But now that she was left on her own, she started to think of those two dead girls. How could she know if she was safe with Raymond? What he’d told her about himself hadn’t been that reassuring especially when he’d admitted knowing both of those murdered girls. She shivered despite the sticky warmth of the evening. And hugged her thin, bare arms around herself. Would he see her safely to the hostel? Could she honestly trust him?
She decided not to risk it. She wasn’t certain of the direction of the park gates. But she wasn’t going to wait here any longer for him.
*
Turner had spotted Raymond from afar with a girl hanging on his arm. Turner had taken Carole and his children to see the fireworks. Carole decided to make the most of having his company even though she realised he was still officially on duty. And she was watching out for accidents in the crowds. Already the ambulance had taken away one elderly pensioner who’d fainted in the heat and a kiddy with a broken arm.
Turner was looking out for any young girls out on their own or separated from their friends. The girl that Raymond was with didn’t seem his usual type, Turner thought. Looked a bit of a hippie with a ring through her nose. Now he’d had a closer look. Pretty but much too thin though. He frowned, feeling the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He was sure he knew her from somewhere. He’d tell Sherwood to keep an eye on them. She was around somewhere and on duty with several other constables on the fringe of the crowd.
Kent was accompanied by someone too, he noticed with a broad smile. His landlady, Mrs Sherlborne, from the local library. Birds of a feather, her husband had been a policeman. Turner approved of her. A nice woman and a good looker too. Turner fancied redheads. She’d got herself well together since the sudden unexpected death of her husband Bill. Turner recalled when he’d popped into the station when they were visiting family down here.
According to Jack Crosby, Bill was going to put in for a transfer to Harcombe for his wife’s sake. Her Dad was the Police Surgeon there at the time. He’d had more than enough of the Met, Bill said. Shortly afterwards his death was announced. It came as a shock to everyone who knew him. He’d never had a serious day’s illness in his life. A nice way to go but not when it left two teenagers and a young wife to cope without him.
‘I must say, Viviane, that Harcombe really pulls out all the stops for entertainment,’ Jon Kent said as they watched the fireworks from the vantage point of a high grassy bank that they’d scrambled up. ‘It must cost a tidy quid or two to put all this on. Plus the Carnival procession this afternoon.
‘It’s well on par with the Notting Hill Carnival I would say. It must attract the holiday makers down here in droves. They don’t seem to be put off by the murders. And at least the weather hasn’t let us down yet.’ He smiled at Viviane as her upturned face was lighted by a golden star burst in the sky. She looked like a pretty youngster having a whale of a time.
She laughed. ‘This is all in a line of duty for you, isn’t it? You’re working, aren’t you? I can see that you have put practically all the force on alert around the park. You’re afraid that there could be another victim?’
‘Not necessarily.’ He grinned ruefully. ‘And asking you out this evening is not part of my duty. It’s entirely my pleasure, Viviane.’
She smiled back at him as she felt a sudden thrill go through her and her heart miss a beat.
‘But we can’t risk being careless. We’ve got to look out for any girl coming here alone or separated from family and friends in the crowds here. Putting themselves at risk. Perhaps looking for the chance of picking up a boy. Because we’re still in the dark as to finding the motive for these killings. More than likely the killer is here. And the suspects all have alibis.’ He shook his head. ‘There has to be something that we’re missing. Only I don’t know what.’
She heard the anxious note in his voice. He was not leaving anything to chance. And she was glad she was out with him. He was good company. She was wondering whether she could read more into this evening spent with him than there was. He must know that she wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t asked her out.
She knew how difficult it was to do things on her own. Other than joining evening classes, learning some new hobby. Like DIY. She grimaced at the thought. Her children were following their own pursuits now. And weren’t aware that she badly missed being a woman again. Holding a man’s arm, going to the theatre or cinema or restaurant with someone who wanted to be with her.
She felt that he was observing her closely. Was he reading her thoughts? She said quickly, ‘I’m hungry. Do you fancy something?’
