Death Is Now My Neighbour Part 28

'One or two important things I've got to do after lunch.' 'Such as?'

'Well, to be truthful, I've been told to take things a bit more gently. And I suppose I'd better take a bit of notice of my medical advisers.'

'Of course.'

'Don't get me wrong, mind! I'm feeling fine. But I think a little siesta this afternoon ...'

'Siesta? That's what they have in Spain in the middle of the summer when the temperature's up in the nineties - but we're in England in the middle of winter and it's freezing outside.' That's what they have in Spain in the middle of the summer when the temperature's up in the nineties - but we're in England in the middle of winter and it's freezing outside.'

Morse looked down at his desk, a little sheepishly, and Lewis knew that he was lying.

'Come on, sir! It's something to do with that invite you had, isn't it? Deborah Crawford?'

'In away.'

"Why are you being so secretive about it? You wouldn't tell me yesterday either.'

'Only because it needs a bit more thinking about, that's all.'

"You and me together" - isn't that what you said?' Morse fingered the still-cellophaned cigarettes, almost desperately.

'Si' down then, Lewis.'

CHAPTER F FIFTY-TWO.

It is the nature of an hypothesis, when once a man has conceived it, that it a.s.similates every thing to itself as proper nourishment, and, from the first moment of your begetting it, it generally grows the stronger by every thing you see, hear, read, or understand (Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy) Tristram Shandy) 'IT WASN'T D DEBORAH Crawford, Lewis - it was her initials, "DC". When we found that list in the manila file, I jumped the gun. I automatically a.s.sumed that "JS" was Julian Storrs - I think I was right about that - and I a.s.sumed that "DC" was Denis Cornford - and I think I was Crawford, Lewis - it was her initials, "DC". When we found that list in the manila file, I jumped the gun. I automatically a.s.sumed that "JS" was Julian Storrs - I think I was right about that - and I a.s.sumed that "DC" was Denis Cornford - and I think I was wrong wrong about that. As things have turned out I don't believe Owens ever knew Cornford at all, about that. As things have turned out I don't believe Owens ever knew Cornford at all, or or his missus, for that matter. But he knew another "DC": the woman at Number 1 Bloxham Close - Adele Beatrice Cecil - the ABC la.s.s Owens knew well enough to call by her nickname, "Delia". "DC". And the more I think about his missus, for that matter. But he knew another "DC": the woman at Number 1 Bloxham Close - Adele Beatrice Cecil - the ABC la.s.s Owens knew well enough to call by her nickname, "Delia". "DC". And the more I think about her, her, the more attractive a proposition I find it.' the more attractive a proposition I find it.'

'Well, most men would, sir. Lovely looker!'

Ignoring the pleasantry, Morse continued: 'Just consider for a minute what an important figure she is in the case. She's the prime witness, really. She's She's the one who sees Owens leave for work about sevenish on the morning Rachel was murdered; the one who sees Owens leave for work about sevenish on the morning Rachel was murdered; she's she's the one who rings Owens an hour or so later to tell him the police are in Bloxham Close' (again Lewis let it go) 'and gives him a headstart on all the other newshounds. That's what she says, isn't it? But she might not be telling the truth!' Lewis sat in silence. the one who rings Owens an hour or so later to tell him the police are in Bloxham Close' (again Lewis let it go) 'and gives him a headstart on all the other newshounds. That's what she says, isn't it? But she might not be telling the truth!' Lewis sat in silence.

'Now, as I recall it, your objection to Owens himself ever being a suspect was the time-factor. You argued that he couldn't have gone to work that morning, parked his car, been seen in the newspaper offices, got in his car again, driven back to Kidlington, murdered Rachel, driven back to Osney Mead again, again, taken the phone-call from Delia Cecil, driven back to Kidlington taken the phone-call from Delia Cecil, driven back to Kidlington again, again, to be on hand with his mobile and his notebook while the rest of the press are pulling their socks on. He could to be on hand with his mobile and his notebook while the rest of the press are pulling their socks on. He could never never have done all that in such a short s.p.a.ce of time, you said. Impossible! And of course you were right - ' have done all that in such a short s.p.a.ce of time, you said. Impossible! And of course you were right - '

'Thank you, sir.'

' - in one way; and quite wrong in another. Let's stick to our original idea that the list of initials we found was a blackmail list, and that she's she's on it - Delia Cecil. He's got something on her, too. So when he asks her to help him in his plan to get Rachel out of the way, she's little option but to co-operate.' on it - Delia Cecil. He's got something on her, too. So when he asks her to help him in his plan to get Rachel out of the way, she's little option but to co-operate.'

'Have you any idea what this "plan" was, sir?'

'That's the trouble. I've got far too many ideas.'

'Want to try me?'

