The Look of Love (18 page)

“And you say
you left her at the end of King Street?” Shawcroft asked him when
he had finished.

“Yes. I went
back to the bar on Deansgate but everyone was gone.”

“So what did
you do next?”

“I stayed at
the bar until it closed. I had a few drinks and a laugh, then I
went to a club.”

“Were you
alone?”

“Most of the
time. But I bumped into John a bit later and we went to an Indian
restaurant in Rusholme. The Shere Khan it was.”

“This is the
same John King you spoke of before?”

“Yes, that’s
right. It turned out he had gone off with some girl he met at one
of the bars we visited. I just happened to bump into him again in
Piccadilly.”

“Do you have
his address so that we can contact him and verify your story?”

“Yes.”

Shawcroft
passed him a piece of paper and Scott wrote it down.

“Thank you,”
Shawcroft said. “What time did you get to the restaurant?”

“At about two
thirty. We were there about an hour, an hour and a half maybe, then
went home. I caught a taxi and got in well after four. Everyone was
asleep.”

Connors then
asked Scott, “You advised your brother not to phone his girlfriend.
Why is that?”

“It was because
of that girl I told you about, Victoria. She messed everything up
between all of us. I don’t know what her game was, but she didn’t
like me and Max from the start. Max told me how she even mucked up
him and Jo, so I figured she must have got Jo into trouble. She was
behaving like a bit of a slag, and I wouldn’t have put it past her
to get Jo to blame it all on me and Max. But I didn’t have any idea
that Jo might have actually been killed. Mum only said that she had
been attacked.”

When they
questioned Mr Headly later, he said he remembered the time Max had
returned home because it was unusually early. He also verified that
Max didn’t go out again that night. He said he and his wife were
asleep before Scott got back.

Billing wanted
to know if that was the end of the matter, but Connors told him
that he and Shawcroft might wish to question both brothers about
their statements at a later date.

“But they’ve
told you everything they know,” Billing said. “And neither of them
were the last person to see the victim alive.”

“That has yet
to be confirmed,” Connors replied. “We still have other people to
question, and you know quite well that we may need to re-question
everyone involved more than once. A young woman was killed, and we
have to find the person responsible.”

Shawcroft and
Connors left shortly after. It was more than obvious that everyone
in the house was glad to see them go.

Shawcroft
waited until they were both in the car before he asked Connors what
he was thinking.

Connors was
thoughtful. “Hmmm. I have to admit that after I saw Max’s reaction
to the news I wasn’t as confident as I was before that it was him.
He seemed genuinely upset. He also has an alibi that would suggest
he is innocent.”

“He and his
parents could be lying,” Shawcroft suggested. “They did have plenty
of time to work on their story together.”

Connors nodded.
“They did. And they seem like a close knit family, one that would
stick together in adversity. The presence of the solicitor,
Billing, would also suggest that it could be a possibility. I think
it likely that Mr Billing and Mr Headly questioned and clarified
his son’s stories, but I don’t think they concocted any of it. And
Mrs Headly’s reaction suggests that they were not aware that Joanne
was dead.”

“It sounds like
you’ve given up on Max as the killer.”

Connors smiled.
“I didn’t say that. But what do you think, Mike?”

Shawcroft
sighed and shook his head. “I’m not sure. I’ll have to wait until
I’ve questioned the girls from the University and the other two
young men, Andy Price and John King, before I make up my mind. But
I do think the other brother, Scott, was far too calm and confident
for my liking. And why would he warn off his brother from phoning
up his girlfriend unless he knew that she was dead? His excuse was
a bit lame.”

Connors nodded.
“Lame, but feasible. And he also has an alibi, unless the Coroner’s
Report gives the time of death as somewhere between three and five
am. If it does, it could still have been possible for Scott to have
intercepted Joanne going home, killed her, then returned home as he
said.”

“What happens
if the time of death was earlier, say around three?” Shawcroft
said.

“Then we will
have to see if his alibi checks out. But I suspect that there will
be a few gaps somewhere. But the question then would be why he did
it. Why kill your brother’s girlfriend?”

“Maybe it was
the argument he had with the other girl, Chrissy Davis?” Shawcroft
suggested.

