In Search of Murder--An Inspector Alvarez Mallorcan Mystery (16 page)

‘At first, he seemed worried, but that didn't last. It was Frank who made a bit of a fuss.'

‘Frank?'

‘Frank Macrone.'

‘Why should he object when your husband so obviously trusted you?'

‘He has the habit of leaping to the wrong conclusion, especially in matters which aren't his concern. I always think of him as living in a black and white, not a coloured world.'

‘Did your husband ever suggest to him that he should not think ill of these visits?'

‘In the course of a vigorous row which ended up by clearing the air.'

‘Señora, I gained the impression that you and the señors were uneasy when you learned of my identity.'

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Can't comment except for myself. I wasn't going to laugh when a detective wanted a word.'

‘You did not fear I was here because of something which did concern you?'

‘When I knew I had done nothing to warrant the police's interest?'

There was a thump on the door and Turner entered. ‘You OK?' he asked Giselle.

‘As yet, there is no sign of the thumbscrews.'

Alvarez said, ‘And will remain hidden, señor. Since I have learned all I need to know, I was about to thank Señora Dunkling and ask her to tell you I'd be grateful if you would come and have a word.'

She left. Alvarez suggested they sat. ‘Señor, as I may have said, I wish to learn more about Señor Picare's life and how he was regarded by others. Did you like him?'

‘A tricky question. I'd say, he interested me,' Turner replied.

‘I have spoken to several other people and none of them seemed to have found him interesting.'

‘We don't all live in the same world. He used his wealth as a magnet, was ostentatious, careless about the grief he caused. Most people have a dark side and hypocritically try to hide this from themselves as well as others. He didn't. That suggests a degree of courage.'

Or perverse pride, Alvarez thought to himself. ‘Did you sometimes accompany Giselle when she went to Vista Bonita?'

‘And show my trust was false or that Giselle's husband didn't trust her? The only time I've been there has been when we were invited to one of his parties and accepted for the same reason we condemn others – the chance briefly to enjoy luxury. But there was only that one time and since then we've had very little contact, especially as our friend Frank has reason to dislike him so much.'

‘Why the dislike?'

‘Neil tried to have a fling with Frank's wife. Why d'you want to know?'

‘No specific reason, just the wish to learn all I can.'

‘I doubt there was much contact between the two of them.'

‘Do you know where Señor Macrone lives?'

‘Ca'n Macrone, in Mitjorn.'

Another example of foreigners' egotism or ignorance in calling houses after their names rather than their nicknames.

‘For the record, I doubt Frank knows any more about Neil's private life than I do. And I'd be grateful if this meeting could come to an end. I do have to go out.'

‘There are only one or two more questions to ask. Did you have reason to dislike Señor Picare?'

‘No.'

‘You were not jealous of his lifestyle?'

‘Did his money make me feel small? No. Did his potential destruction of marriages make me feel the moral duty to get rid of him? Like any sensible person, I leave others to fight their own battles.'

‘His friendship with Señora Dunkling did not distress her husband and you?'

‘Giselle didn't like him any more than I did.'

‘Do you think she would agree with that? You are aware she often visited Vista Bonita on her own?'

‘And know why.'

The door opened, Giselle entered. ‘Are you finished?'

‘I am,' Turner replied.

‘Then we'd better move.'

‘Señora,' Alvarez said, ‘I should like another word with you.'

‘We're already late for meeting our friends.'

‘I will not delay you for very long.' Alvarez turned. ‘Señor, if you would like to leave us.'

‘I'm staying. You're not going to have the chance to bully Giselle.'

‘I must repeat what I said earlier? I am reluctant to ask the señora to come with me to the post.'

‘In England, the police would never act like this.'

‘They would not offer the choice?'

‘You know what I mean.'

‘Don't make a scene,' she pleaded. ‘If I think I'm in any danger, I'll shout loud and long.'

‘If you …' Turner did not finish, left.

