Wrongful Death

by Lynda La Plante

  ‘Yes. He always wash them at end of day. Clean and ready for tomorrow.’

  ‘Will Mrs Lynne be with us shortly?’ Anna asked.

  ‘I no know, she busy in greenhouse.’

  ‘I noticed there are a lot of books on horticulture and botany,’ Anna said. ‘Plants,’ she added, noticing Katrina’s confused expression.

  ‘She love her plants and no like to be disturb when working in greenhouse.’

  Dewar suddenly stood up.

  ‘Well, we are here on official police business and have had a long day. If you’d show us to the greenhouse we’ll disturb her for you.’

  ‘I’m not sure if good thing . . .’

  ‘Well I am,’ Dewar said bluntly, and raised her hand in an ushering motion for Katrina to show them the way.

  The woman led them from the library, through a pantry-style kitchen and out to the rear of the house. The view was even more spectacular than from the front, overlooking further woodland and fields. The vast lawn was the size of a football pitch and had diagonal lines of freshly cut grass, the scent of which filled the air like a perfume. At the far end, on the left of the garden, there was an enormous Victorian-style greenhouse with a domed roof.

  Approaching the greenhouse, they could see someone with their back to them, dressed in hooded green overalls, moving in and about the array of plants and flowers. A Doberman bitch suddenly sprang to her feet and stood her ground. At first, she snarled, revealing her sharp teeth, then began barking and growling ferociously as they approached. Anna, Dewar and Katrina stopped in their tracks. Dewar took a step backwards behind Anna.

  ‘I forget say, dog no like be disturb also.’

  ‘Great, now you tell us,’ Anna replied, trying to make light of the situation.

  ‘Don’t give it direct eye contact. That makes it worse,’ Dewar said nervously.

  The door of the greenhouse opened abruptly, revealing the person in the green hooded overalls wearing a respirator mask that covered their nose and mouth.

  ‘Somebody get this dog under control!’ Dewar exclaimed.

  The figure swiftly pulled the mask away and a female voice commanded, ‘Atropa, heel,’ and the Doberman instantly sat down and gave an obedient whimper.

  ‘I’ve told you, Katrina, not to disturb me when I’m in the greenhouse!’

  ‘It wasn’t her fault. We asked her to bring us out here,’ Anna said, and then introduced herself and Dewar.

  ‘As you can see, the sign I have on the door clearly says in large letters, “Beware Poisons”. When I’m spraying pesticides it’s highly dangerous to enter. That’s why I wear protective clothing.’

  ‘We’ll go back and wait in the house,’ Dewar said, not wanting to be near the dog.

  ‘I’ve finished spraying now. I just need to change and then I’ll join you,’ the person said. So this was Gloria Lynne – but it was hard to make out her looks as she still had the overall hood up.

  Anna and Dewar returned to the library and sat waiting for the woman to reappear.

  ‘She was very rude to her Australian maid Katrina,’ Dewar remarked.

  ‘She’s Polish, from Poland, and it was you who insisted she take us out to the greenhouse. I think she was mad because of the safety implications.’

  ‘It’s only a bit of insect spray – no big deal if it gets on you, just wash it off,’ Dewar said dismissively.

  ‘How do you clean your lungs if you breathe it in then?’ Anna asked sarcastically.

  Dewar just raised her eyebrows and sighed. Unscrewing the top of the still water, she poured herself and Anna a glass and added some ice and lemon.

  The door to the library burst open and Gloria Lynne entered. It was an astonishing transformation from the woman they had met in the garden. She looked to be in her mid-forties and very elegant in a tight-fitting black sleeveless dress and patent black high-heeled shoes. Her ash-blonde hair had a centre parting and was swept into a stylish French pleat, revealing mother-of-pearl earrings. Her light blue eyes with large pupils were piercing yet sensuous thanks to very thick mascara, deep eye shadow, and kohl around their inside rim. She had a matt foundation, with blusher and rouge, and her lip gloss was lined in dark crimson. Anna noticed she was wearing a large diamond ring and gold band on her wedding finger.

