Rose felt hot and uncomfortable sitting beside the swimming pool at Aureus Lodge, even though the intensity of the sun was waning in the late afternoon. Robert Scott Watson and Vivian Scott sat side by side on a sun lounger, their eyes locked together.
Thabiti jumped off the wall where he had been sitting, and dragged a large canvas umbrella across to shade Rose and the still, upright figure of Commissioner Akida.
Marina left in the direction of the main lodge building.
Rose coughed and asked Robert and Vivian, “So what did you do about Robert’s over-bearing wife?”
Robert answered, “I realised my mistake and that I still loved Vivian. I made up my mind to divorce Donna, that was her name, so we could be together again.”
Vivian turned to face Rose, shrugged her shoulders, and divulged, “But Robert had given up his job and wasn’t interested in finding another. And I had no qualifications, nor had I any intention of doing any proper work.”
Robert took up the story, “And in my haste to be married I hadn’t realised I was signing a prenuptial, and that all Donna’s money was tied up in a trust. If I divorced her, I would only get a measly £10,000.”
“So you killed her?” queried Rose.
Robert crossed his arms. “So she died, and we walked away with her money and were happy.”
“For a time,” conceded Vivian. “But then you started to take an active interest in the pretty girls we met on our travels. And you were fed up with always being on the move and wanted us to return to England. But I had no intention of going there. I wanted to travel to America.”
Vivian rested her hands behind her on the sun lounger and leaned back. “So, you left for London, where you wooed and married a dull girl from Berkshire, and I tried my luck on the silver screen.”
“But you weren’t very successful,” quipped Robert.
Vivian appeared to ignore his biting tone and responded dryly, “I was too old by then to make any meaningful impact. But it was fun, and I was given a couple of walk on parts. But you were soon pestering me again and complaining about Stella. You both flew over to the States to visit me and, whoops, she had a boating accident and died.” Vivian raised her eyes to the sky.
Rose pressed on and asked, “And what about Val d’Isère?”
“Oh, you are clever,” Vivian said in a patronising tone. “That was sweet little Felicity, although she did annoy me with her constant giggling. I was sorry to get rid of her, and that should have been the end of it.”
She sat up and turned to Robert. “But you went and met Nina at Royal Ascot, when I was back in the States, and the game began again. You swore she’d be the last, and I guess now she will be.”
“Not if I can help it.” Robert dashed to the wall, placed his hands on the top and sprung over it. He turned to the left, but the young police constable stepped out onto the path. Robert turned and sped in the opposite direction.
Vivian stood and clapped. She shouted, “Oh, bravo,” as Robert disappeared around the corner.
He returned a few moments later in the clutches of Sam.
“Good try,” called Vivian.
Marina and the lodge staff arrived with trays of sandwiches and cake, and one of the staff carried two thermos flasks.
“I think we all need to cool down in the pool house,” commanded the commissioner.
Sam held Robert whilst the constable handcuffed him and then led him across to the pool house, following the commissioner.
Vivian wrapped a striped kikoi around her waist and stuffed her magazine inside her bag. She placed her feet in a pair of beaded flip-flops and was escorted by Constable Wachira to the pool house.
Rose, Thabiti and Sam hung back.
“What a story,” said Thabiti in an awestruck tone.
“But I’m not sure it really helps us,” admitted Rose.
Sam tapped his fingers together. “Robert as good as admitted his guilt by trying to run away, but neither of them have said anything which will stand up in court.”
Thabiti shuffled his feet. “But they admitted to killing those other women.”
“Not exactly,” Sam replied. “There were no details, and they could argue it was just a story they made up to amuse themselves and confuse us.”
“Sam’s right,” agreed Rose. “We need details of how they committed this crime and for them to admit their guilt.”
Rose bit her lip. “But I think I know how they did it, and if I’m right, I think one or the other will cave in. Probably Vivian. I believe she always thought this last venture was a folly, and I suspect she’s tired of travelling around the world bumping off women whenever Robert gets tired of them.”
“It’s worth a try,” agreed Sam. “Especially as I doubt any additional evidence will come to light now. The only risk is that they walk free, which it looks like they would do anyway.”
Rose squared her shoulders and marched toward the pool house, flanked by Sam and Thabiti.