Connors
replied, “Or maybe my first thought was correct, and Max is merely
a very good actor.”

“So you do
still think it’s him?”

“Let’s just say
that I have an open mind. But I don’t rule out Scott, either. We
only have his word for his time of arrival back home. But that lack
of confirmation also points to Max as the killer.”

“Why so?”

“Because if the
Headly family had rehearsed their story as you suggested, and if
they thought that Scott was responsible, it would have been quite
simple for one of his parents to have said that they heard him
arrive, and at what time. They didn’t. But they were sure about
Max’s time of returning home, and that he stayed in all night.”

“That could be
because it was the truth.”

“Yes, so that
would leave us with Scott again.”

“How can you be
so sure it’s one of the two? The murderer could be a complete
stranger to the victim.”

“Anger,
remember?” Connors reminded him. “The victim was killed in a pique
of anger, and not for any other purpose.”

Shawcroft
nodded as he did indeed remember. “And that has to point to someone
she knew,” he confirmed.

“Yes, and I’m
pretty certain that has to be one of the Headly boys, Max or
Scott.”

“Which ever it
is, he could do a runner,” Shawcroft pointed out.

“He wouldn’t be
so obliging. No, we’ll have to winkle it out of him. And if his
family stick by him, it won’t be easy.”

Heathcotes was
in a village called Longridge that was not far from Preston.
Although the chef and owner, Paul Heathcote, also had a restaurant
in Manchester, it was the one in Longridge that was the more
exclusive.

Charles stopped
the car at the entrance and got out. He opened the car door and
waited patiently as Adam and Chrissy emerged.

“Be back for us
at ten-thirty,” Adam told him. Then he held out his arm to Chrissy,
smiled broadly, and said, “Shall we?”

“Why not?”
Chrissy replied with an equally broad smile. She took his arm and
said, “See you later, Charles, and don’t forget the band-aids!”

Charles smiled
and tipped his hat. “No, Miss!”

The Head Waiter
greeted them formally at the door. “Mr Campbell, Miss Davis. I hope
you had a pleasant journey?”

“Eventful,”
Adam replied.

Inside, another
two waiters were waiting to take their coats. Adam discarded his
without a thought. But when Chrissy took off her coat, it was to
reveal a very long, sleeveless, and low cut red dress. It fitted
her immaculately, and there was no doubt that she had the figure to
make the most of it. And as she turned, the low back to the dress
was also revealed. It caused quite a stir, and not just in
Adam.

Adam leaned
forward and whispered, “I see the bandages are off.”

Chrissy smiled
and murmured softly through her teeth, “And so are the gloves!”

The Head Waiter
ushered them into what appeared to be someone’s front room. There
were comfortable chairs to lounge in with low tables for drinks,
and all around were carefully arranged pictures and ornaments.
There were already a number of other people seated in the room, all
talking in soft voices. As Chrissy and Adam made their way to an
unoccupied sofa, the sound of voices briefly faded.

The Head Waiter
waited for them to get seated then said, “Your table will be ready
shortly. Do you wish an aperitif?”

“I think an
aperitif would be appropriate,” Adam told him. “I’ll have a Scotch
and water.” He turned to Chrissy and smiled. “And you, my
darling?”

Chrissy
shrugged. “Oh, just a dry white wine. I want to keep a clear head
so that I can enjoy this evening to the full.”

The Head Waiter
departed and Chrissy made herself comfortable on the sofa next to
Adam. She crossed her legs, the split in the skirt of her dress
giving Adam the chance for another quick glimpse.

“What’s with
the ‘my darling’ bit?” she asked Adam. “Getting a bit ahead of
yourself, aren’t you?”

“Just getting
into the spirit of the evening. I must say that your shopping
expedition was most fruitful. You look absolutely stunning. I am
sure I am the envy of every man in the room. But weren’t you being
a little premature in removing the bandages from your ribs?”

“I couldn’t
keep them on with this dress. So when it came to a choice between
the dress and the bandages, it was no contest. But don’t worry,
Adam, I intend to make you pay for every bit of my discomfort.”