He chuckled. ‘Snap! Let’s follow our noses. I smell onions. There’s a hot dog stall over there. Let’s hope they have something left. They’ll have done a good trade by now. Did you say that Simon`s around somewhere?’
‘Yes. He’s got a girlfriend with him, I think. I didn’t push him for details. I didn’t want to embarrass him by being an over protective mum.’
He chuckled. ‘I’m sure you’re never that. I expect the Carey’s wished that they had been. They never checked up on what Maureen did on the evenings she spent with Susan Flitch. But who am I to judge? I haven’t any children, and not likely to have now.’ His warm smile took some of the edge from what sounded like regret in his voice.
They found the source of the onions at last and bought hot dogs. She turned away when he was settling up and caught sight of a familiar face she knew. And gasped. It was the girl from the sea front again.
‘What’s wrong? Is there anything the matter? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.’ He chuckled.
‘No-o.’ She laughed. ‘I suppose you’ve warned the public to be on the lookout for thieves? Pickpockets?’
‘What do you think? This crowd around us must have some good pickings for anyone with light fingers. Why? You’ve got your purse safe, haven’t you?’
‘Yes. I just saw someone I recognized in the crowd. A girl I met up with the other day. She’d picked up someone’s purse I think. I might be wrong though I could have misjudged her.’ She told Kent about the incident on the sea front.
‘She looked like one of the unwashed homeless. Can’t be more than fifteen. If that.’ She hesitated then said, ‘She’d made the acquaintance of Raymond Perkins when I saw her again. That was yesterday... I think. They looked quite chummy. But she’s on her own here. Oh - -she’s gone now. It looked as if she was in a hurry too. Had somewhere else to go. What makes kids take off?’
‘Raymond Perkins, you say she was with? That young lad certainly gets around with the girls. What’s his fatal attraction? I wonder. Formaldehyde?’
She nudged him playfully. ‘That’s unkind!’
He grinned. ‘Sorry, that wasn’t in good taste. Didn’t take him long to get over Maureen Carey, did it? I wouldn’t say that he’s a very good picker with this latest one if she’s like you say.’
Viviane put her mouth round the spicy sausage and onion roll, chewed for a minute and said, ‘No, I wouldn’t either. But I think I know her from somewhere...’
‘Oh look at that! ‘ The sky was lighted up suddenly with the sparkling message. ‘THANK YOU FOR COMING TO HARCOMBE ON SEA…’
‘Time to leave, I think. There will be a mad scramble and crush to get out. Let’s go out the second park gate instead of the main one, Jon.’
‘Where’s that?’
‘It’s a small side one which leads out onto the Lower Park road. We’ll get out much quicker. While everyone’s storming through the main gate to get to their cars.’
‘Okay. You lead the way. I’ll just call up Turner, Carter and the rest of the merry crew on my cell. It’s five to eleven. Better call it a day.’ He sighed. ‘Turner! Anything to report, man?’
‘I saw Raymond Perkins earlier, sir,’ Turner said. ‘With another young girl on his arm. Thought you might like to know it. Sherwood and the others are leaving now. No trouble so far.’
‘Good. Tomorrow’s another day. Goodnight Turner. Give my best to
Mrs Turner and your children. Hope they enjoyed it. Sorry you couldn’t relax altogether this evening.’
‘No sweat. Goodnight, guv.’
Viviane led Kent onto a small wooden bridge over a stream and a winding gravel path which took them to the park gate. Kent closed it behind them carefully. ‘Does this get locked when the main gate does?’
She laughed and shrugged. ‘Can’t say, probably not. It could get overlooked on a busy evening like this. It’s a big park. This is only first part of it. Where all the shows and entertainment are held. There’s the large main gate by the Head Keeper’s cottage. And then there’s another road to cross over between the two parts and another gate leading to the second part which has tennis courts, bowling greens and large green houses.
‘And then there’s the last and third part where there’s a swannery and most of our swans.’ She chuckled as she caught the impressed grimace he made. ‘And there’s still another smaller part on the other side of the road. It all takes a lot of looking after and there are only so many gardeners and keepers on the park team. So if a small gate is forgotten...’
