Molly's Boudoir: the 4th Jasmine Frame novel (Jasmine Frame Detective)

by P R Ellis

  Tyler looked up, his face pained. ‘But Harriet made me do it.’

  Tom paused, not quite straightened up. ‘Made you? You followed her instructions, if not quite to the letter, but “made you” do so? I don’t think so.’ He pulled himself to his full, imposing height.

  ‘No, she did. She made me.’

  Tom sat down again. ‘How?’

  ‘I can see it now,’ Tyler said.

  ‘What?’ Tom said, a note of impatience in his voice.

  ‘I fell in love with her. She did things to me that made me want to be with her all the time, made me want to please her.’

  ‘Ah, she seduced you. Is that what you’re saying.’

  ‘Yes. I admit it was the sex. I wanted it. She gave it.’

  ‘I don’t think you can use lust as an excuse for murder. Motive perhaps.’

  ‘No, you don’t understand. She’s a sorceress, a witch. She makes men do things they would never think of doing. If you saw what she makes those old blokes do, you’d believe me.’

  Tom didn’t reply immediately. Jasmine recalled the things she’d been told by Harriet’s slaves. She certainly seemed to have a hold over them.

  Tom finally spoke. It didn’t sound as if he believed Tyler’s story. ‘So Harriet Bunting has a magic power which she wields over men young and old.’

  ‘Yes,’ Tyler nodded his head eagerly. ‘I admit I fell for it. I would do anything she wanted of me, even do things to Evelyn that disgust me.’

  ‘What things?’

  Tyler froze with his mouth half open. ‘I can’t say.’

  ‘Can’t or won’t?’

  Tyler shook his head. ‘Can’t. I… I’m not gay.’

  ‘Oh, that. She told you to have gay sex with her crossdressing husband.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And that disgusted you.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, Mr Smith, that has just provided another motive for why you wielded the baseball bat with such ferocity. The disgust you felt for Evelyn added weight to the blow you gave him.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘Forget it, Tyler. Yes, I can see that Harriet Bunting spellbound you, but you are not getting out of charges for murder and arson as well as kidnapping and imprisoning Jasmine Frame. You and Mrs Bunting will be in court together.’ Tom stood and walked out of the room at speed.

  He went straight into the other interview room with DC Patel hurrying along behind him. Harriet Bunting looked up as he entered. The expression on her face revealed her realisation that her denials were pointless. But would she give in without a fight, Jasmine wondered.

  Tom eased himself down into the chair without saying anything. Harriet watched him uneasily.

  Tom began. ‘The plan was for Tyler to make the fire at Molly’s look as if some third party was responsible, perhaps someone unhappy about the business that was being engaged in, a transphobe. But Tyler wasn’t an expert arsonist; he was a little too liberal with the petrol in the front shop. And he had a problem. Evelyn.’

  Harriet looked as though she wanted to ask a question but thought better of it.

  Tom continued. ‘He didn’t want to go along with your plan. Wasn’t prepared to see his life’s work go up in flames. He still had hopes, maybe, that he could get through the financial problems, repay Griffiths and get his goons off his back. He tried to stop Tyler but Tyler, perhaps more enthusiastically than you might have expected, bludgeoned him to death. Evelyn’s murder rather spoiled the arson story, didn’t it?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Harriet asked, drawn into the story.

  ‘Arsonists may have planned to pour some petrol through the letter box or a broken window and set the shop alight. They wouldn’t really commit themselves to entering the property, engaging with the owner and then leave his body in the back room. Tyler’s poor execution of your plan resulted in the death of your husband and the exposure of the arson as a scam. He may be good in bed but he was a useless tool for your purpose.’

  ‘He said he’d done it,’ Harriet mumbled, her cheeks reddening with fury. ‘he didn’t tell me he’d killed Evelyn.’

  ‘Nevertheless, it was your plan,’ Tom said. Harriet shook her head. ‘Your plan to burn down Molly’s and claim on the insurance.’

  Harriet looked venomous. ‘I didn’t want Evelyn dead,’

  ‘Perhaps not,’ Tom said calmly, ‘You thought that Evelyn would comply with your scheme, that Tyler would, in public eyes, appear to rescue him from the flames. This story of Tyler being sent to lock Evelyn in the basement was just an excuse for his return to Molly’s while you were otherwise engaged.’