“I’m sure you
will. But still, it is a little risky.”

“Not worried
about me are you?”

“Of course I
am! You know I have your best interests at heart, so even the
slightest injury is bound to upset me.”

“My best
interests, ha! I know what you’re really interested in.”

She turned
towards him, twisting her body and leaning forward provocatively,
allowing him a generous view of her cleavage should he dare to
look. If her bruised ribs caused her any pain, it didn’t show as
she stared into his eyes.

“Well, take a
good look, Adam,” she whispered. “All of this could have been
yours. But now, all you can do is look. So go on, Adam. Look.”

Adam had kept
his eyes on hers, but now they briefly glanced down. Chrissy
laughed and sat back in the sofa. Adam knew that he had already
lost the first brief battle of wills, but he wasn’t
downhearted.

“I have to
admit, you have a fine array of weaponry. But I can match it.”

Chrissy shook
her head and smiled. “No, you can’t.”

“We shall
see.”

One of the
waiters returned with their drinks. A moment later and another
waiter brought in a plate of hors d’oeuvres which he quickly
described to them.

“This is a pate
of smoked salmon wrapped in a vine leaf on toasted rye bread. This
one is a medley of cheeses on a homewheat cracker. This is a pate
of pork and mushroom on a home baked savoury biscuit. And this one
is chicken and asparagus with tomato vinaigrette also on toasted
rye bread.”

Chrissy could
hardly remember each tiny dish the moment after the waiter had
described them. She put down her drink and sat forward.

“They look
sweet,” she said, looking at the tiny dishes.

As Chrissy
leaned forward, Adam stared at her back, revealed in all its glory
by the low cut dress. “Yes, very attractive,” he replied.

There was
something about his tone that made Chrissy look up, and she saw the
direction of his gaze.

“Are you
staring at my bum?”

Adam laughed.
“I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing without consulting you
first,” he said quickly. “However, I must say that you have a most
beautiful back. Very impressive. And I am glad to see that the
bruising to your ribs is minimal and that the map of Japan is
nowhere to be seen.”

Chrissy
straightened up and flexed her back. “Actually, my back’s pretty
well okay. Most of the bruising to my ribs is more around the
front.” She held a hand to her left side as she continued to twist
and stretch. “As for the bruise on my bum, well, it’s still pretty
ugly, but it doesn’t go up that far to be seen. I made sure of that
when I tried the dress on. But you should see me with the dress
off.”

“I intend
to.”

Chrissy’s eyes
narrowed. “Do you want to eat these hors d’oeuvres or wear
them?”

Adam laughed.
“I think we will eat them. Here, let me.”

Adam picked up
the plate and took one of the small dishes and offered it to her.
Chrissy hesitated a moment before moving closer and taking a bite.
Half of the tiny dish vanished in a mouthful.

“Mmmh, that is
nice,” Chrissy said as she chewed.

“I am glad. But
will you finish it, or shall I?”

“I think we’ll
share. There is only one of each, and I wouldn’t want you to think
I was a greedy eater.”

Adam popped the
last bit into his mouth. “I doubt very much that you are a greedy
eater.”

“Then I’ll
surprise you. I’m not one of these diet mad weight watching bimbos.
I like to eat.”

“I can see
that.”

Chrissy looked
offended. “Are you saying I’m fat?”

“Not at all.
You are beautifully curved, and yet deliciously lithesome. You are
tall and elegant, your face perfect, your eyes magnificent and your
hair glorious. I am sure diet mad weight watching bimbos slit their
throats at the mere sight of you.”

“Are you going
to eat me or feed me?”

Adam smiled and
offered her another hors d’oeuvre.

When the plate
was empty, the Head Waiter returned.

“Your table is
ready,” he said. “Would you like to follow me through to the
dinning room?”

Adam said, “Of
course.”

He got up and
held out his hand to Chrissy, smiling at her. She took his hand and
stood up. Adam ushered her in front of him as they followed the
Head Waiter to their table. He placed his hand gently on her back,
just under her left shoulder blade. When they reached their table
there were two more waiters waiting for them. They quickly helped
Chrissy to her seat, moving the chair for her and placing the
napkin in her lap.