Page 83 of Death of a Courtesan
‘Surely you could see that he hated everything about Mrs Sinclair’s establishment and had no interest in prostitutes.’
Mirabelle gave a mirthless smile. ‘Just the opposite. We all thought he was a bit of a creep because he used to find excuses to hang around after he made his deliveries, looking at us with those dead eyes of his. The sort of look you get to recognise in our line of work. He sure as hell didn’t disapprove.’
Riley nodded, realising now that Ray must have spent years at war with his instincts, attempting to suppress them. Those who shouted the most vociferously against a particular vice secretly harboured desires to embrace it.
‘I thought she would get what she deserved but I had no idea she would die.’
‘You idiot! Why can’t you keep your big mouth shut?’
Celeste flew at Mirabelle, nails scratching her face as she tugged at her hair. It took a moment for Salter and Peterson to separate the two wild women. When they finally managed to do so, Celeste flopped onto the nearest settee, crying hysterically. No one was taken in by her tears. They were not, Riley knew, tears of remorse but tears of self-pity. She thought she had been so clever and, in truth, might have got away with her crime if Mirabelle hadn’t chosen to visit her. Her performance had been that convincing.
‘Take them both in,’ Riley said to Peterson.
‘I need a minute,’ Celeste said, recovering her composure.
‘Go with her, Peterson. Don’t let her out of your sight.’
‘I need privacy.’
‘You ain’t shy,’ Salter said scathingly. ‘Besides, where you’re going you’d best get used to having permanent company.’
With a sultry glower, Celeste left the room with Peterson on her heels. A second later, Riley heard a door slam and Peterson cry out. Riley and Salter joined him in the passageway.
‘She’s gone into the basement and locked the door behind her,’ Peterson said. ‘Sorry, sir. She was too quick for me.’
‘Stay with Mirabelle, Salter. I don’t want her getting away too.’
‘She won’t,’ Salter replied with assurance.
Riley looked out the back window and could see that the basement door led to the garden, which was accessed by a few steps. At a sign from Riley, Peterson blew his whistle and the two constables stationed at the back gate barged in and caught Celeste as she tried to slip through it. She swore at them, fighting like a wildcat, but was quickly overpowered.
‘Damn you!’ she yelled at Riley as she was led back into the house. ‘Damn the whole fuckin’ lot of you.’
