A Case of Crime

by Marsali Taylor

  ‘And you’d know, Bennett,’ said one of the technicians, amid laughter.

  The young woman who had first asked the question turned to Libby. ‘Do you know who that Bennett is?’

  ‘No,’ said Libby, ‘I’ve never met any of them before. Do any of you want to see your rooms before you get going here?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ said the girl. ‘I’d better wait for Sir Jasper.’ She turned confidentially towards Libby. ‘I’m new, you see. I don’t know any of them, either. But I’m a huge fan of Miranda Stone. I think it was seeing her in Hedda Gabler that inspired me to try and become an actor.’

  ‘And thank heavens you’re not a blonde,’ said a deep male voice behind them. Both women whipped round.’

  ‘Oh!’ The girl’s hand flew to her throat. ‘You’re …’

  ‘Oliver Marcus, yes.’ He smiled, brown eyes crinkling in the olive-skinned face. ‘And you must be our new young lady.’

  ‘I’m Elizabeth Cole. Most people call me Liz.’

  Oliver turned to Libby, frowning slightly. ‘Haven’t we met before?’

  Libby shook her head and laughed. ‘No! I’m not part of the company. I’m part of the theatre. Libby Sarjeant.’ She held out her hand and both actors shook it. ‘And to follow young Liz’s question – why is it good that she isn’t a blonde?’

  ‘The Lady Miranda couldn’t have stood that.’

  ‘I think she’s wonderful,’ said Liz.

  Oliver’s mouth twisted wryly. ‘So does she.’

  ‘But she’s a good actor, isn’t she?’ Liz looked puzzled.

  ‘In certain roles, yes. Not the young ones, any more, unfortunately. Which is why Jasper’s hired you. God help you.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Libby thought Liz looked angry now, but she heard something else, a sort of subdued rustling and sighing.

  ‘Not now.’ Oliver turned his head. ‘I think you’re about to meet the High Priestess herself.’

  Libby’s first sight of Miranda Love off-stage did nothing to diminish the impression she already had of the actress. A beautifully cut dress floated elegantly from slim shoulders, the famous blonde hair was allowed to tumble down to the same shoulders, and Miranda didn’t stop. She simply glided to a halt.

  ‘Well, Oliver, darling. And who do we have here?’

  ‘This is Elizabeth Cole, Miranda. She’s here to play Eileen.’

  ‘Ah, yes.’ Miranda’s famous three-cornered smile lit her face. ‘And I’m to play Paula, of course.’ She glanced at Oliver. ‘Both of us in love with the same man.’

  ‘Oh – is Paula still in love with him, then?’ Liz broke in eagerly. ‘I can’t quite make it out. I know she has to tell Eileen she had an affair with him –’

  ‘Of course she is, child.’ Miranda smiled up at Oliver and Libby’s stomach curled in embarrassment. She’s in love with him, she thought. Poor Liz. ‘Will she scrub up, do you think, Olly?’

  Libby heard Liz’s gasp as Oliver growled, ‘Don’t call me that.’

  ‘Sorry, darling,’ said Miranda. ‘But will she?’

  Oliver laid a careless arm round Liz’s shoulders. ‘I should think she might find that rather offensive, darling. And I don’t think she needs to “scrub up” as you so tactfully put it. I think she will be quite perfect as Eileen.’ He looked Miranda straight in the eye, and Libby caught something in the woman’s expression. ‘As indeed you, my love,’ he continued, ‘will be quite superb as The Second Mrs Tanqueray.’

  Libby decided this had gone far enough.

  ‘Lady Miranda, if you go through to the auditorium someone will show you the dressing rooms. You do realise you will have to share, don’t you?’

  Miranda Love made a face. ‘They told me.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘I suppose I shall have to make do.’

  ‘Ah, Oliver. And our new young lady. Elizabeth, isn’t it?’ Sir Jasper Stone appeared beside Miranda. ‘And you must be our landlady.’ He held out his hand to Libby.

  ‘Libby Sarjeant.’ She smiled and shook his hand. ‘Very pleased to have you here. I was just saying, if you go through to the auditorium, someone will show you round.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sir Jasper, a small, chubby man with rather a pale face, turned to his wife. ‘Come along, Miranda. We must get started.’

  An hour later, after showing those who were to stay at the Manor their rooms, Libby was sitting at the back of the auditorium watching the rehearsal. The play was a revised and updated version of the original The Second Mrs Tanqueray, simply called Mrs Tanqueray. And Libby could see that Miranda was going to do everything she could to upset Liz’s performance. As if he knew that he could only make things worse, Oliver stayed out of the line of fire as much as he could, and Libby seethed.

