‘Mr Maloney?’ asked the inspector.
‘The very same. We work together most closely; the “rhythm section” they call bass and drums. He’s tight. Technically excellent player – I think he trained with one of the big orchestras. But he has a feel for the music, too. He’s a dream to work with. Bright lad. Lots of fun. Always the life and soul. It’s always a laugh when Skins is around.’
‘And what about Miss Montgomery?’ asked the inspector.
‘Sylvie? Not so sure about her. She’s only been with us a couple of months. I’ve not quite worked her out yet. She seems friendly enough and she sings like an angel. Or like an angel in a brothel… beg pardon ladies. She has this earthy quality to her voice, like… well, you know. Not the sort of pure, trained, precise sound you get from most ladies. She’s got a voice like smoked honey served on warm bread by a naked serving wench while you’re reclining on a velvet couch.’
‘Steady on, lad,’ said the inspector, who was blushing again. ‘Ladies present.’
‘Pish and fiddlesticks,’ said Lady Hardcastle. ‘Don’t be such a fusspot. I’m just sorry I didn’t pay more attention while she was singing. It sounds like quite an experience.’
‘It is, my love, it certainly is. But as for her character… I’m not so sure. I don’t think anyone’s managed to get close to her. She’s quite… hard. I’ve met lads like it, but never girls. The lads have been toughs, you know? Petty villains.’
‘Are you saying you think she’s a criminal?’ asked Lady Hardcastle.
He seemed genuinely taken aback. ‘Blimey no, nothing like that. I was just trying to give you an idea of how she makes me feel. She can take care of herself, that one, that’s for sure. But criminal? Have you seen her?’
‘She is rather beautiful,’ she said.
‘Exactly. How could someone that looked like that be a criminal? Criminals have a look, don’t they. It’s science. You can tell.’
‘So they say,’ said the inspector, finally looking up from his notes. ‘Well, sir, that was quite comprehensive. Thank you. Is there anything else you think we ought to know. Anyone else you noticed?’
‘Not really.’
‘What about Clifford Haddock?’
‘Old Fishface? What about him?’
‘I believe he’s known to the band,’ said the inspector.
‘He’s a pal of Rolie’s. Seems to be quite keen on the music so we see him about quite a lot.’
‘He’s an antiques dealer I understand.’
Dunn laughed, a genuine, heartfelt laugh. ‘Is that what he’s been telling you? Well he’s got some neck, I’ll give him that.’
‘So he’s not, then?’ said the inspector, looking up once more from his notes.
‘He owns a junk shop on the Old Kent Road. Antiques dealer. Wait till I tell Skins.’
‘His story is that he was invited to The Grange to appraise some of Sir Hector’s “knick-knacks”.’
‘Fishface is more likely to nick his knick-knacks, I’d say. On the plus side, he wouldn’t know a Chippendale Whatnot from a bowl of peonies so he’s unlikely to pinch anything of real value except by blind chance.’
‘He was introduced to Sir Hector by your Mr Richman,’ said the inspector.
‘Then they’ve got something cooked up between them,’ said Dunn. ‘But appraising Sir Hector’s prized possessions won’t be part of it, I can tell you that.’
‘Well, Mr Dunn, you’ve given us a lot to think about. I’m asking everyone who is still at The Grange to remain here for the next few days, but I understand from Mr Richman’s reaction that that won’t be too much of an inconvenience.’
‘Indeed no, Inspector.’ He gave me a conspiratorial wink. ‘I’ve got a little something to be getting on with right now, in fact.’
‘Then please don’t let us keep you,’ said the inspector. ‘Thank you for your time. We’ll find you if we need you again.’
And with a cheery wave, Dunn all but bounded out of the room.
‘I wonder what he’s so eager to be getting on with,’ said the inspector when he had gone.
‘Her name’s Dora,’ I said. ‘I think he’s hoping to comfort her after her shock this morning.’
‘Poor thing,’ said Lady Hardcastle with a grin. ‘I imagine that experiencing something like that would require a lot of comforting.’
‘I think I interrupted them before any proper comforting could begin,’ I said. ‘But from the look of her, I’d say she was more than ready for a serious comforting.’
‘Which would account for his haste,’ she said. ‘Sometimes comforting cannot wait.’
The inspector laughed. ‘You two have a way about you that I find most refreshing in this rarified world of ballrooms and tiffin.’
‘Thank you, Inspector,’ said Lady Hardcastle graciously. ‘I’m greatly enjoying your company, too.’ She consulted her wristwatch. ‘I say, it’s getting on, isn’t it. I really ought to be going or I might get stuck here for dinner. You don’t mind if I toddle off, do you, Inspector? You know where I am, after all.’
‘By all means, my lady. I shall be leaving here soon myself, but I shall be returning tomorrow morning at about ten o’clock. Perhaps you might join me?’
‘I should be delighted,’ she said.
‘And please allow today’s events to percolate through your mind, in the meantime. I should be most grateful for any insights you might have.’
‘Of course, Inspector. And what are your initial thoughts?’
‘At the moment, my mind is entirely open. Richman and Haddock are up to something, I’m sure of that. I’m less certain of Miss Montgomery now that we’ve spoken to Dunn, too; I think I might make some more enquiries about her. But beyond that, I’m rather stumped.’
‘Oh dear.’
‘Oh, no, nothing to worry about,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘It’s always like this at the beginning of a case.’
‘That’s a relief,’ she said, standing up. ‘Come, servant, let us away.’
‘Yes, my lady,’ I said with a curtsey, then with a friendly bob in the inspector’s direction, I followed her out into the passage.
We walked through the hall and out of the front door. Lady Hardcastle had wondered briefly about saying goodbye to her hosts, but reasoned that since they’d not been the ones who invited her in the first place and that they’d been keeping themselves very much out of the investigation so far, it would probably be just as awkward to seek them out as to slip away without a word.
As it turned out, her deliberations were redundant. As we started on our scrunchy way across the gravel in front of the house we were intercepted by Sir Hector who had been out walking the dogs.
‘What ho, Emily, m’dear. Leaving us already? Won’tcha stay for dinner? Cook’s already making such a fuss about having to feed the band and a few unexpected stragglers that another mouth won’t hurt. Be honest with you, it would rather amuse me to see if I could make her turn a new shade of purple. She’s an angry woman, what? Very angry.’