‘Okay. I get the message.’
‘I’m glad you do. I thought for a moment I’d got a stuffed shirt on my hands for the rest of the evening.’
They strolled leisurely along the Lower Park road back to her house. There was still the acrid gunpowder smell of the fireworks mixed with the fried onions from the hot dog stall on the warm night air. Viviane sensed that he was winding down gradually now. The pavements were crowded still. By the laughter and loud conversation it sounded as if the evening entertainment had been a great success.
The drivers taking their cars out onto the road again were holding up traffic back into the town centre. Most of them would be parking on the seafront or in the underground car park for the night. She was glad that she wasn’t one of those having to face that.
He was yawning openly. He echoed her thoughts. ‘Thank God. I haven’t got to get on that road amongst that crush before hitting the sack.’
‘Are you going in again tomorrow? Stupid question. There won’t be much let up for you this weekend, I suppose.’
‘More than likely.’ He shrugged. ‘I’ve got little choice. If I want to get on top of it. Can’t afford to miss anything at this stage.’
‘Fancy a drink or anything stronger?’ she said as she unlocked the front door.
‘A cup of tea will do fine. I want a clear head in the morning. Don’t suppose I shall sleep much. Never can when I’m on a case. So if you hear me pacing the floor you know why.’
‘It used to get Bill like that.’
Beazy was waiting for them in the kitchen. Waiting impatiently by the back door. Tail and ears twitching. He didn’t use a cat flap. He was too big for one anyway. She let him out into the back yard. She hadn’t done so earlier. The fireworks would have frightened him. Guy Fawkes night was a `No Go` outing for him as well. He would soon be back in looking for food before bed.
‘That cat is a Goliath,’ Kent watched him stroll over the lawns in a leisurely fashion. His furry bulk just distinguishable in the dusk and then spotlighted for a moment or so by the security light on the patio. ‘He must frighten away all the other cats in your neighbourhood.’
‘Yep. He’s a good watch cat too. He sees off all strangers. You’re highly privileged. He wouldn’t let just anyone in that he doesn’t know. He’d fight them tooth and claw.’ She grinned. ‘He tried to claw the gasman who wanted to read the meter one day. I think he’d do it to the mailman too. Given half a chance,’ she said as she made the tea. ‘He chews up all the rubbish mail and the bills. I’ve got him well trained.’
‘Certainly sounds like it. Say are you still hungry. Viviane? Those hot dogs weren’t that filling for me. Fancy an omelette? That is you have any eggs going spare?’
‘Yes, please. I didn’t cook anything earlier as Simon wasn’t coming in. So if you want to cook it. You most certainly can. I thought you were feeling tired though.’
‘I am. But cooking is good stimulation for my little grey cells, as Hercule Poirot might say. And you can’t go to bed with an empty tummy.’ He grinned. ‘I haven’t eaten properly all day. I missed my fish and chips quota earlier.’
‘I envy you, Jon,’ she said as she ate the golden fluffy omelette filled with cheese and tomato. ‘This is heavenly. You’ve missed your vocation. You could have been a chef at the Ritz. Mrs Frost at the White Rock could do with someone like you. And to top it all you don’t seem to put on an atom of weight no matter what you eat. It’s not fair,’ she protested.
He laughed. ‘I must say I like cooking for someone who really appreciates a good meal. Julie was on her way to being a Vegan. Worried about her weight all the time. Thank God you’ve got more sense.’
‘So do I, worry about my weight.’ She patted her tummy. ‘So don’t tempt me too much. But just the same you can cook a meal like that for me anytime.’
Oh dear. What am I saying? I’m leaving myself wide open, aren’t I? I mustn’t sound like a woman who needs a man. This man in particular. She frowned and carried on eating. And he smiled back at her.
‘Oh, don’t worry, Viviane. I’m not going to make you forget your good resolutions. And if this should worry you I shan’t overstep our friendly relationship. I shan’t have time to do this often while on this case. But I’ve enjoyed this evening we’ve spent together. Although it was partly business. You helped to make it enjoyable for me as well.’
