No comment was made by the investigators but Kinsella asked.
“When you left did you see any other person near the house or nearby on the road?”
“Only a couple of men from the council sitting around sleeping in their car that is all but I cannot really remember which day it was, you see they are always around, but no strangers. I remember now I was distracted a bit that damn aeroplane flying overhead” replied Heather.
Ignoring this Kinsella came back “You are quite certain you locked the door and that it was locked when you returned.”
“Oh yes Superintendent, I am very strict about that.”
“Were there any strange visitors to Mrs Carter over the past few weeks, when you were here or did the lady mention any to you.”
“No, officers there were none, strangers I mean, the locals may have called, the vicar sometimes and the odd lady from the church, the occasional friend but I saw none that day and Mrs Morris definitely didn’t mention any. If there had been any strangers I would have told Ron, the gardener.”
“You would have told Ron the gardener?" replied Kinsella, “Why would you do that and not the local police? He was only a gardener.”
“The local police, why heavens no, it is no use calling the police. Attending the parish council meetings and the Neighbourhood Watch meetings, from reports there, the police are always far to busy to attend petty calls, they have never got anyone available. From what I have been told they won’t even open the door if you go to the police station. even if they are in. No, I would have called Ron, he was a policeman for thirty years. He knows if anything is suspicious and he has contacts you see to get something done if it is required.”
“Can you suggest Mrs Morris any reason or any person who might wish to harm Iris Carter?”
“No indeed, she was always so very nice, yes popular, well you know with the rather well to do Cheshire set, not with those up at the council houses the other end of the village. But everyone liked poor Iris.”
Thinking, Kinsella asked, “Were there any money worries, did Mrs Morris owe money anywhere.”
“Why heavens no Superintendent, she was I believe quite wealthy, financially sound she used to say. All her household bills were paid by direct debit. Any other large matters her son arranged it. He either did it himself or the family solicitor did it all. No I really cannot think of any reason why anyone would wish to harm poor Mrs Carter.”
“Right then,” said Kinsella, “I think that is all for now, if anything else rears its head we will be in touch. You will no doubt be contacted by someone from the Police Administration Office, you will either get a proforma through the post with a list of questions for you to tick the boxes or some officer, possibly a civilian will call with such a form."
“Really,” replied Heather, “I recall when my husband was a Special Constable and working with Ron they always took the full written statements themselves. No pro-forma or the like."
Kinsella looked and with a smirk replied. “Things have changed since their day. The police are far too busy to stay to write out long statements. It is the same with road accidents, the patrol officers just visit the scene and then the enquiry is completed by proforma or by a civilian.”
“I see, I understand, like I said before, the police are too busy, just like when they don’t open the door at the police station or drive past in their car without speaking, not like they did in the days when the local bobby was around here."
No response was given though Doris gave a quiet smile as she saw the face of Kinsella, one of the new breed. It was now Doris was appreciating why the old coppers treated her with such contempt when she had first arrived. She also thought of her times working with Jack Richards and his constant saying, “attention to detail.”
The duo stood and then were about to leave when Doris said, “Thank you Mrs Morris for your help, we are off to see this old copper friend of yours Ron and his wife., the nurse."
They turned when they heard Heather calling, “Excuse me, excuse me.” As they did so, their not so star witness was indicating she had something to say.
“Ron and his wife, you will not be able to see them, they are away. They have taken a few days away. They have a villa in the South of France. Ron called me to say Kyle was distressed, they cancelled renting it out for two weeks, so they are away.”
The duo looked and Doris called, “Thank you Mrs Morris.”
They were gone and so Heather sat once again reading her book.
The duo, taking nothing for granted, visited the Gittins home to find the gates locked, a neighbour enquired who they were and when told it was the police the man confirmed Mr and Mrs Gittins were away on holiday in France.
The duo looked, shrugged their shoulders and drove away. There was it seemed, nothing to be done now until the test results were received back from the Forensic Science laboratory.
On route back to the police station Doris was somewhat surprised when Kinsella had mentioned that she had decided to move from her flat in the city centre and out into the more picturesque rural area. She had heard so much about this place Tarporley, an up market area where the so called, “Cheshire Set,” resided. Where she had originated from in the south of England such folk had been referred to as the “jet set.”
There was gossip abound around headquarters that one of the current Assistant Chief Constables had been offered a post as Chief of the Manchester City Police. It was rife and really common gossip that Kinsella, who had been selected for and was soon to attend a senior command Course at the police college at Bramshill was ear marked for promotion from Superintendent to Assistant Chief.
“I believe you reside in this Tarporley place, Inspector. I would take it as a service if you might take me on a tour of the residential areas and the town.”
