The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural

by Betty Rowlands

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘You’ve probably got to know Justin Freeman quite well after attending so many of his events,’ said Sukey. ‘Would you regard him as a friend?’

  ‘Not exactly a friend,’ said Stan. ‘We like him very much and we’ve learned quite a bit about him through chats over coffee and at meal times. He’s a widower with one son who lives with his wife and children in South Africa and he visits them every winter for a couple of months – but mostly our relationship is confined to making arrangements to attend the events that appeal to us. He confirms the booking and acknowledges the fee, makes all the arrangements and sends details of the hotel once everything’s finalized. He’s very businesslike and professional and everything usually runs like clockwork, but he’s very quick to deal with any problems.’

  ‘Not that there are many of those,’ said Trixie.

  ‘Well, thank you very much,’ said Vicky. ‘Do we take it that you’ll be staying on until Tuesday?’

  ‘Oh yes, of course,’ said Stan. ‘As far as I know, only Mrs Dacre has been talking about leaving early – but I believe she’s changed her mind. Is that all for now?’

  ‘For the time being. We hope you haven’t missed too much of the music.’

  The couple went back to the Orchard Room and Vicky checked the time. ‘There’s only another ten minutes or so left to half past,’ she said. ‘It’s hardly worth interrupting again so why don’t we go to the bar for a quickie before lunch?’

  ‘Good idea.’

  ‘We don’t seem to have picked up anything significant so far,’ said Vicky as they took their drinks to a corner table. ‘Is there anything we haven’t covered?’

  ‘I suppose we should try and pinpoint the exact time Freeman left to go up to the Orchard Room to check his equipment,’ said Sukey, ‘but only because DI Rathbone will expect us to have logged every detail. And perhaps we should ask around to see if anyone has any idea why Rainbird was so preoccupied at dinner. About Romeo – there’s something bugging me … something I noticed or some remark he passed … but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was.’

  ‘If it’s important, it’ll come back,’ Vicky prophesied. She raised her glass. ‘Cheers!’

  FIVE

  Sukey and Vicky were joined a few minutes later by Tim and Mike and the four sat together with their drinks in the bar lounge and studied the menu while comparing notes about the people they had interviewed during the remainder of the morning. The music lovers would shortly have their lunch in the dining room; however, a few dropped in for pre-lunch appetizers and it was noticeable that most of them stood at the counter with their drinks and even those who sat at tables made a point of avoiding the corner where the detectives were sitting. Most of the chatter was about the morning’s programme and Eric’s voice could be heard above the others, declaiming about the choice and quality of the music.

  ‘A classic example of a symphony composed in the sonata form and brilliantly performed,’ he said and heads nodded in agreement. ‘It’s just occurred to me,’ he went on, ‘the investigations being carried out by our noble band of police officers –’ he turned towards the far corner of the bar and waved his glass in their direction – ‘could almost be compared to the way Mozart constructed the first movement of his fortieth symphony.’ His voice rose in pitch and volume as he developed his idea. ‘The first subject was of course Lance’s disappearance, the second subject the discovery of his body and the closing theme the arrival of the boys in blue. How about that then?’

  ‘Ooh, death in sonata form!’ Trixie squeaked in excitement. ‘That’d make a good title for a mystery novel, wouldn’t it?’ There were appreciative chuckles all round.

  ‘I’ll drink to that!’ said Eric, suiting the action to the words. ‘What are we all going to do this afternoon? Lots to see in Bristol – I’m told the zoo’s worth a visit, and the aquarium.’

  ‘There’s a beautiful cathedral,’ said Hugh, ‘and a famous church. Queen Elizabeth the First said …’

  ‘… and the art gallery and museum,’ Eric broke in, evidently determined not to relinquish centre stage.

  ‘I’m told it’s a very good shopping centre too,’ added Trixie, at which her husband rolled his eyes in mock dismay.

  Eric finished his half pint of ale and put his glass down. ‘Right, I’m for lunch,’ he announced. He went out followed by the others, leaving the four detectives exchanging amused glances.