  ‘We’ll start again, shall we?’ Gloria said, beaming, her teeth flashing like white light bulbs. She looked towards Anna and held out her hand, palm slightly curved to the ground as if she were royalty. A heavy gold chain bracelet with dangling charms swayed at her wrist and jingled as Anna did the polite thing, shaking the tips of Gloria’s fingers. She felt as if Gloria expected her to curtsey.

  ‘I’m Gloria Lynne.’

  Anna introduced herself and then Special Agent Dewar, explaining that she was on attachment to the Met. Gloria proffered her hand to Dewar while Anna, unnoticed, switched on the Dictaphone that was in her jacket pocket. Although she felt it was a little underhand as she sensed the woman wouldn’t approve of the interview being recorded, she didn’t want to annoy Mrs Lynne by writing notes as they spoke.

  ‘I do apologize for keeping you waiting. I’m an avid horticulturalist and quite religious about keeping to a schedule. I have to feed, water and spray my plants at the same time daily and we agreed to meet at six o’clock, as I recall.’

  ‘We were a bit early and your housekeeper kindly let us in,’ Anna remarked.

  ‘I see she brought you some water. Would you like coffee as well? Goodness me. Why can’t she put the water into a cut-glass jug – we have enough of them!’

  She frowned with distaste at the plastic bottles, and sighing, crossed to a tall antique corner cabinet. She moved like a dancer, her slim legs and delicate ankles enhanced by the sheer black stockings and high-heeled shoes. She took a crystal glass and poured a gin and tonic for herself, returning to the coffee table for ice and lemon.

  ‘It’s a lovely room, beautifully decorated. I was just remarking to Detective Travis on the wonderful oil paintings,’ Dewar said, much to Anna’s surprise.

  ‘You like art?’ Gloria asked Dewar as she turned towards the paintings.

  ‘Yes. But I have to confess I don’t know much about it.’

  ‘They’re both original oil paintings of the three Moirai. Greek mythologists say they were the daughters of Zeus and often described them as ugly, lame old women who were severe, inflexible and stern. The picture on the left depicts them in this manner. It’s by Francesco Salviati, a sixteenth-century Italian painter. The picture on the right is seventeenth century, by Sebastiano Mazzoni, also an Italian.’

  ‘They’re very contrasting,’ Dewar said.

  ‘Yes. That’s what attracted me to them. However, I prefer Mazzoni’s Baroque style, much more appealing to the eye,’ Gloria said, settling herself in the centre of the leather sofa. Anna had the opportunity to really take in the very glamorous woman in front of her. She exuded confidence and sophistication, and was very charming as she carefully placed her drink down on the small side table. Her speech and manner were both elegant and refined.

  ‘Anyway, I am sure you didn’t come here for an art lesson. Donna should be home soon but before she is, I would like to know why detectives from a murder squad need to speak to her?’

  Anna was taken aback that Gloria knew they were not from the vice squad and had to think quickly for an appropriate answer.

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you before, Mrs Lynne. We were worried that revealing who we were in a phone call to your daughter could cause her undue distress over information that may turn out to be totally malicious.’

  ‘As much as I’d like to say I appreciate your concern, you have been very underhand. However, I am willing to listen to what you have to say, but please don’t feed me a load of flannel again, DCI Travis.’

  Anna apologized again and said that they were reinvestigating her son-in-law’s death due to an allegation made by an ex-employee of the Trojan. She took care to explain that he was not a reliab
le informant and was currently awaiting trial for armed robbery.

  ‘I think it’s best to wait for Donna,’ Dewar said.

  ‘You sound like my husband. He always thought he knew what was best for me!’ Gloria said sharply, giving Dewar a stern look before continuing: ‘What’s the name of this ex-employee?’

  ‘Delon Taylor,’ Anna said.

  ‘Never heard of him, and I doubt there is anything Donna can add to what she told the officers at the time.’

  ‘We have read over her statement. However, the original inquiry covered very little about Josh’s role at the Trojan club or his partner Marcus Williams,’ Anna replied.

  ‘Donna hadn’t worked in that disgusting place for some time before Josh committed suicide,’ Gloria said, tight-lipped.

  ‘I appreciate that, but Delon Taylor has said that Mr Williams was running a prostitution racket in the club. It’s possible Josh may have found out.’