She picked up the empty plates. ‘Thank you, kind sir. I hope that perhaps the presence of the police amongst the crowds saved the evening. It must have stopped the parents of young girls there from being anxious. Seeing the boys in blue mixing in. It was a good move for your part to arrange that.’
He leant back in his chair. ‘Can I hear that cat of yours demanding to come in?’
‘Yes. He knows when it’s his bedtime. And mine.’ She carried plates over to the sink and opened the back door. ‘Come in.’ Beazy strolled in nonchalantly. And stopped in his tracks to glare at Jon. His eyes like burnished amber traffic lights.
‘Right.’ He got up. ‘I think that’s my cue to go. Forthwith.’
‘Thanks for the supper. And for escorting me this evening. I really enjoyed myself.’
He leant over the stairs and wished her, ‘Goodnight.’
‘Night, Jon. Get some sleep. Forget the case.’
That was another stupid remark to make. Two in one evening. Damn! Damn! Viviane lay awake thinking it over. He must be worried about the case. Although he’d hidden it as well as he could. But she’d been a policeman’s wife. She knew the signs. What was behind the motives for the killings? None of it seemed to make much sense so far. She tried to assemble the clues in her mind. Two girls who had never met but were connected by death and the method of killing the same. It had to be a random choice by the killer. But was it? And would the killings stop now?
32
At two a.m. the police station received an irate phone call. ‘Major Colby here. We have a lunatic joy rider creating havoc in Foxglove Grove. Waking up the residents. It’s disgraceful. Something should be done about it! Straight away! I want him stopped and caught immediately before they kill someone or themselves.’
‘Yes, sir. Do you notice the make or number of the car, Major?’
‘Of course. I waited out in the street and the third time it spun round I took down the last three numbers. It was a black Mercedes by the way. It was one of these youngsters from the estate running wild. Must have picked it up from downtown. From the car park or the sea front. They know you have your hands full with the murders you’re dealing with. It’s about time these young idiots were taken in hand. Bring back the birch I say.’
The Major went on from several minutes in a similar vitriolic vein. This wasn’t the first time the old chap had phoned up about a similar disruption in his neighbourhood. But it seemed he had a genuine cause for anger here. The Police car was sent out but reported b
ack that all signs of the joy riders had gone. Which was only to be expected. The police officers spoke to the Major and took down his report. And peace descended on Foxglove Grove once again.
33
It seemed almost inevitable to Kent and Turner that another body should be found early the following morning. A young girl killed and left in the same fashion as the previous two. Jon heard about it from Turner and was fuelled with anger instantly. It served to justify his earlier bad feelings about the case.
The body was discovered by the Head Park keeper Ralph Toomey, while doing his early rounds on the Sunday morning in the Victoria Park.
He was on his way back to his early breakfast after checking up on the large aviary of lovebirds and budgerigars in the park. His early visit was mainly to see how they were. All the fuss with the noisy show, the crowds and the firework display could have frightened them silly. And they were nesting. He was worried about them. The peacocks, he’d put in the larger aviaries especially out of harm’s way. They seemed as lively as ever. And squawking at their enforced imprisonment for the night away from their usual tree perches.
From the distance he spotted a splash of bright colour between the green leaves of a large rhododendron bush. At first, he thought it was cluster of brilliant blooms he was looking at but they were the wrong colour. Then pausing to investigate closer, he pulled the leafy branches apart saw a glimpse of dark hair and thought that someone had taken a under the sheltering bush. Or indulged too much and crashed out. Easy enough to get overlooked after the late night show finished. And the crowds dispersed.
Toomey lived in the Head Keepers cottage by the main gates. He didn’t like to think he’d missed anyone before closing up. Pushing back the leafy branches further in his haste, breaking off the flower petals which fell like wedding confetti onto the bare young limbs now exposed to the sunlight, he quickly realised that these weren’t likely to be moved without an urgent call to the police. This was a murder victim. And she was in his park. He felt sick and panicky. And wanted to throw up.
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