  ‘Well, you got your explanation of sonata form, Sukey,’ said Vicky. ‘No need to ask Freeman. Maybe the first subject in the second movement will be the discovery of a vital clue – except that we won’t recognize it straight away.’

  ‘You mean like the something that I couldn’t pinpoint after our chat with Romeo?’ said Sukey. ‘Perhaps we should take him up on his invitation to hear him sing this afternoon – it might ring a bell.’

  ‘You never know,’ said Vicky, brandishing the menu. ‘Have we all decided what we’re going to eat?’

  After lunch a number of people congregated in the car park. A few couples drove off separately but others, who appeared to have agreed on their destinations, stood by their cars studying maps. Eventually several carloads drove away in convoy. Some members of the group had evidently retired to their rooms, presumably for an afternoon nap, but a few couples chose to wander round the garden before the sun lost what remained of its warmth.

  ‘A few of the ones who’ve stayed behind are among those we still have to see,’ said Vicky, ‘but I think it would be as well to leave them to digest their lunch in peace. We could catch a few more at teatime, after Romeo has done his act.’

  ‘Tim and I thought we’d have a walk round the lake,’ said Mike. ‘We’ve only checked a short distance on either side of the point where Rainbird’s body was found and we figured it might be worth looking a bit further afield for possible clues.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Vicky. ‘Sukey and I have already been part of the way round and made a few observations, but it would be as well for the four of us to go together. We might pick up something between us that we missed.’

  They set off, walking clockwise this time. Eventually they came to the pile of cut timber. ‘One of those chunks would make an ideal blunt instrument,’ said Tim.

  ‘That’s what we thought,’ said Vicky, ‘but if the attack took place here, and if Rainbird was partly concussed, we thought it was unlikely that he could stagger back to the point where his body was found, even though it is only a short distance. And if he fell in here there’s no current to carry him along.’

  ‘And if his attacker intended to kill him and realized he hadn’t succeeded the first time, he’d hardly have stood by and watched; he’d have been more likely to take another swipe at him to make sure he’d finished the job.’

  ‘That’s something the result of the post-mortem should make clear,’ said Mike.

  They were about to walk on when Sukey said, ‘Just a minute, I think I can hear something. It sounds like water trickling.’ They all stood still and listened. ‘It’s coming from along here.’ She walked back a few yards and peered through the dense foliage. ‘There must be a spring. I’ll just see if I can … oh!’ She gave a sudden shriek and grabbed at an overhanging branch.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Vicky. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve found another goner.’

  ‘I very nearly fell in,’ said Sukey as she scrambled back. ‘I think someone should point out to the manager that there should be a rail or something here; this part of the bank shelves quite steeply.’

  The others moved forward to investigate. ‘You’re right,’ said Mike. ‘If Rainbird’s attacker had struck him near the edge with one of those bits of tree trunk, he might have staggered forward a couple of paces and found himself heading down the slope and into the water before he could stop himself. Then, if he was dazed anyway, he might not have been able to struggle to the surface.’

  ‘That still doesn’t explain how his body came to be fou
nd a few feet along,’ Vicky objected.

  ‘But if he was at least semi conscious, he might have been struggling to keep afloat long enough get back to a place where he could scramble out of the water,’ said Sukey. ‘And look there,’ she added, pointing to a leaf floating on the surface and gently drifting in the direction of the point where Rainbird’s body had been found, ‘there is a current, admittedly a bit weak, so the sound we can hear must be a little waterfall.’

  ‘You’re right,’ said Tim, who had been investigating. ‘As you suspected there’s a stream gushing out from the bank and that’s causing the water to move.’ He picked up a couple of leaves that were lying on the ground and walked back a few paces before throwing one of them into the water. ‘See what I mean? It’s moving slowly in the right direction.’ He retraced his steps a short distance and threw in the second leaf, which floated without moving. ‘Now what current there is has petered out – and in any case it’s isn’t strong enough on its own to move a body – but if Rainbird remained conscious long enough and with that bit of extra help he could easily have struggled as far as the spot where he was found, passed out at that point and drowned.’