  ‘Evelyn shouldn’t have tried to stop Tyler.’

  ‘He was defending his business.’

  ‘Business. Pah! Evelyn didn’t know how to run a business. Not when things got into difficulties.’

  ‘Difficulties? Such as ditching your previous lover, Gary Nicholls, and buying out his share. That’s what tipped Molly’s into the red and sent Evelyn to Neville Griffiths for a loan, wasn’t it?’

  Harriet didn’t reply.

  ‘In fact, it was your meddling in the business and your lust that ended with your property destroyed, your husband dead and you, and your lover, facing a long prison sentence. Isn’t that the truth?’

  She appeared to slump. Jasmine watched the scene thinking it resembled one of those horror films where the evil siren ages in moments, face cracking and turning to dust, or the formerly imperious, formidable sex-goddess becoming a shrunken, withered, old crone. Harriet’s head tipped forward and she sobbed.

  ‘Did you plan to burn down Molly’s and claim the insurance?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Yes,’ came the mumbled reply.

  ‘Clearer, please Mrs Bunting.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did you instruct Tyler Smith to carry out your plan?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did you withhold knowledge of the circumstances surrounding your husband, Evelyn Bunting’s death and continue to shield his killer from arrest?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Thank you, Harriet. You will be charged along with Tyler Smith for those offences and others relating to the assault on and abduction of Jasmine Frame. You will probably be held on remand while the case is prepared. You may return to your cell.’

  Tom rose and walked out of the room. He joined Jasmine in the observation room with Sasha Patel grinning behind him.

  ‘You did it, Sir,’ Sasha said.

  ‘Good work, Tom. You finally got the full story out of them.’ Jasmine congratulated him while feeling a little jealous that she hadn’t done the interrogation herself.

  Tom waved away the plaudits. ‘They weren’t hard-cases. For all her domineering of men, Harriet Bunting was a novice at criminal intrigue, and Tyler is just a hunk.’

  ‘Nevertheless, you got their confessions,’ Jasmine repeated.

  The door opened and another person entered the already crowded room. There was barely space for the bulk of DCI Sloane. Jasmine, Sasha and Tom were forced to stand shoulder to shoulder, or shoulder to elbow in the case of DC Patel and DI Shepherd.

  ‘Ah, Shepherd, Patel,’ Sloane said looking up and down each of them in turn, ‘and um, Miss Frame. I was told you were here carrying out interviews. Any progress in this arson/murder case?’

  Jasmine couldn’t wait for Tom to answer. ‘DI Shepherd’s cracked it. He’s just secured confessions from Harriet Bunting and Tyler Smith.’

  ‘Has he, by God,’ Sloane said, ‘Well done, Inspector. Murder and arson?’

  Tom bit his lip. ‘I’m not certain about premeditated murder, Sir. Tyler Smith has admitted killing Evelyn Bunting but says it was not intentional. Evelyn tried to stop him setting the place alight.’

  ‘But Smith used extreme force in order to carry out the plan,’ Sloane added.

  ‘Yes, Sir.’

  ‘So Mrs Bunting can’t be charged with conspiracy to murder?’

  ‘No, Sir.’

  Sloane nodded
. ‘Nevertheless, a good result. What brought them to this sorry state?’

  Tom shrugged. ‘Money and sex, Sir, like lots of cases.’

  ‘Hmm,’ was the DCI’s comment.

  Jasmine decided it was her turn to speak. ‘Harriet Bunting has, or rather had, a particular allure, Chief Inspector.’

  Sloane’s eyebrows rose. ‘Allure?’

  ‘Smith called her a witch,’ Tom said.

  The DCI looked at Jasmine. ‘Explain, Frame.’

  Jasmine took a deep breath. ‘Harriet was an attractive woman, fit and shapely. She also apparently had a strong liking for sex, kinky as well as vanilla, straight if you prefer. She accommodated, indeed fed, Evelyn’s attraction to sissy, submissive and masochistic activities and satisfied her more traditional appetite with Gary Nicholls. I think, though that something happened in recent years. She got bored with Nicholls, and also perhaps with Evelyn’s unchanging pattern of desires. Perhaps it was a recognition that she was middle-aged, and that Molly’s was failing, even without the financial burden of buying out Nicholls. Nevertheless, she was fully aware of her powers. She found that there was a market among certain types of men for a dominant woman who would manage their desires, put them in scenarios that they wouldn’t naturally seek out but which heightened their arousal. And she found she could still seduce a younger man, her personal trainer, Tyler Smith. I think her success as Madame de la Clef made her feel that she could achieve anything. The problems that Molly’s had got into had to be solved. She thought she had the answers, but Tyler wasn’t up to it and she misread Evelyn’s devotion to the business.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Sloane said again, ‘That’s quite a theory, Frame. Not sure I follow all your reasoning, but it certainly seems that the practices this woman engaged in lead her to serious crime. What do we do about these men she dominated?’

