‘Is Keith still with Shearman?’
‘No, he came back an hour ago, wanting to give the little fink enough rope to hang himself, he says.’
‘Not literally, I hope. And what’s your take on Francis Melmot?’
Her sigh could be heard down the phone. ‘I’m in two minds, guv. He’s far from silent, but he gives nothing away. I’m sure he’s an excellent chairman of the trustees because he’s so discreet. Personally I find him charming and affable and I think he truly cares about the theatre. But his decision to employ Clarion was a disaster. All of this mayhem was triggered by him and I suspect there’s more he hasn’t told us.’
‘Like sacking Kate? ’
‘Well, yes.’
‘How did you wheedle that out of him?’
‘I traded.’
‘Traded what?’
‘I made some suggestive remark about Shearman and Kate and he obviously didn’t know what they get up to in wardrobe. He was shocked into telling me she’d already been dismissed.’
‘Why hadn’t he told us before now?’
‘He didn’t want the theatre’s reputation damaged any more than it has been already.’
‘Shearman didn’t tell us anything about the sacking either.’
‘Well, he’s been exploiting it, hasn’t he?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Encouraging Kate to think that by cosying up to him she’ll get a reprieve. Small chance. Melmot runs the show and Shearman has hardly any influence with him at all.’
For Diamond, this was a new angle on the goings-on in wardrobe. ‘So you think Kate is pulling him to save her job?’
‘I’d put it another way. Shearman is cynically taking advantage.’
‘I thought it was straightforward sex.’
‘A typically male assumption, if I may say so.’
Sharp, he thought. He wouldn’t get into a debate with Ingeborg about that. ‘Nice work with Melmot, anyway. Things are making more sense. Are you working late?’
‘That’s what you asked us to do.’ There was a definite note of dissent, unusual for Ingeborg. He expected it from the likes of Leaman and even Halliwell on occasions, but not Inge.
‘I’ll get back as soon as I can.’ If Inge was unhappy, he could imagine there was serious murmuring in the ranks. He understood why. Most of the interviews had been got through and put on file by now. The team was marking time, waiting for fresh orders but knowing he was an hour’s drive away. No doubt they were thinking of what they were missing on a Friday evening. He needed to convey his own belief that this was the calm before the storm.
Difficult, down the phone from Salisbury. When he’d started on this trip he’d expected to question Kate in Warminster and be back in Bath by early evening.
He pocketed the mobile and stepped up to the desk again and reminded them who he was and asked if he could see Kate now. He was told firmly to wait with everyone else. He asked how long that was likely to be and they said they weren’t in a position to say.
More marking time. He wasn’t good at it. Not that Friday night clubbing held any appeal for a man his age; he just wanted to make better use of the time.
But an idea was coming to him. It wouldn’t be the ideal solution. Better than sitting around here for a couple of hours.
When Rogers returned with the coffee and sandwiches, Diamond said, ‘They’re busy here. I’ve seen a couple of serious cases brought in while you were getting these.’
‘It’s Friday evening, guv. It’s expected in casualty.’
‘Could be a long one, I’m thinking.’
‘Me, too.’
He took a sip of the coffee. ‘This is welcome.’
‘Good.’
‘There’s someone I wouldn’t mind seeing while I’m over here. Lives at Wilton. That isn’t far from Salisbury, is it?’
‘Not far at all.’ A twitch of Rogers’ lips showed his immediate assumption: that Diamond had a woman friend.
‘It’s not police business,’ Diamond said. ‘I’d be leaving you in charge for an hour or so. Would you mind? You could phone me if there’s a problem.’
‘I’ll still be here. I don’t have my bike with me.’
21
