'But you remain very fond of him?'
'Yes, that is correct.'
'And fond of his son and heir, Edward.'
'Yes. Really, why are you asking me these ridiculous questions? I do not know these poor girls you say were murdered, I cannot help you in any way. You are making me feel very uncomfortable, as if you are trying to make me say slanderous things about my ex-husband that would be completely untrue.'
'I apologise if it seems that way.'
Anna coughed and they both turned towards her as if they had forgotten her existence. 'May I use your bathroom?'
Dominique got up and crossed to the double doors. She opened one and her charm bracelet tinkled as she pointed down the corridor.
'First on your left.'
'Thank you.'
Anna closed the door behind her. She didn't need to use the bathroom, but was hoping to have a private conversation with the maid, Danielle, who she was certain had been listening outside the door. She stood in the expansive hall, trying to work out where the kitchen was, when she heard the clink of dishes from behind a door at the far end of the hallway. She gave a very light tap and opened it. The maid was unloading the dishwasher; she turned, startled.
'I wondered if I could talk to you for a moment?'
Danielle crossed to a cabinet to put away some glasses. She closed the cabinet and returned to the dishwasher.
'Do you speak English?'
Danielle gathered up some dinner plates, stacking them neatly. She wouldn't look at Anna, but continued moving back and forth to the dishwasher. Anna wondered if she was deaf. She asked again if she understood English and, at last, got a response.
'I cannot talk to you, please excuse me. Thank you.'
'It is very important: we need to ask you some questions.'
'No, please.'
'It's about Emily and Justine; they stay here a lot, don't they?'
Danielle nodded and then sat down. 'I love them like my own children. I love them.' She bowed her head as she started to cry, taking a handkerchief from her apron pocket. 'I know why you are here. Is Emily all right?'
Langton lit another cigarette and stared at Dominique with slanted eyes. The smoke drifted up towards the air-conditioning vents. He slowly appraised the room and then fixed his gaze on her once more. She was standing in front of the fake log fire, with one elbow resting on the white marble mantelpiece.
'He doesn't speak very highly of you.'
'I beg your pardon?'
'Your ex-husband referred to you as money-grabbing; he implied that you were putting pressure on him to pay you more alimony.'
She arched one eyebrow and did not reply, but looked pointedly at her watch.
'Has he agreed to pay you a substantial amount more?'
She pursed her lips. 'You have no right to ask me personal questions. I would like you to leave please.'
'I can very easily check it out, Mrs Wickenham. Have you recently been paid more money by your ex- husband?'
'No.'
'Are you expecting to be paid for being such an admirable and caring ex-wife?'
'That is enough!'
Dominique stalked over to the double closed doors; she was just reaching for the handle when Anna walked in.
'I'm sorry.
'You are just leaving,' she said icily, looking at Langton with distaste as he stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.
'Yes, thank you for your time, Mrs Wickenham. Oh, just one more thing; before your marriage, what did you do?'
She blinked and then shrugged, smiling. 'What on earth do you want to know that for?'
Langton laughed; he leaned over and took her hand. 'I just wanted to hear what you would say. I obviously know, but you lie so beautifully, madame.'
She snatched back her hand and slapped the door closed. She went so red, her eyes bulged.
'You dare to come here, asking me questions and insinuating things about my family! Then you accuse me of lying!'
'You were an exotic dancer.'
Anna thought Dominique was going to slap Langton's face but she controlled her temper, clenching her hands into fists.
'Who have you been asking about me?' she spat.
'It wasn't too difficult; you have a police record, madame. You are still on record in Marseilles. Now I don't know if your husband is, or was, aware of your rather colourful past.'
'My husband knew everything about me.'
'Did he hire you; is that how you met? I know he has a predilection for very young prostitutes. I also suspect that he couldn't keep his hands off his own daughter.'
Her face was now white with fury. 'Get out. Get out!' She gasped, yanking the door open so hard it banged against the pristine white wall.
Langton nodded to Anna to move into the hall ahead of him. He passed the shaken Dominique, close enough to be almost touching her.
'He must be paying you a lot of money,' he said, very quietly.
She shouted for her maid, but there was no sign of the elderly woman. She pointed to the front door. 'Please go, please go.'
Anna could see that Langton was not finished; he had that glint in his eyes. He reached the front door and was about to turn the handle and walk out when he paused, instead snapping open his briefcase. He took a moment to select the exact picture he wanted: the mortuary shot of the mutilated Louise Pennel.
'Take a look, Mrs Wickenham: this is the Red Dahlia.'
Dominique averted her eyes.
'Look at it.'
'Why are you doing this to me?'
'You should know what this monster did to this young woman. I came to see you specifically to—'
'You came here because you wanted me to implicate my ex-husband in this horror. Well, I do not believe for a second he is involved. I have never seen either of those two girls you showed me; you seem to be intent on shocking me into—'
'I just want the truth, Mrs Wickenham; but you seem to be incapable of being honest,' Langton interrupted, clicking his briefcase closed. 'You cited in your divorce hearing abusive and threatening behaviour, your husband's sexual demands and constant infidelities. You also gained custody of both your daughters, because you stated that living with their father was not a healthy environment for young girls.'
'I never saw either of those women you showed me, and what one states in a divorce hearing is not necessarily…'
'The whole truth and nothing but the truth?' Langton interjected.
'I wasn't going to say that; at the time, I had to protect myself and my future. We have now made very amicable arrangements. It's quite common, you know; to be unable to live with someone and yet still care for them after separation.'
She seemed to be back in control. Danielle appeared and Dominique asked her to show the 'guests' to the elevator. Langton snapped that it would not be necessary.
