Page 14 of Death of a Courtesan
‘Which means her killer got in…how?’
‘A very good question, Jack. We’ll take a closer look at the kitchen door, I think. That seems the most likely place.’
‘To get in, perhaps. What with the place being so busy, a man could watch through the window and choose his moment when the kitchen was temporarily unattended. Then blend with the crowd, slip up the stairs and conceal himself until he was assured of Adelaide’s undivided attention. I’m thinking the man with the scar on his face is the only lead we have so far.’
‘Me too, Jack.’
‘All well and good.’ Salter scratched the back of his neck as he pondered upon the conundrum. ‘But how did he get out again? The doors would have been locked and bolted. If cook had found the kitchen door unlocked, she would have said so. You asked her and she didn’t hesitate when she said it was locked, just like always. I believed her.’
‘Perhaps our man didn’t leave until this morning,’ Riley suggested. ‘There are numerous places where he could have hidden without fear of detection. Tennyson handed the gentlemen their hats and coats, which would have satisfied him that everyone was gone. It was the end of a long night. Everyone was tired. I doubt he’d have given the inside of the place more than a cursory glance once he’d locked up. Then, this morning when Adelaide was found, everyone was together in that salon, getting over the shock. He could easily have slipped out of the unlocked kitchen door again.’
‘Hmm. A needle in a haystack.’
‘Don’t be such a pessimist, Jack. We’ll get him.’ Riley flexed his knuckles and arranged himself as comfortably as the increasingly uncomfortable chair permitted. ‘Right, time to have a frank discussion with Tennyson.’
Tennyson responded to Riley’s summons, and it quickly became apparent that he blamed himself for the breach in security that led to Adelaide’s death.
‘You were fond of her?’ Riley asked.
‘She was a spirited lass. Not popular with the others but in great demand with the gentleman. They liked her waywardness, I think, and the fact that she seemed unattainable, even though she…well, it’s hard to explain but there was just something about her that the gents found fascinating.’
Riley surmised that he’d been a little in love with the unattainable Adelaide himself, but decided not to ask if that had been the case. He hadn’t known Adelaide in life, but was convinced nonetheless that she would have wanted nothing to do with Tennyson on a personal level. Adelaide, it seemed, had been a solitary individual who did not form personal friendships. She had taken Ruby under her wing, that much was true, but that was a matter of practicality. She intended to leave Mrs Sinclair’s employ and didn’t want Mirabelle taking her place for reasons of spite, revenge…Riley couldn’t say.
Yet.
Further questioning about Tennyson’s activities elicited answers that mirrored Mrs Sinclair’s so closely that they could have been scripted. Riley decided to cause a diversion by asking a question that had probably not been anticipated—one that would hopefully elicit an unrehearsed answer.
‘How did you summon the police?’
‘What…?’ Momentary panic filtered through Tennyson’s expression. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I think you understand me very well. Did you send someone to the local police station to report the crime?’
Salter slapped his hand on the table top with sufficient force to make the objects on it jump as he leaned towards Tennyson, invading his space. ‘Don’t be coy, sunshine, it don’t suit you. You sent a message to Chief Inspector Danforth, didn’t you? Hoping he’d use his influence to hush things up?’
Tennyson shrugged his massive shoulders and didn’t attempt to deny it. ‘Seemed like the easiest way to get things done. I had a houseful of hysterical women on my hands and a dead body leaking blood all over the rugs. It seemed prudent to go straight to the top of the tree.’
‘Because Danforth enjoys the services offered in this house free of charge, and could be expected to cooperate?’ Riley suggested.
‘But Danforth’s been too busy covering his own flabby arse. Bet you got a shock when you saw Inspector Rochester walk through the door,’ Salter added gleefully.
‘No one here murdered the girl,’ Tennyson said belligerently. ‘Why would we? She was the house’s best earner. But if you’re implying that my first concern was to downplay the scandal then you’re right, and that ain’t no crime.’
‘No, it’s not,’ Riley said pleasantly. ‘And since you are in the mood to cooperate, perhaps you’d care to speculate upon the murderer’s means of entry.’
Another shrug. ‘I’ve been thinking about nothing else, but I do know that all the gents left here before I locked up and all the girls were alive and well at that point. There’s no sign of forced entry.’ Riley nodded. He already knew that because he’d checked for himself. ‘All the windows were closed and locked because of the rain.’ He spread his massive hands. ‘It’s a mystery that suggests cunning and forward planning.’
‘Someone accustomed to the house who knew its layout, perhaps?’
Tennyson twisted his lips. ‘Possibly,’ he conceded. ‘But we get a lot of people through here during the course of a week, so that don’t narrow it down much.’
‘Indeed it does not,’ Riley said wearily, thanking the man and letting him go.
‘He could have done it,’ Salter said. ‘He’s got the strength. He’s the only person in the house who does. And it’s obvious he was sweet on Adelaide. Perhaps he decided that he’d have a little taste but she refused to oblige him, he lost his temper and…’
‘That would be too easy,’ Riley said. ‘And even if it’s true we’ll never prove it, because there were no witnesses and Tennyson won’t confess.’ He sighed and stood up. ‘We’ll keep him in mind and take a closer look at his background, but in the meantime, let’s inspect the ladies’ rooms.’
Before they could make their way upstairs, Carter and Soames reported upon their search of the room in which Adelaide had been found.