  ‘What an absolute cow,’ she said to Ben, as they went over to the Manor to see that Hetty was coping. ‘She’s going to use every trick in the book to upstage that child and make her look silly. Just because she’s jealous.’

  ‘Why? She’s a famous actress,’ said Ben.

  ‘Because Liz is younger and pretty, and Oliver Marcus is obviously quite taken with her. And Miranda wants her “Olly” to herself.’

  ‘How do you know?’ asked Ben, looking interested.

  ‘I was there,’ said Libby dramatically. ‘I don’t know whether there has been anything between them in the past, but she considers him hers. Are they sharing a dressing room?’

  ‘Miranda and Marcus?’ Ben frowned.

  ‘No, silly. Miranda and Liz.’

  ‘I don’t know, but I shouldn’t have thought so. I don’t know how they’ve sorted themselves out. All Pete and I did was to show them where everything was and left them to it. The crew are all experienced professionals who’ve been used by Sir Jasper’s company for years, so we haven’t got to worry about them.’

  ‘They’re Avalon, aren’t they?’ said Libby. ‘I thought they did more – um – popular shows?’

  ‘Musicals and comedy, yes, tours.’

  ‘I wonder why he’s doing this, then?’

  Ben followed Libby into the kitchen where Hetty and Flo sat with a bottle of wine between them.

  ‘Because it’s his wife,’ said Ben. ‘Mum, Flo – bit early isn’t it?’

  ‘Over the yard arm,’ said Flo. ‘After five. And who’s whose wife?’

  ‘Miranda Love is Sir Jasper Stone’s wife.’ Libby sat down at the table.

  ‘Yeah, and too grand to stay here. Fetch a glass, gal.’ Hetty gestured towards a cupboard.

  ‘I remember ’er when she was younger,’ said Flo. ‘But ’e don’t do ’er sorta stuff. She was all upper class and culture.’

  ‘She tried,’ said Hetty, who always seemed to know more than anyone expected her to. ‘He put her in a revival tour of Salad Days .’

  ‘Not as Jane!’ gasped Libby, pouring wine for herself and Ben.

  ‘Yep.’ Hetty nodded. ‘She could get away with it on stage – but she couldn’t sing.’

  ‘So Sir Jasper’s going to help revive her career. But he’s too canny to put her in one of his big tours, so he comes here to let her fail in quiet.’ Libby pulled down the corners of her mouth. ‘I’m not sure now I believe in that first double-booked venue.’

  ‘This is only a try-out,’ said Ben. ‘The idea is they’ll go on and do a short tour of smaller theatres if this works.’

  ‘It won’t work if she goes on ruining Liz’s performance,’ said Libby.

  But as the week wore on, it became obvious to everyone that Miranda Love was not going to give ground to a newcomer. On Thursday, Libby was in the bar restocking the shelves after the rehearsal had finished, when she heard voices from just inside the auditorium doors. She stiffened and paused, unwilling to overhear anything she shouldn’t.

  She caught the end of Oliver’s sentence.

  ‘… and you’re using every trick in the book to do it.’

  She heard Miranda’s laugh. ‘To do what, darling? Upstage the mouse? Or prevent you from getting near her?’


  ‘Both, I suppose.’ Oliver sounded exasperated. ‘I’m surprised Jasper hasn’t noticed.’

  ‘Oh, he has, darling. But then, he’s so used to my – er – feelings for you that there’s hardly any point in him mentioning it, is there?’

  ‘Are you saying that he is still under the impression that we’re lovers?’

  Libby felt as though her stomach had dropped to the floor. She knew she should get out as quickly as possible, but her feet refused to move.

  ‘Of course he is, darling. Why should he think differently?’

  Libby heard Oliver sigh. ‘Why indeed?’ he muttered.

  ‘After all, I am wearing the emerald collar in the piece, aren’t I?’

  ‘So I believe. And why, I can’t begin to understand. Are you just tormenting the poor bastard?’

  ‘Olly! I’m wearing the collar because you gave it to me – what better reason? And because it suits the part. And what a part, eh, my darling? Such parallels with real life.’

  ‘I hardly think so. After all, I do believe that Paula has some tender feelings – compunction, at least – about Eileen. You have none about Elizabeth.’

  ‘Liz, darling, Liz. That’s what are told we must call her and how appropriate it is – a plain little name for a plain little person.’