  ‘Good God, how despicable. I told her that working there would end in tears,’ Gloria exclaimed.

  ‘You didn’t approve?’

  The red lips tightened further, and she reached for her gin and tonic. She sipped her drink, not answering until she had replaced the glass back onto the table.

  ‘Of course I didn’t approve. Young girls will always be difficult, especially Donna, she’s always been very strong-minded and, dare I say it, enjoyed the fact that it was shocking for me to find out.’

  ‘How do you mean, strong-minded?’ Dewar asked.

  ‘I’ve always been quite strict with both my daughters and kept them out of the tabloid limelight, for their own safety of course. Donna became the rebellious one, whereas Aisa, her sister, has always enjoyed being spoilt.’

  Gloria went on to explain that before Donna met Josh they had had a furious row about Donna’s attitude. During the argument, Gloria had blurted out that Donna was incapable of looking after herself and behaving like an adult. As a result Donna packed her bags and stormed out of the house, saying she would prove her mother wrong and didn’t need her or her money. Gloria said she was not at first aware Donna had taken up exotic dancing for a living but had found out through Aisa. Gloria suspected that Donna had deliberately told Aisa, knowing it would get back to her.

  ‘I said nothing at first as I felt Donna was purposely trying to upset me. But when I discovered that Donna had married Josh Reynolds in Las Vegas after a whirlwind romance, well I couldn’t believe it. You know a mother always dreams of wedding plans for her daughters and making it the most special day of their lives, what with arranging the celebrations and bridesmaids and choosing the wedding gown together, but sadly that was not to be.’

  ‘Did you like your son-in-law?’ Dewar asked.

  ‘I only ever met him once and that was when I went round to their flat in Bayswater just after I heard about their marriage. As you can imagine, it wasn’t a social visit. He tried to keep the peace between myself and Donna, but it was quite horrible and she demanded I leave.’

  ‘So you and Donna patched things up after his death?’

  ‘No, shortly before – Donna said Josh told her life’s too short and persuaded her to see me and sort out our differences. I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead but I have to admit that I had hoped Donna could have perhaps made a better choice. I was not that impressed with Josh being a strip club owner; but it would seem that he was surprisingly very pleasant and well educated. I only wish I’d had the opportunity to get to know him better.’

  ‘How is Donna now?’ Anna asked.

  ‘She’s getting there, but still takes things day by day. Donna works for me, so that helps to occupy a lot of her time, looking after various charities and organizing fundraising events with Aisa.’

  ‘That’s very commendable,’ Dewar said dryly.

  Gloria frowned. ‘I can empathize with my daughter, as I know what it’s like to lose someone you love dearly. My husband Xavier died when I was very young and both my girls were still babies really.’

  ‘I’m sorry for your loss. It can’t have been easy raising two young girls on your own,’ Anna said quietly, keen for Gloria to continue, even though she seemed to love the sound of her own voice and didn’t need much encouragement.

  ‘It wasn’t easy at first, but seven years later I fell in love with my beloved Henry and we married. He treated the girls as if they were his own – truth be known he spoilt them terribly.’

  ‘How did he feel about Donna’s behaviour?’ Anna asked.

  Gloria grimaced. ‘Had he been alive I’ve no doubt he would have been as upset as I was. He passed away some years ago now. Blessing in disguise really, he’d been seriously ill for a long time.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I noticed you were wearing . . .’

  ‘My engagement and wedding ring – I’ve stopped grieving but I’ve no intention of remarrying and they remind me of everything Henry meant to me.’ Gloria held up her left hand and gently placed a kiss on the rings before taking another sip from her gin and tonic.

  ‘You arranged for Marcus Williams to purchase Josh’s share of the club, at a very reasonable price—’ Anna began.

  Gloria looked annoyed and cut in: ‘In my daughter’s best interests – the share in the club became Donna’s after Josh died, as did the flat they lived in. I felt Donna needed to move on so I had my solicitors deal with Josh’s will and the sale of his assets. It’s not as if Donna needed the money. Both my daughters have been well provided for and have substantial trust funds for when they reach thirty.’

  ‘Hello, Mummy, it’s me, where are you?’ a voice called from the hallway.

