‘Hillman?’ Sir Harold Jackson frowned. ‘The boy who killed himself?’
Since Rachel’s host had returned from the scene of the crime, the conversation had ranged widely. By tacit consent they had steered away from the subject of murder until the main course, a magnificent chateaubriand, had been washed down with a first-rate claret. The Jacksons had waxed lyrical about the charms of Hemlock Bay and in return Rachel gave them a highly selective account of her life in London. When they asked what had brought her to the resort, she said a distant relative called Edward Hillman had recommended her to come here.
‘That’s right. It was very sad.’
‘And inexplicable,’ Sadie Jackson murmured. ‘To be so depressed that you feel you can’t go on must be awful.’
‘He obviously loved Hemlock Bay,’ Rachel said.
‘At least that is a small consolation, I suppose. Were you and he close?’
‘I’m afraid not. His death was a complete mystery. Rather like this terrible business with the fortune teller.’
‘Rotten show.’ Sir Harold put down his knife and fork. ‘The fellow was bashed over the head with his own crystal ball.’
‘I feel so sorry for the poor soul who found the body,’ Sadie said. ‘Such a horrific experience. Enough to scar anyone for life. Don’t you think so, honey?’
‘You can spare your sympathy, my dear. The person in question is a journalist. Name of Flint. A reporter with the Clarion, believe it or not.’
His wife stared at him. ‘Something to do with this Clarion Charlie campaign?’
‘Supposedly, he’s here on holiday.’
‘But why in Hemlock Bay? Surely he didn’t just stumble upon the body by chance? A fortune teller bludgeoned to death with his own crystal ball? It’s crazy, the story of a lifetime. Did he have a tip-off?’
‘Not as far as I know. However, I presume Inspector Young didn’t tell me everything.’
‘He’s in charge of the investigation?’
‘Yes.’ A sigh. ‘I know him in my capacity as chair of the bench. Not the sharpest brain, I’m afraid. He’ll find this case taxing.’
‘Is Flint a suspect?’ Sadie considered. ‘Maybe he battered Bellamy to death in a fit of rage and then covered up his crime by pretending he discovered the corpse.’
‘The police haven’t arrested him,’ Sir Harold said. ‘On the contrary, he’s thrilled to have stolen a march on his rivals in Fleet Street and he’s taking full advantage. Buzzing around like a gadfly, questioning all and sundry.’
‘Are the police allowing him to behave like this?’ his wife asked.
‘Oh, he’s got the gift of the gab. Young is eating out of his hand.’
Sadie shook her head sorrowfully. ‘The man is probably desperate to see his name in the papers.’
‘I had the bad luck to bump into Flint as I finished talking to Young. Believe it or not, the impudent young pup had the brass neck to ask for an exclusive interview.’
His wife frowned. ‘I hope you didn’t say yes.’
A pink tinge came to his cheeks. ‘I did speak to him.’
‘Harold! It’s one thing to court the press when we’re seeking a free advertisement. But with a tragedy like this…’
‘Flint is a cocksure young fellow. If I gave him the cold shoulder, he’d fill his column with sly innuendoes at our expense. It could be very damaging to the resort’s reputation. I must admit, I’d almost forgotten the tragic death of that poor fellow Hillman, but I suppose the press may rake over the coals again. And remember the fuss that papers like the Witness made when we opened the Sun and Air Garden?’
Sadie murmured, ‘Actually, I’ve got a confession of my own. I told Miss… I mean, Rachel about our interest in… healthy living.’
‘Ah.’ Her husband raised his eyebrows. ‘You’ll keep mum, Miss Savernake?’
‘You can depend on me.’ Rachel wore her butter-wouldn’t-melt expression. ‘And I hope you’ll call me Rachel, too… Sir Harold.’
Smiling, he said, ‘Harold, please. Neither of us cares for stuffy conventions, as you’ve gathered. As for Flint, it made sense to give him my point of view before his imagination ran away with him.’
‘I suppose you’re right, honey,’ Sadie said, ‘though he’ll twist your words to make a more exciting story.’
‘I took the precaution of asking Louis Carson to join us.’
Sadie raised her eyebrows. ‘He was at Hemlock Head?’
‘Not at the time of the murder. He and his wife have been in the hotel all day. The conservatory roof sprang another leak in the heavy rain on Sunday and, among other things, he was supervising the emergency repairs. When he heard the news, Carson rushed round to see if there was anything he could do to help.’
