“He could.”
“Because there was no sign of forced entry, was there? So far we’ve been assuming that’s because Kyra invited her killer in to the salon, but if Martin had keys…”
“Yes.” Jude looked at her watch and picked up the card the hairdresser had given her. “As soon as it’s a reasonable hour, I’m going to ring Connie.”
¦
The hairdresser did not seem particularly surprised when she answered the call just after ten. But she did sound sleepy, and Jude felt guilty that the phone had probably woken her.
“I’m sorry to be calling so early.”
“Don’t worry. I should be up. I overslept.” Connie sounded snugly drowsy. “It’s just I…you know, always wiped out at the end of the week.”
“Well, as I say, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“But I thought I ought to ring you, because something’s happened that might have a bearing on the case.”
“Case?”
“Kyra’s murder.”
“Oh yes. Of course.”
“My friend Carole – you remember her?”
“Certainly. ‘Same shape, but shorter’.” Again the impersonation was spot on.
“Yes, her. Anyway, she was taking her dog for a walk on the beach early this morning, and she came back via the service road…you know, behind the shops.”
“Mmm?” Suddenly Connie was alert, the drowsiness gone from her voice.
“And she saw your ex-husband leaving from the back gate of Connie’s Clip Joint.”
“Ah.” There was a long silence. When she broke it, Connie sounded hesitant. “And what’s she going to do about it?”
“Well, tell the police presumably.”
“Why? Is it a police matter?”
“Surely it is? If Martin had keys to the back of Connie’s Clip Joint to get in there this morning, then he probably would have had them if he’d wanted to get in on the night Kyra was killed.”
“Right.” Now it made sense to Connie. “Sorry, I was half-asleep. Yes, of course, I hadn’t thought of it that way. The police must be told. But, Jude, can you think of any reason why Martin might have been round to Connie’s Clip Joint?”
“Well, if one were to go to the extreme hypothesis that he was actually the murderer…”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Instinctive loyalty for her ex-husband prompted Connie. “I can’t imagine Martin ever doing anything like that.”
“He had a motive.”
“Did he? Sorry, I’m being very slow this morning. I’m not properly awake yet.”
“You told me about it. That Kyra was threatening to sue him for constructive dismissal over the sexual harassment business.”
“Oh yes.”
“Well, it could be argued that he therefore had a very good motive to get her out of the way.”
“I suppose so. Maybe I overstated that, anyway. Kyra wasn’t
Why was she backtracking on that? Jude wondered.
She’d sounded fairly definite about it when the subject last came up.
“Anyway,” Connie went on, “I still can’t see Martin killing anyone.”
“All right. Say he didn’t kill her, but he still knew about the threat of legal action…”
“I’m not sure whether he did know about that.”
“Oh, he did.” And Jude was embarrassed to realize that she would have to own up to what she’d said to Martin Rutherford in the Worthing Martin & Martina the day before. She did so, as quickly as possible, with the minimum of apology.
Connie took the news in slowly. “And how did he react?”
“He changed the subject and moved on.”
“Yes, I’m not surprised.”
“But what I’m saying, Connie, is that, having heard about the potential legal action against him, Martin might have let himself into Connie’s Clip Joint this morning, hoping to find and destroy any evidence…you know, papers Kyra might have got together for her case against him.”
“Yes.” Connie seemed very relieved to have a possible explanation for her ex-husband’s appearance at the salon. “Yes, that would make very good sense.”
“But, whatever his reason for being there, I think the police should be told about it. Even if it’s not criminal, it is at the very least rather odd behaviour. I mean, that is assuming that you didn’t know he was going to be there…?”
“Good heavens, no!” Connie responded vehemently.
“Well, I suppose Carole could talk to the police. She has got a connection with the case, after all, having been there when the body was discovered. They did give her contact numbers, but…there’s always a danger that the police will treat her as some nosy local crank. Alternatively, you could do it…”
“That’d make much more sense,” said Connie firmly. “It was my premises he was making an illegal entry into, after all. No, leave it with me, Jude. I’ll speak to the police.”
And she sounded relieved that that decision had been made.
? Death under the Dryer ?
Thirteen
“The question is,” said Carole, “do I share this information with the Lockes?”
“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Rowley asked me to pass on anything I found out that might be relevant to the case…”
“Yes.”
“On the other hand, to tell them I saw Martin Rutherford coming out of Connie’s Clip Joint this morning would be tantamount to making an accusation against him.”
“Which I’m sure the Lockes would seize on. Anything which offered a suspect apart from their precious Nathan.”
“Hmm. Again, you know, Jude, it struck me as odd yesterday how little Rowley Locke seemed to be worried about Nathan.”
“Well, I suppose the boy’s not his son. He’s only his nephew.”
“Yes, but when I met the parents, they were equally unruffled about it.” Even though her own maternal skills might be open to criticism, this still seemed odd to Carole. “Not natural.”
“People hide their emotions.”
“Of course they do. But I still have a sneaking suspicion that the reason they’re so calm about it is that they know Nathan’s all right. They’re in contact with him. They know where he is.”
Jude grinned ruefully. “I don’t think I can help you much in following up on that. You’re the one with an open invitation to the Lockes’ camp. Maybe you should tell them about seeing Martin this morning. It’d at least maintain the continuity of contact.”
“Yes.” But Carole felt disinclined to pick up the phone in a hurry. A little of the Lockes, she had found, went a long way. “I won’t do it straight away. See what else develops.”
“Maybe when Connie tells the police about Martin, that’ll be the breakthrough they’ve needed.”
“You think he did it?”
Jude shrugged. “I’ve no idea. But what Connie said about Kyra and the sexual harassment thing does at least
