The Seven Stars (17 page)

‘
Mr Hardy? No, sir. He arrived back after the weekend, garaged his car, left his suitcase for me to take upstairs, and went straight out again.’

‘
What time was that?’

‘
Mid-morning I’d say.’

‘
And he hasn’t been back since?’

‘
No, but that’s not unusual. He often goes straight on to dinner from work, and sometimes to a show or a club after that.’

‘
Great!’ Jackson said under his breath.

‘
Is this the entrance he’d use?’

‘
Yes, sir, since he hasn’t got the car with him. When he has, he comes up in the lift from the garage level.’

Webb thought for a moment.
‘And you’ve no idea when to expect him?’

‘
No, sir.’

‘
Then we shall have to wait. Is there a restaurant in the building?’

‘
Yes, along the hall there, but it’s only for residents and their guests.’

‘
We don’t want to go in,’ Webb said impatiently, ‘but I’d be glad if you’d arrange for some sandwiches to be sent out to us. We’ll be in the car parked at the kerb.’

‘
Oh, I don’t think —’ The porter broke off under Webb’s gimlet gaze. ‘I’ll see what I can do, sir.’

‘
Thank you. Two rounds, and something to drink if possible — tea or coffee.’

The porter did not look happy. Unused to his establishment being used as a transport café
, he was doubtless anticipating the receipt of his request by an irate chef.

Webb said
, ‘And if by any chance Mr Hardy should phone, I’d be grateful if you didn’t mention we’re here.’

In silence the porter opened the door
, waited as they went through, and locked it behind them.

‘
Good thinking on the sandwiches, Guy,’ Jackson said with relief. ‘I was beginning to wonder when we could eat.’

‘
I know, Ken, I was getting your vibes. They’re more likely to be smoked salmon than cheese and pickle, but beggars can’t be choosers.’

In fact
, the sandwiches, brought out to them ten minutes later by a young waiter, contained slices of rare beef. Also on the tray were paper napkins, a jar of English mustard, sugar bowl, cream jug and two cups of coffee. The bill was folded discreetly and tucked under a plate.

Jackson was impressed.
‘Hope Chummie doesn’t come back till we’ve finished this lot,’ he commented.

Webb glanced at the bill
, gave a low whistle and tucked it away again. Just as well he could put it on expenses.

Twenty minutes later
, the performance with the hall porter was repeated when Jackson took back the tray and, funded by Webb, settled the bill. It was confirmed that Mr Hardy had not phoned in.

On receipt of this information
, Webb reached for his own phone and called the number Ledbetter had given him.

‘
He’s not shown up yet, Chris. We’re parked outside the apartment building and he’s definitely not inside. The hall porter says he often dines out and goes on to a show, so God knows when he’ll get back. But since he can’t be contacted at the apartment, I’d say you’re safe enough to let the SOCOs get under way.’

Ledbetter swore softly.
‘Wouldn’t you know it? OK, Dave, thanks, I’ll do that. Hope you’re not kept waiting too long.’

‘
You picked up the girlfriend?’

‘
Yep.’ He did not elaborate, and Webb let it go.

‘
I’ll ring back when we’ve got him,’ he said, and switched off the phone. Then, selecting a cassette, he slid it into the slot and, with Jackson beside him, settled down for a long wait.

*

When dinner was over, Helen was anxious not to be alone with Michael. He might well consider, after his rescue of her, that he was entitled to hear the real reason for her visit to the police. Throughout the meal she had been trying to think of an innocent explanation; the trouble was that if it had been innocent, she would not have hesitated to reveal it in the first place.

Something to do with Andrew
, perhaps? That would account for not wanting to broadcast it, but she could think of nothing remotely convincing.

Seeing Terry Pike make for the television lounge
, Helen thankfully followed him. She didn’t like the man, and he had caused the embarrassment in the first place, but he was unlikely to refer back to it.

He turned as she closed the door behind her.
‘Anything in particular you want to watch?’

‘
Only the news, and it’s not quite time yet.’

He switched the set on and they both sat down. Helen
’s ear was attuned for Michael’s arrival, but he did not come. Having appeared to be on her side, was he now conferring with the others about what might be the true reason for her contacting the police? Yet, she reminded herself, it was she who had tried to avoid him. Perhaps he’d noticed and was simply keeping out of her way.

She leant her head back and
, ignoring the flickering screen, closed her eyes. There were suddenly so many questions in her life — Andrew and that woman, the tensions that had built up here over the week, her attitude to Michael and his to her. It had taken Pen to bring this last to her notice, but she admitted now that she found him attractive.

A familiar fanfare intruded on her musings
, and at the same moment Terry said, ‘Wake up, Sleeping Beauty, the news is starting.’

They watched it in silence for some ten minutes
, until raised voices in the hall attracted their attention.

Terry said
, ‘What the hell’s going on?’ and went to open the door. Helen followed him in time to hear Stella demand shrilly, ‘But what are they
doing
here? Don’t they have to have a warrant or something?’

Helen felt herself go hot. The police?

‘What’s happening?’ Terry demanded, and Stella made an obvious attempt to calm down.

‘
The high-handed arm of the law,’ she said. ‘They’re rigging up arc lights outside — God knows why.’

‘
Outside where?’