‘Decent of him.’ But Sadie sounded sceptical. ‘Did Flint interview him too?’
‘Whatever you may think of the man, Carson is as sharp as a tack. He and I acted as witnesses for each other and he made it clear to Flint that if I was misrepresented in any way, he’d live to regret it. Of course, he expressed himself in his silkiest manner.’
‘Of course.’ Sadie drained her glass. ‘I don’t wish to be unkind, honey, but you don’t think the culprit might be one of Bellamy’s dissatisfied customers?’
He glanced at Rachel. ‘My wife has told you about her encounter with The Great Hallemby?’
‘I was sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve endured.’
‘Ah, well. “Into each life some rain must fall.” Isn’t that Longfellow?’ He finished his claret. ‘We’ve enjoyed great good fortune in this family, Miss Savernake. One can’t expect everything to keep going swimmingly forever. I hate to sound selfish, but Bellamy’s death came as a blow to morale as well as a dreadful shock. The last thing you want in a seaside resort is any suggestion that there’s a murderer on the loose. Bad for business. Thankfully, it looks as if Young will soon be in a position to make an arrest.’
Rachel’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
The conversation paused as the waiter came in to clear the plates and replenish their glasses. Once the door closed behind him, Harold Jackson drank some more wine and leaned over the table.
‘I can speak off the record? You are the daughter of a judge, after all. You understand the importance of keeping certain matters confidential.’
‘Judge Savernake was a great one for secrets.’ Rachel ran a slim finger over the rim of her glass, but didn’t raise it to her lips. The Jacksons were drinking freely and, although she had a good head for alcohol, she had no intention of keeping pace with them. ‘Naturally I’m curious. If you feel able to share some information, I shan’t breathe a word.’
Except to the Truemans, she thought. And possibly Jacob, provided he behaves himself.
He nodded. ‘The prime suspect is Bellamy’s lady friend. Winnie Lescott.’
‘Crime passionnel?’ Sadie asked.
‘Apparently, Bellamy got mixed up with some other woman who scratched his face. Made a mess of his looks. Not that he was Rudolph Valentino to start with, God rest his soul. The Lescott girl took umbrage, and the more vehemently Bellamy protested his innocence, the angrier she became.’
‘How sad.’
‘Indeed.’ He turned to Rachel. ‘Winnie helps her father with the puppet show. One of the biggest draws in Paradise over the past three summer seasons. Ron Lescott is the salt of the earth, but his daughter’s a rum one.’ He coughed. ‘Matter of fact, she isn’t white. Ron met her late mother in South Africa during the Boer War. Fine figure of a woman, Petronella, but temperamental. She died of a stroke shortly after they came to Hemlock Bay, so Winnie had to take her place. Good head for business, but a real firebrand. She’s fallen out with almost everyone who works in Paradise. If it wasn’t for Ron’s popularity, we’d have asked her to leave.’
Rachel considered. ‘So the police theory is that Winnie and Bellamy had a violent quarrel and she hit him over the head with his own crystal ball?’
‘There’s no doubt they had a heated row. Several witnesses heard them ranting at each other. Bellamy claimed a client was upset by a pessimistic reading and raked him down the cheeks with her nails, but Winnie didn’t believe him. She raved about what she’d do to him if she found he was… um, misbehaving with another woman.’
‘Has Inspector Young arrested her?’ Sadie asked.
Harold Jackson shook his head. ‘The woman has vanished. First thing this morning, she told her father she wouldn’t be able to help with the puppet show. He had to cancel the performances. When he looked for her later, she was nowhere to be found.’
‘So the police are in hot pursuit?’
‘She has a head start, but I can’t imagine she’ll get far.’ He sighed. ‘I only hope she hasn’t done something foolish, like throwing herself off a cliff.’
*
As she savoured the mint chocolate accompanying her after-dinner coffee, Rachel considered the Jacksons. The alcohol had not only helped them to recover their equilibrium after the shock of Bellamy’s murder but also loosened their tongues.
‘So you hope that Inspector Young will wrap up the case quickly?’ she asked.
‘He seems confident.’
Rachel detected a note of caution. ‘But?’
‘Between you and me, I wonder if he’s jumping to conclusions. But then, I must beware of making simple things complicated. It’s a bad approach in business and the same must be true of police investigations. With any luck, the fuss will soon blow over. That’s Carson’s view.’