  Sasha Patel spoke, ‘We’ve got their keys that Harriet Bunting kept in her bag.’

  ‘Keys?’ the DCI asked.

  ‘To their, um, devices,’ Sasha answered, ‘They can’t release themselves unless we give them back.’

  ‘Aren’t they needed as evidence?’ Sloane said.

  Tom shook his head, ‘I don’t think they are a factor in the case against Smith and Bunting, Sir.’

  ‘In that case, release them,’ Sloane said, ‘in time.’

  Jasmine said, ‘I could use Harriet’s red book to make sure that they are returned to the correct men.’

  Sloane nodded. ‘Thank you Frame. That seems appropriate. Well, good work, Shepherd. I’ll let you get on with the processing.’ He backed out of the cramped room allowing Tom, Jasmine and Sasha to breathe easily again.

  27

  MONDAY 21st OCTOBER

  AFTERNOON

  Tom drew his Mondeo to a halt outside the house where Jasmine lived. She looked at the building feeling somewhat different about it than she had done. She had thought it a comfortable refuge, a place of companionship and even love with Viv, her home with her partner. Now she wasn’t so sure. She felt reluctant to get out of the car as it signalled the end of the case, the termination of her relationship with Tom, Sasha, Hamid, even Terry.

  ‘Thanks for your help, Jas,’ Tom said.

  ‘I didn’t do much,’ Jasmine replied, ‘You got the confessions out of Harriet and Tyler.’

  ‘Yes, but if you hadn’t pursued Harriet’s outings as Madame de la Clef, and got yourself kidnapped, we might not have ruffled her enough to get the breakthrough. Thanks for offering to see to Madame’s retirement.’

  Jasmine looked at the clear evidence bag that rested on her lap. It contained a bunch of small keys and a hard-cover notebook. ‘It will be interesting to see how Harriet’s slaves react to getting their keys handed back to them.’

  ‘They may want you to carry on holding them. Could be a little earner for you.’

  Jasmine saw that Tom was grinning at her. She snorted. ‘I don’t want to have to think about men’s bits for longer than I have to.’

  ‘Well, what will you do now? Back to the private investigator work?’

  ‘Soon. I want to get fully fit before I have to spend my time chasing after benefit cheats, and errant husbands and wives.’

  ‘Of course. How are you feeling?’ There was concern in Tom’s voice. ‘With all the excitement I keep forgetting you’re still recovering from major surgery.’

  ‘That’s in the past now,’ Jasmine said, smiling, ‘I’m a bit tired and sore, but that is more down to the last couple of days than the op. I feel I’m there now, Tom. The woman I’ve felt myself to be for most of my life.’

  ‘Well, good luck, Jas. I hope it won’t be long before we’re working together again. Sloane seems keen to involve you, not that he’ll be around much longer.’

  ‘And then it will be up to you whether you bring me in.’

  ‘The more often the better.’ Tom glanced at his watch, ‘Look I’m sorry Jas. I’d better get back. There’s a pile of paperwork waiting for me.’

  Jasmine opened the car door. ‘Sorry, I’m holding you up. Mustn’t keep you from the bureaucracy.’

  She stepped onto the kerb and pushed the door closed. Tom waved and drove away. Jasmine stood and watched the car disappear around the bend in the road then turned and trudged up to the front door. It was then that she remembered. Her keys and other possessions had not been returned to her. They were still sitting in a box of evidence recovered from Tyler’s car. Neither did she have a mobile phone. She pressed the door bell not expecting a reply as Viv’s car wasn’t parked in the drive, although the garage was now available to him. There was no reply. She looked to the left and right. The neighbours on both sides seemed to be out. She looked at her watch. Viv might be back in an hour, if he was in a hurry to get home and see her. Or, maybe he’d be longer. She had nothing to do but take a walk. Actually, that seemed a pleasant thing to do. It was dry, not cold, and still light.

