‘It’s about rank, is it? There must be someone in this theatre she was on speaking terms with. Who did she know best?’
He hesitated. ‘She worked for Kate, the wardrobe mistress. I wouldn’t say they were the best of friends. You’d better speak to Kate. She objects to the official label, by the way. She likes to be known as Kate in wardrobe.’
‘Is she in the building now?’
‘I’m sure she is. They wash and iron the clothes after each performance. This is all such a shock. I’m still coming to terms with it. Caustic soda? I can’t believe Denise would do such an abominable thing, yet why else would she have killed herself?’
‘Will you manage without her?’
‘Of course. Actors are good at coping. Clarion was the exception and that was only down to inexperience.’
‘I ought to be getting back.’ Diamond drained his glass. ‘Just now when we spoke about the choice of play you said it was a top-level decision. You’re the boss, aren’t you?’
Shearman gave a hollow laugh. ‘Don’t be deceived. A theatre is full of egos known as managers. House, front of house, marketing, production, development. Even kids straight out of drama school are classed as assistant stage managers, or deputies. Basically, if you’re not a scene shifter or a callboy, you’re a manager of some description.’
‘But someone has to make decisions.’
‘Not me. Not this time.’
‘Who’s the big cheese, if you aren’t?’
‘The chairman of the board. Francis Melmot.’
‘He signed up Clarion?’
‘There was consultation, so-called. I was asked what I thought, but the decision wasn’t mine. He outranks me, and so do all the trustees, come to that.’ The bitterness wasn’t disguised.
‘So it’s run as a trust?’
‘Most theatres are, these days.’
‘And is it usual for the board of trustees to decide on the play?’
‘Not in this theatre. Artistic decisions are generally left to the salaried staff. We’re employed for our expertise… supposedly.’
‘You’re saying she was foisted on you by the board?’
‘I wouldn’t put it like that. You mustn’t misquote me.’ Suddenly, Shearman regretted what he’d revealed. ‘We’re very fortunate in having the trustees we do.’
‘Their decision could have a bearing,’ Diamond said.
‘No, I don’t think so. Not at all.’
‘If an exception was made and an edict was issued from on high that Clarion had to be given the role –’
‘You’re not listening. I told you there was consultation.’
‘But the decision wasn’t yours. I’d better speak to Francis Melmot.’
Shearman’s face flushed crimson. He’d given too much away. ‘Oh, dear. I don’t think this is wise. The casting has no bearing on what happened. Denise wasn’t involved in theatre politics. She got on with her job like the rest of us. There must have been some dreadful error.’
‘Caustic soda in the make-up?’
Shearman fingered his tie as if it was choking him.
They returned to the scene of the fatal incident.
High in the fly tower, photographs were still being taken of the body, but Dr Sealy was back on ground level. ‘We’ll have her down presently and I’ll do the autopsy tomorrow morning.’
‘Anything I should be told?’ Diamond asked.
‘Not really. The cervical spine appears to have snapped at the point where she hit the metalwork. Death would have been immediate.’
‘Time?’
Sealy looked at his watch. ‘Two twenty.’
‘Ten minutes ago?’ Diamond said in disbelief.
‘The legal time of death, when I confirmed that life was extinct. If you’re asking for the estimated time, the moment she died, you’re asking for the moon, old boy. I took a temperature reading, but it means very little really. There’s obvious hypostasis in the arm that hung down, so I can tell you it was some hours ago, but how many is another question.’
‘Will you know any better tomorrow?’
‘Frankly, I doubt it.’
‘Where would I be without your expert help?’
Sealy gave a shrug. ‘Now who do I see about those complimentary tickets?’
