‘The late Sir Ralph.’
‘What do you know about Ralph Richardson?’
‘He was a biker, like me. Rode a Norton for some years, then a BMW. He’d turn up at the theatre, go on, do his stuff, get on his bike and ride home.’
Barnes and Diamond were too stunned to comment.
Leaman added, ‘I don’t think he was a method actor.’
Diamond picked up where he’d meant to be. ‘With all this preparation, you guard your privacy, obviously.’
‘That’s no crime,’ Barnes said.
‘It is, if it leads to an assault.’
‘But you said – ’
‘Yes, Mr Shearman is willing to overlook it, he told me.’ He glanced about him. ‘What’s so special about this room?’
‘It’s mine. That’s what.’
‘Inspector Leaman didn’t find the handbag he was looking for.’
‘Are you being offensive?’ Barnes said. ‘I’m as straight as you are.’
‘Denise the dresser’s handbag. It’s missing.’
He almost spat out the words, ‘So I was informed.’
‘You think we used it as an excuse to get in here? We’re not as subtle as that. Did you know Denise?’
‘We met. She was Clarion’s dresser, not mine. I don’t need one.’ He pointed with his thumb to the shabby sports coat and grey flannels on a hanger beside the dressing table. ‘That’s the only costume I wear in this production. I change my tie a few times and that’s it.’
‘Did you know Clarion before joining the cast?’
‘No, and her singing sucks, but it doesn’t mean I wished her any harm.’
‘Were you worried about the play? I’m told she wasn’t much good in rehearsal.’
‘Wasn’t much good? She was crap. But I’ve been in the business long enough to know it
‘But it wasn’t. What an experience you must have had.’ Deliberately Diamond was playing to Barnes’s ego. This was all about him.
‘It wasn’t something I want to repeat,’ he said. ‘One minute she seemed to have forgotten her lines and the next she was screaming in pain. I defy any actor to cope with that.’
‘After the curtain came down, were you one of the people who went to her dressing room?’
‘No. I waited in the wings to see what would happen next. They gave Gisella the part, as you know. I steered and coaxed her through it in ways you wouldn’t even begin to appreciate.’
‘She was ready to go on?’
‘Scared, obviously. In fact, she saved the night from total disaster. And she gets better with each performance. Have you seen it?’
‘Not yet.’
‘You should.’
‘Your own performance is worth seeing, I was told.’
‘Thanks.’ The actor glanced in the mirror. Flattered, he was off guard.
‘What do you inject before the show?’ Diamond asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
‘What?’ He swung back to stare at Diamond.
‘I noticed the needle marks.’
‘I’m diabetic.’
‘I don’t think so, Preston. And I don’t believe the horseshit you told us a moment ago about locking yourself in to visualise the role. You come here early to jack up.’
‘You can’t prove a damn thing.’
‘I’m not investigating your habit. I know why you flew into such a rage over the search. You thought we’d find the syringe. And why you were so quick to cover your arms when we came in just now.’
He’d turned ashen as Diamond was speaking. ‘You people have no idea of the stress actors are under night after night.’
‘Heroin?’
‘Methadone, on prescription.’ His manner switched from aggression to supplication. ‘I’m fighting the addiction. I can give you my doctor’s name if you keep this to yourself. I don’t want the management finding out. Please.’
‘Does anyone else in this theatre know?’
‘Absolutely not. It would destroy my career.’