  ‘In the library, darling,’ Gloria replied.

  ‘Wait till you see my hair. Pierre’s done a fantastic job with new extensions and highlights, you’ll love it,’ Donna said as she entered the library with a flourish. ‘Ta-dah!’ she said, striking a pose and shaking her head in a circular motion so her long blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders.

  ‘Absolutely gorgeous, my darling, don’t you agree, ladies?’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, how embarrassing, I totally forgot you were having guests over, Mummy,’ Donna said, red-faced.

  The young woman looked very much like her mother. She was perfectly made-up, her large blue eyes enhanced with deep brown eye shadow and false eyelashes, but not in any way overdone. She had glossy lipstick, was very tanned and at about five foot ten was much taller than Gloria, with long legs, a small waist and large breasts. She was wearing Armani jeans, a white T-shirt and a purple blazer with rolled-up sleeves. She walked very upright in her high wedge shoes and her hips swayed like a model’s.

  ‘Don’t go, darling, these ladies are here to see you,’ Gloria said as she patted the space on the sofa next to her.

  ‘See me? Why?’ Donna asked as she sat down next to her mother.

  ‘About Josh’s death, they’re detectives. It appears someone has been saying he was murdered.’

  ‘What? I don’t understand,’ Donna gasped, shocked.

  ‘It’s Delon Taylor, Donna. At the moment there is no evidence to support what he says but we just need to ask you some questions,’ Anna quickly explained.

  ‘He worked at the Trojan. Josh sacked him for stealing money.’ Donna had fake nails with white square tips and now waved her hands in a flurry of gestures.

  ‘Did Josh say anything about Delon Taylor telling him that Marcus Williams was using the club as a front for prostitution?’ Anna asked.

  ‘No. Delon’s lying, he’s a hideous man, and Marcus wouldn’t do something like that to Josh and risk the club being closed down. They were friends, they respected each other.’

  ‘I didn’t get the impression Taylor was lying,’ Dewar interrupted.

  ‘You’re American. Why are you here?’ Donna wafted her hands towards Dewar.

  ‘I’m with the FBI and—’

  ‘FBI? Josh murdered? This is really crazy. Detective Simms and the Coroner said it was a suicide. Mummy, what’s happening? I don’t unde
rstand why they’re here.’ Donna was growing visibly distressed.

  Gloria edged closer to her daughter and put her arm round her. ‘Don’t worry yourself, my darling. The officers have a job to do and with your help they can show that this horrible little man Taylor is an inveterate liar.’

  ‘I made a statement to Detective Simms. I told him everything.’ Donna’s voice was becoming very high-pitched.

  ‘Did you tell him anything about Delon Taylor?’ Dewar asked.

  ‘No. He never asked me anything about him.’

  ‘He never asked you if Josh had any problems at work? Anyone he didn’t get on with? Stuff like that?’

  ‘I can’t remember now. Should he have done?’

  ‘If he’d treated the death as suspicious at the outset, we wouldn’t be sitting here now,’ Dewar said frankly as she leaned slightly forward and looked directly at Donna.

  Gloria wagged her finger at the agent. ‘My daughter is hardly responsible for how Detective Simms should have conducted his investigations. She spent a considerable amount of time making her statement under a great deal of stress. You seem to forget that she had just found her husband dead with a gun in his hand.’

  Anna could see that Gloria was becoming annoyed and wondered if she should interject, but Dewar continued.

  ‘Yes, I read your statement, Mrs Reynolds, and it must have been awful for you. You’d just returned from a charity ball in the Savoy Hotel where you’d also stayed the night.’

  ‘Yes, I’d been with my mother and Aisa. We organized it.’

  ‘So you were in each other’s company all night?’

  ‘Yes, I shared a room with my sister Aisa. I told Detective Simms all this at the time,’ Donna replied and looked at her mother.

  Gloria patted her daughter’s hand and her bracelets jangled. ‘I also told Detective Simms my daughters shared a room and Aisa was unwell during the evening. Poor thing looked terrible when I went to check on her, she’d been sick a number of times,’ Gloria added.

  ‘Can you remember when you got home if the Chubb lock on the door to your flat was open or locked?’ Dewar asked.