‘Señora,' Alvarez said, ‘you may wish to tell the señor I questioned you about Frank. If it becomes necessary, I will confirm that.'

‘Why should I bother?'

‘You might find it preferable to explaining the true reason – that on several occasions you visited Señor Picare on your own when it was not to treat him.'

‘Do I look stupid?'

‘I will ask Señor Turner to return and hear my further questions so that he can corroborate your answers.'

‘He won't believe what you're trying to say.'

‘That may be. Alternatively, he may recall times when you said you wanted a break, to be on your own; that you'd go for a long walk, drive into Palma and visit the shops.'

‘What are you getting at?'

‘I do not think I need to answer. Let me ask you again. Did you ever visit Vista Bonita unless it was to help the señor with his back problem?'

‘What if I did?'

‘I suggest that on those days, unknown to your husband or brother, your intention was not to treat Señor Picare's back.'

‘That's a filthy suggestion.'

‘Then you would call Rosalía and Carolina liars?'

‘Who are they?'

‘The cook and daily at Vista Bonita who notice the course of life there. Señora, did you have an affair with Señor Picare?'

‘No.'

‘You deny the possibility, aware of what that must mean to you if you are proved to have been lying?'

She stared at a wall, angry, undecided, then finally said with bitter anger, ‘What if I did? Does that disturb your little suburban mind? Living with two men is shameful; as I'm sure you know by now, Turner isn't really my brother. And I suppose you think taking on a part-time third man is the work of a she-devil?'

‘I should prefer to say, surprising.'

‘You are not married?'

‘That is so.'

‘Then you've yet to learn that anyone in a closed relationship sooner or later learns life becomes stilted, boring; the excitement of pursuit or submission is replaced by the dullness of routine. Neil banished that dullness.'

Failing to appreciate the naivety of his words before he had spoken them, he said, ‘But you were already living with two men.'

‘And boredom is merely delayed, anticipation dimmed. Neil offered the revived pleasure of being pursued, the indulgence of delaying submission. Of course, in the end, even Neil became predictable. As has been said, pleasure cannot override repetition.'

‘That may be true, señora, but few of us have the chance of learning whether it is true. Thank you for your help.'

‘I cannot do anything more?'

‘I think not.'

‘You lead so peaceful and pleasurable a life?'

‘I live very quietly with my cousin and her husband.'

‘You share her?'

The thought of the nature of what Dolores's answer to that question would be, caused him to say loudly, ‘Good God, no!'

‘Bourgeois reticence?'

He sought an answer which would not make her laugh. ‘If her husband learned what was going on, I would become homeless.'

‘The next time they go on holiday, call on me to shed the dullness of your life.'

‘I
was propositioned again today,' Alvarez said.

Jaime lowered his glass. ‘Was she tight or destitute?'

There was a call from Dolores in the kitchen. ‘Who's destitute?'

‘She'd hear a cicada shrill a kilometre away,' Jaime muttered.

‘Was she someone we know?' she asked.

‘Not unless …' Jaime fortunately realised for once that what he was about to say was highly inadvisable.

Dolores looked through the bead curtain. ‘Was it?'

Alvarez hurried to prevent Jaime's replying. ‘You've noticed the woman who begs near the Sa Nostra branch this side of the village?'

‘I've never seen any beggar there and who would be so foolish as to beg near a bank where nothing is given away? Haven't the police tried to move her?'

‘She has to be somewhere. She was married to a man who took off with another woman and all their money; she has to wear cast-off clothing and is desperately trying to find enough to rent an unreformed
caseta
before she's thrown out of where she is. I always give her something.'

‘Why hasn't the husband been made to give her money?'

‘She doesn't know where he's ended up. The woman was from Menorca, so maybe that's where the husband is now.'

‘Then tell the policia in Menorca to find him.'

‘They'll refuse since he's not committed any crime.'

‘Being a man, you do not think it a crime to throw your wife away?'