  She set off along the road then turned off onto the paths up the hill behind the house. The views across Kintbridge were pleasant, the smells of the autumn trees were refreshing and the gentle exercise was invigorating. There was a lot to contemplate – the past, the present and the future.

  The sun had sunk below the horizon when she returned to the house. Viv’s Audi was standing on the drive. She went up to the front door and pressed the bell.

  The door was flung open. Viv stood in the gap holding the door. ‘Jasmine. There you are. I thought you’d be here when I got home.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘After yesterday. Your ordeal. Surely Tom Shepherd didn’t have you working today?’

  ‘Of course he did. There was a case to crack.’

  ‘But you’re not fit.’

  ‘Fit enough, Viv. Look can I come in. It’s getting cool outside.’

  Viv, stepped back. Jasmine stepped into the hall appreciating the warmth. She closed the door and took off her coat.

  ‘We need to talk,’ Viv said as he moved towards the kitchen.

  ‘About what?’ she followed him.

  ‘Well, there’s your car for a start. I’ve been speaking to the insurers. They accept that the Mini is a write-off and that it was stolen from you, but they are arguing that you were using it for your business when it was only covered for private use.’ He filled the kettle with water then put it down on the work top. He flicked the switch.

  Jasmine raised her hands in frustration. ‘How else am I supposed to get around, Viv? I’m a private detective. Of course I needed that car for my work.’

  ‘Well, that’s another thing, Jas. Are you really intending to go back to that lark?’

  Jasmine frowned. ‘Yes, I am. It’s how I earn my money. Investigating is what I do.’

  ‘Hmm. I’m not sure that’s the best thing for you, Jas. It’s dangerous.’

  ‘Not much, but what’s changed?’

  ‘You have, Jas. You’re a woman now.’

  ‘I’ve been a woman for a long time.’

  Viv looked away from
her. He got a couple of mugs from the wall cupboard. ‘Yes, but a you’re really a woman now.’

  Jasmine sighed. ‘I have a vagina. So what?’

  ‘No one can tell what you are anymore.’

  ‘So that makes my job more dangerous?’

  ‘It makes you vulnerable.’

  Jasmine felt a knot of anger forming in her chest. ‘Is that what you mean, or do you mean, available, as in available to fuck. Now I no longer have a penis dangling between my legs to put them off, I’m a target for any sex pest and rapist who has sight of me.’

  ‘Jas.’

  ‘What do you want to do, Viv? Lock me away to keep me safe? Keep me to yourself? Let me go mad with boredom? Is that what you want.’

  ‘Now you’re being silly, Jas. I just said that we need to talk about it.’

  ‘Maybe we do need to talk, Viv, but I’m not going to be kept in a gilded cage as your little housewife. I will be the woman I want to be and that includes being an investigator.’ She turned away from him and headed out of the kitchen. ‘I’m going for a shower and then I will do the exercises that ensure that in the future I can be a sexually active woman. Then, maybe, we can talk again.’

  She mounted the stairs, breathing heavily, tears trickling down her cheeks. Apparently, she still had to fight to be herself.

  THE END

  Jasmine Frame will return in her fifth novel

  An Impersonator’s life

  While contemplating her future and the decision to have breast enhancement, Jasmine is employed by a famous but elderly female impersonator. He has been receiving threatening letters and emails and wants to know who is responsible. Jasmine immerses herself in the world of the stage where no-one is real. She questions her own motivation to model herself on her image of the ideal woman. When a death occurs, Jasmine is a person of interest for the investigating team lead by DI Tom Shepherd. She has to find the murderer to protect her self-image and to keep her promise to her client.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Molly’s Boudoir is the fourth novel following the transition and career of Jasmine Frame detective. It is the third to be prepared for publication by Alnpete PrePress. Once again I would like to thank Sofia for her copyediting. Her comments are always relevant and her suggestions always improving. Thanks also to Pete and Alison Buck for turning my manuscript into a format fit for publication. Thanks also to Barbara and Lou for reading a rough copy of the novel and allowing me to convince myself that it was worth pressing on. Scott Wood has again designed a striking cover that I think looks good whether viewed at postage stamp size or on a poster.