  ‘Right, let’s do a recap,’ said Vicky. ‘Rainbird was unusually quiet at dinner, didn’t stay for coffee and went out, saying he needed fresh air.’

  ‘From what the Days said it sounds as if he had something on his mind,’ said Sukey.

  ‘Right. Let’s assume for the moment he’d arranged to meet someone by the heap of logs to discuss what ever it was and that someone – or maybe someone else – was either waiting for him or arrived shortly after and crept up on him.’

  ‘Clobbered him with a heavy log and watched him stagger down the slope into the water …’ said Mike.

  ‘… stood by with his log intending to have another go if Rainbird tried to get back ashore …’ continued Tim.

  ‘… watched him flailing about in the water and eventually passing out …’ said Sukey.

  ‘Probably hung around to make sure he didn’t come to,’ said Vicky, ‘and when he was sure his victim was dead or at least soon would be, went back into the hotel – which is what I suggest we do now. We’ve got a lot to think about and Romeo should be here shortly. Let’s jot down some notes and then foregather in the lounge for his performance. We can do our detailed reports later.’

  About a dozen of the party had settled down in the lounge to await Romeo’s arrival. Most of them – including the nervous Mrs Dacre – were elderly. Several who had heard him before were telling the rest what a treat they had in store. Millie had placed her employer’s chair at the front and taken a seat beside her. When the team of detectives entered, Millie was adjusting the rug wrapped round Charlotte’s knees, only to have her hands brushed aside with the curt instruction, ‘Oh do stop fussing, woman!’ Sukey noticed that Millie’s expression registered a blend of embarrassment and resignation, and sensed that there was little love lost between the two.

  Very shortly Romeo entered, to an enthusiastic round of applause. He sang half a dozen songs, including arias from well known operas, and ended with ‘Come Back to Sorrento’, accompanying himself on a guitar. Each number was followed by more applause and when he announced the end of his programme there were several requests for encores, which he smilingly refused, excusing himself by saying, ‘The old voice-box ’as ’ad enough,’ and noisily clearing his throat by way of an illustration. He sat down and chatted with his audience; shortly afterwards the rest of the party returned from their various excursions and tea and cakes were served. Romeo accepted a cup of tea and a generous slice of cake before quietly slipping out of the door, leaving the group to compare notes on their afternoon’s activities. Having waited on Charlotte, Millie sat down to consume her own tea, but there was no conversation between them nor did Charlotte show any inclination to talk to anyone else.

  ‘Perhaps this is as good a time as any to have a chat to those two,’ said Vicky. ‘And you and Tim,’ she added, turning to Mike, ‘might as well tick a few more names off your list.’

  ‘Right, Sarge,’ said Mike. ‘The consensus so far is that no one was particularly close to Rainbird, but by and large people found him pleasant enough and they certainly respected his knowledge of music. In fact, several of the ladies spoke quite warmly about him; when it came to his arguments with Bowen they were on his side rather than Bowen’s. They all noticed that he didn’t wait for coffee after dinner on Friday. There was one person who said she thought it might have been a little before eight when he went out, but she couldn’t be sure.’

  ‘It seems it was only the people sitting near him who heard him say anything about going out for air,’ said Tim. ‘We’ve made a note against their names in our reports. And we’ve also asked everyone to let us take a DNA sample – no one’s refused, although the Harlands had a grouse at missing ten minutes of music to answer a lot of pointless questions.’

  Charlotte’s hostile stare made it quite clear that she did not welcome the interruption. ‘You’d better go take your tea somewhere else,’ she snapped at Millie, who obediently stood up and moved away. ‘I suppose you’ll want to talk to her as well,’ she went on with a note of disparagement in her voice. ‘Not that she’ll be of much help – she never sees further than the end of her nose. Sit down,’ she added imperiously, indicating the chairs on either side of her. ‘Right, what do you want to know? I didn’t push him in,’ she added. ‘You can take it from me that I don’t sit in this wretched chair for fun – I lost the use of both my legs in a car accident and all I can do is hobble a couple of paces to my bed or the toilet.’