‘It's a civil, not a criminal, offence.'

‘If the Minister of Justice was a woman, it would be a very serious crime. The Good Lord made a mistake when he introduced Adam.'

‘If he hadn't, there would have been no Eve, no you, Jaime and me.'

‘You have drunk so well, it was stupid of me to decide to cook one of your favourite dishes.'

‘What is it?'

‘
Granda de Patates
.' She withdrew.

‘You like potato pudding?' Jaime asked with surprise.

‘As much as a mash of chickpeas.'

‘Then why's she think you do?'

‘She doesn't.'

‘She's right. You spent the morning in a bar.'

‘She's probably cooking something we like, but said what she did because she wants me to understand I annoyed her.'

‘You didn't say anything sharp.'

‘Women seem to be able to guess when a man's lying.'

‘You don't give that poor woman anything when you see her?'

‘There is no poor woman whose husband has gone to Menorca. I made her up to explain why you mentioned a woman who was so hard up.'

‘Why?'

‘To provide a safety net. What if she also heard me tell you I had been propositioned?'

‘She'd guess you'd struck lucky.'

‘And if sometime in the future I turn up late for a meal, what's going to be her first thought? I'd taken advantage of what I'd been offered.'

‘It was all a lie?' Jaime absentmindedly drank, emptied the glass, refilled it with Campo Neuvo. ‘You made me believe all you said. So now I'm beginning to think you made up being propositioned just to annoy me.'

‘You want me to ask in a loud voice what's annoyed you?'

‘You can be a sod,' was Jaime's response.

‘Is the superior chief there? Alvarez asked.

‘Why should he not be here?' Ángela Torres replied.

‘It is Sunday, señorita,' Alvarez replied.

‘Were it my place to comment, I should remark that our work does not cease at a weekend even if there are those who believe it does.'

He leaned back in the chair, lifted his feet up on to the desk. The stress of overwork was one of the prime causes of strokes and heart troubles.

Salas spoke. ‘What is it?'

‘I have questioned—'

‘You are who?'

The unanswerable question: whether or not to announce his identity to Salas when certain the impeccably efficient Ángela would have done so. It was a gamble which he constantly lost.

‘Your silence names you Inspector Alvarez.'

‘Señor, can silence name—'

‘Make your report.'

‘Following the unexplained death of Señor Picare, I have questioned Señora Dunkling and Señor Turner. The latter has provided the name and address of Frank Macrone who lives in—'

‘Would it trouble you to inform me why he is presumably of some relevance to the case?'

‘I have previously explained that, señor.'

‘And that prevents your doing so now in order to bring him into focus?'

Every time a loser. ‘Señor Turner is a friend of Señor Dunkling and he is of the opinion that Frank Macrone disliked Señor Picare because there was reason to believe Picare had been over-friendly with his wife.'

‘Your task is to eliminate suspects, not enlarge their number. And do not strain your imagination by trying to explain why you have not yet questioned him.'

‘I spoke to Señora Dunkling and learned that even though she is a happy member of the ménage à trois—'

‘To use the word “happy” in such context is to deny the meaning of the word.'

‘Although she had two partners, she also had an affair with Picare, which raises the question, would they have been angered by her unfaithfulness.'

‘You can consider such a term in the circumstances? Llueso has become a modern Sodom and Gomorrah.'

‘I wouldn't say it was that bad.'

‘You recognise no limits?'

‘I suppose one could say the local English have become unusually imaginative.'

‘Were you to speak with honesty, I fear you would find reason to erase “unusually”.'

‘Frank Macrone's wife—'

‘Her Christian name?'

‘As I have not yet had the chance to speak to her or her husband—'

‘Chance or energy?'

‘Señor, it has taken a great deal of time to uncover the facts in this case.'

‘You can now be certain Picare was murdered and name the murderer or prove beyond reasonable doubt that he drowned accidentally?'