Page 14 of Mayfair Madame
“What is this place?” I’d not been to this part of the city before. Mayfair wasn’t somewhere we visited often.
“Mayfair Heights. It’s been here a while. It’s owned by Rupert Cardon. He owns a lot of property in and around London. Worth an absolute fortune, by all accounts.”
“I’ve a lot to learn.” London was like nowhere else I’d worked. Yes, Chester had its classier places and some places you’d not wish to roam at night, but it was nothing like here.
“You’ll get used to it. This place is a little different from other apartment blocks. There’s the main entrance and the exclusive one. The main entrance leads to an avenue of shops and bars and the main apartments. There’s even a gym. We’ll look around when we’re done. You’ll see what I mean. Naomi said not to go through the main entrance. There’s a set of double glass doorsnext to it, leading to the penthouse suite. That’s where we’re heading.”
How the fuck did she afford that? Probably best not to ask.
As instructed, we walked through the smaller entrance on the left. It was unassuming, but obviously, money had been spent here.
Floor-to-ceiling cream marble tiles, mirrors along one wall, gold handles on the glass doors, and a doorman in a grey uniform sitting behind a curved desk greeted us.
“Good morning. I believe you’re here to see Miss Reeves. If you’d like to take the right-hand lift to the penthouse, her assistant, Melinda, will meet you.”
Josh and I eyed each other as we made our way to the lift. The moment we pressed the call button, the doors opened. The interior was impressive, just like the foyer. All mirrors and gold, not a smudged fingerprint insight.
It ascended swiftly and smoothly, with silent doors that opened at the top floor. Waiting for us was an older lady. Late thirties, early forties. It was difficult to tell. She was impeccably dressed in a navy blue skirt suit and high heels.
“Miss Reeves will see you now.” She turned on her heel, and we followed her down a short corridor to a set of double doors at the end.
They swung open to reveal a gorgeous open-plan apartment. If only a police salary would pay for this kind of luxury. Seems the escort business paid well.
But it wasn’t the apartment that stole my breath. It was the sight of Naomi lounging on a sofa.
She stood as we entered, but she was nothing like I remembered. Gone was the made-up face, the jewellery, the expensive gown, to be replaced by a down-to-earth woman wearing tight-fitting jeans and a loose T-shirt, one shoulder bared.
Even more beautiful than the last time I saw her. I felt myself fall further under her spell, but her next words almost brought me to my knees.
“Ellie Sharpe, so lovely to see you again.”
Chapter Five
Naomi
Ellie Sharpe.
The pantsuit and shirt were as shapeless as before, but a little tighter this time, allowing a glimpse of the voluptuous body beneath them.
“And you must be Detective Inspector Josh Holland. We spoke on the phone. Nice to meet you.” We shook hands, my hand lingering a little longer in Ellie’s.
“I’m so sorry to have to go over this again,” he said. “We just need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. You know how it is.”
I didn’t, but I could guess.
I led them through to the lounge area and gestured for them to sit. “I understand. Who would believe me when faced with a real-life lord? He has influence, money, standing.”
Ellie sat quietly on the sofa, her knees together, hands clasped in front of her. Her wavy hair fell neatly around her heart-shaped face. She’d not spoken, letting her boss do the talking, watching me with her large blue eyes.
“I can’t really comment on that, Miss Reeves, but can you take it right from the beginning? From when you arrived.” He took out his phone, ready to take notes.
Before I could start, Melinda arrived with a cafetiere and poured us each a cup.
“For all the good it’ll do, I’ll tell you again.” I took a cup and sipped, then recited the events of the evening, missing nothing out. The comments, the assault, me smacking him over the head.
He asked questions about Clement, and I wondered what the coward had said.
“So, Mr Winthrop was quite brief in what he said. He neither agreed nor disagreed with anything you said.”
