Miss Taylor. And I’d love to come to your concert – as you know I am a great fan of yours.’

‘That is most kind, Inspector. Now, talking of names, you never told me your own full name for the invitation.’

‘Hunter.’

‘Come on you can do better than that, I was asking about your first name?’

I grinned as I watched this interchange unfold; I was quite enjoying seeing Hunter given a run for his money like this for a change.

‘Well as you seem to like puzzles, maybe I’ll leave you with my personal favourite clue to my first name:
in summer a golden breath of wind revolves around us
.’

‘That’s really not too hard,’ she laughed. She paused and then turned to the inspector again. ‘Then I too may have a little riddle for you, too. I don’t want to cause confusion, Inspector, but it might help you to relax later.
Don’t be confused, my mighty Nimrod, it’s in G-minor after all, but as a rule you should always keep the major key in sight
.’

Hunter laughed along with her politely. He realised that she had just set him a cryptic clue from some of the key words she used and his mind was already trying to solve the puzzle she had posed. I scowled at him ferociously now and he noticeably reddened.

‘I will certainly think that one over,’ he said. ‘Did you write that one down, Penny?’

*

‘What do you think, Sir?’ I asked as we left the hotel.

‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘She’s certainly a cool customer. I’m still inclined to the practical joke theory but these coded messages are a very disturbing development. It seems like I have another riddle to solve. Can you find out where she’s going in London in case we need to pull her in again?’

‘Yes
and
I still don’t trust her,’ I said. ‘By the way I finally got to speak with Mr Troyte.’

‘OK what did he have to say for himself?’

‘Strange. He was very subdued when I asked him if he was better after his experience in the lecture. He seemed to want to brush it off quickly as being of no consequence. Then he asked me why the police were involved and that’s when I mentioned Nariman. That seemed to come as a complete shock to him; he appeared to know nothing about the murder yesterday. He asked me what had happened and then just went totally silent when I told him.’

‘How odd?’

‘Yes it was. I spoke and then shouted down the phone but I could not get him to reply to me. Anyway the receptionist came back on the line and said that Hugh happened to be there and wanted to talk to me so they put him on the line for me. Once I had explained the situation to him, Hugh said that Troyte appeared genuinely shocked and was ashen and had needed to sit down when he got the news. All he had muttered to Hugh was that he had wondered why Nariman had not met him yesterday at the station but now he understood; he said he had thought it was a misunderstanding. Hugh said he would bring Troyte back to Leamington and make sure he’s alright. I’ll talk to Hugh later but I’ve tentatively arranged to see Mr Troyte first thing tomorrow if that’s OK, after he’s had a good night’s sleep?’

‘Yes OK, I think we could both probably do with some downtime. Get some rest Penny – I sense we have a busy week ahead of us.’

*

As they drove down the Roman road through the rolling countryside, Hugh and Troyte had an awkward conversation about the events of the morning. When he dropped him off at the house in Lansdowne Circus, Hugh mentioned his own security background and offered to check over his laptop and see if he could work out how someone was able to doctor his presentation. He also checked the alarm security settings and advised him to keep all the doors to the house locked in case there were any more intruders before leaving for home.