  Libby was feeling sick.

  ‘I think you’ll find Liz anything but plain.’ She heard the soft whoomp as the door was pushed open. ‘And she could act you off the stage, if she was given the chance.’

  Oliver Marcus strode straight through the foyer without seeing Libby behind the bar, or Liz, who Libby now noticed on the spiral staircase from the control booth. Miranda Love didn’t follow him.

  After a moment, Libby emerged from behind the bar and went to push the auditorium door closed. ‘Come and have a drink,’ she said to Liz.

  Parked at one of the little wrought iron tables with a large glass of Semillon before her, Liz gave Libby a wry smile.

  ‘Did you hear all of that?’

  ‘I did. I can’t think why I did, either,’ said Libby. ‘The doors were closed.’

  ‘The one nearest you was very slightly open,’ said Liz. ‘I think she did that on purpose. I think she knew I was there.’

  ‘But why were you there?’ asked Libby. ‘Had you been up to see lighting?’

  ‘I watch from up there sometimes, when I’m not on. Miranda doesn’t like people in the auditorium.’

  ‘Yes, I was told that after the first day when I sat at the back. She hasn’t let up, then?’

  ‘No.’ Liz looked up from contemplation of her glass. ‘Do you think they’re having an affair?’

  ‘It sounded,’ said Libby carefully, ‘as if they had been once, but not now.’ She squinted at Liz. ‘Does that bother you?’

  Colour rose a little in Liz’s face. ‘Why should it?’

  ‘Has he been paying attention to you this week?’

  ‘We’ve been for a drink together, yes. And dinner. At that lovely Pink Geranium place.’

  ‘I’ll tell Harry,’ said Libby. ‘And Miranda knows all about this?’

  ‘Well, Oliver’s staying at the same place she and Jasper are, but he never goes back with them in the evening …’

  ‘Do you think he’s gone now?’

  ‘I don’t know. He left in a hurry, didn’t he?’

  ‘I don’t suppose he’ll be going back to Anderson Place after that little showdown, so my guess is he’s gone down to the pub. I suggest that you do, too. Some of the others will be there, won’t they?’

  Liz brightened. ‘Yes. I will.’ She drained her glass and stood up. ‘Thank you, Libby. Even if she makes sure I can never work again, I shall stand up to her. And if I want to see Oliver, I shall.’

  ‘You go, girl,’ said Libby with a grin and watched her walk out of the theatre, head held high, just as Sir Jasper and Miranda appeared from round the side of the building having left by the dock doors. Miranda and Liz exchanged glances and Jasper tchaed impatiently. Libby shook her head.

  Ben put his head round the auditorium door. ‘I’ve locked up at the back. Fancy a drink?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’ Libby got up and took Liz’s glass to the bar. ‘That was to cheer young Liz up. She needed it. But I think she may have gone to the pub, so will it look as if we’re spying?’

  Ben looked bewildered. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

  On the way down the Manor drive to the high street, Libby explained, but when they arrived at the pub, it was to find Oliver Marcus sitting at the bar by himself. He looked up and saw them.

  ‘Oh, good,’ he said. ‘You’ve come to share my misery.’

  ‘That sounds ominous,’ said Ben.

  ‘Let me buy you a drink,’ said Oliver, leaning over the bar to catch the attention of the barman.

  ‘Isn’t Liz here? I thought she was coming down,’ said Libby, pulling over a bar stool.

  ‘Was she?’ Oliver looked round in surprise. ‘I didn’t think she would, after –’ He broke off.

  ‘She heard your conversation?’ suggested Libby.

  ‘Yes. I caught sight of her as I left the theatre. ‘I should have gone back – hey, how did you know?’

  ‘I heard you, too. Liz thought Miranda pushed the door open a bit because she knew Liz was there.’

  ‘I should have guessed. So she said she was going to come down here?’

  ‘I suggested it. I don’t know where she’s got to.’

  ‘I expect she went to her room to – I don’t know – freshen up,’ said Ben. ‘No great mystery.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Libby. ‘And now I’ve got you here, Oliver, I want to ask you a question. How on earth can you be ready to put on a play like this in only a week? You’d never even met Liz on Monday morning.’

  ‘We’d been rehearsing for a few weeks, actually, just not with Liz.’ He pushed drinks towards them and raised his own. ‘Here’s mud in yer eye.’

  ‘So she’s a replacement? What happened to the first Eileen?’

  ‘She is the first Eileen. The DSM’s been reading it.’

