Murder in Hampstead by Sabina Manea (read this if txt) 📕

Mrs Byrne?’ asked Carliss. ‘Though I can’t imagine why she would want Adam dead.’

‘No, that seems unlikely. This business of Emilia being in the house, and Dr Glover dropping in – all very bizarre.’ Lucia wondered what they found so fascinating about the Professor’s papers.

‘I’m dying to meet this elusive being at last.’ Nina tidied up the tissues and readied herself for the next round.

Carliss went to fetch Emilia, who had been instructed to wait in the entrance hall until summoned. She had evidently dressed for a man’s eyes – the finely knitted green wool dress fitted her like a glove. She hadn’t banked on having female company, not that she flinched when she saw the two. The only giveaways were her frosty manner and the absence of eye contact with anyone but the policeman.

‘I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, Inspector. I see you’ve brought back-up.’ Her lips narrowed sarcastically as she crossed her shapely ankles, knowing that Carliss was struggling to keep his eyes focused on her face.

‘Yes. This is – erm – this is DS Chanler. Miss Steer is kindly helping us with our enquiries,’ the inspector stuttered, somewhat flustered.

Lucia felt for him – he had to make something up on the spot to justify Nina’s presence as well as try to regain some ground.

‘Miss Poole, I’m fully aware these are very unpleasant circumstances, so I’ll keep my questions as brief as possible. Could you tell me your whereabouts yesterday?’ Carliss said, consulting his notebook for comfort.

‘I arrived at nine thirty, as usual, and went straight upstairs. I worked until lunch when I went down to the garden and chatted to Mrs Byrne. After that I carried on working until half past four, when I left. Does that suit your purposes?’

‘You didn’t see Adam while you were here?’

‘No.’

‘And you were here last week?’

‘Yes, on the same schedule.’

Lucia noticed that, unlike the housekeeper, Emilia’s eyes were dry and if anything, she looked bored.

‘Forgive me, Miss Poole, but you don’t seem particularly affected by your boyfriend’s death,’ continued Carliss.

Emilia shot him a condescending look. ‘How would you know how I feel, Inspector? Just because I’m not making a song and dance about his demise doesn’t mean it isn’t upsetting. In any case, he wasn’t my boyfriend. It was a casual relationship.’

Carliss squirmed in his seat. ‘How did he seem to you generally? Was anything concerning him?’

‘You mean, apart from the fact he had a cocaine habit? He was an addict. He wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. He was always on edge – overtired and paranoid. I gather it doesn’t exactly aid sleep. He wasn’t any worse than normal if that’s what you’re asking.’

She looked out of the window, and Lucia sensed she was more affected than she wanted to let on. Perhaps under the flinty exterior she did have a heart after all.

After a brief pause, Emilia continued. ‘I knew it would be the death of him. Addicts are selfish. He didn’t listen to me, or anyone else.’ Her searching gaze suddenly fixed on Nina, who kept her head down and carried on taking copious notes, hoping she wasn’t attracting any attention.

‘I understand Dr Glover has been lending you a hand with the Professor’s papers. Very good of him to offer,’ noted the policeman.

She smiled benignly. ‘Yes, he’s been a great help. I think he takes a personal interest in her research – a bit of a boffin in that respect. It all looks terribly dull to me, I’m afraid. That Society of hers is welcome to all of it.’

Carliss was at a loss. ‘Thank you, Miss Poole. You’re free to go.’

They breathed a collective sigh of relief.

‘What a woman,’ exclaimed Nina. ‘And I thought Mater was terrifying.’

‘What she saw in Adam is beyond me. Still, we all have our physiological needs, and he wasn’t likely to turn her down,’ opined Lucia.

‘Still want me to call the Doc? I know what he’s going to say – same as what Emilia’s just told us,’ intervened Carliss.

‘There’s no harm in trying. And put him on speakerphone. We don’t want to miss out.’ Lucia wanted to hear his voice for herself.

By a stroke of luck, Dr Glover was between patients. Carliss was immediately warned that he had precisely five minutes of the GP’s precious time.

‘That should be plenty, Dr Glover. I have some very unpleasant news, I’m afraid, in case you haven’t heard already. Adam Corcoran was found dead last night.’

The voice on the other end didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes, I know. Emilia rang me earlier. Awful business.’

‘I understand you were recently at Beatrice Hall. What was the purpose of your visit?’

‘I offered to help Emilia with tidying up the Professor’s library. It’s all going to the Collaborative Mathematical Society, and she could have done with some assistance. What has this got to do with Adam’s death?’ The voice had an unmistakable tinge of exasperation.

‘I’m simply trying to ascertain the movements of everyone who visited Beatrice Hall over the past week. Were you there yesterday?’

‘No, I had back-to-back appointments so couldn’t make it. Is there anything else, Inspector? I have a patient waiting.’

‘Thank you, Dr Glover, you’ve been most helpful.’

Carliss put the phone down and scratched his head. ‘Traipsing around the place as they’ve been, either of these two could have cut Adam’s coke with poison. The part I’m struggling with is motive, which takes me back to my original assessment – it was most likely self-inflicted.’

Lucia opened her mouth to counteract what to her was an inexcusably flippant verdict, when Nina’s phone started vibrating like an angry wasp.

‘It’s Mother.’

Bar a few acquiescing sounds, the short conversation was mostly one-sided. Nina swept up her belongings and made for the door. ‘We need to go. She’s meeting us at my place in