‘What did she say to that?’
‘Basically, that actors ride their luck and take any chance they get.’
‘Doesn’t she understand she’s a prime suspect?’
‘She rules out foul play. They all do.’
‘That’s actors for you,’ Halliwell said. ‘Turn their backs on real life and put on a show.’
Diamond didn’t comment. He’d started on this update and he meant to complete it. If Ingeborg showed signs of disenchantment, the entire team needed firing up. ‘I also met the male lead, Preston Barnes, after he punched the theatre director on the nose.’
‘Punched him? What for?’ Ingeborg said, all interest again.
‘For allowing John Leaman to search his room this morning. Barnes had things to hide. Turns out he’s a junkie.’
‘Really? What’s he on?’
‘Methadone, he says. He needs a fix before each performance.’
‘But is he also a suspect? Why would he want to hurt Clarion?’
‘Maybe like me she saw the state of his arms and worked out what he’s doing to himself. He’s fearful of anyone in the theatre finding out.’
‘But where’s the logic in damaging her face?’
‘To be shot of her. She’s not going to give any more thought to his drug habit. She’s out of it now.’
‘I suppose.’ She didn’t seem wholly convinced.
Undaunted, Diamond moved on. ‘Another one in the mix is Hedley Shearman, him of the bloody nose, who incidentally is quite a goer. I opened a door and saw him having it away with Kate, the wardrobe mistress.’
‘Before or after the punch-up?’ Leaman asked.
‘The night before, during the play.’
‘A lot of it goes on behind the scenes,’ Ingeborg said, speaking as the ex-journo.
Even so, her inside knowledge prompted a few smiles.
‘Did they know you saw them at it, guv?’ Halliwell asked.
‘No.’
‘What did you do, shut the door?’
‘Not immediately. I had to make sure it was consensual, didn’t I? And it was. They’re still good friends. Kate patched him up this morning after he was hit. But I was speaking of motives. Shearman claims he was railroaded into having Clarion in the play. He was sure she’d flop and he’d take the blame.’
‘Who railroaded him?’
‘Francis Melmot, chairman of the board of trustees. Melmot is a Clarion fan. He came up with the idea of using her in a play and got the board on side. Met Clarion for lunch and invited her to stay at Melmot Hall.’
‘Get away,’ Halliwell said with relish. ‘Did she go?’
‘She did, for a couple of days, he said.’
‘Couple of nights.’ Halliwell got a laugh for that.
‘I wouldn’t count on that,’ Diamond said. ‘There’s a domineering mother living there.’
‘He’s a mummy’s boy at his age?’
‘Mummy is quite the duchess. I wouldn’t care to cross her.’
‘Then she wouldn’t be troubled by bourgeois values,’ Ingeborg said. ‘Upper-crust mothers positively encourage their sons to get laid.’
‘Is Melmot seriously in the frame?’ Halliwell asked.
‘He must be,’ Diamond said.
‘He’s a fan, you said. What’s his motive?’
‘It became obvious in rehearsal that Clarion was going to screw up. She was no Sally Bowles. His own reputation was on the line. He had to find a way of stopping her.’
‘By scarring her?’ Ingeborg said with disbelief. ‘What sort of fan is that?’
‘Might I venture an opinion?’ a voice said from close to Diamond, reminding him of things he’d been trying to forget. Sergeant Dawkins in his leather jacket and jeans had blended with the team.
‘Go ahead.’
‘Regarding the fun and games.’
‘I don’t think I mentioned fun or games.’
‘Rightly so,’ Dawkins said, and nodded as if that ended the exchange.
‘Fred, if there’s something you want to say, out with it.’