‘And you trust his judgment?’
Harold Jackson eyed her warily. ‘Louis Carson has done very well for himself. That says something about his acumen. Any fool can prosper when times are good. Not so easy when the chancelleries of Europe are in utter turmoil.’
‘How long have you and Mr Carson been partners?’
‘A few months. He and his wife came here on holiday last year and fell in love with the area.’
‘As you and Sadie did after the war?’
‘Yes, something about this place exerts an irresistible appeal.’
‘Like the mermaid of the old legend?’
A shadow crossed his face. ‘Except that Hemlock Bay doesn’t lure people to their doom.’
Other than Edward Hillman and Gareth Bellamy, Rachel thought.
Perhaps the same reflection occurred to her host, who hurried on. ‘I wonder if you’ll decide to make your home here? Escape from the grime and smoke of London?’
Rachel smiled. ‘The Carsons came up from the south of England, didn’t they?’
‘Brighton, yes. Carson had made his money there, and after discovering Hemlock Bay, he was keen to invest. At first I was doubtful. We’ve built this town up on our own. But Sadie’s illness and young Robert’s accident came in quick succession and our thinking changed. I’m not far short of fifty. The clock is ticking and we need to look to the future. Neither of our boys have the faintest interest in coming into the business, so I need to consider how to take out my capital without damaging the financial stability of Hemlock Bay.’
‘In other words, it made sense to spread the risk?’
‘Certainly. Before the Wall Street Crash, I’d never have given Carson’s approach the time of day. But in times as hard as these, I had to swallow my pride. I love this place, but nothing stays the same forever.’ He glanced at his wife. ‘Not that I warmed to Carson at first. His wife, on the other hand, is friendly and down to earth.’
Sadie Jackson laughed. ‘Behind every successful man is an extremely determined woman.’
‘Martha, my maid, met Mrs Carson,’ Rachel said. ‘She found her very approachable. Not in the least high and mighty.’
‘Yes, I enjoy her company. She’s been a great support while I’ve been feeling fragile. We exchange recipes and she’s encouraged me to take up knitting. Because we’re both dark-haired, with similar colouring, she asks me for advice about the latest American cosmetics. I’ve introduced her to Max Factor make-up and Koremlu Cream for removing superfluous hair. We get on like a house on fire. If you ask me, her husband would never have got so far without her.’
Harold Jackson nodded. ‘Mrs Carson confided in me that Brighton was going downhill. The racecourse attracts undesirables. Razor gangs rule the slums. She persuaded her husband to move somewhere more respectable.’
‘You’ll have gathered,’ Sadie said, ‘that we’re very proud of Hemlock Bay. We wouldn’t do anything that would jeopardise everything we’ve achieved. But the Carsons were willing to relieve us of significant financial and management burdens. Louis Carson made us an offer we could hardly refuse.’
‘So everything has worked out for the best?’ Rachel asked Sir Harold.
‘You won’t hear me complaining. The Carsons run the hotel with the utmost efficiency. Despite the economic woes, Hemlock Bay continues to attract the right people.’ He beamed at Rachel, subjecting her to the full force of his charm. ‘Judges’ daughters, for example.’
‘Famous artists, too.’
‘Miss Virginia Penrhos, you mean?’ He exchanged a smile with his wife. ‘Neither of us can make any sense of her paintings, but she’s pleasant enough, if a little eccentric.’
‘And her friend, Miss Morris?’
‘Quiet as a mouse when she came here for dinner,’ Sadie said. ‘I got the impression that she doesn’t care for people who make money from business. Not that she’s ever earned money from the sweat of her brow, as far as I can make out. She’d rather be kept by someone.’
‘Miaow,’ her husband said affectionately. ‘The girl was bored, that’s the top and bottom of it.’
‘Harold prefers to thinks the best of people, Miss Savernake. Not like me.’ Sadie sounded languid, but her gaze was thoughtful. ‘But that’s more than enough about the two of us. I notice you’ve been drinking rather cautiously, but do let your guard down, just a little. You’ve cross-examined us very subtly, while dodging most of our questions about you. I’m fascinated. Were you not tempted to follow in your father’s footsteps and go into the law?’
‘The judge and I could hardly be more different,’ Rachel said calmly. ‘But I do admit to a burning passion for justice.’