'All right. They're all the same sort of plan, really -any plan to cut down that time time business you're so worried about. Let me just outline a possible plan, and see what you think of it. Ready? Owens drives out to work, at ten to seven, let's say - and business you're so worried about. Let me just outline a possible plan, and see what you think of it. Ready? Owens drives out to work, at ten to seven, let's say - and she follows him, she follows him, in her own car. When he's parked the car, when his entry's recorded, he goes into the building, makes sure he's seen by somebody in her own car. When he's parked the car, when his entry's recorded, he goes into the building, makes sure he's seen by somebody doesn't matter who it is - then immediately leaves via a side door and gets into her her car, parked along the street in front of the offices. Back in Kidlington, he murders Rachel James, about half past seven, car, parked along the street in front of the offices. Back in Kidlington, he murders Rachel James, about half past seven, and doesn't return to work at all and doesn't return to work at all He's got a key and he goes into He's got a key and he goes into Delia's Delia's house house and waits. At the appropriate time, when the police arrive, a call is made to his own office - he knows there'll be no one there! - and a message is left or isn't left or isn't left on the answerphone. All that matters is that a telephonic communication is established, and gets recorded on those BT lists we all get, between on the answerphone. All that matters is that a telephonic communication is established, and gets recorded on those BT lists we all get, between her her phone and Owens' phone in his office. Then all he's got to do is to emerge amid all the excitement once the murder's reported - the police, the local people, the Press, the TV ... Well?' phone and Owens' phone in his office. Then all he's got to do is to emerge amid all the excitement once the murder's reported - the police, the local people, the Press, the TV ... Well?'

You make it up as you go along, sir.'

Morse's face betrayed some irritation. 'Of course course I b.l.o.o.d.y do! That's what I'm here for. I just told you. If once we accept there could be I b.l.o.o.d.y do! That's what I'm here for. I just told you. If once we accept there could be two two people involved - people involved - two two cars - there are cars - there are dozens dozens of possibilities. It's like permutating your selection on the National Lottery. I've just given you of possibilities. It's like permutating your selection on the National Lottery. I've just given you one one possibility, that's all.' possibility, that's all.'

'But it just couldn't-'

'What's wrong with it? Come on! Tell me!'

'Well, let's start with the car-'

'Cars, plural.' plural.'

'All right. When he's parked his car-'

'I didn't say that I deliberately said parked the the car, if you'd been listening. It could have been his - it could have been hers: it's the car, if you'd been listening. It could have been his - it could have been hers: it's the card card number that's recorded there, not the number that's recorded there, not the car car number. She could have driven his car - he could have driven hers - and at any point they could have swapped. Not much risk. Very few people around there at seven. Or eight, for that matter.' number. She could have driven his car - he could have driven hers - and at any point they could have swapped. Not much risk. Very few people around there at seven. Or eight, for that matter.'

'Is it my turn now?' asked Lewis quietly.

'Go on!'

'I'm talking about Owens' car, all right? That was parked in Bloxham Drive - "Drive" please, please, sir - when Owens was there that morning. The street was cordoned off, but the lads let him in - because he told them he lived there. And I saw the car myself.' sir - when Owens was there that morning. The street was cordoned off, but the lads let him in - because he told them he lived there. And I saw the car myself.'

'So? He could have left it - or she could have left it -in a nearby street. Anywhere. Up on the main road behind the terrace, say. That's where JJ-'

But Morse broke off.

'It still still couldn't have happened like you say, sir!' 'No?' couldn't have happened like you say, sir!' 'No?'

'No! He was seen in his office, Owens was, remember? Just at the time when Rachel was being murdered! Seen by the Personnel Manager there.'

"We haven't got a statement from him yet, though.'

'He's been away, you know that'

Yes, I do do know that, Lewis. But you spoke to him.' know that, Lewis. But you spoke to him.'

Lewis nodded.

'On the phone?'

'On the phone.'

You did it through the operator, I suppose?' Lewis nodded again.

'Do you know who she probably put you through to?' asked Morse slowly.

The light dawned in Lewis's eyes. 'You mean ... she could have put me through to Owens himself?'

Morse shrugged his shoulders. 'That's what we've got to find out, isn't it? Owens was deputy deputy Personnel Manager, we know that. He was on a management course only last weekend.' Personnel Manager, we know that. He was on a management course only last weekend.'

'Do you really think that's what happened?'

'I dunno. I know one thing, though: it could could have happened that way.' have happened that way.'

'But it's all so - so airy-fairy, isn't it? And you said we were going to get some facts facts straight first.' straight first.'

'Exactly.'

Lewis gave up the struggle. 'I'll tell you something that would would be useful: some idea where the gun is.' be useful: some idea where the gun is.'

'The "pistol", do you mean?'

'Sorry. But if only we knew where that that was was 'Oh, I think I know where we're likely to find the pistol, Lewis.'