“Why certainly Maam,” replied Doris, tongue in cheek, but what else could she do, after all if she was to advance it may well be Kinsella who could influence any career move. That is how things had worked in the police since time immemorial. She was however to make an ill judged additional comment.
“The place will be full of coppers soon.”
“I beg your pardon Inspector, if the area is as elite as I have heard I doubt there are many serving police officers who could afford the cost of buying any sort of property in that area. Take you for instance, I hear your daddy is a very well placed businessman, Ling Industries or similar and he has bought your house for you.”
Doris was flabbergasted but then having thought upon it, such a comment was only to be expected from her. A further racist comment was expected, Doris being of mixed race with Chinese, Welsh origins. No such comment was made to the relief of Scott-Ling.
“Well Maam, it is up market and if you do purchase a property and anticipate mixing socially, being a police officer you may find many to be rather stand offish. That is what I and our ex colleague Jack the Hat Richards discovered. If you attend Delwright’s Pantry you may find this.
“Delwright’s pantry, a rather exquisite name, yes quite fitting from what I have heard of Tarporley. Yes, this name Richards does come up. I was speaking with the commandant from the Police College and he asked if I had met Jack the Hat.”
“Yes Maam,” replied Doris, a smirk on her face. “When Jack Richards and his wife Anne, she originates from this area, arrived they found it was difficult to become accepted.”
“Delwright’s Pantry one might say is equivalent to the local pubs in the well known television soap operas. The Pantry is not a pub of course but a coffee, tea shop. There is an up market both sex hairdressers attached to it, appointments are difficult to get and a booking has to be made well in advance.”
“Mrs Delwright the owner is rather up market, she looks very much like the actress Christen Scott Thomas and some lady who presents a television shop rescue programme.”
“Yes, if you fit in, you will be greeted with a kiss from Mrs Delwright, shown to a table and served immediately. If you are not you will be
offered a seat at the bar around a side wall not a table in the rear or upstairs, you are likely to wait some time before being served.”
“The Cheshire set gather there each and every day, the three gathering times being morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea. A bunch of different characters they are that visit, that is for sure, many are to be frank, toffee nosed as the people in Shropshire the adjacent county would say. Many are eccentric, dogs are welcome and they are varied in breed and behaviour, guide dogs are permitted but thought of as the more common type of dog. Hardly ever win at Crufts you see.”
“Jack Richards and his wife attend there but when it became known he was an ex policeman and did not fall into the Manchester business or professional set such as lawyers, barristers and high flying doctors life was not so easy. Richards however overcame this for when he was down south he was a renowned golfer. His reputation there as the country’s leading amateur golfer proved an advantage. In addition to his reputation as the most famous detective at New Scotland Yard this caused him to become well known. He was able to arrange for the leading golfers in the world to hold charity tournaments. This sent the husbands of the Cheshire set mad, an international event here in Cheshire, what better to meet business contacts. The wives had no option but to at least accept the Richards couple.”
“You will anyway be able to judge for yourself. I suggest we meet next Saturday, we could tour the area and then call at the Pantry for morning coffee or afternoon tea.
No further comment was made by Kinsella and so when the duo arrived at headquarters it was Doris who then made up the notes of enquiries. Kinsella meanwhile left early for the day, her destination not known though Doris saw her through the office window, she entered the up market estate agents in Chester high street.
The following Saturday, Anne and Jack Richards had just completed their morning stroll and so called at Delwright’s Pantry. It, being a few minutes before ten, the main clientele, as they were referred to, had not yet arrived. Walking inside and then through into the back there were several tables still available. The usual reserved signs had been placed on most pending the arrival of the “Set.”
Taking his seat and not removing his trilby, as usual, Mrs Delwright owner of the establishment, raised her eyebrows, as usual.
Jack, a detective for nearly forty years at New Scotland Yard had gained his nickname, “Jack The Hat,” for he always wore a trilby and mostly a raincoat, as old and worn out as the hat, he rarely took it off.
Anne often told him of his sin in not removing his headgear whilst indoors, unfortunately it always fell on deaf ears. Such was the tradition of the old street hardened detectives at the “Yard,” as it was referred to.
In retirement Anne had wanted to leave the south of England and travel north to be near her family. They had settled in Tarporley simply because there was ample public transport for when they became too old to drive. It was an upmarket area only a few miles from Chester city and not much further to the large city of Manchester. Most of the male residents worked in business in Manchester leaving their wives to form the Cheshire Set of ladies, they spent their days gossiping in Delwright’s or playing golf, the course being quiet as the men-folk were at their offices making the money for their ladies to spend.
Mrs Delwright ran an up market regime, normal every day folks from the council estate were not turned away but really made to feel second class citizens. The “Set," ladies were supported early morning by several middle-aged gentlemen who congregated at the place before the mid morning coffee rush. These men, their wives in or had been in the “Set.” arrived and sat for as long as they could with one drink. They pretended to be engulfed in the free newspapers provided but in reality their gaze was always upon Mrs Delwright.
