motives. 'In any case, malice would be redundant where Betty's concerned. She's burned her boats and she's drowning, and I'm not going to lift a finger to help her.'
Then why do you look so sad? he wondered.
14 GLENAVON GARDENS, RICHMOND, SURREY-10:30 A.M.
The requestioning of everyone connected with Jane Kingsley, Leo Wallader, and Meg Harris was planned as a rolling program throughout that Wednesday, with questions specifically geared to building a clear picture of their movements and whereabouts each day from the Bank Holiday Monday through to the evening of Monday, June the thirteenth. DS Fraser was assigned to London and interviews with the Clanceys, Josh Hennessey, Dean Jarrett, and Meg's neighbor Mrs. Helms. He began with the Clanceys in Richmond, first explaining the purpose of the questions and then taking them back to Monday, the thirtieth of May, two weeks before Jinx's car crash. 'We understand from Leo's parents that he and Jinx returned to London sometime during the late afternoon or early evening. Can you confirm that?' As he spoke, he tickled Goebbels's ears. The tiny little dog had stretched itself along his knees, chin hanging over the edge, and Fraser, thoroughly seduced, was grateful that Maddocks wasn't there to pour scorn on this simple affection.
Colonel Clancey pursed his ancient lips. 'I remember seeing Jinx on the Saturday morning but not on the Monday,' he said at last. 'I was in the garden and she came out to talk to me. She was hopping mad, far as I recall. Her two brothers were sleeping off hangovers upstairs, and Leo hadn't come home the night before. She asked me if I knew where he'd gone, because they were supposed to be going down to Guildford together, and I said I hadn't seen him for a couple of days.' He glanced briefly at his wife. 'I also said,' he went on firmly, 'that she was making a mistake with Leo and she said, 'Don't worry, Colonel, I've already come to that conclusion myself.' Then she went back inside and a little while later, Leo himself showed up.'
'You never told me you said that,' said Mrs. Clancey.
'Thought you'd be angry,' he barked. 'You were always so keen on her marrying again.'
'Nonsense. It was you kept telling her she owed it to society to have babies. 'A woman like you with brains and initiative,' you kept saying, 'you've got a responsibility to pass on the genes. Can't be doing with all these teenage nitwits producing hundreds while the clever people don't produce any. End up with idiots running the planet.' '
Hastily, Fraser forestalled the development of this argument. 'When did you next see either of them?'
'I saw them leave together on the Sunday morning,' said Daphne helpfully. 'Jinx was wearing a baseball cap because Leo would insist on driving his car with the top down, and I remember thinking how much prettier she'd look in a straw bonnet.'
'Why was she going away with him if she'd already decided he wasn't for her?' asked Fraser thoughtfully.
'She has lovely manners,' said Mrs. Clancey.
'The Wednesday after,' said the Colonel baldly, who had been thinking hard. 'We were in the garden, six o'clockish, G and T time anyway, and Jinx came down the path from the garage.' He gestured towards the window. 'Runs along the fence, don't you know? She was happy as a sandboy, singing her head off, and I called out: 'Who's won the jackpot?' And she popped her head over the top and said: 'How's tricks?' '
'Yes,' agreed Daphne, 'and I said: 'You're obviously looking forward to your week in Hampshire,' and she said: 'Got it in one, Mrs. C. A change is as good as a rest.' '
Fraser waited for a moment while Goebbels turned on his back and offered his tummy for scratching. 'Was that all?' he asked, crooking a sly finger and plucking at the golden fur. They nodded simultaneously.
'You didn't ask her about Leo and how the weekend went?'
The Colonel looked offended. 'Good Lord, no,' he said. 'None of our business. Doubt she'd have told us anyway. Private sort of person, Jinx.' He scowled at Goebbels, whose erect penis was showing pinkly through his fur. 'Filthy little beast. Kick him off if it upsets you.'
Fraser, who hadn't noticed, smiled weakly and uncrooked his finger. 'Did you see Leo that day?'
'No. Matter of fact'-the Colonel paused for thought-'I don't recall seeing him at all after the Saturday morning. Hadn't really considered it, to tell you the truth, but now you ask...' He looked inquiringly at his wife. 'Do you remember seeing him?'
'For me it was the Sunday,' she reminded them.
The Colonel snorted impatiently. 'Afterwards, woman, afterwards.'
'Well, I wouldn't expect to see him, not as a general rule,' she said, addressing her remarks to Fraser. 'He never went out of his way to be particularly pleasant. The odd 'good morning' once in a while, and that was the most one could expect. I think he resented us because we'd known Russell and he was afraid we were making comparisons, but we didn't like Russell very much either, and it was a bit of a disappointment to find Jinx had picked the same type again.'
Her husband fixed her with a basilisk glare. 'The question was, you silly old thing, did you see him after the Sunday?'
She smiled absentmindedly. 'I don't think I did, no.'
'Not even during the week Jinx was away?' Fraser prompted.
'Definitely not,' barked the Colonel, fluffing his mustache, 'but then he wasn't supposed to be there. Jinx popped in on the Friday night-that'd be June the third-to say
Fraser frowned and leaned down to flick through some papers he'd placed on the floor beside his chair. 'I was under the impression she came back on the Friday, June the tenth.'
'Well, yes, matter of fact she did. Not that we knew until the next morning. Came looking for me on the Saturday-that'd be the eleventh-and said: 'Guess what, Colonel, the wedding's off as of last night. The bastard's jilted me, and the only bugger is he beat me to it.' ' He pursed his lips again and frowned. 'And let me tell you, Sergeant, she was pleased as punch about it, looked as if a weight had been taken off her shoulders. Then she went back inside to phone her father, telling me to keep my fingers crossed that he wouldn't make her pay for the cost of the canceled wedding.'