PART FIVE.

CHAPTER F FIFTY-THREE.

Wednesday, 6 March A good working definition of h.e.l.l on Earth is a forced attendance for a couple of days or even a couple of hours at a Young Conservatives' Convention (Ca.s.sandra, in the Daily Mirror, Daily Mirror, June 1952) June 1952) Miss ADELE C CECIL (she much preferred 'Miss' to 'Ms' and 'Adele' to 'Delia') had spent the previous evening and night in London, where she had attended, and addressed, a meeting of the chairmen, chairwomen and chairpersons of the Ess.e.x Young Conservative a.s.sociation. Thirty-eight such personages had a.s.sembled at Durrants, in George Street, a traditional English hotel just behind Oxford Street, with good facilities, tasteful cuisine, and comfortable beds. Proceedings had been business-like, and the majority of delegates (it appeared) had ended up in the rooms originally allocated to them. (she much preferred 'Miss' to 'Ms' and 'Adele' to 'Delia') had spent the previous evening and night in London, where she had attended, and addressed, a meeting of the chairmen, chairwomen and chairpersons of the Ess.e.x Young Conservative a.s.sociation. Thirty-eight such personages had a.s.sembled at Durrants, in George Street, a traditional English hotel just behind Oxford Street, with good facilities, tasteful cuisine, and comfortable beds. Proceedings had been business-like, and the majority of delegates (it appeared) had ended up in the rooms originally allocated to them.

It was at a comparatively early breakfast in the restaurant that over her fresh grapefruit, with Full English to follow, the head-waiter had informed Adele of the telephone message, which she had taken in one of the hooded booths just outside the breakfast-room.

'How did you know I was here?'

'Don't you remember me? I'm a detective.'

Yes, she remembered him - the white-haired, supercilious, sarcasdc police officer she didn't want to meet again.

'I shan't be back in Oxford till lunch time.' 'The Trout? Half past twelve?'

As she started on her eggs, bacon, mushrooms, and sausages, she accepted the good-natured twitting of her three breakfast companions, all male: 'Boyfriend?'

'Couldn't he wait?'

'What's he got... ?' he got... ?'

During her comparatively young life, Adele had been companionably attached to a couple of dozen or so men, of varying ages, with many of whom she had slept -though seldom more than once or twice, and never without some satisfactory rea.s.surance about the availability and reliability of condoms, and a relatively recent check-up for AIDS.

They were all the same, men. Well, most of them. Fingers fumbling for hooks at the backs of bras, or at the front these days. So why was she looking forward just a little to her lunchtime rendezvous? She wasn't really, she told herself, as she parked the Rover, crossed the narrow readjust below the bridge, and entered the bar.

'What'll you have?'

'Orange juice and lemonade, please.'

They sat facing each other at a low wooden table, and Morse was immediately (and again) aware of her attractiveness. She wore a slimly tailored dark-grey outfit, with a high-necked Oxford blue blouse, her ash-blonde hair palely gleaming.

Morse looked down at his replenished pint of London Pride.

'Good time at the Conference?' 'I had a lovely time,' she lied. 'I'm glad it went well,' he lied.

'Do you mind?' She waved an unlit cigarette in the air.

'Go ahead, please.'

She offered the packet across.

'Er, not for the minute, thank you.'

'Well?'

'Just one or two questions.'

She smiled attractively: 'Go ahead.'

Morse experienced a sense of paramnesia. Deja vu. Deja vu. You've already signed a statement - about the morning Rachel was murdered?' You've already signed a statement - about the morning Rachel was murdered?'

You know that, surely?'

'And it was the truth?' asked Morse, starkly. You couldn't have been wrong?' 'Of course not!'

You told me you "had a heart-to-heart" with Rachel once in a while. I think those were your words?' 'So?'

'Does that mean you spoke about boyfriends - men-friends?'

'And clothes, and money, and work-' 'Did you know she was having an affair with Julian Storrs?'

She nodded slowly.

'Did you mention this to Mr Owens?' Morse's eyes, blue and unblinking, looked fiercely into hers.

And her eyes were suddenly fierce, too, as they held his. 'What the h.e.l.l do you think I'd do that for?'

Morse made no direct answer as he looked down at the old flagstones there. And when he resumed, his voice was very quiet.

'Did you you ever have an affair with Julian Storrs?' ever have an affair with Julian Storrs?'

She thought he looked sad, as if he hadn't really wanted to ask the question at all; and suddenly she knew why she'd been looking forward to seeing him. So many hours of her life had she spent seeking to discover what lay beneath the physical looks, the s.e.xual prowess, the masculine charms of some of her lovers; and so often had she discovered the self-same answer - virtually nothing.

She looked long into the blazing log-fire before finally answering: 'I spent one night with him - in Blackpool - at one of the Party Conferences.'