The added advantage being, she gave a kiss and hand squeeze to those she wished to encourage. There was never any suggestion of course she was in any way immoral, rather it was a case of leading on the odd fella or two, just a tease. Their own wives having endured the change of life and all that went with it. They were able to fantasize now sitting discreetly viewing Mrs “D” as some referred to her.
Jack Richards sat, Anne by his side. He firstly gazed as he always did at the cakes displayed ready for purchase. Mrs Delwright had a system and it worked quite well upon the un-initiated or any tourists who were permitted entry.
She displayed cake so that the front three pieces were large and of good value. Unfortunately for the purchaser the other pieces were deliberately small, thereby giving Mrs Delwright one extra slice per cake and with it the additional income.
Jack had been caught out once and so if he purchased any he had to watch his moment. He would approach and when Mrs Delwright was in the rear, he would attract the attention of Girda, the East European waitress. His detective interview skills and quick talk was able to get her to give him one piece from the front, he had of course selected a large slice. It was only when Mrs Delwright returned and noticed the deed done that she called Girda into the rear to remonstrate with her.
Jack had spent a working lifetime viewing and assessing people, this had greatly helped him when interviewing suspects. He had acquired a fine sense of knowing the make up of people. All types arrived at the Pantry, many were the young women who were known as “yuppies,” Their husbands had done well in business. They had borne no children until “hubby," had reached the top of the tree in business. They had then had children later in life. There was for them no suggestion of playing, as young mothers did, it was all educational learning for them, ensuring the children got on in life.
Such children were known to ordinary folk as Marmadukes. They could be spotted, for they attended private schools, they wore uniforms that were immaculate and dark rimmed spectacles. At playtime they stood using one of the new I-pods or similar, no football or running about for them.
Other visitors also had what Jack perceived were weird ideas and so whilst he was seated in the Pantry he would sit and view them.
Girda arrived, the drink ordered, she left, then returned minutes later. Jack was amazed for once they were served quickly. Not being on the kiss welcome list it was often half an hour before they received their drinks. It was only when he looked up onto the wall he saw the notice announcing a late coffee morning in aid of the church that he realised why he had been served so quickly. Mrs Delwright wanted them in, served and out.
He guessed, after fifteen minutes at the most, Girda would be along harassing the couple to buy more drinks. Any hesitation the cups would be quickly taken, thus leaving the seated Richards couple with nothing in front of them, the “Set,” all gazing with the word, “please go,” in their expressions.
It was then Jack was to witness a new experience. Having had only two sips and quietly removing the free biscuits into his pocket to store for later. He had said nothing but he took the biscuits and any others he could find for the nice friendly retired police German Shepard dog now re-housed by the folks next door. Sophia the dog was always friendly especially when Jack had whispered one or two police phrases instilled into police dogs during their training but not passed onto the adoptive human parents.
Gazing across the room a very tall lady arrived, obviously a stranger to the area. She was not only exceptionally tall for a woman, but very slim. She was wearing typical country clothing, that is to say, horse riding boots in black and brown made of expensive leather, possibly Doe skin, but which were highly polished and apparently had never seen a horse. The formal green skirt, heavy duty as sold in countrywear shops. Upon her head she wore what could only be described as a rounded hat with no rim. It was too large for her head and thus came down over her ears. Jack was reminded of the times so many years ago when he had been on his initial training course. In those days they were run on military lines. There was even a drill sergeant, seconded from the Grenadier Guards. How he had shouted at the police recruits, horrible phrases even to policewomen such as, “if you don’t keep in step woman I will push this pa
ce stick up your arse and walk you round like a human lollipop. As for the hat, if any officer dared wear their police helmet over the eyes and ears, they had the phrase, blasted to them that the headgear was like a latrine bucket.
As he gazed at this new arrival he was to become transfixed. She had with her a small dog. The animal seemed very friendly. The new arrival reached into her bag and pulled out a cushion. She placed this on the chair next to her. The dog obviously recognised the cushion and what was happening, for it jumped onto it and sat.
Girda arrived and brought what was to be part of the lady’s order. It was a full breakfast, with two slices of bread and two extra slices of toast, plus one cup of coffee.
The full breakfast was indeed full, for the two eggs, bacon, beans, tomatoes and scrambled egg filled the plate. This devoured, the coffee drunk, Girda arrived with a second cup, clearly ordered with the first.
The new arrival then devoured the two rounds of toast, taken in minute pieces though covered in marmalade. The dog meanwhile sat, clearly hungry and desiring its mistress to give it a treat.
The Judas Murders Page 6