‘
At the front. Gordon and Nicholas are out there trying to find out what’s going on. Kate says they’re taking photographs.’

‘
Of what, for Pete’s sake?’

‘
How should I know?’ Her voice had started to rise again. ‘There’s only gravel and shrubs out there.’

Helen thought suddenly: It
’s where I told them Dominic parked his car.

Almost as though reading her mind
, Terry said softly, ‘Well, well, you’re having a surfeit of the police today, aren’t you, Helen? Perhaps they’re looking for your necklace.’

She said stiffly
, ‘I hardly think it warrants arc lamps.’

The front door opened and Nicholas and Gordon came back inside
, slapping their arms for warmth. Kate, who had been waiting at the door, said quickly, ‘Did you get any more out of them?’

‘
No, we were told to keep back, if you please. Damn it, it’s our property, we’re entitled to an explanation.’

‘
They were very polite,’ Nicholas put in. ‘Assured us they didn’t want to come into the house or disturb us in any way.’

‘
They
are
disturbing us,’ Stella said.

Nicholas
’s eyes had gone past her to Helen, standing rigidly by the door to the television room.

‘
If they want to make mud pies, I can’t see there’s any objection,’ he said.

Kate stared at him.
‘Is that what they’re doing?’

‘
That’s what it looked like to me. After all of which, I could do with a drink. Anyone care to join me?’

Uncertainly they moved towards the bar
, but Helen had had enough of their company. There was no saying how long it would be before another barbed comment referred back to her visit to the police station. The stairs lay between her and the bar; unnoticed, she ran up them and turned into the corridor. To come face to face with Michael.

She could only guess at the expression on her face
, because he put a hand out and said quickly, ‘Hey, it’s me! I’m not going to bite you!’

She laughed shakily.
‘Sorry.’

‘
You’re a bundle of nerves, aren’t you? Ever since we met that blasted husband of yours.’

When she made no reply
, he said, ‘Do you know what’s going on outside? I’ve been watching from my window.’

‘
I think it’s the police.’ She added foolishly, ‘Nicholas said they’re making mud pies.’

‘
Is it your doing?’

She looked up at him
, heart leaping. ‘What do you mean?’

‘
Helen, you’re always asking me what I mean. It was a simple enough question. However, this is no place to talk; my room’s just here.’ And, as she drew back, he added acidly, ‘You needn’t worry, I shan’t compromise you.’

He had the knack of putting her in the wrong. Discomfited
, she would have made some excuse, but he’d taken her arm and was opening the door beside them. The room was smaller than she expected — one of the two singles Stella had mentioned that first evening. It was also brilliantly lit by the lights which streamed through the uncurtained window.

Helen walked across and looked down. The whole scene was illuminated by the hard
, white light, as though actors were taking part in a play. As Nicholas had said, two men were on their hands and knees on the ground, while others held cameras. Their concentration was almost palpable and Helen was thankful it wasn’t she they were after.

Michael came to join her and they stood watching in silence.

‘You know what they’re doing, don’t you?’ he said at last. ‘Or are you going to deny that as well?’

She said indignantly
, ‘I haven’t denied anything.’

‘
Well, profess ignorance then. Same difference.’ And at her continuing silence, he went on, ‘Right, then I’ll spell it out for you. They’re examining the ground where Dominic’s car was parked last night.’

‘
But why?’

He seemed taken aback by her genuine bewilderment.
‘For tyre prints, I imagine, since they appear to be taking casts.’

‘
But why should they want casts of Dominic’s tyre prints?’

‘
At a guess, to compare them with prints they already have.’ He paused. ‘And who knows where they obtained those?’

She turned slowly to face him.
‘Michael, do you know what this is all about?’

‘
My dear girl, you appear to know far more than I do. I’ve been staying here peacefully for several months now, and nothing struck me as being amiss. But no sooner do you arrive than tensions mount and we have the police sniffing around. Are you going to tell me why you really went to them this afternoon?’

She said awkwardly
, ‘I haven’t thanked you for helping me out.’

‘
You were so obviously floundering, and on a flash of inspiration, I noticed you weren’t wearing the beads you’d had on earlier in the week. Don’t, for God’s sake, wear them again. Terry’s office is in Maybury Street, by the way; he must have seen you from his window.

‘
So, are you going to enlighten me? Or,’ he added, his voice hardening, ‘do you still not trust me?’

‘
It’s not that,’ she said — though it was, in part. ‘It’s just that it’s all wild speculation as far as I’m concerned and I can’t start slandering people till I have some kind of proof.’

‘
But you had enough to go to the police.’

‘
I had enough,’ she corrected him, ‘to want to hand the responsibility over to them and let them sort it out.’

‘
And that’s all you’re going to tell me?’

‘
For the moment, yes.’

‘
Helen Campbell, there are times when I want to shake you.’ He paused. ‘And there are also times when I want to do something quite different.’ Another pause. ‘And the worst times are when I want to do both things at once, such as now.’

She stood very still
, her eyes on his face.

‘
You see, until yesterday I thought you were a happily married woman, and that the bond which seemed to be growing between us must remain a surface one. But you’re not happily married, are you?’

She said barely audibly
, ‘Not at the moment, no.’

‘
You’re going back to him at the end of the week?’

‘
Yes.’