  ‘We can assure you that you are not a suspect, Miss Lang,’ said Vicky, ‘and in any case we have no reason at the moment to think there was anything suspicious about Mr Rainbird’s death. What we should like to know is whether there was anything that struck you as in any way unusual from Friday dinner time until you heard the news.’

  ‘We have often noticed,’ said Sukey, ‘that people like yourself who are … immobilized, shall we say? … tend to compensate by being particularly interested in what is going on around them and may notice things that more active people tend to overlook.’

  This hint that Charlotte’s powers of observation might be superior to that of those without her disability seemed to appeal to her vanity, and she very nearly smiled. ‘Well, people often say to me, “Charlotte you don’t miss much, do you?”, and I think that’s probably right,’ she said. ‘Now, you want to know if I noticed anything unusual about Friday evening. Well, Mr Rainbird joined our party at about the normal time for check-in, room allocation and so on. We were given a copy of the programme and we read through it while we were having our customary message of welcome from Mr Freeman, accompanied by cups of tea and biscuits. Mr Rainbird sat in a corner and didn’t say much; that’s the first thing I noticed. He’s usually got plenty to say for himself, like that awful Mr Bowen; in fact the two of them sometimes have a quite lively – almost heated you might say – exchange of opinions, although I never noticed any outright hostility between them. In my opinion Mr Rainbird’s knowledge was superior to that of Mr Bowen, but in any case I make a point of keeping my own counsel and avoiding the pair of them. I think Mr Freeman found them somewhat tedious, but of course he can’t choose his clients and he’s hardly likely to kill them, is he? As it happens, I’ve noticed numbers dropping slightly, but of course a lot depends on what the programme is and what else people are doing, and now he’s retired I expect he finds whatever he makes out of these events a useful addition to his income.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right,’ agreed Vicky. ‘Now, we understand that Mr Rainbird didn’t appear to have many friends. Is that your impression of him?’

  ‘Generally, yes, although most people respected him because he obviously knew a great deal about music – almost as much as Mr Freeman and as I said probably more than Bowen. The Pearsons often sat with him and they appeared to be on quite friendly terms. There was something a
bout him that certain women seemed to find attractive; I think Julie Pearson was one of them and I know she always supported him when Bowen challenged him. Trixie Day was another, and so was Millie – but of course she’ll simper at any man who says a word to her, even Bowen. Julie’s not here this time, but I don’t know why. Is she ill, do you know?’

  ‘She’s not ill, but her sister who usually looks after their children has flu,’ Sukey explained.

  ‘That must have been disappointing for both of them.’

  ‘We’re sure it was. Now, about yesterday evening, would you say Mr Rainbird was unusually quiet from the very beginning?’

  ‘Oh yes, definitely so. The people who were sitting close to him tried several times to engage him in conversation, but he made only short, non-committal replies and they soon gave up. It was plain to see that he had something on his mind.’

  ‘Did you notice him looking at any one individual during the meal?’

  ‘On the contrary, he kept his head down for the whole time, and when the waiter announced that coffee was being served he hastily got to his feet and spoke for the first time, saying he didn’t want coffee and was going out for air.’

  ‘What time was this?’

  ‘I didn’t look at my watch, but coffee is usually served in the lounge at eight o’clock so it was probably a few minutes to.’

  ‘Did you go to the lounge for coffee?’ asked Sukey.

  ‘Yes, of course. Millie took me; the others were already there and we stayed until it was time to go to the Orchard Room.’

  ‘Did anyone besides Mr Rainbird leave before the evening programme started?’

  Charlotte thought for a moment. ‘I remember Mr Bowen saying he had to fetch something from his car and he’d have his coffee when he got back. Mr Freeman didn’t join us until later, after he’d been to check on his equipment, but that’s what he usually does.’