  ‘Good lord, why?’

  ‘Can’t you guess? None of the girls who auditioned for it met with her ladyship’s approval. In the end, Jasper went off and held his own auditions. Called back the one he’d liked best from the original first round, and that was Liz. Like anyone given a chance, she learnt the whole play over last weekend and was prepared to fall down dead in the attempt.’

  ‘And she walked into a lion’s den,’ said Ben.

  ‘If I could protect her, I would,’ said Oliver with a sigh. ‘But, if I try, it makes things worse.’ He caught Libby’s eye. ‘Yes, I know I was an idiot, but I was younger and a bit dazzled.’

  ‘How long ago was it?’ asked Libby.

  ‘Lib!’ Ben gave her a dig in the ribs.

  ‘That’s OK.’ Oliver smiled. ‘Over ten years ago, when I was completely unknown. It didn’t last long, and, luckily, I was able to get out of it with my skin intact. But if ever we cross paths she tries it on. As you’ve seen. Why the hell I said yes to Jasper, I don’t know.’

  ‘Perhaps you feel guilty for having an affair with his wife?’ said Libby.

  ‘Believe it or not, he simply isn’t bothered by that. He wouldn’t notice.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Libby swirled her drink. ‘Another thing. Who’s Bennett? And hasn’t she got another name?’

  ‘She’s Miranda’s dresser – personal companion – whatever. She’s been around for ever, as far as I can tell. And I’ve never heard anyone call her anything but Bennett.’

  ‘How very old-fashioned,’ said Libby. ‘And look – here comes Liz.’

  Liz came through the door and hesitated. Libby smiled and beckoned her over.

  ‘Don’t worry, Ben and I are just going,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, don’t go yet,’ said Liz.

  ‘I haven’t finished my drink,’ said Ben.

  ‘Why don’t we all have dinner together?’ said Oli
ver. ‘Liz and I had dinner at The Pink Geranium the other night. Do you go there?’

  ‘Harry is probably Libby’s best friend,’ said Ben with a grin. ‘And you met Peter Parker, didn’t you? Harry’s his partner, and Peter has a share in the restaurant.’

  ‘Oh, I see! Food’s good. So how about it?’ He put a casual arm round Liz’s shoulders.

  ‘If we wouldn’t be butting in …’ said Libby.

  ‘No!’ said Oliver and Liz together.

  While Oliver nipped next door but one to ask if Harry had a table free and Liz went to the ladies, Ben looked at Libby. ‘Is this wise?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Libby firmly. ‘It makes them feel more normal. They would have felt awkward with each other if they were on their own.’

  Dinner was a success. Harry sent a bottle of wine on the house, and brought another with him when he joined them for coffee.

  ‘So how’s it going, then?’ he said. ‘The play?’

  An uncomfortable silence settled on the table.

  ‘Oh,’ said Harry.

  ‘We’ve been avoiding it all evening,’ said Oliver, ‘but I’ve never felt more like telling people not to come.’

  ‘That bad?’

  ‘It would be good – if – if …’ Oliver looked round helplessly.

  ‘If Miranda Love wasn’t in it,’ said Libby bluntly, and Liz and Oliver nodded miserably.

  ‘Oh,’ said Harry again. ‘Can’t the director make her see sense? After all, it’s her comeback isn’t it?’

  ‘He’s tried,’ said Oliver, ‘mainly in private. I’ve tried. But Miranda only sees what Miranda wants to see, and serves only her own interests.’

  ‘But surely,’ said Harry, ‘this is in her own interest.’

  ‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you?’ said Oliver. ‘Oh, don’t let’s think about it. Have a drink.’

  The dress rehearsal on Sunday was not a success. Libby, Ben, and Peter were invited to watch, and, to Libby’s surprise, Miranda behaved impeccably on stage and allowed Liz to make Eileen a real person rather than Paula’s stooge, but off stage she became impossible. Twice she reduced the props mistress to tears, and even goaded the impassive Bennett into an angry retort over an imagined misdemeanour. Oliver brooded in the wings, his dark brown eyes never far from Liz, and Sir Jasper became calmer and calmer, only the nerve twitching just below his right eye betraying his real feelings. The dusty air above the stage was blue with forbidden tobacco smoke swirling through the bright white of the stage lights, and the atmosphere in the wings was just as thick with tension and resentment. When Miranda swept off stage for the last time before her final entrance the silence that followed her was unnerving, but the atmosphere on stage lightened perceptibly. For perhaps two minutes.